Heart and Circulatory System

Been drinking and your heart’s fluttering? You may have ‘holiday heart’

Maybe there’s a flutter in your chest or neck. Maybe you feel dizzy or short of breath. You may feel so concerned you go to the emergency department.

After a few tests, you’re told you have “alcohol-induced atrial arrhythmia”. In plain English, that’s an irregular heartbeat brought on by excessive, or binge drinking.

The condition is common at this time of year. That’s why it’s also called “holiday heart”.

Clipboard with a sheet of paper with "Medicaid" written at the top on a desk with stethoscope and other medical equip ment.
Health Costs, Health Insurance, Medicaid, Politics

Work Requirements for Medicaid Could Be Returning as Republicans Take Back the Power

During the first Trump Administration, states were encouraged to submit waiver requests to implement Medicaid work requirements, a decision which signaled the weaponization of the Section 1115 authority as a means of achieving a long-standing Republican policy goal. Ultimately, thirteen such waivers were approved. Federal lawsuits soon followed and stories about how these requirements could impact rural communities began to emerge. 

Aging, Fitness, Prevention, Seniors

Healthspan versus lifespan: The vital role of muscle in successful aging

The extension of life expectancy in the 20th century and beyond is one of humanity’s greatest achievements. However, it is crucial to draw a distinction between lifespan — the amount of time between birth and death — and healthspan, which is the amount of time during which a person is healthy within their lifespan. Older people are spending more time in poor health, and this represents a major individual and public health burden.