Even a little exercise linked with lower stroke risk in people with afib
Testosterone therapy without evidence of deficiency may boost heart risk
Weight-loss drug may lower risk of heart attacks and infections
What to eat on the DASH diet
Migraine: How it's diagnosed and what that means
Tricep workouts you can do at home
Mindfulness practices to reduce stress and improve focus
Antihistamines may not offer meaningful relief from eczema symptoms
Overweight and taking blood pressure medications: Study finds it's a trend that's working
FDA approves first mRNA-based flu vaccine
Integrative therapies Archive
Articles
The new cholesterol-lowering drugs
Persistently high “bad” LDL cholesterol leads to heart attacks and strokes. New drugs can help, but they are not appropriate for all men. |
These potent medications are for hard-to-manage cases of high cholesterol—not replacements for the tried-and-true statins.
Ask the doctor: Saw palmetto and prostate health
Q. Some of my friends take saw palmetto supplements to reduce urinary problems caused by an overgrown prostate, which I was recently diagnosed with. My friends swear by it, but is there any good evidence this stuff helps? Is saw palmetto safe?
A. The short answer is that we don't have great scientific evidence that taking saw palmetto truly reduces male urinary problems. On the other hand, it doesn't appear to cause major side effects either.
Is your heartburn pill working for you?
| Image: iStock |
For optimal results, you need to take your medication regularly and time it correctly to your meals.
Have you tried to cool the burning discomfort of heartburn with medication and failed to get full relief? If so, a few simple adjustments to optimize your treatment may be all you need.
Is your medication making you depressed?
When starting a new medication, keep a journal to track any new symptoms that develop. Note the time of day, date, and type of symptom you are experiencing. |
Be on the lookout for mood swings, sleeplessness, and anxiety when starting certain medications.
Ask the doctor: Should I take a vitamin E supplement?
Some studies have shown that taking vitamin E supplements may slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and acute macular degeneration. |
Q. Are there any benefits to taking vitamin E supplements? Or any risks?
Which blood pressure drug is right for you?
Controlling high blood pressure involves trial and error. It may take more than one medication to do the job, and the dosages may need to be adjusted over time. |
The medications your doctor prescribes may depend on your underlying health issues.
Should you keep taking NSAIDs for pain?
The FDA is strengthening an existing label warning that NSAIDs increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke.
Could hypnotherapy help you?
Hypnotherapy helps you control or alter your thoughts, feelings, and physical state. The results may help relieve anxiety, pain, or insomnia. Image: Thinkstock |
Tap into your brain's circuitry to boost treatment for your health condition.
Ask the doctor: Statins and liver tests
Q. My doctor used to check my liver function once a year after I started taking a statin drug to lower my cholesterol, but he doesn't anymore. Why not?
A. Your doctor appears to be following the latest recommendations from the American Heart Association and the FDA. When statin medications were first approved, doctors did periodic blood tests to check for liver injury. Three decades later, it is clear that serious liver injury from statins is a rare side effect and that routine blood testing does not help identify people at risk for statin-related liver problems. Therefore, routine monitoring is not a good use of money and time.
New studies support statin guidelines
Discuss your own situation and preferences with your doctor when deciding whether to take a statin. Image: Thinkstock |
But if you are healthy, deciding if these commonly prescribed drugs are right for you is a personal choice.
Even a little exercise linked with lower stroke risk in people with afib
Testosterone therapy without evidence of deficiency may boost heart risk
Weight-loss drug may lower risk of heart attacks and infections
What to eat on the DASH diet
Migraine: How it's diagnosed and what that means
Tricep workouts you can do at home
Mindfulness practices to reduce stress and improve focus
Antihistamines may not offer meaningful relief from eczema symptoms
Overweight and taking blood pressure medications: Study finds it's a trend that's working
FDA approves first mRNA-based flu vaccine
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