Health & Wellness - May 2015 Archives

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What causes vertigo? Does having it one time mean I’m more likely to experience it again? ANSWER: Vertigo is a sensation that either you or your surroundings, or both, are spinning or moving when they are not. Some people confuse vertigo with dizziness, but there is a difference. Dizziness typically is a feeling of being lightheaded, or it may be a loss of balance that makes you unsteady on your feet. Dizziness usually does not involve the feeling that either you or something in your environment is moving. A number of disorders can trigger vertigo. The most common is a condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. If you have BPPV once, you are at an increased risk of getting it again. In many cases, BPPV can be successfully treated. For many adults, BPPV is the underlying source of vertigo. With BPPV, vertigo happens when you move a certain way. Sitting up, tilting your head or lying down may all trigger vertigo if you have BPPV.

In today's Mayo Clinic News Network Headline with Vivien Williams: A new study by British researchers finds women who take newer formulations of ...

Take steps to let nature help you heal Focusing on the little things that nature offers can take your mind away from stress. It also ...

Chris Norton's Walk to Remember ~"Chris Norton knew it was going ...

Human organ transplantation has come a long way since the first heart transplant in 1967. But despite advances, there are still more than 100,000 ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus has been recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) with a Magnet Recognition Program® designation. This credential recognizes health care organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Mayo Clinic is one of only 20 hospitals in Florida and 401 nationally with Magnet Recognition Program status. In the nursing profession, Magnet recognition is considered the gold seal that epitomizes the importance of quality, safety and improvement; intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary teamwork; understanding of evidence based practice and research; and formal nursing education. It requires organizations to develop, disseminate and enculturate evidenced-based criteria that results in a positive work environment for nurses and, by extension, all employees. U.S. News & World Report includes the Magnet designation as a primary competence indicator in its assessment of almost 5,000 hospitals to rank and report the best medical centers in 16 specialties.

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. –– They are popular, practical and fun but quickly can turn dangerous or even deadly. Utility terrain vehicles, or UTVs, are growing in popularity. Much like the popular, single-rider all-terrain vehicle, or ATV, the UTV is designed for hauling on rough terrain but allows two people to sit beside each other. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, since the beginning of 2015, six UTV fatalities in Wisconsin have been reported. Victims range in age from 10 to 77. Half of all reported victims were not wearing helmets at the time of the accident. UTVs often are capable of reaching speeds up to 55 miles per hour. David Ciresi, M.D., a trauma surgeon at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, says most of these events are preventable. “There often is a false sense of security for drivers and passengers in UTVs,” says Dr. Ciresi. “While one may feel safer in a UTV, it quickly can lead to a feeling of overconfidence. The UTV has a high center of gravity, giving it the potential to roll more easily than a car and is often driven in uneven terrain.” Kristin Everett 715-838-5805  everett.kristin@mayo.edu

Confused about the best sunscreen to use? Wondering whether sunscreen can be harmful? Lawrence Gibson, M.D., a dermatologist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., offers ...

Human organ transplantation has come a long way since the first heart transplant in 1967. But despite advances, there are still more than 100,000 people ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 53 and about 60 pounds overweight. I want to start walking to lose some weight but don’t know where to start. What do you recommend? Would a tracking device help someone like me, or should I aim for a certain distance or number of minutes? ANSWER: Walking can be an excellent part of a weight-loss plan, and wearing a monitor that tracks your activity can help you see if you are reaching your goals. It also gives you useful information about how much you are moving throughout the day, not just while you exercise. In addition, some studies show that wearing an activity tracker makes it more likely you will increase your activity. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that all healthy adults get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity. When you want to lose weight, however, you may need up to 300 minutes a week of moderate physical activity. The guidelines suggest that you spread out your exercise over the course of a week. Activity sessions should be at least 10 minutes long.

As we age, our bones may lose mass and become brittle. These are the signs and symptoms of osteoporosis. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Omega-3 in fish: How eating fish helps your heart Worried about heart disease? Try eating one to two servings of fish a week. Discover the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Prescription weight-loss drugs Interest in weight-loss medicines is growing as more drugs become available. Could one of them help you? Find out if you may be a candidate. EXPERT ANSWERS Colon cleansing: Is it helpful or harmful? Colon cleansing is popular among some alternative medicine practitioners who claim it has health benefits. Get the facts first. Body fat analyzers: How accurate are they? Body fat can be measured with hand-held body fat analyzers, but accuracy varies. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.