Staying Healthy Archive

Research suggests that prolonged stress is linked to high blood pressure, clogged arteries, anxiety, depression, addictive behaviors, and obesity.

The first robotic surgery was performed in the mid-1980s. Now thousands of operations are being done with the assistance of robots. A better term might be robotic instrumentation because, ultimately, there's always a human surgeon with his or her hands on the controls.

Even without robots, a lot of surgery is less hands-on than it used to be. For decades, surgeons have been doing many common abdominal operations with laparoscopes — tube-like instruments with video cameras on the ends — and long-handled surgical instruments. Surgeons watch magnified images on video monitors to see what they are doing so they can guide the surgical instruments.

The timing and the contents of breakfast make it perhaps the most important meal of the day.

Whether it features soup in Vietnam, biscotti in Italy, or scrambled eggs in the United States, breakfast revs up the body after a night's sleep, giving us energy and nutrients to face the day. Studies suggest that eating breakfast regularly is associated with good health — and that the timing of the meal, as well as what's in it, matters.

Q. There's a lot of publicity about omega-3 fats being beneficial for heart, mind, joints, eyes, and so on. There are over-the-counter products of varying size. So, this is my question: is there a daily upper limit on fish oil consumption?

A. There isn't an official upper limit, but for most people, I'd be inclined to draw the line at a gram — 1,000 milligrams (mg) — of omega-3s from fish oil a day.

Q. Compared to the problems your readers ask about, my issue may seem silly. But I hope you'll give me some advice, since it really is very annoying. I'm troubled by excessive sweating.

A. Although it's not a major illness, excessive sweating is far from trivial. In fact, it can be very embarrassing, and it can interfere with healthy interpersonal relationships. Call it by its medical name, hyperhidrosis, and your problem may get the respect it deserves.

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Q. I have started noticing more coconut oil at the grocery store and have heard it is better for you than a lot of other oils. Is that true?

In an ideal world, virtue would be its own reward. In our world, though, virtue often benefits from a little help. Many of us learned to make our beds for a small allowance. As teens, we picked up a few bucks mowing the lawn or shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor. And when we finally joined the work force, we hoped to earn a raise (if not a super-sized bonus) for a job well done.

In an ideal world, medical care would not depend on financial rewards. In our world, though, doctors work hard to earn more and, sad to say, there are cases in which avarice has trumped ethics. And now, third-party payers and government regulators are using monetary incentives to improve care. In so-called pay-for-performance systems, doctors and hospitals have to meet practice guidelines and standards to earn full compensation.

Q. A hospital in the area is advertising robotic surgery. Is it really any better than having a surgeon do the operation?

A. The first robotic surgery was performed over in the mid-1980s. Now thousands of operations are being done with the assistance of robots. A better term might be robotic instrumentation because, ultimately, there's always a human surgeon with his or her hands on the controls.

Q. Why does the nose run in cold weather?

A. The inside surfaces of the nose are covered with blood-filled mucous membranes that warm and humidify the air as it passes by on its way to the lungs. When cold air hits them, they tend to secrete water and mucus. The colder and drier the air, the more water and mucus need to be produced and the more the nose runs. Taking a warm shower or bath can help a runny nose because air you're taking in is already moist and warm, so the membranes can relax and stop secreting water and mucus.

Q. What causes bags and puffiness around the eyes and dark circles underneath them?

A. Gently pinch the skin under your eyes and give it a little tug. You'll feel that it's a little looser and thinner than skin elsewhere. As we age, some of the fat under the skin of the face disappears and gravity tends to pull what's left downward. Bags form under the eyes partly because there's less fat supporting the skin, so it becomes slacker. Thinner and looser skin also allows fluid to collect, causing a puffy appearance. The dark circles — not true circles, of course — under the eyes are caused by blood pooling in the veins just under the skin. The skin there is especially sensitive to sunlight, so some of the darkness may be from pigment. You've probably noticed the puffiness around your eyes after you first get up in the morning, and the dark circles may be more visible then, too. You're seeing the consequences of being in a horizontal position, which creates a greater tendency for fluids to accumulate around the eyes and for veins to expand (dilate) so they hold more blood.