Harvard Health Letter articles from March 2004

Harvard Health Letter archives from March 2004

11 things you should talk to your doctor about.
March 1, 2004... It's easy to suggest that you talk to your doctor. It's much harder to know what to say. Some of us are fortunate enough to have built up a relationship with a physician over many years, so there's some genuine rapport and trust to bank...

Virtual colonoscopy: Is it ready for the real world?
March 1, 2004... One study shows that it may now be as accurate as conventional colonoscopy. Of all routine cancer screening tests, colonoscopy may be the most onerous. You must stop eating 24 hours beforehand. To further clean out your system, you need to...

Obesity in the extreme.
March 1, 2004... It has risks, but surgery is the most effective treatment for people with severe obesity The epidemic of obesity in the United States has been amply documented and duly decried. But as fast as the number of bigger Americans is growing, the...

Snooze alarm: You need your sleep.
March 1, 2004... Sleep, like diet and exercise, is an essential ingredient of good health. No one needs to be told that sleep affects the brain, but researchers are finding that it has direct effects on the rest of the body, too. Experiments have found...

In Brief; Vitamin D shortfalls casting wider shadow.
March 1, 2004... For a long time, scientists have said that vitamin D's main function is to help the intestine absorb calcium and therefore prevent bone diseases like rickets. But a spate of research is showing that the vitamin might wear other important hats....

In Brief; Stroke symptoms.
March 1, 2004... We tend to think of first aid as doing something -- performing CPR, applying pressure to stop the bleeding, and so on. But often what you know, not what you do, is crucial because that is what leads to timely treatment. Knowing the...

In Brief; Smell the coffee, feel the caffeine.
March 1, 2004... Caffeine is the world's most popular drug. Coffee is the delivery system of choice. So how big a fix are you getting in your cup(s) of joe? University of Florida researchers analyzed 20 caffeinated and 7 decaffeinated coffees and found a...

By the Way, Doctor; Will vinegar clean out arteries?
March 1, 2004... Q I get mail extolling the virtues of chelation therapy. The claim is that it removes calcium and other metals from the walls of arteries. The key element appears to be EDTA. Since vinegar is also primarily acetic acid, I'm curious whether it...

By the Way, Doctor; For artery elasticity, is this test of arteries worth it?
March 1, 2004... Q Is the CV Profiler a legitimate diagnostic tool for arterial elasticity? I understand that this technology became available in 2003. A The CV Profiler is a device that measures how "stretchy" your arteries are. Healthy arteries expand and...