Harvard Women's Health Watch articles from May 2006

Harvard Women's Health Watch archives from May 2006

Women's Health Initiative: Not over yet.
May 1, 2006... The largest study of women's health has raised at least as many questions as it has answered. Stay tuned. In December 1993, the federally funded Women's Health Initiative (WHI) set out to enroll one out of every 200 women in the United...

Recognizing and treating basal cell carcinoma.
May 1, 2006... It's the most common skin cancer and the least dangerous -- but it's far from a trivial matter. With summer around the corner, our thoughts and plans naturally turn to outdoor activities and the opportunity to bask in the warmth of the...

In Brief; Link found between abdominal fat and gallbladder surgery.
May 1, 2006... Harvard researchers have discovered one more reason to watch our waistlines: avoiding gallstone surgery. Their study, published in the journal Gut (Feb. 14, 2006), found that women who accumulate weight around the middle are more likely to need...

In Brief; Unconscious mind can help with complex decisions.
May 1, 2006... "Well, let me sleep on it..." You've probably heard this before and said it yourself. The idea is that when you're having a hard time making an important decision, it may help to step back and let your unconscious mind take a crack at it....

In Brief; Kegels hold up as urinary continence treatment.(pelvic floor muscle training)
May 1, 2006... A review of studies confirms that women with urinary incontinence can benefit from pelvic floor muscle training, better known as Kegel exercises. The review appeared in The Cochrane Library (2006, issue 1), published by The Cochrane...

By the way, doctor; What is the least healthy fat to bake with?
May 1, 2006... Q. My mother and I have a friendly disagreement about fats for baking cookies. I say shortening is the unhealthiest because of its high trans fat content; my mother says butter or lard is worse. What's the verdict? A. The easiest answer is...

By the way, doctor; Do mold spores cause lung cancer?(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Q. An article on lung cancer mentioned "certain other airborne substances" as risk factors. What about mold spores? A. Your question is a good one. Mold or fungal spores can cause certain lung disorders, including infections (pneumonia),...