Health matters Magazine

Dementia Linked to Removal of Ovaries Before Menopause.
Women who had surgery before menopause at risk of dementia, study says. Hormone therapy has been linked to a greater risk of dementia and heart attacks when given to women after age 65. But recent research indicates that when given before menopause or just afterward, it doesn’t raise heart attack risk and may protect against dementia. read more...

Osteoporosis Prevention
Issue#5 Dec/07-Jan/08
Osteoporosis is a disease of low bone strength and decreased bone density which leads to an increase in risk of fracture, especially of the hip, spine and wrist, although any bone can be affected. Osteoporosis is often asymptomatic (shows no symptoms)... read more...

Decongestants and High Blood Pressure
Issue#5 Dec/07-Jan/08
Heart patients who catch the flu or cold this season should consider the medications they take to alleviate their symptoms. read more...

Why Hospice?
Issue#5 Dec/07-Jan/08
Hospice is a philosophy of care that focuses on people with life limiting illnesses (usually six months or less) and also on their family and caregivers. The emphasis of care is on comfort... read more...

Paying For Home Health Care
Issue#4 Oct-Nov/07
In the last issue of Health Matter Magazine, I discussed the various kinds of home health care and the sources of payment for these services. Payment for home care can be from federal and state programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, from private insurance carriers such as Humana, Aetna and many other who offer home health care coverage, or from private funds – that is, directly from the client or family. read more...

Top Five Reasons Women Put Off Their Mammogram
Issue#4 Oct-Nov/07
1). ICK---it’ just too uncomfortable!
Be choosy and select an FDA-certified healthcare provider that shows the most concern for your comfort. Before you schedule your mammogram, check with your provider to see if they understand your needs: read more...

Breast Cancer—Get the Facts
Risk Factors
Issue#4 Oct-Nov/07
The risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer increases with age.
Important factors that increase a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer include certain inherited genetic mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2), a personal or family history of breast cancer, high breast-tissue density as seen on mammograms, biopsy-confirmed hyperplasia, and high-dose radiation therapy to the chest. read more...

Diabetic Eye Care

Issue#3 Aug-Sept/07

“Diabetic retinopathy is the number one cause of new blindness in working age Americans and the most common diabetes eye problem.” read more...

Menopause—A Time of Change and Choice

Issue#3 Aug-Sept/07

In the course of contact with my patients throughout the years I have observed thousands of women undergoing the trials of menopause. In my many conversations with them, certain consistent themes continue to emerge. The following composite conversation is representative of those questions menopausal women ask most frequently. I offer in this composite two levels of responses. The first level contains the clinical answer I most likely would give in a simple, easily understood, straight forward style. The second level in italics, contains the same answer but in a more informative style. read more...

Indoor Air Pollution and The Allergic Person
Issue#2 June-July/07
One of the most confusing issues patients have is whether what’s happening to them is an allergy. read more...

Paying For Home Health Care