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Showing posts from February, 2020

Preparing for Coronavirus: Dos and Don’ts

Public health officials have been urging people to prepare -- not panic -- for the coronavirus (also known as COVID-19). Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself right now. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2wbadn4 via IFTTT

Rebirth of a Nation

Beginning an eight-day road trip down the Albanian Riviera in Tirana, the capital city at the heart of a post-Communist awakening, prepares New York-based Aalika Mahindra to traverse the country’s particular sociopolitical arc and her own progression as a traveller from Verve Magazine https://ift.tt/3998ywL

More Than 4 in 10 Americans Are Now Obese: CDC

Much more than just a cosmetic issue, obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, arthritis, gallbladder disease and more, according to the U.S. National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2PLh11R via IFTTT

Record Number of Pedestrian Deaths Seen in U.S.

The 2019 figure is the highest number of such deaths in more than 30 years, according to the association. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2PviysB via IFTTT

Drug Shows Promise Vs. Aggressive Breast Cancer

The study found that for women with "triple-negative" breast cancer, adding Keytruda to standard chemotherapy improved their odds of responding. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/32yBlbM via IFTTT

Another Vaping Hazard: Less-Healthy Mouths

Vaping alters the natural bacteria found in the mouth, leaving you more vulnerable to oral infections and inflammation, a new study reports. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/399fQRu via IFTTT

Weight Gain Is No Friend to Aging Lungs

While lung function decreases naturally as people age, researchers linked moderate or significant weight gain to an even sharper decline. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2T1UTSH via IFTTT

Study: No Need for Adult Tetanus, Diphtheria Shots

The new findings mesh with the World Health Organization's recent recommendation to only vaccinate adults for tetanus and diphtheria if they didn't have a full series of shots as children. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2TfS2od via IFTTT

Drug May Help Tough-to-Treat Chronic Cough

The trial was funded by the drug's maker, Merck, and involved 253 American and British participants. All had suffered from an unexplained or untreatable cough that had lasted for an average of almost 15 years. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/3camEA7 via IFTTT

Losing a Spouse Could Speed Brain's Decline

In fact, people who are widowed and have high levels of beta-amyloid plaque, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, appear to experience cognitive decline three times faster than similar people who have not lost a spouse, the researchers added. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2PtNCZH via IFTTT

FDA Warns Jimmy John's Over 'Adulterated' Produce

The latest outbreak was from November to December 2019 in Iowa, where 22 people were infected with E. coli. Twenty of them were interviewed, and each said they ate at one or more of 15 Jimmy John’s locations from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2T1m1RT via IFTTT

Coronavirus' Top Targets: Men, Seniors, Smokers

Early data suggested that men were more vulnerable, as they accounted for just more than half the cases, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Infected men died twice as often as infected women. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/3a7MWRy via IFTTT

What Works Best to Ease Flare-Ups of COPD?

There's not enough evidence to recommend newer treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2PqhGoZ via IFTTT

Quarantines for Coronavirus: Not in My Backyard

As the number of cases of coronavirus grows in the U.S., the government is looking for more and more places to establish quarantines. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2TcVz6A via IFTTT

Could Heartburn Meds Lead to Drug-Resistant Germs?

The findings do not prove that PPIs -- which include popular brands such as Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole) -- are the cause, experts said.         But they are the latest to raise safety questions about the top-selling prescription and over-the-counter medicines. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2TeKMZx via IFTTT

Woman's Body Actually 'Auto-Brewed' Alcohol

The doctors, at the University of Pittsburgh, say it's a previously unrecognized variant of so-called auto-brewery syndrome. ABS, which has been reported sporadically over the years, occurs when yeast builds up in the gut and converts sugar from food into alcohol. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/37Z8Y7u via IFTTT

Pot Use Among Seniors Nearly Doubled in 3 Years

The proportion of folks 65 and older who use pot stands at 4.2%, up from 2.4% in 2015, according to figures from the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2HOqnFB via IFTTT

With New Hotspots, Coronavirus on Verge of Pandemic

Pandemics are more severe than outbreaks or epidemics. It’s a term that signals that a disease is a threat to the entire world.  While public health officials seemed to downplay the significance of attaching the word to COVID-19, there’s no doubt about its importance in public messaging. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/37UkX6x via IFTTT

FDA Approves New Cholesterol Drug

Nexletol is a daily pill approved for people with a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol and for heart disease patients who need to further reduce their bad cholesterol. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/38V6I2p via IFTTT

Stirring Up Conversations

Addressing stereotypes about North-East India is a key element of Abhineet Mishra’s stand-up comedy act on stage. We test his skills in the kitchen, where the reluctant cook gamely whips up a staple dish of the region while filling Zaral Shah in on the less-talked-about culinary connection with his roots from Verve Magazine https://ift.tt/38UydJx

Can Men Dine Their Way to Higher Sperm Counts?

Median sperm counts were highest among men who ate a healthy diet (167 million), followed by the vegetarian-style diet (151 million) and the Danish diet (146 million). (Median means half had higher counts, half lower.) from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2VdLclE via IFTTT

Drug Company Perks Spur Doctors' Prescriptions

More than 20% of Medicare Part D expenses on brand-name medications came from doctors who received an incentive related to a drug they prescribed. Nearly 30% of physicians got an incentive for at least one drug they prescribed during the study period. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2Pc5k3I via IFTTT

Hidden Dangers of Ultraprocessed Foods

Unless you make all your food at home from scratch -- and even then -- processed food is practically unavoidable. But there are degrees of processing. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2HHltdd via IFTTT

Could Climate Change Make Flu Seasons Worse?

These findings suggest that rapid weather changes associated with climate change will increase the risk of flu epidemics in densely populated areas. For example, Europe could have a 50% increase in flu-related deaths, according to the researchers. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2uiYJgF via IFTTT

Silent COVID-19 Cases May Stymie Screening Efforts

As countries work to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, a new study shows why the methods they are currently using to screen international travelers may not be catching everyone who’s infected. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2V5Qrnr via IFTTT

Brain Stent Could Cut Odds for a Second Stroke

In a new study, the self-expanding, intracranial Wingspan brain stent seems effective over the long term in reducing stroke patients' risk of a subsequent stroke and death. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2Pb4cxb via IFTTT

'Stranger Things' Sheds Light on a Rare Disorder

The disorder, called cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), affects only about one in a million people, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Caused by a mutated gene, CCD leads to abnormal bone development -- most apparent in the collarbones and teeth. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/39OeRWD via IFTTT

Wearable 'Brain Stimulator' May Boost Stroke Recovery

The device, which is controlled with a smartphone, looks like a swim cap with multiple magnetic microstimulators attached. Study volunteers wore it for 40 minutes per session, and completed 20 sessions over four weeks. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2Vcx8c3 via IFTTT

Another HIV Hazard: Higher Risk for COPD

Compared to those without the AIDS-causing virus, people with HIV had a 34% higher rate of COPD and were diagnosed with the lung disease about 12 years earlier -- average age 50 versus 62, the investigators found. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/38N8jY9 via IFTTT

Woman Plays Violin During Brain Surgery

Midway through the surgery, Turner was wakened and asked to her play her violin to "ensure the surgeons did not damage any crucial areas of the brain that controlled Dagmar's delicate hand movements,? according to the hospital. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2SK2chJ via IFTTT

Lung Diseases on the Rise Worldwide

Aging and risk factors such as smoking, pollution and overweight/obesity are among the other major risk factors for chronic lung diseases, according to the analysis of data from 195 countries. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2SHTGzQ via IFTTT

Sexual Orientation May Influence Skin Cancer Risk

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston analyzed data culled from national surveys conducted from 2014 to 2018 and found that skin cancer rates were 8.1% among gay men, 8.4% among bisexual men, and 6.7% among heterosexual men. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2T0bSDB via IFTTT

Power in Numbers: Your Birthday Influence Care

Among patients who had turned 80 within the past two weeks, just over 5%  received bypass surgery. In contrast, the rate was 7% among patients who were about to turn 80 in the next couple weeks. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2SJGx9q via IFTTT

'Stinging Water': Jellyfish Release Toxic Mucus

In this new study, researchers concluded that stinging water is caused by toxin-filled mucus that the jellyfish release into the water. The mucus contains gyrating balls of stinging cells called cassiosomes. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/39P17uN via IFTTT

Common Plastics Chemicals Linked to Autism Traits in Young Boys

The study didn't identify a heightened risk for autism per se among boys, but rather a "small" increase in the chance for developing certain autism-related traits by age 3 or 4. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2T1X1bZ via IFTTT

Healthy 'Mediterranean Diet' Is Good for Your Microbiome

The new study finds that older adults who eat a Mediterranean diet tend to have more types of gut bacteria linked with healthy aging. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2uNKOj7 via IFTTT

Many Teens Suffer 'Digital Dating Abuse'

Many U.S. teenagers may be using their smartphones to harass, humiliate or otherwise abuse their dating partners. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/38K0ylN via IFTTT

Game Face

Following a serendipitous opportunity, the girl who once hated cricket is now a fixture on its televised English coverage in India. Over the last 13 years, Mayanti Langer-Binny has commentated on a host of major global sports events, and in a long-overdue encounter, former national cricketer Snehal Pradhan observes the off-camera confidence that has maintained the broadcaster’s steady position in such an unpredictable field from Verve Magazine https://ift.tt/3bLslEx

Doctors Look to Existing Drugs in Coronavirus Fight

More than two dozen studies are under way or planned to test everything from traditional Chinese medicine to vitamin C, stem cells, steroids, and to medications developed to fight other viruses, like the flu and HIV. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2SZsDPi via IFTTT

Melanoma Cases Rising in U.S.

States with the highest UV-attributable incidence rates among all residents were: Utah, Delaware, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, Georgia, Washington and Montana. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2UYsf6t via IFTTT

Late Bedtime in Preschool Could Bring Weight Gain

Researchers found that young children who routinely got to sleep after 9 p.m. tended to gain more body fat between the ages of 2 and 6. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2SBheWW via IFTTT

Women Patients Still Missing in Heart Research

Women accounted for less than 40% of all people enrolled in cardiovascular clinical trials from 2010 through 2017, according to a study published Feb. 17 in the journal Circulation. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2P4OWSt via IFTTT

Study Probes Side Effects of Long-Used Methotrexate

People who took methotrexate had small-to-moderate increases in risks for skin cancer, infections, and gastrointestinal, lung and blood problems, according to the study published Feb. 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2vM10Bi via IFTTT

Price Hike Lead Patients to Craigslist for Insulin

A new study found that hundreds of ads were placed on Craigslist for insulin and asthma inhalers during a 12-day period in June 2019. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2STMKhX via IFTTT

Blood Pressure Med Tied to Harmful Side Effects

Current guidelines recommend the drug chlorthalidone (Thalitone) as the first-line diuretic. But it can have serious side effects that can be avoided with another diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril), researchers say. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2SDgKj5 via IFTTT

Exposure to Cleaners Tied to Baby's Asthma Risk

Canadian research shows that an infant's exposure to household cleaning products in the first few months of life is tied to heightened odds for asthma by age 3. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2uZGEVl via IFTTT

Every Man For Himself

The menswear retail sector has undergone a visible evolution as it moved from offering just boring basics or expensive designer garments to including multi-designer men’s stores and Instagram brands that are eco-friendly and influenced by street style. Verve gives you an overview of the ready-to-wear market while highlighting a mix of well-established and under-the-radar labels from Verve Magazine https://ift.tt/2OYbrsi

A Simple Fix for Nearsightedness

What's the best thing parents can tell their children to help prevent myopia, or nearsightedness? "Go outside and play,” a researcher says. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2Xd6Wgi via IFTTT

Cholesterol Drugs Might Help Curb Prostate Cancers

The study couldn't prove cause and effect, but it found that statins, taken alone or with metformin, did seem associated with an increase in survival. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/3bDbUtJ via IFTTT

Rethinking Milk: Science Takes On the Dairy Dilemma

Dairy products are rich in calcium and protein, and they have long been promoted as important for helping kids grow and helping kids and adults build and maintain strong bones. Now a new study questions whether diary deserves its health halo. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2V3dkrN via IFTTT

Will Brushing, Flossing Protect Against Stroke?

Gum disease may be linked to higher rates of stroke caused by hardened and severely blocked arteries, preliminary research findings indicate. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/38s84Sn via IFTTT

More Sex Partners, Higher Cancer Risk?

During the 2012-2013 phase of the ongoing study, more than 5,700 participants were asked how many sexual partners they'd had during their lives. Researchers compared their answers to self-reported diagnoses of cancer. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/3bGaluX via IFTTT

Diet Drug Belviq Withdrawn Due to Cancer Risk

The FDA asked the maker of weight-loss drug Belviq (lorcaserin) to take it off the market after a clinical trial showed an association with an increased risk of cancer. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2SrsAgb via IFTTT

Girl, Unconnected

Two breakout books of 2019, Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy and Jia Tolentino’s Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion are lessons in what the internet generation was promised, what it got, and where to go from here from Verve Magazine https://ift.tt/2US2tAO

Celluloid Dreamer

Each of the films that Vikramaditya Motwane has directed — Udaan, Lootera, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero and Trapped — grapples with the desire to change one’s circumstances; the relentless chase for happiness, love, success…freedom. He surveys the commercial Hindi movies of the last 70 years and picks seven iconic releases, exclusively revealing how each one has guided his own aspirations, especially once he found his métier from Verve Magazine https://ift.tt/2HlWCMb

Is Sunny Outlook the Best Rx for Stroke Recovery?

Stroke survivors who had positive outlooks showed lower levels of inflammation, reduced stroke severity and fewer physical impairments after three months compared to more pessimistic stroke survivors, the researchers found. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2UM5WAN via IFTTT