Health & Wellness - November 2012 Archives

Many women experience low back pain during pregnancy. Kathy Cieslak, a physical therapist in Mayo Clinic's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation says, "Pregnancy-related back pain affects ...

Preparing a Thanksgiving turkey can prove tricky for even the most experienced cooks. How big of a bird to select, how to thaw it in time and how to avoid undercooking, overcooking or  — even worse — food poisoning, are among the challenges faced by holiday chefs. Here are some tips from Mayo Clinic to help avoid turkey-related mishaps: Turkey selection: At least 1 pound per person is the rough rule of thumb. That might sound like a lot, but much of that weight comes from bone and fat that you will trim away. If you enjoy leftovers, do the math for the number of people you will serve, then choose a turkey at least a few pounds heavier.   Defrosting: Keep your turkey frozen until it is ready to thaw. To thaw it in the refrigerator, leave it in its original wrapper, place it on a tray and allow at least a full day for every 4 pounds. For example, a 12-pound turkey, enough for about eight people plus leftovers, will take three or four days to thaw. You can also thaw the turkey in its wrapper submerged in cold water in a clean sink; allow a half-hour per pound and change the water every 30 minutes.   

Knee Replacement Can Be Reasonable Option Even for Older Adults November 9, 2012 Dear Mayo Clinic: I am 72 years old and need ...

MEDIA ALERT: As Veteran’s Day approaches, it’s important to recognize that many soldiers battle mental health conditions like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression long after they ...

Mayo Clinic in Arizona is the first and only clinical center in the U.S. Southwest to offer a new treatment that disrupts the growth of ...

Each year about 90,000 men seek treatment for recurrent prostate cancer, and evaluating them for recurrence is a major challenge. Physicians have to wait until a patient’s ...

Post-election response from John Noseworthy, M.D., President and CEO, Mayo Clinic: "To preserve and strengthen our nation's economy, it is imperative that we take action now ...

Sometimes doctors have to be detectives to stop the villain that’s making their patient’s lives miserable.  And sometimes, when the condition is rarely seen and ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My mother is 62 and has had very low blood pressure for two years. She was hospitalized with blood pressure that dropped from 200/78 in bed to 60/40 sitting up. What could be causing this and what can be done to treat her?   ANSWER: Your mother has a condition called orthostatic hypotension. It happens when blood pressure falls significantly as a person stands up. Orthostatic hypotension can cause a variety of symptoms; the most common are feelings of dizziness and faintness.  Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure in a person’s arteries during the active and resting phases of each heartbeat. When you stand, gravity causes your blood pressure to fall slightly as blood pools in your legs, lowering the amount of blood circulating back to your heart to pump.

Patients who make $35,000 a year or less report better outcomes after knee replacement surgery than people who earn more. The lower-income patients studied by ...

Mayo Clinic research finds that rheumatoid arthritis patients can also get gout. The gout study reveals, contrary to conventional wisdom, rheumatoid arthritis patients aren’t immune to ...

  Featured Topic; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of lung diseases that make it increasingly difficult for you to breathe. It's also a leading cause of death and illness worldwide. Learn how COPD can be prevented and treated.  Highlights  Hormone therapy: Is it right for you?  Erectile dysfunction: A sign of heart disease?  Exercise and chronic disease: Get the facts  Thermometers: Understand the options  Adult day service: What you need to know  Expert Answers with Mayo Clinic Specialists Emphysema: Does cold weather make it worse?  Bipolar treatment: Are bipolar I and bipolar II treated differently?  Stop multitasking and learn how to focus  Botox party: Is it safe?  Hyperinflated lungs: What does it mean? Healthy Recipes Roasted red pepper with feta salad  Vegetable salsa  Ratatouille with roasted tomato vinaigrette  Red, white and blue parfait