Health Education Articles
Lung CancerJul 13, 2003
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. Most lung cancers are found when one is being looked at for other medical problems. Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. Because more women have started smoking, the rate of lung cancer has risen over the last 40 years.
Oh no! Heart surgery!Apr 10, 2003
More than 300,000 people have open heart surgery every year. Most of these have coronary artery blockage which is best treated by coronary artery bypass (CAB). Many patients have the same questions and I'll try to answer some of them.
DepressionJan 20, 2003
Depression will affect one-third of adults in the United States at some time during their lives, with three times as many women affected as men. There are many theories about the causes of depression. Genetic reasons exist, although a responsible gene has not been identified in humans. There are strong correlations in risk of developing depression, and your family history. The risk of depression is two to three times higher if a first-degree relative (mother, father) has been affected.
Skin CancerNov 01, 2002
It is estimated that more than one million Americans develop skin cancer each year. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and it has reached epidemic proportions in this country over the past several years. The lifetime chance of getting skin cancer is 1 in 5. "Worse yet, the rate of melanoma, the most dangerous of skin cancers, is doubling every 8 to 10 years" says Darrell Rigel, M.D., past president of the American Academy of Dermatologists (A.D.D.).
New Hope for Macular Degeneration PatientsFeb 01, 2002
Discoveries in recent months provide new hope for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As the leading cause of blindness in this country, affecting over 20 million Americans, researchers have worked hard to discover not only the causes of this condition but new treatments as well. So what is this disease and what can be done to prevent, diagnose and treat it?