The public service messages we see about getting screened for illness are very effective – maybe too much so for some people. A new study found that 29 percent of veterans who underwent recommended screening colonoscopies were uncomfortable with the idea of stopping these screenings even when the benefit was expected to be low for… Continue reading Public Service Screening Messages Don’t Tell the Whole Story About An Illness
Author: Jane Farrell
What If Your Travel Insurance Claim Is Denied?
As you can imagine, having your travel canceled, interrupted or simply not go as planned is never ideal. When you have travel insurance, however, you can feel better knowing that at least some of your travel expenses will be reimbursed. But what if you file your claim, and it comes back denied? Here are some… Continue reading What If Your Travel Insurance Claim Is Denied?
Some Kinds of Exercise Have Greater Heart Benefits than Others
Physical training is important for heart health. But not every kind of exercise will have the same cardiovascular benefits. New research presented at the American College of Cardiology Latin America Conference found that “static”activities—such as strength training—were more strongly associated with reducing heart disease risks than “dynamic” activities like walking and cycling. “Both strength training… Continue reading Some Kinds of Exercise Have Greater Heart Benefits than Others
The Seven-Step Guide to Beating Holiday Stress
The holiday season brings families together. But when that togetherness stirs up past hurts, stress can replace any good tidings. Unhealthy family dynamics can overwhelm empaths and highly sensitive people who lack the same stress-blocking filters that others have. Empaths are emotional sponges who absorb the stress of others. Though everyone is susceptible to emotional… Continue reading The Seven-Step Guide to Beating Holiday Stress
Some Dementia-Test Results May Be Biased
Quick tests known as “brief cognitive assessments” help doctors decide whether a patient should be given a full evaluation for dementia. But the results can be misleading. Three tests examined in the study were the Mini-Mental Stats Examination, which analyzes orientation to time and place and the ability to remember words; the Memory Impairment Screen,… Continue reading Some Dementia-Test Results May Be Biased
When Blood Transfusions Can Be Fatal
Although blood is meant to save lives in emergency situations, that might not always be the case. Major trauma victims who receive transfusions of packed blood 22 days or older may face an increased risk of death within 24 hours, according to a new study in Annals of Emergency Medicine. Following a major trauma, the… Continue reading When Blood Transfusions Can Be Fatal
Travel This Holiday Season – And Stay Fit!
Many fitness enthusiasts find it difficult to follow their normal exercise plan while traveling to see family or friends for the winter holidays. Unfamiliar environments, tightly-packed family living conditions, or lack of exercise equipment may hamper even a fitness fanatic’s best intentions for staying fit while traveling this holiday season. But as a Certified Personal… Continue reading Travel This Holiday Season – And Stay Fit!
Very Few People Meet Standards for Metabolic Health
Even among people of normal weight, the prevalence of metabolic health in U.S. adults is extremely low, with just about one in eight Americans meeting the standards for the condition. A study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Public Health called the incidence of metabolic health in U.S. adults… Continue reading Very Few People Meet Standards for Metabolic Health
Sleep Apnea May Damage Women Earlier Than Men
Obstructive sleep apnea and snoring may damage heart function earlier in women than in men, according to new European research. The same study, presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), also suggested that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be greatly underdiagnosed among snorers. OSA is a common but serious… Continue reading Sleep Apnea May Damage Women Earlier Than Men
Marathon Runners and Heart Problems
If you’re just a weekend runner, better think twice about signing up for that grueling race. Researchers say that full marathons (26.2 miles) may significantly raise concentrations of several biomarkers of stress in the heart. The study appeared in Circulation, Journal of the American Heart Association. The strain on the heart muscle is much greater… Continue reading Marathon Runners and Heart Problems
On The Horizon: A Contraceptive Gel for Men
Researchers are working on a new contraceptive gel – for men. A clinical trial, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will conduct a study of 420 couples around the world. The gel, called NES/T, includes the progestin compound segesterone acetate (brand name Nestorone), in combination with testosterone. Men who participate in the study… Continue reading On The Horizon: A Contraceptive Gel for Men
New Guidelines for Treating Melanoma
Melanoma may seem less scary than other cancers (breast, ovarian) that we read about, but this deadliest form of skin cancer kills one person every hour. The good news is that melanoma is highly treatable. As with any illness, guidelines for treatment can change as researchers learn more about the disease. The American Academy of… Continue reading New Guidelines for Treating Melanoma
Drinking at Home – and Driving Later
Although we associate drunk driving with drinking at restaurants and bars, drinking at home is also a big problem when it comes to cars. A new study from analysts at the Prevention Research Center (PRC) at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) says that drinking at home is strongly associated with driving after… Continue reading Drinking at Home – and Driving Later
Restoring Aging Skin through the Powers of Collagen
Wrinkles are the outward sign of our skin’s underlying loss of collagen. As we get older, the collagen that supports our skin’s structure ebbs, and wrinkles settle in. For decades, dermatologists have sought ways to replenish collagen and erase wrinkles. Starting in the 1970s, doctors were able to use collagen from animals. Since then, we’ve… Continue reading Restoring Aging Skin through the Powers of Collagen
In-Person Contact May Protect Vets Against PTSD and Depression
Having regular in-person contact appears to protect against depression and PTSD in veterans, but Facebook contact might not be beneficial. The results of the study, by Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System and Oregon Health and Science University researchers, will appear in the Jan. 15, 2019 issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders. “When we… Continue reading In-Person Contact May Protect Vets Against PTSD and Depression
Allergic to Peanuts? Relief May Be at Hand
An oral immunotherapy drug, tested in a 10-nation trial, could be the first FDA-approved medication for people living with peanut allergies. The medicine, AR101, is derived from peanut protein and could help patients build tolerance for peanuts. “The results of this landmark trial are likely to lead to the first FDA-approved treatment for food allergy… Continue reading Allergic to Peanuts? Relief May Be at Hand
U.S. Burden of Alzheimer’s to Double by 2060
The number of Alzheimer’s cases will more than double by 2060, new research shows. And Hispanic Americans have the largest projected increase. In 2014, the number of cases of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRC) in 2014 was 5 million people, which is 1.6 percent of the U.S. population in 2014 (total population is 319… Continue reading U.S. Burden of Alzheimer’s to Double by 2060
Study: Women 75 and Older Benefit from Regular Mammograms
Women who are 75 or older should still get routine mammograms because of the comparatively high incidence of breast cancer in this group, researchers say. The age at which a woman should stop getting routine mammograms has been a controversial subject. In 2009, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released controversial guidelines stating… Continue reading Study: Women 75 and Older Benefit from Regular Mammograms