If you need another reason to quit smoking, researchers have one: your mid-life brain health. Not only does smoking harm lung and heart health, but it increases the chances of middle-aged memory loss and confusion, a new study shows. The likelihood of mental (“cognitive”) decline is lower for those who quit — even if they… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Obamacare May Have Helped Extend Lives of Young Cancer Patients
Young adults with cancer, especially those who are Hispanic or Black, had better outcomes because of coverage available to them under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). New research explored the impact of Medicaid coverage under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, linking it to with better survival for 18- to 39-year-olds. Young adults with breast… read on > read on >
Take Steps to Protect Your Feet This Winter
Getting around in winter works best if you’re taking good care of the feet that take you places. Orthopedic specialists at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City say they often see an uptick in avoidable injuries and foot problems during the winter. They offered some tips for winterizing your feet. First,… read on > read on >
Buyer Beware: Bogus Flu Meds Are Out There
With flu rampant in the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to be wary of over-the-counter products that promise to cure you of influenza, prevent it or reduce its severity. Sellers offering these products may make claims that are not accurate or safe, the FDA cautions. “These products can be… read on > read on >
Could Coffee Lower a Woman’s Odds of Diabetes After Pregnancy?
Women who had diabetes during pregnancy might want to treat themselves to another cup of joe. New research shows that drinking coffee may lower their risk of type 2 diabetes. Compared to the general female population, women who had gestational diabetes may have 10 times the risk for type 2, according to researchers at the… read on > read on >
Higher Price Tag Doesn’t Guarantee Better Quality Joint Replacement: Study
MONDAY, Dec. 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) – The prices that health insurers agree to pay for joint replacement surgery vary widely and are unrelated to conventional measures of the quality of care. That’s the conclusion of a new study that found who is footing the bill is the biggest influence on the price tag. Total… read on > read on >
Is Your Kid’s Runny Nose Going on Forever? Here’s What You Need to Know
It might seem like your toddler or preschooler has a nose that is always runny, but experts say that’s normal. “Children under 6 years of age average six to eight colds per year, with symptoms lasting an average of 14 days,” said Dr. Maria Mejia, an associate professor of family and community medicine at Baylor… read on > read on >
FDA Updates Guidance on ‘Morning After’ Pill, Making Clear It Does Not Cause Abortions
For many years, Plan B One-Step and its generic equivalents — collectively known as “morning after” pills to prevent a pregnancy — included information in packaging that suggested that the pill might work by interrupting the implantation of a fertilized egg into the womb. There was, however, no scientific evidence that that was the case,… read on > read on >
More Steps Per Day, Lowered Odds for Diabetes in Women
FRIDAY, Dec. 23, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Move your body every day to guard against type 2 diabetes. That’s the upshot of a new study that analyzed Fitbit data and type 2 diabetes rates from participants in a nationwide research program, reporting that women who logged more steps each day had a lower risk of… read on > read on >
When Rural Hospitals Close, Nearby Hospitals Suffer
When rural hospitals shut down people need to go elsewhere, and a new study finds that nearby hospitals bear the strain of that patient overflow. “Previous studies have shown that rural hospital closures can have negative health consequences for the communities they serve,” said researcher Daniel George, an associate professor of humanities and public health… read on > read on >