Financial stress and work lost to cancer treatment affects patients and their partners alike. Partners also experienced pain, fatigue and sleep issues owing to these fiscal worries, a new study found. “We know that financial toxicity or hardship is a significant effect of cancer and its treatment and is associated with poor health issues for… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
STDs Continue to Climb in the U.S.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are surging in the United States, with notable increases seen in case counts of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Overall, STIs grew by 7% in 2021, reaching 2.5 million cases, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The U.S. STI epidemic shows no signs of… read on > read on >
Curbing Opioid Prescriptions Won’t Raise Suicide Rates: Study
Over the past few years the escalating opioid crisis has touched off a complex debate about how best to reign in suicide risk among patients who are prescribed the addictive painkillers. The question: Could rapidly cutting back on legal opioid prescriptions help, or might patients’ desperation over lack of access inadvertently drive up suicide risk?… read on > read on >
Shutting Down Nuclear Plants Could Cost Thousands of U.S. Lives as Pollutants Rise
Even as many U.S. nuclear reactors reach the end of their estimated life spans, the country still gets nearly 20% of its power from these sites. Now, new research claims that shutting them down could increase air pollution and cause more deaths because while nuclear power plants are considered relatively clean energy, many potential replacement… read on > read on >
In Early Days of Outbreak, Access to Mpox Vaccine Varied by Race
In the early days of the mpox virus outbreak in the United States, vaccines got to the states that needed them but distribution was unequal across racial groups, new research reveals. Black and Hispanic patients had to travel significantly farther for doses than white people, according to researchers at Yale School of Medicine, in New… read on > read on >
Can ChatGPT Give Women Accurate Advice on Breast Cancer?
ChatGPT, the AI chatbot everyone is talking about, can often give reliable answers to questions about breast cancer, a new study finds. But it’s not yet ready to replace your physician. The big caveat, researchers said, is that the information is not always trustworthy, or offers only a small part of the story. So at… read on > read on >
For ‘Near Poor’ Seniors, Medicaid ‘Cliff’ Could Keep Health Care Out of Reach
The so-called “Medicaid cliff” is a perennial threat for millions of American seniors whose incomes put them just above the poverty line. While impoverished seniors often have Medicaid to help cover their health care expenses, seniors who make just a little bit more have to pay the higher out-of-pocket costs of Medicare themselves. The upshot:… read on > read on >
Secret Weapon for Quit-Smoking Campaigns: Pets
Put out that cigarette for the health of your four-legged friend. When smokers search social media for anti-tobacco information, they tend to engage most with posts about the risk of secondhand smoke on their pets, a new study reveals. Posts with new information about harmful chemicals also receive high engagement, researchers found. “Our results show… read on > read on >
Stress, Stomach Pain: Diarrhea, Constipation, Ulcers & More
You may be struggling with stomach pain and digestive distress without understanding why, thinking it might be something you ate. Can stress cause stomach pain? Stress, especially chronic stress, can indeed increase your risk for gastrointestinal (GI) problems. “Stress and anxiety are common causes of stomach pain and other GI symptoms,” Dr. Nina Gupta, a… read on > read on >
Dirty Air Could Raise Your Odds for Dementia
Exposure to air pollution may increase the risk of developing dementia, according to a review of prior research. The new Harvard study is the latest look at a host of health issues — from dementia to heart disease and stroke — linked to pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), as well as nitrogen oxide… read on > read on >