July 2005 Health Briefs
Baylor Scott and White HealthLearn more about new treatments for rapid heartbeats, tips for summer safety, seasonal allergies linked to asthma, pregnancy and back pain, and the benefits of breastfeeding.
Learn more about new treatments for rapid heartbeats, tips for summer safety, seasonal allergies linked to asthma, pregnancy and back pain, and the benefits of breastfeeding.
Learn more about health conditions associated with wearing high heels, helpful tips for routine health screenings, and a new pre-natal test that can provide earlier results for pregnant women.
Baylor Health Care System has experts in the areas of infectious disease, social services, pastoral care, wound care, and human resources available to talk about topics surrounding the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Learn more about tips for getting men to go to the doctor, the facts about cholesterol, the link between cancer and genetic makeup, tips for dealing with chronic stress, the facts about ovarian cancer, young athletes and exercise-induced asthma, and healthy eating for kids.
Learn more about these breast cancer related topics: cancer-related depression, the facts about male breast cancer, the trend in cancer patients who continue to work after their diagnosis, a new device that makes mammograms more comfortable, and the most common myths about breast cancer.
Learn more about safer treatment options for epilepsy, tips for heartburn-free holidays, healthy eating tips for diabetics during the holidays, tips for serving safe leftovers after Thanksgiving, important questions to ask your doctor about diabetes, and helpful tips for men's health screenings.
Learn more about selecting safe toys for children this holiday season, holiday foods that can cause complications with certain medication, tips for preventing choking, dealing with Christmas allergies, and for keeping up an exercise and diet plan during the holidays.
Learn more about the health dangers of working long hours, the truth about 'emotional eating', the risks of skipping breakfast, the health hazards of road rage, the health benefits of family meals, and vegetables that may reduce the risk of lung cancer.
Learn more about tips for new parents on when to call the doctor, new research on 'light smoking', tips for new parents when bringing home baby, how abdominal fat can be an indicator of heart disease, and tips for preventing osteoporosis and the foods that can help you do it.
Dallas-based Baylor Health Care System, co-sponsored with the Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility at Southern Methodist University, encourages journalists who want to learn more about medical ethics related to irreversible illness and medical futility to participate in our webinar on Thursday, Feb. 23.
The ethical issues involved in end-of-life care are significant, intersecting with our personal morality and public policy-making as well. Baylor Health Care System encourages journalists who want to learn more about medical ethics related to irreversible illness and medical futility to participate in a webinar.
Swimsuit season is right around the corner, but after over-indulging during the holidays and eating too much chocolate at Valentine's Day, the thought of baring any skin strikes fear in the hearts of most women. But exercise and diet specialists say there is no need to panic.
It's that time of year again"”basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and minivans filled with little leaguers as far as the eye can see. A certified strength and conditioning specialist says that it's important for parents to know how to properly prepare their young athletes for this season's competition.
Wearing green on St. Patrick's Day might keep you from getting pinched. But including these green foods in your daily diet will do your body good this St. Patrick's Day.
Have trouble falling asleep at night? Before you reach for a pill you should hear the results of a recent study that found sleep medications are twice as likely to cause harm to a senior patient than they are to help them sleep better.
As many as 30 percent of young school-aged children wet the bed, but while there are medications available to help, doctors say something as simple as changing what kids eat and drink can be just as effective.
There's still no way to choose the sex of your baby, but researchers say they have found a way to better predict whether an expectant mom is having a boy or girl by looking at the timing of her pregnancy.
Ever get stumped in the produce aisle wondering whether you should buy organic? What does "˜organic' really mean and is there a true health benefit? What's the difference between regular apples and "˜organic' apples?
Comfort or fashion? Style-savvy women may have more foot-healthy and comfortable options this spring. Orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon gives tips on spring shoe purchases.
With spring sports season upon us, many parents will not only stock up on sports equipment, but ice packs, heating pads and muscle creams as well to soothe aches and pains in their little athletes. Sports injuries in young children are prevalent this time of year, usually from the overuse of their muscles and joints.
A history of severe sunburn, especially sunburns in childhood, can increase a person's risk for skin cancer. Growing older can increase a person's risk for melanoma, too. Older adults have the greatest risk of developing melanoma. And, of that group, men have the most risk because of their reluctance to perform monthly skin self-examinations or regularly visit a dermatologist to detect melanoma.
Summertime means fun in the backyard pool for scores of youngsters. Parents receive warnings to install pool fences and pool alarms to prevent an accidental drowning in the pool. But what about the backyard hot tub or spa? Has it been child-proofed for safety? Because a hot tub or spa is smaller, parents may not consider the dangerous hazards these can pose.
The Baylor Research Institute (BRI) in Dallas has received a grant to research the development of an oxygen monitoring system for premature infants in neonatal intensive care units. Baylor researchers hope by creating this system, it will help to prevent the occurrence of a common cause of blindness in premature newborns.
Baylor Regional Transplant Institute recently performed Texas' first successful adult small bowel transplant, giving a 24-year-old Midland woman a second chance at life. Recent literature from the journal Gastroenterology suggests this type of surgery is the only standard of treatment that should be considered for those with intestinal failure and life-threatening complications from total parenteral nutrition.
Growing up, two sisters heard about--and saw--a lot of cancer in their family. Esophageal cancer claimed their father and various forms of the disease killed four of their father's siblings. Their older sister was also diagnosed (twice) with breast cancer. At high risk for cancer themselves, they enrolled in the STAR study to be proactive about their health and to set an example for their children and grandchildren.
Researchers at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and the Baylor Research Institute have developed a novel technique using microscopic "bubbles" to deliver insulin genes to the pancreas, the organ that produces the body's insulin. This approach is a major step in the potential treatment of Type I diabetes since patients with the disease do not produce enough insulin on their own.
Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas now offers candidates for hip replacement surgery another option. Known as the Birmingham Hipâ„¢ Resurfacing System, it is the first total hip resurfacing technique and implant approved for use by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
Some common insect bites can turn into dangerous infections or even allergic infections.
Now that school's out for the summer, many youngsters are headed for the pool for fun and to beat the heat. But, caution and a few common sense safety tips can prevent a summer tradition from becoming tragic.
ODC Therapy, Inc., a cancer immunotherapy company started by Baylor Health Care System, announced today that data from an ongoing Phase 2 trial of its dendritic cell vaccine for the treatment of metastatic melanoma were presented Sunday, June 4 at the 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Atlanta.
For most people confined to wheelchairs, elevators and ramps are essential to daily travel. Everyday tasks such as reaching a high shelf, grocery shopping, or even talking to people face to face is sometimes impossible or requires assistance. But with the new INDEPENDENCE® iBOT® 4000 Mobility System, now offered to patients with mobility impairments at the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation (BIR), life in a wheelchair may become a little easier.
For patients who have experienced a stroke, learning to walk again can be challenging, but even with rehabilitation, walking correctly is even more difficult. Often times these patients never regain the ability to walk the way they did prior to their stroke. But physical therapists are conducting a study to develop a technique that will help these patients walk correctly again with the ultimate goal of changing clinical practice in physical therapy.
The July issue of Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings discusses case studies of feigned illnesses, the benefits of weight training after a cardiac event, different ways to treat warts, and aggressive nutritional approaches in the premature infant.
Think summer and you might think cookouts and baseball. You probably don't think about kidney stones"”but you should. Kidney stones are more prevalent in the summer since they are linked to water intake, and people don't always drink enough to compensate for the warmer temperatures.
When the body's arteries, veins and capillaries become diseased, patients can experience pain and discomfort, not to mention the possibility of stroke and heart attack. Dennis Gable, M.D., a vascular surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, provides information about three of the most common vascular diseases.
If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, you're not alone. It's been reported that nearly seven out of 10 Americans say they frequently have problems getting a good night's sleep. And that may be cause for concern, says Henry Raroque, Jr., M.D., a board-certified neurologist and sleep specialist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine.
Ah, summer! Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie"”bugs, heat, accidents. Follow these tips to keep your family healthy this summer.
Baylor Institute for Immunology Research (BIIR), a component of Baylor Research Institute, has been awarded a three-year, $3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to develop vaccines against melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. The multi-project grant, entitled "Improving the Efficacy of Dendritic Cell Vaccines" is led by Jacques Banchereau, Ph.D., director of BIIR.
Baylor Health Care System ranked highest among all hospital systems in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for "Best Overall Quality of Care," according to a recent study conducted by Rincon and Associates, a Dallas-based market research company.
A decade or two ago, if your doctor had said, "Let's take a peek inside," you would have known you were facing exploratory surgery. But today, more than likely your doctor is referring to one of the scans that can show the inner workings of your body in precise detail. And for most of them, you won't feel a thing.
No time to exercise? No excuse! Phil Tyne, director of the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center in Dallas, says anyone can fit in 10 minutes a day, alternating cardiovascular one day and strength training the next.
Healthy kids make happy kids. Here are some tips for starting off the new school year on the right foot. Included are tips on picking out the right back-pack, car-seat/booster seat safety, immunizations and physical fitness.
Millions of women, especially moms, suffer from stress urinary incontinence (SUI), a condition where sneezing, coughing or even laughing can lead to urine leakage. Included are tips on a new procedure that is available to help correct the problem.
From super-sized french fries to giant pasta dishes, food portions keep getting bigger. To figure out if your serving sizes are under control, follow these recommendations.
If you're curious about the dizzying array of nutritional supplements available, you're not alone. Annual sales in the category top $4 billion. Supplements can be overkill if you're already taking a multivitamin. They also can cause allergic reactions and interact with medications.
By now you've heard the stories of E. Coli and other harmful bacteria finding their way into different foods and on to tables around the country. As many of us start planning for holiday meals, it's the perfect time to remember to keep food safety at the top of the menu.
Baylor Research Institute has received a $6.2 million grant that will allow its immunology division, Baylor Institute for Immunology Research (BIIR), to establish a Center for Lupus Research. The grant comes from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health.
This year, millions of Americans made the resolution to lose weight. However, many will get frustrated and give up before their goals are reached. Contributing to this problem is the host of bad information regarding diet and exercise circulating through gyms, workplaces, and the Internet. Julie Bender, a dietitian with Baylor University Medical Center, and Phil Tyne, director of the Baylor Tom Landry Health and Wellness Center "weigh in" on the most popular diet and exercise myths.
Was a big purse on your wish list this holiday season? It's one of the biggest fashion trends this season, but experts say those over-sized bags may leave you with back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches and possibly even arthritis.
If you're one of the millions of Americans hoping to lose weight by buying fat-free, cholesterol-free, or all-natural products, you may be surprised. Experts say it's those so-called "healthy" foods that often sabotage diets.