Harvard Women's Health Watch articles from June 2005

Harvard Women's Health Watch archives from June 2005

Do I need a statin?
June 1, 2005... All the talk about statins may have you wondering if you should be taking one. It all depends on your level of risk. In recent years, health experts have been calling for increasingly aggressive cholesterol-lowering strategies, especially...

In brief; First once-a-month osteoporosis pill approved.
June 1, 2005... In spring 2005, the FDA approved the first drug for treating and preventing osteoporosis that can be taken in one monthly dose. The drug, ibandronate (Boniva), belongs to a class of antiresorptive agents called bisphosphonates, which increase...

What to do about pelvic organ prolapse.
June 1, 2005... Relaxation is usually a good thing, but not when it involves the muscles and tissues holding pelvic organs in place. Pelvic relaxation is a weakness or laxity in the supporting structures of the pelvic region. Bladder, rectal, or uterine...

Response to readers; More about stevia, a non-approved sweetener.
June 1, 2005... Stevia, an herbal sugar substitute, is a naturally sweet, noncaloric substance made from the leaves of the South American shrub Stevia rebaudiana. Extracts are said to be 200-300 times sweeter than table sugar. By way of comparison, the...

In brief; Program helps relieve distress of age-related eye disease.
June 1, 2005... Aging eyes are at increased risk for several problems, but probably none are as unsettling as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of severe vision loss for people age 55 and over. AMD affects the macula, the area of...

By the way, doctor; How do I avoid gout-aggravating foods?(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q. I have gout. I've read that foods high in purine can aggravate the condition. What is purine, and how can I reduce it in my diet? A. Gout is a condition that develops in some people who sustain high blood levels of urate (also called...

By the way, doctor; Why am I still getting yeast infections?(vulvovaginal candidiasis)
June 1, 2005... Q. I recently developed a vaginal yeast infection -- a surprise, because I haven't had one in many years. Aren't these infections unusual in postmenopausal women? A. About 75% of women will have at least one episode of vaginal yeast...