Harvard Health Letter articles from September 2005

Harvard Health Letter archives from September 2005

Then... and now.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Harvard Health Letter celebrates its 30th birthday this November. For the next few months, we'll be using this space to look back at the changes in medicine over the past three decades as reflected in our pages. Colds and flu were the...

The quickie workout.(A comparison of workout programs from clubs and books)
September 1, 2005... Some fitness plans promise great results with brief workouts. But can you take these shortcuts to good health? Perhaps you've seen one of these fitness guides at your local bookstore. Maybe a Curves franchise has opened in your area. The...

Every little bit helps.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Brief bouts of activity like the ones promoted by these centers and books may be worthwhile. James Hill, head of clinical nutrition research at the University of Colorado, argued in a 2003 Science article that Americans could avoid weight gain...

Now for the renal side of the story.
September 1, 2005... Prevention and early detection of kidney disease could save your life. The kidneys get no respect. We talk of "lion hearts," "leather lungs," and even "iron stomachs," but the kidneys go unheralded -- that is, until they go wrong. The pair...

A test for older people.(Using cystatin C levels to predict the occurence of PKD)
September 1, 2005... Even when the number is properly adjusted, creatinine levels may not be the best indicator of how well our kidneys are working, especially as we grow older, so doctors are looking for alternatives. One possibility is a protein in the blood...

The art of aging.(Those in the early stages of dementia often see an outburst of creavity which helps improve physical and mental health)
September 1, 2005... Mental activity and creative pursuits may help stave off dementia and keep the mind clear. Exercise the bod: We know that's good for our physical health. In recent years, experiments in ani­mals have found that exercise may also...

In brief; Hiking: Not just a walk in the park.
September 1, 2005... Especially in the Northeast, late summer is a great time of year to go hiking. The bugs aren't as bad as they were in midsummer. The weather is cooler. Soon there'll be fall foliage. But some of us who hit the trail end up in trouble. In...

In brief; Get help for those COPD blues.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Researchers at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston used hospital records to find 1,334 people who had been diagnosed with some type of breathing problem, including bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary...

In brief; Chew on this.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... If you think you're having a heart attack, you're supposed to take an aspirin right away. A dose of 325 milligrams will do. Aspirin keeps platelets from clumping. And that should help keep the blood clot (or clots) in your coronary arteries --...

By the way, doctor; Seasonal swings in blood pressure.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Q. My systolic blood pressure is 40 points higher in winter than in the summer (160-180 versus 120-140 mm Hg). Do the seasons affect blood pressure? A. I'll admit you've got me puzzled. Here are the possibilities I've come up with: Two are...

By the way, doctor; Polyps that come back.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Q. Should I worry if new colon polyps appear near where previous ones have been removed? A. The simple answer is, "It depends." The large intestine is a large tube, and a polyp is a growth out from the inside wall of that tube into the...