Cardiovascular - January 2015 Archives

ROCHESTER, Minn. ― Here are highlights from the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Reprinting is allowed for a fee. Mayo Clinic Health Letter attribution is required. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Visit http://healthletter.mayoclinic.com/ or call toll-free for subscription information, 1-800-333-9037, extension 9771. Full newsletter text: Mayo Clinic Health Letter January 2015 (for journalists only). Wrist fractures: Treatment decisions not always straightforward Treatment decisions for wrist fractures quickly can become complicated, according to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. The wrist is made up of eight small bones at the base of the hand and two in the forearm ― the radius and ulna ― that connect the elbow to the wrist bones. Any one of these bones can be fractured; a wrist fracture is a widely variable injury. One of the primary decisions is the choice between nonsurgical and surgical treatment. Sometimes the choice is clear, and sometimes it’s not. Factors to consider include overall health, lifestyle, ability to tolerate surgery and the desire for a fully functioning wrist.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Red wine and resveratrol: Good for your heart? Can a glass of red wine with your meal really help your heart? The substance resveratrol may reduce "bad" cholesterol and more. Cold remedies: What works, what doesn't, what can't hurt People have been saying for centuries that chicken soup helps a cold. Does it really work? What about other remedies? Get the facts and feel better soon. EXPERT ANSWERS Flat stomach: Can girdles tighten abdominal muscles? Want a flat stomach? Diet and exercise — not undergarments — are what count. Benefits of being bilingual: Delay Alzheimer's? Knowing at least two languages may help protect you against the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.