Health & Wellness - July 2015 Archives

For most women, breast surgery means mastectomy. But there are other types of breast surgery, including breast reconstruction and breast augmentation. On the next ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFLgr3G8ZQg On any given day about 15,000 Americans are on the liver transplant waiting list, hoping they can get a lifesaving donor organ in ...

Mighty dragons are taking to the water in western Wisconsin this summer. Mayo Clinic Health System is hosting two Dragon Boat Festivals, in La Crosse and Eau Claire, to raise awareness and funds for health issues: breast cancer survivorship, and hospice and bereavement services. As a symbol of the teamwork that supports patients and families, teams of 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steersperson guide the colorful dragon boats. Music and spectator viewing of the races is free. Food and other items will be available for purchase. More than 100 volunteers will support each event. Big Blue Dragon Boat Festival La Crosse, June 17–18, Copeland Park Friday 6:00 p.m. opening ceremonies 6:30 p.m. exhibition races, kid activities 9:45 p.m. fireworks Saturday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. races 1:00 p.m. survivor ceremony 4:00 p.m. awards More than 50 teams are participating in the third annual Big Blue Dragon Boat Festival in La Crosse. The event supports free mammograms for women in financial need, as well as comprehensive care and support for patients diagnosed with breast cancer at Mayo Clinic Health System Franciscan Healthcare in southwest Wisconsin. Half Moon Dragon Boat Festival   Eau Claire, Aug. 8, Half Moon Beach   Saturday    10:00 a.m. qualifying races    12:15 p.m. opening ceremony, parade    12:45 p.m. semifinal races      3:00 p.m. remembrance ceremony      5:30 p.m. awards More than 30 teams are participating in the inaugural Half Moon Dragon Boat Festival in Eau Claire. The event will raise awareness of hospice care for people in the final stages of life. Funds raised will support bereavement services for families and the community following the loss of a loved one.

A multidisciplinary team of researchers has eliminated fatal mitochondrial DNA mutations in stem cells from patients with mitochondrial diseases. The study is published in today's online issue of Nature as a collaboration between some of the nation's top institutions and Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Medicine. Mitochondrial diseases are a particular struggle for patients and their families as treatment options are limited, something made more dire as many of those affected are children. Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., director of Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Medicine, explains: "These are life threatening conditions where standard care is limited to alleviating symptoms of disease. Our proof-of-concept study shows that functionally corrected stem cells can be generated from these patients, providing initial steps towards regenerative therapy for mitochondrial disease.” MEDIA CONTACT: Bob Nellis, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu Read: Research paper in Nature Read: Oregon Health & Science University News Release

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 24 and was recently diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. How will this affect my fertility? ANSWER: The effect of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, on fertility can vary quite a bit from one woman to another. In some women, PCOS can make getting pregnant more difficult than usual. But that’s not always the case. When PCOS does have an impact on fertility, there often are treatments available that can help. There’s no single test that shows you have PCOS. Instead, a diagnosis is made when you have two out of three signs of PCOS. The first sign, irregular or less-frequent periods, suggests that you are not ovulating every month. Ovulation is the process where the ovaries develop a mature egg that is then released into the uterus and can be fertilized by sperm. Women with PCOS usually have less than nine periods per year, or there is other evidence that they are not ovulating every month.

They're often no larger than a grain of sand ... but they can be extremely painful.Kidney stones are small, hard mineral deposits that form in your ...

For most women, breast surgery means mastectomy. But there are other types of breast surgery, including breast reconstruction and breast augmentation. On the next Mayo ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Summer recipes: Celebrate the season Enjoy the tastes of summer with seven mix-and-match menus. Try some of these no-fuss healthy recipes today. Chronic stress puts your health at risk Your body's stress reaction was meant to protect you. But when it's constantly on alert, your health can pay the price. Here's how. EXPERT ANSWERS Coconut oil for weight loss: Does it work? Will taking coconut oil help you drop those extra pounds? Research says no — but your waist size may benefit. Warfarin diet: What foods should I avoid? Taking this blood-thinning medication means having to watch what you eat. Certain foods and drinks can make warfarin less effective. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve had a cough and some wheezing that won’t go away. My doctor suspects asthma and ordered an exhaled nitric oxide test. Can you tell me more about this test? ANSWER: Asthma is usually diagnosed based on symptoms, a physical exam and certain tests — such as peak flow measurement and spirometry tests — to see how well your lungs are working. But sometimes the diagnosis is still uncertain. To gather more clues, your doctor may use an exhaled nitric oxide test. This simple test takes only a few minutes and can be performed in your doctor’s office or in a lung function laboratory. Asthma causes a particular inflammation of airways in your lungs. Studies have shown that an elevated exhaled nitric oxide — a gas that’s expelled when you breathe out — can be a reliable marker for asthma airway inflammation in certain patients.

What is the true paradigm shift? "A true paradigm shift – living to give out (and not receive) energy. Fear and greed attract energy, while ...

Pay it forward with random acts of kindness A kind gesture can make someone's day — and help you feel better, too. He or she ...

MANKATO, Minn. — A current Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) investigation into a child’s contraction of a deadly form of meningitis from the Naegleria fowleri amoeba is raising concerns about the health and safety of lakes. However, Jessica Sheehy, physician assistant and infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic Health System, says contracting an infection from this amoeba is extremely rare. “The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, is a single-celled living organism and is prevalent in freshwater and soil throughout the world,” says Sheehy. “In rare instances, people can be infected and develop primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, which is life-threatening. But, again, getting a serious illness is extremely unlikely.” The organism infects people by entering the body through the nose. Swimming and diving in warm freshwater are often the cause. Sheehy says that although risk of infection is very low, concerned individuals may wish to avoid swimming, boating or engaging in other freshwater activities. Additionally, she offers this advice for those wanting to take extra precaution in freshwater: Keep your head out of the water while swimming, sitting or standing Plug your nose or use a nose clip while swimming Be careful not to stir up sediment in shallow areas Avoid entering hot springs, as well as warm lakes, ponds and rivers According to MDH, the United States has seen 35 cases from 2005 to 2014, with the vast majority being reported in warmer southern states. Minnesota saw cases in 2010 and 2012.