Psoriatic arthritis patients sought for study
Johns Hopkins University is currently recruiting approximately 200 patients for an observational study of how well treatment goals are met in psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs in one in three people who have already been diagnosed with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a common skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells, causing cells to... READ MORE
Prevent and alleviate gas and bloating
Q: I’ve been feeling very gassy and bloated lately. Is there something I can do to prevent or treat this feeling? A: The feeling of being “gassy” or bloated is common for many adults. It can happen after a large meal, or seemingly without reason. Stomach gas is formed as a normal part of the digestive process. But there could be other reasons for feeling like you have extra gas. ... READ MORE
Friends closer than sisters — and not
Dear Solutions: My sister’s friend died recently. My sister, who considered this person her best friend, can’t seem to get over it. She says she has no one to really talk to anymore. I thought we were always close, and I feel a little insulted. I told her she still has me to talk to, and she just said it’s not the same. I thought a sister is closer than a friend. I would like to... READ MORE
Help researchers understand Alzheimer’s
Over the last 15 years, researchers have made strides in better understanding the development and detection of Alzheimer’s disease — if not in treatments for the disease itself. Some of these discoveries — such as that brain changes take place years before there are outward signs of Alzheimer’s, and that many genes may play a role in who gets the disease — have come about... READ MORE
Fight a denied Medicare Advantage claim
If a Medicare Advantage plan denies you coverage for medically necessary care, don’t take it lying down. File an appeal, and your odds are good that the plan will overturn its decision. That’s the message for consumers in a recent government report examining service and payment denials in Medicare Advantage plans, which are offered by private insurers and often combine basic Medicare ... READ MORE
Use Indian flatbread for quick pizza crust
Use Indian flatbread for quick pizza crust Naan is an Indian flatbread with a chewy texture and a puffed, slightly charred crust. Brushing a baking sheet with olive oil and then baking the naan on the lowest rack in a 400 F oven gives it a crispy texture — just like pizza crust. This recipe can be doubled. Pizza in a flash Servings: 1-2 Start to finish: 40 minutes (Active... READ MORE
The pressures beauty standards impose
Many people are brainwashed into buying into our culture’s steady message about what is attractive. Teenagers like myself are certainly encouraged by society (and our peers) to look a certain way. Women, we’re basically told, should be equipped with shiny, long hair, dark eyelashes and a slim waist, while men should be tall, lean and muscular. These standards of “beauty” are... READ MORE
Should you be taking a fiber supplement?
Dear Mayo Clinic: I experience irregularity almost weekly, and eating bran flakes every day isn’t helping. Are fiber supplements safe to use regularly and long term? Is there anything else I can do? I’m a 53-year-old woman and otherwise in excellent health. Answer: When consumed at recommended levels, dietary fiber is widely recognized to have health benefits, including relief of... READ MORE
Concerns rise over medical device problems
As better tracking finally becomes available for medical devices, patients are experiencing a number of problems related to a range of devices. Spinal-cord stimulators For years, medical device companies and doctors have touted spinal-cord stimulators as a panacea for millions of patients suffering from a wide range of pain disorders, making them one of the fastest-growing products in the ... READ MORE
Slow progress tracking medical devices
For nearly two decades, health advocates have pushed to standardize the way medical devices are tracked and studied so malfunctions and recalls — especially of implanted devices — can be quickly communicated. [See “Concerns rise over medical device problems.” ] They eventually landed on a solution that others, including other parts of the medical industry, already had adopted — ... READ MORE
