Young people treated for self-inflicted injuries face a far higher-than-average risk of suicide in the next year, a new study finds. Among teenagers and young adults diagnosed with a “self-harm” injury, the risk of suicide in the next year was nearly 27 times higher than the U.S. norm, researchers found. Certain young people were at… read on >
The scenario may sound familiar: Your doctor sends your prescription electronically to the pharmacy, and you go to pick it up. Only you can’t, because the insurance company requires “prior authorization” for that particular medication. Now you’re caught in the middle, as your insurance company requests paperwork from your doctor to defend the need for… read on >
Political change may be a source of stress and anxiety, research from the American Psychological Association confirms. About 2 in 3 Americans say concern about the future of their country is a cause of significant stress. Moreover, 57 percent of Americans say they are stressed by the political environment. The association suggests these strategies to… read on >
Smoking is associated with 1 in 5 deaths in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The agency suggests these methods that may help you quit: Commit to quitting and get motivated to make a change. Get support from friends and family. Consider using medicine to help you quit, and… read on >
Frolicking in the sea may torpedo your health, new research suggests. It found a twofold increased risk for general ear problems, a 77 percent increased risk for earaches and a 29 percent increased risk for diarrhea and other gastrointestinal illnesses among people who swam in the sea. The findings came from an analysis of 19… read on >
With spring allergy season just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how to deal with your symptoms, experts say. “Bottom line, very few people suffer from the same allergies or symptoms,” Dr. Bradley Chipps, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), said in a news release from the… read on >
Do you feel like you’re stuck in second gear when it comes to exercise? Maybe you just don’t experience the initial thrill of getting in shape anymore. Just as with dieting, it’s possible to hit a fitness plateau. Here are five ways to re-engage. To rekindle your enthusiasm for your primary fitness activity, shake things… read on >
Thinking about a vasectomy? Now — as March Madness begins — might be just the time for the procedure. The NCAA basketball tournament and other major “sporting events are a popular time for men to schedule a vasectomy because we advise them to take it easy for two to three days after the procedure,” Dr.… read on >
Think you could taste the difference between recycled toilet water, bottled water or tap water? It’s unlikely, results of a blind taste test suggest. Years of drought in California have given momentum to household use of recycled wastewater. Six water agencies in the state already use wastewater that’s produced through a technology called indirect potable… read on >
A new British study of nearly 300,000 people dismantles the “obesity paradox,” a theory that claims being obese does not necessarily raise heart risks. Instead, the researchers found, obesity increases the risk for heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure, and the risk increases the more fat one carries around the waist. “The higher total… read on >
