Common Hair Loss Culprits for Women

Q: "I am a 55-year-old female suffering from hair loss. Are there foods I should include and exclude in my diet to reduce hair loss and to stimulate hair growth?"

A: Hair loss can be caused by a number of factors. Here are some things to consider:

Are you taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs, or both? Read the package inserts and talk with your pharmacist to see if side effects could include hair loss.

At perimenopause and menopause, a reduction in your body's estrogen level may result in hair loss. Do you have other symptoms of menopause such as trouble sleeping, hot flashes and/or mood swings? Discuss with your gynecologist if you suspect you may be going through “the change.

Common Drugs Can Cause Cognitive Impairment

Do you ever take sleeping pills? How about medications to treat bladder leakage? If so, then you may be at risk for cognitive impairment. Yes, you heard right. Seemingly-harmless drugs from Benadryl to Sominex have been linked to losses in cognition, U.S. researchers say. Especially at risk are African-Americans.

Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine, the Regenstrief Institute and Wishard Health Services say the medications -- known as anti-cholinergics, which block acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter -- are sold under various brand names such as Benadryl, Dramamine, Excedrin PM, Nytol, Sominex, Tylenol PM, Unisom, Paxil, Detrol and Demerol. The drugs are commonly used by older adults to aid sleep and to relieve bladder leakage.

Coming to a Market Near You: Genetically Engineered Salmon?

Long-touted in magazines and journals for its health benefits (Omega-3 Fatty Acids, anyone?), salmon is garnering a whole type of press.

Today has started 2 days of hearings for the Food and Drug Administration on whether genetically engineered salmon will get the okay to be sold by your local grocer.  If the outcome is yes, the fish could be the first genetically engineered animal approved for human consumption.

The FDA released a preliminary report earlier this month saying that the salmon, which grows twice as fast as “normal” salmon and consumes 25 percent less feed, “is as safe as food from conventional Atlantic salmon” and not likely to cause environmental harm.

Colonoscopy Alert: A Less Stressful Test Is on the Way

Anyone who’s ever had a colonoscopy knows that the tough part isn’t the test itself, but the lengthy, unpleasant preparation for it. Now, though, researchers have developed a $300 test that may put an end to all that—at least for people who aren’t at high risk.

The discovery is significant because of the number of deaths from colorectal cancer, and the enormous cost of treating it. In the United States, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women, according to the American Cancer Society. The New York Times reported that there are 50,000 deaths annually from the illness and that it costs about $14 billion to treat.

Cold Weather, Stiff Joints

Falling snow and Christmas lights aren't a welcome sight for everyone.

Cold weather, holiday stress and seasonal changes aggravate inflammation for arthritis patients. And although there is no changing the weather, arthritis-specific exercises and therapies can help relieve the pain.

Some senior centers and fitness clubs offer arthritis-specific classes for sufferers, like the one held Nov. 20 at Twin Falls, Idaho's city pool. Participant Fran Kittridge of Twin Falls said the water aerobics helps her with arthritis as well as peripheral neuropathy and balance issues related to diabetes.

Cold Hands? Ask the Doctor!

We asked emergency room physician Barbara Lock why we always need our mittens.

Q. As soon as the weather changes I have to start wearing gloves because my hands get so cold.  Is this a sign of poor circulation?

A. Many people notice that their hands and feet get colder in cool weather. When the cool hands and feet become troubling, requiring wearing gloves and warm socks when everyone else is still wearing sandals, if your cold hands are also painful or pale, if you are tired all the time, or if you are losing weight unintentionally, it's high time that you consider medical causes of your symptoms with your doctor.

Coffee Talk: Cup o' Joe May Fight Heart Disease

Coffee is not usually thought of as health food, but a number of recent studies suggest that it can be a highly beneficial drink.

Researchers have found strong evidence that coffee reduces the risk of several serious ailments, including diabetes, heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver.

Among them is a systematic review of studies published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, which concluded that habitual coffee consumption was consistently associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Exactly why is not known, but the authors offered several explanations.

Coffee contains antioxidants that help control the cell damage that can contribute to the development of the disease. It is also a source of chlorogenic acid, which has been shown in animal experiments to reduce glucose concentrations.