It’s never too late for a person to quit smoking, even if they’re elderly, a new study finds. Dropping the smokes even as late as 75 can meaningfully increase a person’s life expectancy, researchers reported recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Seniors age 75 will lose on average more than four years of… read on > read on >
A little about: Weekly Sauce
All Sauce from Weekly Sauce:
Crohn’s, Colitis Care Take Big Financial Toll on Patients
Inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn’s disease and colitis cause intense financial pressure as well as physical distress, a new study shows. More than 40% of people with inflammatory bowel disease have made significant financial trade-offs to afford the health care they need, according to a new survey by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of… read on > read on >
Boys Treated With Gene Therapy for Rare Brain Disease Doing Well 6 Years Later
THURSDAY, Oct.10, 2024Most boys treated with breakthrough gene therapy for a rare but deadly brain illness are faring well six years later, two new reports find. The 77 boys were treated for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD), a formerly incurable and progressive genetic brain disease that typically led to a loss of neurological function and early death.… read on > read on >
Florida Hospitals Brace for Hurricane Milton’s Arrival
WEDNESDAY. Oct. 9, 2024As Hurricane Milton barreled toward the west coast of Florida, hospitals in its path were making ready. Milton is projected to make landfall a bit south of the Tampa area late Wednesday night. Long-term care facilities in counties where mandatory evacuations have been issued have taken their patients elsewhere, while some hospitals… read on > read on >
Only 1 in 5 Large Companies’ Health Plans Cover New Weight-Loss Meds for Employees
When it comes to coverage for the pricey GLP-1 weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Zepbound, only a fifth of large U.S. companies cover the medications in their health insurance plans, a new survey shows. In a report published Wednesday in the journal Health Affairs, researchers also found that a third of companies that do cover the… read on > read on >
Be Alert to Carbon Monoxide Dangers During, After Hurricane Milton
High winds, torrential rain: All dangerous, but there’s a silent killer lurking in the aftermath of hurricanes like Milton — carbon monoxide. Experts at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are warning of the potentially lethal effects of carbon monoxide (CO), emitted by the gas generators folks may use to power their homes during… read on > read on >
More Screen Time Tied to Mental Health Risks for Tweens
A study tracking almost 10,000 9- and 10-year olds for two years finds a link between time spent watching TV and other screens with a higher odds for ADHD and depression. “Screen use may replace time spent engaging in physical activity, sleep, socializing in-person and other behaviors that reduce depression and anxiety,” reasoned study lead author Dr.… read on > read on >
Severe COVID Case Ups Heart Risks As Much as History of Heart Disease
A severe COVID infection can increase a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke as much as a history of heart disease, a new study says. People hospitalized for COVID had about the same risk of a major cardiac event as people with heart disease who never had COVID, researchers found. Results also showed that… read on > read on >
Here’s Where Viruses Love to Lurk in Your Bathroom
The bad news first: shower heads and toothbrushes in an average bathroom are teeming with an extremely diverse collection of viruses, most of which have never been seen before, a new study finds. Now, the good news. These viruses target bacteria, not people, and could provide a new means of confronting the rise in antibiotic-resistant… read on > read on >
Heat Stress in Pregnancy Might Affect a Babies’ Development Later
Hot weather can be more than just uncomfortable and annoying: New research finds it can impact an infant’s development both before and after birth. Babies are more likely to be delivered at low birth weight as an expecting mom’s average daily heat stress increases during the first trimester, researchers found. What’s more, growing infants regularly… read on > read on >