Harvard Health Letter articles from November 2008

Harvard Health Letter archives from November 2008

What is normal?
November 1, 2008... What is normal? The shifting boundaries of normal and healthy cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other health indicators. It seems that the definitions of normal, healthy levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, and other health...

Got an ear full? Here's some advice.
November 1, 2008... Got an ear full? Here's some advice. Some earwax is good for your ears, so often the best policy is to leave it alone. And a few drops of water may be all you need to get rid of a blockage. Earwax, a bodily emanation that many of us...

Rubbing it in.(Analgesics)
November 1, 2008... Rubbing it in Pain-relief creams and ointments can get the medicine right to where it hurts, and the smell is often familiar and soothing. But do they work? When something like a knee hurts, there's a natural tendency to rub it. And...

Fishing out some answers.
November 1, 2008... Fishing out some answers Fish and omega-3 fats are good for you * that much we know. But it gets complicated after that. If you're looking to improve your diet, getting hooked on fish is one of the best ways to start. The American...

By the way, doctor: How can a stress test be wrong?(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... By the way, doctor How can a stress test be wrong? Q. How is it possible for someone with significant coronary artery disease to perform well on a cardiac stress test? Wouldn't there be some signs of trouble? A. We rely on tests...

By the way, doctor: What is the healthiest amount of sleep?
November 1, 2008... By the way, doctor What is the healthiest amount of sleep? Q. I heard about a study that found people who sleep six and a half to seven hours a night will live longer than those sleeping eight to nine. What is the right amount of...