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After Changing Doctors, Patient's Record Now Has Some Issues
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently turned 65 and changed primary doctors because my previous doctor did not accept Medicare patients. I very much liked my new doctor. He ordered a vitamin D test. However, when I got to the lab, they gave me something to sign because Medicare might not cover the test. (It was about a $250 cost.) I declined the test.
...Read more
The diabetes-depression, depression-diabetes connection
"Round like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel. Never ending or beginning on an ever-spinning reel," are lyrics from "The Windmills of Your Mind." But they could describe the relationship of diabetes and depression.
It turns out that people living with diabetes are 48% more likely to develop depression than folks without diabetes...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

As shutdown lingers, Marjorie Taylor Greene splits with GOP leaders on health care
WASHINGTON — Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is openly criticizing Republican leaders in Congress over their handling of the government shutdown and health care funding.
Greene’s social media posts and public statements are part of a trend in recent months of her taking positions that are populist but which conflict with public...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: Smart swaps for a healthier ice cream fix
Are you craving ice cream but watching your calories, sugar, or fat intake? Good news — there are plenty of lighter options that satisfy your sweet tooth without derailing your health goals.
Frozen yogurt is a classic alternative, offering less fat than traditional ice cream. Choose plain or low-sugar varieties and top with fresh fruit ...Read more

Eating Well: Eat too much sugar last night? Do this today
So you ate an entire pint of ice cream while binge-watching. Or maybe you ate more dessert than felt comfortable at a family gathering. We’ve all been there. But then the inevitable happens. You wake up the next morning feeling not so great and maybe a little anxious and guilty. And you’re wondering what to do next.
The first thing you ...Read more

5 timeless habits for better health
A veritable avalanche of influencers, news headlines, and well-meaning friends and family offer conflicting advice on wellness. If you’re overwhelmed by fads and hype around wellness, read on. Dr. Wynne Armand, a primary care physician at Harvard-affiliated Mass General Brigham health care in Boston, recommends five simple habits to boost ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q&A: What do pharmacists do?
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’m sure pharmacists are busy, but what do they do? No one likes to wait for a prescription, especially if you’re not feeling well. When you see a pharmacist on the news, you see them counting pills. When I get prescriptions filled, I see the pharmacist looking at a computer. What training do pharmacists have? And what do ...Read more
Spilling the Beans
Excessive coffee consumption is not good. It can lead to increased blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, digestive issues and muscle twitching, among other things.
Talk about clouds in my coffee.
On the other hand, moderate coffee consumption has been linked to longer life, lower risk of type 2 diabetes, heart failure, stroke, colon ...Read more

At least 170 US hospitals face major flood risk. Experts say Trump is making it worse
LOUISVILLE, Tenn. — When a big storm hits, Peninsula Hospital could be underwater.
At this decades-old psychiatric hospital on the edge of the Tennessee River, an intense storm could submerge the building in 11 feet of water, cutting off all roads around the facility, according to a sophisticated computer simulation of flood risk.
Aurora, a ...Read more

'People are going to die': Idahoans fear spike in insurance costs
At 59, Susan Wood, a longtime Boise, Idaho, resident, was too young to qualify for Medicare when she retired in July. So she signed up for a marketplace plan under the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare.
But in the months since, the federal government’s proposed changes to health insurance have threatened to upend her planning — ...Read more

Medicaid cuts could be dangerous for cancer survivors
When Valerie Brown’s lung cancer returned and began to spread to other parts of her body, her doctors suggested a drug that would slow the cancer’s growth.
She’d already had surgery and radiation, and eliminating the cancer was no longer an option. Most people with her type of cancer live no more than five years.
Six years later, the 62-...Read more

Inside the high-stakes battle over vaccine injury compensation, autism and public trust
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has floated a seismic idea: adding autism to the list of conditions covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The program, known as VICP, provides a system for families to file claims against vaccine providers in cases in which they experience severe side effects. ...Read more
Usually Fearless Woman's Anxiety Skyrockets Before The Dentist
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 83-year-old lady, and I have done many adventurous things in my life (skydiving, race car driving, zip-lining, etc.) -- all fearlessly. But I have always been terrified of going to the dentist. My blood pressure skyrockets, and after even a simple cleaning, I have to sit in my car a while to calm down enough to drive ...Read more
The benefits of bariatric surgery
With all the good news about new weight-loss medications, bariatric surgeries decreased by around 25% in 2024, according to a Harvard University study. But for severely obese patients or those who cannot tolerate the oral medications, weight-loss surgery offers a life-saving alternative.
According to a study in JAMA Network Open that used data ...Read more
Homeopathy for Prostate Problems: Natural Remedies for Optimal Prostate Health
Prostate problems are common among men, with conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis affecting many individuals. While conventional treatments are available, homeopathy offers alternative approaches that focus on holistic healing and addressing the root causes. In this article, we explore several homeopathic ...Read more

New protein reverses carbon monoxide poisoning
A new engineered molecule shows promise as an antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning with fewer side effects than other remedies currently being tested, according to research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning sends about 50,000 Americans to the emergency room each year. In 2022, the CDC reported ...Read more

New therapy kickstarts immune response to cancer
Cancer researchers with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital successfully boosted immune response to cancer tissue in a study that could dramatically improve survival and prevent tumor relapse.
Malignant tumors are challenging to treat because they typically avoid detection by the body’s immune system, preventing the immune response that ...Read more

Democrats find unlikely ally in Marjorie Taylor Greene on Obamacare issue in shutdown fight
Democrats Tuesday claimed they have grabbed the political upper hand in the fight over the government shutdown as Republican cracks are emerging on skyrocketing health insurance costs.
House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries spotlighted comments by outspoken right-wing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, that she is “absolutely ...Read more

Health centers face risks as government funding lapses
About 1,500 federally funded health centers that serve millions of low-income people face significant financial challenges, their leaders say, as the government shutdown compounds other cuts to their revenue.
Some of these community health centers may have to cut medical and administrative staff or reduce services. Some could eventually close. ...Read more
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