Health & Wellness - November 2014 Archives

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What are the long-term side effects of taking a stool softener daily? It is the only thing that keeps me regular, and when I have tried taking it every-other-day, it’s not effective. ANSWER: At this time, no research has examined the specific long-term side effects of taking a stool softener every day. While the risks associated with taking this kind of over-the-counter medication daily are not likely to be significant, it would be a good idea to talk with your doctor about your symptoms. Although uncommon, an underlying health condition could be part of the problem. Constipation typically is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements a week or other symptoms (e.g., hard stools, excessive straining, or a sense of incomplete evacuation after defecation). Chronic constipation refers to these symptoms when they last for several weeks or longer. Constipation is a common problem, and there are many types of laxatives available to help treat it. Stool softeners, also called emollients, are laxatives that work by drawing fluids into the intestines. This prevents dry, hard stool masses and makes it easier to have a bowel movement without straining.

Listening to patients is what medical teams at Mayo Clinic do each day. To honor Mayo's 150th Anniversary, StoryCorps was asked to listen to and record several patient ...

On Saturday, November 29, at 9 a.m. CT, we’ll rebroadcast a conversation with two of our favorite guests this year - Stacy Erholtz and  Stephen Russell, M.D..  Stacy's been involved in groundbreaking research at Mayo Clinic led by Dr. Russell, which uses the measles virus to fight cancer. Stacy shares her story about receiving 10 million doses – a seemingly lethal amount – of the measles virus to treat her multiple myeloma. It's called oncolytic virotherapy, and Dr. Russell discusses the science behind virus therapy. He talks about where future research might be headed, are there other diseases that could be cured by using viruses and where did all those doses of measles vaccine come from?  Join us.  WATCH this video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LImk-KdMT1w Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions. To listen to the program on Saturday, click here. Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio. Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment November 29, 2014  (right click MP3)

ST. PETER, Minn. — Most people are aware how serious diabetes is and whether type 1 or type 2, it's especially harmful when not properly managed. There's also a form of the disease called prediabetes which, according to the National Diabetes Education Program, affects approximately 79 million adults in the United States. Mayo Clinic Health System family medicine physician Nadia Malik, M.D. answers several questions about this disease that can be prevented. Q. What is prediabetes? A. First, we need to understand what diabetes is. Diabetes is a group of diseases that results from insufficient production of or resistance to a hormone called insulin. There are several types of diabetes, all of which are a result of blood sugar (glucose) levels being excessively high. Prediabetes is essentially a warning sign for Type 2 diabetes. It occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not elevated to the point of Type 2 diabetes. Although not yet classified as diabetes, prediabetes may be already damaging your body. Q. What are the symptoms? A. Prediabetes doesn’t cause symptoms in most cases. One sign that may indicate a risk of diabetes is darkening of the skin on your neck, armpits, elbows, knees and knuckles.

rac Chronic stress: Can it cause depression? Celiac disease Can foods I eat affect my asthma symptoms? Thoracic aortic aneurysm Anger management: 10 tips to ...

LA CROSSE, Wis. -  Many people look forward to eating turkey and stuffing, potatoes and gravy, buttered beans, fruitcake, cookies, nuts, and pie throughout the holiday season. But excessive culinary celebrating creates the perfect recipe for dietary disaster and it can be very tempting to disregard healthy eating habits. According to MayoClinic.org the average American gains 5 pounds of weight between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. It is no wonder losing weight is the most popular New Year’s resolution. Registered dietitian Paula Przywojski at Mayo Clinic Health System Franciscan Healthcare says that by making simple changes, holiday meals can be less costly on the waist, while staying healthy. "Most holiday meals are not bad for you if they are prepared properly," says Przywojski. "The trouble arises when fat and sugar are added. For example, including large amounts of sugar, butter and gravy in recipes negates many of the benefits of healthy foods like squash, potatoes, and meat. It also makes it more difficult to enjoy these foods' natural flavors." Przywojski recommends these tips for holiday eating: Cut away all visible fat from meat before cooking Roast poultry on a rack so fat can drip away, remove skin before eating Remove fat from homemade soup: cool soups in the refrigerator; skim off the fat that rises to the surface Make sauce with fat free broth, tomato juice or skim milk, thickened with flour Use whole grain bread for stuffing Substitute skim milk for whole milk or cream in desert recipes Decrease sugar in recipes by 1/4 cup

On Saturday, November 29, at 9 a.m. CT, we’ll rebroadcast a conversation with two of our favorite guests this year - Stacy Erholtz and  Stephen ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have severe arthritis in my shoulder. I recently found out my rotator cuff is also torn. I can’t lift my arm much anymore without a lot of pain. My doctor recommends reverse shoulder arthroplasty. What does this surgery involve? How successful is it for someone in my situation? ANSWER: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is surgery used to replace a damaged shoulder joint. The procedure differs from standard shoulder replacement surgery because it switches the shoulder’s normal ball-and-socket structure around to allow for more stability in the joint after surgery. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is particularly useful for people like you who have a damaged rotator cuff along with shoulder arthritis. In such cases, this surgery often can effectively reduce pain and increase shoulder mobility.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Thanksgiving recipes: Delicious and healthy options Serve up a healthier Thanksgiving this year. These recipes have all the taste of the foods you love, but with less fat and fewer calories. Quit smoking: Strategies to help you quit Start with these tips that have helped others. EXPERT ANSWERS Celiac disease diet: How do I get enough grains? Including enough grains in your diet can be challenging if you have celiac disease. Flu shots for kids: Does my child need a flu shot? Find out the latest recommendations for childhood flu vaccines. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

Many of us might not really know where our pancreas is located or what it does, but one thing we DO know is that a diagnosis ...

As the number one cancer killer, lung cancer claims more lives than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. To help detect it sooner, when it’s ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My daughter, 16, has had headaches off and on for the past year. Ibuprofen seems to help, and she says the headaches are not severe. But I am concerned that they are so frequent. What could be the cause of recurring headaches in teens?  ANSWER: Headaches in teens are common. In most cases, they are not symptoms of a larger medical problem. But when headaches continue, it is a good idea to have them evaluated. There also are steps to take at home that may help reduce headaches. There are many kinds of headaches. Two of the most common are tension headaches and migraine headaches. Tension headaches are often described as feeling like a tight band around the head. A migraine headache usually causes intense throbbing on one side of the head. It can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.