Treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) — the most common hormone disorder in women of child-bearing age — is costly. In 2020, diagnosing and treating this disorder cost an estimated $8 billion in the United States, according to a new economic analysis. PCOS disrupts metabolism, and causes irregular menstrual periods and elevated testosterone levels. It affects… read on > read on >
As many as 18 million Americans can’t afford their prescribed medications, a new nationwide poll finds. That’s 7% of the adult population in the United States. But when it comes to households making less than $24,000 per year, the percentage jumps to 19%, the West Health/Gallup poll revealed. Here are the key findings: The inability… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 22, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — For some people, the subject of hunger conjures up tragic images of starving people with swollen bellies in blighted, desolate parts of the world. In this country, the picture is different. Food insecurity affects millions of people in the United States whose suffering may not appear… read on > read on >
An advisory panel to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet on Wednesday to discuss which Americans, if any, should get Pfizer booster shots to rev up their immunity to COVID-19. Their recommendation will follow a decision by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert panel to only give booster shots to… read on > read on >
Over the past year and a half, the coronavirus pandemic has remade so much of everyday life, including the foods families eat. In many families, that’s been a good thing, with half cooking at home more often and two-thirds making healthier food choices, according to a nationwide poll of U.S. parents. For about 20% of… read on > read on >
A new report from the Humane League claims that 99% of supermarket chicken has pockets of fat, called white stripes, running through it. The nonprofit group said its findings show how chickens are being raised with little concern for their welfare. But white striping can also deplete the nutritional value of meat, the group added.… read on > read on >
New research offers good news for women with an aggressive HER2-positive breast cancer. A targeted therapy, trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), sold as Enhertu, triples the length of time that the cancer remains in check when compared with the current gold standard, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1). Both of these drugs are second-line treatment options for HER2-positive breast cancer… read on > read on >
Millions of U.S. sleep apnea patients are scrambling to find ways to protect their nightly slumber, following a voluntary recall from one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of CPAP breathing machines. Philips Respironics agreed to a voluntary recall of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines in late June, over concerns that noise-dampening foam inside the… read on > read on >
An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday recommended a third Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine booster shot for all Americans aged 65 or older, as well as for those deemed to be at high risk for severe illness. According to The New York Times, that vote came after a near unanimous decision… read on > read on >
Shedding excess weight does much more for the long-term heart health of young people than building muscle, new research suggests. It’s not that gaining muscle while young proved to be a cardiovascular problem. It’s just that losing fat offered bigger heart benefits. “We absolutely still encourage exercise,” said study lead author Joshua Bell, a senior… read on > read on >
