Health & Wellness - November 2012 Archives

Diabetic patients with ovarian cancer who took the drug metformin for their diabetes had a better survival rate than patients who did not take it. When Mayo ...

Left Untreated, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Can Lead to Weakness in Fingers and Thumb November 30, 2012 Dear Mayo Clinic: I've had symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome for nearly ...

Mayo Clinic and six other U.S. health care systems avoided approximately 135 surgical site infections and saved more than $3.7 million dollars through an improvement project directed by the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major cause of preventable patient injury, prolonging hospitalizations and increasing costs. The seven health care systems volunteered to systematically address SSIs in colorectal surgery, and share their knowledge and recommendations to reduce this common adverse event. News release: Surgical Site Infections

Stem cells and their use in regenerative medicine have been in the news a lot lately. But, do you really know what they are and what they ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My sister-in-law has chosen not to vaccinate her children. She believes they don’t need the vaccinations in the first place, and that vaccines actually do more harm than good. I know this can’t be true. What are the facts behind the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations? Isn’t it putting other kids at risk when some choose not to vaccinate?   ANSWER: Yes, you are exactly right. Not immunizing a child puts that child — as well as siblings, parents, friends and other people he or she may come in contact with — at risk. The childhood vaccines recommended in the United States have been proven safe and effective. They protect children from a variety of serious and sometimes fatal diseases, including diphtheria, measles, meningitis, polio, tetanus and whooping cough. Unless there is a valid medical contraindication, opting out of vaccines is a mistake.  The idea that vaccines are not needed because a child’s natural immunity provides enough protection is common among people who choose not to vaccinate their children. Although a natural infection may provide more complete immunity than a series of vaccinations, there’s a big price to pay. To become immune naturally, you have to get the infection first. With the infection comes the very real risk of severe and sometimes permanent complications, including hospitalization and death.

It’s one of the toughest questions patients and their loved ones can discuss with physicians: When is further medical treatment futile? The conversation can become even ...

Featured Topic   Prostate cancer screening: Should you get a PSA test? Find out about pros and cons of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Highlights Headaches and hormones: What's the connection?  Ovarian cancer  HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol Dealing with depression Video: An asthma attack Expert Answers with Mayo Clinic Specialists   Diet soda: Is it bad for you? Weight training: Free weights vs. machine weights Aspirin during pregnancy: Is it safe? Fosamax and other bisphosphonates: Unusual risks? Acne scars: What's the best treatment? Healthy Recipes  Roasted potatoes with garlic and herbs Pork tenderloin with fennel sauce English cucumber salad with balsamic vinaigrette Rustic apple-cranberry tart

Dr. Ericka E. Tung joined us for a conversation about Advanced Directives.  With the holidays comes the perfect opportunity to talk about Advance Directives.  What do ...

Redness and Pimple-like Bumps May Indicate Rosacea November 23, 2012 Dear Mayo Clinic: Over the past few months the skin on my cheeks ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is it true that adults should be vaccinated against pertussis? I thought that was a childhood disease. Hasn’t it basically been eliminated in the United States?   ANSWER: Now more than ever, it is important for everyone — including adults — to be vaccinated against pertussis. There is an effective vaccine against pertussis, also known as whooping cough. But the immunity generated by the vaccine weakens over time. When enough people in the population become susceptible to infection, an epidemic can occur. These epidemics are not as severe as was seen in the pre-vaccine era, but they still affect a lot of people.   Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes a severe, hacking cough. The coughing spells can be followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like a “whoop” and gives the disease its name. Coughing spasms can cause extreme fatigue and vomiting and make breathing difficult. In babies, the disease can be very serious because their airways are tiny and they may have trouble breathing in enough oxygen during coughing spells. Severe coughing spells can also generate small hemorrhages in the eyes and brain. 

JACKSONVILLE, Flórida — Um novo teste, que mede proteínas fragmentadas por lesão do sistema nervoso, que são depositadas no sangue e no líquido cefalorraquidiano, revela ...

In this Medical Edge Radio episode, Mayo Clinic Dr. Andrea Cheville gives us a look at the lymphatic system. To listen, click the link below. Lymphatic System