Many people think hookah smoking is less harmful than cigarettes, but they might not realize that hookahs can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, a medical expert warns. The devices — also called water pipes — are heated by burning charcoal. That releases carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas. About 100 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning… read on >
People who’ve had a heart attack are more likely to be prescribed and take recommended blood-thinning drugs if they get vouchers to waive their co-payments, a new study shows. The finding comes from a study of 11,000 people treated for heart attack at 300 U.S. hospitals. All of the patients had health insurance: 64 percent… read on >
A large study has confirmed what many public health experts have long believed: Colonoscopy saves lives. The study looked at roughly 25,000 patients in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, where colonoscopy is widely used. The VA views it as the main screening test for patients aged 50 and older who have average odds for… read on >
Your waist size, especially if you’re a woman, might predict your risk of a heart attack, the American Heart Association says. British researchers writing in the Journal of the American Heart Association recently reported that women who have bigger waists — relative to their hips — are at greater risk of heart attack than men… read on >
You should check your cholesterol at least every five years, or more often if there’s a problem, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) says. Your blood sugar and blood pressure could influence your cholesterol levels, the association says, so a person with diabetes should pay particular attention to these risk factors. The ADA offers these tips… read on >
Every day, more than 300 children are treated in U.S. emergency rooms for accidental poisoning, and two children die from it. Reports of youngsters getting sick after eating colorful laundry and dishwasher detergent pods that they thought were candy have renewed warnings about keeping all cleaning products both out of sight and out of reach… read on >
Nearly half of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who should have genetic testing don’t receive it, a new study finds. Genetic testing can play an important part in deciding the best course of treatment, the University of Michigan researchers noted. The study included just over 1,700 women with early stage breast cancer who could benefit… read on >
A wearable heart defibrillator reduces the overall risk of early death for heart attack survivors, but not the risk of sudden cardiac death, a new study finds. The defibrillator — housed in a lightweight vest worn directly against the skin — continuously monitors the wearer’s heart. It sounds an alarm and/or verbally announces the need… read on >
Believe it or not, new research suggests that people hospitalized for a heart attack are more likely to survive when certain heart specialists are out of town. The study of more than 34,000 U.S. heart attack patients found survival rates were higher when interventional cardiologists were attending their annual conference. Those cardiologists are specialists in… read on >
“Financial toxicity” caused by high cancer drug prices is harming people’s ability to fight the dreaded disease, a new report from the President’s Cancer Panel warns. The report, released Tuesday, argues that urgent action is needed to stem the growing price tags associated with new cancer drugs, particularly if the price doesn’t match the amount… read on >
