Harvard Health Letter articles from August 2007

Harvard Health Letter archives from August 2007

The shingles vaccine: Why hasn't it caught on?
August 1, 2007... The cost and other factors are to blame. When the FDA approved Zostavax in the spring of 2006, it seemed like the shingles vaccine was going to make a big splash. The large clinical trial that the agency based its approval on showed that...

Betting on beta blockers.(treatment of high blood pressure)
August 1, 2007... They're versatile and have a long track record. But should you count on a beta blocker to treat your high blood pressure? Beta blockers -- also known as beta-adrenergic blockers or beta antagonists -- are among the oldest heart medicines....

Migraine as a withdrawal symptom.(hormone levels may trigger migraine)
August 1, 2007... Research suggests that some women may suffer migraines because of sudden changes in estrogen levels. There's a big gender gap when it comes to migraine headaches. Adult women are two to three times more likely to get migraines than men....

Taking silver could give you the blues.(argyria is a side effect of colloidal silver consumption)
August 1, 2007... Silver is less toxic than some other metals...but do you look good in blue? A reader wrote asking us whether there is "any legitimate reason" for taking colloidal silver. The short answer: No. The longer version follows. You may...

In Brief; Exercise without losing weight.
August 1, 2007... Most of us think we need to lose some weight, so we resolve to eat better and get more exercise. Often, though, that resolve vanishes before the pounds do. Heavy with resignation and body weight, we move on. But Canadian researchers have...

By the way, doctor; Why aren't drugs safe when they are approved?(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Q. First it was Vioxx and now Avandia. Why can't doctors and the government screen out unsafe medicines? A. The FDA requires testing for effectiveness and safety before it approves a drug. As citizens, we want the agency to thoroughly...

By the way, doctor; Should I get the prostate cancer test I've heard about?(early prostate cancer antigen-2 test)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Q. I heard about a new test for prostate cancer that's better than the PSA test. Should I get this test? A. You're probably talking about the EPCA-2 test. EPCA stands for early prostate cancer antigen. Johns Hopkins researchers have...