Prevention (Page 28)

They’re often called “mini-strokes,” but they’re not necessarily mini. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a serious warning sign that you could have a stroke in the next two days. Symptoms come on very suddenly and include: Weakness Numbness Clumsiness Loss of vision in one eye If you or someone…

When kids play sports, they make the same motions again and again, whether it’s swinging a tennis racket or throwing a baseball. As a result, orthopedic surgeon Stephen Brockmeier, MD, often sees overuse injuries, also known as repetitive stress injuries. [caption id="attachment_10292" align="alignright" width="350"] View the full sized version of…

Just like you have your mom’s hair color and your dad’s athletic ability, you can inherit a predisposition for cancer. Cancer genetic testing can determine if you’re likely to get cancer, especially: Breast cancer Colon cancer Ovarian cancer Pancreatic cancer Listen to a Cancer Center genetic counselor explain the testing.

I balked. Me? Have a health issue? But considering our family had followed the Paleo diet for a while, so that we still tend to avoid carbs and rely heavily on meat, and also I’d fallen off my running routine, maybe this was a sign that I did need to make some changes.

February is National Heart Month. In addition to sharing your heart with your valentine, you should also take some time this month to learn more about the importance of having a healthy heart. This entire month is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and prevention. Heart disease is the…

Which cancer do you think kills the most women? Chances are, you guessed breast cancer. Incorrect! Believe it or not, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women. In a recent study by the American Lung Association to measure awareness of lung cancer risk, only 1 percent of…

I have never seen a copperhead near my house in Albemarle County, but it seems I’ve just been unlucky. (I like snakes.) In September, many of my friends were reporting sightings of this distinctive-looking venomous snake. [caption id="attachment_9085" align="alignright" width="350"] This copperhead was spotted on the Rivanna Trail in Charlottesville…

Angela Crowley, MD, is up-front about it. Accurately diagnosing an autoimmune disease can be tricky. [caption id="attachment_8987" align="alignright" width="300"] UVA rheumatologist Angela Crowley, MD, finds autoimmune diseases fascinating.[/caption] “People on average see six doctors over a period of 4 years before they get a diagnosis.” This is because, in general,…