Some good doctors don’t know how they feel about the new mammogram and pap smear guidelines, and neither do I. I do know that I’ve probably had more radiation than I needed to, many nights of anxiety from false positives, and many extra procedures that I didn’t need. But that’s all hindsight, which would’ve been reversed with one actual diagnosis of breast or cervical cancer. Let’s see how it shakes out. Here’s a quote from http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9103988 from reknowned breast specialist Dr. Susan Love “These new recommendations are long overdue. Most countries do not support mammography screening under 50 and do it every other year after 50 in their government-sponsored screening programs,” said Dr. Susan Love, founder of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.  “I hope that the insurers will change reimbursement, because it is probably the only way that women will be spared the extra radiation exposure of too many mammograms,” Love said. “Since our system pays the radiologist, hospital or mammography center and biopsying surgeon by the more they do, there is no incentive for this to come from the medical profession.”
If you heard that menopausal hots should last about two years, you heard wrong. A new study found the average was five years, with some women flashing for ten or more. What to do? The low-dose Vivelle patch would provide instant relief, but that same study found that women who want to go hormone-free can cut their symptom time in half if they exercise at medium intensity four to six times a week. A new mattress from Japan called The Fumin (wind-sleep) has a built-in fan to keep you hotties cool while sleeping; no word on where you can get it here at press time.
Yes, this is plantar fasciitis Item #3! Foot doctors are recommending that people with that nasty heel pain and other foot problems try wearing Crocs to stretch the foot and correct the problem. I was alerted to this new therapy by nurses at a local medical center, who said that since they started wearing Crocs their foot pain had totally corrected itself, even when wearing other shoes! Docs say even diabetics with ulcerations or those who’ve undergone bunionectomies or other foot surgeries are ok to try Crocs, bandage and all.
Well, sure, granite is from the ground, but who knew your granite countertops could emit radon? All granite emits some radon, the naturally occurring radioactive gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarettes. Red, pink, and purple granite slabs are apparently the biggest offenders, but most have a trace of radon well below the 4 pcq level that would have an effect. To check on the cheap, put out one of the $15 home testers on your counter (windows closed) the next time you go out for the day.
Most contact lens wearers’ infections come from the CASE, not the lenses. You need to get a new case every three months (c’mon, a 12-pack is eight bucks)! Rinse, clean with solution, and air dry after every use or as often as you can stand it.
