Harvard Health Letter articles from March 2006

Harvard Health Letter archives from March 2006

Vitamin D: Enjoying its day in the sun.
March 1, 2006... New study summing up anticancer research adds to its luster. We met someone the other day who had just been told by his doctor to give up his daily vitamin E pill. The vitamin's reputation has slid as studies have challenged the view that...

In Brief; ...and I'd like to thank the Academy for a longer life.(Academy Award winners live longer)
March 1, 2006... We know from their long, often tearful, speeches that Academy Award winners have so much to be thankful for. Maybe some Oscar winners at the annual ceremony should include longer life expectancy on their list. Dr. Donald Redelmeier, a...

In Brief; Recognizing stroke early.(Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale)
March 1, 2006... Early treatment of the most common type of stroke, the kind caused by blood clots, can limit brain damage and vastly improve outcomes. Yet some research suggests that fewer than 10% of ischemic stroke patients receive important clot-busting...

New CPR guidelines: Simplicity to the rescue.(cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
March 1, 2006... Rapid chest compressions keep blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs, so push hard and push often. For decades, the American Heart Association and other groups have promoted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as a way to save a...

Blinded by the night.(night vision)
March 1, 2006... Poor night vision is the result of changes in the pupil, lens, and retina. Does eating carrots help? Probably not for well-nourished Americans. It's been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. At a more mundane level, they also...

By the way, doctor; Is it a health mistake not to drink?(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Q. I started drinking half a glass of red wine in the early evening, particularly Pinot Noir since it's said to have a higher than normal concentration of resveratrol, generally adding blueberry juice to fill the glass. But I had to stop...

By the way, doctor; How much fish oil should I be taking?
March 1, 2006... Q. What's the right daily dose of omega-3s? I have a bottle of 1,000-mg fish-oil pills. Is one a day enough to get the benefit? A. The two main omega-3 fats found in fish are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)....