The economic cost of asthma in the United States is nearly $82 billion a year, federal health officials report. That figure includes medical expenses and costs associated with work and school absences and deaths. However, the true cost of asthma is probably underestimated because the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study did not… read on >
Various factors can increase a senior’s chances of experiencing complications after surgery, but age apparently isn’t one of them. A review of 44 studies that included more than 12,000 people aged 60 and older found that frailty, mental impairment, depressive symptoms and smoking increased the risk for complications after surgery. Age did not. The researchers,… read on >
While your dog or cat might love the taste of raw meat, a steady diet of it might be a bad idea, a new study warns. Raw meat diets for pets have become increasingly popular, but there is no evidence that they are healthier than typical pet foods, the researchers said. In fact, some studies… read on >
Has your doctor suggested taking fewer naps? Or are you ready to wean a child from napping? The National Sleep Foundation suggests how: Don’t expect to accomplish the deed overnight. Napping isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. An occasional nap is to be expected. Turn nap time into quiet time. Allow for a period of calm, such… read on >
Injecting a calcium-based cement into the bones of some people with knee or hip pain could help them avoid joint replacement surgery, Ohio State University doctors say. The calcium phosphate cement flows into the spongy inside portion of the bone, filling in microfractures and other damaged areas, and it hardens in about 10 minutes’ time,… read on >
A healthy brain is necessary for a longer and fuller life. But increasing rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity are threats to maintaining a healthy brain, the American Heart Association warns. In the United States, one of every three adults, or 75 million people, has high blood pressure, the heart association says. Of… read on >
Black children are more than twice as likely as white kids to die from surgery complications in the United States, a new study suggests. Researchers found that black kids more often had risk factors that raised their odds of dying within 30 days of surgery. They were more likely, for example, to need blood transfusions… read on >
Chemotherapy and radiation are the standard of care for small-cell lung cancer that hasn’t spread to other parts of the body. But many patients don’t receive these treatments, a new study indicates. This less-than-optimal care is reducing survival rates, according to researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “In order to improve… read on >
High doses of vitamin D seem to keep arteries more flexible and pliable, potentially warding off future heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, preliminary research suggests. In just four months, vitamin D supplements reduced arterial stiffness in a group of 70 young black men and women, according to results from a small-scale clinical trial. The… read on >
Working smoke alarms lower a person’s chances of dying in a home fire by half, according to the National Safety Council. These alarms should be tested monthly. In addition, you should have a fire safety plan for your family, the organization stresses, offering these additional suggestions: Practice home fire drills at least twice a year.… read on >
