Health

Organ donors to have new choices: Hands, face
Health

Organ donors to have new choices: Hands, face

December 29, 2013

Double-hand transplant recipient Lindsay Aronson Ess works on her dexterity during a physical therapy session in Richmond, Va. She lost her hands and feet to an infection in 2007.Steve Helber/Associated…

Needing knee surgery?
Health

Needing knee surgery?

December 29, 2013

Physical therapy may be an effective option for meniscal tears

Even friends won’t tell you about bad breath
La Plata Health Watch

Even friends won’t tell you about bad breath

December 29, 2013

There is a tendency for those with welder’s burns to arrive at the emergency room in the evening or the wee hours, when their coping nears zero. One night, a…

Strep scorecard may save trip to doctor
Health

Strep scorecard may save trip to doctor

December 22, 2013

An iPad app used by patients at Boston Children’s Hospital displays a questionnaire tallying symptom scores about sore throats. Patients fill out the questionnaire while they wait in the emergency…

New guidelines get specific about cholesterol control
La Plata Health Watch

New guidelines get specific about cholesterol control

December 22, 2013

Let’s see what good Dr. Clark has to enlighten us about today: “Lowering your cholesterol to prevent heart attack and stroke.” Don’t blame the timing on me. The good folks…

Health Briefs
Health

Health Briefs

December 22, 2013

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and women are encouraged to talk with their health-care providers about scheduling a pap test. A pap test is the first line of defense…

Health-care spending has slowed its pace
Health

Health-care spending has slowed its pace

December 22, 2013

Nationally, spending on health care is growing at the slowest pace ever recorded. Annual spending on health care often grew more than 10 percent a year during the 1970s and…

Health Briefs
Health

Health Briefs

December 15, 2013

Heart Safe La Plata is offering online CPR and first-aid training to the community. People can sign up for and take the course on their home computers. Participants will need…

Exercise eases pain from breast cancer drugs, study finds
Health

Exercise eases pain from breast cancer drugs, study finds

December 15, 2013

A new study shows that exercise can significantly reduce joint pain in women undergoing cancer treatment using aromatase inhibitors.Associated Press file photo The study focused on hormonal therapies called aromatase…

Breast cancer more manageable
Health

Breast cancer more manageable

December 15, 2013

New research may help tens of thousands of women each year avoid being overtreated for breast cancer by reducing the reliance on chemotherapy and radiation.Associated Press file The research is…

Listen here, be safe to ensure holiday cheer
La Plata Health Watch

Listen here, be safe to ensure holiday cheer

December 15, 2013

He was bundled up warm in layers of wool so as not to catch cold like a jolly old fool. He pondered his hygiene for the party that night and…

Exams got you stressed? Rover to the rescue
Health

Exams got you stressed? Rover to the rescue

December 10, 2013

“You’re so nice,” said Heidi Moy, 20 and an occupational therapy major from Stony Point, N.Y., as she patted one of the therapy dogs brought to campus last week as…

Meningitis hits two universities
Health

Meningitis hits two universities

December 8, 2013

Since mid-November, four students at the University of California, Santa Barbara, have contracted the dangerous type of bacterial meningitis known as strain B, and one of them had to have…

Health Briefs
Health

Health Briefs

December 8, 2013

A Durango Veterans Acupuncture Clinic will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays and from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays at 635 East Fifth Ave. This is a free,…

The goal of 1: Doctors aim to lower twin birth rates
Health

The goal of 1: Doctors aim to lower twin birth rates

December 8, 2013

Ken and Abigail Ernst conceived their 2-month-old daughter, Lucy, using only one embryo through in vitro fertilization. Now that about half of all babies born using advanced fertility help are…

When a sudden lift in mood isn’t a positive sign
Coroner's Report

When a sudden lift in mood isn’t a positive sign

December 8, 2013

Franz was an artist and an accomplished potter. Born in Austria, he was conscripted into Hitler’s army when his country was overrun. Captured by the Allies, Franz spent several years…

U.S. births may have stopped decreasing
Health

U.S. births may have stopped decreasing

December 8, 2013

The number of babies born last year only slipped a little, and preliminary government figures released Friday indicate that trend continued through the first six months of this year. U.S.…