Responses

Judy's Responses Click on the Topic to review the related question.
Date	Topic	Question
08/18/08	Coenzyme Q₁₀	Does coenzyme Q₁₀ help combat problems like hypertension or cancer?
08/11/08	Asthma Inhalers	Do the new asthma inhalers work as well as the old ones?
08/04/08	Interrupted sleep	My children wake me at night; how good is interrupted sleep?
07/21/08	Ear Infections	Is there any way to prevent ear infections after swimming?
07/07/08	Sunscreens	Are sunscreens made with parabens safe?
06/30/08	Arthritis	Will diet help combat inflammatory woes such as arthritis?
06/23/08	Local Honey	Does eating 'local honey' help prevent allergies?
06/16/08	Grilled Foods	Is there any safe way to grill foods?
06/09/08	Lupus	I have the auto-immune disease lupus, and I’m discouraged because there’s been no new approved lupus drug for 45 years. Is there anything promising in the works?
06/02/08	Probiotic Bacteria	Couldn't the probiotic bacteria in yogurt actually be dangerous?
05/26/08	Morning or Evening Execise?	Is it better to exercise in the morning or evening?
05/19/08	Chorus & Health	Does singing in a chorus make you healthier?
05/12/08	Grumpiness	Do allergies really cause grumpiness?
05/05/08	LASIK surgery	What should I do to make sure I'll get good results from LASIK surgery?
04/28/08	Antidepressants	Do antidepressants help with back pain?
04/21/08	Breastfeeding & Cancer	Does breastfeeding protect a woman against breast cancer?
04/14/08	Dental X-rays	How safe are dental X-rays and how often do you need them?
04/07/08	Melanoma Self Test	Is there a new way to check yourself for melanoma? How does it work?
03/31/08	Preeclampsia	Does preeclampsia put women at higher risk of cardiac problems later?
03/24/08	Growth Hormone	Does growth hormone improve strength and athletic performance?
03/17/08	Forehead Thermometers	Are those new thermometers for the forehead more accurate?
03/10/08	Teeth Grinding	Is there anything I can do to stop grinding my teeth at night?
03/03/08	Male Baldness	What are the best treatments for male pattern baldness?
02/25/08	Oats are Great	Are oats really as good for you as we are told?
02/18/08	Appetite & Sickness	Why does your appetite decrease when you get sick?
02/11/08	Itchy Feet	Should I be concerned that the soles of my feet feel itchy all the time?
02/04/08	Vitamin D	Is there any way to tell whether you are getting enough vitamin D?
01/28/08	Ear Wax	How zealous do you really need to be about removing ear wax?
01/21/08	Clemens Treatments	Are there legitimate medical reasons for the treatments that Clemens claims?
01/14/08	Jogging & Smoking	Is jogging along the Charles as bad as smoking two packs of cigarettes?
01/07/08	Eating Protein	Should I eat protein after lifting weights?
12/31/07	Ethics Consult	What is an 'ethics consult' and when should patients get it?
12/24/07	Christmas Tree Allergy	Is it possible that I am allergic to my Christmas tree?
12/17/07	Pets Colds & Flu	Can you catch a cold or the flu from your pets?
12/10/07	Humidifier Use	I use a humidifier in the winter. But I’m worried about mold and bacteria spewing into the air. Should I be?
12/03/07	Cancer Risk	Is eating processed or red meat linked to a higher risk of cancer?
11/26/07	Back Pain	Can the insoles inside of shoes help prevent or stop back pain.
11/19/07	Menstrual Cramps	Does Chinese herbal medicine work for menstrual cramps?
11/12/07	Weekly Workouts	I'm a working mother; how can I maximize my 3 workouts per week?
11/05/07	Dietitian	When should you see a registered dietitian?
10/29/07	Broken Heart	Can you literally die of a broken heart?
10/22/07	Emotions & Cancer	Do emotions affect cancer patients' rate of survival?
10/15/07	Weight Loss	Is dieting or exercise better for weight loss?
10/08/07	Bone Density	How do should older women get bone density testing for osteoporosis?
10/01/07	Hydrocephalus?	What exactly is the condition normal-pressure hydrocephalus?
09/24/07	French Fries	I’ve heard that a chemical formed in the cooking of French Fries and chips can cause cancer. Is that true?
09/17/07	Plantar Fasciitis	What is plantar fasciitis and how is it treated?
09/10/07	Tai Chi & Health	Are there any health benefits from tai chi exercises?
09/03/07	Green Light Laser Therapy	What is 'green light' laser therapy to treat an enlarged prostate?
08/27/07	Grapefruit Juice	Is it true that grapefruit juice has more nutrients than other fruit juices?
08/20/07	Bilingualism & Alzheimer’s	Does being bilingual delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias?
08/13/07	Body Fat	Do scales that calculate body fat really work?
08/06/07	Airplane Masks	Do masks provide real protection for healthy people in airplanes?
07/30/07	Resveratrol	Is resveratrol, the putative anti-aging ingredient found in red wine, on the market yet?
07/23/07	Group Therapy	Can group therapy extend life for breast cancer sufferers?
07/16/07	Lose Fat	Can you lose fat in a specific area of the body by targeting your workout regimen to that area?
07/09/07	Prostate Cancer	Dos the lycopene in tomatoes help prevent prostate cancer?
07/02/07	Pelvic Muscle Tear	Is there any way to protect against pelvic muscle damage during childbirth?
06/25/07	Exercise & Health	If exercise is so important for good health, why don’t doctors prescribe it?
06/18/07	Fertility Monitors	Do fertility monitors help increase a woman's likelihood of getting pregnant?
06/11/07	Fingernails	Do fingernails reveal any information about a person's health?
06/04/07	Butt Surgery	Are people having surgery to increase the size of their derrieres?
05/28/07	Menstruation Suppression	Is it OK to suppress menstruation for a year?
05/21/07	Hair Relaxer	Does hair relaxer cause breast cancer in black women?
05/14/07	Sun-seeking	Are human beings genetically programmed to seek the sunshine?
05/07/07	Virtual Colonography	Is virtual colonography - a screen for colon cancer - ready for prime time?
04/30/07	Botox Injections	Do Botox injections help with migraines?
04/23/07	Estrogen Patches	Are estrogen patches, gels safer than pills after menopause?
04/16/07	Antidepressants	How can I decide whether to take antidepressants?
04/09/07	Joint Lubricants	Are lubricants an alternative to knee surgery?
04/02/07	Expired Medicines	How should I dispose of unneeded or expired medicines?
03/26/07	Breast Cancer	How important is it to shop around when looking for a breast cancer surgeon?
03/19/07	Cosmetics	Can you tell from the labels on cosmetics whether the products contain ingredients that may be harmful?
03/12/07	Is Sedation Safe	Is sedation safe for kids undergoing dental procedures or medical tests like MRI?
03/05/07	Pins and Needles	Is the sensation of “pins and needles” in the feet or hands a sign of something serious?
02/26/07	Retail Health Clinics	Should I go to one of these new “retail health clinics” in shopping malls and drug stores?
02/19/07	Black Cohosh	Does the herbal product black cohosh alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women?
02/12/07	Kids’ Toothpaste	Is it true that there’s peanut oil lurking in kids’ toothpaste?
02/05/07	Aspirin & Ibuprofen	If you take low-dose aspirin for your heart, can you also take ibuprofen for pain?
01/29/07	Energy Drinks	Are “energy drinks” bad for you?
01/22/07	Kidney Stones	Can children get kidney stones?
01/15/07	Tongue Piercings	Is it dangerous to get your tongue pierced?
01/08/07	Running Nose	Why does my nose run in the cold?
01/01/07	Tonsils	When should you consider having your child’s tonsils removed?
12/25/06	Bariatric Surgery	Should I consider bariatric surgery to control Type 2 diabetes?
12/18/06	Bad Shoes	Can badly-fitting shoes damage feet?
12/11/06	Lung Cancer	Who should be screened for lung cancer with the new, low-dose CT scans?
12/04/06	Toilet Seat	I know you can’t catch AIDS from a toilet seat. What CAN you catch?
11/27/06	Flu Vaccine	Are there homeopathic or herbal alternatives to the flu vaccine?
11/20/06	Diabetes & Feet	Why is it important for people with diabetes to check their feet regularly?
11/13/06	Liposuction	Is liposuction safe?
11/06/06	Toenail Fungus	What is toenail fungus and what’s the best way to get rid of it?
10/30/06	Heart Problems	Should high school and college athletes be screened for heart problems?
10/23/06	Varicose Veins	What are varicose veins and how can you prevent them?
10/16/06	Allergies	Now that it’s harder to get decongestants containing pseudoephedrine, will cold and allergy sufferers have to make do with weaker over-the-counter drugs?
10/09/06	Macular Degeneration	What’s the best treatment for macular degeneration?
10/02/06	Emergency Room	When should you go to the emergency room?
09/25/06	Bogus Warnings	Is there a way to spot bogus medical "warnings" before emailing them on to friends?
09/18/06	Urinary Tract Infections	Does Cranberry Juice Prevent Urinary Tract Infections?
09/11/06	Shingles	There's now a vaccine against shingles. Should I get it?
09/04/06	Estrogen & the Skin	Is estrogen good for the skin?
08/28/06	Osteoporosis Drug	I've heard that Fosamax, the osteoporosis drug, can damage the jaw. Is that true?
08/21/06	Kids Food	Is it OK to feed kids the same healthy foods every night?
08/14/06	TMJ /TMD	If you can’t get help from doctors for chronic headaches and facial pain, should you see a dentist?
08/07/06	Vitamin D	Does vitamin d reduce the risk of cancer?
07/31/06	Nasal Steroids	Do nasal steroids taken for allergies cause eye problems?
07/24/06	Kidney Stone	I just had a kidney stone. How can I avoid getting another one?
07/17/06	Chewing Gum	Is chewing gum good for you?
07/10/06	Ear Lobes	Is there any way to fix earlobes that have become elongated or split from heavy earrings?
07/03/06	Viagra	Is Viagra, the erectile dysfunction drug, good for the heart, too?
06/26/06	Salt	Is lowering salt consumption important for health?
06/19/06	Hyperactivity	Does sugar make kids hyperactive?
06/12/06	Endoscopy	If you have reflux, should you get an endoscopy?
06/05/06	Keyboard /Bacteria	Should you disinfect your computer keyboard? Will this harm it?
05/29/06	Pressure Ulcers	Are there any dietary ways to help bedsores heal faster?
05/22/06	Teen Pregnancy	Is pregnancy riskier for teens than for adults?
05/15/06	Body Mass Index	Is the Body Mass Index a good way to calculate heart disease risk?
05/08/06	Clogged Sinuses	Is There a Less Invasive Way Than Traditional Surgery to Open Clogged Sinuses?
05/01/06	Computer Use	Does using a computer for hours in a darkened room hurt teenagers’ eyes?
04/24/06	MSG	Is MSG, the food additive, safe? Is it a cause of the obesity epidemic?
04/17/06	Moles	Does pulling hair out of a mole turn the mole cancerous?
04/10/06	Tight Clothes	Can tight-fitting clothes cause skin rashes?
04/03/06	Warts	What are warts and how can you get rid of them?
03/27/06	Chiropractic Treatment	Is it dangerous to have chiropractic treatments if you have osteoporosis?
03/20/06	Mesotherapy	Does mesotherapy really get rid of cellulite? Is it safe?
03/13/06	Pajamas vs. Clothes	Are there any reasons for kids to wear pajamas, as opposed to clothes, for sleeping?
03/06/03	Restless Leg	Is there any way to treat restless legs syndrome?
02/27/06	Painkillers	Do over-the-counter painkillers raise blood pressure?
02/20/06	Miscarriage	What happens, mentally and physically, after a miscarriage and how long do these effects last?
02/13/06	Pets & Health	Are pets good for people's health?
02/06/06	Colonoscopy Risk	Are there any risks to colonoscopy prep procedures?
01/30/06	Toothbrush	Should I throw away my toothbrush after I’ve had a cold?
01/23/06	Medical Treatment	What’s the best way to evaluate medical information?
01/16/06	Canker Sores	What causes canker sores and what can you do about them?
01/09/06	Falling Asleep	Is it okay to listen to TV, music or tapes while falling asleep?
01/02/06	Stroke Test	I got a mass e-mail saying there's a simple ''smile" test to diagnose a stroke. Is this true?
12/26/05	Garlic	Do garlic – and garlic supplements - have genuine health benefits?
12/19/05	Sleeping Pills	Is it okay to take sleeping pills for extended periods?
12/12/05	BP Machines	Are the blood pressure machines in supermarkets reliable? Are the home kits?
12/05/05	Cellphones	Is it really unsafe to use cellphones in hospitals?
11/28/05	Home Thermostat	With home heating prices so high, how low can I safely set my thermostat?
11/21/05	Bed Wetting	Is it normal for an adult to occasionally wet the bed?
11/14/05	Store Bought Glasses	Are the eyeglasses you buy in a drug store as good as prescription ones?
11/07/05	Cold Contagion	How long are you contagious when you have a cold?
10/31/05	Free Radicals	If exercise generates free radicals and free radicals are bad, why is exercise good?
10/24/05	Whiten Teeth	How often can you safely whiten your teeth?
10/17/05	Dark Circles	What causes dark circles under the eyes, and what can you do about them?
10/10/05	Mail Stool Samples	My doctor has me use a kit to test for hidden blood in stool. Is it legal to mail those things?
10/03/05	Fizzy Drinks	Does drinking carbonated beverages harm the bones or teeth?
09/26/05	Lead in Lunch Boxes	I’ve heard that kids’ vinyl lunch boxes contain lead. Is this true?
09/19/05	Alcohol Abuse	Are there any herbal remedies for alcoholism or alcohol abuse?
09/12/05	Eggs	How many eggs is it safe to eat in one week?
09/05/05	MiniTransplant	Can cancer patients get some of the benefits of a bone marrow transplant with fewer risks?
08/29/05	Flat Feet	Can anything be done about flat feet?
08/22/05	Trampoline	Is there a safe trampoline for kids?
08/15/05	Lung Cancer	Is there anything an ex-smoker can do to decrease the chances of getting lung cancer, or at least catch it early?
08/08/05	Probiotics	I hear a lot about probiotics. What are they and what are they good for?
08/01/05	First Aid Kits	What should you pack in a family First Aid Kit when you travel?
07/25/05	Green Tea	What are the health benefits of green tea?
07/18/05	Toothbrushes	Are electric toothbrushes better than manual ones?
07/11/05	Sunglasses	Do cheap sunglasses protect the eyes as well as expensive ones?
07/05/05	Exercise & Stretching	How important is it to stretch before or after exercise?
06/28/05	Endometriosis	Are there any new treatments on the horizon for endometriosis? All I’ve heard about is hormonal drugs and surgery.
06/21/05	Declining Fertility	Is there any way for a woman to tell her fertility is declining before it’s too late?
06/14/05	Protective Fabrics	Do special sun protective fabrics really work?
06/07/05	Muscle Builder	I’ve heard that creatine helps build muscle. Is this true? And is it safe?
05/31/05	Pacifier Use	My daughter is 4 and still uses a pacifier. Is this harming her teeth – or her psyche?
05/24/05	Sun Screens	How do sunscreens work?
05/17/05	Mosquito Repellent	Are mosquito repellents like DEET safe? Are there any other options?
05/10/05	Hospital Rash	I was in the hospital for knee surgery and got a terrible rash on my back. The nurses said it was probably from chemicals used to launder the sheets. Is this true?
05/03/05	Meditation	Does meditation offer any health benefits?
04/26/05	Body Odor	What can you do about smelly feet and armpits?
04/19/05	Gray Hair	What makes hair go gray? Can you go gray suddenly if you’re sick or upset?
04/12/05	Eye-color	My husband has brown eyes. Mine are blue. Our son's are green. How is eye color inherited?
04/05/05	Cancer-prone Personality	Is there such a thing as a cancer-prone personality?
03/29/05	General Anesthesia	How long do the fatigue and “brain fog” last after general anesthesia for surgery?
03/22/05	Nosebleeds	I get a lot of nosebleeds in the winter. Why is that and what can I do about them?
03/08/05	Cold Medications and the Prostate	Do cold medications cause prostate problems?
03/01/05	Feeling Cold	Why do some people feel cold all the time?
02/22/05	Magnets & Pain	I’ve heard that magnets reduce pain. Is this voodoo medicine or does it really work?
02/15/05	Artificial Sweeteners	Are artificial sweeteners safe?
02/08/05	Lactose Intolerance	I’ve heard that lactose intolerance is very common. What’s the best way to deal with it?
02/01/05	Snow Shoveling	Why does shoveling trigger heart attacks? How can you avoid becoming a victim?.
01/25/05	Deodorant & Breast Cancer	Is there a link between deodorant use and breast cancer.
01/18/05	Husbands Age & Birth Defects	I’m 31 and my husband is 51. Is there an increase in birth defects due to the husband’s age?
01/11/05	Anxiety & Exercise	I have mild anxiety, but after a workout, I'm calm and balanced. Why?
01/04/05	Bad Breath	What causes bad breath and how can I get rid of it?
12/28/04	Wet Hair & Colds	Does going out with wet hair, even in the winter, raise the risk of getting a cold?
12/21/04	Cancer Vaccine	I’ve heard that there are cancer vaccines. If I get one, will it prevent cancer?
12/14/04	Liver Failure	I've heard you can get liver failure from taking Tylenol and drinking. Is this true?
12/07/04	Naps	If I lie down during the day, I sleep for two hours. Can a person learn to take shorter naps?
11/30/04	Drug Information	In the wake of the Vioxx fiasco, is there any place a consumer can get reliable information on drugs?
11/23/04	Thyroid Cancer	Is thyroid cancer is on the rise in the US? If so, is it due to Chernobyl?
11/16/04	Disposable Contacts	Can disposable contacts harm my eyes?
11/09/04	Pilates	I hear so much about Pilates. Is it a good exercise program?
11/02/04	Alcoholic Cooking	Can a recovering alcoholic safely eat food made with vanilla extract, wine, etc.?
10/26/04	Seasonal Affective Disorder	I think I may have seasonal affective disorder. What is SAD and what can I do about it?
10/19/04	Mothball Fumes