Health & Wellness - September 2013 Archives

Individualizing Medicine 2013: From Promise to Practice, that's the name of a conference at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., this week focusing on how to translate the promise of genomic medicine into ongoing patient care. Genomics is the study of our genetic material, which determines everything from the color of our hair to which diseases we may be at risk of developing. That's why hundreds of physicians, researchers, scientists, medical staff, genetics counselors and others are gathering to see how the science of genomics is helping heal patients today. Richard Weinshilboum, M.D., the director of the Pharmacogenomics Program at Mayo's Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM), says the field is no longer the stuff of science fiction. The conference continues through 12 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 2. Members of the media wishing to cover the event or interview speakers may contact Bob Nellis at Nellis.Robert@mayo.edu. Follow #CIMcon2013 Journalists: b-roll from the conference and additional sound bites are available in the downloads. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=art3pczL9H0

Marathon season is officially in full swing: The Twin Cites marathon is coming up Sunday, Oct. 6; the Kansas  City marathon is Oct. 19; and the New York City marathon is on Nov. 3. Whether you're running a marathon, planning to train for one, or are just interested in learning more about marathons – You should join @StarTribune and @MayoClinic for a #MarathonChat  12-1 p.m. CT Wednesday, Oct. 2.  Topics discussed will include staying healthy before, during and after the big race; nutrition for marathon runners; how to have your best run; common injuries marathon runners face and how can you avoid them; the pros and cons of running as an exercise; and more. Star Tribune’s @allieshah will moderate and Mayo Clinic physicians will participate, along with experts from @lifetimefitness, @lifetimerun, @mplsrunning, @UMN_Health and the Twin Cities Marathon Medical Director Bill Roberts. Never participated in a chat before, or want tips on how to participate effectively? Watch this video. Questions? Email Nick Hanson at: hanson.nicholas@mayo.edu or Allie Shah at: AllieShah@startribune.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNPCFkj_1_U Mayo Clinic researchers are part of the second phase of a national consortium that focuses on developing innovative medical treatments for wounded veterans. Mayo’s ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Myelofibrosis Myelofibrosis is a serious bone marrow disorder that disrupts your body's normal production of blood cells. Sexual health and aging: Keep the passion alive Sexual health is important at any age. Find out how aging can affect sexuality and what you can do to maintain a fulfilling sex life. EXPERT ANSWERS Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Is it harmful? Monosodium glutamate (MSG) can trigger headaches and other symptoms in some people. Nervous breakdown: What does it mean? Nervous breakdown isn't a medical term — but it may indicate an underlying mental health condition HEALTHY RECIPES Rotelle pasta with sun-dried tomato and black olive sauce Quinoa risotto with arugula and Parmesan Sun-dried tomato, thyme and basil pizza Vegetable and garlic calzone HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Feeling gassy and a little embarrassed? Occasional flatulence is unavoidable, but embarrassing just the same. To prevent excess gas: 1. Limit gassy foods, such as beans and broccoli. 2. Eat fewer fatty foods, such as fried foods and fatty meats. 3. Take a short walk after meals. 4. Try an over-the-counter anti-gas product.

-What is an exchange/marketplace? -Will the plan I purchase on the public exchange/marketplace allow me to continue to seek care at Mayo Clinic? -How will ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob3XDMIKHu8 The total hospital cost of mitral valve repair surgery is similar whether performed through small port incisions using robotic equipment or via the conventional open-chest ...

If we could peer into the future of medical care, individualized medicine would be what you see.  On Saturday, Oct. 5, we will broadcast from ...

  For more than 30 years, Roger Corcoran has been cleaning windows at Mayo Clinic, but earlier this week he and two of his fellow ...

Surgery Could Be Best Option For Biceps Injury September 27, 2013 Dear Mayo Clinic: I recently had a non-contrast MRI which showed a biceps ...

Journalists: Mayo Clinic breast cancer experts are available to discuss risk factors, screening and treatments. Read expert alert: English and Spanish. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States, with more than 238,000 new diagnoses estimated this year. Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., a specialist in the Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic, says women with a family history of breast cancer are unfortunately at a higher risk of developing the disease but adds, there are some lifestyle changes they can make to lower overall risk. Dr. Pruthi recommends patients take the following steps to lower their risk: Don't smoke. Accumulating evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer risk, particularly in premenopausal women. In addition, not smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. Limit alcohol. The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer. If you choose to drink alcohol — including beer, wine or liquor — limit yourself to no more than one drink a day. Control your weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause. Be physically active. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, helps prevent breast cancer. Breast-feed. Breast-feeding may play a role in breast cancer prevention. The longer you breast-feed, the greater the protective effect. Limit dose and duration of hormone therapy. Combination hormone therapy for more than three to five years increases the risk of breast cancer. If you're taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, ask your doctor about other options. Avoid exposure to radiation and pollution. Medical-imaging methods, such as computerized tomography, use high doses of radiation, which have been linked with breast cancer risk. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Pruthi, from previous news release topics, are available in the downloads.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf5b8Bt1-Cc

During the Healthier Futures plenary at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, Chelsea Clinton welcomed a number of guests on stage to announce a unique CGI Commitment to Action. Among the guests — Mayo Clinic’s President and CEO John Noseworthy, M.D.; Pro Mujer’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Rosario Perez; and Sesame Workshop President and CEO H. Melvin Ming who brought along Sesame Street Muppet Rosita. This new effort will promote healthy behavior and disease prevention among poor women and children in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Peru, Mexico and Argentina using a new technology platform that integrates mobile, web, and video technology. It will also allow remote training and access to specialists. Read English and Spanish news releases. Watch this video of Dr. Noseworthy talking with Rosita about being healthy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwSLzxI8fys

A Mayo Clinic researcher, along with his collaborators, has shown that an individual’s genomic makeup and diet interact to determine which microbes exist and how they act in the host intestine.The study was modeled in germ-free knockout mice to mimic a genetic condition that affects 1 in 5 humans and increases the risk for digestive diseases. Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and first author of the study Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S., says, “Our data show that factors in the differences in a host’s genetic makeup — in this case genes that affect carbohydrates in the gut — interact with the type of food eaten. That combination determines the composition and function of resident microbes.” Dr. Kashyap is also a collaborator in the Microbiome Program of the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine. Changes in microbial membership or function as demonstrated in this study may, in turn, foster a “digestive landscape” that can promote inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease.The findings appear in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read news release.