Once-a-Year Reclast for Osteoporosis
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By By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Michele Bellantoni, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Director, Johns Hopkins Bayview Care Center, answers questions on Reclast (zoledronic acid) – the new once-a-year-osteoporosis drug.What is zoledronic acid?Zoledronic acid belongs to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates. A form of zoledronic acid called Zometa has been used for many years to treat certain cancers, and Reclast is approved to treat Paget's disease, which causes enlarged or misshapen bones. Oral bisphosphonates, such as… More...
Posted in Back Pain & Osteoporosis on June 27, 2008
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When Normal Is Not Enough
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Don't assume a normal annual test for fecal occult blood (FOBT) means you can postpone your colonoscopy. According to Frank Herlong, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division at Johns Hopkins and Health After 50 Board Member, FOBTs are no longer relied upon for colon cancer screening -- though some doctors may use them to test for gastrointestinal bleeding from causes other than cancer. … More...
Posted in Colon Cancer on June 24, 2008
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What To Do When Your Antidepressant Doesn't Work
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
If you're on an antidepressant and it's not working, don't give up on it: You may need a higher dose, a longer duration of therapy, a different antidepressant altogether, or a combination of medications. That's the important lesson to learn from a large, six-year, four-step government study called the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression trial, or STAR*D. In fact, the researchers found that systematically trying these treatment options can lead to a remission in… More...
Posted in Depression and Anxiety on June 25, 2008
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If the Shoe Fits, Wear It
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
If you have diabetes, it's particularly important to take good care of your feet and to always wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes. Here are some tips to keep in mind.Foot health or fashion fetish -- you make the call. If you have diabetes, it would be wise to put your feet first and take a pass on attractive but ill-fitting shoes. What would otherwise be a small blister that heals in a few days could, in… More...
Posted in Diabetes on June 26, 2008
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Treating Constipation
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
When should you use a laxative to treat your constipation? In this excerpt from our Health After 50 newsletter, Dr. H. Franklin Herlong, Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins, offers advice.The National Institutes of Health defines constipation as having bowel movements less than three times a week; however, frequency isn't as important as whether you experience constipation symptoms, such as painful stools, bloating, or cramping. … More...
Posted in Digestive Health on June 9, 2008
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What Works for Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss?
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
The National Institutes of Health estimates that only 1 in 5 people who need a hearing aid gets one. Resistance to hearing aids remains high, partly because of their perceived stigma. Many people who try hearing aids are also disappointed by the quality of sound. Fortunately, hearing aid technology is always advancing to better meet patients' needs. Johns Hopkins specialist Dr. Charles Limb reviews your hearing aid options and offers advice. … More...
Posted in Healthy Living on July 2, 2008
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The Many Meanings of Heart Disease
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
When it comes to matters of the heart, clinical terms require careful consideration so that you know which recommendations apply to you. Here's a list of common conditions that fall under the broad category of 'heart disease.'Acute Coronary Syndrome: A term used to describe conditions, ranging from unstable angina to heart attack, that suddenly reduce blood flow to the heart. … More...
Posted in Heart Health on July 4, 2008
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Is It A Stroke? Signs You Should Know
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
You probably know the symptoms of a heart attack, but it's just as important to know the symptoms of a stroke. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of a stroke may minimize damage to brain tissue and improve the chances of survival. Here's advice from Johns Hopkins.Like a heart attack, a stroke is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Since drug therapy is most likely to be effective within the first three hours of stroke onset,… More...
Posted in Hypertension & Stroke on June 17, 2008
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The Asthma-Cough Connection
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Many people with asthma suffer from shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and tightness in the chest, but don't understand why these symptoms occur. In this Health Alert, Dr. Peter B. Terry, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins explains why asthma causes coughing. … More...
Posted in Lung Disorders on July 3, 2008
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Detecting Hospital Delirium
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
The connection between delirium and dementia is still not fully understood, although doctors have known for quite some time that people who experience an episode of delirium and recover are more likely to go on to develop dementia. In this Health Alert, Dr. Michele Bellantoni talks about the signs of hospital delirium. … More...
Posted in Memory on June 16, 2008
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Where's the D?
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin, helping to build strong bones and reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Here's advice on getting your daily dose of vitamin D.Compared with most other vitamins, vitamin D is found naturally in only a few foods -- specifically, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and tuna. In addition, milk, some orange juices, and some breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamin D. … More...
Posted in Nutrition & Weight Control on June 18, 2008
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How To Dispose of Your Medications
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
If you've ever wondered what to do with leftover or expired prescription medications, the federal government recently released some important advice. Here are guidelines from the Office of National Drug Control Policy.Here are your three options:1. Throw drugs in the trash. To do this, remove pills from their original containers. If you are worried about illegal reuse, mix the pills with coffee grounds or kitty litter and place in an empty can or sealable… More...
Posted in Prescription Drugs on July 1, 2008
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Refining What PSA Levels Mean
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
In this excerpt from a recent issue of Health After 50, H. Ballentine Carter, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, discusses current trends in PSA testing.Since the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test became widely used in the 1990s, prostate cancer deaths have dropped dramatically. Today one of the biggest problems with PSA testing is that it detects many cancers that are not life threatening and would never have been diagnosed or… More...
Posted in Prostate Disorders on June 19, 2008
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Treating Women With Glaucoma
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Are you receiving optimal treatment for your glaucoma or other eye condition? A study in Ophthalmology shows that often women and younger people are less likely to get glaucoma treatment than men.Most forms of glaucoma are chronic conditions that cannot be cured. Open-angle glaucoma can often be treated safely and effectively with medication or surgery, but lifelong use of medication is almost always necessary. Decisions on when to start treatment are based on the amount… More...
Posted in Vision on May 30, 2008
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