A concise, evidence-based medical tool that saves you money

Preventative

Question:

Is getting vitamin D from sunshine better for my health than a vitamin D capsule?
Does drinking 1-3 cups of coffee daily reduce my chance of getting cancer?
Does drinking 1-2 cups of coffee daily decrease heart disease and diabetes?
Should I get screening lab tests before having a low risk surgery?
For my sports physical, do I need an EKG before participating in sports if I have no symptoms?
Does adding niacin (vitamin B3) to a cholesterol medication lower my risk of dying from a heart attack?
Does eating a plant based diet reduce my risk of heart disease and early death?
When screening for colon cancer, if I have no symptoms, can I undergo a FIT (fecal immunochemical test) instead of a colonoscopy?
Can a dermatologist spot skin cancer more accurately than a primary care doctor?
Does performing muscle stretching before I exercise reduce my chance of having a joint injury?
Does eating red meat (steak, hamburger) more than 1-2 times per week increase my risk of dying from a heart attack or cancer?
Does getting a vaccine reduce my chances of dying from COVID-19?
If I don’t have any symptoms, should I get screened for pancreatic cancer?
Does Shingrix vaccine work better than Zostavax vaccine for preventing shingles?
If I am a woman over the age of 65 should I get a DEXA scan to screen for osteoporosis?
If I am a woman over the age of 50 but under the age of 65 and no history of previous osteoporotic fracture, no history of smoking or heavy drinking, and am not significantly underweight, should I get a DEXA scan to screen for osteoporosis?
Does the good effects of eating more fruits and vegetables offset the bad effects of eating a lot of meat?
Does eating an alkaline diet reduce my chance of dying vs. a regular American diet?
Should I have a heart EKG test before a low risk surgery if I don’t have any chest pain, difficulty breathing, can walk up a flight of stairs without getting really tired, and am otherwise am in good health?
Does eating nuts (sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews, peanuts, etc) decrease my chance of dying from heart disease and cancer?
Does eating daily amounts of deep green salads, yellow and green squash, and broccoli decrease my risk for dying of cancer?
Does eating daily amounts of apples, pears, citrus fruits, deep green salads, and broccoli decrease my risk for dying of heart attack?
Does taking vitamin K reduce pain and stiffness from my rheumatoid arthritis?
Does taking vitamin D supplements help prevent upper respiratory infections over a placebo pill?
If I have asthma, does taking vitamin D supplements help reduce my risk of having an asthma attack over a placebo pill?
Does taking vitamin D preventatively reduce my risk of dying over taking a placebo?
Does taking vitamin D preventatively reduce my risk of getting cancer?
Should I have my doctor check a vitamin D level at my yearly physical if I am otherwise healthy and have no history of bone disease or calcium disorders?
If I do NOT have an increased risk for colon cancer (like history of colon cancer in my father) and I have a “normal” colonoscopy, (meaning no precancerous polyps found) should I get a repeat colonoscopy any sooner than ten years?
If I’m allergic to eggs, will a regular flu shot be bad for me?
If I have a healthy child, does getting the flu shot reduce their risk of getting sick with the flu or other respiratory infections over not getting the flu shot?
If I am a healthy adult working in a healthcare system which takes care of elderly patients, does getting a flu shot reduce my chances of getting my patients sick from the flu?
Are the benefits of yearly flu vaccine in healthy adults and children exaggerated?
If I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) does getting a flu shot reduce my chances of having an exacerbation of COPD more than not getting a flu shot?
If I am a child or an adult with asthma, does getting a flu shot reduce my chances of having or dying from an asthma exacerbation or flu over not getting a flu shot?
If I am an adult with cancer of any age or elderly patients with other chronic disease (such as diabetes, heart failure, COPD, cancer) does getting a flu shot reduce my chances of dying from the flu more than not getting a flu shot?
If I am a healthy adult over age 65, does getting a flu shot reduce my chances of getting the flu or flu like illness more than not getting a flu shot?
If I am a healthy adult over age 65, does getting a flu shot reduce my chances of dying from the flu more than not getting a flu shot?
If I am a healthy adult under age 65, does getting a flu shot reduce my chance of missing a work day more than not getting a flu shot?
If I am a healthy adult under age 65, does getting a flu shot reduce my chance of getting the flu or flu like illness more than not getting a flu shot?
If I am a healthy adult under age 65, does getting a flu shot reduce my chance of dying from the flu more than not getting a flu shot?
Should I get a chest x-ray to screen for lung cancer?
Should I get a screening CT scan of my lungs to look for lung cancer if I am smoked less than 1 pack per day for less than 30 years?
Should I get a screening CT scan of my lungs to look for lung cancer if I am age 55-80 and have smoked an average of 20 cigarettes or more daily for 30 years?
Does Hepatitis A and B vaccine reduce my child’s risk of hospitalization and death when received in accordance to the Center of Disease Control recommendations?
Does the HIB vaccine reduce my child’s risk of hospitalization and death when received in accordance to the Center of Disease Control recommendations?
Does Human Papilloma Virus vaccine reduce my child’s risk of hospitalization and death when received in accordance to the Center of Disease Control recommendations?
Does Varicella vaccine reduce my child’s risk of hospitalization and death when received in accordance to the Center of Disease Control recommendations?
Does tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis vaccine reduce my child’s risk of hospitalization and death when received according to the center of Disease Control recommendations?
Does the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine reduce my child’s risk of hospitalization and death when received according to the Center of Disease Control recommendations?
If I am older (over 65), and prefer indoors to outdoors, should I take vitamin D 1000IU daily to help prevent falls?
Should I have screening for ovarian cancer if I have no family history of ovarian cancer in a mother, sister, or daughter?
Should I stop having screening pap test if I am over age 65 with no prior history of cervical or vaginal cancer, if my last pap test was 5 years ago or less and was normal?
Should I get a screening heart stress test to evaluate for heart disease at my yearly physical if I don’t have a history of worsening heart disease?
Should I get a screening test to check coronary artery calcium score if I don’t have any symptoms of chest pain and I don’t have a family history of heart disease at an early age (first degree relative with heart attack at or below age 55)?
Should I get a screening ultrasound of my carotid arteries to evaluate for my risk of stroke?
Should my teenage son or daughter be screened for scoliosis?
Should I get a blood test to check for prostate cancer (PSA) if I am between age 45-54 and have an increased risk for developing cancer (African-American, or one or more first degree relatives with history of prostate cancer under age 65)?v
Should I get a blood test to check for prostate cancer (PSA) if I am younger than age 55 and at average risk (caucasian, no family history of prostate cancer)?
Do I need to have a pap test and/or pelvic exam before I start birth control pills?
Should I have a prostate exam with my yearly physical?
Should I have a blood test to check for prostate cancer (PSA) if I am age 70 or older?
Should I have a blood test to check for prostate cancer (PSA) if I am age 55-69?
If I am otherwise healthy with no history of chronic medical problems, do I need a yearly exam with blood tests?
Does eating nuts every day low my risk for heart attack and cancer?
Should I be screened for colon cancer at age 76 or older, have 10 years or less to live, have no immediate family history of colon cancer, and have not had any rectal bleeding or other signs of cancer of the colon?
Should I be screened for colon cancer before age 50 if I have no immediate family history of colon cancer or had a genetic predisposition for colon cancer, or had inflammatory bowel disease?
Should I continue getting a PAP test if I am a woman over age 65 and have never had an abnormal pap?
Should I get a screening bone density scan to screen for osteoporosis if I am a woman under age 65?
Should I take a “statin” cholesterol medication if my ten year heart attack risk is 10% or greater?
Should I take folic acid 800 mcg daily if I’m thinking of getting pregnant?
Should I get a screening EKG test during my yearly physical if I have no history of heart disease?
Should I get a lung function test to screen for lung disease with my yearly physical if I am otherwise a healthy non smoker?
Should I get STD testing for chlamydia or gonorrhea if I am sexually active and under 24 years old?
If I have had a hysterectomy for any reason other than cancer (e.g. uterine fibroids, endometriosis, heavy bleeding) should I get a pap tests to screen for cancer?
Should I get a screening pap test to check for cervical cancer if I am under age 21?
Should I get a screening pap test for cervical cancer every year if my previous pap tests have come back normal?
Should I get a screening mammogram at age 40-44 if there is no breast cancer in my immediate family?
If my baby and I are otherwise healthy, should I breastfeed my newborn to 6 months over using formula?
Should I take tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer if I am at average risk for breast cancer?
If I have been diagnosed with breast cancer, would starting a low saturated fat diet reduce my chance of dying from the breast cancer?
If I have confirmed osteoporosis, and I start taking a medication, should I have a yearly bone density (DXA) scan?
If I have mild bone loss (osteopenia) diagnosed on a bone density (DXA) scan, should I have another DXA scan a year later?
Does exercise relieve hot flashes and night sweats?
Should I get genetic screening for breast cancer if I do NOT have close family members with any combination of breast, ovarian, tubal, or uterine cancer?
Should I get genetic screening for breast cancer if I have close family members with any combination of breast, ovarian, tubal, or uterine cancer?
Should I take baby (81mg) aspirin if I am between age 60-70 and have high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure?
Should I take baby (81mg) aspirin to prevent heart attack if I am between age 50-59, have high cholesterol, and/or high blood pressure?
If I and my baby are otherwise healthy, should I breastfeed my newborn to 6 months over using formula?
Does potassium citrate supplmentation reduce my chances of getting recurrent kidney stones?
Does taking magnesium supplements help prevent asthma attacks?
Does taking fish oil supplements lower my risk for heart attack?

 

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