New UCLA-led research suggests that patient mortality rates, readmissions, length of stay, and health care spending were virtually identical for elderly hospitalized patients who were treated by physicians with Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degrees. While both traditional, or allopathic, medical schools and osteopathic medical schools provide the same rigorous… Continue reading No difference in health outcomes, care costs for patients treated by traditional MDs or osteopaths
Category: Alcoholism
5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Doctor Visit
Being able to talk with your doctor is important, especially if you have health problems or concerns.Use these TIPS to make the most of your doctor visit.Prepare for your visit.Be ready to ask three or four questions. Share your symptoms, medicines or vitamins, health habits, and any major life changes.Take notes or ask forwritten materials.Don’t… Continue reading 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Doctor Visit
African-American Cancer Survivors and Discrimination
Cancer and its treatment can accelerate the rate of aging because they both destabilize and damage biological systems in the body. New research published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, found that African American cancer survivors who reported high levels of discrimination exhibited greater aging and frailty than… Continue reading African-American Cancer Survivors and Discrimination
Understanding The Different Kinds of Protein
Proteins are vital to the health and function of our bodies. That makes it important to understand what they are and how they fit into the diet. In a column from UCLA Health, Elizabeth Ko, MD and Eve Glazier, MD, explain the differences between various proteins. Dietary protein, along with carbohydrates and fats, is what… Continue reading Understanding The Different Kinds of Protein
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
The Ides of Monkeypox—What the Future Holds, How to Prevent It and What Causes It
By now, everyone has heard about monkeypox, which is now in numerous countries. It is an illness that may be the new pandemic. But is this really the beginning of a new pandemic, or are people still living in fear because of the real pandemic we are currently experiencing? There’s no reason for people to be… Continue reading The Ides of Monkeypox—What the Future Holds, How to Prevent It and What Causes It
There’s More than One Kind of Fiber
Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. High fiber diets have been linked to health benefits such as improved metabolism and heart health. However, as little as 5% of the U.S. population consumes the recommended level of fiber. Fiber supplementation could help close this gap, but the health effects of purified fiber supplements… Continue reading There’s More than One Kind of Fiber
What “FDA-Approved” Really Means
Maybe you saw “FDA-Approved” on a company’s website or in a commercial promoting a product or treatment. Some marketers may say their products are “FDA approved.” But how can you know for sure what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved? The FDA is responsible for protecting public health by regulating human drugs and… Continue reading What “FDA-Approved” Really Means
May Is Mental Health Month
Mental health issues are not new. However, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed around the country since 1949 through the media and special events. Today, conversations about mental health have become more mainstream and much less taboo than ever before. Let’s continue the discussions with advice from authors and experts across a broad spectrum… Continue reading May Is Mental Health Month
Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What’s Better for Your Loved One?
Hospice or palliative care? Many people think they are one and the same, but that is not exactly accurate. Each type of care helps patients at specific times and may have different insurance coverage options. What is hospice? According to the National Institute on Aging, a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human… Continue reading Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What’s Better for Your Loved One?
Tips on Treating and Preventing Athlete’s Foot
Even if you’ve never played a sport, you’ve probably dealt with athlete’s foot. But this fungus-caused skin condition – so named for its spread in athletic locker rooms and communal showers – is easily treated and prevented. Known medically as tinea pedis, athlete’s foot affects up to 15% of the population – most commonly men… Continue reading Tips on Treating and Preventing Athlete’s Foot
What Can Be Done Today About Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are very common, especially in women, and especially as they age. About one-quarter to one-third of all adults and half of those over fifty have some degree of varicosity, visible as blue veins under the skin, most often on their legs. Varicose veins are unsightly and though they sometimes cause no discomfort or… Continue reading What Can Be Done Today About Varicose Veins?
Dealing with Underage Drinking
Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. Alcohol is the most widely used substance among America’s youth, and drinking by young people poses enormous health and safety risks. The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone—regardless of age or drinking status.Either directly or indirectly, we all feel the effects of… Continue reading Dealing with Underage Drinking
For Those in Recovery, How to Deal with Triggers as the World Opens Back Up
As people around the world have sheltered in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, those going through recovery have an additional layer of struggle. Due to the stress of isolation, there has been a high rate of relapse during the lockdown, making it more difficult for people who abused drugs or alcohol to return… Continue reading For Those in Recovery, How to Deal with Triggers as the World Opens Back Up
What You Need to Know about Binge Drinking
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent—or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter—or higher. For a typical adult, this pattern of excessive alcohol use corresponds to consuming 4 or more drinks (female), or 5 or… Continue reading What You Need to Know about Binge Drinking
Important Health Discoveries of 2020
With support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), scientists across the United States and around the world conduct wide-ranging research to discover ways to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. Although COVID-19 was unquestionably the most important public health story of the year, here’s just a small sample of the other… Continue reading Important Health Discoveries of 2020
Stress Drinking
Whether it’s stress from quarantining, worrying about your family’s health, or becoming an at-home teacher, it can become all too common to reach for wine or liquor as a technique to relax during this tough period. But the National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns against alcohol habits that could suddenly spiral out of control. Drinking… Continue reading Stress Drinking
The Dangers of Summer Drinking
Summer is typically a wonderful season for outdoor activities and spending additional time with family and friends. For some people, these activities include drinking alcoholic beverages. But in light of the coronavirus pandemic as well as the negative consequences associated with drinking, it is particularly important this summer to take measures to protect your own… Continue reading The Dangers of Summer Drinking