Health & Wellness - February 2015 Archives

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was recently diagnosed with diverticulitis. It was treated and the symptoms went away, but I’m wondering what could have caused it? I’m a 52-year-old man with no other medical problems. Am I at an increased risk for developing diverticulitis again since I’ve had it before? ANSWER: Diverticulitis happens when small pockets that develop in the lining of your digestive tract become inflamed or infected. Treatment for diverticulitis focuses on eliminating the infection or inflammation, but it does not get rid of the pockets. Because those pockets remain, there is some risk you could get diverticulitis again, yet that risk is less than 10 to 15 percent. In some cases, making certain lifestyle changes may help lower the risk.

Cancer survivors: Care for your body after treatment Simple changes to what you eat and how you move may help improve your health after ...

Unique Arrangement Aims to Build on the Success of Cologuard® Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS) and Mayo Clinic today announced a five-year extension and expansion of their collaboration, broadening their efforts to develop screening, surveillance and diagnostic tests beyond colorectal cancer to address other diseases within the gastrointestinal tract. The amended agreement extends the collaboration for five more years with David Ahlquist, M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, and his lab at Mayo Clinic. Exact Sciences will continue to have rights to certain intellectual property, including patents, know-how and new markers. The original June 11, 2009 agreement between Exact Sciences and Mayo Clinic led to the development of Cologuard, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved on August 11, 2014. Cologuard is the first and only FDA-approved stool DNA-based colorectal cancer screening test. “This unique collaboration is producing powerful results,” said John Noseworthy, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic. “The success of our teams in developing Cologuard exemplifies what can happen when two organizations combine their expertise and unite toward a single goal.” “By expanding our relationship with Mayo Clinic, we have an opportunity to build on our shared successes and continue looking for new opportunities to take on some of the deadliest forms of cancer,” said Kevin Conroy, CEO and chairman of Exact Sciences. “This collaboration and our ability to leverage both institutions’ distinctly different strengths is unique in American industry. But our ambitions cannot end with Cologuard. We expect our collaboration to continue producing breakthroughs that can change patients’ lives.” MEDIA CONTACTS: J.P. Fielder, Exact Sciences Corp.  (202) 746 6352  Jfielder@exactsciences.com Brian Kilen, Mayo Clinic 507-284-5005 newsbureau@mayo.edu            

ARLINGTON, Va. — Mayo Clinic and Virginia Hospital Center today announced Virginia Hospital Center as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a national network of organizations committed to better serving patients and their families through collaboration. Members of the network have access to Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise to give their patients additional peace of mind when making health care decisions while continuing to offer the highest quality and value of care close to home. “Our collaboration with Mayo Clinic is a high honor for the physicians and staff of Virginia Hospital Center,” says James Cole, president & CEO, Virginia Hospital Center. “As the only Mayo Clinic Care Network hospital in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area with this relationship, we are excited to explore its potential for our patients and the community and advance our mission ‘To Be the Best Health System.’” “We began the network because Mayo Clinic wanted to work with those who saw collaboration as the way to better meet patients’ needs. It was clear to us from the outset that the doctors, nurses and entire staff at Virginia Hospital Center are committed to providing quality, patient-centered care, and that the organization would be a great addition to the Mayo Clinic Care Network,” says David Hayes, M.D., medical director, Mayo Clinic Care Network. MEDIA CONTACTS: Bryan Anderson, Mayo Clinic, 507-284-5005; Maryanne Boster, Virginia Hospital Center, 703-558-6595

Author: Stephanie Faubion M.D., Director, Mayo Clinic Women's Health Clinic and Office of Women's Health Perimenopause is the time leading up to your final menstrual period and can last up to several years.  During this time, menstrual cycles may be heavier or lighter than usual, and may come at shorter or longer intervals. Behind the scenes, your hormone levels are all over the place.  They can swing dramatically and shoot higher (and dip lower) than they did during your reproductive years.  These swings can explain some of the bothersome symptoms that women experience, including mood swings, heightened anxiety, irritability, trouble concentrating, “brain fog” and difficulty sleeping, as well as the more familiar symptoms of hot flashes and night sweats. If you’ve noticed changes in your waistline, you’re not alone.  Weight gain and weight redistribution- especially around the middle- can also be problematic and is influenced by several factors including aging, changes in hormones, activity level, and diet.  Vaginal dryness can start even before menopause and can lead to discomfort with sexual activity. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Faubion are available in the downloads. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj23Y3fQv3Q

The 2015 World Cancer Day campaign is focusing on four key areas: Choosing healthy lives Delivering early detection Achieving treatment for ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I often hear about colon cancer, but not a lot about rectal cancer. How is it diagnosed, and is it treatable? ANSWER: Rectal cancer is cancer that occurs in the last several inches of the colon, called the rectum. The primary treatment for rectal cancer is surgery and — depending on how advanced the cancer is — may also include radiation therapy and chemotherapy. If rectal cancer is caught early, the long-term survival rate is about 85 to 90 percent. Those numbers decline sharply if rectal cancer has spread to lymph nodes. Most rectal cancers begin as small, noncancerous growths of cells called polyps. Removing polyps before they become cancerous can prevent rectal cancer. That’s why timely colon cancer screening with a colonoscopy is important. Guidelines generally recommend that screening should begin at age 50. Your doctor may recommend more-frequent or earlier colon cancer screening if you have other risk factors, such as a family history of colorectal cancer.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Compulsive gambling Did you or a loved one bet money on the Super Bowl and was is it a friendly wager or something more? Compulsive gambling is a serious condition that can destroy lives. Relaxation techniques: Try these steps to reduce stress Lessening stress can bring more calm into your life. By learning to relax, you can cope with everyday annoyances and more. Humidifiers: Air moisture eases skin, breathing symptoms Dry sinuses and cracked lips are painful — and common — when indoor air is dry. The good news is that humidifiers can increase moisture in the air. Get the facts. EXPERT ANSWERS Healthy heart for life: Avoiding heart disease Preventing heart disease begins with small steps. Find out more about maintaining a healthy heart. Stomach flu: How long am I contagious? You can be contagious from a few days up to two weeks or more, depending on which virus is causing your stomach flu. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

The measles outbreak continues to grow in the U.S. We’ll have the latest from Mayo Clinic pediatrician Dr. Robert Jacobson. Also on Mayo Clinic Radio, ...

It's time we start seeing red! That's what Mayo Clinic Health System nurse practitioner Susan Pope says, as we prepare to recognize American Heart Month. Heart disease is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined and according to the American Heart Association, while one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart disease claims the lives of one in three. That’s about one death each minute. So make sure you’re as committed to heart disease prevention as you should be to your yearly mammogram. That means maintaining a healthy weight, keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol at healthy levels and quitting smoking. Or better yet, don’t start. Stay physically and mentally active. The more we know about our nation’s No. 1 killer of women, the better. So, take this quick quiz on heart disease and women. True or False: Heart disease only affects older women. False. Heart disease affects women of all ages. The combination of birth control pills and smoking boosts heart disease risks by 20 percent in young women, the American Heart Association says. Yes, our risk increases as we age. Overeating and leading a sedentary lifestyle are factors that lead to blocked arteries over time. But don’t let your age lull you into a false sense of security. I take care of women of all ages in the hospital. Heart disease is an equal opportunity threat.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "The United States experienced a record number of measles cases during 2014, with 644 cases from 27 states ...