Health & Wellness - March 2014 Archives

  Eat less, move more, quit smoking and get more sleep! These are just some of the common sense solutions we often hear that would help us live a healthier lifestyle. So, WHY does it seem so difficult to put it all together? Join us for our next program Saturday, March 22, at 9 a.m. CDT, when we speak with Donald Hensrud, M.D., medical director for the new Healthy Living Program at Mayo Clinic. The Healthy Living Program focuses on the pillars of wellness: physical activity, nutrition and resiliency. We'll take a peek inside what makes this program work and how you can put it to use for a healthier you! Join us. Myth or Matter of Fact: When it comes to losing weight, what you think is more important than what you eat. To hear the program LIVE on Saturday, click here. Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions. Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio. Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment March 22, 2014 (right click MP3) 

Future of Health Care for Heart Patients is a Click Away Check out the interactive Mayo myCare program, giving heart patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery the opportunity to be an integral part of their recovery. Future of Health Care at Mayo Clinic John Noseworthy, M.D., CEO and president at Mayo Clinic, shares his vision for the future of health care in America with Dale Kurschner, editor in chief of the Twin Cities Business. Individualized Medicine and the Future of Health Care William Rupp, M.D., vice-president at Mayo Clinic, explains how the Individualized Medicine Clinic in Florida ushers in a new era in medicine where teams of physicians and scientists leverage exciting new technologies like whole genome sequencing to personalize treatment for patients.

Eat less, move more, quit smoking and get more sleep! These are just some of the common sense solutions we often hear that would help ...

Laser-guided Malaria Detectors Smart Socks that Predict Heart Attacks Mouse Avatars to Study Ovarian Cancer These are just three of the joint projects now underway ...

Mayo Clinic research results presented in NEJM could change colorectal screening practice A clinical trial of Cologuard shows unprecedented results for finding colorectal cancer with a noninvasive test. “Cologuard detection rates of early stage cancer and high-risk precancerous polyps validated in this large study were outstanding and have not been achieved by other noninvasive approaches,” says the study’s author David Ahlquist M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and co-inventor of the Cologuard test. Colorectal cancer has become the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but it is highly treatable if found early. Cologuard uses a self-contained collection kit that allows patients to send stool samples to a high-tech lab for screening. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Ahlquist, animation and b-roll of the Cologuard test kit are available in the downloads.

WASECA, Minn. — Poor diet can obviously lead to health problems and weight gain. Conversely, proper food choices help people become healthier and manage certain conditions. For those with diabetes and prediabetes appropriate monitoring and management of diet is extremely important. Mayo Clinic Health System registered dietitian Sue Seykora offers these meal-planning tips to help keep diabetes under control and maybe avoid it all together. Carbohydrate counting Carbohydrate counting is a meal-planning approach that focuses on the total number of carbs consumed. It's an easy method to follow and allows variety in food choices that fit preferences and lifestyle. Most of the foods you eat contain carbs: breads, crackers, pasta, rice, potatoes, milk and many more. Carbs are often thought of as bad foods. In reality, your body needs carbs to create energy. The problem is that many people don’t choose healthy types and amounts of carbs.  “People should consume healthier carbs like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods. All foods – even healthy foods – need portion control,” says Seykora.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 43 and have had trouble with urinary incontinence since having my fourth child at 41. It seemed manageable until about 6 months ago when I started to notice it happening more frequently. At what point should I consider surgery? ANSWER: Urinary incontinence is a common problem for women, especially after pregnancy and childbirth. Surgery usually can effectively eliminate urinary incontinence. But less invasive treatment options are available that you can try before turning to surgery. Urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control, affects about half of all women at some point during their lifetimes. Factors that increase the risk of urinary incontinence include age, childbirth and pelvic floor muscle weakness.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Oral health: Brush up on dental care basics Your smile depends on simple dental care habits, such as brushing and flossing. But are you using the right techniques? Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity Exercise can improve your mood, stamina and sex life. How many more reasons do you need to get moving? EXPERT ANSWERS Cervical cysts: Can they be cancerous? Most cervical cysts are noncancerous, cause no signs or symptoms and require no treatment. Walking pneumonia: What does it mean? Walking pneumonia is a general term for relatively mild cases of pneumonia. HEALTHY RECIPES Split pea soup Beef stew with fennel and shallots Garlic mashed potatoes Green smoothie HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Fit in more fruit Getting in at least three servings of fruit a day is easier than you may think. But if you're tired of the same old fruit options, try these two variations. 1. Blend it. In a blender, add 2 fresh or frozen bananas, 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries and 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt. Blend until smooth. 2. Grill it. Cut apples, pears or peaches into chunks, brush lightly with canola oil and sprinkle with cinnamon. Place on skewers or wrap in foil. Grill on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

Colon cancer awareness: Check out the strollin' colon You're invited to a colon cancer awareness event for the latest updates on prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care. Cancer blood tests: Lab tests used in cancer diagnosis Reduce your anxiety by learning about cancer blood tests and how they're used. Managing chemotherapy side effects Chemotherapy treatment carries with it a host of potential side effects — fatigue, hair loss and more. Learn about managing chemotherapy side effects.

Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Rectal cancer is cancer in the last several inches of the colon. Together they're often referred to as colorectal cancers.  On our upcoming program, Paul Limburg, M.D., joins us to discuss why screening is so important and why the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is being studied in relation to colorectal cancer. We'll also discuss a new American Cancer Society campaign aimed at getting 80% of the eligible population screened in 2014. Myth or Matter of Fact:  Colorectal cancer is a man's disease. To hear the program LIVE on Saturday, click here. Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions. Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio. Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment March 15, 2014  (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.

Miss the show? Here's the podcast! Mayo Clinic Radio Full Show-3-14-2014 Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your ...

JACKSONVILLE, Flórida, 12 de março de 2014 — Quando um paciente recebe um diagnóstico indicando que sua doença não tem cura, ele e sua família entram em um processo de mudanças radicais em suas vidas. O tratamento paliativo visa oferecer cuidados completos aos pacientes afetados e a suas famílias. Isso inclui o controle da dor e outros sintomas, bem como a resolução de problemas psicológicos, sociais e espirituais, um trabalho que deve ser feito por uma equipe multidisciplinar de profissionais. Em vista da importância desse assunto, o médico Robert Shannon, da Clínica Mayo de Jacksonville, Flórida, respondeu perguntas sobre esse modelo de tratamento e as diferenças com os métodos tradicionais de cura. Shannon é professor adjunto de Medicina da Família e Medicina Paliativa na Clínica Mayo. O que é tratamento paliativo? A Organização Mundial de Saúde o define como “o tratamento completo e ativo de pacientes, cujas doenças não mais respondem a tratamentos curativos; portanto, o objetivo principal é conseguir controlar a dor e outros sintomas, bem como problemas psicológicos, sociais e espirituais”. Como esse tratamento pode ser descrito? Ele não se relaciona a temas como “a boa morte” ou “como morrer”; em vez disso, se relaciona com “viver bem”, mesmo no caso de uma doença incurável.