Health & Wellness - December 2014 Archives

Miss the program?  Here's the podcast: MayoClinicRadio-Fullshow-1-3-15 Finding out you need surgery can create anxiety and a long list of questions.  On the next Mayo ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Women with atypical hyperplasia of the breast have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than previously thought, a Mayo Clinic study has found. Results of the study appear in a special report on breast cancer in the New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwZkl205Eag Journalists:  Sound bites with Drs. Hartman and Degnim are available in the downloads. Atypical hyperplasia of the breast is a precancerous condition found in about one-tenth of the over 1 million breast biopsies with benign findings performed annually in the United States. Viewed under a microscope, atypia contains breast cells that are beginning to grow out of control (hyperplasia) and cluster into abnormal patterns (atypical). Atypia lesions are considered benign, but by its risk and appearance and genetic changes, they exhibit some of the early features of cancer.

The New Year is just about here, and resolutions are ever-present. Many of these commitments to betterment involve some form of health improvement but lifestyle changes are easier planned than implemented. However, Mayo Clinic Health System family physician Daniel Stahl, M.D., points out there may be some low-hanging fruit when it comes to enhancing your well-being next year. While some of these suggestions are obvious, Dr. Stahl says they can’t be reiterated enough and shares basic keys for a healthier 2015. The importance of healthy eating is no secret, but putting it into practice can be problematic. Consider these tactics to make your nutritious endeavors more successful: Eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean sources of protein. Pick fresh foods while shopping, and skip processed items. Avoid mindless snacking. If you want a snack, try nuts, dried fruit or quick-and-easy veggies like carrots or celery.

First-aid kits A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you respond effectively to common injuries and emergencies. Keep at least one first-aid kit in your home and one in your car. Store your kits in easy-to-retrieve locations that are out of the reach of young children. Children old enough to understand the purpose of the kits should know where they are stored. You can purchase first-aid kits at many drugstores or assemble your own. Contents of a first-aid kit should include:

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have been diagnosed with vaginal prolapse and am not sure where to begin with treatment. What is the best long-term treatment? I am only 53. ANSWER: Surgical and nonsurgical treatment options are available for vaginal prolapse. The treatment you choose usually depends on the severity of the condition, as well as how much the symptoms bother you. For long-term relief of vaginal prolapse that is causing persistent symptoms, surgery is often recommended to repair the vagina’s support. Vaginal prolapse happens when the muscles, connective tissue and ligaments that support the vagina weaken and stretch, causing the tissue to drop down, or prolapse, into the lower portion of the vagina or out the vaginal opening. Prolapse of the uterus, bladder (cystocele), and rectum (rectocele) can accompany vaginal prolapse and lead to a feeling of pelvic pressure or fullness, or a feeling of a bulge within the vagina. In some cases, these symptoms may be mild in the morning but get worse as the day goes on.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Supplements: Nutrition in a pill Before taking vitamin and mineral supplements, understand what they will and won't do for you. Managing your cholesterol From fitting in fitness and eating well to choosing medication, learn how to keep your cholesterol in check. EXPERT ANSWERS Echinacea: Is it effective for the common cold? Echinacea may slightly reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms, but the effect may be too minor to notice. Can you outgrow food allergies? Learn which food allergies are more likely to fade with age and which tend to persist into adulthood. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

  Listening to patients is what medical teams at Mayo Clinic do each day. To honor Mayo's 150th Anniversary, StoryCorps was asked to listen to and ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What causes testicular cancer? How do doctors determine which treatment will be most effective? ANSWER: Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare. However, testicular cancer is the most common cancer in male Americans between the ages of 15 and 34.  While the cause of testicular cancer is not well understood, there are some factors that can raise a man’s risk. Key risk factors are age and a condition known as cryptorchidism, where one or both of the testes are in the abdomen instead of in the scrotum.

Tis' the season of giving and donating! Saturday, December 27, at 9 a.m. CT, director of the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center Justin Kreuter, M.D., will join us to talk about the importance of donating blood no matter where you live. What's involved, does it take a lot of time and does it hurt?  Is there a certain time of year when blood is in short supply?  Is there an artificial substitute for blood?  What happens to the blood we donate, and how is it used to save lives? We'll find out on the next Mayo Clinic Radio.  Please join us. Myth or Fact: I can't donate blood because I had cancer. 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 December 27, 2014 (right click MP3)

Cancer survivors: Managing your emotions after cancer treatment Get to know the emotions that are common for cancer survivors and how to manage your ...

Some medical discoveries truly stand the test of time. The case of a dedicated Mayo Clinic chemist is a prime example. Feeling he was on ...

Miss the show? Here's the podcast: Mayo Clinic Radio Full Show 12-27-14 Tis' the season of giving and donating! Saturday, December 27, at ...