Medical scribes let doctors focus on you
You have a medical appointment, perhaps with a new doctor. The physician enters the examination room, introduces herself, and then introduces the medical scribe, who moves to the corner of the room in front of the computer. As the doctor starts asking you questions, the scribe begins typing. Scribes are becoming increasingly common in doctor’s offices. But what do they do, what type of ... READ MORE
Progress on blood tests to detect cancer
A California company said its experimental blood test was able to detect many types of cancer at an early stage and gave very few false alarms in a study that included people with and without the disease. Grail Inc. gave results in a news release in May and reported them at a recent American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago. They have not yet been published in a journal or ... READ MORE
Genetic tests can quickly ID infections
Brian Jetter, a previously healthy 40-year-old, was on life support, suddenly battling pneumonia and sepsis, and a slew of tests had failed to find the cause. Mystery illnesses like this kill thousands of people each year when germs can’t be identified fast enough to reveal the right treatment. Now genetic tests are helping to solve these cases. One finally was used to search... READ MORE
FDA to boost experimental drug access
Sally Atwater’s doctor spent two months on calls, messages and paperwork to get her an experimental drug he thinks can fight the lung cancer that has spread to her brain and spine. Nancy Goodman begged eight companies to let her young son try experimental medicines for a brain tumor that ultimately killed him, and “only three of the companies even gave me a reason why they... READ MORE
Study tests new gum to curb gingivitis
We’ve all heard the advertisements: Four out of five dentists recommend sugarless gum. What about gum with a natural antimicrobial ingredient? A company based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, wants to find out if its experimental chewing gum can reduce the symptoms of gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums. “We are looking for individuals who have a certain degree of inflammation... READ MORE
Prepare your first aid kit for summer
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Red Cross both recommend that every household have a first aid kit. Now that summer is here, take a look at yours to see if you have what you need for common summer problems. Q: What should I include in my first aid kit for outdoor injuries? A: We recommend: — Saline solution to clean wounds — Neomycin or Bacitracin ... READ MORE
Study: can exercise improve memory?
If you want to exercise more and help science establish a link between better memory and exercise, there’s a study for you at the University of Maryland College Park. Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the randomized clinical trial is enrolling 152 participants age 60 to 80 who are physically inactive — that is, people who exercise fewer than three days a week. The... READ MORE
Make fresh sesame noodles with chicken
Much like a Chinese finger trap that lures by appearing to be a toy, sesame noodles are not what they seem. You may think of them as merely a humble bowl of cold noodles, but don’t be fooled — just one bite of this recipe and you’ll be hooked on these toothsome noodles with shreds of tender chicken, all tossed with a fresh sesame sauce. The real problem is, good versions of this... READ MORE
All about jackfruit, sprouted grain bread
If you don’t know jack (jackfruit, that is) or sprouted grains, it’s time you did. The folklore Jackfruit is the largest tree fruit in the world. A single jackfruit averages 35 inches long, 20 inches in diameter, and can weigh more than 100 pounds! Jackfruit is a native of southwest India but is cultivated around the tropical regions of the world. It’s the national fruit of... READ MORE
Answers re: headaches, calcium supplements
Dear Mayo Clinic: I had an extremely painful headache that was diagnosed as a cluster headache in the emergency department. I was treated with oxygen, and the pain disappeared. Is it common to treat headaches with oxygen, or is this a treatment specific to this type of headache? A: If you have cluster headaches and begin having a painful attack, a common and established therapy is... READ MORE
