Health & Wellness - November 2012 Archives

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not a disease but a group of symptoms that affects 10 to 20 percent of the population in developed countries. IBS is ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My daughter developed numerous hemangiomas, most of them on her face and stomach, when she was a few months old. She is now 6 years old and they have not gone away. She is self-conscious of them and people are always asking about her condition. Is there a safe way to surgically remove them? Will she have them her whole life? I had been told they should resolve on their own before she was in school.   ANSWER:  Even though they usually are not present at birth, hemangiomas are considered a type of birthmark. Typically these red marks on the skin grow during a child’s first year of life and then begin to slowly shrink and fade. Hemangiomas can take a long time to go away and in some cases they never disappear completely. There are ways to remove hemangiomas that last or that cause problems.    Hemangiomas are caused by an abnormally dense group of extra blood vessels. Many hemangiomas appear as flat, red marks on the skin during the first several weeks or months of life. They can be on any part of the body, but are most commonly located on an infant’s face, scalp or neck.  

Featured Topic;  Bronchitis Often developing from a cold or other respiratory infection, acute bronchitis is very common. Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is often due to smoking.   Highlights Breast lumps  Empty nest syndrome: Tips for coping  Testosterone therapy: Key to male vitality? Crohn's disease  Herbal supplements: What to know before you buy Expert Answers with Mayo Clinic Specialists Acute bronchitis: Is it contagious?  Pap smear: Still needed after hysterectomy?  LABAs for asthma — Should I stop taking them?  Digestion: How long does it take?  Rheumatoid arthritis diet: Do certain foods reduce symptoms? Healthy Recipes Potato soup with apples and Brie cheese  Sloppy joes Tuscan white bean stew Carrot soup

WASHINGTON, D.C — 12 de noviembre de 2012. Un estudio de Mayo Clinic, que refuta una larga creencia de muchos médicos, descubrió que los pacientes ...

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 ...