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Arthritis Pain-Relief Guidelines

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Michele Bellantoni, M.D., Medical Director of Johns Hopkins Bayview Care Center, answers a reader’s question on the safety of narcotic pain medication for chronic arthritis pain.  More...
Posted in Arthritis on July 19, 2010

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Should You See a Doctor for Your Neck Pain?

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Neck pain can result from a variety of causes, including muscle strain, worn joints, disk disorders, and injuries. Sometimes self-care measures are not enough and you need medical attention -- sooner rather than later to prevent long-term disability. This advice and other guidance comes from The Bone and Joint Decade 2000- 2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders, an international group of doctors and other experts specializing in musculoskeletal disorders who reviewed the literature on neck pain. Here's what they found. More...
Posted in Back Pain & Osteoporosis on July 23, 2010

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Research on Aspirin and Colorectal Cancer

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Randomized trials show that regular aspirin use reduces the risk of polyps in people at high risk for colorectal cancer. Now an observational study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Volume 302, page 649) finds that people with colorectal cancer live longer if they take aspirin on a regular basis. More...
Posted in Colon Cancer on July 21, 2010

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What Is Social Phobia and Do You Have It?

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
A reader from Seattle, Washington asks: Where do you draw the line between shyness and social phobia? I get overwhelmed with anxiety in many social situations. It has affected my career and my ability to socialize and date. I am wondering whether medication could help me. I'd appreciate your input.  More...
Posted in Depression and Anxiety on June 29, 2010

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Is an Insulin Pump Right For You?

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Insulin pumps are used primarily by people with type 1 diabetes, but more type 2 diabetes patients are starting to use the pump. In this Health Alert Johns Hopkins experts answer the question: Am I a good candidate for an insulin pump? More...
Posted in Diabetes on July 22, 2010

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9 Tips To Help You Prepare for Colonoscopy

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Colonoscopy is the 'gold standard' for finding and removing precancerous polyps and colon cancers. But many people delay colonoscopy because of the uncomfortable pre-exam preparation. In this Health Alert Johns Hopkins provides practical advice to help you make the best of this necessary test.  More...
Posted in Digestive Health on July 26, 2010

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Acronyms You Should Know: TURP, TUMT, TUEV, TUIP, PVP, and TUNA

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Known as simple prostatectomy, surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) typically involves removing only the prostate tissue that is surrounding and pressing on the urethra. The procedure is performed either transurethrally (through the urethra) or by making an incision in the lower abdomen. Here are the most commonly-performed surgeries for BPH, in brief. More...
Posted in Enlarged Prostate on July 6, 2010

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Help for Hemorrhoids

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
What should you do if you suspect you have a hemorrhoid? Here's advice from our Health After 50 newsletter.Often sources of discomfort and embarrassment, hemorrhoids are inflamed veins in the tissue of the anus and rectum. They are usually caused by pressure from straining during bowel movements (from constipation or diarrhea), but genetics and prolonged sitting (including spending too much time on the toilet) also can play a role. … More...
Posted in Healthy Living on July 28, 2010

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Using a Tape Measure to Predict Your Heart Attack Risk

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Pot belly, love handles, spare tire -- whatever you call it, excess weight around your middle is no laughing matter. Abdominal fat is a strong risk factor for heart attacks. In fact, many doctors now believe that waist size may be even more important than body mass index in predicting coronary heart disease. And according to the latest research, adding hip size to the equation may make the prediction even more accurate.  More...
Posted in Heart Health on July 9, 2010

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Medications to Avoid

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
If you have high blood pressure, you should know that certain prescription and over-the-counter medications may raise your blood pressure. Recently a reader asked us: Which medications and dietary supplements should I avoid if I have high blood pressure? Here’s our advice … More...
Posted in Hypertension & Stroke on July 13, 2010

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Keep Cool for Your Lung's Sake

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Hot summer weather can be especially dangerous for elderly people with lung disease. Here’s what the research advises.  More...
Posted in Lung Disorders on July 29, 2010

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Were You Born With a Good Memory?

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
A reader from Wyandotte, PA asks: My brother, three years older at 66, has a steel trap memory and can remember what we had for dinner at his birthday party five years ago, while I am the type who can't remember where I put my eyeglasses and car keys. Are some people just born with a better memory than others?  More...
Posted in Memory on June 21, 2010

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Fat Cells: Storage Bins for Excess Calories

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Did you know that if you consume more calories than you expend, those extra calories will be stored primarily as fat regardless of whether the extra calories come from fats, carbohydrates, or proteins? In this Health Alert Johns Hopkins experts explain the dangers of fat cell secretions.  More...
Posted in Nutrition & Weight Control on July 14, 2010

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The Danger of One-Size-Fits-All Dosing

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
A subscriber to our Health After 50 newsletter asks: I'm taller and heavier than the average person. Should I be taking a higher dose of antibiotics? Here’s what we know … More...
Posted in Prescription Drugs on July 6, 2010

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Thalidomide: A Potential Treatment For Prostate Cancer?

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
halidomide may play a role in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, according to a new study, reported in The Journal of Urology (Volume 181, page 1104). Here’s what the researchers found … More...
Posted in Prostate Disorders on July 21, 2010

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What You Can Do to Prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration

By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
A reader asks us: I've heard conflicting information. Can eating more fish prevent age-related macular degeneration? Here’s what the studies suggest … More...
Posted in Vision on July 16, 2010

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