Does aspirin therapy help protect women from heart disease?
It may help some women, but not all. According to a report from the Women’s Health Study, low-dose aspirin therapy helped reduce the risk for heart disease in women ages 65 and older by 26 percent. For women younger than age 65, aspirin therapy had little effect on heart disease risk. However, it helped reduce the risk for stroke in all women by 17 percent. This is significant because women have more strokes than heart attacks.

The results of this study, which followed nearly 40,000 women for 10 years, are different from those found in similar studies of men. Aspirin helps lower the risk of a first-time heart attack in men, but has little effect on stroke risk.

Aspirin therapy can have side effects, such as stomach bleeding, so talk with your doctor about whether it is right for you.

My father had colon cancer, and I know it runs in families.
What can I do to help prevent it?
You are correct — having a close relative with colon cancer is a risk factor. Other risk factors for colon cancer include having colon polyps (precancerous growths), inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease), age, smoking, obesity and a diet high in animal products. The good news is that colon cancer is preventable. According to the American Cancer Society, regular screenings and a healthy lifestyle could prevent most deaths from colon cancer. All adults ages 50 and older should begin having colon cancer screenings. If you are at risk, you may need to start earlier.

My 5-year-old is a picky eater. Should I give him a daily multivitamin?
Most children this age are choosy about what they eat. Also, their growth rate is slower than when they were babies, so they may eat less. It’s understandable to be concerned, but this is normal. As long as you are providing your child choices from all food groups, such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and protein such as lean meats and beans, your child is getting all the nutrients he needs. While you don’t need to give your child a multivitamin, it is safe to do so. Be sure to follow the package directions. Also, don’t give your child a pill or liquid with more than 100 percent of the recommended amount of nutrients for his age.

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