With so many food options out there, it is helpful to have information on food packages that can empower you to identify healthier choices. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to update its definition of “healthy.” That includes the nutritional standards a product must meet to put the claim “healthy” on the… Continue reading Updating the Definition of “Healthy”
Author: Jane Farrell
Striving for Equity in Health Care
Where you live shouldn’t determine how well or how long you live, but it does. The American Heart Association recognizes that medical care alone is insufficient to ensure better health and well-being: about 80% of a person’s health is determined by factors other than access and quality of clinical care. When people don’t have stable… Continue reading Striving for Equity in Health Care
The Difficulties of Diagnosis
You hear that we should get a second opinion a lot, particularly if a test result or medical diagnosis is challenging or unclear. But how independent are second opinions when information is shared between physicians? Researchers at UCLA examined how pathologists tasked with offering a second opinion for a patient might be influenced by being… Continue reading The Difficulties of Diagnosis
What is Lewy Body Dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), sometimes called frontotemporal disorders, is a rare form of dementia that tends to occur at a younger age than other dementias. About 60% of people with FTD are 45 to 64 years old. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it is caused by a group of disorders that gradually damage… Continue reading What is Lewy Body Dementia?
Monkeypox: Your questions answered
As of July 25, there have been 162 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Los Angeles County and at least 3,400 cases in the United States, prompting fears of another coronavirus-style outbreak. The number of cases continues to grow. Monkeypox, however, is an entirely different virus. It is not a respiratory illness like COVID-19, notes Omai… Continue reading Monkeypox: Your questions answered
Easier Ways to Get Mental Health Help
Taking good care of your mental health is an important health priority, especially during stressful times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Institutes of Health has resources on their website that may help, including fact sheets on stress, depression, and anxiety. You can also find helpful brochures and fact sheets on the National Institute… Continue reading Easier Ways to Get Mental Health Help
Regular Napping Can Be Risky
Napping on a regular basis is associated with higher risks for high blood pressure and stroke, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association (AHA)journal. Researchers in China examined whether frequent naps could be a potential causal risk factor for high blood pressure and/or stroke. This is the first study to… Continue reading Regular Napping Can Be Risky
The Differing Symptoms of Heart Disease
A review of the latest research highlights the most reported symptoms of various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), noting that men and women often experience different symptoms, according to a new American Heary (AHA) scientific statement published today in the Association’s flagship peer-reviewed journal, Circulation. The statement also highlights how symptoms are experienced over time, which may… Continue reading The Differing Symptoms of Heart Disease
Is Popcorn Bad for Your Health?
Lately, there have been a number of stories on whether PFAS and have an adverse effect on our health. I read that some food wrappers, like bags for microwave popcorn, use PFAS to keep food from sticking to bags. How dangerous are PFAs? The following information from UCLA Health should answer common questions. The term… Continue reading Is Popcorn Bad for Your Health?
Housework Can Be Healthy
Physical and mental activities, such as household chores, exercise, and visiting with family and friends, may help lower the risk of dementia, according to a new study published in the July 27, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study looked at the effects of these activities, as well… Continue reading Housework Can Be Healthy
Study: Smartphones Can Detect Stroke Risk
Motion analysis of video recorded on a smartphone accurately detected narrowed arteries in the neck, which are a risk factor for stroke, according to new research published in July 2022 in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Fatty deposits (plaque) can accumulate in arteries causing them to narrow (stenosis). Narrowed arteries in the carotid… Continue reading Study: Smartphones Can Detect Stroke Risk
Even Small Amount of Breastfeeding Can Provide Heart-Healthy Benefits
Breast milk has long been recognized as an ideal nutrient to strengthen the immune systems of newborns and infants. The American Heart Association (AHA) now says breastfeeding can also provide many heart-healthy benefits for babies and for their birthing parent. In a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in January 2022,… Continue reading Even Small Amount of Breastfeeding Can Provide Heart-Healthy Benefits
What to Know About Your Pet’s Medicine
If you’ve ever had to give your cat a dose of medicine, you know that it can go sideways quickly. While no cat enjoys the process, some might be more cooperative depending on how the drug is given. For example, some cats tolerate taking pills easier than liquid, while others make the pill-giving process into… Continue reading What to Know About Your Pet’s Medicine
How Money Affects Health Care
Where you live shouldn’t determine how well or how long you live, but it does. The American Heart Association (AHA) recognizes that medical care alone is insufficient to ensure better health and well-being: about 80% of a person’s health is determined by factors other than access and quality of clinical care. When people don’t have… Continue reading How Money Affects Health Care
Ultra-Processed Food and Dementia
People who eat the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods like soft drinks, chips and cookies may have a higher risk of developing dementia than those who eat the lowest amounts, according to a new study published in the July 27, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers… Continue reading Ultra-Processed Food and Dementia
Studying Social Factors in Health Care
Where you live shouldn’t determine how well or how long you live, but it does. The American Heart Association (AHA)recognizes that medical care alone is insufficient to ensure better health and well-being: about 80% of a person’s health is determined by factors other than access and quality of clinical care. When people don’t have stable… Continue reading Studying Social Factors in Health Care
What You Need to Know about Monkeypox
The experts at UCLA Health answer your most basic and urgent queries about the virus that’s been making daily headlines. What is monkeypox? Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease originally transmitted from animals to humans. The virus is endemic in West and Central African countries and cases are often found near tropical rainforests where animals may… Continue reading What You Need to Know about Monkeypox
Vaccines and Older Adults
Vaccines have been much in the news lately. Here, from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), an agency of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are some of the shots that you should think about getting: COVID-19 Vaccine COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that causes symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Older… Continue reading Vaccines and Older Adults