Licensed Massage Therapist Sarah Marshall explains the healing power of touch and the positive impact it has on oncology patients.
Healing power of touch
October is best time to get your flu shot
By Martin Stallone, MD
Instances of flu begin to rise in October and November and influenza-like infections typically peak between December and March. Getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.
Fall risks increase with age; learn to protect yourself
By Deidre Blake, MD
Falls are the number one cause of injuries and deaths from injury among older Americans. The vast majority of those falls are from a standing height and most frequently cause broken wrists, hip fractures and head injuries. In many cases, the injuries have long-term health consequences that limit mobility and may require hospitalization and nursing home care.
Deep vein clots pose major health risks
By Roman Politi, MD
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, can occur when a blood clot forms inside a vein, usually deep within the leg and less frequently within the arm. About half a million Americans every year get a thrombotic clot, and up to 100,000 die because of it. The danger is that part of the clot can break off and travel through the bloodstream and block blood flow. Clots that lodge in the lungs are called pulmonary embolism and can cause organ damage or death. Clots can also plug veins in the brain and cause a stroke.
Pain center offers Botox treatment for migraines
By Qi Zhang
Botox treatments for patients with chronic migraine headaches are now provided by the Ithaca Center for Pain Management at Cayuga Medical Center. The Botox program began earlier this year and uses a class of medications called neurotoxins that were approved in 2010 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating migraine headaches. It is not completely known how the medications reduce migraine headache pain, but studies suggest the drugs block nerves and muscles and suppress some types of brain chemicals that play a role in migraine headaches. Botox is the commercial name for the neurotoxin medication that is also manufactured by other drug makers under other registered names.
HPV protection begins with pre-teen vaccinations
By Carol Berlin, MD
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States with nearly half of Americans ages 18 to 59 infected and about half of new infections occurring among those ages 15 to 24 years old. Usually, HPV infection clears on its own and causes no health problems. However, data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey from 2013-2014 found that certain strains of the virus with the greatest cancer risks (high risk HPV) infected 25 percent of men and 20 percent of women. Those who develop a persistent high-risk HPV infection face a greater chance of developing certain cancers. Two vaccines (Gardasil and Gardasil 9) are currently available in the US for preventing HPV infection. The vaccines offer the greatest protection when given to girls and boys before sexual activity occurs. Young adults and parents of pre-teens and adolescents should consider vaccination for HPV to decrease the risk of certain cancers and genital warts.
Flu shot is best protection against influenza virus
By David Evelyn, MD
Instances of flu start to increase in October and November and influenza-like infections typically peak between December and March. Getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.
Exercise strengthens bones to prevent osteoporosis
Osteoporosis occurs when your body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in some cases, from sneezing or minor bumps. This type of bone loss can develop over many years and go unnoticed until a fractured wrist or hip reveals the weakened condition of a person’s bones.
Getting a good night’s sleep after tonight’s time change
By Lavanya Kodali, MD
Computers and cell phones will have no trouble resetting their clocks with the change from Eastern Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, but many people may need a few days to re-adjust their body clocks.
Dehydration is a risk even during the winter
By Drew Koch, DO, FACOEP-D, MBA
Dehydration is most commonly thought of as a hot-weather health concern, but in cold weather dehydration can also be a significant health risk. Drinking enough water is the key to avoiding dehydration, but during the winter months, it can be more difficult to realize when you need to stop for a beverage break.