THIS WEEK'S TOP TOPICS
Transfat is double trouble for your heart health
Transfat is considered by many health care providers to be the worst type of fat you can eat. Unlike other dietary fats, transfat — also called transfatty acids — both raises your low-density lipoprotein, or LDL or "bad" cholesterol, and lowers your high-density lipoprotein, or HDL or "good" cholesterol. A diet laden with transfat increases your risk of heart disease, the leading killer of men and women. Learn more about transfat and how to avoid it in your diet.

Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness
Unfortunately, negative attitudes and beliefs toward people who have a mental health condition are common. Others' judgments almost always stem from a lack of understanding rather than facts. Learning to accept your condition, recognizing what you need to do to treat it, seeking support and educating others can make a big difference in dealing with the stigma of mental illness.

EXPERT ANSWERS
What happens to swallowed gum?
Your body can't digest chewing gum, so what happens when you swallow it? Folklore suggests that swallowed gum sits in your stomach for seven years before it can be digested. Learn more from Dr. Michael Picco, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist.

What's the difference between scalp psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis?
Scalp psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis are common conditions that affect the scalp. They share some similar signs and symptoms, such as red, scaly skin. They also share some similar treatments, including medicated shampoos, and topical corticosteroid or antifungal solutions. Learn more from Dr. Lawrence Gibson, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress
Pseudobulbar affect
Meniere's disease
Domestic violence against women: Recognize patterns

HEALTHY RECIPES
Buttermilk waffles
Veggie egg bake
Buckwheat pancakes
Cranberry orange muffins

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
5 ways to avoid secondhand smoke
You don't smoke because you understand the dangers, but what about smoke you inhale involuntarily? Here are five tips to protect yourself and those you love from secondhand smoke:

1. Don't allow smoking in your home.
2. Don't allow smoking in your vehicle.
3. Insist that smoking restrictions be enforced at work.
4. Choose smoke-free care facilities for children and aging loved ones.
5. Patronize businesses with no-smoking policies.

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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"Folklore would suggest that if you swallow gum, it stays in the stomach a really long time – up to seven years," says Dr. Mark V. Larson, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist. “That simply is not true."

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:58) is in the downloads. Read the script.

Dr. Larson says your body treats an occasional gob of gum like any other foreign object it can’t digest.

"It will travel through uneventfully and, generally, is excreted quite rapidly," he says.

Still, Dr. Larson warns anyone – especially young kids – against routinely swallowing wads of this sticky stuff.

"They could cause a bezoar effect, which is a medical term for a collection of material, such as gum, which could cause blockage symptoms," he explains. "And, in small children, it could lead to intestinal concerns."

Bezoars can cause lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and a feeling of fullness after eating only a little food.

To be safe, when you’ve chewed through all the flavor and fun, put gum in the trash – not your tummy.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Does gum get stuck in your stomach? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Listen: Mayo Clinic Radio 04-23-16

On Mayo Clinic Radio, Dr. Stephanie Faubion offers advice to women going through menopause. Dr. Faubion is director of the Women's Health Clinic and Office of Women's Health at Mayo Clinic. She is also medical editor of the new book titled, Mayo Clinic — The Menopause Solution: A doctor's guide to relieving hot flashes, enjoying better sex, sleeping well, controlling your weight, and being happy. Also on the program, gastroenterologist Dr. Mark Larson explains what happens when you swallow chewing gum. And, Dr. Thomas Allison and Dr. Nora Sydo discuss a new study that found that fit former smokers were healthier than people who'd never smoked and who didn't exercise.

The post 4/23/16 #MayoClinicRadio Podcast: Menopause, Swallowing Gum, Fit Former Smokers appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

For women, there's no escaping menopause. And, while many women are happy to say goodbye to menstrual periods, menopause often brings with it a host of signs and symptoms that can turn life upside down. On the next Mayo Clinic Radio, Dr. Stephanie Faubion offers advice to women going through this major life change. Dr. Faubion is director of the Women's Health Clinic and Office of Women's Health at Mayo Clinic. She is also medical editor of the new book titled, Mayo Clinic — The Menopause Solution: A doctor's guide to relieving hot flashes, enjoying better sex, sleeping well, controlling your weight, and being happy. Also on the program, gastroenterologist Dr. Mark Larson explains what happens when you swallow chewing gum. And, Dr. Thomas Allison and Dr. Nora Sydo discuss a new study that found that fit former smokers were healthier than people who'd never smoked and who didn't exercise.

Myth or Matter-of-Fact: It's uncommon for a woman to have regular sexual intercourse after menopause.

Listen to the program on Saturday, April 23, at 9:05 a.m. CDT, and follow #MayoClinicRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows.

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

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Menopause/Swallowing Gum/Fit Former Smokers appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Myth or Matter-of-Fact: It's uncommon for a woman to have regular sexual intercourse after menopause.

Listen to the program on Saturday, April 23, at 9:05 a.m. CDT.

Miss the show?  Here's the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

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

Access archived shows.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Menopause/Swallowing Gum/Fit Former Smokers appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.