You might think everybody knows how to protect themselves from the sun’s harmful rays, but a new survey reveals that one-third of Americans lack a basic understanding of sun safety and skin cancer. That’s the surprising takeaway from an American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) survey of 1,000 U.S. adults. Fifty-three percent of respondents didn’t realize… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Giving Birth During the Pandemic? Facts You Need to Know
Giving birth during the coronavirus pandemic presents its own challenges, but the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) wants to reassure pregnant women that they need not panic. Instead, they “should be comforted to know that the hospital is a very safe place to have a baby now,” said Dr. Beverly Philip, president of the ASA.… read on > read on >
1 in 3 Neighborhoods in Major U.S. Cities Is a ‘Pharmacy Desert’
One-third of neighborhoods in the 30 largest U.S. cities are “pharmacy deserts,” and this is much more common in Black and Hispanic communities, a new study finds. What’s a ‘pharmacy desert’? In general, in a neighborhood where most residents have cars, the study labeled it a pharmacy desert if the average distance to the nearest… read on > read on >
Many Older Americans Aren’t Telling Their Doctors They Use Pot
Aging potheads are now past 50 and still puffing away, but new research shows that many don’t disclose this to their doctors. Folks who use marijuana for medical reasons are more likely to tell their doctors about it than recreational users. Still, just a fraction of medical marijuana users opened up about their use, the… read on > read on >
COVID Anxieties Still High for Americans: Poll
Americans’ anxiety and concerns about COVID-19 remain high a year into the pandemic, and mental health effects of the health crisis are on the rise, a new survey shows. Hispanic (73%) and Black Americans (76%) are more anxious about COVID-19 than white people (59%), according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) online survey of 1,000… read on > read on >
Could High-Dose Fish Oil Raise Odds for A-Fib in Heart Patients?
Many people take fish oil to protect their heart, but a new study suggests that prescription versions may raise the risk of a common heart rhythm disorder. At issue are prescription-strength omega-3 fatty acids, which are naturally found in fish oil. The medications are often prescribed to people with very high triglycerides, a type of… read on > read on >
AHA News: 47-Year-Old Relearned to Walk, Talk and Count After Stroke
MONDAY, May 3, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Chris Monaghan woke up one morning and tried to get out of bed. She couldn’t. Her husband, Dan, heard her whimpering, turned on the light and realized almost instantly she was having a stroke. It was something he long feared because of her family history. “She… read on > read on >
Finding a Doctor Is Tough and Getting Tougher in Rural America
Health care in rural America has become ever more scarce during the coronavirus pandemic, with folks finding it increasingly difficult to find a doctor or get to a hospital. For a decade, rural areas have been losing hospitals to financial problems, forcing residents to either drive long distances or shrug their shoulders and forgo needed… read on > read on >
‘Ghosts and Guardian Angels’: New Insights Into Parkinson’s Hallucinations
Parkinson’s disease is widely seen as a movement disorder, but it can cause an array of symptoms, including hallucinations. Now a new study has shed light on what is happening in the brain during those disturbances. The study focused on Parkinson’s patients who have so-called presence hallucinations — a false feeling that another person is… read on > read on >
Why U.S. Hispanics Got COVID at Higher Rates: Their Jobs
Workplace exposure to the new coronavirus is a major reason for Hispanic Americans’ disproportionately high COVID-19 death rate, a new study claims. In 2020, Hispanics accounted for 19% of the U.S. population but nearly 41% of COVID-19 deaths, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show. An analysis of federal government data… read on > read on >