Gum disease may lead to heart problems
People with gum disease — which begins when the sticky, bacteria-laden film known as plaque builds up around your teeth — are almost twice as likely to have heart disease as those without it.The reasons behind this link aren’t completely clear. One possibility is that people without access to good dental care may also lack the resources to keep heart disease at bay.Still,... READ MORE
Can lab-grown vocal cords restore voice?
From mom’s comforting croon to a shout of warning, our voices are the main way we communicate, and are often something we take for granted unless something goes wrong.Now researchers have grown human vocal cords in the laboratory that appear capable of producing sound — in hopes of one day helping people with voice-robbing diseases or injuries.Millions of people suffer from... READ MORE
Studying head and neck cancer treatment
Cancers that are known collectively as head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist, mucosal surfaces inside the head and neck, such as inside the mouth, nose and throat.While head and neck cancers account for approximately 3 percent of all cancers in the United States, these cancers are nearly twice as common in men as they are in women. Head and neck... READ MORE
What screening tests do you really need?
Recently, during her annual “well woman” exam, Mary, a healthy 50-year-old schoolteacher, asked me about screening her for ovarian cancer.Tragically, one of Mary’s friends recently died from ovarian cancer. Mary has no risk factors for ovarian cancer and no family history of ovarian cancer or other cancers. I explained to Mary that, unfortunately, there are no reliable... READ MORE
Complex treatments can work at any age
Irwin Weiner felt so good after heart surgery a few weeks before turning 90 that he stopped for a pastrami sandwich on the way home from the hospital. Dorothy Lipkin danced after getting a new hip at age 91. And at 94, William Gandin drives himself to the hospital for cancer treatments.Jimmy Carter isn’t the only nonagenarian to withstand rigorous medical treatment. Very old age is no ... READ MORE
What’s normal for aging and what’s not?
As we age, we all notice changes in our bodies, from our reflexes to our libido.But some physical changes aren’t a normal part of the aging process. “It’s important to know about them, so we can do all we can to keep ourselves as healthy and active as possible,” said Suzanne Salamon, M.D., a geriatrician and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.Check out... READ MORE
Rising numbers of new drugs pass muster
Approvals for first-of-a-kind drugs climbed last year, pushing the annual tally of new U.S. drugs to its highest level in 19 years.The rising figures reflect an industry-wide focus on drugs for rare and hard-to-treat diseases, which often come with streamlined reviews, extra patent protections — and higher price tags. The Food and Drug Administration approved 45 drugs with... READ MORE
Are diabetes and breast cancer linked?
The link between obesity and adult-onset diabetes has been well-documented in studies. Now researchers are investigating the relationship between the high insulin levels that can accompany obesity and/or diabetes and the risk of breast cancer.Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore is participating in a National Cancer Institute-funded study to research the link between insulin resistance and... READ MORE
‘Heart age’ reveals risk of future problems
Your heart might be older than you are. A new government report suggests chronological age is just a number — and perhaps not a very telling one when it comes to your risk of heart attack or stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report takes a new approach to try to spur more Americans to take steps to prevent cardiovascular disease. CDC scientists estimated the... READ MORE
Your genes affect your reaction to drugs
Your doctor prescribes a medication. If you have a high risk of negative side effects, do you ask for something else instead? If you know the drug won’t work well for you, do you request more options?These questions aren’t just hypothetical. They’re at the heart of pharmacogenomics.Pharmacogenomics is the study of how your genes affect your response to drugs. If you have... READ MORE
