Jim Black has served as executive editor of Cleveland Clinic’s Men’s Health Advisor newsletter since 2005. He has written about prostate diseases, men’s health, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and a wide array of other health topics for print and digital media. He is the author of Managing Your Cholesterol: Take Charge of Your Heart Health and Managing Your Blood Pressure: Proven Steps for Treating and Avoiding Hypertension, published by University Health News. He also is the update author of two Cleveland Clinic Special Health Reports—Prostate Health: Diagnosing, Preventing, and Treating Cancer and Other Diseases of the Prostate, and Arthritis: Leading a Full Life Through Diagnosis, Treatment, and Pain Relief—published by Belvoir Media Group. Also, Jim writes periodically for Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Cancer Talk newsletter. Previously, he spent 15-plus years as a newspaper staff writer and editor, and was an adjunct faculty member at Waynesburg University, in Pennsylvania.
By Jim Black
It’s well known that the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test used to screen for prostate cancer is imprecise. Elevations in PSA levels may signal prostate cancer, but they also may be due to nonmalignant prostate conditions. Further complicating the screening process is that several medications and a number of other modifiable … Read MoreBy Jim Black
Despite all their best efforts, some people still can’t keep their lipids and cardiovascular risk at acceptable levels. If you’re one of them, you’ll need a medication to help control your cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Statins are known scientifically as 3-hydroxy- 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A … Read MoreBy Jim Black
Nine out of 10 Americans still consume more sodium than the currently recommended limits, according to a 2016 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Excess sodium consumption was found to be a particular problem among men, 98 percent of whom consumed too much sodium compared with 80 … Read MoreBy Jim Black
A heart-healthy diet is generous in fruits and vegetables, but not enough people reap the benefits of produce consumption. Only 13 percent of people in the U.S. are eating enough fruit—1.5 to 2 cups daily—according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The news is worse for vegetables: Just … Read MoreBy Jim Black
If you’re like most people, you feel nervous whenever you visit your physician’s office. After all, it’s only natural to be a little anxious about any tests you’ll have to undergo or the news your doctor will deliver. Add to that the stress you experience from traffic problems on your … Read More