Nearly 6 in 10 Americans say they have suffered financial hardship due to health care costs, a new study finds. Researchers from the American Cancer Society looked at three different types of problems: difficulty paying medical bills, worrying about bills, and delaying or doing without care. “With increasing prevalence of multiple chronic conditions, higher patient…  read on >

Facial moisturizers are a mainstay against the march of time, smoothing over wrinkles and keeping dry skin supple. But new research shows that women pay a much higher price for that anti-aging weapon than men do. In the study, dermatologists from Massachusetts General Hospital checked the prices for 110 facial moisturizers from three leading online…  read on >

“No sex for six weeks” used to be the standard advice following childbirth and, according to many doctors, it is still a good practice to allow healing. But it’s not a hard-and-fast rule. Although a woman is at the highest risk for infection during the first two weeks postpartum (a period that could be longer…  read on >

Need to see your doctor, but can’t take time off from work? There’s an app for that. And new research shows patients find the ability to see a doctor “virtually” convenient and satisfying. Nine out of 10 people who had a virtual visit with a doctor said it was more convenient than other ways of…  read on >

Botox injections work by weakening or paralyzing muscles, says MedlinePlus. Common side effects include pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site. Depending on the condition being treated, the effects of Botox can last from three to 12 months. Doctors often use Botox in small doses to treat: Facial wrinkles. Underarm sweating. Abdominal muscle spasms.…  read on >

Job stress, high blood pressure and poor sleep may be a recipe for an early death, German researchers report. In a study of nearly 2,000 workers with high blood pressure who were followed for almost 18 years, those who reported having both a stressful job and poor sleep were three times more likely to die…  read on >

As measles outbreaks spread across the United States, there are a number of things parents need to know, a leading pediatricians’ group says. The most important is to make sure your children are fully protected against the disease, which can be deadly, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advised. Only the measles vaccine can do…  read on >

New research shows that snoring is not the sole domain of men. “We found that although no difference in snoring intensity was found between genders, women tend to underreport the fact that they snore and to underestimate the loudness of their snoring,” said lead investigator Dr. Nimrod Maimon. He is head of internal medicine at…  read on >

Starting at age 7, kids can get stuck in a vicious cycle of obesity and emotional problems that is hard to escape, British researchers say. Investigators are not sure what triggers the struggle, but new study findings suggest that, over time, youngsters who are obese are likely to develop anxiety and moodiness, while those with…  read on >

Being bullied as a youngster may lead to lifelong struggles in adulthood. New research warns that victims of teenage bullying face a 40% greater risk for mental health problems by the time they hit their mid-20s. Young adults with a history of adolescent bullying may also see their odds for unemployment spike by 35%, investigators…  read on >