- New dietary guidelines: Any changes for infants, children, and teens?
- Shingles of the eye can cause lasting vision impairment
- Are early detection and treatment always best?
- Platelet-rich plasma: Does the cure for hair loss lie within our blood?
- Do adults really need tetanus booster shots?
- Why your sleep and wake cycles affect your mood
- Coping with the coronavirus pandemic for people with anxiety disorders
- Thinning hair in women: Why it happens and what helps
- Strategies to promote better sleep in these uncertain times
- Good for your teeth, bad for your bones?
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امکانات وب
I am a physician.
As a high-risk obstetrician (mateal-fetal medicine specialist) I pride myself on caring for women who are likely to become (or who are already) so ill that many others view caring for them as a burden. I help women achieve a safe pregnancy when colleagues have advised against pregnancy altogether. Whether it is the patient with such a complex surgical history that her cesarean delivery will include massive blood loss and a hysterectomy, or the patient with a history of liver transplant trying to carry a pregnancy for the fourth time (each unsuccessful as she struggles in and out of graft rejection), or perhaps the woman who spent weeks in the intensive care unit after each of her last two pregnancies because of complications from preeclampsia — these are the patients I care for.
When careful planning is critical for a safe pregnancy
In caring for these women, I see the highs and lows of life. I am still awed by the miracle of childbirth (it doesn’t matter how many times I witness birth, I still find it one of the most magical moments each and every time). However, I am also witness to the perils of pregnancy and childbirth. It happens more than you might think. Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 194 تاريخ : شنبه 30 دی 1396 ساعت: 8:42
There are a range of options for reconstruction following breast cancer surgery. When a mastectomy is performed, reconstruction can be achieved using various forms of implants, or with natural tissue taken from other parts of the body to re-form the breast. Whether or not a woman chooses to pursue breast reconstruction is a very personal choice. Many women experience an excellent quality of life without reconstruction. However, for some women, undergoing reconstruction after a mastectomy can help improve certain aspects of self-image and well-being.
A new option when reconstruction results are disappointing
Unfortunately, despite advances in plastic and reconstructive surgery, the final cosmetic result of breast reconstruction can occasionally be less than satisfying. Women may have contour irregularities (e.g. indentations, bumps, or ripples), asymmetry, or defects in the reconstructed breast resulting in a disappointing cosmetic appearance. For these women, a new option is available to help correct the deformity. This procedure is fat grafting, also called autologous fat transfer or lipo-filling. It involves removing fat tissue from other parts of the body using liposuction techn Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 241 تاريخ : شنبه 30 دی 1396 ساعت: 8:42
There are few subjects that can stir up stronger emotions among doctors, scientists, researchers, policy makers, and the public than medical marijuana. Is it safe? Should it be legal? Decriminalized? Has its effectiveness been proven? What conditions is it useful for? Is it addictive? How do we keep it out of the hands of teenagers? Is it really the “wonder drug” that people claim it is? Is medical marijuana just a ploy to legalize marijuana in general?
These are just a few of the excellent questions around this subject, questions that I am going to studiously avoid so we can focus on two specific areas: why do patients find it useful, and how can they discuss it with their doctor?
Marijuana is currently legal, on the state level, in 29 states, and in Washington, DC. It is still illegal from the federal govement’s perspective. The Obama administration did not make prosecuting medical marijuana even a minor priority. President Donald Trump promised not to interfere with people who use medical marijuana, though his administration is currently threatening to reverse this policy. About 85% of Americans support legalizing medical marijuana, and it is estimated that at least several mi Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 169 تاريخ : چهارشنبه 27 دی 1396 ساعت: 17:31
Follow me on Twitter @DrClaire
Sore throats happen all the time in childhood — and most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about. Most of the time, they are simply part of a common cold, don’t cause any problems, and get better without any treatment.
Sometimes, though, a sore throat can be a sign of a problem that might need medical treatment. Here are four examples:
Strep throat. This infection, caused by a particular kind of streptococcus bacteria, is quite common. Along with a sore throat, children may have a fever, headache, stomachache (sometimes with vomiting), and a fine, pink rash that almost looks like sandpaper. All of these symptoms can also be seen with a viral infection, so the only way to truly know if it’s strep throat is to swab for rapid testing and/or a culture. Strep throat actually can get better without antibiotics, but we give antibiotics to prevent complications, which, while rare, can include heart problems, kidney problems, and arthritis.
Peritonsillar or retropharyngeal abscess. This is a collection of pus either behind the tonsils (peritonsillar) or at the back of the throat (retropharyngeal) and can be dangerous. Redness and swelling on one side of the t Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 202 تاريخ : چهارشنبه 27 دی 1396 ساعت: 17:31
Follow me on Twitter @drClaire
It’s the beginning of a new calendar year, that time when we resolve to do new and better things. This is such a wonderful idea, because doing new and better things can make us healthier and happier. Resolutions can be particularly good for families to make. Not only is it good to work together on something, it’s a good way to keep everyone accountable.
The best resolutions are the ones that are simple. By simple, I don’t necessarily mean easy (if they were easy, we wouldn’t have to resolve to do them). I mean that they are resolutions that you can lean into and work toward, achievable in whatever way works for you. It also helps, obviously, if the resolutions are fun.
Here are three very simple and very healthy things that all families can resolve to do together and that can be adapted to the realities of family life — and can be fun.
1. Exercise together. Adults should get 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise) a week, and children should be active for an hour a day. Most people do not get that much exercise, sadly. It would be great if each and every one of us could resolve to be more active, and certainly Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 205 تاريخ : جمعه 15 دی 1396 ساعت: 3:40
Whether you and your family are embracing the pleasures of the winter season with ice skating and snowball fights, or reluctantly venturing outdoors to walk the dog and shovel snow, be aware of the health hazards of this cold snap… like frostbite.
Here’s why you don’t want to mess with frostbite
Frostbite can occur even after minutes of exposure to sub-freezing temperatures and wind chill. It develops after exposure to severe cold leads to freezing and injury of tissue with destruction of cells. The inflammation that follows frostbite can cause further tissue damage. The more commonly affected areas are the ears, face, fingers, and toes.
So how do you recognize trouble?
A precursor to frostbite is frostnip, when the cold hasn’t caused any permanent tissue damage. The skin might be red or pale and painful. As early-stage frostbite sets in, the affected areas might feel numb. The skin may feel cold and harder, and become paler or grayish-yellow, and later develop blisters.
Some conditions and situations can increase the risk for frostbite, like dehydration, circulation problems, nicotine and alcohol use, or inadequate shelter and clothing. Also, always be mindful that infants and you Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 162 تاريخ : جمعه 15 دی 1396 ساعت: 3:40
Using medications to treat opioid use disorder is a lifesaving coerstone of treatment — much like insulin for type 1 diabetes. The flawed but widely held view that medications like methadone or buprenorphine are “replacing one addiction for another” prevents many people from getting the treatment they need. In actuality, people successfully treated with these medications carefully follow a prescribed medication regimen, which results in positive health and social consequences — as in patients with many types of chronic medical conditions.
However, even among those who embrace treating opioid use disorder (OUD) with medication, there is a difference of opinion as to which medications are most effective. A new study offers important insight into the advantages and disadvantages of the two medications for OUD that can be prescribed in a doctor’s office (that is, on an outpatient basis). These medications are buprenorphine and extended-release (ER) naltrexone. This study was widely covered in the press, and many of the sound bites and headlines reporting the two treatments to be equally effective were a bit misleading.
The advantages and disadvantages of buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subu Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 183 تاريخ : جمعه 15 دی 1396 ساعت: 3:40
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling
This one got by me. I’d never heard of “man flu” but according to a new study of the topic, the term is “so ubiquitous that it has been included in the Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries. Oxford defines it as ‘a cold or similar minor ailment as experienced by a man who is regarded as exaggerating the severity of the symptoms.’”
Another reference called it “wimpy man” syndrome. Wow. I’d heard it said (mostly in jest) that if men had to carry and deliver babies, humankind would have long ago gone extinct. But wimpy man syndrome? I just had to lea more.
What is man flu?
As commonly used, the term man flu could be describing a constitutional character flaw of men who, when felled by a cold or flu, embellish the severity of their symptoms, quickly adopt a helpless “patient role,” and rely heavily on others to help them until they recover. Another possibility is that men actually experience respiratory viral illnesses differently than women; there is precedent for this in other conditions. Pain due to coronary artery disease (as with a heart attack or angina) is a good example. Men tend to have “classic” crushing chest pain, while women are more likely Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 185 تاريخ : جمعه 15 دی 1396 ساعت: 3:40
My ancient workout clothes are folded neatly (and squished) beneath a pile of sweaters on a shelf in my closet. They were cute — from the ‘90s — when I cared very much about how I looked at the gym. Decades later, I skip the gym and instead walk most days and do body weight exercises, all while clad in a sweatshirt and yoga pants. But whenever I see my old gym outfit (blue leotard “overalls” with a cropped tee shirt built in), I wonder if maybe I’d get more from a gym workout. It wouldn’t be hard to jump back in, would it?
Just a second
It tus out, it’s smarter to ease back into a gym workout when we’re older, even if we’ve been active. And if you’ve been sedentary for a long time, it’s even more important. Why? Because our bodies change as we age. “We lose muscle mass and strength as we get older, and the muscles become less flexible and less hydrated,” says Dr. Clare Safran-Norton, clinical supervisor of rehabilitation services at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
There can be are other changes, too: arthritis that weakens joints, and vision changes, neurological disease, joint pain, or inner ear problems that can throw off balance. There may also be underlying c Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 231 تاريخ : جمعه 8 دی 1396 ساعت: 7:13
The holiday season is filled with hustle and bustle. There’s plenty of excitement from seeing family and friends, but also stress, travel, long lines, planning, preparation — and a range of emotions from positive to negative.
For many, the holiday season means planning and taking care of others. However, this leaves little time for taking care of oneself. Below are a few ideas on how to practice self-care during this holiday season.
Regularly schedule time to engage in self-care activities. Schedule self-care activities (exercise, meditation, a hobby you enjoy) at the same time each day so they become routine, or set a timer or alarm to remind yourself.
Practice gratitude for the people and events in your life. This might include writing in a joual about what you appreciate in your life, or letting others know the gratitude you feel.
Engage in deep breathing or other relaxation skills. This can include listening to soothing music or engaging in an imagery exercise. You can also engage in a number of other relaxation skills.
Tune into the emotions you are experiencing. Emotions may be positive, negative, or a combination of the two. Call “time outs” for yourself and check in on yo Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 193 تاريخ : پنجشنبه 7 دی 1396 ساعت: 1:05
Para leer en inglés
Probablemente usted sabe que la diabetes tipo 2 se ha convertido en un problema enorme en el área de salud en los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica (EUA) y en el resto del mundo.
Las personas con diabetes tipo 2 no pueden utilizar la glucosa (azúcar) que se obtiene de los alimentos como fuente de energía de forma eficiente. En consecuencia, los niveles de azúcar en la sangre están por encima de lo normal. Con el tiempo, esto puede causar complicaciones serias e incluso fatales como enfermedad cardiovascular, enfermedad de los riñones y enfermedad vascular cerebral. La elevación persistente del azúcar puede causar también problemas que interfieren con la calidad de vida, incluyendo cambios en la visión, dolor en las pieas por afección de los nervios (neuropatía) así como infecciones que no se curan tan rápidamente.
¡Se estima que 415 millones de adultos en el mundo sufren de diabetes, y que para el año 2040 esta cifra aumentará a 642 millones! Es un problema enorme tanto por el número de personas afectadas, así como por las consecuencias de la enfermedad si no es controlada adecuadamente. De los 30.3 millones de adultos con diabetes en los EUA, ¡23.1 millones de e Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 182 تاريخ : پنجشنبه 7 دی 1396 ساعت: 1:05
To read in Spanish
As you probably know, type 2 diabetes has become a major health problem in the US and around the world. People with type 2 diabetes cannot effectively use glucose (sugar) from the food they eat to fuel the body. As a result, blood sugar levels are consistently higher than normal. Over time this can lead to serious, even deadly, complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. The slow and insidious nature of persistently high blood sugar can also cause problems that interfere with quality of life, including vision changes, nerve pain and infections that are slow to heal.
It is estimated that 415 million adults around the globe have diabetes, and by the year 2040 this number will increase to 642 million! It’s a tremendous problem, in both the number of people affected and the health consequences of untreated diabetes. Of the 30.3 million adults in the US with diabetes, 23.1 million were diagnosed and 7.2 million were undiagnosed! An even greater cause for conce is the many people who have higher than normal blood sugar (prediabetes) and are on the verge of developing type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that in 2015, 84.1 million Americans age 18 and Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 206 تاريخ : پنجشنبه 7 دی 1396 ساعت: 1:05
It’s that time of the year again when we start thinking about the (in)famous New Year’s resolutions. Change can be a frustrating experience for many. So, I decided to investigate what may increase your chances of success. I would like to propose a framework that combines the science of behavior change with the idea that we are able to rewire our brains to improve our health, well-being, and overall quality of life, called neuroplasticity. So, grab a piece of paper to write down the answers to the questions below.
1. Why do you want to make the change?
Make sure you find your true motivation. Try to look beyond the need to change. Look at the real life benefits of the change. What makes you want to change? Do you want to be well so you can really enjoy that trip in the summer? Do you want to be able to keep up with your grandchildren? Or just because you want to look better? Try to go deep into your soul and emotions. Try to imagine how your life would be after you’ve made the change.
2. Is your goal concrete and measurable?
A goal should be specific, achievable, and measurable. For a lot of people, the goal is a number on the scale. However, you could consider running a 5k race a Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 169 تاريخ : پنجشنبه 7 دی 1396 ساعت: 1:05
Does exercise sometimes feel like an annoying chore? Adding a little friendly competition and other “gamification” strategies just might help, according to a new study.
The six-month-long study included 94 families who tracked their daily step counts with a wearable device or a smartphone. Just over half of the participants were women, and their average age was 55. Half were randomly chosen for the gamification arm of the study, which was designed to encourage collaboration, accountability, and team spirit. These families received small prizes tied to achieving daily and weekly step goals. They boosted their daily walking distance by almost a mile — more than twice the gains achieved by people who weren’t part of the competition.
“Gamification helps motivate people by making the hard stuff in life more fun,” says Dr. Ichiro Kawachi, chair of the department of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Exercise sometimes feels like a duty, especially when your doctor lectures you about it. Psychologically, that’s not very inspiring, he says.
Haessing team spirit
When you “gamify” health advice, the idea is to introduce elements of games into p Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 153 تاريخ : پنجشنبه 7 دی 1396 ساعت: 1:05
By now, we all know that the number of opioid-related deaths in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declaring an epidemic in 2011, the death rate has continued to increase every year, with more than 30,000 deaths per year now attributed to opioids. Graphs from the CDC show the geographic distribution of the epidemic and demonstrate that nearly the entire United States is involved. This tragic death toll has culminated in many local, state, and federal govement initiatives to fix the problem, including President Trump’s recent declaration that the opioid crisis is a nationwide public health emergency.
However, it is important to remember two key facts. The first is that drug overdoses are not all from opioids. It is true that while roughly two-thirds of these deaths are from opioids, the other third are caused by other drugs. For example, in 2015 there were about 52,000 overdose deaths overall, and 33,000 involved an opioid; 19,000 were caused by other substances. The second fact to consider is that despite efforts to reduce gender and racial inequalities in our country, there is still a considerable difference Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 206 تاريخ : پنجشنبه 7 دی 1396 ساعت: 1:05
Since I got married seven years ago and had two kids, I’ve had to shed parts of my life, like the hockey package, going to the movies, and slow-pitch softball. None were hard sacrifices, but the casualty that hurt the most was giving up my doctor of over 20 years. I met him soon after I got out of college and he was early in his career, and while I never needed him for much, I knew he was on top of everything.
Even after my wife and I moved north of Boston, I wanted to believe that I could keep him, that an hour-long drive into town without traffic was possible, because how often did I ever have an emergency? Well, in 2014, one month into our first year of preschool, my son got hand, foot, and mouth disease, and then I got it. After a walk-in clinic visit, the breakup process began.
I got a recommendation and met a new guy. He was nice, competent, and gave ample time on the first appointment. He also wanted to prescribe a low-level statin for some elevated cholesterol. I was 47 years old, active, in good shape, had never had high cholesterol, and had no interest in being on regular medication. He said I could retest. I did several months later and my numbers went back down. I was h Harvard Health...ما را در سایت Harvard Health دنبال می کنید
برچسب : نویسنده : harvard بازدید : 197 تاريخ : پنجشنبه 7 دی 1396 ساعت: 1:05