Poorer Americans with anal cancer — a highly treatable disease — are more likely to die than wealthier patients, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed 2004-2013 data from 9,550 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus. Each year, 8,200 cases are diagnosed in the United States, and more than 1,000 people die of the… read on >
Most people seem comfortable with their health care providers asking about their sexual orientation and gender identity, a new study finds. The finding comes on the heels of earlier research that indicated many health care providers believed that such questions would offend patients. The new study involved nearly 500 patients being seen for the first… read on >
Wild animals typically avoid human contact, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are sick or are protecting their young. Attacks by pets are more common, but are rarely life-threatening, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says. The agency suggests how to help prevent animal bites: Never pet, handle or feed unknown animals. Leave… read on >
Students who feel a like they belong at school have a greater chance of doing well and staying there, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Research confirms that children who feel “connected” to school are more likely to get better grades, stay in school longer, have higher test scores and are less… read on >
Come Sunday morning, the clocks will jump ahead one hour, but experts say there are ways to take the sting out of that lost hour of sleep. “Setting the clock ahead in the spring is harder than sleeping an extra hour in the fall,” said Dr. Steven Feinsilver, director of the Center for Sleep Medicine… read on >
A heart pump for someone with heart failure may come with a tradeoff: benefits for the patient, but more stress for the caregiver. Researchers looked at 50 heart failure patients and their caregivers after the patients received a heart pump, called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). In the first month after receiving the device,… read on >
Is your family struggling with overweight or obesity? To lose weight, take a team approach. Studies show that when overweight parents shed pounds, so do their overweight kids. Parents hold the keys to positive behaviors that encourage a healthy weight, from doing the food shopping and cooking to getting kids involved in sports and other… read on >
Stem cell clinics are charging big money for knee arthritis “cures” and making extravagant claims about their therapies, a new study contends. A same-day injection for one knee costs thousands of dollars at these centers, according to a consumer survey taken of clinics across the United States. People are paying that kind of cash because… read on >
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is believed caused by a hormonal imbalance that affects the release of a woman’s egg each month. The condition, which usually causes infertility, affects up to one in 10 women of childbearing age, the Office on Women’s Health says. The agency mentions these common symptoms of PCOS: Irregular menstrual cycle. Excess… read on >
Is your toddler always kicking and screaming? There’s a reason for much of it. Physical aggression, like pushing and hitting, is part of the learning process. This typically lasts from about one-and-a-half to three-and-a-half years of age, until children learn how to ask for a toy, for instance, rather than just grab it from another… read on >
