If you think you can’t get breast cancer because it doesn’t run in your family, think again. Most women with breast cancer have no family history of it and are not considered high risk. But there are ways to protect yourself: 1. Stop smoking. People who smoke for 10 years or more are at least… Read more »
Posts By: Maria Conforti
The Meningitis Outbreak: What You Need to Know
As many as 13,000 patients may have been exposed to fungal meningitis from tainted spinal steroid injections used to ease back and neck pain, reported the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. The CDC reported that the company that made the drug began shipping potentially contaminated lots on May 21 and that patients who… Read more »
Breast Cancer: Top 5 Things You Need to Know
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s look beyond the pink ribbons to learn about risk factors, protection, research – and saving lives. Here are the basics on breast cancer: 1. Gender is the biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer. There will be about 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in American women… Read more »
More Cause for Concern About BPA: Obesity
Prenatal and childhood exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) and obesity are “significantly associated,” according to a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. BPA is a chemical used in manufacturing certain plastics and as a lining for many food and drink containers. The new research re-affirms prior studies that demonstrate a link… Read more »
Circumcised vs. Uncircumcised: Weighing Risks and Benefits
Debates surrounding circumcision span generations, cultures and religions. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently renewed the discussion by issuing a statement reporting that the health benefits of newborn circumcision outweigh the risks and that the benefits justify access to the procedure for families who choose it for their newborn. Opponents of newborn circumcision believe it… Read more »
Don’t Overlook the Benefits of Organics
Ken Spaeth, MD Organic food is not more nutritious than conventional versions, according to a new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Yet the journal article is easy to misinterpret because it is a comparison of organic food studies that are not based on human consumption in the real world. Rather, the primary settings… Read more »
WTC Workers’ Health Still Suffer from 9/11 Fallout
Thousands died on 9/11. Thousands more still pay the price for their efforts at Ground Zero. Laboring in the remains of the World Trade Center (WTC) for days, weeks and months, brave men and women were exposed to a toxic brew of dust and smoke–which was not and will never be truly characterized. Some first-responders… Read more »
3 Ways to Keep Head Lice from Coming Back
On Friday, we covered how to recognize and get rid of head lice. It’s also important to know how keep the little buggers from coming back. After the first treatment, help avoid head lice re-infestation with a few steps: • Check your child’s hair and comb it with a nit comb every couple of days… Read more »
Stop Head Lice in Their Tracks
Few things give people the willies as much as head lice. Now that children are back in school, it is crucial to know how to recognize these creepy crawlers, get rid of them–and prevent them from spreading. Common signs of head lice are an itchy scalp, irritability, sleeplessness and even a tickling sensation. But sometimes… Read more »
Prolonged CPR Can Prolong Life
Patients in cardiac arrest at the hospital are more likely to survive and go home if they receive prolonged CPR, according to a new study. Today’s front page of The New York Times quotes Stephen Green, MD, associate chairman of cardiology for the North Shore-LIJ Health System, on the Lancet study, which challenges conventional medical… Read more »