Not only did a third of the doctors think screening works, but 6 percent routinely screened low-risk women, and 24 percent screened medium-risk women - especially if the patient requested it.
The study, in the Feb. 6 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, concluded that the "unwarranted screening" is costing tens of millions of dollars annually, and putting many women at risk of false alarms that lead to unnecessary anxiety, imaging studies, and surgical biopsy. - Marie McCullough
Guidelines suggest alternatives to blood thinner for thrombosis
Physicians should be more conservative when prescribing blood thinners for prevention of deep-vein thrombosis (blood clots), according to new guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians.
Although such clots can be life-threatening if they move from a leg to the heart, brain or lungs, doctors should consider an individual patient's risk factors when deciding whether an anticoagulant is warranted.
For long-distance air travel, the new guidelines recommend low-tech prevention strategies, even for relatively high-risk people, such as those who recently had surgery. The strategies include calf muscle stretches, getting up frequently to walk, and wearing special compression stockings.
The guidelines are published in the February issue of the journal Chest. - M.M.
Tai chi found effective in aiding balance of Parkinson's patients
While patients with Parkinson's disease are commonly encouraged to engage in an exercise program to improve their balance and prevent falls, apparently not all such programs are equally effective.
A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that tai chi, a form of balance-promoting exercise that originated in China, was especially helpful.
