Category: Health News
Rural Americans don’t live as long as those in cities − new research
A key reason is worse rates among rural people for smoking, obesity and chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease. These conditions are condemning millions to disability and shortened lives.
State lawmakers embrace RFK Jr.’s health policies
Under the “Make America Healthy Agains” banner, state lawmakers are working to regulate candy and soda purchases under social welfare programs, remove fluoride from public water systems, roll back state vaccination requirements, and remove ultra-processed food from schools.
Health insurance for millions could vanish as states put Medicaid expansion on chopping block
Republican lawmakers in several states have Medicaid expansion in their crosshairs, energized by President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and a GOP-controlled Congress set on reducing spending on the public health insurance program for low-income people.
Forget BMI – there’s a 2,000 year-oldtechnique for measuring body fat that’s more useful
Archimedes was so happy with his discovery that he jumped straight out of the bath and ran naked and dripping down the street shouting “Eureka!” (“I have found it!”) – the original eureka moment.
Maternal death reviews get political as state officials intrude
Every state has a committee of medical and public health experts tasked with investigating deaths that occur during and after pregnancy. But as data paints a clearer picture of the impact that state policies such as abortion bans and Medicaid expansion can have on maternal health, leaders in some states are rushing to limit their review committee’s work — or halt it altogether.
Create and Keep a Medication List for Your Health
Many people of all ages take medications. Keeping track of when, how and why you use medications is important for your health and safety.
Just two hours of exercise a week can bring you huge cardiovascular health benefits
A sedentary person who goes from doing nothing to exercising a couple of hours a week will see the greatest reductions in cardiovascular risk during this period. If they increase the amount they exercise to four hours a week, there would be additional – albeit smaller – reductions in risk (around 10%). But the benefits to cardiovascular health appear to max out after 4-6 hours a week – with no additional gains beyond this point for everyone.
Most adults will gain a pound this year – and every year. Here’s how to stop ‘weight creep’ Nick Fuller, University of Sydney As we enter a new year armed with resolutions to improve our lives, there’s a good chance we’ll…
Junk food and drug use cut into life expectancy gains for states
Bad habits such as junk food, smoking and illicit drug use are preventing longer lifespans even as technology brings major progress in diseases such as cancer and heart disease, according to a new study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
Nine of the 10 states (all but North Dakota) with the longest life expectancies for babies born this year are dominated by Democrats, and all 10 have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. All 10 states with the shortest life expectancies are controlled by Republicans (though Kentucky has a Democratic governor), and they include five of the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid.
How America Lost Control of the Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic
By Amy MaxmenKFF Health News Keith Poulsen’s jaw dropped when farmers showed him images on their cellphones at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin in October. A livestock veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin, Poulsen had seen sick cows before, with…
Millions will see rise in health insurance premiums if federal subsidies expire
The Trump administration is unlikely to extend aid that has cut the cost of exchange plans.
Elton John loses sight after eye infection – how to avoid them and what to do if you get one
The more serious eye conditions causing the kind of sight loss Elton John describes, are, fortunately, rarer. The main infections of concern are orbital cellulitis, endophthalmitis and infectious keratitis.
LONG POWER OUTAGES AND ROAD CLOSURES: HOW TO STAY SAFE
High winds and power outages can bring several health and safety risks. If you see damaged or downed power lines, don’t go near them, avoid any standing water, and call the utility company about the line.
In hundreds of communities across the US, finding a dentist is like pulling teeth − but in 14 states, dental therapists are filling the gap
For more than 50 million Americans, finding a dentist is a difficult – in some cases, impossible – proposition. Many rural communities don’t have a dentist. People of color and those with disabilities often lack access, and only about one-third of dentists accept Medicaid.
6 things to do if your child’s weight is beyond the ideal range – and 1 thing to avoid
It’s important to help our kids maintain a healthy weight. Around 80% of children who are obese when they reach adolescence will struggle with their weight for life.