Medicare Advantage ads that are confusing or misleading could be banned under a new rule that was proposed Wednesday by the Biden administration to protect seniors. Nearly half of all seniors or people with disabilities who are enrolled in the Medicare program through the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have Medicare Advantage… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Caring for Kids and Aging Parents: The ‘Sandwich’ Generation Is Under Strain
Nearly one-quarter of all American adults who care for an elderly parent also care for a child at the same time, a new study reveals. And when compared with those who only have a parent under their watch, members of the so-called “sandwich generation” — namely caregivers of both the old and the young —… read on > read on >
Vaping Won’t Help Smokers Quit, Another Study Finds
So much for vaping as a smoking-cessation tool: New research finds most folks who use both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes are likely to continue smoking rather than quit, a new study finds. How much is most? Only 10% quit vaping and smoking. “As used by the general population, e-cigarettes have not contributed to substantial smoking… read on > read on >
States That Restrict Abortions Have More Maternal, Infant Deaths
In U.S. states with more restrictive abortion policies, rates of pregnant women, new mothers and infants dying were higher, a new report finds. The analysis, conducted by the Commonwealth Fund, found that states with heavily restricted access to abortion in 2020 had a maternal death rate that was 62% higher than states with easier abortion… read on > read on >
4 Genes May Raise Risk for Suicide
Scientists have pinpointed four genes that seem to play a part in how vulnerable you are to suicidal thoughts or behaviors. “It’s important to note that these genes do not predestine anyone to problems, but it’s also important to understand that there could be heightened risks, particularly when combined with life events,” said study co-author… read on > read on >
Move to Electric Cars Will Save Lives Plus Billions in Health Care Costs
As the United States moves towards a world in which electric vehicles (EVs) have fully replaced fossil fuel-driven engines, can Americans look forward to reliably cleaner air and better health? Absolutely, a new study predicts. By 2050, researchers say, the resulting improvements in air quality will be substantial enough to slash both the risk of… read on > read on >
Loss of Bees Could Harm Health of Millions of People
Bees, in their role as master pollinators, increase crop yields, leading to more production of healthy fruits, vegetables and nuts. But new research claims that the challenges these important insects face from changes in land use, harmful pesticides and climate change is affecting food production, leading to less healthy food in global diets and more… read on > read on >
Moderna, Merck Report on Promising Melanoma Vaccine
Two pharmaceutical companies said Tuesday that they have made notable progress with a vaccine that could prevent melanoma. Moderna, well known for its work on the COVID vaccine, and Merck, which makes the cancer immunotherapy drug Keytruda, announced that the combination performed well in a small study of patients who had the cancer surgically removed.… read on > read on >
Insulin Pumps Ease Diabetes Care. So Why Are Black Patients Less Likely to Get One?
Insulin pumps can help folks with type 1 diabetes get better control of their disease and minimize how often they inject insulin, and use of the devices has taken off in the past 20 years. That’s the good news from a new study. The not-so-great news is that a large gap in who is using… read on > read on >
Rapid Heartbeat Condition 5 Times More Likely With COVID Than With COVID Vaccine
New research has revealed a link between a lesser known heart syndrome and COVID infection, with a much smaller link seen between the condition and COVID vaccination. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a nervous system-related condition that causes a rapid increase in the heartbeat of more than 30 beats per minute, or a heart… read on > read on >