Health & Wellness - January 2014 Archives

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My mother has had deep vein thrombosis twice. I’ve heard this condition can run in families. I’m a 38-year-old woman in good health. I exercise regularly and eat well. What can I do to lower my risk of developing DVT? ANSWER: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), happens when a blood clot forms in a vein located deep within the leg or pelvis. It is a serious condition because if the clot breaks free and travels to your lungs, it can be life-threatening. A variety of factors can raise your risk for these blood clots, including a family history of DVT, as well as recent surgery, hospitalization for a medical illness, trauma with or without fracture, obesity, immobility, and certain drugs. DVT most often happens in the large veins within the legs. If a clot in a vein comes loose, it can be carried through your body in the blood flowing back to your heart. From there, it may be pumped into your lungs. A clot that gets stuck in a blood vessel within the lungs — a condition known as a pulmonary embolism — causes sudden death in about 20 to 25 percent of cases.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Exercise and cold weather: Tips to stay safe outdoors Don't let cold weather spell the end of your exercise. With these ideas, you can stay fit, motivated and warm. Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory Concerned about memory loss? Take heart. These simple steps may help sharpen your memory. EXPERT ANSWERS Grapefruit juice: Beware of dangerous medication interactions Grapefruit and other citrus fruits can interfere with some prescription medications. Acute bronchitis: Is it contagious? Most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by viruses and are contagious. HEALTHY RECIPES Grilled cod with crispy citrus salad Savory buckwheat pilaf with toasted spices Grilled snapper curry Seared endive HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Are you straining your eyes?  The right light can make a world of difference to your eyes. When doing close-up work, make sure you have light that's directed on what you're doing. Use a brighter light source if you need one, especially if you have reduced vision. If you're reading, use a shaded light positioned in front of you. The shade will keep light from shining directly into your eyes Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

U.S. FDA Approves Phase III Cardiopoietic Stem Cell Trial for Heart Failure Patients Based on a Mayo Discovery Cardio3 BioSciences, an international Mayo Clinic collaborator, has received FDA approval for a phase III pivotal clinical trial of its stem cell therapy. The trial will test the Mayo Clinic discovery of cardiopoietic (cardiogenically-instructed) stem cells designed to improve heart health in people suffering from heart failure. The multisite U.S. trial, called CHART-2, will aim to recruit 240 patients with chronic advanced symptomatic heart failure. Cardio3 BioSciences is a bioscience company in Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium. "Regenerative medicine is poised to transform the way we treat patients," says Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine. Watch the video below to see how stem cells are being used to treat people with heart failure. Journalists: Video b-roll of today's news conference, plus sound bites with Dr. Terzic and Christian Homsy, M.D., CEO of Cardio3 BioSciences, are available in the downloads. The video pkg. is also available in the downloads in MOV format. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vumB_FW_fTA

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and leads to a host of cancers and illnesses. A new report by the Surgeon General released today, The Health Consequences of Smoking, highlights a half a century of progress in tobacco control and prevention since the first report in 1964. The report also includes new findings on the health effects of smoking and a call to action on how to end the continuing tobacco use epidemic. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Hurt are available in the downloads. “We lose over 480,000 Americans every single year to tobacco-related diseases,” says Richard Hurt, M.D., director of Mayo Clinic’s Nicotine Dependence Center. “Cigarette smoke affects every organ system in the body. We’ve known for a long time that cigarette smokers have a larger number of polyps of the colon, which are the precursor to colon cancer. So it’s not a big surprise that now the committee is concluding that cigarette smoking is associated with colon cancer.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXzyJ1520cA&hd=1

On Saturday, Jan. 18, Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy, M.D., joined the show to discuss the future of health care. How does the Affordable Care ...

On Saturday, Jan. 18, Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy, M.D., joins the show to discuss the future of health care. How does the Affordable Care Act affect the future of health care? Does Mayo Clinic have a role and what responsibilities do patients and the government play? With a rapidly aging population, what challenges does Medicare face and how can those challenges be addressed? Below are video excerpts from the recorded conversation between Dr. Noseworthy and co-hosts Dr. Tom Shives and Tracy McCray.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhMUVNtX6XM Please join us LIVE at 9 am CT. Click here. Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines:  News Segment January 11, 2013  (right click MP3) Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic. The show is taped for rebroadcast by some affiliates. On Twitter follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions. For future topics, click on Upcoming Programs. To listen to archived shows, click on Episodes. If there is a topic you would like us to address, drop us a note.  Click here to create a guest account.

Journalists: Mayo experts are available for interviews. Contact  507-284-5005 or email:newsbureau@mayo.edu According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) most of the country is now experiencing high levels of influenza-like-illness.  Mayo Clinic specialists are offering advice and dispelling some misconceptions about the influenza to help people stay healthy. Here are some tips for avoiding illness: Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with water and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. This is particularly important before leaving the bathroom, eating or touching your face. A good rule of thumb is to wash your hands for 20 seconds, about as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday." Use a paper towel to shut off the faucet and open the door while in a public restroom. This will keep you from recontaminating your hands. Cover your cough with the crook of your elbow. Avoid others who are sick, and stay home from work or school if you are ill. Dr. Bhide recommends visiting the doctor if you are part of the high-risk group for flu or around someone who is at risk. Don't smoke. Keep your vaccines up to date. Aside from the seasonal flu shot, the most important vaccines include measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and the relatively new Tdap, for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (whooping cough).

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve had pain in my right shoulder for a few weeks that has been getting worse rather than better, even though I’m letting it rest. I have read the term “frozen shoulder” – could that be what I have? What causes it? Should I see my doctor, or will it eventually heal on its own?   ANSWER: It is possible that you are experiencing a condition known as frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis). Although recovery can take several months to a year or more, a variety of treatments may help improve your shoulder joint’s range of motion. Make an appointment to see your doctor. He or she will be able to discuss your symptoms and help determine the cause.  Your shoulder joint is made up of bones, ligaments and tendons. Surrounding the joint is strong connective tissue called the shoulder capsule. Normally, the capsule and joint are lubricated by synovial fluid. Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint. Stiff tissue bands (adhesions) may develop, and there may be less synovial fluid in the joint. Usually, just one shoulder is affected.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Wrinkle creams: Your guide to younger looking skin Do over-the-counter wrinkle creams really reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles? Stress relief from laughter? It's no joke Laughter is powerful stress-relief medicine. Discover how to fire up your sense of humor. EXPERT ANSWERS Ministroke vs. regular stroke: What's the difference? The term "ministroke" typically refers to a transient ischemic attack. Self-care for the flu Learn how to take care of yourself at home when you have the flu. HEALTHY RECIPES Cream of wild rice soup Grilled turkey burger Salad greens with pears, fennel and walnuts Rhubarb pecan muffins HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Exercise: Designate an easy day Starting a fitness program? Don't get carried away. Working out too intensely or too often boosts your chances of injury and burnout. Remember to alternate hard workouts with easier ones. And plan time between sessions for your body to rest and recover. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

Neurologist Michael H. Silber, M.B.Ch.B., has been named dean of Mayo School of Health Sciences within Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.  He assumed the responsibilities of ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eumQDuFpFV4 You have asthma. That’s what many people diagnosed with a condition called subglottic stenosis hear from their doctors. They may get misdiagnosed because ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 36 years old and have had constant pain in my right hip for two years. Last year I was diagnosed with moderate degenerative hip disease. Medication managed my pain initially but is no longer effective. My doctor says the next step is a steroid shot or a procedure that involves going in and “cleaning the roughness.” What does this mean? ANSWER: In a person your age, several choices are available to treat degenerative hip disease. When medications do not help, one of the options you mention usually is the next step. Lifestyle changes could help relieve some of your symptoms, too. Degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis, happens when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time. Cartilage is firm, slippery tissue that allows your joints to move smoothly. In osteoarthritis, the surface of the cartilage becomes rough. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, bone rubs on bone.