Health & Wellness - August 2015 Archives

Children need to get plenty of sleep in order to perform well in school. After a summer of staying up late and then sleeping in, ...

"Many of my patients face sleep difficulties," says Filza Hussain, M.D., Mayo Clinic Health System behavioral health expert. "It’s either difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or both. This leads to feeling tired in the morning, having difficulties with daytime sleepiness, attention and concentration problems, and irritability. Most of my patients have tried over-the-counter sleep aids or even prescription medications but remain dissatisfied and sleepless." Sleep aids certainly can help in the short term, but developing good sleep practices is often key. Sleep hygiene is a term used to describe good sleep habits. Dr. Hussain says the fundamentals of practicing good sleep hygiene are:

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What is the difference between bacterial vaginosis and a yeast infection? I’ve had painful itching for two weeks but have not been to see a doctor yet. Are over-the-counter medications effective in treating both? ANSWER: Bacterial vaginosis, or BV, and vaginal yeast infections may have some symptoms that seem similar, but they have different causes and require different treatment. Over-the-counter remedies are available for a yeast infection. BV typically requires prescription medication. See your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. Then he or she can help you decide on the best treatment. BV and yeast infections both fall under the broad category of vaginal infections, called vaginitis. These infections are quite common in women. They usually can be treated effectively without any long-term problems. You need to know which type of infection you have, however, to make sure you get the right treatment.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 21,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year ... and more than 14,000 will die from ...

Quality health care is something we all want. But what does it mean ... and how can we find it? This week on Mayo Clinic Radio, ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Arthritis pain: Do's and don'ts To cope with arthritis pain, strike a balance between activity and rest. Try these useful tips on exercise, medications and more. What are chronic hives? Acute and chronic hives look the same, but the length of time your symptoms last can help you tell them apart. Get the facts. EXPERT ANSWERS High-fructose corn syrup: Any health concerns? The jury's still out on whether this common sweetener is worse for you than other kinds. But too much of it can be an issue. Antibiotics and alcohol Combining antibiotics and alcohol can lead to side effects such as stomach upset, dizziness and drowsiness. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: At my last checkup, my doctor told me I have borderline hypothyroidism and gave me a prescription for medication to treat it. She said she would check my thyroid again in six months. Is this something I will have to take for the rest of my life? What are the risks if I choose not to take the medicine? I am a 62-year-old woman and very healthy. ANSWER: Before you move forward with treatment for hypothyroidism, it would be worthwhile to wait and repeat the test in several months to confirm your diagnosis. Even if the results are the same at that time, you should consider several other factors before you decide on treatment. Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the front of your neck. Hypothyroidism, sometimes called underactive thyroid, is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of certain important hormones. The hormones that the thyroid gland makes — triiodothyronine, or T3, and thyroxine, or T4 — have a large impact on your health, affecting all aspects of your metabolism. They maintain the rate at which your body uses fats and carbohydrates, help control your body temperature, influence your heart rate, and help regulate the production of proteins.

How not to fall in the comparison trap "The reality is most people are strong in different ways. Society values particular strengths based on its ...

Blood from a newborn’s umbilical cord was once considered a waste product, but it actually contains potentially life-saving cells. But how do you know if cord blood banking is right for you? Seanna Thompson, M.D., Mayo Clinic Health System OB/GYN physician, answers some common questions about cord blood banking and what options are available to you. What is cord blood? Cord blood is the remaining blood that was part of the umbilical cord after birth. It contains cells called stem cells that can be used to treat an estimated 70 different diseases, including some cancers, blood disorders and inherited disorders of the immune system. Examples include lymphoma, leukemia, thalassemia (an inherited blood disorder), sickle cell anemia, neuroblastoma and retinoblastoma.

Preventing infections during chemotherapy Chemotherapy drugs can keep your body from fully protecting itself against infections. To stay safe, try these food, personal care and ...

Quality health care is something we all want. But what does it mean ... and how can we find it? This week on Mayo Clinic ...

Your child is running a fever and you're running late to work. What do you do? Keep your child home or send him or her ...