Yale Medicine Otolaryngology (ENT)

Eric Winer, MD, director of Yale Cancer Center and president and physician-in-chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital, is the new host of Yale Cancer Answers, a weekly Connecticut Public Radio program and podcast. He will make his debut as host on air Sunday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET on WNPR (90.5 FM).

Smilow Cancer Hospital

Exercise is good for everyone, but it may be particularly beneficial for people with Parkinson’s disease. Recent studies suggest that exercise may help slow the progression of the condition.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. “We can’t stop the neurodegenerative process or even reverse it,” says Sule Tinaz, MD, PhD, a Yale Medicine neurologist who specializes in movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease. “But we’re starting to understand how exercise can help change the plasticity of the brain, creating new pathways and strengthening existing ones, thereby changing the functioning of the brain.”

Here, Dr. Tinaz discusses five things to know about exercise and Parkinson’s disease: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/can-exercise-help-people-with-parkinsons-disease-5-things-to-know

Can Exercise Help People with Parkinson’s Disease? 5 Things to Know A Yale Medicine expert explains research that shows exercise may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease.

If you or someone you know needs health care where they are, the first mobile clinic and pharmacy in the country is now operating in Connecticut. InMotion provides a private and confidential space for providing care including vaccinations, medications, and clinical care and disease management.

If you’re ready to receive care where you are, call 1-833-MEDSVAN.

“Children with vascular malformations may not know how to describe a symptom like a body part that feels tender when it’s touched, especially if they are very young,” says Stacey Bass, MD, PhD, a Yale Medicine vascular and interventional radiologist, a specialist who provides image-guided, nonsurgical, catheter-based treatments as the primary approach to VMs. “And if they are a little older, they may be embarrassed to talk about it.”

A VM that is visible on the skin can make a child the target of bullying, and they don’t want to call more attention to it, she says. “To make it worse, most parents don’t know about VMs and mistakenly attribute some of the symptoms to the child being active and getting bumps and bruises.”

Here, Dr. Bass answers five questions about the diagnosis and treatment of VMs: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/vascular-malformation-what-parents-should-know

Could That Birthmark Be a Vascular Malformation? What Parents Should Know A Yale Medicine expert explains vascular malformations and how interventional radiologists are at the forefront of treatment.

An estimated 10% of Americans report having an allergy to penicillin, but less than 1% of people are actually allergic to the common antibiotic, medical experts say.

Patients who are flagged as having penicillin allergies in their electronic medical record—and thus, are given a broader antibiotic—may have higher C-section rates and stay longer in the hospital. Their babies may also be at higher risk for a potentially dangerous infection during delivery if their mothers are colonized with group B Streptococcus (strep), a bacteria that is naturally found in the digestive and lower reproductive tracts of some men and women.So, knowing if you are truly allergic to the antibiotic is important.

Read more here: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/penicillin-allergy-testing-pregnancy

Pregnant and Allergic to Penicillin? Why Testing Is Important A program tests pregnant women with a penicillin allergy to see if they are actually allergic to the antibiotic.

Although Merkel cell carcinoma is one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer, the majority (75%) of people survive five years or more after diagnosis when the cancer has not spread. But those numbers worsen if the cancer spreads regionally or to distant locations in the body, underlining the importance of early detection and treatment.

Read more about Merkel cell carcinoma here: https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/merkel-cell-carcinoma-mcc

Frozen pizza, ready-to-eat meals, instant noodles, and many store-bought breads are just a few examples of what some consider “ultraprocessed foods,” or products that contain a long list of ingredients, chemical additives, and little to no “whole” foods.

Lately, the ultraprocessed-food (or UPF) category is gaining attention due, in part, to studies that link them to health issues. A review, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in 2024, looked at 45 studies involving almost 10 million participants. The review authors suggest that eating more ultraprocessed foods is linked to a higher risk of dying from any cause and has ties to 32 health conditions, including heart disease, mental health disorders, type 2 diabetes, and other problems.

Avlin Imaeda, MD, a gastroenterologist in Yale Medicine’s Metabolic Health & Weight Loss Program, says she isn’t surprised by the review findings, but notes that the incidence rates of the related health conditions are small. “One issue with the studies they looked at is that the relative risks are not very high. They are 1.1-fold to 1.5-fold increases. However, if you are talking about a serious health problem, such as a heart attack, a 1.5-fold increase is still a lot,” she says. “Many of these studies are also not of the highest quality, which is, in part, because those are difficult to do. There are studies where they surveyed patients, everything from asking them to report what they consumed the previous day to asking them how often they eat certain foods, as opposed to a randomized clinical trial, where the diet is controlled by researchers.”

Read here to learn more about ultraprocessed-foods: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/ultraprocessed-foods-bad-for-you

Ultraprocessed Foods: Are They Bad for You? A Yale Medicine specialist talks about a review article that links ultraprocessed foods to 32 health conditions.

Whether you you’ve lost 50 pounds or a few hundred, significant weight loss can change your life for the better. It can reverse obesity, as well as such serious conditions as diabetes and sleep apnea, and it can reduce your risk for heart disease and cancer. But once the weight comes off, many people are left to deal with another challenging problem: excess skin that sags.

In addition to the fact that some people find it embarrassing, excess skin is prone to rashes and fungal infections between the skin folds. Other potential challenges range from limited mobility to difficulty urinating to problems with sexual function.

A type of plastic surgery called “body contouring” is an increasingly common solution. Read about this procedure here: https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/body-contouring-after-weight-loss

There’s a good reason to make sure you have enough vitamin B12 in your body. It’s a key vitamin that helps keep blood and nerve cells healthy, converts food into energy, and contributes to the creation of DNA, the genetic material in all your cells.

But most people in the United States don’t need to take a B12 vitamin supplement every day—or at all. While certain people (such as those over 50) may be at risk for a B12 deficiency, if you eat a balanced diet that includes animal foods, such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk, or fortified breads or cereals, you’re probably getting enough.

And yet, many people take vitamin B12 supplements. As many as 24% of men and 29% of women reported taking a supplement (either a multivitamin that contains B12, a B-complex vitamin, or a standalone B12 supplement), according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). This occurred even though only 12.4% in the analysis had a B12 insufficiency (meaning they were at the borderline for a deficiency), and only 3% had a B12 deficiency.

Read more here: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/are-you-getting-enough-vitamin-b12

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin B12? What You Need to Know Although most people in the U.S. get enough vitamin B12 from food, a Yale Medicine specialist discusses when to consider a supplement.

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine offers evidence supporting the benefits of Paxlovid in COVID-19 patients who are at high risk for severe or prolonged disease, particularly older adults and those who are immunocompromised. It has been one of the primary weapons in the battle against COVID-19.

However, there has been limited data highlighting the efficacy of Paxlovid in treating COVID-19 and, as one would expect, this lack of utility holds true in studies conducted on Paxlovid’s effect on Long COVID. While there may be some benefit to taking Paxlovid for patients who are at high risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 (including those who are immunocompromised and older adults), that may not be true for patients who are not considered high risk, a new study suggests.

Read more in the latest installment of “Long COVID Dispatches from the Front Lines with Lisa Sanders, MD" here: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/paxlovid-is-beneficial-for-high-risk-acute-covid-19-patients-study-suggests

Paxlovid is beneficial for high-risk acute COVID-19 patients, study suggests A Pfizer-led study supports the benefits of Paxlovid in COVID-19 patients who are at high risk for severe or prolonged disease, particularly older adults and those who are immunocompromised.

"Actinic keratosis” (AK): The name isn’t pretty and when these small, scaly spots turn up on your skin, they aren’t so nice to look at, either. But unlike many skin conditions caused by damage from the sun’s rays, at least 90% of AK are benign. But if you notice any new growth on your skin that doesn’t heal in about a month, see your dermatologist.

https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/actinic-keratosis

Firework injuries are on the rise. Andrea Halim, MD, Yale Medicine orthopaedic surgeon, spoke with NBC Connecticut about what she sees in the emergency room over the holiday weekend.

https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/injuries-from-fireworks-are-on-the-rise/3329132/

Injuries from fireworks are on the rise An orthopedic surgeon describes what she sees working in the emergency room over the Fourth of July holiday and shares her advice to stay safe.

Uterine sarcoma is a term that is used to describe different types of cancer that develop within the uterus.

Uterine sarcoma is a rare cancer, affecting only about 5,000 people in the United States each year. Uterine sarcoma is commonly diagnosed in women who are in their 40s through their 60s, although it is possible for it to occur in younger women. Although any woman may develop uterine sarcoma, the most common type, leiomyosarcoma, is twice as common in Black women than in white women.

Read more about uterine sarcoma here: https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/uterine-sarcoma

Do you have sparklers on hand for tonight? Think twice before handing one to your child.

Sparklers burn at 2,000 degrees, and each spark poses a risk for burning the hands, face, eyes, or any other exposed area in range. Silly string, glow sticks, or poppers are just a few alternatives for a safer celebration.

Did you know that ultraviolet (UV) light is the root cause of most skin cancers? Though protecting your skin is important year-round, this 1-minute video has four tips to help keep your skin healthy in the summer sun:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-MrzaFOJPQ

How To Keep Your Skin Healthy In The Summer Sun For more information on dermatology at , visit: https://www.yalemedicine.org/departments/dermatology.You don't have to completely shun the sun, ...

As busy as people are, many Americans have found a way to give themselves a break in their day—they take a nap. They nap at home, in the office, or even in the car, typically in the afternoon. Some colleges, offices, and other public places have even installed “nap pods,” which are large, private, cozy spaces where people can shut their eyes.

But what does a nap really do for you?

The research isn’t conclusive on the health impacts of napping, and some studies have even linked long naps of an hour or more to obesity and higher risks of heart disease. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), research shows that a brief period of sleep (meaning actual sleep, not just quiet time) can provide some brain benefits, including reducing daytime sleepiness, boosting performance and learning, and improving alertness, among other things.

Here Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD, a Yale Medicine sleep psychologist tells us about how to take a nap - and how it might be helpful: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/can-taking-an-afternoon-nap-boost-your-energy

Can Taking an Afternoon Nap Boost Your Energy? A Yale Medicine sleep specialist describes how napping at the right time—and for the right length of time—can provide an energy boost.

Limb length discrepancy, also known as limb length inequality or anisomelia, is a condition in which an individual’s arms or legs are of unequal lengths. Many people have an arm or a leg that is shorter or longer than the other, but the discrepancy is often small enough that it does not cause any problems. It is estimated that up to 35% of adults have a 0.5-to-1.5-centimeter limb length discrepancy.

Though less common, larger discrepancies in limb length can interfere with day-to-day activities. Read more here: https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/limb-length-discrepancy

In the United States, the average age of menopause is 51. Menopause between ages 40 and 45 is considered “early menopause,” and before 40 is called “premature menopause.” About 5% of women experience early menopause, and roughly 1% of women go through premature menopause. Early or premature menopause can have the same causes; the only difference between the two is the age at which it starts.

“There are certain genetic reasons and autoimmune conditions that can lead to early or premature menopause, but sometimes we never really quite know why it happens,” says Hugh Taylor, MD, chair of Yale Medicine Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences. “But premature or early menopause can be devastating because that means a woman has lost her fertility, and she may still want to complete her family.”

Read more here: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/early-and-premature-menopause

4 Things to Know About Early and Premature Menopause Yale Medicine physicians discuss premature and early menopause, when a woman goes through the life transition before age 40 or 45, respectively.

An estimated 60% of patients infected in 2021 with SARS-Co-V2, the virus that causes COVID, lost some ability to taste or smell, according to research published in 2023. Even though such changes are usually transient, the research also found that one-quarter of those patients didn’t experience a full recovery and were left with a diminished sense of smell.

Most patients recover their sense of smell within one to two years. For many of those who do not, anosmia can cause significant emotional distress and depression. And it’s not just the sense of smell that is affected by anosmia – taste is intimately linked to aromas. Our sense of taste is defined by the five types of taste buds in the mouth, which can perceive sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or umami (savory). But flavor is more than those five basics. The aromas from food join with the input from the taste buds to give our meals the complex pleasure that eating provides.

Read more in the latest installment of “Long COVID Dispatches from the Front Lines with Lisa Sanders, MD.” here: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/when-loss-of-smell-and-taste-occurs-with-long-covid

When loss of smell and taste occurs with Long COVID An estimated 60% of patients infected with SARS-Co-V2, the virus that causes COVID, lost some ability to taste or smell, according to one study. When these symptoms persist in those with Long COVID, it can rob them of an essential part of life.

One study estimates that 65 million people worldwide have Long COVID (though the actual number is likely much higher). Brain fog, or trouble concentrating, and memory recall are among the neurological symptoms; and you may find that you’re experiencing new or worsening migraines or neuropathy, which is numbness or weakness in peripheral nerves.

Learn more about Long COVID and what can help: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/long-covid-symptoms

What Happens When You Still Have Long COVID Symptoms? Yale’s Long COVID program aims to treat patients with lingering COVID-19 symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath.

If your job requires you to be on your feet for hours on end or a medical condition is affecting the blood circulation in your legs, you may wonder if compression socks might be a solution. The short answer is that they might help.

For example, they can’t make a blood clot in the legs disappear, but they may help prevent one from forming. They can also soothe the achiness and fatigue that build up in the legs over the course of a long day.

But choosing the right compression socks—or stockings (the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably)—can be complicated. First, you need to get a pair that suits your situation. For instance, if you have a medical condition, you may need a prescription and a particular compression strength (low, medium, or high). Then, there is length. Do you need socks, knee-highs, or stockings that reach the top of the thigh? Even if you don’t have a medical condition but think these stockings can soothe your legs, the multitude of choices available over the counter and online can be overwhelming.

Read here for what Britt Tonnessen, MD, Yale Medicine vascular surgeon, wants you to know about compression socks: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/blood-clots-varicose-veins-sore-legs-compression-socks-help

Blood Clots, Varicose Veins, and Sore Legs: Can Compression Socks Help? Compression stockings can soothe tired legs and help with certain medical conditions. A Yale Medicine specialist discusses what you need to know.

Cece Calhoun, MD, a hematologist-oncologist at Yale Medicine, spoke with Ann Nyberg at WTNH News 8 for World Sickle Cell Day.

Watch the full segment here: https://www.wtnh.com/news/health/health-headlines-spreading-awareness-on-world-sickle-cell-day/

Health Headlines: Spreading awareness on World Sickle Cell Day NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — June 19 is World Sickle Cell Day. Sickle cell disease is a rare disorder where red blood cells become hard, sticky and C-shaped, leading to blood flow blockages that can r…

A sweltering summer day can do more than make you hot and irritable. Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States, accounting for more than 700 deaths each year.

Read here for tips to stay safe during the heat wave: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/how-to-stay-safe-in-the-extreme-heat

How To Stay Safe in Extreme Heat: 11 Things To Know Extreme heat is characterized by temperatures that are much hotter than usual and last longer than average. Yale Medicine provides advice on how to avoid negative impacts to your health.

The Surgeon General is calling on Congress to pass legislation to make warning labels on social media sites mandatory.

If you’re a parent questioning if – and how – you should monitor the way your teenager uses social media, you’re not alone. Here is what you need to know, from experts Linda Mayes, MD and Yann Poncin, MD of the Yale Child Study Center.

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/social-media-teen-mental-health-a-parents-guide

How Social Media Affects Your Teen’s Mental Health: A Parent’s Guide A 2023 U.S. Surgeon General advisory cited growing concerns that social media use impacts young people’s mental health. Yale experts offer advice to parents.

You misplaced your keys—again. You walk into a room and forget why exactly you’re there. Recalling names isn’t as easy as it used to be. Is this a normal part of aging—or something else?

If events like these become more common, it could be mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of memory loss that affects about 10 million Americans and could raise your risk for developing dementia or Alzheimer’s. If you’re concerned, talk to your doctor about MCI sooner rather than later: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/mild-cognitive-impairment

Mild Cognitive Impairment: It’s Not ‘Normal’ Aging A Yale Medicine neurologist discusses mild cognitive impairment, an early stage of memory loss.

When you gain too much weight, it doesn't just accumulate on the outside of your body. Fat may start to deposit inside, too, within organs such as the liver.

This condition is called fatty liver disease. Liver cells, or hepatocytes, fill with large fat droplets and can become stressed, damaged or scarred—some even die. Excessive inflammation in the liver called steatohepatitis can then develop and progress to cirrhosis.

“Most people aren’t even aware fatty liver disease exists. Large numbers of people are affected by this disease, and they don’t realize it,' says Wajahat Mehal, PhD, MD, director of Yale Medicine's Metabolic Health & Weight Loss Program. “This is an epidemic that has crept up on us."

Learn about fatty liver disease here: https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/fatty-liver-disease

UTIs arise when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra, the thin tube that runs from your bladder to the opening where urine exits your body. UTIs may affect the urethra, bladder, kidneys, or ureters, which are thin tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.

Urinary tract infections are much more common among women than men. “UTIs tend to increase in frequency when women enter the postmenopausal stage, but it certainly can happen across the lifespan,” says Yale Medicine urogynecologist Leslie Rickey, MD, MPH. “UTIs are impactful on people’s quality of life. They are more than just an annoyance; they can really affect people’s ability to participate in social, work, and travel activities.”

Here, Dr. Rickey shares information on how to know if you have a UTI: https://brnw.ch/21wKEW5

Is It a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)? What Women Should Know A Yale Medicine urogynecologist discusses common questions people have about urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Tossing and turning at night? In an interview with TIME, YM Lynelle Schneeberg shares why some sleepers experience repeated wake-ups – and what you can do to get back to a peaceful .

https://brnw.ch/21wKEuZ

“Migraine causes more disability than all other neurological conditions combined,” says Christopher Gottschalk, MD, a Yale Medicine neurologist and director of the Headache and Facial Pain Center. Improving your ability to identify the early signs of an impending migraine can allow you to intervene earlier to manage these episodes.

https://brnw.ch/21wKC27

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