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Assistant Fails To Schedule Ct Scan Due To Insurance Confusion
DEAR DR. ROACH: How much power do you think administrative employees in a doctor's office should have over patient care? I like my doctor and his nursing staff, but I'm quite upset about a situation where a specialist from out of town faxed a request for a CT scan to my primary care physician's office. The assistant that received the request ...Read more
More good news about hormone therapy for menopause
Remember in 2002 when "results" from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) brought the use of hormone therapy (HT) for menopausal symptoms to a screeching halt? Fortunately, subsequent reanalysis of the data revealed that when hormone replacement was taken within 10 years of the start of menopause symptoms, it was not risky for most women.
Then ...Read more
Boomers expected to live longer than predecessors, but in worse health
A new study has found that baby boomers, people born from 1946 to 1964, are experiencing worse health outcomes than their predecessors, despite living longer on average than these previous generations.
In what the study calls a “generational health drift,” baby boomers across the United States and Europe have higher levels of diabetes, high...Read more
Study: Severe COVID raised risk of heart attack, stroke as much as having heart disease
LOS ANGELES — People hospitalized for COVID-19 early in the pandemic suffered an increased risk of serious "cardiac events" such as heart attacks and strokes that was akin to people with a history of heart disease, a newly released study has found.
Researchers from USC, UCLA and the Cleveland Clinic analyzed more than 10,000 COVID cases ...Read more
DEA could reclassify marijuana to a less restrictive category – a drug policy expert weighs the pros and cons
The Drug Enforcement Administration announced in early 2024 that it would act on President Joe Biden’s call to reclassify marijuana, moving it from the tightly controlled Schedule I category that it has been in since 1970 to the less restrictive Schedule III status of the Controlled Substances Act. That triggered a long process of hearings ...Read more
Buyer beware: Off-brand Ozempic, Zepbound and other weight loss products carry undisclosed risks for consumers
In just a few years, brand-name injectable drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound have rocketed to fame as billion-dollar annual sellers for weight loss as well as to control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
But the price of these injections is steep: They cost about US$800-$1,000 per month, and ...Read more
Environmental Nutrition: What is a flax egg?
Q: What is a flax egg?
A: A flax egg is a popular vegan substitute for traditional eggs in baking and cooking. It is made by mixing ground flaxseeds with water, usually in the ratio of one tablespoon of ground flaxseeds to three tablespoons of water. This mixture is then left to sit for about five to 10 minutes, during which it thickens and ...Read more
7 canned foods with more than 7 grams of protein per serving
Protein has been in the spotlight for quite some time, and for good reason. It’s important for many body functions including muscle growth and repair, immune support, and satiety. However, meeting your daily protein needs might seem like it takes a lot of time-consuming planning and meal prep. Here are seven canned foods that provide at least ...Read more
Dupuytren’s contracture of the hand
One of the more unusual conditions affecting the hands and fingers is Dupuytren’s contracture (also called Dupuytren’s disease). Here, one or more fingers become curled, which can make it difficult to pick up or hold objects or perform everyday activities.
Legend says the condition originated with the Vikings of Northern Europe, although ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Could back issues be spinal arthritis
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am in my late 50s and have started having stiffness in my back. I have become much less flexible and sometimes even have a hard time looking over my shoulder. I remember my grandparents complaining about arthritis in their knees and hands — and the pain they had later in life. Could I be developing arthritis in my spine? Is...Read more
Alzheimer's Drug Downer
People with Down syndrome have the highest prevalence for developing Alzheimer's disease. Roughly 30% are diagnosed with the neurological condition by their 50s. They have over a 90% chance of developing dementia from Alzheimer's in their lifetime.
Landmark Food and Drug Administration approval of anti-amyloid drugs like lecanemab and ...Read more
Do at-home COVID tests actually expire? Learn how they work as California virus season hits
While many respiratory viruses — including COVID-19, RSV and influenza — circulate year-round in California, they are typically more active between October and March, according to the California Department of Public Health.
You might be wondering whether your cold-like symptoms might be coronavirus, and whether you can use the old at-home ...Read more
Here's why getting a COVID shot during pregnancy is important
Nearly 90% of babies who had to be hospitalized with COVID-19 had mothers who didn’t get the vaccine while they were pregnant, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings appear in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Babies too young to be vaccinated had the highest COVID ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q and A: Emotional exhaustion: When your feelings feel overwhelming
Editor's Note: Oct. 6-12 is Mental Illness Awareness Week
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Recently, I've been feeling physically and mentally drained from the demands of work, caregiving and other responsibilities. I struggle to find motivation and have trouble concentrating on tasks. Are there strategies to help me find emotional balance?
ANSWER: Turning ...Read more
A Philadelphia biotech designed a first-of-its-kind therapy for rare cancer. Now, it waits for patients
PHILADELPHIA — Within the next couple of weeks, the first blood samples from patients will arrive at the loading dock of Adaptimmune, a biotechnology company headquartered on the northeastern edge of the Navy Yard.
Their arrival will open a new chapter in medicine's ongoing search for a therapy that converts the body's own immune system into ...Read more
Nearly 50 years after research began, more questions than answers about Hispanic heart health
There are more than 65 million Hispanic and Latino people living in the U.S. – the second-largest racial or ethnic minority population in the country. Yet when it comes to heart and brain health, less may be understood about this population than any other.
Researchers say the reasons for this are complex, but two stand out: While often lumped...Read more
Woman's Antidrug Treatment For Parkinson's Isn't Sustainable
DEAR DR. ROACH: My friend is 63 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease two years ago. She started having tremors probably two years before her diagnosis, but they were being attributed to longtime use of a psychiatric medication that was prescribed for her bipolar disorder. She is opting not to take any medications for Parkinson...Read more
Protecting yourself from air pollution
Every day, you breathe in around 2,000 gallons of air, enough to fill an average swimming pool. And when it is polluted with particulate matter, it increases inflammation throughout your body, increases your risk for respiratory and cardiovascular disease, worsens asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and leads to premature death.
...Read more
Homeopathy for Cataracts: Natural Approaches for Eye Health
Cataracts are a common age-related eye condition characterized by the clouding of the lens, leading to blurry vision and impaired eyesight. While conventional treatment options include surgery, some individuals may explore alternative approaches, such as homeopathy, to support their eye health. In this article, we explore several homeopathic ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Minute: How excessive daytime sleepiness can affect heart health
If you have a difficult time staying awake and alert during the day, you may be experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness. Dr. Virend Somers, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist with a focus on sleep medicine, explains the difference between being tired and being sleepy and how excessive daytime sleepiness can have a negative effect on the heart.
...Read more
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Popular Stories
- 7 canned foods with more than 7 grams of protein per serving
- DEA could reclassify marijuana to a less restrictive category – a drug policy expert weighs the pros and cons
- Mayo Clinic Q&A: Could back issues be spinal arthritis
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Emotional exhaustion: When your feelings feel overwhelming
- Dupuytren’s contracture of the hand