Harvard Women's Health Watch articles from November 2003

Harvard Women's Health Watch archives from November 2003

Is carb-cutting a safe way to diet?
November 1, 2003... Research suggests that a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet is less risky than many experts had thought. Does that mean it's a healthy way to eat? To the dismay of many physicians and public health officials, diets that emphasize protein...

Postmenopausal hormones - Hormone therapy: What happened?
November 1, 2003... Our assumptions about taking hormones after menopause have mostly been dashed. How did we get it so wrong? In 2002, millions of postmenopausal women received the disconcerting news that a pill they'd been taking for long-term health...

Asthma in older women.
November 1, 2003... Asthma affects our lungs the same way at all ages, but the intricacies of prevention and treatment change as we get older. Starting in adolescence, asthma disproportionately affects women. Women account for 60% of the nearly 18 million...

Fitness and health - Benefits of moderate activity confirmed.
November 1, 2003... Physical activity reduces our risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, breast and colon cancers, and osteoporosis, yet more than 70% of women get no leisure-time physical activity whatsoever. Health experts are concerned,...

By the Way, Doctor - What can I do about split nails?(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Q What causes fingernails to split and break, and what can be done about it? A Some nail problems are a sign of serious medical conditions. But if your chief symptom is horizontal layering along the outer edge of an otherwise...

By the Way, Doctor - Is Plavix for me?(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Q I saw a television ad that says I should ask my doctor about Plavix, a drug that reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. I'm 65 years old and healthy. Should I be taking Plavix preventively? A Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) is a...