Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource - November 2003

Thursday, November 06, 2003

Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale - Anne Tewksbury - 480-301-4368
Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville - Erik Kaldor - 904-953-2299
Mayo Clinic in Rochester - Carol Lammers - 507-284-5037 (days) 507-284-2511(evenings) e-mail: newsbureau@mayo.edu

Here are highlights from the November issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource attribution is required. Also, you may reprint up to four articles annually without cost. More frequent reprinting is allowed for a fee. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Call toll free for subscription information, 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.

For Immediate Release

Botox – It's Not Just For Wrinkles

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Botox does far more than help erase wrinkles. It can help alleviate more than a dozen health conditions and researchers are continuing to find new uses. Botox, a purified form of the botulinum toxin, is produced by the bacterium that causes food poisoning. Injected in small doses to specific muscles, Botox blocks chemical signals that cause muscles to contract.

The November issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource details some of the other current uses for Botox.

• Headaches: Botox is effective at treating migraine, tension and chronic, daily headaches. Benefits last from two to five months.
• Blepharospasm: Uncontrolled eyelid twitching is a symptom of this disorder. Botox injections are very effective, with up to 90 percent of people obtaining almost complete relief.
• Voice problems: Botox may help re-establish verbal communication in people who have had their voice boxes removed as part of cancer treatment. It relaxes throat muscles, which can then be trained to help create sounds resulting in speech that's near normal.

Botox is being tested or used for many other health conditions including facial tics, stuttering, carpal tunnel syndrome, writer's cramp, tennis elbow and excessive sweating of hands and armpits.

It's Soy Good For You

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — People are putting soy milk on their cereal, in smoothies and coffee. But what are the health benefits of soy milk?

Research indicates that regularly including soy protein, such as that found in soy milk and other soy foods, as part of a heart-healthy diet can help reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of coronary artery disease.

Soy milk contains more fiber and iron than does cow's milk, and it has no cholesterol. Cow's milk has from 5 to 24 milligrams of cholesterol in a cup. However, don't give up cow's milk totally. Unless it's fortified, soy milk contains little calcium or vitamin D.

The November issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource recommends that you read the label carefully. Check the amount of soy protein. Health claims on the label recommend 25 grams of soy protein a day to help reduce the risk of heart disease. (One cup of soy milk generally contains 7 to 8 grams of soy protein.) To reach the heart-healthy recommendation of 25 grams, you might need to drink soy milk and include tofu, tempeh and soy nuts in your diet.

Bipolar Disorder – Going To Extremes

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Either you're high or you're low. Euphoric or depressed. Extremely optimistic or persistently sad. For some people with bipolar disorder, it seems as if there is no middle ground. The November issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource provides an overview of bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness. Its symptoms can range from mild to severe. Some experience only mania – feeling very up. Others have long periods in the middle. Stressful events or medical illnesses may contribute or trigger episodes of bipolar disorder.

The cause of bipolar disorder is not known. Because there's a family history of manic depression in about 60 percent of those who have it, a genetic contribution is thought to be an important factor. There's no cure for bipolar disorder, but with proper treatment and support, it's possible to achieve a comfortable balance in moods. Stabilizing emotions and behavior is critical, so treatment options usually include a combination of medications, psychotherapy and sometimes electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT may be used when other treatments have failed. It usually works promptly and can reduce the risk of suicide.

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.

###

To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.