Mammograms: Still a Good Idea?
In October an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association raised serious questions about the value of mammography as a way of saving women’s lives. To doctors and researchers this was not news, but it made headlines, and public anxiety rose. What happened next sowed confusion, incredulity, and outrage, at least among many women trying to follow the argument. In November, unaware that it would stir up a hornet’s nest, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announced new guidelines about mammography: it recommended against mammograms for most women in their forties, and said women age 50 to 74 should get mammograms only every two years, instead of annually, unless they are at high risk. Here is our take on all this. Full Story

Passing Out When Standing Up
You naturally expect to stand up from a lying or sitting position with no problems. These expectations are usually fulfilled—a sign of how efficiently blood pressure can adjust to a quick change in posture. But sometimes, if you stand up too fast, especially in the morning or the middle of the night, you may get dizzy. This condition, known as orthostatic hypotension (orthostatic means upright; hypotension is low blood pressure), usually goes away in seconds before any damage is done. But it can also cause fainting and a fall. It involves a steep temporary drop in blood pressure, and it can affect those with chronic high blood pressure, as well as those with normal or even low blood pressure. Here are suggestions if you’re prone to dizziness on rising.

The Lowdown on Hemorrhoids
Most people develop hemorrhoids at some time in their lives. The first sign of hemorrhoids is typically blood on toilet paper or in the stool or water after a bowel movement. These clusters of swollen, inflamed blood vessels and tissue are usually internal (in the lower rectum) but sometimes external (on the edge or just outside the anus). Often there are no symptoms other than bleeding, but external hemorrhoids, in particular, can be painful and itchy. There’s some debate about what causes hemorrhoids, as opposed to what merely aggravates them. There’s no sure way to prevent hemorrhoids, but here are measures that can ease the discomfort and possibly reduce recurrences.

As Tears Go By
Even if you rarely or never cry, you still produce about five to ten ounces of tears a day. What are tears made of? Where are they made, where do they go? What function do tears serve? Are there different kinds of tears? Why do humans cry? What is dry eye syndrome and who’s at risk? We answer these and other questions.

Tips for Safer Salads
Raw leafy greens, such as lettuce and spinach, are delicious and have a lot to offer as part of a healthy diet. But some experts now call them the riskiest food—more likely to be contaminated with harmful bacteria than even hamburgers. These bacteria (such as E. coli and Salmonella), as well as noroviruses, get into the greens via irrigation water, soil, and human hands. Here are pointers for enjoying your salad without getting ill.

Running Away From Smoking
If you’re trying to quit smoking, starting an exercise program may help you succeed. Exercise often comes with a mind-set—specifically a “turning-over-a-new-leaf” mentality. People who exercise are more likely to have other good health habits, and those who start to exercise regularly are more likely to acquire or maintain other good habits, such as eating a healthy diet or quitting smoking. Exercise may help smokers quit in a variety of ways, both physical and psychological.

The Rub on Arnica
An increasing number of people are turning to arnica to treat sprains, bruises, sore muscles, and the aches and pains of arthritis. This plant in the daisy family, with bright yellow flowers, has been used medicinally throughout Europe for centuries. Today, you can find a range of arnica products at pharmacies and health-food stores—ointments, creams, and gels, as well as tablets and pellets, often in homeopathic (extremely diluted) doses. We focus on the topical products.

ASK THE EXPERTS
Our readers ask: Can the artificial sweetener aspartame cause depression? Are shrimp off limits if I have high blood cholesterol? What do you think about jojoba supplements for weight loss? Does gargling with warm saltwater help a sore throat? Full Story

WELL & INFORMED
Tips, Short Takes, and Other News You Can Use
Music and your brain . . . liver facts.

WELLNESS TIPS

• Adding barley to your diet can lower your cholesterol and thus reduce your risk of heart disease. The FDA allows this health claim, similar to the one for oats. Barley is the best source of beta glucan, a soluble fiber known to lower cholesterol.

• Copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps do not reduce pain and other symptoms of osteoarthritis, despite the claims. In a new English study, people with arthritis wore a commercially available magnetic wrist strap, a weak magnetic wrist strap, a copper bracelet, and a demagnetized wrist strap (the placebo) in random order, each for four weeks, and found no differences in pain, stiffness, or physical function.

• If you buy applesauce, look for unsweetened. You’ll still get plenty of natural sweetness, but nearly half the calories of sweetened ones.

• Plain air-popped popcorn is a healthy snack—but beware of popcorn in movie theaters. In recent testing, popcorn from the nation’s three biggest movie chains was found to have 370 to 1,200 calories, depending on the serving size. About half the calories come from the cooking oil. And that’s without the “buttery” topping, which adds another 120 to 260 calories. Sodium ranged from 210 to 1,500 milligrams.

• Don’t take B vitamins in the hope they will help prevent heart disease or strokes. A new analysis from the Cochrane Collaboration of eight studies concluded that there’s no evidence to support the use of B vitamins as a preventive.

• If a cat bites you, call your doctor if the wound is deep, or if the area reddens and swells within two to twelve hours. You may need oral antibiotics and possibly a tetanus shot. Because cat’s teeth are long, thin, and sharp, they can drive bacteria deep into tissue, reaching bones, tendons, and joints. A high percentage of cat bites (far higher than dog bites) become infected, even if they look minor.