Niacin, also known as vitamin B3 and nicotinic acid, is an essential nutrient. We need a small amount of it to ward off a disease called pellagra.

But like many vitamins these days, niacin has gotten more attention lately because of the benefits it might have when consumed in large amounts. Daily doses of 1,000 milligrams (mg) or more increase "good" HDL cholesterol and also reduce triglycerides. Many people, including quite a few doctors, view niacin as a useful, inexpensive — and perhaps more natural — way to bring about desirable cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart ...

A breast cancer drug raises hope for chemoprevention.

One major story that came out of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in June 2011 focused on a study of a drug called exemestane (pronounced ex-ee-MESS-tane). Exemestane is in a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors, which women take for several years after they've been treated for breast cancer to reduce the chances of getting breast cancer again. Aromatase is an enzyme that's crucial to the production of the hormone estrogen, which in many cases fuels the development and growth of breast cancer. So by inhibiting aromatase, exemestane lowers ...

 

Dr. David S. Ludwig is a nutrition and obesity researcher at Harvard-affiliated Children's Hospital Boston. His research has focused on the harmful health effects of high–glycemic load foods. He is author of Ending the Food Fight, a book about children's nutrition and weight.

What are glycemic index and glycemic load?

Glycemic index is a measure of how controlled amounts of food affect blood sugar and insulin. Glycemic load takes portion sizes into account, and tends to be a more practical guide. High–glycemic load foods raise blood sugar because they get digested far too quickly. The body responds with a ...

Some people experience drops in blood pressure when they stand up. Falls are a risk. But there are often simple ways to counter the problem.

When we stand up, blood tends to pool in the lower half of our bodies, filling veins in the liver, intestines, and other abdominal organs, as well as those in the legs. The downward flow means there's a danger of not enough blood reaching the brain, which can lead to a loss of consciousness. But adjustments occur that keep that from happening. Sensors in the aorta in the torso and in the carotid arteries in ...

Some tips for keeping your vacation medically uneventful.

It's summer, a prime time for getting away. But even a minor health problem can spoil a vacation. And a major one — well, that can cause regret about ever leaving home.

Of course, there are no guarantees, but taking a few precautions can improve the odds for the medically uneventful vacation. International travelers should visit www.cdc.gov/travel for information about vaccinations, disease outbreaks, and the like, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While you're on the CDC Web site, check out the Yellow Book, the CDC's reference book for ...

Moderation in all things — maybe that is the key to health and happiness. The proverb certainly seems true for alcohol consumption.

Study after study has shown that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with good health. The evidence is strongest for protection against heart attack and stroke: there's an abundance of epidemiological data, as well as results showing that alcohol increases "good" HDL cholesterol and reduces factors in the blood, such as fibrinogen, that cause clotting and therefore make heart attacks and strokes more likely. Researchers have reported correlations with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, having gallstones, ...

I am taking furosemide (Lasix) once a day. I was told to also take potassium pills, but I don't like pills. Can I replace the potassium pill with foods high in potassium?

I often feel like I have a lump of mucus in my throat. In the morning I spit some of it up, but the sensation doesn't go away. What can I do about it?