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February 28th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Mayo Clinic Q & A: Regardless of risk, take steps to protect heart health
By lizatorborg 
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am a 37-year-old man and have no health problems, but both of my parents have heart disease. My dad had his first heart attack at age 50. Are there things I can do now to prevent it, or is heart disease inevitable for me because of my family history?
ANSWER: Based on your family history, your risk for heart attacks is higher than the risk of a person without that kind of history. But that does not mean heart attacks are inevitable. A thorough medical evaluation can help determine your specific risk of developing heart problems. You can also take steps to help protect your heart health, no matter what your risk level.
A family history of heart attacks — especially one in a parent younger than 55, as in your father’s situation — is a major risk factor for the type of heart disease known as coronary artery disease, sometimes called CAD. Coronary artery disease develops when the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients — your coronary arteries — become damaged or diseased. Cholesterol-containing deposits, or plaques, and inflammation in your arteries are usually the source of coronary artery disease. There are many factors that may cause coronary artery disease, including high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, smoking, obesity and high blood pressure, to mention some.
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Tags: Coronary Artery Disease, Dr Francisco López-Jiménez, Dr Lopez-Jimenez, heart attack prevention, Heart Disease, Mayo Clinic Q A
February 27th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Something to Think About ~ When do you truly fail?
By Dana Sparks 
"Our crabapple is more resilient than I am. I try. I fail. And then I stop trying. I lose hope, get frustrated and impatient, and then give up..." More from Amit Sood, M.D. - When do you truly fail?
Dr. Sood is director of research in the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He also chairs the Mind-Body Medicine Initiative at Mayo Clinic.
Click here to read previous blog posts. Follow Dr. Sood on Twitter @AmitSoodMD
"Failing isn't in falling; failing is falling and not trying to rise." – Dr. Amit Sood
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Tags: Complementary Integrative Medicine, Dr Amit Sood, Something to Think About
February 27th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
By Dana Sparks
Mucus. It isn’t pretty, but it’s a frontline weapon in the fight against the common cold and sinusitis. On this week’s Mayo Clinic Radio, ENT specialist Dr. Erin O’Brien explains why.
Also on the program, Mayo Clinic cardiologist Dr. Rekha Mankad answers listener questions about heart health. And Mayo Clinic urologist Dr. Jeffrey Karnes discusses the pros and cons of the PSA test for prostate cancer.
Myth or Matter-of-Fact: Humming can improve sinus health.
Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio.
Click here to listen to the program on Saturday, February 7, at 9:05 a.m. and follow #MayoClinicRadio.
To find and listen to archived shows, click here.
Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic. The show is taped for rebroadcast by some affiliates.
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Tags: cold, Dr. Erin O'Brien, Dr Jeffrey Karnes, Dr Rekha Mankad, Heart Health, Mayo Clinic Radio, Prostate Cancer, PSA test, sinusitis
February 27th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
By Dana Sparks
WHAT: On Friday, Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. ET/10 p.m. PT, HBO will air a documentary from VICE Media entitled Killing Cancer, which follows pioneering cancer researchers including those at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. The broadcast will conclude with the announcement of a matching gift campaign established by the documentary’s host and producer Shane Smith to fund cancer research at Mayo Clinic.
WHO: Shane Smith, CEO and founder of VICE Media, is no stranger to the impact cancer has on families. To honor his mother, a cancer survivor, Smith is establishing a $500,000 matching gift to fund cancer research at Mayo Clinic.
WHERE: Gifts qualifying for the match can be made online here.
WHEN: Gifts made between February 27 and April 28, 2015, qualify for this matching gift opportunity.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joe Dangor, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284 5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu.
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Tags: Cancer Center, HBO, Killing Cancer, measles virus therapy, oncolytic virus therapy, Research, Shane Smith, VICE
February 27th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Seasonal Affective Disorder or a Case of the Winter Blues
By balzerdeb 
The winter has been especially harsh for millions of Americans with record snowfalls and extreme temperatures forcing many to stay indoors due to inclement weather. Short days, lack of sunlight and cold temperatures especially in the northern areas of the U.S. are being blamed for bouts of cabin fever and the winter blues. You may also hear people refer to seasonal affective disorder or SAD this winter, however, there are some distinct differences.
Mark A. Frye, M.D., says SAD is a significant cyclical mood disorder that affects patients most winters beginning in late fall or early winter when the skies are gray during the day or the sun sets early.
While many people, especially during a difficult winter, struggle with cabin fever and winter blues, SAD depressive symptoms can be severe and functionally disabling. Dr. Frye says SAD is a mood disorder much like bipolar disorder or major depression but specifically related to the change of seasons.
Journalists: Soundbites with Dr. Frye are in the downloads. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Cabin Fever, Dr. Mark Frye, light therapy, mood disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Wellbutrin, Winter Blues
February 27th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Mayo News Network Headlines 2/27/2015
By balzerdeb
In today's Mayo News Network Headlines with Vivien Williams:
- Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines
- Winter Blues
- What Color is the Dress
Journalists: Video is available in the downloads. Click here for the script.
February 26th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Cancer Treatment and the Heart
By Dana Sparks
Cancer treatment and the heart
Radiation treatment and chemotherapy can increase the chance of heart damage. Know the risks.
Alternative cancer treatments: 10 options to consider
Looking for relief from cancer treatment side effects? These 10 types of alternative medicine may help.
Mayo Clinic to be featured in "Killing Cancer" — a special report from VICE on HBO Don't miss the HBO documentary "Killing Cancer" on Friday, Feb. 27, at 10 p.m. ET. Follow the revolution happening in the treatment of cancer and discover how viruses will become a main driver for cancer therapy. Thanks to thousands of hours of research, the courage and optimism of our patients, and generous gifts from people like you, we are closer than ever to cures for some of the deadliest, hardest to treat cancers. Learn more.
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Tags: Cancer Treatments, HBO, heart, Living With Cancer Blog
February 26th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
By Dana Sparks
Fever treatment: Quick guide to treating a fever
Dense breast tissue: What it means to have dense breasts
Blood pressure chart: What your reading means
Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan
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Tags: Blood Pressure Chart, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Dense Breast Tissue, Diabetes, fever, Thursday Consumer Health Tips
February 26th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
What Do You Know About Superbugs?
By balzerdeb
You may have heard the term superbug in the news lately. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (En-tero-bacteria-ce·ae) (CRE) has been linked to several deaths around the United States after those patients had endoscopic procedures using a duodenoscope. CRE is often referred to as a superbug because it's resistant to the carbapenem antibiotic and other commonly used antibiotics.
The duodenoscope is a complex instrument used in an endoscopic procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Bret Petersen, M.D., calls the ERCP a very important procedure that potentially saves many lives and says more than 100,000 ERCP procedures are done annually in the U.S.
Instruments used in common procedures such as colonoscopy and upper endoscopy have not been related to these cases of CRE. Dr. Petersen says patients should not be fearful of having these important procedures.
Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Petersen are available in the downloads. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Colonoscopy, CRE, Dr Bret Petersen, duodenoscope, superbug, upper endoscopy
February 26th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Mayo Clinic News Network Headlines 2/26/15
By balzerdeb
In today's headlines, a link between allergies in children and dishwashers. Vivien Williams has more.
Click here for script.
February 25th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Dry skin is can be temporary — for example you might only suffer from it during the winter months — but for some it can be a lifelong condition. Although skin is often driest on your hands, arms and lower legs, this varies from person to person. What's more, signs and symptoms of dry skin depend on your age, your health, where you live, time spent outdoors and the cause of the problem.
Megan Johnston Flanders, M.D., family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls, says dry skin is likely to cause one or more of the following:
- A feeling of skin tightness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming
- Skin that feels and looks rough
- Itching (pruritus)
- Slight to severe flaking, scaling or peeling
- Fine lines or cracks
- Gray, ashy skin in people with dark skin
- Redness
- Deep cracks that may bleed
Dr. Johnston Flanders says the following measures can help keep your skin moist and healthy: Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Dermatology, Dr Megan Johnston Flanders, Dry Skin, Mayo Clinic Health System
February 25th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
A. Keith Stewart, M.B., Ch.B., Named Director of Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
By Sam Smith 
ROCHESTER, Minn. — A. Keith Stewart, M.B., Ch.B., has been appointed medical director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine. Dr. Stewart is a consultant in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine.
“I am honored to have this opportunity,” says Dr. Stewart. “We will build on the excellent work of the center to date, with a renewed focus on helping our clinicians access genomics based diagnostics and therapeutics on a routine basis to improve patient care. The integrated complex care delivered at Mayo Clinic provides a unique ability to lead in the development of precision medicine advances with global impact.”
Dr. Stewart’s own research and clinical interest is in translational genomics in multiple myeloma, including both basic and clinical research to identify novel targets for therapy in multiple myeloma. A diversity of public and private institutions currently support this work: the National Cancer Institute, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, as well as numerous partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry for clinical trials. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Arizona News Release, Center for Individualized Medicine, Dr A Keith Stewart, Dr Keith Stewart, Minnesota news release
February 25th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Mayo Clinic’s Measles Virus Therapy for Cancer Profiled in VICE Documentary on HBO
By Joe Dangor 
On Friday, Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. ET/10 p.m. PT, HBO will broadcast a documentary entitled Killing Cancer.
VICE founder and host Shane Smith follows pioneering researchers across the U.S. — including specialists from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center — who are changing the face of modern-day medicine through their work with oncolytic virus therapy.
This revolutionary treatment uses HIV, measles and other viruses that have killed millions to combat cancer. You can view the trailer:
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Tags: HBO, Killing Cancer, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, measles virus therapy, Multiple Myeloma, oncolytic virus therapy, Shane Smith, VICE
February 25th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Quicker Recoveries Possible with Robotic Heart Valve Surgery
By Dennis Douda 
Millions of Americans are living with a heart murmur, a telltale sound caused by blood rushing through the heart. Some are harmless, but sometimes they’re a clue to serious problems with the heart’s valves. When surgery is called for, robotic technology is allowing repairs to be made safer than ever before.
After more than 500 robot-assisted mitral valve repair procedures, cardiac surgeon Rakesh Suri, M.D., says Mayo Clinic has proven that - not only does this minimally invasive heart surgery get patients back on their feet faster, it does so at no added cost. Watch the video to see how it works.
Journalists: Broadcast quality video is available in the downloads. Click here to read the script.
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Tags: Dr. Rakesh Suri, HL, mitral valve, mitral valve prolapse, mitral valve regurgitation, Pkg, Robotic Surgery
February 24th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Decline in Smoking Rates May Increase Lung Cancer Mortality Due to Inadequate Screening Guidelines
By Joe Dangor
ROCHESTER, Minn. — A decline in smoking rates may mean that many people who could have benefited from early detection of lung cancer are dying because they don’t qualify for low-dose CT scans, according to a group of Mayo Clinic researchers. Their research appears in the Feb. 24 issue of JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association.
“As smokers quit earlier and stay off cigarettes longer, fewer are eligible for CT screening, which has been proven effective in saving lives,” says Ping Yang, M.D., Ph.D., an epidemiologist at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. “Patients who do eventually develop lung cancer are diagnosed at a later stage when treatment can no longer result in a cure.”
Dr. Yang says researchers and policymakers need to re-examine screening criteria to identify a greater proportion of patients who develop lung cancer.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joe Dangor, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu.
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Tags: CT Scan, Dr Yang, JAMA, Lung Cancer, M.D., Minnesota news release, News Release, PhD, Ping Yang, Screening Guidelines, smoking rates, US Preventive Services Task Force