The discovery came about by accident more than a decade ago: Weight-loss surgery often led to dramatic improvement in the control of Type 2 diabetes, often before patients left the hospital.
You can hardly watch television these days without seeing commercials for statin drugs such as Lipitor and Zocor. They lower cholesterol, which in turn keeps plaque from forming in the arteries, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
During her 12th week of pregnancy, Garance Genicot and her husband, Shub Debgupta, received worrisome news from the doctor: A preliminary test showed there was a strong possibility that she would deliver a baby with Down syndrome.
A national study on diabetes, to be published online Thursday, concludes that people who stuck to a 10-year diet and exercise plan cut their risk of developing the disease by 34 percent.
When stars use their fame to dispense medical advice, should the public listen?
In October, we are surrounded by reminders of breast cancer. The often cited statistic is that one in eight women will get breast cancer at some point in their lives, but that actually is a misunderstanding.
Might losing weight improve the disturbed breathing known as obstructive sleep apnea?
Moms-to-be expect to be filled with happiness and excitement, not hopelessness and despair. But the fact is, pregnancy does not make women immune to depression.
Women who are overweight or obese before becoming pregnant could be putting themselves or their babies at risk for certain health complications, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One particularly serious potential problem: Infant heart defects, such as obstruction on the right side of the heart or defects in the tissue that separates the two upper chambers of the heart.
Swine flu vaccinations begin locally this week, but it might be a while before everyone who wants to be vaccinated can get the shot (or mist). Here are some common questions and answers about vaccinations.
Overall, chances of surviving breast cancer are much better now because of increased awareness, earlier detection and improved treatments.
South Florida healthcare providers say there are spot shortages of regular seasonal flu vaccine, but healthcare officials say the supplies will be replenished before the flu season hits its peak.
While you can't control your genes, there are powerful steps you can take to protect yourself. But experts say there's a lot of confusion about what really matters.
You know your dog or cat can almost always cheer you up after a bad day. But did you know that pets may bring other health benefits to their owners as well? Research into human-animal bonds is still in its infancy, and many of its conclusions are based on anecdotal evidence, says the National Institutes of Health. But a growing number of studies are discovering the ways pets can help us lead healthier lives.
Scientists are trying to find ways to manage the good and bad sides of the brain chemical dopamine -- such as a cocaine addiction vaccine.
Nanotechnology has surprising applications in mundane materials like sunscreen and esoteric items like high-tech body armor for soldiers. But some fear scarier scenarios worthy of a science fiction novel.
A new field being shaped partly at the University of Miami holds huge potential for major medical discoveries -- and possible perils.
At UM's Diabetes Research Institute, Cherie Stabler, a Ph.D biomedical engineer, is using nanotechnology to try to reproduce the insulin no longer made by the pancreas in people with diabetes.
At the University of Central Florida, Dr. J. Manuel Perez is working on a ``nano-medic,'' a super-tiny entity that would circulate in the body to find a tumor, treat it and report back the results.
At the University of Miami School of Medicine, Drs. Richard Cote and Ram Datar are pursuing a nano-scale test to detect cancer in the blood before it spreads.
South Florida health departments will start offering the swine flu vaccines, initially in the form of a nasal spray, at public schools on Oct. 19.
Ever wonder how many calories you really burn during your morning jog? The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) has an online calculator that can give you the answer.
The humble aspirin -- already celebrated for helping prevent the recurrence of heart attacks and strokes in some people -- is now being touted as a possible aid in preventing colon cancer. Is the cheap drugstore painkiller the new wonder drug? Don't pop one daily before reading this.
This time of year always makes me feel exhausted. I find my visits to Starbucks increasing every September as the month signals the beginning of so many things starting up again.
Stress doesn't just motivate us to get things done. Short bouts of it may actually boost the immune system and protect against one type of cancer, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, who were able to show the effects using stressed-out laboratory mice.
Turning the tables on standard breast cancer treatment may help some women; Restoring synchronized heartbeat may stem disease progression.
A Miami researcher says she is well along in the development of a vaccine to help those already infected with HIV.
A new generation of treatments for varicose veins can get you back on your feet quickly with little discomfort.
Screening for prostate cancer used to be a routine part of a wellness exam for men over 40. But conflicting results found in two major studies have made medical groups reexamine that recommendation, with some saying the risks of unnecessary treatment after screening outweigh the benefits of early detection.
The question: Might common respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, or even bumps and bruises from a fall, have added impact in someone with Alzheimer's disease?
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