Harvard Health Letter articles from June 2006

Harvard Health Letter archives from June 2006

Bird flu: Don't fly into a panic.
June 1, 2006... Whether the H5N1 virus will "make the jump" and spread among humans is uncertain, but here are some tips to protect yourself. It's a confusing world. While the H5N1 bird flu virus spread across Europe and Congress set aside billions for flu...

Hormone therapy and heart disease: Is it all in the timing?
June 1, 2006... Two trials will test whether there is an "age effect" for hormone therapy. For years, doctors believed estrogen was the key to protecting older women against heart disease. It started with a basic observation: Heart disease is rare for...

In Brief; Thrill rides may be heartfelt.
June 1, 2006... Now that it's summertime, millions of us will set out for an amusement park or a state or county fair. No one needs to be told that the some of the rides you'll find there -- particularly the roller coasters -- are not for the faint of heart....

In Brief; Is there a downside to low-sodium diets?
June 1, 2006... We're supposed to limit our daily sodium intake to less than 2,400 milligrams, which is about the amount in a teaspoon of table salt. In return, we cut our high blood pressure risk. But a Canadian researcher says all the low-sodium...

In Brief; High expectations for expectorations.(saliva tests)
June 1, 2006... Increasingly, new technologies are revealing important secrets in small amounts of body fluid such as blood or spinal fluid. But it takes needles, and some pain, to get that fluid. Saliva, say some researchers, could be the raw material for...

In Brief; Buggy bedfellows.(bed bugs)
June 1, 2006... You've probably heard about the return of bed bugs, those small, wingless bloodsucking insects that, as advertised, live around beds and like nothing more than a warmblooded companion to feed on at night. Photos courtesy of R.J. Pollack...

By the way, doctor; Should I take a statin?(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Q. My cholesterol numbers are as follows: Total -- 220; HDL -- 82 (it's been anywhere from 75 to 85 for the last 20 years); LDL -- 130; total-to-HDL ratio -- 2.7. I'm 85, and the heart doctor wants to put me on a statin. I feel great; I'm not...

By the way, doctor; What do these lines on my fingernails mean?(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Q. Would you please tell me what it means when fingernails have vertical or horizontal lines? A. Vertical lines or ridging is a natural part of nail growth. These lines may be more pronounced in some people's nails, particularly as they...