LocalHealthGuide - Part 205

Bill for two infusions of MS drug: $123,000

No one told Shereese Hickson she qualified for financial assistance to cover her portion of a $123,019 bill until she called the hospital.

November 27, 2018 Influenza/Flu / Measles / Vaccines

Northwest an anti-vaccine hotspot

Anti-vaccine activities appear to be more of a western phenomenon, especially in the Pacific Northwest and the American Southwest.

November 27, 2018 Ethics / Genetics

Gene-edited babies: China wants to be the world leader, but at what cost?

This isn’t the first time a Chinese team has used the CRISPR technique on human embryos in a way that few researchers from other countries have attempted.

November 27, 2018 Addiction / Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine Overdoses Surge

The number of people hospitalized because of amphetamine use is skyrocketing, but its resurgence has been overshadowed by the nation’s focus on opioids.

November 23, 2018 Mental Health

Why do Black Friday shoppers fight?

Why do Black Friday shoppers throw punches over bargains? Many people chalk it up to bad behavior. But marketers ascribe it to a phenomenon known as “psychological ownership.”

November 23, 2018 Air Pollution / Environment / Health News

Wildfire smoke is becoming a nationwide health threat

Wildfire smoke contains toxic compounds can lead to lung irritation, cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and even death.

November 23, 2018 Health Insurance / Medicaid / Medicare

Attention, Shoppers!

If you want to enroll in a marketplace health insurance plan, now’s the time to get cracking.

November 21, 2018 E. coli / Food-borne Illness

Do not eat romaine lettuce, health officials warn

CDC is advising consumers, restaurants, and retailers not to eat, serve, or sell any romaine lettuce as it investigates E. coli infections linked to romaine.

November 20, 2018 Alternative Medicine / Heart and Circulatory System

Do fish oil supplements help your heart?

“I would never recommend a dietary supplement to a patient, and I would never take one myself,” says one prominent cardiologist.

November 19, 2018 Health Insurance

Short-term health plans: A wise choice?

A few states have banned them, others limit them. But to some healthy consumers, short-term plans are a low-cost alternative to more comprehensive coverage.

November 19, 2018 Fitness

Exercise is medicine, and doctors are starting to prescribe it

The health benefits of exercise have been proven over and over again. If it was a pill, exercise would be a trillion-dollar money-maker prescribed to everyone.

November 19, 2018 Food-borne Illness / Salmonella

Don’t invite Salmonella to your Thanksgiving table

An ongoing outbreak of salmonella poisoning linked to the Turkey means food safety at home is more critical than ever this Thanksgiving.

November 19, 2018 Transplantation

Hospital ads play on fear and fun

Hospitals are using dramatic TV spots to attract lucrative patients into their hospitals as health care costs and industry competition escalate.

November 16, 2018 Alternative Medicine / Drugs

Six surprising drug interactions you should know about

Not only can drugs interact with each other, they can also interact with food and drink, as well as popular herbal remedies.

November 16, 2018 Substance Abuse

FDA Restricts Flavored E-Cigarette Sales to Stem Surging Underage Use

Instead of banning sugary-flavored e-cigarettes, the FDA proposes to limit sales to areas in convenience stores and other retail outlets that require an ID.