In this issue: Bird flu precautions, Alzheimer's and vitamin D, living wills, dizziness and more.

What safeguards are there against bird flu? Manage my newsletter.   HOUSECALL Mayo Clinic named America's #1 Best Hospital by U.S. News & World Report Vol. 16, Issue 40 | May 18, 2015   THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES     Bird flu (avian influenza): Prevention The bird flu that's sweeping through parts of the U.S. and Canada isn't known to infect humans. But the virus could change and spread to people in the future. Take these steps to stay healthy.     Prescription weight-loss drugs   Interest in weight-loss medicines is growing as more drugs become available. Could one of them help you? Find out if you may be a candidate.           EXPERT ANSWERS   Food allergy: Can it develop later in life? Food allergies usually occur during childhood — but they can appear at any age. Vitamin D: Can it prevent Alzheimer's & dementia? New research suggests vitamin D may prevent Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, but more study is needed.   PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ... Slide show: How you hear Living wills and advance directives for medical decisions Dizziness Video: Upper body stretches for the workplace     TRUSTED HEALTH TOOLS   Use our Symptom Checker to explore possible causes of your symptoms based upon Mayo Clinic's patient care experience.   Use these simple calculators and self-assessments for personalized health tips.   BMI calculator Heart disease risk calculator     NOW BLOGGING   Living with cancer: Cancer survivors, families set to celebrate life Join us for a celebration to honor those touched by cancer and their families. Reserve your spot today.     MAYO CLINIC PRODUCTS & SERVICES   Find effective treatments for ear-related problems Two of the most common reasons why people visit a doctor are hearing loss and dizziness. Now you can get the expertise from Mayo Clinic to improve them both. Our new second edition of Mayo Clinic on Better Hearing and Balance offers helpful guidance to find an effective treatment for your ear-related problems — one that fits your individual needs and lifestyle. Learn more.     HEALTHY RECIPES   Berries marinated in balsamic vinegar Warm coleslaw with honey dressing Marinated portobello mushrooms with provolone Grilled flank steak salad with roasted corn vinaigrette   HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK   Time your lotions right Apply moisturizers immediately after bathing. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on the skin. Immediately moisturize your skin with an oil or cream to help trap water in the surface cells.   Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover even more healthy lifestyle topics at MayoClinic.org.   Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Proceeds from website advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any non-Mayo products and services. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy    |    Opportunities     Give to Mayo Clinic A gift to research at Mayo Clinic is a gift of life. Donate now.     Connect with Mayo Clinic For more of our reliable health information and tools, visit us at MayoClinic.org. Or add us to your social network!   Like us on Facebook Follow on Twitter Follow on Pinterest   Watch on YouTube Patient Stories View More Newsletters       Thanks for joining our mailing list, dr.samah.saied.ahmed@gmail.com, for Mayo Clinic HOUSECALL.   REMOVE me from this list | Add me to this list | Customer service   © 2015 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. All rights reserved.