Health & Wellness - August 2014 Archives

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I need to have a tooth extracted. Because of my osteoporosis the dentist said I should go to an oral surgeon. Why is that important? How do I find out their qualifications? ANSWER: Removal of a tooth is usually a straightforward process that can be done by most general dentists. However, people who have osteoporosis often take medications that can increase the risk of complications after tooth extraction. In that case, having an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon surgically take out the tooth may reduce the likelihood of problems after the tooth is removed. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle. The most widely prescribed medications used to treat osteoporosis are in a class of drugs called bisphosphonates. Examples include alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate and zoledronic acid. These medications help keep your bones healthy as you age and lower the risk of a bone fracture if you have osteoporosis. Unfortunately, bisphosphonates can have a negative effect on bone healing following an injury, including after tooth extraction.

For many students this is back-to-school time! On the next Mayo Clinic Radio, Saturday, August 30 at 9 a.m. CT, four physicians will join us and share important information related to sending your student back to class. Noelle Larson, M.D., will discuss scoliosis and finding the correct sized backpack. Dawn Davis, M.D., will talk about acne, warts, skin rashes and lice. Robert Jacobson, M.D., will give us the latest information on immunizations for students from preschool to college. Brian Mohney, M.D., will discuss eye exams, eyestrain and overall eye health for students. Join us! Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions. To listen to the program on Saturday, click here. Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio. Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment August 30. 2014 (right click MP3) 

SPRINGFIELD, Minn. — Grilling season certainly doesn't end with summer. If you're firing up the grill this Labor Day weekend be sure to keep health and safety in mind. Mayo Clinic Health System registered dietician Linda Carruthers says, “Grilling is fun, delicious and can actually be a very healthy way to cook. You’re effectively using one of the best cooking methods around when you grill nutritious foods in a safe manner.” Carruthers offers these tips to enhance your well-being: Grill fruits and vegetables.  Meat is a traditional staple of any grilling menu, but don’t bypass fruits and vegetables. These foods go great on the grill, giving standard produce an interesting style and flavor. My particular favorite is to cut zucchini into strips, lightly spray the strips with olive oil, and sprinkle with oregano and fresh-ground black pepper. You can buy a grill basket to simplify the process of grilling fruits and vegetables. Looking for a creative idea? Try fruit puree as a healthy marinade. Avoid cross-contamination. Keep raw meats separated from ready-to-eat foods. Use different utensils and cutting boards for raw and ready-to-eat foods as well. And always remember to wash your hands and sanitize your prep and cooking tools. Watch out for char. Flame-ups and high heat cause charring, and charred meats may contain cancer-causing agents. Cut off any charred parts before serving grilled goodies. Marinating meat is shown to reduce the potential for carcinogen development. So, try some low-salt, low-fat marinades with your beef, chicken, pork and fish. Cook meat to a safe temperature. Undercooked meats can lead to various illnesses, so make sure you’re hitting the minimum mark with each item. Safe meat temperatures are:

Fluzone High-Dose is an injected flu vaccine formulated for people age 65 years and older. Like other flu vaccines, Fluzone High-Dose is made up ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A Mayo Clinic researcher and his collaborators have developed an online analytic tool that will speed up and enhance the process of re-engineering cells for biomedical investigation. CellNet is a free-use Internet platform that uses network biology methods to aid stem cell engineering. Details of CellNet and its application to stem cell engineering are described in two back-to-back papers in the journal Cell. “This free platform has a broad range of uses for all types of cell-based investigations and can potentially offer help to people working on all types of cancer,” says Hu Li, Ph.D., investigator in the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine and Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics,  and co-lead investigator in the two works. “CellNet will indicate how closely an engineered cell resembles the real counterpart and even suggests ways to adjust the engineering.” The network biology platform contains data on a wide range of cells and details on what is known about those cell types. Researchers say the platform can be applied to almost any study and allows users to refine the engineering process. In the long term, it should provide a reliable short cut to the early phases of drug development, individualized cancer therapies, and pharmacogenomics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OHxkwhnuY4 Kids' summer camp season may be winding down but, for one special group of campers, this may be just the beginning. Camp Wabi is ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My father, who is 70, was a smoker for 30 years. I have read that men who used to smoke should be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. What does the screening involve? What would be done if he is found to have an aneurysm? ANSWER: Because of his history of smoking, you are correct that your father should be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The screening usually includes a physical exam and an ultrasound of the abdomen. Other imaging tests may be needed in some cases, too. If an abdominal aortic aneurysm is found, treatment depends on the size of the aneurysm, its rate of growth, and if it is causing any symptoms. The aorta is a large blood vessel about the size of a garden hose that runs from your heart through the center of your chest and abdomen. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta just above the area of your belly button that forms due to weakness in the blood vessel’s wall. The greatest risk of such an aneurysm is that it will rupture. Because it provides the body with much of its blood supply, a rupture in the abdominal aorta can lead to life-threatening internal bleeding.

For many students this is back-to-school time!  On the next Mayo Clinic Radio, Saturday, August 30 at 9 a.m. CT, four physicians will join us and ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Getting past a weight-loss plateau Has the number on the scale not budged in a while? Don't fall back on bad habits. Restart your weight-loss plan with these tips. Whole grains: Hearty options for a healthy diet Whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health problems. Isn't it time you added more whole grains to your diet? HEALTHY RECIPES Grilled flank steak salad with roasted corn vinaigrette Cucumber pineapple salad Curried vegetable couscous Gazpacho with garbanzo beans     EXPERT ANSWERS Tanning: Does a base tan prevent sunburn? There's little evidence that a base tan protects against sunburn. Alzheimer's test: Detection at the earliest stages New experimental Alzheimer's tests may help find the disease earlier, but more research is needed. PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS Torn meniscus Video: Tai chi Vitiligo Hepatitis C   Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am very healthy and active, but was recently diagnosed with sarcoidosis. My doctor said it may go away on its own, but I am worried it will worsen. How often should I see my doctor for monitoring the condition? What treatments do you recommend? ANSWER: Your doctor is correct that sarcoidosis often goes away on its own. In many cases, it does not require treatment. But how often you need to see your doctor and any specific treatment recommendations for you should be based on your individual situation, including what triggered your diagnosis and any symptoms you may have. Sarcoidosis is the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body. The condition can affect almost any organ, but it is most commonly found in the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes and skin. Doctors believe sarcoidosis happens as a result of the body’s immune system responding to an unknown substance, most likely something inhaled from the air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMq_Yrn2YYk&feature=youtu.be To help raise awareness and support for ALS research, John Noseworthy, M.D., Mayo Clinic president and CEO, braved the shower of icy water and ...

The Healthy Human Race Health and Wellness Expo Expert Speakers Series featuring keynote speaker Apolo Ohno Experience the active lifestyle with ...