Harvard Health Letter articles from June 2003

Harvard Health Letter archives from June 2003

Here comes the sun, so watch out!(sun protection)
June 1, 2003... You probably need to use more sunscreen - and other tips about sun protection you may not know. Sunshine has its dark side. Our skin ages with the rest of us, but exposure to sun makes it age - and wrinkle - much faster. Between 10% and...

The Latino paradox.(research indicates Hispanic Americans are healthier than whites)
June 1, 2003... Less income and education is supposed to mean bad health. Latino health statistics defy that expectation. One truism of health research is that socioeconomic status matters. As a rule, the less education you have and the less money you...

Opening the shut cases.(drug-coated stents to prevent restenosis after coronary angioplasty)
June 1, 2003... Drug-coated stents may solve the biggest problem with angioplasty - keeping coronary arteries open. The basic procedure of coronary angioplasty hasn't changed much since the first case over 25 years ago in Zurich. A slender, flexible...

Studies show that... Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is going up.
June 1, 2003... After years of warnings that overuse of antibiotics was breeding increasingly resistant organisms, doctors are starting to cut back on prescriptions. Antibiotic prescriptions for children and adolescents dropped by more than 40%, according to a...

Studies show that... Statins benefit people with high blood pressure.
June 1, 2003... Statins (Lipitor, Zocor, other brands) are remarkable drugs. By both lowering cholesterol levels and making the cholesterol-laden plaques inside arteries less likely to rupture, they prevent heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. The list...

In Brief - The buzz on West Nile.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The mosquitoes are starting to come out and they're doing their ever-biting best to spread West Nile virus. Cursed creatures. West Nile virus is serious, but let's keep it in perspective. The fact is that even when people are bitten by...

In Brief - Tips for avoiding skin problems from cosmetics.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Cosmetics sometimes irritate sensitive skin. Suggestions for avoiding the problem were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2003. Here are some of the pointers: Choose powder-based rather than...

In Brief - Berry good news, but not for decaf teas.(flavonoid content of fruit and tea)
June 1, 2003... Some food industry groups and diet researchers are touting flavonoids as wonder nutrients. Flavonoids (pronounced FLAY-vu-noids) are a group of substances with similar molecular structures, found in plants. They include anthocyanidins,...

By the Way, Doctor - ACE inhibitors for athletes.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Q When I was first diagnosed with hypertension, my doctor (who knew that I was a competitive cyclist) prescribed an ACE inhibitor. I wondered for some time why he didn't prescribe diuretics, since all the articles I've read recommend that as a...

By the Way, Doctor - Pain after surgery.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Q My mother recently had her gallbladder removed. The doctors say there are "surgical clips" in her. Are they supposed to be there and could they be the reason she is having pains in her side? A Yes, they're supposed to be there, and I...