OU Medical Center-Health Matters

If you are overweight - and many are - how much weight do you think you need to lose? If your goal is to be healthier, it may not be as much as you think. Experts at the University of Oklahoma College of Public Health say small changes can make a big difference in your health when it comes to weight loss and exercise.

Athletes, both young and old, are busy almost daily with soccer, football, basketball and a host of other sports. All are interested in peak performance, but that takes proper fuel. Dieticians with the University of Oklahoma College of Allied Health say what you eat and when you eat are critical.

For years, cosmetic surgery was viewed as a "women only" domain. But specialists with OU Physicians say men are lining up in growing numbers for cosmetic procedures like Botox injections, liposuction and more.

Even in medicine, sometimes simple is best. Specialists at the OU Medical Center say that's been the case with dangerous clots that form in arteries in and around the heart. It turns out a new technique, that uses a simple vacume approach can help eliminate clots that had previously been thought to be virtually untreatable.

Got a headache? Take an aspirin. Vision problems? Take a pill. It's not reality yet but could be in the not-so-distant future. Researchers at the Dean McGee Eye Institute and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center believe their work may point to what could amount to an "aspirin for blindness." It might also help halt other diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

OU researchers have pinpointed cells in a salamander's nose that send "attraction" messages to the brain.

A woman's ability to ward off disease might just be too much of a good thing in some instances. Research at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center reveals a robust immune system in females contributes to liver damage caused by alcohol.

The holiday wish lists are long for many this time of year. But there is one thing most of us definitely don't want to get for the holidays...sick! It's one of the unfortunate side effects of the busy holiday season for some.

The holiday shopping crunch is here. If your child is like most, their holiday wish list is long and you can bet, there are some popular computer and video game titles right at the top of that list. But here's news that may surprise you--it turns out playing certain video and computer games may actually help your child succeed in school and even in future jobs. Child development experts at the University of Oklahoma say the key is to select the right games.

It's a common ingredient found in almost any kitchen, used to spice up beverages and desserts. Now, doctors at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center hope to learn whether cinnamon can help diabetics better control their disease.

Researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center are looking closely to see what little boys and girls are made of....They are using a high tech machine - one of only a few in the entire world - to find more than "snakes and snails" or "sugar and spice." Their focus is on body fat in newborns.

When you hear about arthritis, you probably tend to think of an illness that affects older adults. Unfortunately, arthritis is also a painful reality for at least 100,000 children in the United States. Now, research underway at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center may point the way to faster, more effective treatments for young arthritis patients.

The University of Oklahoma women's basketball team is focused on doing what they need to do on the court to win. But a former teammate is showing them the importance of having a winning strategy in life too. She's taught them about courage, determination and strength, as she battles cancer with the help of another team -- a team of specialists at the OU Cancer Institute.

If you or your children have been beattling sore throats, coughs and those aches and pains that accompany illness...you are not alone, we're just moving into those cold weather months.

Lymph nodes are like the body's trash system--the small filters collect and destroy bacteria and viruses. Cancer patients and specialists also know the lymphatic system is involved in the spread of cancer. But how? Now, a researcher at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center hopes his recent discovery will provide important answeres.