Scars from facial surgery look worse to skin cancer patients themselves than to others, so it’s important for surgeons to prepare patients beforehand, researchers say. Doctors can help by outlining the healing process and explaining what their scars will look like in the weeks after surgery, the study authors suggested. “Our research seems to support… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Would Your Teen Admit a Mental Health Issue? Poll Finds Roadblocks to Getting Help
Would you know if your teen was struggling with mental health issues? Most parents say yes, but many also doubt their teen would tell them something was wrong, a new poll shows. Specifically, nearly 95% of the parents surveyed said they were somewhat or very confident that they would notice the signs of trouble. Yet,… read on > read on >
High-Tech Drug Infusion Pumps in Hospitals Vulnerable to Damage, Hackers
You’ve probably seen an infusion pump, even though the name might make it sound like a mysterious piece of medical technology. These devices govern the flow of IV medications and fluids into patients. They help deliver extra fluids to people in the emergency room, administer monoclonal antibodies to folks with COVID-19, and pump chemotherapy drugs… read on > read on >
U.S. Wildfires: Much Bigger, More Frequent Now
U.S. wildfires have become larger, more frequent and more widespread in the past two decades, and the situation will become even worse in the future, a new study warns. “Projected changes in climate, fuel and ignitions suggest that we’ll see more and larger fires in the future,” said lead author Virginia Iglesias, a research scientist… read on > read on >
When Is It Time for a Knee Replacement?
Knee replacement surgery is one of the most common procedures in the United States, with more than 790,000 performed each year. Deciding the time for knee replacement needs to be determined by you and your doctor, but certain factors make it more likely, according to experts at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California.… read on > read on >
Major Credit Agencies Will Drop Most Medical Debt From Reports
Most medical debt will be dropped from Americans’ credit reports as of this summer, the top three credit reporting agencies said Friday. The announcement by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion comes as medical bills have become the largest source of personal debt in the United States, CBS News reported. Credit reports are used by lenders to… read on > read on >
U.S. Smoking, Vaping Rates Fell in First Year of Pandemic: CDC
Consider it a silver lining, courtesy of the coronavirus: A new government report reveals that both cigarette smoking and electronic cigarette use dropped slightly among American adults during the first year of the pandemic. The findings, published March 18 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, are based on a survey of more than 31,000… read on > read on >
Medical Marijuana Rx Ups Odds for Overuse, With No Benefit to Health: Study
Using medical marijuana to treat pain, anxiety or depression may quickly lead to dependence, without relieving symptoms, a new study suggests. Those most at risk for misusing medical marijuana are patients using it to treat anxiety and depression, the researchers found. Based on these findings, the benefits of medical marijuana may have been exaggerated, the… read on > read on >
Moderna Asks FDA to Approve Second Booster for All Adults
Moderna said late Thursday that it has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the emergency use of a second booster of its COVID vaccine for all adults. In a statement, the company noted its request is based partly on recent data from the United States and Israel showing how well its vaccine… read on > read on >
Studies Relying on Brain Scans Are Often Unreliable, Analysis Shows
Most brain studies that rely on MRI scans don’t include enough people to provide trustworthy results, researchers say. These brain-wide association studies use MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to see how brain structure and function connect with personality, behavior, thinking, neurological conditions and mental illness. Such studies require thousands of participants to get accurate results, but… read on > read on >