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Read More about Drinking sugary beverages associated with colon cancer risk
Drinking sugary beverages associated with colon cancer risk

Drinking sugary beverages associated with colon cancer risk
Drinking two or more sugary drinks a day appeared to more than double the risk of colorectal cancer in women.
Read More about Reducing heart risks in the wake of breast cancer treatment
Reducing heart risks in the wake of breast cancer treatment

Reducing heart risks in the wake of breast cancer treatment
Hormone therapy is a highly successful breast cancer treatment for women, but it can elevate cardiovascular risk. Women can reduce those risks by being vigilant about their heart health and working closely with their doctors. Women who have taken or are taking these medications as part of breast cancer treatment should focus on adopting a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly, and keeping close tabs on their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels.
Read More about Look inside your heart
Look inside your heart

Look inside your heart
The traditional measures to gauge heart disease risk don’t always tell the whole story. Sometimes more medical information is needed. An increasingly used test to predict a person’s risk for heart attack or stroke is a coronary artery calcium scan. It measures the amount of calcified plaque in the heart’s arteries, high levels of which suggest higher overall plaque buildup. The number can determine if people should begin statin therapy and make additional lifestyle changes.
Read More about 5 important blood tests beyond the basics
5 important blood tests beyond the basics

5 important blood tests beyond the basics
Five blood tests beyond basic blood work may be worth pursuing for older adults. For example, a test to determine one’s vitamin B12 level might be helpful, since older adults sometimes have trouble absorbing that vitamin. Likewise, older adults have less ability to absorb sunlight through the skin, which may lead to less production of vitamin D. Other blood tests to consider include those for HIV or hepatitis C infection, and a test to measure fasting blood sugar.
Read More about Vitamin D and the big C
Vitamin D and the big C

Vitamin D and the big C
New research has found an association between high and low levels of vitamin D and cancer risk. However, many older adults don’t get the recommended daily amount of 600 to 800 international units, as the main sources of vitamin D are sun exposure (which many people try to avoid) and certain foods, like fatty fish, fortified milk and cereal. Getting vitamin D levels checked to find a possible deficiency can reveal if someone needs more vitamin D, which may require taking a daily supplement.
Read More about Advisory group: Too soon to recommend routine vitamin D screening
Advisory group: Too soon to recommend routine vitamin D screening

Advisory group: Too soon to recommend routine vitamin D screening
An advisory group finds there is not enough evidence to recommend routine screening for vitamin D deficiency.
Read More about Large review study finds low risk of erectile dysfunction after prostate biopsy
Large review study finds low risk of erectile dysfunction after prostate biopsy

Large review study finds low risk of erectile dysfunction after prostate biopsy
Prostate cancer biopsies have a low risk of side effects, but some men do experience sexual dysfunction after the procedure. But a large review of sdudies has found that these issues usually resolve within one to three months.
Read More about Screening for lung cancer
Screening for lung cancer

Screening for lung cancer
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends more people should undergo lung cancer screening.
Read More about More people now eligible for lung cancer screening
More people now eligible for lung cancer screening

More people now eligible for lung cancer screening
Updated guidelines suggest current and former smokers get an annual lung cancer screening including those who have quit within the past 15 years.
Read More about Less-invasive treatment for unsightly leg veins as good as surgery
Less-invasive treatment for unsightly leg veins as good as surgery

Less-invasive treatment for unsightly leg veins as good as surgery

Research we're watching

A minimally invasive treatment for treating varicose veins is as effective as surgery to remove the faulty veins, according to a new study.

Most varicose veins — gnarled, bluish veins just under the skin's surface — result from problems with the great saphenous vein, the large vein located near the inside of the leg that runs from the ankle to the upper thigh. The surrounding muscles and one-way valves in the vein weaken, a condition called venous insufficiency.

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