Harvard Health Letter articles from May 2008

Harvard Health Letter archives from May 2008

Editor's note.
May 1, 2008... Dear Readers, One of the most popular features of the Health Letter is the "By the way, doctora[bar]" questions we answer on the back page of each issue. The subjects are topical, the concerns from the real world, and you're hearing...

Microwave cooking and nutrition.
May 1, 2008... Q. Does cooking with a microwave take nutrients out of food? A. A brief explanation of how microwave ovens work will help me set the stage for answering your question. Microwave ovens cook food with waves of oscillating electromagnetic...

What is burning mouth syndrome?
May 1, 2008... Q. My husband was diagnosed with burning mouth syndrome. This seems to be a mystery syndrome. What can you tell us about it? A. As the name suggests, people with burning mouth syndrome feel a persistent burning sensation in or around the...

How much Imitrex is too much?(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q. My doctor suggested switching to a low-dose antidepressant like Elavil to take prophylactically rather than taking too much Imitrex, but I don't remember what the "too much" cutoff amount is. A. Sumatriptan (Imitrex) is one of the...

Should I get the cervical cancer vaccine?(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q. I am in a monogamous relationship and get Pap smears. Do I need to get the cervical cancer vaccine? A. The human papilloma virus (HPV) causes cervical cancer and genital warts, and the vaccine against some types of the virus, called...

Do birth control pills disguise menopause?(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q. How do I know whether I'm approaching menopause if I'm taking birth control pills? A. Oral contraceptives a which typically are a combination of estrogen and progestin a prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation. The hormones work by...

Are the guidelines for taking statins different for women?
May 1, 2008... Q. I've heard that men are supposed to take a statin if they're at high risk of getting heart disease, but that women are only supposed to after they actually get it. Is that true? A. No, it's not. The studies showing benefits from lowering...

Why does skin wrinkle after being underwater?(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q. Why do our hands and feet wrinkle up when immersed in water? Your article about moisturizers said they work by trapping water in the skin, so why don't we wrinkle up after applying moisturizer? A. The top layer of our skin, the stratum...

Is it okay to take a stool softener long-term?
May 1, 2008... Q. I have been taking a stool softener daily for two months. It's helped with my constipation. Are there any risks to taking a stool softener on a long-term basis? A. The risk of problems from long-term use of stool softeners such as...

HGH after surgery.(human growth hormone )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q. I heard that human growth hormone can help people after surgery. Is that true? A. The human growth hormone (HGH) that athletes take because they believe it helps them recover from injuries has been used successfully in burn patients for...

Minimally invasive knee replacement.
May 1, 2008... Q. I need a knee replacement and am trying to decide between a minimally invasive operation and a traditional one. What do you think? A. The traditional operation involves an incision that's about eight to 10 inches long that goes down the...

Do I need to go to the ER after fainting?(emergency room)
May 1, 2008... Q. I tend to faint when I get sick. Do I need to go to the emergency department (or call 911) when I faint? My doctor said I should, but that seems so unnecessary. A. The short answer to your question uses two of the most important words...

Cancer of the small intestine.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q. We hear a lot about colon cancer, and sometimes about stomach cancer, but hardly ever anything about cancer of the small intestine. Why? Is it rare? A. The stomach is only about 10 inches long, the colon about five feet, and the small...

Tamoxifen versus aromatase inhibitors.
May 1, 2008... Q. I've had an ER-positive breast cancer tumor removed. Now I am getting ready for follow-up therapy. I've heard that the aromatase inhibitors are better than tamoxifen. What is your opinion? A. Breast cancer is classified according to...

Calcium supplements and heart attack risk.
May 1, 2008... Q. I read in the newspapers about a study that said older women taking calcium supplements are at increased risk for experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or sudden death. Should I be concerned? A. Good question, complicated answer. The...

Celebrex and bleeding.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Q. I take Celebrex for arthritis. I learned that it and the other NSAID medicines increase the risk of bleeding. If that's true, is my risk for hemorrhagic stroke higher? A. It's all about the platelets. Platelets are tiny fragments of...