» John Hopkins Special Reports

Do You Have a Thyroid Disorder?

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:24:09 +0000

Click Here to Read More … Thyroid problems can lead to a number of conditions, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and chronic fatigue. But in older adults, thyroid disorders are often overlooked or misdiagnosed, because the symptoms resemble other conditions, says Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Editor of our Health After 50 newsletter and Professor of Medicine and Biological Chemistry at Johns Hopkins. Fortunately, tests are available to diagnose thyroid disorders — and in most cases, effective treatment consists of a simple medication regimen. Here’s what you should know
Johns Hopkins Special Reports

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A New Look at Cryosurgery

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:39:16 +0000

Click Here to Read More … Also known as cryotherapy or cryoablation, cryosurgery is a minimally invasive treatment that kills cancer cells by freezing them. Cryosurgery is not a new prostate cancer treatment — it’s been used for more than 40 years, most commonly as ‘salvage’ therapy in men whose cancer has recurred locally in the prostate after radiation therapy. But today, it’s getting more attention as a first-line option thanks to technological advances in the tools used to perform the procedure. Nonetheless, it is not right for everyone. Here are some issues to consider before making your decision.
Johns Hopkins Special Reports

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The Promise of Personalized Colon Cancer Therapy

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:33:00 +0000

Click Here to Read More … What if there was a test that could determine the best treatment regimens for your specific tumor? How about a test that could tell you how likely you are to have a cancer recurrence? A decade ago, doctors could only dream of such tests. But in the not-too-distant future, they will probably be the mainstay of cancer care.
Johns Hopkins Special Reports

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Hypertension and Your Sex Life

admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:44:22 +0000

Click Here to Read More … Research shows that men and women with hypertension are twice as likely to experience sexual problems as individuals without high blood pressure. The reason: Healthy blood vessels are essential to sexual function, but high blood pressure damages blood vessels and impairs their ability to work properly. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize these effects and continue to have a satisfying sex life. Here’s what we know
Johns Hopkins Special Reports

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Two-Drug Options for BPH

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:48:07 +0000

Click Here to Read More … n the 1980s, state-of-the-art treatment for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who experienced symptoms consisted of a transurethral prostatectomy. Beginning in the 1990s, medical treatment with either an alpha blocker to relax the smooth muscle in the prostate or a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor to shrink the prostate (or the two combined) became state-of-the art treatment. But today, advances in our understanding of BPH are helping doctors tailor therapy to a man’s specific lower urinary tract symptoms and their causes. Often, that tailored treatment requires more than one medication, and one of those medications may not be a traditional BPH drug.
Johns Hopkins Special Reports

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How a New Healthcare Initiative Could Lead to Better Treatment

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:50:52 +0000

Click Here to Read More … You might be surprised to learn that when you seek medical advice for a given condition, your doctor’s recommendations sometimes aren’t based on a thorough scientific investigation of which is the best treatment. In fact, a lot of care is decided upon through observation, tradition, or informed opinion because the kind of research that compares treatments hasn’t been conducted for the most part — yet.
Johns Hopkins Special Reports

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Making Sense of Health Claims

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:48:44 +0000

Click Here to Read More … If you’re one of the many health-conscious consumers who diligently reads package labels while food shopping, it may seem as if there’s more to digest now than ever. In addition to the Nutrition Facts panel indicating nutrient amounts and ingredients, highlighted statements like ‘low-sugar’ and ‘low-fat,’ and sales ploys like special offers and recipes, an increasing number of products feature claims on their packaging that they may help reduce your risk of developing a variety of diseases.
Johns Hopkins Special Reports

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Treating Mood Disorders With Hallucinogenic Drugs

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:53:33 +0000

Click Here to Read More … Many mood disorders can be successfully treated with some combination of medication, psychotherapy, and time. But researchers are always on the lookout for new options, and several are generating interest right now.
Johns Hopkins Special Reports

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Food for Thought

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:22:22 +0000

Click Here to Read More … When it comes to maintaining healthy brain function, eating a standard American diet is not the smartest choice. The good news is that dietary changes — in particular, the adoption of a Mediterranean-style eating plan — can help prevent the onset or slow the rate of cognitive decline. In other words, foods that are good for your body are also good for your brain.
Johns Hopkins Special Reports

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On the Horizon: Two New Surgical Treatments for GERD

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:18:27 +0000

Click Here to Read More … For the millions of Americans who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), medication alone is enough to treat their symptoms. But up to 20% of people are not helped by GERD medications.
Johns Hopkins Special Reports

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