Harvard Health Letter articles from January 2007

Harvard Health Letter archives from January 2007

The handiwork of good health.
January 1, 2007... Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are more effective than antibacterial soaps, but don't give up on plain soap and water. That our hands are crawling with germs is old, old news. Adults have hectored children about the dangers of unwashed hands...

Lung cancer: Not just for smokers.
January 1, 2007... People who never smoked may have a different form of the disease that responds better to a new generation of targeted medications. "Did he smoke?" That's often the first response to news that someone has lung cancer. It's an...

Do you worry too much?
January 1, 2007... Excessive worry is part of many mental health disorders and can lead to physical illness. Sometimes it's smart to worry. It can force us to plan or to take safety precautions. Worry can lead to wellness. If we didn't worry some about our...

By the way, doctor; Could postherpetic neuralgia affect my face if I didn't have a rash there?
January 1, 2007... Q. I'm having pains on the side of my face, and my doctor says that it's postherpetic neuralgia. But I am puzzled because I had a rash on the inside of my arm, but not on my face. Should I be? A. Postherpetic neuralgia is a painful...

By the way, doctor; Should I quit drinking tea to avoid getting kidney stones?(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Q. Two of my friends suffer from kidney stones. Each was advised to give up tea. I drink a lot of tea. Am I in danger of getting kidney stones? A. Your kidneys get rid of excess minerals -- calcium and potassium, for example -- from the...