Harvard Health Letter articles from October 2004

Harvard Health Letter archives from October 2004

A lifetime of distractions.(attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder)
October 1, 2004... ADHD is no longer just a children's disease. Many adults are being diagnosed and treated for the condition. Although we usually think of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a problem affecting squirmy schoolchildren, it can...

Staying the course.(medications)
October 1, 2004... Getting the right medication is only half the battle. Many of us leave the doctor's office clutching a prescription. All we have to do is get it filled at the pharmacy and diligently take the medication as prescribed. What could be simpler?...

Essential tremor.
October 1, 2004... Parkinson's disease isn't the only disease that causes shaky hands. Essential tremor may be less well known, but it's far more common. We use our hands constantly. Every morning millions of people shower, shave, get dressed, eat breakfast...

In brief; School spirits.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... College sports and excessive drinking go hand in hand, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health. The researchers have been studying college drinking behavior for over a decade by analyzing answers to questionnaires sent...

In brief; Quitting smoking: Sooner is best, but later is better than not at all.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... A study of 35,000 British male doctors and their smoking habits stands out as perhaps one of the most important ever. When early results were published in 1954, it was the first really solid evidence that smoking causes lung cancer. On June 26...

In brief; Vitamins after angioplasty: Maybe not such a good idea after all.
October 1, 2004... It seems to make sense. Folic acid (the artificial form of folate), in combination with vitamins B6 and B12, lowers levels of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood. Dozens of studies have shown that people with high levels of homocysteine...

By the way, doctor; Is a clot after blood collection dangerous?(phlebotomies for hemochromatosis)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Q I have phlebotomies every six months to manage my hemochromatosis. At my most recent bloodletting, a fibrous clot came out after the nurse removed the needle from my forearm. It seems to me that such clotting presents an unnecessary risk for...

By the way, doctor; Is long-term use of Advil harmful?
October 1, 2004... Q I have been taking two Advil tablets two or three times per day to reduce pain and inflammation in my knees. Could it be harmful to do this for an extended period of time, say a year? A Advil is a brand name for ibuprofen, which is one of...