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                                <link href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/authors/daniel-pendick/feed/atom" rel="self"></link>
                                                    <title><![CDATA[Harvard Health Posts by Daniel Pendick Feed]]></title>
                                <logo>https://www.health.harvard.edu/img/logos/hhp-logo-mark-lg.jpg</logo>
                                <image_height>173</image_height>
                                <image_width>144</image_width>
                                <subtitle>Harvard Health Blog: You'll find posts from Harvard Medical School physicians and our editors on a variety of health news and issues.</subtitle>
                                                    <updated>2015-09-17T16:53:16-04:00</updated>
                        <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Mediterranean diet may prevent breast cancer, but there are other reasons to pour on the olive oil]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mediterranean-diet-may-prevent-breast-cancer-but-there-are-other-reasons-to-pour-on-the-olive-oil-201509178299" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mediterranean-diet-may-prevent-breast-cancer-but-there-are-other-reasons-to-pour-on-the-olive-oil-201509178299</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[The PREDIMED study showed that the Mediterranean diet can statistically lower a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and death from heart-related causes. The data also suggest that a Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced chance of getting breast cancer. This small analysis has some limitations, but provides another reason to consider this already healthful way of eating.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Breast Cancer" />
                        <updated>2015-09-17T16:53:16-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Is treating “low T” really safe and effective?]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-treating-low-t-really-safe-and-effective-201508208184" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-treating-low-t-really-safe-and-effective-201508208184</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[If you’re a man, you’ve undoubtedly heard that lack of energy or sex drive, trouble concentrating, or feeling down or not quite yourself could be related to low testosterone, or “low T” — and that a little testosterone replacement could have you back on your game. But testosterone replacement is tricky business, and its safety and effectiveness remain controversial. Further, there can be many other causes for the symptoms of “low T.” A thorough evaluation to determine whether low testosterone is really the problem, along with a careful weighing of the potential risks and benefits of testosterone replacement, are essential before considering this drug.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Men&#039;s Health" />
                        <updated>2015-08-20T17:22:24-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[CPR during cardiac arrest: someone&amp;#8217;s life is in your hands]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cpr-during-cardiac-arrest-someones-life-is-in-your-hands-201507238152" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cpr-during-cardiac-arrest-someones-life-is-in-your-hands-201507238152</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Cardiac arrest is the ultimate 911 emergency. The heart stops sending blood to the body. Death occurs in minutes — unless a bystander takes matters into his or her hands and starts cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This keeps blood circulating until trained and better-equipped first responders arrive on the scene to jump-start the heart back into a normal rhythm. Two new studies in JAMA  provide compelling proof that efforts to train people to do life-saving CPR pay off. Many organizations sponsor CPR and AED training programs. Two notable ones are the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Many local departments of public health also provide CPR training, including &#8220;friends and family&#8221; classes for people close to someone at risk of cardiac arrest. The investment of time and effort to learn CPR is small. The potential payoff — saving a life — is huge.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Heart Health" />
                        <updated>2015-07-23T20:30:20-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[New recommendations aim to improve safety of pain-relieving spinal steroid injections]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-recommendations-aim-to-improve-safety-of-pain-relieving-spinal-steroid-injections-201505077991" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-recommendations-aim-to-improve-safety-of-pain-relieving-spinal-steroid-injections-201505077991</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Each year, several million people with neck or back pain get injections of anti-inflammatory steroid medications. When they work (they don&#8217;t always), such injections can bring profound relief. But injecting these medications into the spine can cause partial or total paralysis, brain damage, stroke, and even death. Case reports beginning in 2002 highlighted serious problems linked to spinal steroid injections. In 2014, the FDA started requiring a warning on the labels of injectable steroids. A Viewpoint article in this week&#8217;s Journal of the American Medical Association spotlights new safety recommendations to help prevent these rare but real problems. The new recommendations are part of the FDA&#8217;s Safe Use Initiative.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Back Pain" />
                        <updated>2015-05-07T17:22:33-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[An apple a day may not keep the doctor away, but it&amp;#8217;s a healthy choice anyway]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/an-apple-a-day-may-not-keep-the-doctor-away-but-its-a-healthy-choice-anyway-201504027850" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/an-apple-a-day-may-not-keep-the-doctor-away-but-its-a-healthy-choice-anyway-201504027850</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[This week&#8217;s inaugural April Fool&#8217;s Day edition of JAMA Internal Medicine carried a report entitled &#8220;Association Between Apple Consumption and Physician Visits: Appealing the Conventional Wisdom That an Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away.&#8221; Based on actual national nutrition data collected from nearly 8,400 men and women it concludes, &#8220;Evidence does not support that an apple a day keeps the doctor away; however, the small fraction of US adults who eat an apple a day do appear to use fewer prescription medications.&#8221; Apples may have failed this critical scientific test, but they are still an excellent choice as a snack, pick-me-up, or dessert.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <updated>2015-04-02T15:01:27-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Peanuts linked to same heart, longevity benefits as more pricey nuts]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/peanuts-linked-heart-longevity-benefits-pricey-nuts-201503057777" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/peanuts-linked-heart-longevity-benefits-pricey-nuts-201503057777</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Nuts have been gaining traction as an all-natural health food. Tree nuts like almonds, pecans, and walnuts are especially prized for their rich cargo of vitamins, minerals, and mono- and polyunsaturated fats. The downside is that tree nuts tend to be pricey. But a study published online this week in JAMA Internal Medicine puts the humble peanut squarely in the same nutritional league as its upscale cousins. This work makes the health benefits of nuts more accessible to lower-income shoppers. An international team of researchers found that in more than 200,000 people from Savannah to Shanghai, those who regularly ate peanuts and other nuts were substantially less likely to have died of any cause — particularly heart disease — over the study period than those who rarely ate nuts. A key take-home message from this study is that eating peanuts appears to be just as potent for preventing heart disease as eating other nuts.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Heart Health" />
                        <updated>2015-03-05T13:41:00-05:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Can an app help you lose weight?]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-app-help-lose-weight-201411207537" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-app-help-lose-weight-201411207537</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Smartphones and tablets combine an extraordinary amount of portable computing power with connectivity to the world via cell phone signal and WiFi. Many health entrepreneurs are trying to harness that power to help people to get healthier. But do they work? A study published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine on one popular weight-loss app finds that the answer is &#8220;not so much.&#8221; University of California, Los Angeles researchers tested one free app called MyFitnessPal. Overweight women who used it lost about five pounds over six months—but so did women who didn’t use the app. In spite of the app&#8217;s poor showing in the UCLA trial, MyFitnessPal and other health apps can be useful tools for people who want to manage their weight and lifestyle. But it takes two things from the user—motivation to make a change and using the app enough to produce the desired effect.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Diet &amp; Weight Loss" />
                        <updated>2014-11-20T16:07:33-05:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Some home blood pressure monitors aren&amp;rsquo;t accurate]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/home-blood-pressure-monitors-arent-accurate-201410297494" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/home-blood-pressure-monitors-arent-accurate-201410297494</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Heart Health" />
                        <updated>2019-09-16T00:00:00-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Advice you may not hear from your doctor: Don&amp;#8217;t go out in the sun without protection]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/advice-may-hear-doctor-dont-go-sun-without-protection-201407027253" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/advice-may-hear-doctor-dont-go-sun-without-protection-201407027253</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[With all the warnings against soaking up too much sun, getting ready to go outside can feel like you need a checklist like astronauts use when suiting up for a 6-hour spacewalk in the full blast of the sun&#8217;s radiation. Putting on sunscreen and following other sun-smart strategies is for a good cause: preventing melanoma—the most dangerous kind of skin cancer. Curiously, doctors tend not to talk about sunscreen use with their patients. One study showed that, in 18 billion outpatient visits, primary care doctors mentioned sunscreen to just 0.07% of their patients, or roughly 1 in 1,400. But even though your doctor may not mention it, you know better: Put on a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 before you go out. Reapply every two to three hours, or more if you are in the water or sweating. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or sun-protective clothing.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Skin Cancer" />
                        <updated>2014-07-02T18:52:38-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[For women on osteoporosis drug &amp;#8220;holiday,&amp;#8221; bone testing at one year offers little benefit]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/women-osteoporosis-drug-holiday-bone-testing-one-year-offers-little-benefit-201405077140" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/women-osteoporosis-drug-holiday-bone-testing-one-year-offers-little-benefit-201405077140</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[For women with osteoporosis who are embarking on a &#8220;holiday&#8221; from taking a bone-building drug, the message from a study released today is &#8220;Bon voyage—see you in two years or so.&#8221; After menopause, loss of bone (osteoporosis) can lead to crippling fractures of the hip and spine. Drugs called bisphosphonates—alendronate (Fosamax) was the first on the market in the mid-1990s—slow bone loss. But after taking these drugs for a number of years, the balance can begin to tip from help to harm. A new report from the Fracture Intervention Trial Long-term Extension (FLEX) shows that measuring bone density after one year added no information that would have helped doctors identify who was at risk and perhaps should start taking a bisphosphonate again. Waiting two years is a good option for most women.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Osteoporosis" />
                        <updated>2014-05-08T00:15:07-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Most headache-related brain scans aren&amp;#8217;t needed]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/headache-related-brain-scans-arent-needed-201403197080" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/headache-related-brain-scans-arent-needed-201403197080</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Severe headaches are a misery, whether they cause a dull ache or a steady, stabbing, or blinding pain. Such pain rarely comes from something catastrophic, like a tumor or a bleeding in the brain. Yet an estimated 12% of people with headaches get brain scans. A new study shows that these unnecessary scans add several billion dollars a year to health care costs for very little benefit. Excessive brain scanning costs more than just dollars. Repeated CT scans deliver enough radiation to increase the odds of developing cancer. Scans also tend to lead to more scanning if the test turns up something strange. Many people who see a doctor because of severe and recurrent migraine headaches don&#8217;t need brain scans. They need the right therapy to stop their pain.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <updated>2014-03-19T19:54:22-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[After hip fracture, exercise at home boosts day-to-day function]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/after-hip-fracture-exercise-at-home-boosts-day-to-day-function-201402197041" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/after-hip-fracture-exercise-at-home-boosts-day-to-day-function-201402197041</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Even after intensive rehabilitation therapy, many people who break a hip still can&#8217;t do things they used to do with ease, like dressing, rising from a chair, or climbing stairs, after . A report in this week&#8217;s Journal of the American Medical Association shows that simple exercises done at home can make a big difference in recovering from a broken hip. A set of &#8220;functional exercises&#8221; that mimic the kinds of things people normally do in their daily lives improved function and mobility among people who had broken a hip. It&#8217;s important :just do it.&#8221; At-home rehab is of no use if you don&#8217;t stick with it. These kinds of exercises can also help ward off post-fracture complications like blood clots, pneumonia, wound infections, and more. Extended bed rest after a major injury or surgery can feed a downward spiral of physical deconditioning and additional health problems.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <updated>2014-02-20T01:23:09-05:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Treating severe snoring can help with tough-to-control blood pressure]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/treating-severe-snoring-can-help-with-tough-to-control-blood-pressure-201312116935" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/treating-severe-snoring-can-help-with-tough-to-control-blood-pressure-201312116935</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Sleep apnea—pauses in breathing while sleeping followed by snoring-like gasps for breath—can cause daytime drowsiness and mental fatigue. It can also boost blood pressure and the risk for developing heart disease. A new study suggests that treating sleep apnea by using a breathing machine during sleep can make a difference for people with hard-to-treat high blood pressure. Although blood pressure medications offer a bigger bang for the buck to reduce blood pressure, treating sleep apnea can help, and offers other benefits as well. Getting used to using a breathing machine, which delivers continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), may take some work. One key is to find a mask that works, which may be a trial-and-error process.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Sleep" />
                        <updated>2013-12-11T20:24:06-05:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[PET scans peer into the heart of dementia]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/pet-scans-peer-into-the-heart-of-dementia-201310166761" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/pet-scans-peer-into-the-heart-of-dementia-201310166761</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[What&#8217;s bad for the heart is often bad for the brain. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and unhealthy &#8220;hardening&#8221; of the arteries increase the risk of mental decline or dementia later in life. A study published online today in Neurology shows that older people with the stiffest arteries are more likely to show the kinds of damage to brain tissue often seen in people with dementia. The study adds support to the &#8220;two hit&#8221; theory of dementia. It suggests that the accumulation of Alzheimer&#8217;s-linked amyloid protein in the brain may not pose problems until damage to small blood vessels that nourish the brain nudges them over into dementia. There may be a silver lining to this line of research: Efforts to improve cardiovascular health can also protect the brain.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Heart Health" />
                        <category term="Medical Research" />
                        <category term="Memory" />
                        <category term="Mental Health" />
                        <updated>2013-10-16T20:27:54-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Study suggests testing bone health in older people less often may be safe]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/study-suggests-testing-bone-health-in-older-people-less-often-may-be-safe-201309256701" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/study-suggests-testing-bone-health-in-older-people-less-often-may-be-safe-201309256701</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[One key instruction in the operating manual for healthy aging is remaining ever vigilant about osteoporosis. The quest to identify osteoporosis early has led to widespread testing of bone mineral density (BMD), the key measure of bone strength. Medicare pays for the gold-standard test, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), every two years, regardless of whether their previous scan was normal or not. A study published today found that repeat bone-density testing after four years improved the ability to identify those at higher risk by only 4%. This study raises the fundamental question: Is repeating testing of older people with normal bone strength every two years too much?]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Osteoporosis" />
                        <updated>2013-09-25T17:44:59-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Prostate cancer lives as it is born: slow-growing and benign or fast-growing and dangerous]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/prostate-cancer-lives-as-it-is-born-slow-growing-and-benign-or-fast-growing-and-dangerous-201308146604" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/prostate-cancer-lives-as-it-is-born-slow-growing-and-benign-or-fast-growing-and-dangerous-201308146604</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[In many men diagnosed with prostate cancer, the cancer cells grow so slowly that they never break free of the gland, spread to distant sites, and pose a serious risk to health and longevity. Instead of embarking on immediate treatment, a growing number of men choose active surveillance, in which doctors monitor low-risk cancers closely and consider treatment only when the disease appears to make threatening moves toward growing and spreading. A new Harvard study shows that the aggressiveness of prostate cancer at diagnosis remains stable over time for most men. If confirmed, then prompt treatment can be reserved for the cancers most likely to pose a threat, while men with slow-growing, benign prostate cancer—which is unlikely to cause problems in a man&#8217;s lifetime—can reasonably choose active surveillance.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Cancer" />
                        <category term="Prostate Cancer" />
                        <category term="Medical Research" />
                        <category term="Men&#039;s Health" />
                        <updated>2013-08-14T00:00:00-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[6 self-help tips for hemorrhoid flare-ups]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/6-self-help-tips-for-hemorrhoid-flare-ups-201307196496" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/6-self-help-tips-for-hemorrhoid-flare-ups-201307196496</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Digestive Health" />
                        <updated>2023-09-12T00:00:00-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Genetic testing to guide prostate removal: too soon to know if it helps]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/genetic-testing-to-guide-prostate-removal-too-soon-to-know-if-it-helps-2-201307121988" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/genetic-testing-to-guide-prostate-removal-too-soon-to-know-if-it-helps-2-201307121988</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Is it possible for a gene test to identify whether a prostate that&#8217;s healthy today is sure to develop cancer down the road? And should results of such a test be the basis for removing a seemingly healthy prostate gland? Those are questions raised by recent press reports of a British man who had his prostate gland removed because he carried a faulty gene called BRCA2.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Cancer" />
                        <category term="Prostate Cancer" />
                        <category term="Men&#039;s Health" />
                        <updated>2013-07-12T19:00:15-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Healthy fats may fight early-stage prostate cancer]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/healthy-fats-may-fight-early-stage-prostate-cancer-201306126377" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/healthy-fats-may-fight-early-stage-prostate-cancer-201306126377</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Each year, nearly a quarter of a million American men learn they have prostate cancer. Most are diagnosed with early-stage cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate gland. Traditional treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, and a &#8220;watch and wait&#8221; strategy called active surveillance. A new study published online this week in JAMA Internal Medicine indicates that diet may be an important add-on. The study, part of the ongoing Harvard-based Health Professionals Follow-up Study, suggests that eating more foods that deliver healthy vegetable oils can help fight the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Earlier studies have implicated the traditional Western diet, which is relatively high in red meat and other sources of animal fats, with a higher risk for developing prostate cancer in the first place, while eating more vegetable oils and vegetable protein may help prevent it.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Men&#039;s Health" />
                        <category term="Prostate Cancer" />
                        <updated>2013-06-12T18:38:15-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Sodium still high in fast food and processed foods]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sodium-still-high-in-fast-food-and-processed-foods-201305166267" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sodium-still-high-in-fast-food-and-processed-foods-201305166267</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[•	Fast-food restaurants deliver filling, inexpensive meals and snacks. But there&#8217;s usually a hidden added cost: a wallop of salt (sodium) that isn&#8217;t good for cardiovascular health. Even with the current clamor for reducing sodium in the American diet, and industry promising to do just that, the amount of sodium in prepared foods hasn&#8217;t changed much since 2005, according to a report published in the latest issue of JAMA Internal Medicine. The average sodium in chain restaurant items increased 2.6% between 2005 and 2011. In packaged foods, it fell on average 3.5%. While some are calling for tighter government regulation on the sodium content in processed and restaurant foods, you can take action now.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Heart Health" />
                        <updated>2013-05-16T15:22:01-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[New study links L-carnitine in red meat to heart disease]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-study-links-l-carnitine-in-red-meat-to-heart-disease-201304176083" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-study-links-l-carnitine-in-red-meat-to-heart-disease-201304176083</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Is red meat bad for your heart? A new study suggests it is, but not for the reasons you might expect—like the saturated fat or cholesterol in red meat. A team from a half dozen U.S. medical centers says the offending ingredient is L-carnitine, an amino acid that is abundant in red meat. Their work shows that eating red meat delivers L-carnitine to bacteria that live in the human gut. These bacteria digest L-carnitine and turn it into a compound called trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), which has been shown to cause atherosclerosis, the disease process that leads to cholesterol-clogged arteries, in mice. There&#8217;s still a long way to go before we know the full story about L-carnitine and heart disease, but this work suggests that cutting back on L-carnitine (and avoiding L-carnitine supplements) may be good steps for heart health.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Heart Health" />
                        <updated>2013-04-17T17:53:40-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Acupuncture is worth a try for chronic pain]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/acupuncture-is-worth-a-try-for-chronic-pain-201304016042" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/acupuncture-is-worth-a-try-for-chronic-pain-201304016042</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Chronic pain in the muscles and joints can make life miserable. Standard treatments like ice and heat, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and appropriate exercises can often ease the pain. But when they don&#8217;t, acupuncture is an option with a good track record that&#8217;s worth considering. Research from an international team of experts adds to the evidence that it does provide real relief from common forms of pain. The team pooled the results of 29 studies involving nearly 18,000 participants. Overall, acupuncture relieved pain by about 50%. The study isn&#8217;t the last word on the issue, but it is one of the best quality studies to date and has made an impression. For new pain, an acupuncturist should not always be the first stop. It&#8217;s important to get a clear diagnosis of what is causing the pain to rule out serious medical conditions that should be treated right away—and then seek out acupuncture if appropriate.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Back Pain" />
                        <updated>2013-04-01T14:48:09-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Can&amp;#8217;t touch this: &amp;#8220;Latex-free&amp;#8221; labels are misleading]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cant-touch-this-latex-free-labels-are-misleading-201303135973" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cant-touch-this-latex-free-labels-are-misleading-201303135973</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[If you or a loved one has a latex allergy or sensitivity, think twice before reaching for a product that says &#8220;latex free&#8221; or &#8220;does not contain latex.&#8221; That&#8217;s the latest advice from the FDA, which says no existing tests can show that a product is completely free from latex. Labeling that suggests a product doesn&#8217;t contain the substance could cause trouble for individuals with a latex allergy or sensitivity. Natural latex is used to make a host of stretchy products, including adhesive bandages, condoms, gloves used in health care and dishwashing, balloons, rubber band, elastic used in waistbands and socks, baby bottle nipples, pillows, and more. This kind of latex contains proteins that set off some people&#8217;s immune systems, leading to an allergic reaction. The FDA&#8217;s warning highlights that products advertised as &#8220;latex-free&#8221; may not always live up to the claim. That&#8217;s because products that are made without latex can be contaminated with latex proteins during the manufacturing or packaging process.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <updated>2013-03-13T16:34:37-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[7 common causes of forgetfulness]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/7-common-causes-of-forgetfulness-201302225923" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/7-common-causes-of-forgetfulness-201302225923</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Memory slips are aggravating, frustrating, and sometimes worrisome. When they happen more than they should, they can trigger fears of looming dementia or Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease. But there are some treatable causes of forgetfulness.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Mind &amp; Mood" />
                        <category term="Medications and treatments" />
                        <category term="Anxiety" />
                        <category term="Depression" />
                        <category term="Sleep" />
                        <category term="Stress" />
                        <category term="Vitamins, minerals, herbs, and supplements" />
                        <category term="Alcohol" />
                        <updated>2020-04-18T00:00:00-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[High calcium intake from supplements linked to heart disease in men]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/high-calcium-intake-from-supplements-linked-to-heart-disease-in-men-201302065861" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/high-calcium-intake-from-supplements-linked-to-heart-disease-in-men-201302065861</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Getting extra calcium from supplements is supposed to be good for your bones. The latest in a string of studies heightens concern that this simple practice could end up being bad for your heart. The results support growing recommendations to get calcium from food, not pills. The latest evidence comes from the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, which has followed the health of nearly 400,000 men and women since 1995. Over 12 years of follow-up, men who took more than 1,000 milligrams (mg) of daily supplemental calcium were 20% more likely to succumb to heart disease than those who didn&#8217;t take calcium supplements. There was no connection between calcium supplements and heart disease in women (which has been seen in earlier studies), and no connection with calcium from food. This one study isn&#8217;t enough to find calcium guilty of heart disease in the first degree. But it&#8217;s not the only research to point the accusing finger. This line of research has some experts placing greater emphasis on a nutritious, calcium-rich diet and weight bearing exercise than on calcium supplements for keeping bones strong.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Heart Health" />
                        <category term="Osteoporosis" />
                        <updated>2013-02-06T20:36:31-05:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Rub-on pain reliever can ease arthritis discomfort]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/rub-on-pain-reliever-can-ease-arthritis-discomfort-201301185817" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/rub-on-pain-reliever-can-ease-arthritis-discomfort-201301185817</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[When it comes to relieving the pain of achy joints, many people reach for a pain-relieving pill like aspirin or ibuprofen. There may be a better way. When the source of pain is close to the surface, applying a cream, gel, patch, or spray that contains a pain reliever right where it hurts can ease pain and help avoid some of the body-wide side effects of oral pain relievers. These so-called topical analgesics work best for more superficial joints like the knees, ankles, feet, elbows, and hands. The active ingredient in most topical analgesics is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, or diclofenac. These medications target inflammation, which contributes to pain, swelling, and stiffness. The advantage of using a topical analgesic is that the medication works locally. Targeting pain more precisely using a medication applied to the skin can help skirt the side effects of oral drugs. This can be a boon for people whose stomachs are sensitive to NSAIDs.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Bones and joints" />
                        <updated>2013-01-18T18:30:07-05:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Sleep drug dosage change aims to avoid daytime drowsiness]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sleep-drug-dosage-change-aims-to-avoid-daytime-drowsiness-201301165804" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sleep-drug-dosage-change-aims-to-avoid-daytime-drowsiness-201301165804</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[The FDA is urging doctors to lower the starting dose of zolpidem, a popular prescription sleep aid, due to concerns that the drug can linger too long in the body. This causes daytime drowsiness that has led to car accidents. Sleep aids affected by the FDA&#8217;s announcement includes generic zolpidem and brand names Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, and Zolpimist. The FDA lowered the starting dose for women from 10 milligrams (mg) to 5 mg; for men it is now 5 to 10 mg. The drug should be taken right before going to bed. Taking too much of a sleep drug can give you a &#8220;hangover&#8221; of daytime drowsiness the next morning that could raise the risk of accidents or falls. Because people respond to medications in their own ways, it&#8217;s safest to start taking a sleep drug on a weekend, and start with a dose lower than the maximum recommended starting dose. If you feel drowsy the next day, the dose can be reduced; if it didn&#8217;t work, the dose can be increased.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Sleep" />
                        <updated>2013-01-16T18:05:06-05:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Mental strain helps maintain a healthy brain]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mental-strain-helps-maintain-a-healthy-brain-201211055495" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mental-strain-helps-maintain-a-healthy-brain-201211055495</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[When it comes to keeping healthy and fit, living a mentally active life is as important as regular physical exercise. Just as your muscles grow stronger with use, mental exercise keeps your mental skills and memory in tone. Although any brain exercise is better than being a total mental couch potato, some kinds of &#8220;brain work&#8221; are more effective than others. The activities with the most impact are those that require you to work beyond what is easy and comfortable. Try these four basic brain-health strategies: Be a lifelong learner. Strain your brain with mentally challenging tasks. Get out of your comfort zone from time to time to challenge your mental skills. Be social. And don&#8217;t forget your body—physical activity that gets your pulse thumping helps the mind as well as the heart.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Memory" />
                        <updated>2012-11-05T17:29:37-05:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Restless legs linked to broken hearts]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/restless-legs-linked-to-broken-hearts-201209265338" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/restless-legs-linked-to-broken-hearts-201209265338</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[The sleep-robbing condition known as restless legs syndrome (RLS) raises the risk of heart disease in older women about as much as smoking and obesity, according to a new Harvard-based study published online in the journal Circulation. The key sign of RLS is an irresistible urge to move the legs, often accompanied by an uncomfortable &#8220;creepy-crawly&#8221; sensation. It affects about 2% of adults and is twice as common in women as in men. Symptoms typically flare as people settle into bed, but may also arise when simply resting in a chair or sitting at a desk. Most people with RLS also experience periodic jerking leg motions during sleep. Uncovering this link could help people with RLS pay better attention to their cardiovascular health and potentially ward off a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular condition.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Heart Health" />
                        <category term="Sleep" />
                        <updated>2012-09-26T19:24:42-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Increase in heart attack risk after joint surgery low but persistent]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/increase-in-heart-attack-risk-after-joint-surgery-low-but-persistent-201207305088" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/increase-in-heart-attack-risk-after-joint-surgery-low-but-persistent-201207305088</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicates that the risk of having a heart attack is up to 31 times higher immediately following joint replacement surgery. Those relative risk numbers could be terrifying for someone who needs to have a knee or hip replaced. The absolute risk numbers offer some reassurance. In the six weeks following surgery, one in 200 people in the study who got a new hip and one in 500 who had a knee replaced suffered a heart attack. One new point the study underscored is that the elevated risk may last longer than previously thought. Though earlier research had suggested a danger zone lasting four to five days after joint replacement—coincidentally, the period in which many people are discharged from the hospital—the elevated heart attack risk may persist for two to six weeks.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Heart Health" />
                        <category term="Bones and joints" />
                        <updated>2012-07-30T21:24:48-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Harvard expert urges caution for use of new prostate cancer test]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-expert-urges-caution-for-use-of-new-prostate-cancer-test-201207024990" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-expert-urges-caution-for-use-of-new-prostate-cancer-test-201207024990</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[The FDA has approved a new kind of PSA test for prostate cancer that its maker claims can help doctors do a better job of telling the difference between prostate cancer and less worrisome conditions such as prostate infection or benign prostate enlargement. The test, called the Prostate Health Index (PHI), should become available in the U.S. later this summer. The PHI combines measurements of three kinds of prostate specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate gland. In theory, the combination could help reduce the number of men who undergo prostate biopsies when their PSA levels are slightly above normal, in the 4 to 10 nanogram per milliliter range. But doctors must take care not to allow use of the PHI test to worsen the existing overdiagnosis and overtreatment of low-risk cancers, according to Dr. Marc B. Garnick, an expert in prostate cancer at Harvard Medical School and editor in chief of HarvardProstateKnowledge.org.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Prostate Cancer" />
                        <category term="Men&#039;s Health" />
                        <updated>2012-07-02T19:27:42-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Gene may explain why some smokers must fight to quit]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gene-may-explain-why-some-smokers-must-fight-to-quit-201206204902" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gene-may-explain-why-some-smokers-must-fight-to-quit-201206204902</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Why is it so incredibly hard to quit smoking—even when you are desperate to do so? For some people, the answer may be in their genes. In a report published online in the American Journal of Psychiatry, a team led by Dr Li-Shiun Chen of the Washington University School of Medicine identified a &#8220;high risk&#8221; version of a nicotine receptor gene that is more common in heavy smokers. Those with the high-risk gene took two years longer to quit smoking. But there was a silver lining: smokers with the high-risk gene were three times more likely to respond to smoking cessation therapies. The study provides hope for even hardcore smokers. However long it takes, quitting is beneficial. In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, quitting smoking reduced the risk of dying—even in people in their 80s. &#8220;Even older people who smoked for a lifetime without negative health consequences should be encouraged and supported to quit,&#8221; the researchers wrote.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Addiction" />
                        <updated>2012-06-20T12:25:46-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[6 healthy protein choices when cutting back on red meat]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/6-healthy-protein-choices-when-cutting-back-on-red-meat-201206084865" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/6-healthy-protein-choices-when-cutting-back-on-red-meat-201206084865</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Healthy aging and longevity" />
                        <category term="Diet and nutrition" />
                        <updated>2012-06-08T00:00:00-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[A new option for orgasm problems in men]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-new-option-for-orgasm-problems-in-men-201205294804" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-new-option-for-orgasm-problems-in-men-201205294804</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Men&#039;s Health" />
                        <updated>2012-05-29T00:00:00-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Breast cancer in men: uncommon, but catching it early is vital]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/breast-cancer-in-men-uncommon-but-catching-it-early-is-vital-201205254785" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/breast-cancer-in-men-uncommon-but-catching-it-early-is-vital-201205254785</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Breast cancer isn&#8217;t just a woman&#8217;s disease. Men can get it, too—about 1% of breast cancer is diagnosed in men. Since few men know that, they often fail to recognize its earliest signs and end up seeing a doctor later in the process than women do. The result: Men face treatment for larger and more advanced tumors, and their cancer is more likely to have spread to other parts of the body. The largest study to date on outcomes in men with breast cancer indicates that the five-year survival rate for women with breast cancer was 83%, compared to 74% for men. Even men diagnosed with early stage breast cancer still fared worse than women, although the gap closed for men and women diagnosed with later-stage disease. Since breast cancer in men isn&#8217;t often on doctors&#8217; radar screens, men should be aware and check themselves.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Men&#039;s Health" />
                        <category term="Breast Cancer" />
                        <updated>2012-05-25T12:28:45-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Laxative-free colonoscopy on the way?]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/laxative-free-colonoscopy-on-the-way-201205144685" />
            <id>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/laxative-free-colonoscopy-on-the-way-201205144685</id>
                                            <author>
                    <name><![CDATA[Daniel Pendick]]></name>
                </author>
                                        <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[An experimental approach to virtual colonoscopy could eliminate the unpleasant day-before bowel prep that keeps many people from having this potentially life-saving test. Virtual colonoscopy uses computed tomography (CT) scanning with X-rays, instead of a scope, to check the colon for cancers and precancerous polyps. Earlier version have required bowel cleaning, just like regular colonoscopy. A Harvard-based team led by Dr. Michael Zalis uses sophisticated computer software to make stool in the colon disappear. It&#8217;s a little like Photoshopping blemishes from still photos. &#8220;Laxative-free CT colonography has the potential to reach some of the unscreened population and save lives,&#8221; says Dr. Zalis, an associate professor of radiology at MGH and director of CT colonography at MGH Imaging.]]>
            </summary>
            
                        <category term="Cancer" />
                        <category term="Medical Research" />
                        <category term="Colorectal Cancer" />
                        <updated>2012-05-14T21:02:13-04:00</updated>
        </entry>
    </feed>
