BABY ASPIRIN SHOULD HAVE A PLACE ON A MAN’S MEDICINE SHELF 10 years before a woman’s. Men at risk for a heart attack are advised to take a low-dose aspirin daily starting at age 45, but women are told to hold off until they’re 55, and then to take it for the purpose of preventing strokes. For both genders, the protective effects of aspirin have to be weighed against the gastrointestinal risks.

Harvard Health Publications, Cambridge, Mass.

AS SKIN AGES, SKIN GROWTHS CAN APPEAR. Harmless ones include: age or liver spots—flat, brown areas that occur on the hands, back, and face; skin tags—flesh-colored growths that protrude from the skin, often found on the neck or in the armpits; cherry angiomas—small, smooth, red spots commonly found on the torso; seborrheic keratoses—brown, black, or pale growths that look waxy and usually appear on the face, chest, shoulders, and back.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter, 200 First St. S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, monthly, $27 a year.

APPROXIMATELY THREE OUT OF FOUR AMERICANS SUFFER FROM SOME FORM OF GUM DISEASE—from mild cases of gingivitis to the more severe form known as periodontitis. However, only 3 percent seek treatment for gum disease. Routine oral care, which includes brushing after every meal and before bedtime, and flossing at least once a day, is the best way to prevent gum disease.

The American Academy of Periodontology, Chicago, Ill.

THE LIVER SIMULTANEOUSLY PLAYS A KEY ROLE in the body’s metabolic, digestive, and regulatory systems. Among its many functions, the liver helps regulate blood sugar levels, converts consumed fats into usable fuel for cells, and transforms fats and sugars into protein building blocks. It converts cholesterol from the diet into bile acids, which help in digestion and metabolize hormones.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter, 200 First St. S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, monthly, $27 a year.

ABOUT ONE IN THREE AMERICANS WILL DEVELOP SOME FORM OF MALIGNANCY during his or her lifetime. To protect yourself: Get regular check-ups, including screening tests that can help detect cancer before symptoms develop. Avoid any form of tobacco. Reduce your consumption of saturated fat and red meat. Exercise regularly. Maintain a healthy weight. If you drink, limit yourself to one or two drinks a day. Avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation. Get enough vitamin D.

Harvard Health Publications, Cambridge, Mass.

PATIENTS UNDERGOING HIP OR KNEE REPLACEMENTS a decade ago were usually given general anesthesia during surgery and intravenous narcotic pain medications afterward. But these drugs can cause nausea, vomiting, grogginess, and decreased bowel function. New pain management procedures may involve a combination of oral narcotic pain medications given prior to surgery and sedative drugs given before surgery.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter, 200 First St. S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, monthly, $27 a year.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE MIGRAINES MAY BE AT AN INCREASED RISK FOR HEART ATTACKS and other risk factors for heart disease. A study of 11,336 people found those who had migraines were about twice as likely to have heart attacks as people without migraines, or 4.1 percent of people with migraines compared with 1.9 percent of those without migraines. The risk was nearly three times greater for people who experienced migraines with aura.

The American Academy of Neurology, St. Paul, Minn.

IN GENERAL, MEN ARE BIGGER AND MORE MUSCULAR THAN WOMEN. They can run faster, lift more, and throw things farther—but, when it comes to health, men are the weaker sex. At age 65, for every 100 American women, there are only 77 men. At age 85, the disparity is even greater, with women outnumbering men by 2.6 to 1. And the longevity gap persists even into very old age. Among centenarians, there are four females for every male.

Harvard Men’s Health Watch, 10 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, monthly, $32 a year.

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