In what amounts to a public acknowledgement that anxiety disorders have run rampant during the pandemic, an influential expert panel is recommending for the first time that all American adults under the age of 65 be screened for the condition. “COVID has taken a tremendous toll on the mental health of Americans,” panel member Lori… read on > read on >
Contact lenses can be indispensable for those with poor vision, but if they aren’t properly cleaned and stored you run the risk of serious eye infections, experts say. Up to one out of every 500 contact lens wearers get such infections every year, which can sometimes lead to permanent blindness. Even minor infections caused by… read on > read on >
Weeks after a stay in the hospital, your bill arrives and you can barely believe the amount due. How is this even possible if you have good health insurance and, more importantly, how will you pay it? Unfortunately, you’re not alone. More than one in 10 American adults and nearly one in five U.S. households… read on > read on >
As Americans age, millions end up struggling with dementia or some level of memory impairment and diminished capacity to think clearly and make decisions. Yet a new study says that despite such serious challenges, many seniors continue to manage their own finances, often alone, and despite acknowledging difficulties in doing so. “There has long been… read on > read on >
Misusing over-the-counter medications can have dangerous consequences, but recent social media trends encouraging this could be downright deadly for gullible teens, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday. One concerning trend has been a challenge that encouraged people to cook chicken in NyQuil or other over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. It’s not appetizing, of… read on > read on >
While dental and medical care are thought to be related, researchers wondered what impact oral care might have on a serious heart condition. A University of Michigan team studied more than 2,000 patients who had a heart attack in 2017. The patients had either received periodontal care, dental cleanings or no oral care between 2016… read on > read on >
U.S. health officials are advising doctors not to overuse the only antiviral for monkeypox because there is a risk of the virus mutating and rendering the drug useless. TPOXX (tecovirimat) works by targeting just one protein found on monkeypox, as well as smallpox and similar viruses. Its use for monkeypox is still considered experimental, according… read on > read on >
While adults typically need steroid medication to treat Bell’s palsy, most children can recover without treatment, a new study finds. Bell’s palsy temporarily causes weakness and paralysis in facial muscles, making half of the face droop. The study — a randomized controlled trial held in 11 emergency departments in Australia and New Zealand — included… read on > read on >
Monkeypox cases continue to fall in the United States, but public health officials now are concerned that the virus is wending its way into communities of color. New case numbers are down by nearly half since early August, White House monkeypox response coordinator Bob Fenton said in a Thursday media briefing. Fenton credited the decrease… read on > read on >
Some survivors of sexual assault may face a further trauma after seeking medical care: a huge emergency room bill. That’s the finding of a new study that analyzed U.S. emergency department charges for care related to sexual assault. Researchers found that survivors without health insurance could end up with thousands of dollars in medical bills.… read on > read on >
