Health & Wellness - April 2014 Archives

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What does cardiac rehab involve? Do you recommend it for everyone who’s had a heart attack, or only in certain cases? ANSWER: Cardiac rehabilitation is extremely beneficial for people with a variety of heart disorders. It involves a combination of medically supervised exercise, education and risk factor management. The goals of cardiac rehabilitation are to reduce symptoms, improve physical and mental function, and prevent further heart problems. People who participate in cardiac rehabilitation are less likely to be readmitted to the hospital, and they enjoy a 25 to 45 percent improvement in survival rates compared with people who do not engage in cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehabilitation is definitely recommended for individuals with the following diagnoses: heart attack; percutaneous coronary intervention, including coronary angioplasty and stents; chronic stable angina; coronary bypass surgery; heart valve repair or valve replacement surgery; heart transplant; and systolic heart failure (impaired heart contraction).

Have you ever used the Internet to research a medical symptom you might be experiencing?  On Saturday, April 26, we discussed a condition called cyberchondria. Richard ...

Among the more than 120,000 Americans waiting for an organ transplant, thousands are told their likelihood of rejection is too high to take the ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES 5K run: 7-week training schedule for beginners Doing a 5K run or walk can add a new level of challenge to your exercise program. This training schedule can help you make it to race day. Sexual health and aging: Keep the passion alive Sexual health is important at any age. Find out how aging can affect sexuality and what you and your partner can do to adapt.   EXPERT ANSWERS Kidney donation: Are there long-term risks? There's little long-term risk for kidney donation, provided you're carefully screened beforehand. What are the signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults? Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) includes a pattern of inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. HEALTHY RECIPES Fettuccine with Swiss chard and mushrooms Braised kale with cherry tomatoes Sesame-crusted tofu Peach floats HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Veggie tip: Vegetable pita pockets Want a new way to enjoy fresh vegetables? Make your own vegetable pita pockets. In a small bowl, add cauliflower and broccoli florets, sliced green onions, diced tomatoes and cucumbers, and 1 1/2 teaspoons low-fat buttermilk or ranch salad dressing. Cut 1 whole-wheat pita bread in half and fill each half with the vegetable mixture and 1 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese. Warm in the microwave for about 40 seconds. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

On Saturday, May 3, we have a special program planned.  We'll recognize Mayo Clinic's 1 Mayo Clinic Radio Full Show 5-3-1450th Anniversary with our ...

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Mumps is no longer very common in the United States, but when an outbreak does occur, it can spread quickly and affect anyone not immune from having had the mumps or the vaccination. “Living or being in crowded environments can be a major factor in mumps outbreaks,” says infectious diseases specialist Raj Varatharaj Palraj, M.B.B.S., at Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare La Crosse. “Being in places such as classrooms, playing on the same sports team or living in a dormitory with someone who has mumps contributes to spread of the virus.” Dr. Varatharaj Palraj says that mumps is spread by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat that is produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Symptoms include: Swollen, painful salivary glands on one or both sides of your face Fever Headache Weakness and fatigue Loss of appetite Pain while chewing or swallowing The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is the best way to prevent mumps.

Have you ever used the Internet to research a medical symptom you might be experiencing? On Saturday, April 26, at 9 a.m. CT, we'll discuss a condition called cyberchondria. Richard Seime, Ph.D., will be on the program to talk about the use of the Internet for medical information. Of course we know the best Internet site for accurate medical information is our own MayoClinic.org ... but, with so much information in cyberspace, when does it become a problem? How many people are using the internet to self-diagnose or self-treat? When is the Internet helpful and when is it unhealthy? Join us! Myth or Matter of Fact:  Cyberchondria is another name for hypochondria. To hear the program LIVE on Saturday, click here. Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions. Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio. Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment April 26, 2014-2 (right click MP3)  

Emergency Departments see injuries that change with the seasons. Summer can bring fireworks injuries, in winter people fall on the ice or get frostbite and in spring ...

  High-dose vitamin C: Can it kill cancer cells? High-dose vitamin C has been touted by some as an effective alternative ...

JACKSONVILLE, Flórida — Um dos grandes problemas de saúde, hoje em dia, está relacionado ao aumento dos níveis de colesterol no sangue. A ingestão de alimentos ricos em gorduras saturadas, o sedentarismo, o ritmo de vida acelerado e o tabagismo se traduzem em um aumento das patologias conhecidas como “não transmissíveis” ou crônicas. Dessas, as doenças cardiovasculares e cerebrovasculares, relacionadas diretamente com a maior ingestão de gorduras, ocupam os primeiros lugares como causa de mortalidade em nível global. Por isso, a ciência médica trabalha sem descanso para desenvolver novos medicamentos e novas terapias para fazer frente a esses problemas de uma maneira mais eficaz.

   Bringing the Story of Mayo Clinic to the People in a One-of-a-Kind Exhibit Mayo Clinic takes its story to the public in a free exhibit  Look for this truck on your U.S. and Canada travels April through October Follow #MayoClinic150  Watch this animation to see what's inside. Click here to view the road trip itinerary. Click here to learn more about the mobile exhibit. Please click here, to find out more about Mayo Clinic's 150th Anniversary.  MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca Eisenman, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, Email: newsbureau@mayo.edu.  WATCH: 'In The Loop' reporter Hoyt Finnamore and photographer Elizabeth Harty trek through the desert this week, looking for the traveling truck. Read more:  In The Loop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba_dDBl4vQ0  

You may remember the story, a few years ago, about the professional musician who played the violin during his brain surgery? That journey began at Mayo Clinic when a surgical team implanted electrodes in his brain to stop a tremor that could have ended his career. Today, more than five years after his deep brain stimulation surgery, Roger Frisch continues to be one of the world's foremost violinists.  [TRT 4:07]   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3QQOQAILZw Journalists: The full package and additional b-roll are available in the downloads. To access the script, click here.    This is a special report produced for the Mayo Clinic 150th Anniversary Collection of Stories. To view other stories and learn about Mayo Clinic's sesquicentennial, please click here.