Recently, a well-known medication used by people to lower cholesterol levels and to lower the risk of heart attack has been in the news. Why? This drug has been shown to have a surprising benefit for those who take it – a lower risk of dying from severe influenza. Other medications also have benefits that extend beyond their initial intended use.
Read on to learn more about this new finding, as well as to learn about other drugs with surprising (additional) benefits.
Statins
People who take this drug daily do so to address abnormal cholesterol levels and to combat heart attacks. Little
Macular Degeneration
by Dean Heller MD December 16th, 2011 | Ask the Doctor
I was recently diagnosed with macular degeneration, and they called it wet macular degeneration. I have been having trouble seeing at night and stopped driving. Does this usually progress to blindness? I am still waiting to see the specialist for treatment. Is there good treatment? I am very nervous.
Macular degeneration is a common condition; it is the leading cause of blindness for people over age 50. Usually the central vision is affected; however, there is a new treatment for this condition that seems to be very promising. Doctors have been using laser and other treatments for a number of years to slow the progression. The new treatment appears to
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Macular degeneration is a common condition; it is the leading cause of blindness for people over age 50. Usually the central vision is affected; however, there is a new treatment for this condition that seems to be very promising. Doctors have been using laser and other treatments for a number of years to slow the progression. The new treatment appears to
Disease: Did You Know?
by Lori Sciame December 12th, 2011 | Diseases
No one wants to end up with cancer, diabetes, heart trouble, or any other disease for that matter. We all wish for long, healthy lives, free from pain and suffering. If only there was a guarantee that each person could avoid becoming sick – a magic pill to ward off any threat to the human body.
Unfortunately, science has not progressed to the point where such a pill exists; however, if we arm ourselves with knowledge, the negative effects of disease can be reduced, or in some cases, even eliminated. Read on to learn more.
1. Family History
Do you understand the
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Unfortunately, science has not progressed to the point where such a pill exists; however, if we arm ourselves with knowledge, the negative effects of disease can be reduced, or in some cases, even eliminated. Read on to learn more.
1. Family History
Do you understand the
Flu Prevention
by Dean Heller MD December 9th, 2011 | Ask the Doctor
Winter is coming, and it seems like it is going to be a rough one, so I want to decrease the risk of getting the flu. How can I do that?
With winter right around the corner, you are on the right path and should be preparing to decrease your risk of flu. Most importantly, the flu vaccine can lower your chance of getting the flu by 70-90%. Then throughout the winter months you have to use good handwashing to decrease risk of infection and the flu. You should never put your hands to your mouth and face without washing your hands first. Everyone should also make
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With winter right around the corner, you are on the right path and should be preparing to decrease your risk of flu. Most importantly, the flu vaccine can lower your chance of getting the flu by 70-90%. Then throughout the winter months you have to use good handwashing to decrease risk of infection and the flu. You should never put your hands to your mouth and face without washing your hands first. Everyone should also make
Earbuds and Hearing
by Tom Seman MD FAAP December 8th, 2011 | Pediatrician on Call
My teen daughter listens to music on her iPhone constantly. Do I need to worry that the volume of the earbuds will damage her hearing?
Ever since there has been portable music there has been arguing between parents and their children regarding how loud they are listening. Over the years, technology has allowed the speakers to become smaller, with greater clarity and more power. This led to the creation of earbuds.
In the 1980's, there was the Sony Walkman, which allowed a person to listen to their own music. Development of high quality headphones and then smaller earphones allowed someone to listen to their own music in
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Ever since there has been portable music there has been arguing between parents and their children regarding how loud they are listening. Over the years, technology has allowed the speakers to become smaller, with greater clarity and more power. This led to the creation of earbuds.
In the 1980's, there was the Sony Walkman, which allowed a person to listen to their own music. Development of high quality headphones and then smaller earphones allowed someone to listen to their own music in