THIS WEEK'S TOP TOPICS
Work-life balance: Tips to reclaim control 
There was a time when the boundaries between work and home were fairly clear. Today, work is likely to invade your personal life, and maintaining work-life balance can be a challenge. When your work life and personal life are out of balance, your stress level is likely to soar. But if you can learn to set limits and look after yourself, you can achieve the work-life balance that's best for you. Here are some strategies you can use to bring your life back into harmony.

Evaluating complementary and alternative medicine therapies
Complementary and alternative medicine treatments, from herbal remedies and dietary supplements to ancient healing systems and mind-body techniques, are growing in popularity. And thanks to increasing research, health care providers are better able to understand the role some of these complementary therapies can play in helping treat and prevent disease. But not all complementary and alternative medicine treatments have been studied well enough to know whether they're safe or effective. Here's what you need to know.

EXPERT ANSWERS
What are probiotics and prebiotics?
Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain live microorganisms intended to maintain or improve the "good" bacteria in the body. Prebiotics are foods that act as food for those "good" bacteria and improve the balance of these microorganisms. How can you include probiotics and prebiotics in your diet? Learn more from Katherine Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian nutritionist.

Are ankle weights a good idea for fitness walking?
Although ankle weights can increase the energy you burn while walking, they may strain the ankle joints and leg muscles, which could increase your risk of injury. Learn about better ideas for adding to your walking workout from Dr. Edward Laskowski, a Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist and co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Animal bites: First aid
Sun allergy
Gout
Cellulite

HEALTHY RECIPES
Sweet carrots
Tomato-basil pizza
Summer vegetable soup
Grilled snapper curry

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Do your sunglasses get the job done?
Sunglasses are more than a fashion statement. When you're shopping for shades, skip sunglasses that don't offer details about ultraviolent (UV) radiation protection. Instead look for sunglasses that block at least 99% of both UVA and UVB rays.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover more healthy lifestyle topics at mayoclinic.org. 

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The post Housecall: How balanced is your work-life balance? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Stroke: First aid
A stroke is a true emergency. Faster treatment means less damage, so every moment counts. An easy way to remember the warning signs of a stroke is with the acronym "FAST," or Face, Arms, Speech and Time. Knowing what to look for could help save someone's life. Here's what you need to know.

EXPERT ANSWERS
What causes olfactory hallucinations?
With olfactory hallucinations, or phantosmia, you detect smells that aren't present in your environment. The odors detected in phantosmia vary from person to person and may be foul or pleasant. They can occur in one or both nostrils. The phantom smells may be constant or come and go. Learn more from Dr. Jerry Swanson, a Mayo Clinic neurologist.

Is body weight training effective for strength training?
Body weight training — using only your body weight for resistance — can be an effective type of strength training. The resistance training effect you get from using your body weight can be as effective as training with free weights or weight machines. Learn more from Dr. Edward Laskowski, a Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist and co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Broken heart syndrome
Hiatal hernia
Dermabrasion
Ingrown hair

HEALTHY RECIPES
Brown-sugared pork tenderloin stir-fry
Chipotle spiced shrimp
Caramelized onion chicken pizza
Mango salsa

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Hay fever: How to avoid triggers
If you have hay fever, the best thing you can do is reduce your exposure to allergens, such as pollen and mold:

1. Close doors and windows during pollen season.
2. Use air conditioning in your house and car.
3. Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning, when pollen counts are highest.
4. Use a dehumidifier to reduce indoor humidity.
5. Use a high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filter in your bedroom.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover more healthy lifestyle topics at mayoclinic.org.

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ANSWER: Alternatives to medication for chronic pain exist. Research shows that, when they’re included in a comprehensive treatment plan, those techniques can be quite effective in lowering pain. Together, these approaches to pain management often are referred to as integrative medicine. Talk with your primary health care provider about possibilities for pain control beyond medication. If he or she is not familiar with integrative medicine, ask for a referral to a health care provider who specializes in pain management.

Chronic pain is a common problem. According to the National Institutes of Health, chronic pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Chronic pain is the most common cause of disability in the U.S.

Traditionally, the first step in treating chronic pain has been medication, including strong painkillers such as opioids. But these drugs can be problematic. Not only are opioids powerful drugs, they can have serious side effects and pose a significant risk for addiction when used long term. The problems associated with using opioids for pain relief make it crucial that other strategies be considered when managing chronic pain.

In some situations when medication wasn’t a good option, surgery was recommended as the next step. Fortunately, there now are a wide range of choices available beyond medication and surgery that have been shown to be useful in easing chronic pain.

One common form of integrative medicine that’s used frequently at Mayo Clinic is acupuncture. The technique involves inserting extremely thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body to reduce pain. How often you need this treatment depends in large part on the type and severity of your pain.

Massage therapy can help reduce pain, too. Several studies suggest massage can be effective as part of an overall strategy for managing chronic neck and back pain. Mayo Clinic has conducted more than a dozen clinical trials on massage and found it valuable for a wide variety of pain conditions. Mayo Clinic now regularly offers massage therapy to patients.

Clinical trials have shown mind-body therapies are another approach that can significantly affect chronic pain. The purpose of these treatments is to help you relax and improve the communication and connection between the state of your mind and the health of your body. Yoga, tai chi, meditation and guided imagery fall under this category.

You also asked about supplements. There are two in particular that show promise for easing pain. The first is S-adenosylmethionine, usually called SAMe. It’s been studied for its ability to reduce inflammation and relieve arthritis pain. The second is curcumin, a substance found in the spice turmeric, which also may help reduce inflammation. Initial research seems to point to a benefit in people with some forms of chronic pain who use these supplements. Be careful if you take supplements, though, and don’t start taking anything before you discuss it with your health care provider to make sure it’s right for your situation.

Although all of these treatments may help lower chronic pain, none provides a cure. Instead, they help control pain symptoms. To be most effective, they should be integrated into an overall treatment plan that includes conventional approaches to pain management, such as physical therapy, exercise and balanced nutrition. When placed in the context of this type of integrated approach, many people see significant benefits from using evidence-based alternatives to medication for chronic pain management. — Dr. Brent Bauer, Integrative Medicine and Health, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 

The post Mayo Clinic Q and A: Alternative treatments for chronic pain appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES

Complementary and alternative medicine: Evaluate claims
If you're considering an herbal remedy, acupuncture or another alternative treatment, do your homework first. Here's what to look for and how to weed out misinformation.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Sunburn treatment: Do I need medical attention?
The summer sun can do a number on your skin. Know when sunburn merits a trip to the doctor.

Antihistamines for insomnia
Antihistamines can cause drowsiness, which might help you fall asleep for a few nights, but using them regularly isn't a good idea.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS 
Video: Picnic problems: High sodium
Exercise helps ease arthritis pain and stiffness
Coping with the stress of hidradenitis suppurativa
Recipes that serve 8

HEALTHY RECIPES
Balsamic feta chicken
Barley risotto with asparagus
Vegetable stir-fry
Strawberry mockarita

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Prevent night leg cramps
Nighttime leg cramps often strike just as you're falling asleep or waking up. To prevent these involuntary contractions of your leg muscles — usually in the back of your lower leg — stretch your legs before you climb under the covers. Wear shoes with proper support. Untuck the covers at the foot of your bed. And, drink plenty of fluids during the day.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover even more healthy lifestyle topics at MayoClinic.org.

NOW BLOGGING
What does it take to become a master? 10,000 hours
Elite performers often are described as having innate gifts. In reality, their success has as much — or more — to do with the time they spend practicing.

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Once viewed with skepticism, complementary and integrative medicine is now playing an increasingly important role in modern health care. On the next program, Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic, outlines the contributions integrative medicine is making in treating the whole person. Also on the program, a recent study found that widely-used cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may be of benefit to an even larger number of people who are at risk of heart disease. Cardiologist Dr. Stephen Kopecky discusses the results. And, orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Sperling explains how getting an artificial shoulder may restore movement you thought was lost forever.

Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeartRadio.

Click here to listen to the program at 9:05 a.m. CT, Saturday, August 8, and follow #MayoClinicRadio.

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Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

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Miss the show?  Here is the podcast: MayoClinicRadio 08-08-15 PODCAST

Myth or Matter-of-Fact: Integrative medicine includes acupuncture, Tai chi, meditation and massage therapy.

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Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

To find and listen to archived shows, click here.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Integrative Medicine/Statin Update/Shoulder Replacement appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Paleo diet: What is it and why is it so popular?

Yoga: Fight stress and find serenity
Less stress, lower blood pressure, better heart function and improved fitness. They're all reasons to give yoga a try.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Sleep aids: Could antihistamines help me sleep?
Antihistamines are somewhat effective as sleep aids — but only for occasional insomnia.

Mammogram: Can it find cancer in dense breasts?
Dense breasts can make a mammogram more difficult to interpret. But the screening is still helpful in finding cancer.

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PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
COPD
Spotting symptoms of diabetic macular edema
Complementary and alternative medicine
Early-onset Alzheimer's: When symptoms begin before age 65

HEALTHY RECIPES
French country chicken with mushroom sauce
Seared endive
Ratatouille with roasted tomato vinaigrette
Poached pears

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Time to cut back on caffeine?
That morning cup of coffee or early afternoon soda is probably OK. But more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, or more than about four cups of coffee, can cause restlessness, anxiety, headaches and other problems. Know how much caffeine is in your diet. You may be getting more than you think. To cut back, replace caffeinated drinks with decaf ones.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover even more healthy lifestyle topics at MayoClinic.org.

NOW BLOGGING
Nutrition-wise: Sugar challenge: Cut the sweets for 2 weeks
Can you give up added sugar and artificial sweeteners for two weeks? You may never think about sugar the same way again.

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