Diseases & Conditions Archive

A blockage outside the heart can be just as dangerous as a heart attack.

A blood clot in the coronary arteries can cause a heart attack. But a blood clot in a large vein somewhere else in the body, called venous thromboembolism (VTE), can also end in a medical emergency. Fortunately, the risk factors for heart attacks and "vein attacks" are similar, and therefore VTE is preventable. And if you do develop a clot, treatment with anticoagulant medications can protect you from developing another.

Q. I have a long history of tension headaches and usually get relief by taking acetaminophen. Lately, the medication relieves the headache, but then the pain returns later in the day. Can acetaminophen lose its effectiveness, or could it be something else?

A. Any headache that is new or worsening should be evaluated by your doctor. He or she will try to diagnose the cause of your headache by reviewing your medical history and performing a physical examination.

The sign of bowel health is ease and comfort—not necessarily having a bowel movement every day.

Bowel movements are part of the daily rhythm of life. But as the decades march on, the rhythm may beat slower and raise concerns. "Some of my patients are absolutely convinced there has to be a daily bowel movement, but actually there is a lot of variation," says Dr. William Kormos, editor in chief of Harvard Men's Health Watch and a primary care physician at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

After eliminating the bacterial infection that causes bleeding peptic ulcers, it may not be necessary to continue taking acid-reducing medications, according to a study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria causes ulcers. People with ulcers commonly take a drug to reduce stomach acid secretion. It's been unclear whether people should continue taking these drugs after being treated for H. pylori infection.

New research finds caffeine may help.

For the millions of people who suffer from dry-eye syndrome—a low moisture level in the eyes that causes a stinging, burning sensation—a solution may be waiting in a cup of coffee or tea. In a study published in the journal Ophthalmology, people who consumed caffeine produced more tears than those who took a placebo. "This is an interesting study, the first I know of which addresses the effect of caffeine directly on tear volume," says Dr. Jason Rothman, an ophthalmologist at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston. "There is evidence from other studies which suggests caffeine may increase other secretions, such as stomach acid and saliva. But the effects of caffeine may be different from person to person."

The importance of tears

Dry-eye syndrome causes more than just a reduction in the amount of tears. It's also associated with a change in the tear ingredients. Tears are a mixture of oils, water and mucus, which help protect our eyes from infection by keeping them lubricated and washing away dirt and other particles.

Your next tennis match or swim may help prevent this skin condition.

Psoriasis, the autoimmune disease characterized by patches of irritated, flaky skin on the elbows, knees, and trunk. A study from Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital finds that vigorous exercise may help reduce the risk of psoriasis in women by 25 to 30%. "Inflammation is associated with the risk of psoriasis, and people who exercise vigorously may have less inflammation in their bodies," explains Dr. Abrar Qureshi, associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and the lead author of the study.

Bariatric surgery may significantly reduce a person's odds of developing type 2 diabetes. This stomach procedure that restricts food intake may reduce the long-term incidence of type 2 diabetes in obese individuals.

Despite theoretical reasons to worry that biologic response modifiers may raise cancer risk, it appears they don’t significantly raise the risk of malignancy. The drugs can dramatically improve inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis.