Health Headliners of the Week

As we do every week, we've culled the most important articles we brought you based on breaking stories from around the world that can help you and your family stay well. Whether you missed these items the first time they appeared or you caught them and could use a refresher, our goal is to help you stay up-to-date on medical research that can impact your life. Read on for our to stories from August 31st to September 6th 2012.

We hope you'll like what you find and come back every Friday for a new installment!

A Surgeon’s Tips for Back Pain Treatment

By Judy Kirkwood

Debilitating back pain is the second most common reason Americans visit the doctor. But who should you see when you have back pain and what do you ask?

Having treated thousands of patients, Dr. Burak Ozgur, a combined ortho-neuro spine fellowship-trained double board certified neurosurgeon based in Newport Beach, California, shares his thoughts.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Watch: The Importance of Routine Colonoscopies Here's another addition to our ThirdAge Video Collection. Press play to start learning!

To see the video, click here.

How to Limit Hair Loss During Menopause

By Robin Westen

During menopause your body's hormonal balance shifts. Testosterone production increases at the same time estrogen levels decrease. The result? You’ll find more hair than usual in your drain and on your brush. But try not to worry. These are tips you can use right now to help keep more of your healthy locks in place.

To see the slideshow, click here.

What Do You Want from Your Doctor?

By Barbara Bronson Gray RN

We're a disgruntled bunch these days. We think there must be a better way to experience health care.

Doctors say they're pressed for time, don't make enough money, have to hassle with insurance companies and typically feel generally burned out about medicine.

Patients feel they wait too long in the waiting room, don't get much time in the examining room to ask questions or share concerns, want to be more involved in their healthcare but aren't sure how, and never know how much a drug, procedure or treatment will cost until they get the bill.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Ten Toe Disorders

By Robin Westen

Did you know your toes are telling you a lot more than than you should get a pedicure?, In fact these little extremities offer big clues about the health of the rest of your body. If you have …

To see the slideshow, click here.

Bogus Health Tips

By Robin Westen

There’s certainly no shortage of health advice, and I’m as guilty as anyone for offering a heap of it. But the truth is some recommendations that are accepted as gospel, are completely unnecessary. Here’s what you can cross off:

To see the slideshow, click here.

A Job Is Good for Diabetics If you're diabetic, having a steady job appears to be good for your health -- and not just because of the insurance coverage. According to a release from the University of Michigan, people with diabetes who don't work are less likely to adhere to their oral anti-diabetic medications than their counterparts who are employed.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Lyme Retreatment May Be Flawed A new statistical review done at Brown University calls into question studies that have "proved" that antibiotic retreatment for chronic Lyme disease is futile. According to a release from the university, that misunderstanding has led to medical guidance that not only discourages retreatment but also recommends against insurance coverage for it. The authors of the current review suggest that a correct reading of the studies shows that they in fact "prove" absolutely nothing.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Watch: How Sugar Addiction Works Here's another addition to our ThirdAge Video Collection. Press play to start learning!

To see the video, click here.

Fibromyalgia and Your Eyes

By Robin Westen

Around one in 50 Americans has fibromyalgia, and most are women. Various symptoms of the disease include widespread pain throughout the body, headaches, sensitivity to odors, sleep disorders and depression. According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, you can add another to the list: vision problems. That’s because fibromyalgia impacts the nervous system, and the eye depends on a number of nerves to function. If you’re suffering with any of the vision difficulties described below, make an appointment with your eye doctor.

To see the slideshow, click here.