What's the Best Exercise for Chronic Back Pain?
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Weight loss, if necessary, and exercise – stretching, flexibility, and muscle-strengthening exercises – are particularly helpful in treating chronic back pain. A recent study provides insights on the most effective exercise regimens to relieve chronic back pain.Doctors commonly prescribe exercise for lower back pain. Now a new study reported in the journal Pain (Volume 131, page 31) sheds light on which type provides the greatest pain relief -- at least for the short term. The… More...
Posted in Back Pain & Osteoporosis on October 10, 2008
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How Often Should You Have a Colonoscopy?
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
If you are at low risk for colorectal cancer, how long should you wait between colonoscopy screenings? Johns Hopkins looked into this question and provides advice.Most of us grudgingly accept the need for regular colonoscopy screenings but may wonder: Is it really safe to wait a decade before your next colonoscopy? Some researchers have wondered as well. … More...
Posted in Colon Cancer on October 7, 2008
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Your Guide to Key Diabetes Lab Tests and Physical Exams
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
If you have diabetes, you are not alone. It is estimated that 21 million people in the United States have diabetes –- 90-95% of these people have type 2 diabetes. The good news is that diabetes is very treatable. Despite your diabetes, you can lead a normal, productive life if you stay in good control and see your doctor regularly. In this Health Alert, Johns Hopkins provides a checklist of tests for people with diabetes. … More...
Posted in Diabetes on October 9, 2008
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Another Reason to Enjoy Dark Chocolate
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
If you have a heart condition, it's important to keep your blood pressure under control to prevent a heart attack. Almost one in three adults has hypertension (high blood pressure), defined as a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. … More...
Posted in Heart Health on September 5, 2008
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More Reasons to Eat Dark Chocolate
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Can eating dark chocolate help lower your blood pressure? Studies reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine and Journal of the American Medical Association suggest the answer is 'yes!'Cocoa-rich dark chocolate may be as good at lowering blood pressure as some medications, according to two studies. But tea -- green or black -- doesn't seem to have any significant effect. … More...
Posted in Hypertension & Stroke on September 30, 2008
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Breathing Advice From Dr. Terry
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
If you have COPD, you may have to learn how to breathe all over again! Breathing exercises, such as pursed-lip breathing or diaphragmatic breathing techniques can help you control your breathing and improve the function of your respiratory muscles. In this health alert, Dr. Peter B. Terry answers the question, 'I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I notice that I become short of breath when I bend over. Why is that?' … More...
Posted in Lung Disorders on September 25, 2008
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Dr. Rabins' Walking Prescription
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
In this excerpt from the Johns Hopkins Memory Bulletin, Dr. Peter V. Rabins provides readers with his personal formula for walking to preserve memory.The benefits of exercise for health are not a new discovery: More than two millennia ago, Hippocrates said that when the body is unused and left idle, body parts become susceptible to disease and the body as a whole ages quickly. … More...
Posted in Memory on September 29, 2008
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Over-The-Counter Alli For Weight Loss
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Should you take Alli to lose weight? Johns Hopkins weighs in on this new weight loss drug.The first FDA-approved nonprescription weight-loss drug is now on the U.S. market. Called Alli, the drug is a low-dose version of the prescription medication orlistat (Xenical).Clinical trials show that people who take the drug Alli in combination with diet and exercise typically lose 5–10 lbs over a six-month period -- slightly more weight than they would lose with… More...
Posted in Nutrition & Weight Control on October 1, 2008
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What Is an Authorized Generic Drug?
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
The term generic drug usually refers to a medication whose patent has expired. But what is an authorized generic drug? In this health alert, Dr. Brent G. Petty, a pharmacologist at Johns Hopkins, explains this important drug category.When a drug is first discovered or produced in the laboratory, it is assigned a generic name to distinguish it from other drugs. This generic name refers to the medication's active ingredient: the chemical that cures diseases or… More...
Posted in Prescription Drugs on September 23, 2008
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Need Reading Glasses? Perhaps You Should You Try Multifocal Contact Lenses.
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By Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
If you've reached your mid-40s or beyond, you're likely to experience difficulty focusing on tasks at a close distance such as reading fine print. More likely than not, you need 'reading' glasses. The problem is particularly exasperating if you already use glasses or contact lenses to correct your distance vision. If you don't want to wear bifocal spectacles or reading glasses on top of your contact lenses or to have separate prescriptions for distance and… More...
Posted in Vision on September 12, 2008
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