Diseases & Conditions Archive

Q. Why does my calf start hurting a few minutes after I start walking?

A. The most benign possibility, particularly if this problem started recently, is simply a strain in the calf muscle. Such a strain should cause symptoms pretty much whenever you use the muscle—like immediately after you start walking. However, there are two more possibilities that are not benign.

Viewing the back of the eye helps catch problems earlier.

Reading an eye chart every few years isn't enough to maintain eye health and prevent complications down the road. Earlier this year, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) came out with a statement urging everyone to have regular dilated eye exams that allow physicians to see clearly into the back of the eye. "It's critical to have dilated exams," says Dr. Jeffrey Heier, director of the retina service at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston and clinical instructor in ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. "Once problems occur, vision loss can be irreversible. Catching problems early can help preserve vision."

Cataract surgery can help prevent hip fractures that result from falls. In a recent study, researchers noted that clear vision contributes significantly to postural balance and stability.

First, change the behaviors that contribute to heartburn. If the pain persists, medications called PPIs are highly effective.

Are you bothered by burning behind the breastbone after eating? You are not alone. One-third of us suffer from heartburn, typified by a pain and irritation in the upper gut. The underlying trouble is usually a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Eliminating co-pays may convince more people to seek colorectal cancer screening. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurers can't always charge co-pays for certain preventive procedures. In a study in Clinical Gastroenterology and In 2009, the first year the ACA's co-pay limit went into effect, the percentage of people who underwent colonoscopy increased by 18%.

People often avoid colonoscopy because of the bowel-purging "prep" it requires. However, under the ACA anyone ages 50-75 can get colonoscopy paid for every 10 years. Although a preventive service may be fully covered, the visit to the doctor's office could still carry a co-pay.

Treatment is available if you test positive.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that everyone born between 1945 and 1965—the so-called "baby boomer" generation—be tested for hepatitis C. The CDC reports that about two million American adults know they have hepatitis C, and 75% of them are baby boomers. Another 1.5 million baby boomers are likely infected, but aren't seeking treatment because they're unaware of their condition. That could be life threatening. "You have to understand that hepatitis C advances very silently. If it's discovered once the liver fails, then it's too late to save the liver. Screening is so easy," says Dr. Stanley Rosenberg, a gastroenterologist at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).

Q. I'm an older runner, and I've developed shin splints. What causes them, what are the treatments, and how can I prevent them from coming back?

A. Shin splints involve injury of the muscles in the inner part of your lower leg. The exercise that causes shin splints most often is running. And the thing that most often leads to running-related shin splints is putting those muscles to a test that they're not yet ready for. Running much faster or longer than before, or on a different surface, is what most often causes the injury.