Breast Cancer Archive

Here's what to do when certain foods disagree with you.

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You probably remember an occasion when you ate something that did not agree with you. But if your stomach issues have become severe and frequent, you might have a food intolerance.

"Food intolerances puzzle many older men, since foods they long enjoyed suddenly give them problems," says Evagelia Georgakilas, a registered dietitian and nutritionist with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "They might tough it out and suffer in silence, but by identifying the problem foods, making adjustments in portion sizes, and switching out certain foods as needed, they can avoid painful and recurring digestive issues."

Some tests that are widely offered for screening aren't advised for generally healthy people and may lead to unnecessary procedures.

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You've probably had more than a few screening tests—blood pressure and cholesterol checks, mammograms, Pap smears, and colonoscopies. However, health fairs and clinics often promote screening tests you might not have had. If you've wondered whether they're a worthwhile investment in your health, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) can help you. The USPSTF is a panel of primary care physicians and epidemiologists appointed and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its role is to develop clinical practice guidelines—recommendations for clinicians about the care of patients with specific conditions. Other health organizations also develop guidelines.

"We've known for some time that there is a wide variation in the way medicine is practiced across parts of the country," says Dr. Mark Aronson, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Guidelines are based upon the best available research evidence and practice experience and are meant to give guidance to doctors for best practices."

 Scientific evidence doesn’t support taking cranberry extract to prevent urinary tract infections.

There is no scientific evidence to support vaginal steaming, in which a woman sits over a bowl of steaming herb-infused water.

A review of 31 studies indicated that calcium intake of 2,500 milligrams or less per day does not increase the risk of developing heart disease in healthy adults.

Alcohol consumption, problem drinking, and alcohol-related health problems are almost as high among women as among men born in the late 1990s.

After prostate cancer surgery, the patient’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is monitored by his doctor via a simple blood test. New research indicates that if the PSA increases following surgery, immediate radiation therapy can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.