Dr. Steve: Monday

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7:00am Segment Info:

Here's an unlikely place you'll see a Nintendo Wii. How about in rehab facilities?

Ohio state university medical center has been using the wii for about four months to help people recover from strokes and spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries. It's also being used in Canada. Doctors say the video game can help patients build balance, coordination, endurance and upper and lower body strength.

Which games do they use the most?

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

For physical therapy, they use the tennis, golf, bowling, baseball and boxing games. They're effective because the patients mimic actual play by holding those motion-sensing controllers in their hands. They also use the web console to improve brain function. The patients usually undergo a total of three hours of daily therapy and work with the video game system for about 30 minutes per day two to three times per week. Of course the video game will not replace traditional rehab, it's just another tool that doctors can use to help patients and it's fun.

It may be possible to die of a broken heart…

Books, poems, movies, songs, they've all been written about a broken heart. We know it well. Now according to a new study it is possible to die from a broken heart. British researchers say the risk of death increases on average by about 20 percent in the months after the loss of a loved one. They're also more likely to develop medical problems like heart disease and lung cancer as well as psychological problems like depression, despair, loss of appetite, fatigue and suicide.

Men were 21 percent more likely to die after the loss of their wife, while women had only a 17 percent increased risk. For widowers in particular, the deterioration in health is usually associated with increased alcohol consumption and stress associated with losing their sole confidante, who would have also overseen their well being. Experts say that most people do not get counseling after a loss, but that could potentially help.

8:00 Ask The Doctor Segment Info:
1. I'm tired of having to shave every other day. Is there a way to remove the hair from my face for good?
JR from Freeport, New York

JR, if you're like most men you probably couldn't wait to shave when you were a kid. Now you wish you never had a beard! Probably the best way to permanently remove hair is with electrolysis or laser hair removal. Both will cost you and both are a little uncomfortable. Electrolysis will probably take longer but you're sure to get the results you're looking for. Check with a dermatologist

2. No exaggeration, I easily drink a gallon of water in 24 hours. Can a person drink too much water? Can it be harmful?
Malcolm from Newark NJ

Malcolm, it is possible to overdose on water. The condition is called water intoxication, and it comes from drinking too much. Your body is in a delicate balance, and your kidneys can only process so much water. When you overdo it, you throw off your electrolytes, most importantly, sodium. That can cause a swelling in the brain, which can lead to headaches, nausea, seizures, coma even death. To make sure you're getting enough water just check your urine. It should be light yellow in color. If it's clear, you're drinking too much.

3. I have a teenage daughter, and I want to know when is the best time for her to start seeing a gynecologist?
Cynthia from Long Island

Cynthia, there's no hard and fast rule on this, but the American college of obstetrics and gynecology recommends girls start seeing a gynecologist at around 13 or 15 - not necessarily to get a pelvic exam, but to talk about issues related to gynecologic health and contraception. If a girl is not sexually active and has no problems like heavy painful periods, or pelvic pain, she may choose to stick with their pediatrician until she graduates high school. It's really a very personal decision.

4. Good morning, Dr. Steve. My name is Edwardo. I'm from Somerset, NJ. Now that the holiday season's coming up, what food should I look out for that may endanger my health?

Edwardo, holidays can be a real food trap especially from thanksgiving to new years. It can be a whole season of overeating, but keep this in mind. If you stick to eating healthy and exercising on all the days except the holiday, you'll probably be ok. I'm guessing you know which foods are bad for you, most people do. It's more a matter of portion control. So make a promise to yourself, you're only going to fill your plate once. Enjoy what you put on it. It's only one day.