Antiaging is the latest wellness craze, with many supplements promising to turn back the clock and help people feel younger. Very few antiaging supplements have received rigorous attention.
Dehydroepiandrosteone (DHEA) and testosterone are two hormones widely promoted as antiaging supplements which were investigated in a randomized double-blind study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicin...
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Preventive Care Recommendations at Your Fingertips
Preventive medicine is a rapidly growing field. Testing that detects diseases in early stages, treatments that prevent diseases before they occur, and behaviors that make diseases less likely all hold the promise to keep us healthy and let us live longer. Unfortunately the field is also increasingly marred by tests and services that are recommended to patients without any scientific evidence that they work, or worse, despite much evidence that they are useless.
That's why I've long been a dis...
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An Oral Antibiotic Reduces the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common chronic condition. The most common symptoms of IBS are crampy abdominal pain, painful diarrhea or constipation, and abdominal bloating. The cause of IBS is unknown. Many of my patients suffer from it. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has an informative website about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of IBS.
Last month the...
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CDC Advisory Committee Recommends Vaccine to Prevent Shingles
Six weeks ago I wrote about Zostavax, a vaccine that prevents shingles. At that time I suggested waiting to see if the CDC was going to recommend it. Last week the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that all adults over 60 who have had chicken pox receive the vaccine. The press release about the ACIP's recommendation is ...
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