All Sauce from Weekly Sauce:

Unexpected medical bills and high health care costs are dominating an election where kitchen table economic problems weigh heavily on voter’s minds, a new KFF poll has found. Voters struggling to pay their monthly bills are most eager to hear presidential candidates talk about economic and health care issues, according to the latest KFF Health…  read on >  read on >

In a ruling that could drastically limit future infertility care, the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. In the decision, judges turned to what it called anti-abortion language in that state’s constitution and concluded that an 1872 state law that allows parents to sue over the…  read on >  read on >

Mercury levels in tuna haven’t changed since 1971, despite efforts to reduce emissions of the toxic metal into the environment, researchers report. Their analysis of nearly 3,000 tuna samples caught in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans between 1971 and 2022 revealed stable mercury concentrations in tuna during those five decades. The research team specifically…  read on >  read on >

A ban on menthol cigarettes would likely lead to a meaningful reduction in smoking rates, a new review argues. Almost a quarter of menthol smokers quit smoking altogether after menthol cigarettes were banned in their country or community, researchers report Feb. 21 in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research. “This review provides compelling evidence for…  read on >  read on >

A person’s diet can influence their risk of obstructive sleep apnea, a new study says. Those who eat a healthy plant-based diet rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains and nuts are less likely to suffer sleep apnea, according to findings published Feb. 20 in the journal ERJ Open Research. On the other hand, people who…  read on >  read on >

People with diabetes have to spend a ton of money to stay healthy, a new study reports. Total and out-of-pocket costs for diabetics run hundreds to thousands of dollars more than regular medical expenses for people without diabetes, researchers found. Type 1 diabetes costs nearly $25,700 a year to properly manage, with out-of-pocket charges running…  read on >  read on >

Folks who follow a healthy lifestyle are less likely to wind up with a case of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a new study claims. The more healthy behaviors in which a person regularly engaged, the lower their risk of IBS, researchers reported Feb. 20 in the journal Gut. Not smoking, vigorous exercise and getting enough…  read on >  read on >

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024Postmenopausal or peri-menopausal women are often hampered by vaginal dryness, which can put the brakes on a healthy sex life. It doesn’t have to stay that way, experts advised. Numerous products are available to help maintain vaginal lubrication. “After and around the time of menopause, your body makes less estrogen,” Dr. Cynthia…  read on >  read on >