THIS WEEK'S TOP TOPICS
Over-the-counter weight-loss pills
There's no magic trick for losing weight. The most effective way to lose weight and keep it off is by eating a healthy, low-calorie diet and being more physically active. But the appeal of using over-the-counter weight-loss pills to lose weight fast is hard to resist. Do these products lighten anything but your wallet? And more importantly, are they safe? Here's what you need to know.

Breast self-exam for breast awareness
Most medical organizations don't recommend routine breast self-exams as part of breast cancer screening. That's because breast self-exams haven't been shown to be effective in detecting cancer or improving survival for women who have breast cancer. Still health care providers believe that there is value in women being familiar with their own breasts, so that women understand what's normal and what is not. Though most breast changes detected during a self-exam for breast awareness have benign causes, some changes may signal something serious, such as breast cancer. Learn more about breast self-exam and when you need to seek medical care.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure?
Eating more whole-grain foods regularly may reduce your chance of developing high blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, eating more whole-grain foods may lower your blood pressure. Learn more from Dr. Sheldon Sheps, an emeritus Mayo Clinic hypertension and peripheral vascular diseases specialist.

What are the risks of vitamin D deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency can cause your bones to become thin, brittle or misshapen. Vitamin D also may play a role in insulin production and immune function — and how this relates to chronic disease prevention and cancer. Learn more from Katherine Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian nutritionist.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Treating pain
Proper walking technique
Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Sclerotherapy

HEALTHY RECIPES
Berries marinated in balsamic vinegar
Strawberries and cream
Peach crumble
Blackberry iced tea with cinnamon and ginger

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Golfers: Know when to call it quits
Love to golf? You may look forward to every minute that you can spend on the course, but it pays to be reasonable. Limit your sun exposure. While golfing, watch for symptoms of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Red flags might include a headache, dizziness, nausea, excess fatigue, rapid heartbeat or confusion. Drink plenty of water, and cut your game short, if necessary.

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: Over-the-counter weight-loss pills — know the benefits and risks appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Weight loss: Ready to change your habits? 
Are you motivated to lose weight? Is your goal realistic? Your weight-loss success depends largely on your readiness to take on the challenge. Knowing that you need to make changes in your life and actually doing it are two different things. Answer these questions to see if you're ready to start a weight-loss plan. Learn what steps to take if you aren't quite there.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Is there a medication for longer, thicker eyelashes? 
Bimatoprost, a medication marketed under the brand name Latisse, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat inadequate eyelashes. Regular application of Latisse along the lash line of the upper eyelid gradually encourages growth of longer, thicker and darker eyelashes. But there can be side effects. Learn more from Dr. Alaina Softing Hataye, a Mayo Clinic optometrist.

Can people with atrial fibrillation participate in physical activity?
Regular physical activity is an important way to live a healthy life. Exercise can help you feel better and decrease symptoms of heart conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder. Getting active also can help prevent other heart diseases or strokes. However, there is conflicting research regarding the effects of vigorous physical activity in people with atrial fibrillation. Learn more from Dr. Rekha Mankad, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Resilience: Build skills to endure hardship
Sprained ankle
Hyperparathyroidism
Oral cancer screening

HEALTHY RECIPES
Whole-wheat blueberry pancakes
Pasta with spinach, garbanzos and raisins
Quinoa risotto with arugula and Parmesan
Savory buckwheat pilaf with toasted spices

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Mold on your cheddar? Don't despair
If you spot mold on a wedge of hard cheese, such as cheddar or Parmesan, you may be able to salvage the cheese. Cut away the moldy part and at least 1 inch of the surrounding cheese, keeping the knife out of the mold. Moldy shredded or crumbled cheese can't be saved, however, and should be discarded.

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: 10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Understanding mild cognitive impairment
Mild cognitive impairment is the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than normal age-related changes. Mild cognitive impairment may increase your risk of later developing dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease or other neurological conditions. But some people with mild cognitive impairment never get worse, and a few eventually get better. Learn more about the symptoms and risk factors for mild cognitive impairment.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Will a flu shot prevent the stomach flu?
The flu shot will not prevent the stomach flu. The flu shot protects against influenza. The stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, is an infection caused by various viruses, including rotaviruses and noroviruses. The stomach flu is not caused by influenza viruses. Learn more from Dr. James Steckelberg, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist.

What is 'hot yoga?'
"Hot yoga" is a vigorous form of yoga performed in a very warm and humid studio. There are many different types of hot yoga classes, and researchers continue to study the pros and cons of hot yoga, including its effects on body fat and heart health. Hot yoga is not for everyone, though. The intensity of the workout and the hot temperatures have the potential to cause heat-related illness. 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
Living-donor liver transplant
Dupuytren's contracture
Retinal detachment
MRSA infection

HEALTHY RECIPES
6-grain hot cereal
Sauteed zucchini coins
Pork tenderloin with fennel sauce
Baked apples with cherries and almonds

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Blood pressure tip: Watch your weight
Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. In general, the more weight you lose, the lower your blood pressure. If you're overweight, losing even a small amount of weight can reduce your blood pressure. You generally may lower your blood pressure by about 1 millimeter of mercury with each kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) of weight you lose. Work with your health care provider to determine your target weight and the best way to achieve it.

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: Treating bladder control problems in women appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Childhood vaccines: Tough questions, straight answers
Childhood vaccines protect children from several serious or potentially fatal diseases, including diphtheria, measles, polio and whooping cough (pertussis). Still, you might wonder about the benefits and risks. Get straight answers to common questions about childhood vaccines.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Can Resperate help reduce blood pressure?
Resperate is a portable electronic device that promotes slow, deep breathing. Resperate is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for reducing stress and lowering blood pressure, and it's available without a prescription. Learn more from Dr. Sheldon Sheps, an emeritus Mayo Clinic hypertension and peripheral vascular diseases specialist.

What is a Candida cleanse diet and what does it do?
Some complementary and alternative medicine practitioners blame common symptoms such as fatigue, headache and poor memory on overgrowth of the funguslike organism Candida albicans in the intestines, sometimes called "yeast syndrome." To cure the syndrome, they recommend a Candida cleanse diet. Is it effective? Learn more from Dr. Brent Bauer, director of Mayo Clinic's Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Video: 'Seated Leg Press With Weight Machine'
Fecal incontinence
Tips for long-distance caregivers
Erectile dysfunction: A sign of heart disease?

HEALTHY RECIPES
Caramelized balsamic vinaigrette
Black bean wrap
Turkey pesto melt
Vegetable calzone

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Depression: Diagnosis is key
It's normal to occasionally feel sad or upset, or to be unhappy with situations in your life. But, with depression, these feelings linger for weeks, months or even years. If you think you may be depressed, seek medical help as soon as possible. Depression usually doesn't get better on its own, but depression is treatable. Remember, help is available.

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: Is your nest suddenly empty? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Myth or Matter-of-Fact: Ovarian cancer is sometimes called a "silent killer" because its symptoms often go unrecognized until the disease is in an advanced stage.

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Myth or Matter-of-Fact: Ovarian cancer is sometimes called a "silent killer" because its symptoms often go unrecognized until the disease is in an advanced stage.

Miss the show?  Here's the podcast: MayoClinicRadio 08-29-15 PODCAST

Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions.

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: Ovarian Cancer/Family Dysfunction/Tips To Lower Blood Pressure appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.