Is there any way to predict the onset of schizophrenia? Q. Is there any way to predict the onset of schizophrenia? A. There may be a way of predicting which teenagers at high risk for full-blown schizophrenia will go on to develop the disease. (Page G5, 336 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Nov 16, 2009

Q. Does swearing relieve pain? A. Holy @//!#!, does it ever! Or so concludes a British study published recently in the journal NeuroReport. (Page G5, 338 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Nov 9, 2009

Is there a link between heart disease and gum disease? Q. Is there a link between heart disease and gum disease? A. There is growing evidence that there is, indeed, such a link, and if you have either condition, you should pay extra attention to treating the other as well. That’s the conclusion of a “consensus’’ statement written by leading gum disease specialists and cardiologists published online earlier this year ... (Page G5, 312 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Nov 2, 2009

Does vitamin D prevent the swine (H1N1) and seasonal flu, or the common cold? Q. Does vitamin D prevent the swine (H1N1) and seasonal flu, or the common cold? (Page G5, 359 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Oct 26, 2009

Is there a link between migraines and breast cancer? Q. Is there a link between migraines and breast cancer? A. There seems to be, and the good news, such as it is, is that women who get migraines actually seem to be at lower than normal risk of breast cancer. Nobody can quite explain why. (Page G5, 340 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Oct 19, 2009

Q. Does it help to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen for colds? A. Yes, they can reduce some cold symptoms. But don’t expect miracles. And do take these medications - dubbed NSAIDS - judiciously, because they carry significant side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding. (Page G7, 335 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Oct 12, 2009

Can Chinese herbal medicine combat endometriosis? Q. Can Chinese herbal medicine combat endometriosis? A. It may, according to a new review published by the Cochrane Collaboration, an international nonprofit that analyzes health care information. (Page G7, 315 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Oct 5, 2009

Q. Does keeping one’s balance get harder with age? A. It certainly does, according to a study from Johns Hopkins University, and the inner ear problems that trigger balance problems are far more widespread than doctors thought. (Page G7, 341 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Sep 28, 2009

Q. Do garlic supplements reduce the risk of the common cold? A. Maybe. Australian researchers combed the literature and found only one study with good enough methodology to evaluate. The team, from the University of Western Australia, published its findings online in the July issue of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international nonprofit that analyzes health care information. (Page G15, 331 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Sep 21, 2009

Q. Why do you need to do a “prep’’ in the middle of the night before you have a colonoscopy? (Page G7, 385 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Sep 14, 2009

Keep Pedaling! As a nation, we are obviously getting fatter and fatter. Yet we seem ever more confused about how to lose weight. We’re particularly fuzzy on the question of how big a role exercise plays, or whether we just have to count calories. (Page G6, 1169 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Sep 7, 2009

Should all newborns be screened for potential hip problems? Q. Should all newborns be screened for potential hip problems? A. Historically, this has been a controversial issue, with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommending screening and another prominent group, the United States Preventive Services Task Force, recommending against it, arguing that the evidence has been insufficient. (Page G7, 345 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Sep 7, 2009

Do topical creams and gels help with muscle pain? Q. Do topical creams and gels help with muscle pain? A. Traditional muscle rubs containing salicylate - an aspirin-like compound - do not help much, according to a recent review by British researchers for the Cochrane Collaboration, an international nonprofit that provides up-to-date information on health care research. But American doctors say that newer topical NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) containing ... (Page G7, 325 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Aug 31, 2009

Q. Does it ease a child’s anxiety to have a parent around before receiving general anesthesia? (Page G7, 324 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Aug 24, 2009

Does resistance - strength - training benefit older adults? Q. Does resistance - strength - training benefit older adults? A. It certainly does. In fact, the benefits of strength training - weight lifting, exercise machines, pulling on wide elastic bands color coded for resistance - are among the strongest findings in medical research. (Page G7, 317 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Aug 17, 2009

A healing hope In the Lodz ghetto in Poland, home to as many as 204,000 Jews during World War II, there were 170 doctors, as well as a few nurses and midwives, according to diaries and memoirs. Like all the others, the Jewish healers lived with the daily terror of being shipped off to a death camp. (Page G6, 1180 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Aug 10, 2009

Can anything be done for female pattern hair loss? Q. Can anything be done for female pattern hair loss? A. Yes - treatments similar to those for men. (Page G7, 374 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Aug 10, 2009

Q. Is sleep deprivation linked to negative emotions? A. It certainly is. In fact, after being deprived of just one full night’s sleep, people not only have stronger negative emotions the next day, they are much more likely to remember bad experiences than good. (Page G7, 377 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Aug 3, 2009

Q. Is the growing use of hand sanitizers changing the normal ecology of our hands, making it easier for the MRSA bacteria to grow? (Page G7, 222 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Jul 27, 2009

Evil weed or useful drug? Marcy Duda, a former home health aide with four children and two granddaughters, never dreamed she’d be publicly touting the medical benefits of “pot.’’ (Page G6, 1185 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Jul 13, 2009

Do men and women react differently to babies with abnormal facial features? Q. Do men and women react differently to babies with abnormal facial features? A. Yes, according to preliminary research published last month by researchers from McLean Hospital in Belmont. In fact, women seem to be more likely than men to reject babies with abnormal facial features, such as cleft palates, Down syndrome, crossed eyes, or skin disorders. Perhaps, the authors ... (Page G7, 345 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Jul 13, 2009

Q. Does stretching before or after exercise prevent injuries and soreness? A. No, despite what many coaches still say. A review of more than 350 studies published over the last 40 years concludes that stretching prior to exercise doesn’t prevent injury in competitive or recreational athletes. (Page G7, 337 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Jul 6, 2009

Do you have to rub contact lenses to clean them if your cleanser is 'no rub'? Q. Do you have to rub contact lenses to clean them if your cleanser is “no rub?’’ (Page G7, 305 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Jun 29, 2009

can impede healing. (Page G7, 318 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Jun 22, 2009

Q. What constitutes constipation and what are the best treatments? A. Ubiquitous as it is, there are many misconceptions about constipation and what to do about it. (Page G7, 374 words)By: Judy Foreman|Date: Jun 15, 2009