Cardiovascular - May 2013 Archives

Common over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen, may raise your risk of having a heart attack. That's the finding in a new report in the respected medical journal The Lancet. The review boiled down hundreds of earlier studies that followed more than 350,000 patients. It found that people taking four 200 milligram ibuprofen pills three times a day for a year, a common dosage for arthritis patients,  increased their risk of heart attack significantly. Mayo Clinic cardiovascular specialist Stephen Kopecky, M.D., says it's something doctors have known about for years.  Similar concerns lead to the banning of certain brand name Cox-2 inhibitor pain medications in 2004. However, Dr. Kopecky (ko PET skee) says the lack of lawsuits against generic drug manufacturers has allowed over-the-counter pain relievers to avoid the same scrutiny.  Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Kopecky are available in the downloads.

Peripheral arterial disease is a common circulation problem in which reduced blood flow can lead to complications that jeopardize the limbs, possibly even requiring amputation. ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORY Oral health: A window to your overall health Taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health. Here's why. Expert Answers When to brush your teeth Oral health: Brush up on dental care basics Video: What happens during obstructive sleep apnea? Heart attack Dust mite allergy HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Organic foods: What the labels mean If you're interested in buying organic food products, make sure you understand the labels and what they mean: 100 percent organic. This means the product is completely organic or made of all organic ingredients. These may carry a small U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic seal. Organic. This means that at least 95 percent of the ingredients are organically produced. These products can also carry the USDA seal. Made with organic ingredients. This means that the food product contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients. These can't carry the USDA seal.