http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/index.html en-us © 2007 Medletter Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. customerservice@johnshopkinshealthalerts.com webmaster@iproduction.com Wed, 14 May 2008 12:47:29 CDT Wed, 14 May 2008 12:47:29 CDT IPS - www.iproduction.com Why do so many middle-aged women develop osteoarthritis? Scientists believe that declining estrogen levels may play a role.Osteoarthritis is often called a wear-and-tear disease because it develops in joints after many years of use. Aging increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis, but it's not the sole cause. Scientists aren't sure exactly what causes the condition, but several factors play a role in its development. These include genetic predisposition, obesity, prior joint injuries, wear and tear… http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/arthritis/JohnsHopkinsArthritisHealthAlert_1984-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS For many people with back pain, hydrotherapy -- exercising in water -- offers a way to build muscle strength and flexibility with minimal stress on joints and muscles. This article is written by Kelly Daley, senior physical therapist at Johns Hopkins' Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.Strengthening the muscles that support the back helps both to prevent low back pain and injury and to treat existing back problems. But many exercise programs are too strenuous… http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/back_pain_osteoporosis/JohnsHopkinsBackPainOsteoporosisHealthAlert_1960-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS For patients with advanced, metastatic colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, surgery offers hope, according to a study in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.The treatments for advanced cancer are much the same as for newly diagnosed cancer. However, they are more aggressive. They include: Surgery to remove cancer where it has returned or metastasized. This could be localized or could involve extensive surgery for metastases in the liver or other organs. … http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/colon_cancer/JohnsHopkinsColonCancerHealthAlert_1991-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Does depression lead to poor health … or is it the other way around? Recent research explores the relationship between obesity and mood disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and agoraphobia.Depression clearly has a harmful effect on physical health, although the biological reasons for the link between body and mind are unclear. It may be that depression affects health because people develop a fatalistic attitude and stop taking care of themselves. … http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/depression_anxiety/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsDepressionAnxiety_1916-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Do you take good care of your feet? Many people with diabetes don't and risk foot ulcers or worse. In this Health Alert Johns Hopkins specialists provide the essentials of good foot care for people with diabetes.People with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk for slow-healing foot injuries that can become infected and progress to amputation. The underlying reasons are poor blood flow to the extremities and less sensation to pain due to… http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/diabetes/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsDiabetes_1959-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that contrary to common advice, dietary changes alone will not improve symptoms of GERD, such as heartburn or acid reflux.If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) you know these unpleasant feelings -- heartburn, indigestion, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. Acid from the stomach can even regurgitate into organs connected to the esophagus, such as the larynx, trachea, and lungs. … http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/digestive_health/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsDigestiveDisorders_1944-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS It's common knowledge that a yearly mammogram can be a lifesaver, but recent news suggests that a mammogram isn't always enough. In the spring of 2007, the American Cancer Society (ACS) released new recommendations for the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an additional screening tool for breast cancer for selected high-risk individuals. In addition, new mammography technology, such as digital mammography, is increasingly available. … http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/healthy_living/JohnsHopkinsHealthyLivingHealthAlert_1935-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Which is healthier for your heart: a Mediterranean-style diet or a low-fat diet? A study reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine looked into this question and the results may surprise you.Lifestyle measures are essential to reduce your risk of a heart attack -- whether you are trying to prevent your first heart attack or have already had one and do not want to have another. The aim of lifestyle measures is to control the… http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/heart_health/johnsHopkinsHeartHealthAlert_1969-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS If you are concerned about hypertension, perhaps you should try the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. In this article – and a related article Tweaking the DASH Diet -- Johns Hopkins specialists explore the benefits of a DASH-style diet.The DASH diet is an eating plan that can have a significant and positive effect on your blood pressure. The diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and low in saturated fat… http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/hypertension_stroke/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsHypertensionStroke_1941-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS 2008 JOHNS HOPKINS PRESS RELEASEWhy do some smokers get lung cancer, while other don't? Results from a new study may begin to answer this intriguing question.Researchers at Johns Hopkins, as part of a large, multi-institutional study, have found one gene variant that is linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. The study was published in the April 3, 2008 issue of Nature Genetics. … http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/lung_disorders/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsLungDisorders_1955-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Alzheimer's Question 1 – Where can I get the best medical evaluation for my wife?Q. My wife's doctor thinks she may have an early form of Alzheimer's disease. It's been a week since he gave us that devastating news, but I now feel able to gather my wits and do whatever I can to help get her the best care. We are retired, 78 years old, and able to travel to any center that… http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/memory/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsMemory_1971-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Most people are able to meet their nutritional needs by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods. While there is little evidence that the average person benefits from the daily use of a multivitamin-mineral supplement, there also is little evidence of harm from taking supplements that do not exceed 100% of recommended intakes of nutrients. … http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/nutrition_weight_control/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsNutritionWeightControl_1939-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS When your doctor prescribes a new medication, are the dosing and potential side effects thoroughly discussed? For many patients they are not, as a recent study discovered.There is no single ideal dose of any medication for all patients, because people often respond differently to the same medications. The dose must be tailored to you and your specific medical needs. The goal is to identify the minimum effective dose: one that provides sufficient benefit, with minimum… http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/prescription_drugs/JohnsHopkinsPrescriptionDrugsHealthAlert_1966-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS In this Q and A from the Prostate Bulletin, Dr. Jonathan Epstein, The Reinhard Professor of Urologic Pathology at Johns Hopkins, talks about the intricacies of prostate biopsy.Q. Is it possible that a 12-core biopsy can miss a prostate cancer?Dr. Epstein. Most of the time, good sampling of the prostate means taking 10, 12, or 14 or more cores. Even so, there is potentially a high likelihood of biopsy missing cancer. This depends on where… http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/prostate_disorders/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsProstateDisorders_1949-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS For people with diabetes, cataract surgery poses serious risks, as a recent British study explains.Surgery for cataracts involves removing all or part of the lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens implant (IOL). Cataract removal is the most frequently performed surgery in people over age 65 and is considered by many doctors to be the most effective surgical procedure in all of medicine. If the eye is normal except for the cataract, surgery will… http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/vision/JohnsHopkinsVisionandEyeCareHealthAlert_1985-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS