Many patients who have an artery-opening procedure don’t understand or remember information they receive before their surgery, and most have unrealistic expectations about what it will do for them, a new study finds. Researchers examined the effectiveness of informed consent — which is meant to provide the risks and benefits of a procedure — given… read on >
Even a little exposure to the fine particles of air pollution can translate into higher hospitalization rates for a number of common conditions among older Americans, a new study suggests. “The study shows that the health dangers and economic impacts of air pollution are significantly larger than previously understood,” said study author Yaguang Wei, a… read on >
Asthma or allergies can put a damper on holiday gatherings. But there are ways you can stay healthy, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says. “Everyone wants this time of year to be picture-perfect. But when there are runny noses, itchy eyes and sneezing involved, the picture is less than ideal. There are… read on >
The turkey, stuffing, cranberries, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes on the Thanksgiving table may look tempting, but if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) you should proceed with caution, experts say. GERD is often called chronic heartburn or acid reflux. “When it comes to what we eat and drink over the holidays, it is… read on >
Figuring out which nutrition and exercise information is trustworthy may be difficult, says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The agency debunks these common misconceptions: Bread, pasta and rice are not necessarily fattening. Try to eat whole grains to feel fuller. You do not have to avoid all fats if you’re… read on >
Emergency department patients treated for gunshot wounds to the chest or abdomen are more likely to wind up in the hospital again than those who have such wounds in other areas of the body, a new study finds. The study included 110 patients with a history of gunshot wounds. Most were men, with an average… read on >
Exposure to natural substances with psychoactive effects — including marijuana, kratom, magic mushrooms and nutmeg — triggered more than 67,300 calls to U.S. Poison Control Centers over nearly two decades. That’s an average of 3,743 calls a year between January 2000 and December 2017, or about 10 calls a day, according to researchers at Nationwide… read on >
Women who get mammograms every two years instead of annually might face a greater risk of being diagnosed with larger, later-stage breast tumors, a new, preliminary study suggests. Researchers found that among 232 breast cancer patients at their hospital, those who’d undergone mammography screening every two years tended to have more advanced tumors: Of those… read on >
More Americans have been sickened with E. coli after eating romaine lettuce thought to be grown in Salinas, Calif., federal health officials said Tuesday. Twenty-seven new cases have been reported over the past few days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That brings the total to 67 across 19 states. In… read on >
Researchers have learned more about how a “superbug” infection can infiltrate your home — and they have some suggestions for protecting your family. Armed with swabs, investigators made several trips to homes where a child had come down with an infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. They found that the bacteria commonly ended… read on >
