Prejudice directed at older people results in $63 billion in excess health costs each year in the United States, a new study claims. Ageism, which is the marginalization of the elderly in society, accounts for one of every seven dollars spent on the eight most expensive health conditions for Americans older than 60. Those conditions… read on >
Coffee’s bitter taste shouldn’t be a selling point. But a genetic variant explains why so many people love the brew, a new study suggests. Bitterness evolved as a natural warning system to protect people from harmful substances. That means they should want to spit out coffee, the researchers said. But their study of more than… read on >
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains the fourth biggest killer in the United States. But only a fraction of the millions of people who could benefit from post-hospital rehab for COPD are doing so, new research shows. COPD is a progressive, debilitating and incurable respiratory illness, often tied to smoking. Many patients require supplementary oxygen… read on >
The new movie “Boy Erased”– about a gay teen’s ordeal when forced to attend a “conversion therapy” program — is shining a spotlight on a treatment deemed bogus and harmful by most experts. And new research shows the key role parents often play in efforts to change an LGBT child’s sexual orientation. The first-of-its-kind study,… read on >
If you think you may have broken a toe, it’s time to see a doctor, even if you can walk on it. Failure to promptly treat a toe fracture may lead to a permanent deformity, arthritis and chronic pain, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons warns. The organization offers these common symptoms of… read on >
Yoga has many benefits, from increasing flexibility to reducing stress. The practice offers so much because of its multi-dimensional nature. In addition to its fluid exercises, called asanas or poses, it focuses on correct breathing, posture and meditation with a philosophy that strives for a balance of body, mind and spirit. There are many styles… read on >
Twenty percent of homicides of U.S. children ages 2 to 14 years are related to intimate partner violence, a new study indicates. That’s double the rate in the National Violent Death Reporting System, according to Harvard School of Public Health researchers. For the study, the researchers analyzed data on nearly 1,400 children in 16 states… read on >
A majority of Americans believe the health threat posed by antibiotic resistance is real and pressing, a new survey shows. The survey of more than 1,000 adults found that 65 percent believe antibiotic resistance is a public health problem, and 81 percent are worried that antibiotic resistance will make more infections difficult to treat or… read on >
Obesity in the teen years may increase the risk of developing deadly pancreatic cancer in adulthood, researchers report. The odds for this rare cancer can quadruple due to obesity, the Israeli research team found. Moreover, the risk rises as weight increases, even affecting men in the high normal weight range. “It’s been known for some… read on >
A young child who has chronic anxiety may have trouble learning, Harvard University researchers say. Fears of the dark, monsters or strangers are common and are considered normal and usually temporary. But when fears extend to physical, sexual or emotional abuse, they can affect a child’s developing brain, the researchers noted. The school’s Center on… read on >
