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Drop in opioid overdose deaths nears 50% since 2023
Since their peak less than three years ago, opioid overdose deaths dropped nearly by half as of October, according to a Stateline analysis. The drop comes as a shrinking fentanyl supply has made the drug weaker and less deadly and volunteer efforts get more people into treatment.
The weaker fentanyl tracks to a crackdown on materials used to ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Understanding myeloma treatment
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've been diagnosed with myeloma. What can I expect going forward?
ANSWER: Myeloma is a cancer that affects specialized antibody-producing cells called plasma cells. Over your lifetime, your body produces hundreds of thousands of different types of plasma cells that protect you from a broad range of bacteria ...Read more
COVID in Florida 6 years later: Another new variant, milder infections, fewer deaths and vaccines
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Six years ago this month, Florida schools and beaches closed, cruise ships reported their first COVID outbreaks, and shoppers scrambled to get whatever toilet paper remained on the shelves.
Almost overnight, the COVID lockdown went into effect, triggering isolation of the elderly, drive-through testing sites and social...Read more
Cosmetic Results Of Surgery For A Fatty Tumor Can Vary Greatly
DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with a large fatty tumor on my left thigh. It's very ugly. What can I do to get rid of it? -- V.O.P.
ANSWER: Lipomas are common fatty tumors that may occur on the trunk or the limbs. The vast majority are benign, but very large tumors can possibly be liposarcomas. So, an ultrasound or MRI prior to treatment ...Read more
Slashing your cancer risk
Around 40% of Americans develop cancer. But there's a lot you can do to reduce your risk. Some smart moves seem obvious: Wear sunscreen daily. Don't smoke or hang around folks who do. Don't drink too much alcohol (or any). Avoid red meats and foods laced with toxins, preservatives and sugars.
But here are some equally powerful, lesser-known ...Read more
Measles outbreak in Michigan's Washtenaw County has grown to 7 cases, officials say
DETROIT — A measles outbreak in Washtenaw County has grown to seven cases, health officials confirmed Wednesday.
The Washtenaw County Health Department on Wednesday confirmed the seventh case of measles in the county was contracted by an unvaccinated child who is a close contact of the first case on March 11.
"Unfortunately, this most recent...Read more
A connection to nature fuels well-being worldwide, according to a study of 38,000 people
When life feels overwhelming, many people instinctively turn to nature. A walk in a park. Sitting by the ocean. Watching a sunset. Is this just a pleasant feeling, or is there something deeper at work?
A multitude of studies have linked spending time in nature with different aspects of mental health and wellness. For example, ...Read more
Environmental Nutrition: Macronutrients are important when it comes to a healthy diet
Q: What percentage of my diet should come from each macronutrient?
A: Macronutrients — carbohydrates, proteins and fats — are the building blocks of a healthy diet. The right balance can improve energy and support muscle growth, as well as overall wellness.
Health experts recommend the following daily macronutrient distribution for adults ...Read more
Think sugar is the worst for your teeth? These 5 popular foods are just as bad
When we snack on delicious foods like candy and popcorn, we don’t always realize what happens once they enter our bodies. However, problems occur when these foods begin negatively affecting our health, specifically, our teeth. “Food plays a major role in oral health, often more than most people realize,” says dentist Sandip Sachar, DDS. �...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Men’s health: Why am I leaking urine?
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: This is kind of embarrassing, but, for a while, I’ve been leaking urine. Can something be done to fix this problem?
ANSWER: You don’t have to live with this issue. The three main types of urinary incontinence are:
Incontinence can be treated with behavioral changes, exercises, medications, nerve stimulation and injections...Read more
Is it safe to dermaplane my face?
Q: I’ve got a lot of peach fuzz on my face, which makes me self-conscious. My friend told me I should try dermaplaning. But is it safe?
A: Dermaplaning has gained popularity as various “influencers” tout it on social media. While a variety of at-home gadgets are now available to perform it, all of them are essentially shaving the face. If...Read more
Lasting Pain
Generally speaking, chronic pain lasts longer for women than it does for men. New research suggests differences in hormone-regulated immune cells called monocytes may explain why.
Some monocytes release a molecule that switches off pain. These cells are more active in males due to higher levels of sex hormones such as testosterone; they are ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Sports injury prevention strategies that boost performance
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: For the past several years, I've been competing in half-marathons. This year, I've decided to challenge myself and enter full marathons. What recommendations do you have for preventing sports injuries as I go to this next level?
ANSWER: Congratulations on continuing to stretch your goals — and for thinking about preventing ...Read more
Lawmakers seek to protect crisis pregnancy centers as abortion clinic numbers shrink
Conservative lawmakers in multiple states are pushing legislation drafted by an anti-abortion advocacy group to increase protections for crisis pregnancy centers, organizations that provide some health-related services but also work to dissuade women from having abortions.
The legislation would prohibit state and local governments from ...Read more
Psychiatrists' use of biomarkers could open a new window into mental health diagnoses
Amanda Miller was 30 and pregnant with her second child in Hershey, Pennsylvania, when she developed depression. After she gave birth, her depression worsened. It was joined by a slew of unexplained health problems.
Miller, a neuroscientist, said she saw several psychiatrists and got prescriptions for drug after drug. Over two years, she tried ...Read more
Being insured in America is not the same as having access to care
In April 2022, my mother-in-law, Karla, went for a routine physical therapy visit for carpal tunnel pain. The clinic was full and nearly turned her away. Only after she insisted that something felt wrong did a therapist send her to the emergency room.
A CT scan revealed a mass in her brain.
Karla was 50 years old. She was a first-generation ...Read more
D-Dimer Blood Test Causes Confusion In 83-Year-Old Male
DEAR DR. ROACH: What are D-dimers? Are they something I should be concerned about? I am an 83-year-old male with the usual problems that men my age have, such as an enlarged prostate, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. With medication and monitoring by my doctors, all of these conditions are under control. I also exercise and play golf...Read more
Magnificent multis
Almost 40% of folks ages 60 and older take a multivitamin/multimineral, and, as I have always said, they are doing themselves a world of good, especially if they take half in the morning and half in the evening (that keeps nutrient levels steadier throughout the day).
And a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reaffirms one of ...Read more
The health care industry fueled most of Philadelphia's job growth in the last decade
PHILADELPHIA — The health care industry accounted for more than 70% of new jobs in the Philadelphia area over the past decade, nearly double the growth rate for health care nationally, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The region added approximately 184,000 jobs since 2015. More than 132,000 were in health care, with home ...Read more
‘Vas Madness’ shows the power of messaging on men’s contraceptive decisions
Bracket-busting upsets, Cinderella stories, OT buzzer beaters – March Madness is here! Or, as some urologists think of it, vasectomy promotion season.
Since 2004, urologists have been promoting vasectomies every March, promising patients who elect the procedure an excellent excuse to relax on the couch and watch college basketball.<...Read more
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