Harvard Health Letter articles from May 2004

Harvard Health Letter archives from May 2004

Cholesterol limbo: How low should the bar go?(statins research)
May 1, 2004... Ratcheting down LDL to extra-low levels with high-dose statins seems to work wonders. It's not often that a cholesterol study is on the front page of the morning papers and then the subject of the lead editorial in the New York Times the...

Off-pump vs. conventional bypass: Which is better?
May 1, 2004... So far there's no clear winner. It may depend on the type of patient and the surgeon's ability. The heart-lung machine is a remarkable device that pumps blood through the body like the heart and restocks it with oxygen like a pair of...

Hormone replacement, the male version.(testosterone)
May 1, 2004... Prescriptions for testosterone have soared, but is the hormone safe and effective? Most men don't like to hear this, but when it comes to testosterone, they hit their peak at about age 17. Levels plateau for a while, then slowly start to...

Water, sodium, and potassium guidelines.
May 1, 2004... Let thirst be your guide; cut back on sodium; and increase your potassium. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) issues guidelines for vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. One batch covers water, sodium, and potassium intake. Dr. Kenneth...

Microwaves: Does the zap sap vegetables of their nutrients?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A study in the November 2003 Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture caused a stir because it found that microwaved broccoli loses much of its nutritional punch. The researchers steamed, pressure-cooked, boiled, and microwaved about 2...

Flower power.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... You may not be imagining things if you get a lift from the flowers springing up in this, the glorious month of May. Just looking at flowers may reduce stress, according to several experiments conducted by Eunhee Kim and her colleagues at Kansas...

Swiss nasal flu vaccine linked to Bell's palsy.
May 1, 2004... Nasal vaccines may be the wave of the future, but experience with a nasal flu vaccine in Switzerland shows that it won't all be smooth sailing. When the Nasalflu vaccine -- which has never been used in the United States -- was introduced...

Should I take Glucophage to prevent diabetes?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Q I'm a 63-year-old woman with impaired fasting glucose, and I'd like to take Glucophage or Avandia to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. My weight was well controlled until my 50s, when it started to rise. I think impaired fasting glucose...

Is there a cure for lack of iron?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Q My neighbor is about 80. She keeps getting run down because her body can't retain iron. Can you offer any advice that will help her? A I understand why you might think your neighbor can't retain iron. But there's plenty of iron in the...

Should I take Plavix if I am allergic to aspirin?
May 1, 2004... Q I'm 74 and in good health with no apparent heart problems. Because I am allergic to aspirin, it has been suggested that I take Plavix. Your thoughts? I don't think that's a good idea at all. Plavix (clopidogrel) is one of the "big guns"...