Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Archive

There are many opportunities to join a clinical trial, and you may be surprised at what you can learn about your health.

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You no doubt have seen advertisements asking people to join a clinical trial and thought they don't apply to you. But perhaps you should reconsider.

"People have a vested interest in the outcome of research trials, since these studies address many issues they want to avoid or better manage, such as cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, and dementia," says Dr. Howard Sesso, an epidemiologist with the division of preventive medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

A new study found that men with low-risk prostate cancer may be able to undergo a shortened course of radiation therapy that cuts treatment by weeks and offers similar outcomes and quality-of-life results as longer treatment courses.

Medications such as aspirin, statins, ACE inhibitors, and beta blockers are prescribed to certain patients to lower the chance of a first or repeat heart attack. New research shows that they also may reduce the severity of attacks that do occur.

These tiny devices can improve your communication, your relationships, and even your brain function, but only if you use them. 

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Age-related hearing loss affects about a quarter of people ages 65 to 74 and half of those ages 75 and older, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Over all, though, it tends to be more male-oriented.

“By middle age, many men also have hearing nerve damage from long exposure to noises like power tools, music, and guns,” says Dr. Steven Rauch, an otologist with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Some career choices—like construction, manufacturing, or military service—also contribute.

Some tests that are widely offered for screening aren't advised for generally healthy people and may lead to unnecessary procedures.

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You've probably had more than a few screening tests—blood pressure and cholesterol checks, mammograms, Pap smears, and colonoscopies. However, health fairs and clinics often promote screening tests you might not have had. If you've wondered whether they're a worthwhile investment in your health, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) can help you. The USPSTF is a panel of primary care physicians and epidemiologists appointed and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its role is to develop clinical practice guidelines—recommendations for clinicians about the care of patients with specific conditions. Other health organizations also develop guidelines.

"We've known for some time that there is a wide variation in the way medicine is practiced across parts of the country," says Dr. Mark Aronson, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Guidelines are based upon the best available research evidence and practice experience and are meant to give guidance to doctors for best practices."

 Scientific evidence doesn’t support taking cranberry extract to prevent urinary tract infections.

There is no scientific evidence to support vaginal steaming, in which a woman sits over a bowl of steaming herb-infused water.

A review of 31 studies indicated that calcium intake of 2,500 milligrams or less per day does not increase the risk of developing heart disease in healthy adults.

Alcohol consumption, problem drinking, and alcohol-related health problems are almost as high among women as among men born in the late 1990s.

After prostate cancer surgery, the patient’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is monitored by his doctor via a simple blood test. New research indicates that if the PSA increases following surgery, immediate radiation therapy can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.