Medicaid expansion under “Obamacare” may have quickly translated into fewer heart disease deaths among middle-aged Americans, a new study suggests. In 2014, many U.S. states began expanding their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — making more lower-income residents eligible for coverage. It’s known that those expanded programs reduced the ranks of the…  read on >

Breast cancer survivor Jessica Sidener is adamant that her illness brought real benefits to her life. “I am incredibly grateful for all of the hardships I’ve gone through in my young life, including my cancer journey,” said Sidener, 39, of Parker, Colo. “It makes you appreciate that life is short.” But Nancy Stordahl is just…  read on >

The risks of using voice-based technology in your car may be greater than you think. Many consider this technology safer than using their hands to operate devices while driving, but it’s not risk-free, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety warns. Mental distractions can last as long as 27 seconds after drivers use voice-assisted technology to…  read on >

Eating habits and physical activity have a greater impact on weight-loss surgery’s long-term success than measures like counting calories, a new study finds. Researchers also found that evaluation of patients’ mental health and eating habits before weight-loss (bariatric) surgery did not help predict who would be successful in keeping weight off years afterwards. “Bariatric surgery…  read on >

For many Americans, the cost of lifesaving insulin is simply too high, leading as many as one in four to ration the drug, experts testifying before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce said this week. The meeting focused primarily on defining the problem and exploring potential solutions, such as lowering the list prices of…  read on >

Spending too much time outdoors without protective sunscreen can take a toll on your skin. Unlike a thermal burn, sunburn may not be immediately noticeable. Symptoms usually start four hours after sun exposure and resolve within a week, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For minor sunburn, the CDC suggests: Treat pain…  read on >

Richard McIntosh hadn’t had any pets since his childhood farm dogs, but then he started a relationship with a competitive dog trainer and found his life filled with Golden Retrievers. Now McIntosh, 59, of Cornelius, Ore., can’t imagine growing old without a dog or two by his side. “There was a little something missing from…  read on >