Internal Medicine Medical Library Stories & Articles

Are you on the right medicine to control your blood pressure? A new study on Black Americans shows some medicines work, and some don’t for this subset of hypertensive patients.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease remains America’s number one killer. The disease continues to devastate as it takes the lives of hundreds of thousands each year. Now, a new study conducted by the Centers... ( Read more about CDC Study on Heart Disease)

What is Cirrhosis:

Cirrhosis of the liver is a disease in which normal functioning living tissue is replaced... ( Read more about Cirrosis)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the battle towards prevention of sexually transmitted diseases needs to move front and center. Sexually transmitted disease prevention is a crucial issue, particularly since the rates... ( Read more about Condom Concerns)

Is your doctor putting you through unnecessary tests, even biopsies, say, simply because he or she fears being sued? According to the results of a new survey, the answer is a concerning yes! Defensive medicine may be a subtle issue, like... ( Read more about Defensive Medicine)

Some 50 percent of physicians in America provide their patients with placebo medications without informing them, according to a recent investigation. "It's a disturbing finding," said Franklin G. Miller, director of the research ethics program... ( Read more about Doctors Give Placebo Treatments Often)

A new medical study raises an important question: should anyone who is seen in an emergency room be automatically screened and treated for other essential problems and conditions that in the end affect society as a whole—such as sexually... ( Read more about Emergency Rooms and STDs)

Those New Year’s resolutions are just around the corner. And as usual, one of the most popular resolutions is to start exercising.

With dieting being the most commonly adopted method to lose weight, many of us refrain from taking up exercise. For people who are markedly overweight, it can be difficult to start an exercise program. But, the latest data shows the combination... ( Read more about Exercise Study)

Studies like this are regarded with a "Ho-hum" by most doctors who see patients on a regular basis, especially those physicians like myself who practice nutritional and anti-aging medicine. "Okay," we think, "Someone is getting some sort of... ( Read more about Expert Commentary: Dr. David Edelberg 11/27/2009)

Could the flu shot be overrated? That's what new research is implying, that it doesn't save lives like we think it does. All over the country, on the day the word got out this year that there was going to be a huge flu vaccine shortage, we had... ( Read more about Flu Shot Overrated)

A new study says weight gain between pregnancies could lead to complications during pregnancy and during the delivery period, even in women who are not medically overweight. The study found that a gain of 3 or more BMI or body mass index units... ( Read more about Health Wrap: August 29th)

Currently there are several available acid reflux treatments. 60 million Americans suffer from it. One-fourth of these, approximately 15 million, have daily symptoms. That is the case with patient Michael Mills.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, will be the first day Americans eligible for Medicare coverage can enroll in the new part D prescription drug plan. But the plan is so confusing, that the majority of seniors are staying away. Medicare has traditionally... ( Read more about Medicare Mayhem)

A recent analysis of the mortality rates of men and women with diabetes from 1971- 2001 found that while death rates for men have dropped, women's have remained static. This study, to be published in the August issue of the Annals of Medicine,... ( Read more about Mortality Rates Drop for Diabetic Men But Not Women)

There are important new diabetes guidelines just released that instruct most Type 2 diabetics to take cholesterol-lowering medication. The goal is to cut down on their risk for heart attacks and strokes, common killers in this patient... ( Read more about New Diabetic Guidelines)

You have taken the important first step on the path to physical fitness by seeking information. The next step is to decide that you are going to be physically fit. This pamphlet is designed to help you reach that decision and your goal. The... ( Read more about Physical Fitness Program Cannot Be Taken Lightly)

There is important new research out tonight that may be the start of a different approach in medicine: to treat high blood pressure before it even gets high. The fact is about 69 percent of people who have a first heart attack, 77 percent of... ( Read more about Pre-Hypertension Treatment)

There is a new online tool for prostate cancer patients just unveiled that is said to be the most accurate way to predict one’s chances of long term survival.

A Review in The Lancet reveals the importance of healthy lifestyle choices to reduce stressors related to cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers from John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore examined records between 1990 to 2006. They observed how... ( Read more about Reducing Stress Lowers Risk of Cardiovascular Problems)

There is a heavily advertised product on the market--you might have seen it while watching popular shows like the daily show--which claims to allow you to burn fat with no effort--no exercise, no diet. The Federal Trade Commission will tell you... ( Read more about Remedy or Rip Off Lipozene)

What is a Sprain?

A sprain is an injury to a ligament. A ligament is a thick, tough fibrous tissue that connects bones together. Commonly injured ligaments are in the ankle, knee... ( Read more about Sprains & Strains)

A new study suggest positive effects of chelation therapy. A new study by Ohio State Medical Center suggests a link between mercury and heart disease, traced to the activation of a relatively unknown enzyme, which triggers a process leading to... ( Read more about Study Supports the Efficacy of Chelation Therapy)

Mitchell Forslind appeared to be a healthy two year old. But his mom Fran noticed something odd. He started to walk a little differently, and fell down a lot. Doctors confirmed Mitchell had a rare, deadly genetic disease called Krabbe's... ( Read more about Theoretical Possibilities of Cord Blood Cell Treatment)

What is the Rubella?

Rubella or German Measles is an infectious disease and is caused by a highly contagious virus. If a... ( Read more about Understading Rubella | Symptoms, Causes, Treatments)

Diverticulitis:

The colon or large bowel stores waste products of digestion and reabsorbs salt and water back into the body.Many people develop out-pouching... ( Read more about Understanding Diverticulitis)

What is the Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a disorder of the intestines that leads to cramps, gas, pain and bouts of diarrhea... ( Read more about Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome | Symptoms, Causes)

What are Measles?

Measles is a disease found around the world. The virus that causes the disease is spread by airborne infection and is one of the most contagious diseases.

What are Menstrual Cramps?

When you have your menstrual period, you may get mild to bad menstrual cramps or pain in your abdomen or back. You may also have nausea, vomiting,... ( Read more about Understanding Menstrual Cramps | Symptoms, Causes, Treatments)

What is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerves are the longest nerves in the body. They start in the lower spine, pass behind the hip joint and go down the buttock, down the back of the leg... ( Read more about Understanding Sciatica)

What is the Thyroid:

The thyroid gland is an endocrine organ whose responsibility is to secrete a hormones that controls the body's growth and metabolism. It lies in front of... ( Read more about Understanding The Thyroid)

Moserata Santana is not worried about colon cancer in spite of the fact that the disease killed her father and brother. She’s getting a screening colonoscopy, and has faith that the colonoscopy procedure will detect anything unusual, before it... ( Read more about Virtual Colonoscopy)

What is Cancer?

Cancer is a term used to describe a group of illnesses all having certain common characteristics. There are over 200 different types of cancer and all have a... ( Read more about What is Cancer and How it is Caused)

Dr. Sattesh Babu of Vascular Associates of Westchester discusses Peripheral Arterial Disease, who is at risk, why it is important to be screened and current treatments. Pad is essentially a blockage of the arteries in the lower... ( Read more about What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?)

Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses the Polypill. The Polypill is being developed in response to an important reality surrounding cardiovascular disease. There are three important drugs that can help prevent heart disease (statins, ACE inhibitors,... ( Read more about What is the Polypill?)

How the Body Ages:

The nucleus of every cell has 23 pairs of... ( Read more about Why and How Does the Body Age?)

“My grandmother died at 67 of heart disease and she was a diabetic, my mother died at 59 from heart disease, my sister who was two years older than me died at 51 from heart disease, my oldest sister who is five years older than me had her first... ( Read more about Women & Heart Centers)

The fattening of America is so out there, so obvious, the question has become how do we get the message that we need to reverse the trend? Perhaps, the message is sinking in, at least among women. New research released by the CDC shows, among... ( Read more about Women, Obesity Rates, and the Fountain of Youth)

It would make sense at first glance that workplace stress leads to heart disease--no surprise, right? But the latest research shows chronic stress at work can also leads to diabetes--and that--raises eyebrows. “Deadlines, they ask you questions... ( Read more about Work Stress and Metabolic Syndrome)

A recent report by health provider BUPA has found that people's worries are damaging their health by causing sleepless nights, loss of sex drive, and erratic eating habits. The 2007 Worry Report demonstrates that almost one in five people... ( Read more about Worried Sick? There Might Be Some Truth There)

Most people would npt consider a 35 year old a likely candidate for serious heart trouble, even if she is a young smoker. But new research shows that young smokers between 35 and 39 are at a significantly higher risk of heart attacks than their... ( Read more about Young Smokers)

New research out of the University of Rochester shows video games that contain high levels of action can actually improve your vision. People who played action video games for a few hours a day over the course of a month improved by about 20... ( Read more about healthwrap_video games)

But that’s where the question lies: at what point does one really get life-protecting benefit from exercise--beyond the benefits of a better figure?