Harvard Women's Health Watch articles from August 2005

Harvard Women's Health Watch archives from August 2005

Perimenopause: Rocky road to menopause.
August 1, 2005... Symptoms we call "menopausal" often precede menopause by years. You're in your 40s, you wake up in a sweat at night, and your periods are erratic, and often accompanied by heavy bleeding: Chances are, you're going through perimenopause....

In brief; Exercise helps breast cancer survivors live longer.
August 1, 2005... Women with breast cancer who walk three or more hours a week (or exercise more strenuously for shorter periods) have a lower risk of dying of breast cancer than those who exercise less. These are the findings of a study published in the May 25,...

In brief; Shingles vaccine shows promise in large trial.
August 1, 2005... If approved by the FDA, a vaccine for shingles could be available in doctors' offices in spring 2006. That's the word from Merck & Co., the vaccine's developer, after a large controlled trial showed that it reduced the chances of getting...

Posture and back health.
August 1, 2005... Paying attention to posture can help you look and feel better. Most of us get back pain at some point in our lives. It may be due to a sports-related injury, an accident, or a congenital condition such as scoliosis. But most of the time,...

Posture while standing.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Slouching with head forward and upper back rounded disrupts the alignment of the spine's natural curves. So does standing in an exaggerated military-style, shoulders-back posture. Either of these postures can cause fatigue and muscle strain....

By the way, doctor; How does Thermage remove wrinkles?
August 1, 2005... Q. Can you tell me anything about a new cosmetic treatment called Thermage? A. Thermage is a technology that uses heating and cooling to tighten skin and reduce wrinkles. In 2001, the FDA approved it for treating forehead wrinkles and fine...

By the way, doctor; Are there any good DEET-free repellents?(diethyltoluamide)
August 1, 2005... Q. DEET makes a mess of my fly fishing gear. I've heard there are some new mosquito repellents that don't contain DEET. Are they any good? A. N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide -- DEET for short -- is the active ingredient in many major brands of...