The number of Americans who had trouble paying their medical bills dropped precipitously between 2019 and 2021, and funds from the American Rescue Plan and other federal pandemic relief programs may have been a reason why. Overall, 10.8% of Americans responding to a federal survey in 2021 said they had had problems covering medical bills… read on > read on >
Not all prescription drugs and dietary herbal supplements work well together. It’s important to be aware of possible drug/supplement interactions that could be harmful, according to the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a part of the National Institutes of Health. The organization offered tips on six potential issues. The supplement St.… read on > read on >
Whether your job is remote or takes you to an office, you’ll feel better and offset joint pain by having a workspace that’s designed to work for you instead of against you. The biggest problem isn’t sitting itself but holding a single position for long periods often with a posture that causes strain, such as… read on > read on >
Fires started by people account for a majority of premature deaths related to inhalation of tiny smoke particles in the United States, a new study reveals. These blazes, which are increasing, led to 20,000 premature deaths in 2018. That was 270% more than in 2003, according to researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge.… read on > read on >
For people with a specific type of high blood pressure, British researchers led a new study on a particular CT scan that may enable a cure. In about 5% to 10% of high blood pressure cases, the source is a gene mutation in the adrenal glands, according to earlier research. Tiny benign nodules in the… read on > read on >
A new study shows that many women diagnosed with and dying from cervical cancer are older than 65 — a group for whom routine screening is usually not recommended. Cervical cancer screening has been credited with a sharp drop in deaths from the disease in the decades since it was introduced in the United States.… read on > read on >
Hundreds of rural hospitals across the United States are teetering on the edge of closure, with their financial status increasingly in peril, a new report reveals. More than 200 rural hospitals are at immediate risk of closure because they aren’t making enough money to cover the rising cost of providing care, and their low financial… read on > read on >
As Americans struggle to eat better, plant-based diets have become the rage, but exactly what are those and how hard are they to follow? A growing number of people have turned to plant-based eating, as evidenced by the fact that the plant-based foods market increased by 29% in recent years, according to the U.S. National… read on > read on >
Doctors already test seniors’ hearing and vision. Sense of smell could be added to screenings one day, according to researchers who found links between its loss and risk of frailty in older adults. “We use our sense of smell to identify the threat of a fire or to enjoy the fragrance of flowers on a… read on > read on >
Worries that clergy will urge depressed congregants to rely on prayer and not other mental health care appear to be unfounded. A nationwide survey found that 90% of clergy members embraced a medical understanding of the causes and treatment of depression. About 10% said they would recommend using religious means alone to address depression. “We… read on > read on >
