A heart pump for someone with heart failure may come with a tradeoff: benefits for the patient, but more stress for the caregiver. Researchers looked at 50 heart failure patients and their caregivers after the patients received a heart pump, called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). In the first month after receiving the device,… read on >
Come Sunday morning, the clocks will jump ahead one hour, but experts say there are ways to take the sting out of that lost hour of sleep. “Setting the clock ahead in the spring is harder than sleeping an extra hour in the fall,” said Dr. Steven Feinsilver, director of the Center for Sleep Medicine… read on >
While football is frequently blamed for concussions, a new study shows that it’s also the sport in which athletes are most likely to suffer neck injuries. A neck fracture, commonly referred to as a broken neck, is a break in one or more vertebrae in the upper part of the spine. Neck sprains involve injury… read on >
Stem cell clinics are charging big money for knee arthritis “cures” and making extravagant claims about their therapies, a new study contends. A same-day injection for one knee costs thousands of dollars at these centers, according to a consumer survey taken of clinics across the United States. People are paying that kind of cash because… read on >
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is believed caused by a hormonal imbalance that affects the release of a woman’s egg each month. The condition, which usually causes infertility, affects up to one in 10 women of childbearing age, the Office on Women’s Health says. The agency mentions these common symptoms of PCOS: Irregular menstrual cycle. Excess… read on >
Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease can be a scary experience. But getting enough information and support can help you conquer this difficult process. The National Institute on Aging suggests: Learn as much as possible about the disease. Schedule and keep regular medical appointments. Explore local support groups. Prepare for the future with legal, financial and… read on >
Is your toddler always kicking and screaming? There’s a reason for much of it. Physical aggression, like pushing and hitting, is part of the learning process. This typically lasts from about one-and-a-half to three-and-a-half years of age, until children learn how to ask for a toy, for instance, rather than just grab it from another… read on >
Few older Americans believe ordering more tests and drugs is the way to better health care, a new survey finds. Of the more than 2,000 respondents aged 50 to 80, just 14 percent thought that “more is better,” according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging. In fact, 54 percent said they believe that health… read on >
In what could be a breakthrough in the world of organ transplants, Johns Hopkins researchers have taken kidneys from people infected with hepatitis C and safely transplanted them without transmitting the disease. The surgeries gave new kidneys to 10 donor recipients — just a handful of the more than 420,000 Americans who currently struggle with… read on >
If your parents pushed you to diet as a teen, chances are you will do the same to your own children. New research suggests that when parents focus on a teen’s diet, it creates an unhealthy cycle that can harm generations to come. “Adolescents who received encouragement to diet from their parents were more likely… read on >
