Health & Wellness - February 2014 Archives

Is winter weight gain, or 'winter fat', a cultural expectation to indulge in high calorie foods during the long winter months or really necessary when the season brings plunging temperatures?  Mark Brumm, M.D., Family Medicine in Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare says, “There is some evidence that a small amount of subcutaneous (between skin and muscle) fat may reduce the amount of heat you lose, but it is not enough to keep you warmer. It's more likely that it is a cultural phenomenon to have heartier foods rather than it being a physiological response.” Brumm adds, “Keep eating healthy. Eating healthy is the first step in maintaining your weight during winter. We know it’s tough to motivate yourself to get active when it’s so cold outside. Instead of trekking to the gym, make working out convenient for you. Keep an exercise DVD at home that has a 30-minute workout and do it before you go into work. This will stimulate brain activity and make you feel better about having done some kind of physical activity for the day.”  If you keep in mind that everything in moderation is acceptable and that working out can fit into your schedule, even if it’s for only 30 minutes a day, you can avoid gaining that dreaded winter fat.

Treatment key to living with metastatic bone cancer Metastatic bone cancer usually can't be cured; instead, the goals are to provide pain relief and control further spread through treatment. Cancer treatment for women: Possible sexual side effects Cancer treatment can cause physical changes that make having sex more difficult. Find out which treatments are most likely to affect you. How to care for skin during radiation Taking care of your skin during and after radiation treatment is important. Skin changes can be one of the primary side effects of radiation therapy.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Feb. 19, 2014 — Researchers say the discovery of how sodium ions pass through the gill of a zebrafish may be a ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 51 and was recently diagnosed with COPD. It was caught early, and I don’t have many symptoms. Is there anything I can do to keep it from getting worse? What treatments are available for someone in the early stages of the disease? ANSWER: There are definitely steps you can take that may keep chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), from getting worse. Healthy lifestyle choices, timely medical care and careful treatment planning can all help. COPD damages your lungs. The disease blocks airflow within your lungs and can make it hard for you to breathe. Symptoms usually start slowly and may get worse over time. Most cases of COPD are caused by smoking.

In this Mayo Clinic Radio Health Minute, Dr. Rosebud Roberts comments on a study which found people with heart disease also have an increased risk ...

Miss the show? Here is the podcast: Mayo Clinic Radio Full Show 2-22-2014 Join us Saturday, Feb. 22, at 9 a.m. CT, when we ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Testosterone therapy: Key to male vitality? Explore the potential benefits and risks of boosting your testosterone level. Hormone therapy: Is it right for you? Hormone therapy treats bothersome menopausal symptoms but isn't recommended to protect long-term health. EXPERT ANSWERS Heart disease prevention: Does oral health matter? Taking care of your teeth hasn't been proved a key to heart disease prevention. Chocolate: Does it impair calcium absorption? Chocolate contains oxalate — a naturally occurring compound in cocoa beans, which can inhibit calcium absorption. HEALTHY RECIPES Asian pork tenderloin Blue cheese and walnut spinach salad Lemon rice with golden raisins and almonds Chocolate pudding pies HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Romance woes? Talk it out No relationship is perfect. Conflicts about child rearing and sexual differences and communication problems are common issues among couples. But those differences don't necessarily mean that your relationship is bound for strife. Talking about your differences with your partner, alone or with a counselor, can help you understand each other's point of view. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8NcVXqZc84 Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about half of all women are unaware of this fact. Founder of the Women's Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic Sharonne Hayes, M.D., says, "While there’s been a steady decline in cardiovascular deaths in the general American population over the past 30 years, that has not been the case for women under the age of 55, which has seen a slight increase." Journalists: Sound bites are available in the downloads. This is part 1 of Dr. Hayes' insights on women's heart health. Also see "Women Urged to Take Charge for Better Heart Health" posted February 24, 2014. Dr. Hayes says part of the problem has been an outdated belief that women had a lower risk of heart disease than men. She says it's now known that women actually have some additional risk factors that can damage their cardiovascular health. Sound bite #1 - Women’s Risk Factors (Dr. Sharonne Hayes, Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Expert) "Some of those are autoimmune diseases, like Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, or depression and anxiety,

February is American Heart Month and a great opportunity to focus on the importance of heart disease prevention. On Saturday, Feb. 15, at 9 a.m. CT, heart specialists Sharon Mulvagh, M.D., and Rekha Mankad, M.D., will join us to discuss unrecognized dangers of heart disease. Some might think heart disease is a more serious problem for men, but it's the no. 1 killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. We'll also discuss why the numbers 5, 10 and 8 are so important.  Please join us. To listen to the program LIVE, click here.

Treatment key to living with metastatic bone cancer Metastatic bone cancer usually can't be cured; instead, the goals are to provide pain relief and control ...

The U.S. Men’s Ice Hockey team begins its Sochi Olympic campaign Thurs., Feb. 13, taking on Slovakia. With them is three-time Olympic team physician Michael Stuart, M.D., co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center. Dr. Stuart is attending practices, team meetings and meals to help ensure the team stays healthy and prepared not only for the Olympic Games, but for many of the player’s National Hockey League responsibilities after the games.“The Olympics are really busy, but also very fun,” says Dr. Stuart. “I need to make sure these guys don’t get sick because we need them. It’s a very short tournament and keeping them healthy is my primary goal.”              

Tube feeding is a seldom talked about way of allowing patients to overcome a serious injury or condition and continue to lead a relatively normal and productive life. Yet it’s largely invisible unless the individual wants to make it known. An inability to swallow due to stroke, cancer, cystic fibrosis, ALS or other condition makes tube feeding a necessity for thousands. Often it’s a temporary measure while someone is undergoing radiation or recovering from surgery. For others it’s a life-long practice and many people go to work, take vacations and manage their feeding as they go. Click here to see a demonstration of how feeding tubes work. Journalists:  Dr. Manpreet Mundi oversees the home enteral nutrition program at Mayo Clinic.  Sound bites with Dr. Mundi and broll are available in the downloads http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61rkC8Xs42o