April 2009 references and further reading

Health Physics Society. Naturally occurring radiation. Mettler FA, Jr., Bhargavan M, Thomadsen BR, et al. Nuclear medicine exposure in the United States, 2005-2007: preliminary results. Seminars in Nuclear Medicine 2008; 38:384-91. Mettler FA, Jr., Thomadsen BR, Bhargavan M, et al. Medical radiation exposure in the U.S. in 2006: preliminary results. Health Physics 2008; 95:502-7. (Locked) More »

Women's heart centers

The realization that women and men get sick—and stay healthy—in different ways has sparked the emergence of centers dedicated to women's health. The National Institutes of Health has identified 20 Centers of Excellence in Women's Health across the United States. There are also dozens of other centers around the country that specialize in helping women cope with heart disease. We have assembled as complete a list as possible below, organized by state. If you know of a center we haven't listed, please let us know. California Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart CenterCedars-Sinai Health SystemLos Angeles, CA 90048Phone: 800-233-2771 (Locked) More »

Radiation in medicine: A double-edged sword

Tests such as CT scans have become crucial tools in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases and conditions, but the radiation exposure from these tests may lead to an increased risk of developing cancer. More »

Women's hearts need extra attention

Heart disease, once thought to be a man's disease, is now understood to affect women and men equally, but there are still disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in women. (Locked) More »

Potassium and sodium out of balance

The body needs the combination of potassium and sodium to produce energy and regulate kidney function, but most people get far too much sodium and not enough potassium. (Locked) More »

In brief

Brief updates on the benefit of the Maze procedure, St. John's wort's interference with statins, the safety of angioplasty performed through the radial artery, and the cardiac risks of newer antipsychotic drugs. (Locked) More »

Ask the doctor: Does the length of the ST segment on an electrocardiogram matter?

I have an electrocardiogram as part of my yearly checkup. After the last one, my doctor mentioned that my ST segment was longer this year than it was last year. He recommended that I have a stress test to check this out. I passed with flying colors. When I asked the cardiologist who did the stress test about the ST segment, he said the length isn’t really important, that the height and shape are what matter. Can you explain? (Locked) More »