Harvard Health Letter articles from August 2005

Harvard Health Letter archives from August 2005

Then... and now.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Harvard Health Letter celebrates its 30th birthday in November 2005. For the next few months, we'll be using this space to look back at the changes in medicine over the past three decades as reflected in our pages. In our first issue...

Are you getting enough of this vitamin?
August 1, 2005... If you're a vegetarian or over age 60, you need to be concerned about getting enough vitamin B12. Lately, there's been increased concern about going overboard with vitamins. Researchers have found that a high intake of vitamin A in its...

Type D personality and cardiovascular risk.
August 1, 2005... Research suggests that, for heart health, it's better to be a gregarious Pooh Bear than a gloomy, isolated Eeyore. In the 1970s and '80s, the type A personality became a focus for cardiovascular research and a popular buzzword. People with...

These shots aren't just kid stuff.
August 1, 2005... Adults may soon be rolling up their sleeves to get vaccinated for shingles and whooping cough. Chickenpox and whooping cough are just childhood diseases, aren't they? Would that it were so. The varicella-zoster virus that causes...

Chronic constipation reconsidered.
August 1, 2005... Eat fiber, right? Wrong, according to experts who say that many beliefs about constipation are off base. In the United States, constipation results in about 2.5 million doctor visits a year. It's one of the most common -- and commonly...

In brief; Very familiar, but veritas.
August 1, 2005... We've heard it over and over again: Don't smoke, and quit if you do; stay trim; and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol at the right levels. Repetition doesn't make all that any less true, says Sir Richard Peto, the Oxford...

In brief; Hefty is healthy?!
August 1, 2005... In April 2005, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that obesity increased the risk of premature death much less than previously estimated. Even more surprising, the authors, who are researchers...

By the way, doctor; What type of doctor should we see after having strokes?(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Q. My wife and I both recently suffered mild strokes. Although we are both recovering, we'd like to consult a physician who specializes in the treatment and prevention of strokes. What medical specialty is devoted to this? A. Strokes are...

By the way, doctor; What is the cause of my sudden leg weakness?(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Q. When I walk for about a mile, my leg muscles suddenly get very weak -- so weak I can hardly walk. After 10-15 minutes of rest, the muscles go back to normal and I can continue for another mile or so. I am trying magnesium pills. Can you...