Research shows that folks who shop for food when they're hungry tend to buy higher-calorie items.

The following post was adapted from our Health-e-Weight enewsletter.

Summer is a few weeks away, and many of us are looking for ways to slim down.  The challenge is that food is everywhere, making it easy to overeat. Often hunger and taste appeal are further down the pecking order of why we eat. Much has been written and studied regarding the concept of mindless eating. Here’s a summary of tips to help us not overconsume calories.

• Pay attention to plate/bowl and utensil sizes. Using smaller items generally results in smaller amounts.
• Keep calorie-dense foods less visible. If it is around, you are more likely to eat. On the other hand, keep lesser-calorie items like fruits and vegetables more handy. Read More »

Drinking soda, even at modest levels, may lead to a higher risk of developing kidney stones.

The copious consumption of sugary drinks already has been linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. And now, new research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggests that consuming sugar-sweetened beverages, even at modest levels, could put folks at greater risk for developing yet another health issue, a quite painful one – kidney stones.

“Our study found that the relation between fluid intake and kidney stones may be dependent on the type of beverage consumed,” explains Gary Curhan, MD, ScD, a physician in the Channing Division of Network Medicine at BWH and senior author of this study. “We found that higher consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks was associated with a higher incidence of kidney stones.”

After analyzing the data of nearly 200,000 participants from three large-scale studies – the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, the Nurses’ Health Study I, and Nurses’ Health Study II – researchers found that people who consumed one or more sugar-sweetened cola servings per day had a 23 percent higher risk of developing kidney stones than those who consumed less than one serving per week. Similarly, drinking other types of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as fruit punch, were found to carry just as great a risk as soda for developing kidney stones. On the other hand, there also was strong evidence that some beverages, such as coffee, tea and orange juice, were associated with a lower risk of stone formation.

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Knee replacement patient Rick Litavis (center) enjoys a post-surgery family stroll.

With three torn ligaments and no cartilage left in his right knee, 49-year-old Rick Litavis of Hopkinton, MA, had two options – continue to live in pain and suffer through sleepless nights, or get a knee replacement.

Rick was ready for relief.

And thanks to surgical expertise, teamwork, and an innovative approach to improving knee replacement outcomes, Rick was not only pain-free within days after his January 2013 operation, but also walking and biking within weeks.

“I was completely floored,” says Rick. “The first night after my surgery I was standing, the next day I was using a walker without pain, and I was home the day after that.”

After playing football at Northeastern University, Rick continued to play competitive, high-impact sports throughout his 20s and 30s. But such a lifestyle also comes with risks, and Rick managed to severely injure his right knee several times over the years.

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In observance of Men’s Health Week, we’ve assembled a collection of HealthHub posts that address important male health problems.  As the theme of Men’s Health Week suggests, men’s health is about more than men. It’s also about the people that care about them.  Let’s all encourage the men in our lives to seek regular medical care to prevent disease and address health issues as soon as possible.

Prostate Cancer Education Center Offers Comprehensive Information

Prostate cancer is the second most common and deadly cancer among American men, with nearly 29,000 dying from the disease each year. However, the five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with prostate cancer has increased from 67 percent to 99 percent in only the past 20 years. Learn about prevention, screening tests, treatment options and follow-up.

Serious News for Couch Potatoes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 50 percent of men 18 years and over met the 2008 federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity.  A recent study by BWH researchers found that physical inactivity can leads to a shorter life expectancy and increased risks of many chronic diseases.

Multivitamins May Reduce Cancer Risk in Men

Ever wonder if those multivitamins you’ve been taking actually benefit your health?  A large scale clinical trial by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital may provide the answer. Read more to find out what they learned about the long-term health impacts of multivitamins taken by men.

What to Do When the Blue Pill Doesn’t Come Through

The first line of treatment for men with erectile dysfuction is an oral medication.  However, these medications only work in about 50 percent of ED patients, which leaves about two million U.S. men searching for another option. Dr. Michael O’Leary, Director of the Men’s Sexual Health Clinic, explains your options.

The Other Half of Fertility Equation: Male Infertility

Infertility is a unique medical condition because it often involves a couple, not an individual. In 20-25% of cases, infertility can be attributed exclusively to male factor problems and an additional 10% of couples have male infertility in addition to other factors.  Learn more about the causes and treatments for male infertility.

Don't forget the other half of the fertility equation - male fertility.

Today’s post was written by Dr. Elena Yanushpolsky, an infertility specialist with the Center for Infertility and Reproductive Services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). Dr. Yanushpolsky is also the Director of the BWH Center for Infertility and Reproductive Services at South Shore Hospital in South Weymouth.

A couple, both about 33 years old, recently came to my clinic after trying to conceive for 18 months without success. After evaluating both of them, we learned that their inability to conceive was due to the husband’s infertility. This couple’s situation is not unusual. In 20-25 percent of cases, infertility can be attributed exclusively to male factor problems, and an additional 10 percent of couples have male infertility in addition to other factors.

The first step in evaluating whether male infertility is a factor is a detailed health history. Once adequate sexual performance has been confirmed, the next step is a semen analysis. This test measures several characteristics of a man’s sperm, including the number of sperm (volume and concentration), the shape of the sperm (morphology), and the ability of sperm to move (motility). If the results of the semen analysis are abnormal, the test is repeated in three to four weeks. If the second test is abnormal, a man will be referred to a urologist for further evaluation.

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Figure 1 - The underside of the patch has rows of tiny, cone-shaped needles.

When giving thanks to Mother Nature for the bounty that she provides, a parasitic worm may not be on your top 10 list. But a Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) research team has seen the beauty in a spiny-headed worm, the Pomphorhynchus laevis, and used this creature as inspiration for designing an adhesive patch that safely and strongly secures human skin grafts.

This unique worm establishes long-term residency in the intestines of fish by plunging head-first into the host’s intestinal wall and then swelling its head to create a secure hold in the intestinal tissue. Impressed by the strength and simplicity of this technique, a research team led by Jeffrey Karp, PhD, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, developed a micro-needle patch that mimics the worm’s anchoring mechanism.

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Sunscreen lotion and shade are two good tools for helping to prevent non-melanoma skin cancer.

Did you know that non-melanoma skin cancer, which includes basal cell and squamous cell cancer, is the most common form of cancer in the US?  In 2012 alone, more than two million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer were identified, according to the National Cancer Institute. Though non-melanoma cell skin cancer is treatable, new research suggests that the damage it causes may be more than skin deep. Non-melanoma cancer may also play a role in the development of other types of cancer.

A recent study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) demonstrates an association between non-melanoma skin cancer and future cancer risk among white men and women. Researchers found that people with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer had a modestly higher risk of getting cancer in the future – specifically, breast and lung cancer in women and melanoma in both men and women – compared to those without a history of non-melanoma skin cancer.

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Patient education is an important tool in the fight against prostate cancer.

With about one man in six being diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, there’s a great need for patient education. This is why Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) has developed the Prostate Cancer Education Center at brighamandwomens.org  — providing comprehensive information on prostate cancer, including:

• Statistics
• Risk factors
• PSA testing
• Diagnosis
• Grading and staging
• Treatment options and outcomes
• Risks
• Patient Stories
• Research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Prostate cancer is the second most common and deadly cancer among American men, with nearly 29,000 dying from the disease each year. However, the five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with prostate cancer has increased from 67 percent to 99 percent in only the past 20 years.

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A great deal of clinical research takes place at our Watkins Cardiovascular Clinic.

Do you ever wonder why most doctors now recommend aspirin for heart attack prevention? The answer is more straightforward than you think: clinical research.

Clinical research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital revealed the effectiveness of aspirin as a first-line defense against heart attack in people who are at risk. Once broadly proven, the treatment was adopted and has helped thousands avoid the devastating effects of heart attack.

BWH is an international leader in cardiovascular research. With over 150 cardiovascular clinical research studies being conducted at any one time, there are opportunities for patients to participate in studies that may change cardiovascular care for millions. Before making a decision on whether to participate in clinical research, it’s important to understand what’s involved.

Clinical research involves studies led by doctors and researchers who are trying to answer specific scientific questions with the goal of finding better ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases, and improve health care. Trials also are conducted to collect information on the safety and effectiveness of various treatments.

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