Health & Wellness - June 2014 Archives

Mayo Medical Laboratories placed second in the Top 100 Call Center award for 2013 from BenchmarkPortal. The Top 100 competition compares the performance of contact centers throughout North America by evaluating their key metrics against other call centers, which range from 5-100 agents. Entries are all cross-checked, validated and approved by certified call center experts, and the resulting submissions are scored on the basis of both quality and cost efficiency. "Ranking in the Top 100 Call Center contest is a notable achievement for our hardworking call center staff," said Franklin Cockerill, M.D., chair of Mayo Clinic Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology. "In balancing efficiency, effectiveness and quality, Mayo Medical Laboratories' call center is committed to providing personalized and timely service to each and every customer."

Miss the show? Here's the podcast: Mayo Clinic Radio Full Show 6-7-14 44min mp3 Dr. John Wald joined us to discuss the new HealthKit that  Apple unveiled ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A new Mayo Clinic study in Pediatrics reviews the types and severity of injuries among youth ice hockey players. The study examined the spectrum of injuries and found fractures and concussions to be most frequent, with many of these injuries requiring hospitalization and surgery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yrcCe_ay60 “Ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in Minnesota and is rapidly growing in popularity throughout the United States. Due to the fast, hard-hitting nature of the game, people often ask, ‘What kinds of injuries might happen to my children?’” says study author Michael Ishitani, M.D., pediatric surgeon, Mayo Clinic Children’s Center. “Most injuries occurred in boys and older children, though approximately 20 percent occurred in girls, which is higher than previously reported.” Journalists: Broadcast quality sound bites are available in the downloads. The study reviewed patients over a 16-year period who were evaluated at a pediatric trauma center after sustaining injury while participating in ice hockey. Fractures and head injuries were the most common, with differences based on age and gender. For example, older boys were more likely to present with an extremity injury, while girls of all ages and younger children were more likely to present with concussion symptoms. Overall, the number of life-threatening injuries was small.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 38 and have headaches each month around the first day of my period. Over the last year or so they seem to be getting more severe and lasting longer — sometimes up to three days. Why might this be happening? Are there ways to prevent or treat it? ANSWER: It is not uncommon for women to have headaches before and during their periods. These headaches often can be effectively controlled with medication and usually don’t require in-depth evaluation. When, as you describe, there’s a change in the severity or type of headache, though, then it is time to see your doctor to find out if another underlying medical condition could be causing the headaches. In most cases, headaches associated with menstruation are triggered by hormone changes. This is particularly true during the days leading up to a menstrual cycle, when estrogen levels fall rapidly. Prostaglandins, natural chemicals made in the lining of the uterus, play a role, too. Due to these changes, many women have mild headaches, along with other symptoms like bloating and cramping, beginning just before the onset of a period and sometimes lasting a few days after it starts. These headaches tend to be mild. Over-the-counter pain medications are usually all that is needed to manage them. In some women, though, the headaches that come with menstruation can be more severe. These headaches, called menstrual migraines, typically start two days before a period begins and last until the third day of menses.

Screenshots illustrating the flagged value — in this case, high blood pressure — and action items: During the keynote address at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2014, ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Fall prevention: Simple tips to prevent falls Take steps now to prevent falls and maintain your independence. Here are six strategies to help you avoid injury. Vegetarian diet: How to get the best nutrition A vegetarian diet can meet your nutritional needs if you follow this helpful guide. EXPERT ANSWERS Elliptical machines: Better than treadmills? Your fitness goals can help you determine which type of exercise equipment to use. Coffee calories: Sabotaging your weight loss? Plain coffee has only a few calories, but the numbers rise when you start adding extras. PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS Mosquito bites Mental health: What's normal, what's not Obesity Calcium and calcium supplements: The right balance HEALTHY RECIPES Grilled angel food cake Vegetarian kebabs Mediterranean-style grilled salmon Caesar salad with grilled chicken Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.