Osteoporosis Archive

Ask the doctor

Q. My right hand goes numb when I open a can or use hand tools. Is this something I need to worry about? Do I have carpal tunnel syndrome?

A. The hand receives its sensory information from three different nerves, and irritation of any of them can lead to numbness. In the hand, numbness is often related to the way that the nerve is compressed or squeezed slightly when you bend your wrist, as happens when you open a can. Excess vibration or repetitive hand motion when you use tools may also cause numbness.

If knee pain and swelling are severe an are not getting better, see your primary care doctor for a thorough evalucation. Image: Thinkstock

Arthritis is not the only possible cause of knee pain, swelling, and disability.

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Several medications can maintain or increase bone density. You can choose one based on your health and preferences.

Most of what we read about hip fracture isn't good. It is a major cause of disability, nursing home admissions, and death in older women. But there is a promising trend: hip fractures in the United States have been on the decline since 1996. Although better nutrition, increased physical activity, and education on fall prevention may have played a role, the drop in fractures has also coincided with the widespread availability of bisphosphonates—a class of drugs first approved in 1995 to increase bone density.

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Clots in the lungs are twice as deadly as heart attacks.

If you scrape your leg, blood clots come to the rescue to heal the wound. But if a blood clot forms deep inside a leg vein, it's a different story. Known as a venous thrombosis—a term meaning "blood clot in a vein"—this type of clot can cause pain, swelling, and redness in the affected limb. When one forms in a leg or arm, it's called deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). But the real threat happens if the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Ask the doctor

Q. I take warfarin for my atrial fibrillation. I know it can increase the risk of bleeding. Is it okay for me to take ibuprofen for my arthritis?

A. In general, you should avoid ibuprofen—which is sold as Advil, Motrin, and generics—while taking warfarin, because taking them together may further increase your risk of bleeding.

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Squeezing chest pain isn't always from a blocked artery.

Classic heart attack symptoms—severe pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest—most often arise from a blockage in a coronary artery that prevents blood from reaching the heart muscle. But a lesser-known condition, called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, can produce the same sudden heart symptoms even when the coronary arteries are clear.

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Research we're watching

People who sleep too much or too little may be more likely to have early signs of heart disease, according to a study of more than 47,000 apparently healthy young and middle-aged adults.

The study volunteers filled out sleep questionnaires and underwent tests to assess the arteries in their hearts and legs. Researchers found that people who slept for nine or more hours per night had more calcium buildup in their heart artery walls and stiffer leg arteries than those who slept seven hours per night. These early signs of heart disease were also more prevalent in people who logged five or fewer hours of sleep per night and in people who reported poor sleep quality.

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Erectile dysfunction is common, but it's not always the problem. A doctor can help you get to the bottom of it.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is difficulty either getting or maintaining an erection firm and lasting enough for a satisfying sexual encounter. The most common cause is inadequate blood supply to the spongy tissues in the penis that provide rigidity. That's a straightforward "plumbing problem" that can usually be treated with medication. But there are other possible causes, too.

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Calcium is required for good health, and you can obtain most of what you need from common foods.

Calcium builds strong bones—right? In general that's true, because calcium forms the bricks and mortar of bones. That's why you need to take in sufficient calcium from your diet to replace worn-out bone as you age. Being deficient in calcium can weaken bones, leaving them more prone to breaking. Vitamin D is the helpmate to calcium, allowing the body to absorb more of the mineral during digestion.

Ask the doctor

Q. I've had some severe bouts of depression before my periods. I have done my own research and I am willing to try an antidepressant. What dosage of Sarafem or Prozac is usually given to treat this?

A. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are an excellent option for treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). In fact, most physicians now consider them first-line therapy. Many different SSRIs have been studied, including the one you asked about—fluoxetine (Prozac or Sarafem)—and they all appear to be equally effective.