[OPLINLIST] What's New on NetWellness - January 2007

[Moll, Stephanie (mollsl)]

For the HTML version of the NetWellness newsletter, please visit
http://www.netwellness.org/aboutnw/newsletter2007/january.cfm

What's New on NetWellness - January 2007

Focus on Faculty - The University of Cincinnati's Division of Thoracic
Surgery

The Division of Thoracic Surgery is a leader in treating lung cancer,
esophageal and pleural space disorders, diaphragmatic hernias, and chest
wall tumors. The division specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of
lung cancer and offers a minimally invasive thoracoscopic (VATS)
surgical approach to patients with early stage lung cancers. The
division works closely with area oncologists to provide combined
therapies for more advanced lung cancers. The division also provides
palliative therapy for patients with advanced lung cancer, including
bronchoscopic laser ablation of tumors and placement of airway stents.
Total lung lavage is performed for patients with a rare lung disorder,
pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. 

A multidisciplinary approach to esophageal cancer in collaboration with
the Division of Surgical Oncology has led to great strides in treatment.
The Thoracic Division also offers a minimally invasive thoracoscopic
approach to benign esophageal tumors and achalasia. Treatments for
patients with benign tracheal disease such as stenosis,
tracheoesophageal fistula and tracheoinnominate fistula have expanded.
All three thoracic surgeons act as spokespersons for lung cancer and
smoking cessation education through the media as well as by
participating in two annual events at the Barrett Cancer Center, the
Community Cancer Education Day and the Lung Cancer Symposium.

Three thoracic surgeons from the division are NetWellness experts: John
Howington, MD, Michael F Reed, MD, and Sandra L Starnes, MD. Please
visit our new Lung Cancer health topic to ask these experts a question. 

New Health Topic - Lung Cancer

Did you know that more people die from lung cancer than any other type
of cancer? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
over 157,000 men and women died from lung cancer in 2002. Please visit
our Lung Cancer health topic for more information about the disease. We
have six NetWellness experts from the University of Cincinnati and The
Ohio State University that will be answering your questions about lung
cancer: Abbas Abbas, MD, John Howington, MD, Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD,
PhD, Michael F Reed, MD, Patrick Ross, MD, PhD, and Sandra L Starnes,
MD. 

New Overview - Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition of low bone mass that increases the risk of
fracture.  For more information about the different types of
osteoporosis and what you can do to prevent bone loss, read this
NetWellness original, Osteoporosis - Preventing Bone Loss, by University
of Cincinnati expert Margery Gass, MD.  Dr. Gass is available to answer
your questions in the Osteoporosis and Menopause health topics.

New Articles - Important Information about Asthma

The Ohio State University experts Cathy Benninger, APRN, C-AE and John G
Mastronarde, MD have collaborated on three asthma articles: Asthma in
Pregnancy, Inhaler Fact Sheet, and Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm. Ms.
Benninger and Dr. Mastronarde are also available to answer your
questions in the Asthma health forum.

New Article - Understanding and Eliminating Back Pain

About 80-90% of Americans experience lower back pain at some point in
their lives.  For more information on types of back pain, treatment
options and what you can expect from a visit to a spine specialist, read
this NetWellness article, Back Basics: Identifying and Eliminating
Chronic Back Pain, by David J Hart, MD, from Case Western Reserve
University.  Dr. Hart is available to answer your questions in the Spine
and Back Health topic.

New Article - Uterine Fibroids

As many as 50% of women have uterine fibroids - benign (non-threatening)
tissue growths found in the uterus.  To learn more about symptoms and
treatment options for this condition in this NetWellness original, read
Uterine Fibroids by Thomas deHoop, MD, from the University of
Cincinnati's College of Medicine.  Dr. deHoop is also available to
answer your questions in the Gynecology health topic.

New Article - Pain with Intercourse

Experiencing pain with intercourse is a common problem for women of all
ages.  To find out more information about the types of pain and what you
can do in this NetWellness original, read Pain with Intercourse by
University of Cincinnati expert Thomas deHoop, MD.  Dr. deHoop is also
available to answer your questions in the Gynecology health topic.

New Article - Good versus Bad Food

With the New Year upon us, many have made a New Year's resolution to eat
healthier or lose weight. In an article by University of Cincinnati
expert Lisa Cicciarello Andrews, MEd, RD, LD, some tips are provided on
how to eat the food you love and still maintain your diet. Read the
article Good Food Vs Bad? Forget About It! for more information. Ms.
Andrews is also available to answer your questions in the Diet and
Nutrition health topic.

New Article - Moisture Important for Taking Care of Skin 

During the winter months, it is important to keep your skin moisturized,
since cold air and home heating can dry your skin out. To learn more
about how to take care of your skin during the colder months of the
year, read Moisture Is Key to Keeping Skin Healthy in Winter by
University of Cincinnati NetWellness expert Pranav Sheth, MD. Dr. Sheth
is also available to answer your questions in the Skin Care and Diseases
health topic.

New Article - How to Detect 'Junk Science'

With all of the contradictory messages about nutrition, it is no wonder
that the average consumer is confused about what is healthy for you and
what isn't. To learn how to tell the difference between fact and myth,
read Should You Believe What You Read About Nutrition?: How to Detect
'Junk Science' by University of Cincinnati expert Bonnie J Brehm, PhD,
RD. Dr. Brehm can also answer your questions in the Diet and Nutrition
health topic.  

New Article - Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a medical term for acid that
moves into the esophagus from the stomach. The Ohio State University
experts Cathy Benninger, APRN, C-AE and John G Mastronarde, MD have
written an article called "Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD),"
which explains its signs and symptoms. To ask experts a question about
GERD, visit the Digestive Disorders health topic. 

New Article - Managing Your Weight

After the holidays, it's hard to shed those unwanted pounds. For tips on
how to do so, read the article Don't Grow Santa's Belly During the
Holidays by Jaime Ackerman Foster, MPH, RD, LD, an expert from The Ohio
State University. She and other experts can answer your questions about
how to manage your weight in the Obesity and Weight Management health
topic. 

New Article - Parkinson's and Medications

There have been numerous medications developed for the treatment of
motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, such as rigidity, slowness, and
tremor.  However, patients with this disease may not understand the
purpose of each medication.  With the various pills and doses
prescribed, patients may begin to feel overwhelmed and confused. In
order to clear up some of that confusion, an expert from The Ohio State
University Punit Agrawal, DO, has written an article called
Understanding Parkinson's Disease Medications. Dr. Agrawal is also
available to answer your questions in the Parkinson's Disease health
topic, along with his colleagues.

New Article - Adults and Cystic Fibrosis

The treatment of Cystic Fibrosis in adults is very similar to that of
children and teens with the disease.  In adults, sticking to therapies
is at least as important, if not more so, than when younger.
Inevitably, lung damage is greater in adulthood than earlier in life. To
learn more about adult Cystic Fibrosis, read Adults with Cystic Fibrosis
by John S Heintz, MD, from The Ohio State University. To ask Dr. Heintz
and his colleagues a question, please visit the Cystic Fibrosis health
topic.

New Article - Fighting Cold and Flu Season

With the approach of winter and the cold and flu season, you may be what
you can do to help boost your immune system. The first line of defense
would be eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables
and whole grains. For more information about what kinds of foods will
help you fight off colds and the flu, read Fight Colds and Flu with a
Balanced Diet by Martha J Andrews, MS from The Ohio State University. To
ask a question about a balanced diet, visit the Diet and Nutrition
health topic. 

New Article - How Safe are Holiday Leftovers?

Studies done have shown that in some plastics, a chemical called DEHA
can seep into food when heated. High levels of the DEHA have been shown
to cause cancer in some lab animals. Consumers are urged to follow the
guidelines offered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on how to
safely re-heat food in the microwave. To learn more about how to keep
yourself safe, read How Safe are Holiday Leftovers Microwaved in
Plastic? by Glen F Aukerman, MD, an expert from The Ohio State
University. To ask Dr. Aukerman and his colleagues a question, please
visit the Injury Prevention and Safety health topic. 

New Article - Herbal Supplements and Cancer

The use of vitamin and herbal supplements and other complementary and
alternative therapies continues to grow in popularity. However, cancer
patients should be cautious of drug interactions when taking dietary or
herbal supplements along with chemotherapy, radiation or conventional
cancer treatments. To learn more about this, please read Herbal, Dietary
Supplements Can Affect Cancer Treatments by Bella Mehta, PharmD, BS, an
expert from The Ohio State University. For more information, please
visit the Cancer health topic. 

New Experts!

NetWellness would like to welcome Punit Agrawal, DO, Movement Disorders
Fellow in the Movement Disorders Division in the Department of Neurology
at The Ohio State University Medical Center. Dr. Agrawal is available to
answer your questions in the Parkinson's Disease health topic.

Also joining the NetWellness team is Amy E Bonomi, PhD, MPH, Associate
Professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio
State University. Dr. Bonomi is available to answer questions in the
Domestic Violence health topic.

We would also like to welcome our new NetWellness expert Connie A
Gottfried, MPH, RD, LD, CDE, Dietitian of the Lipid Research Center at
St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.  Ms. Gottfried works
with patients who have Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and
hypertension.  She is available to answer your questions in the Diabetes
topic.

Another new NetWellness expert is David J Hart, MD, Director of the
Neurosurgery Spine Department at University Hospitals of Cleveland and
an Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve
University.  Dr. Hart is available to answer your questions in the Spine
and Back Health topic.

NetWellness welcomes expert Salim Hayek, MD, PhD, Director of the Pain
Management Center at University Hospitals of Cleveland and an Assistant
Professor in the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University.
Dr. Hayek is available to answer any pain-related questions. 

Joining the NetWellness team from the University of Cincinnati's
Department of Internal Medicine is Malek Safa, MD, Assistant Professor
of Medicine from the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Safa is
available to answer question in the Colon Cancer health topic.

Finally, NetWellness would like to welcome Sandra L Starnes, MD,
Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at
the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine. Dr. Starnes is
researching surgical treatments of lung cancer at UC as well as the
success of video-assisted thoracic surgery, particularly lobectomies,
for the treatment of early stage lung cancer. She is available to answer
your questions in the Lung Cancer health topic.

Let Us Know How We Are Doing

NetWellness has been operating for over ten years now, and one of the
main reasons is because of our visitors! If you have any comments or
suggestions for our site, please use our Feedback feature to tell us
about them. 

About NetWellness

NetWellness is a non-profit consumer health Web site that provides high
quality information created and evaluated by health professions faculty
at the University of Cincinnati, Western Reserve University, and The
Ohio State University. Started in June 1995, NetWellness was one of the
first health information sites on the Internet. Today, our health
professionals have volunteered their time and expertise to answer more
than 35,000 questions on over 100 topics.