Health & Wellness - July 2014 Archives

Miss the show? Here is the podcast: Mayo Clinic Radio Full Show 7-12-2014  On Saturday, July 12, at 9 a.m. CT, we’ll talk about the ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My son, 8, has been coughing off-and-on at night for a few weeks and says his chest hurts, but he never complains about it during the day. Could he have asthma? How is it diagnosed? If it’s very mild, would he still need treatment? ANSWER: Based on the symptoms you describe, it is possible that your son has asthma. His doctor can confirm the diagnosis using a test that measures lung function called spirometry. Even in mild cases of asthma, treatment usually is recommended to help relieve symptoms. When someone has asthma, the small airways in the lungs narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus. This can lead to a variety of signs and symptoms. In children older than 3, wheezing is typically the most specific asthma symptom. But in some kids, a chronic cough may be the only asthma symptom that they have. A persistent cough at night, an illness that includes a cough that lasts more than three weeks, or coughing in response to cold air, exercise, or laughing may all be the result of asthma. When asthma is suspected in a child who is 5 years or older, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program expert panel recommends lung function testing using spirometry. For this test, your son will take a deep breath and breathe out as hard as he can for several seconds into a tube that is attached to a machine called a spirometer.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Sunless tanning: What you need to know Sunless tanning products can provide a safe, natural-looking tan — if they're applied carefully and correctly. Memory loss: When to seek help Memory loss may indicate normal aging, a treatable condition or the onset of dementia. Find out how to help yourself or a loved one. Urinary incontinence surgery in women: The next step If symptoms of stress incontinence or an overactive bladder are disrupting your life, surgery may be an option. EXPERT ANSWERS Sea salt vs. table salt: What's the difference? The most notable differences between sea salt and table salt are in their taste, texture and processing. Coping with anxiety: Can diet make a difference? Dealing with anxiety is a challenge. Eating habits may play a role. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 68 and have periodic spells of dizziness. They don’t last long and I don’t seem to have any other symptoms. Should I see a doctor? What might they indicate? ANSWER: Dizziness is a common problem with many possible causes. They can range from relatively minor issues, such as certain medications triggering dizziness, to more serious underlying medical problems. When dizziness persists, as in your case, it is a good idea to make an appointment to see your doctor and have the condition evaluated. Although the term “dizziness” sounds quite specific, there are actually several kinds of dizziness. One involves feeling a loss of balance, as if you are unsteady on your feet or feel like you may fall. Another includes a sensation of being lightheaded or feeling faint, as if you might pass out. A third is feeling as if you are spinning or that the world is spinning around you. This type of dizziness is called vertigo. It is helpful for you to be able to describe to your doctor exactly what you are experiencing during your episodes of dizziness. Your description can offer clues to the potential source of the problem. For example, conditions that affect the balance mechanism in your inner ear frequently lead to dizziness, with a feeling of vertigo that happens when you move your head.

This week's program is a rebroadcast from Donate Life Month, focusing on the importance of registering as organ, eye and tissue donors. Tune in this Saturday, July 5, at 9 a.m. CT, as we discuss organ donation with good samaritan kidney donor Philip Fischer, M.D., and director of the Mayo Clinic kidney transplant program Mikel Prieto, M.D. There is so much to learn about donating the gift of life! Join us! Myth or Matter of Fact:  I'm not in the best of health, so I probably can't be a donor. To listen to the program on Saturday, click here.  More information about Living Organ Donation can be found here.   The Living Donor Evaluation Form can be found here.  The Mayo Transplant Center can be reached at 866-227-1569 Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio. Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment July 6, 2014 (right click MP3) 

Tips for cancer survivors to keep cool in the summer heat Cancer survivors should be careful this season — there's potential for dehydration and ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKMUC0yUudc   Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and potato salad. Those are the fixings for a fantastic Fourth of July picnic. The problem is ...

JACKSONVILLE, Flórida —Análises genômicas de carcinomas de células renais de células claras (ccRCC — clear cell renal cell carcinoma) de 72 pacientes, revelaram 31 genes que são peças-chave no desenvolvimento, crescimento e disseminação do câncer, informam pesquisadores da Clínica Mayo de Jacksonville, na Flórida. Desses genes, oito não haviam sido relacionados, anteriormente, ao câncer de rim; e outros seis genes, ao que se sabia até então, nunca foram ligados a qualquer forma de câncer. O ccRCC é a forma mais comum de câncer de rim. http://youtu.be/vGxDshbW0LU

JACKSONVILLE, Florida —Un análisis genómico de células claras del carcinoma de células renales (ccRCC), la forma más común de cáncer de riñón, realizado en 72 pacientes, ha permitido descubrir 31 genes que son claves para el desarrollo, el crecimiento y la propagación del cáncer, dicen los investigadores de la Clínica Mayo de Jacksonville, en Florida. Ocho de estos genes no habían sido previamente relacionados con el cáncer de riñón, y a otros seis genes nunca se les había involucrado en ningún tipo de cáncer. http://youtu.be/vGxDshbW0LU

Miss the show? Here is the podcast! Mayo Clinic Radio Full Show 7-05-2014 This week's program is a rebroadcast from Donate Life Month, focusing on the importance ...

ESTIMADA MAYO CLINIC: ¿Cuál es la mejor edad para llevar a mi hija de 9 años a una cita de ortodoncia? Algunos de sus amigos ya tienen frenos dentales, pero me parece prematuro porque solamente han perdido pocos dientes RESPUESTA: A pesar de que muchas personas asocian a los frenos dentales con la adolescencia, no es prematuro llevar a un niño de 9 años a que un ortodoncista le evalúe los dientes. De hecho, la Asociación Americana de Ortodoncia recomienda que todos los niños se sometan al primer examen de ortodoncia hacia los 7 años de edad. Dicho examen es necesario porque permite obtener valores basales de los dientes y mandíbulas del niño, así como detectar cualquier problema en sus primeras etapas. El propósito de la ortodoncia es prevenir, diagnosticar y tratar cualquier irregularidad dental o facial. El término técnico para esos problemas es “maloclusión”, que significa “mala mordida”. Hacia los 7 años, la mayoría de niños ya tiene varios dientes permanentes en la mandíbula superior y en la inferior. Una vez que los dientes permanentes empiezan a salir, el ortodoncista puede evaluar el desarrollo de la mordida en el niño y ver si hay áreas preocupantes.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My 11-year-old began wearing glasses for nearsightedness when he was 7. Since then his prescription has gotten steadily worse. He has needed new glasses about every eight to ten months. His optometrist says this is not uncommon. But I’m worried. Is there an age a child’s eyesight typically stops changing? Should we take our son to see an ophthalmologist for a more thorough assessment? ANSWER: From your description, your son’s changing eyesight sounds like it is within the normal range for a child his age. Unless he has other symptoms or other health problems that could be affecting his eyesight, it is unlikely that he needs a consultation with an ophthalmologist at this time. Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a vision condition in which you can see objects that are near to you clearly, but objects farther away are blurry. Nearsightedness happens either when the cornea — the clear front surface of your eye — is curved too much or when your eye is longer than normal. That causes light coming into your eye to be focused in front of the retina at the back of your eye, instead of directly on the retina. The result is blurry vision. Many children develop nearsightedness during the early elementary school years, often around age 6 or 7. The condition usually continues to get worse throughout the teen years as a child grows. An increase in nearsightedness often is most rapid during early adolescence, around ages 11 to 13 years. It tends to slow and then stabilize by the late teens or early 20s.