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Acute stress and early signs of PTSD are common in firefighters and other first responders − here’s what to watch out for
The thousands of firefighters and other first responders on the front lines of the fires that are raging in the Los Angeles area are at increased risk for anxiety, depression, acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Amanda Mascarelli, The Conversation U.S.’s senior health and medicine editor, spoke with Ian H. Stanley, a ...Read more
On Nutrition: Treatments for low thyroid
Several years ago, a patient asked me what she could eat to treat hypothyroidism — a medical condition characterized by abnormally low levels of thyroid hormones.
She was correct to be concerned. The small thyroid gland housed in the front of our necks manufactures hormones that control important bodily functions including breathing, heart ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q and A: Leg pain? It may be your arteries
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I'm 52 years old and enjoy long walks with my husband and our dog. I recently started to experience pain in my left calf during our walks. The leg pain goes away when I rest. Because I have a history of high blood pressure, I went to see my primary care physician and was diagnosed with peripheral artery disease. What is this ...Read more
Understanding The Dangers Of Untreated Sleep Apnea
DEAR DR. ROACH: Would you please address the dangers of untreated sleep apnea? Also, what do people do when they are unable to tolerate a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine? I know that surgery is an option, but most times, it can be unsuccessful. -- Anon.
ANSWER: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is very common (15% to 30% of men...Read more
If you're going to be angry, be angry at inflammatory foods!
From road rage to political conflicts, Americans are inflamed with anger these days. According to Crown Consulting, a mental health service, 7% to 11% of the general population experience significant anger issues and about 9% of U.S. adults have issues with anger that may lead to violence.
But anger isn't the only mood -- and mind-damaging ...Read more
Bird flu identified on Virginia's Eastern Shore; quarantine in place
A commercial flock of broiler chickens on the Eastern Shore has tested positive for H5N1, or bird flu.
According to an announcement from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the entire operation in Accomack County had been quarantined with a 10-kilometer (6 mile) perimeter. The positive flock was depopulated Thursday, ...Read more
Bird flu flares up again in Michigan poultry – an infectious disease expert explains the risk to humans, chickens, cows and other animals
After a relatively quiet fall, there’s been another spike in cases of bird flu in Michigan.
When state officials announced on Dec. 16, 2024, that bird flu had been found in another poultry facility in Ottawa County, it was the first time the H5N1 virus had been detected in Michigan poultry in over six months. Since then, the U.S. ...Read more
The long-term health effects of LA County wildfire smoke
LOS ANGELES -- The explosion of smoke and ash that erupted from two wildfires was beyond belief.
In the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, as the Eaton fire engulfed homes and businesses, a thick blanket of smoke rolled over the horizon, blocking out the sun.
The wildfires produced the heaviest smoke and soot the region has seen in recent...Read more
8 common health conditions midlife women face
A study published in Menopause provides a comprehensive overview of the most common conditions diagnosed in clinical practice among women in the U.S. Upper Midwest during their critical midlife transition.
Overall, eight conditions increased by 45% or more between the ages of 40 and 59, and several conditions were more common in Black women and...Read more
Beyond hard hats: Mental struggles become the deadliest construction industry danger
If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting “988.”
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Frank Wampol had a dark realization when he came across some alarming data a few years ago: More than 5,000 male construction workers die from suicide annually — five ...Read more
Microaggressions during pregnancy and delivery later linked to higher blood pressure
Experiencing microaggressions based on gender and race while receiving care during pregnancy and delivery may be linked to higher blood pressure postpartum, new research suggests.
The study, published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension, found subtle, potentially unintentional slights directed at pregnant people – such as ...Read more
1 in 10 new dads face postpartum depression. Here's what to know
While postpartum depression is often associated with mothers, research shows fathers also face significant mental health challenges after welcoming a new baby.
A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found about one in 10 men experience depression during the postnatal period, shedding light on an often-overlooked aspect of ...Read more
Midwives blame California rules for hampering birth centers amid maternity care crisis
Jessie Mazar squeezed the grab handle in her husband’s pickup and groaned as contractions struck her during the 90-minute drive from her home in rural northeastern California to the closest hospital with a maternity unit.
She could have reached Plumas District Hospital, in Quincy, in just seven minutes. But it no longer delivers babies.
...Read more
Double-Check For Drug Interactions When Taking New Medicines
DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife was recently discharged after a lengthy hospital stay with multiple diagnoses. Most of her issues were treated medically and resulted in six new medications from four different medical disciplines, in addition to three other medications that were prescribed pre-hospitalization.
Finding drug interactions was fairly ...Read more
Dilute your risk for everything from obesity to elevated blood sugar
Vast stretches of the Sahara Desert get less than half an inch of rain annually. No wonder the 2.5 million people living there have dramatically shorter life spans than people living in less harsh conditions -- and with a lot more water. But you'd be surprised how many Americans are short of water, too. One study found that 7% of U.S. adults don...Read more
DEA, HHS finalize rule allowing telehealth drug treatment
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration Wednesday finalized a long-awaited rule laying out how some health care providers can prescribe gold-standard opioid use disorder treatments through telehealth.
The final rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the Department ...Read more
How much do medical procedures cost in California? These hospitals hid prices, study says
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — If you need to have a medical procedure done at a California hospital, you might have trouble finding out how much it costs.
Nearly 21% of California hospitals fully complied with a federal rule designed to protect patients by revealing what health care facilities charge for drugs, surgeries and other services, according ...Read more
Are Democrats or Republicans better for my insurance premiums?
Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, here’s one more thing to think about now that the election is over: How will the newly elected politicians across the U.S. affect my insurance premium? Even more generally speaking, which governing style or philosophies — Democrats’ or Republicans’ — are better for my insurance ...Read more
Environmental Nutrition: Let’s talk about canned salmon
Q: What is the liquid that is found in canned salmon?
A: Most canned salmon contains only one ingredient: salmon. The liquid you see in the can is likely juice from the fish itself. Canned salmon is cooked after it’s canned, so the natural juices of the fish that come out through the cooking process are then contained within the can. (This ...Read more
7 energy-boosting snacks to help avoid the midday slump
By the time late afternoon rolls around, so does that lethargic and unproductive sensation you’ve worked all day to avoid. The feeling is more commonly known as a “midday slump,” or the dip in energy we experience halfway through the day.
According to Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, it’s not just the time of day that affects our energy levels...Read more
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Popular Stories
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Leg pain? It may be your arteries
- Bird flu identified on Virginia's Eastern Shore; quarantine in place
- Acute stress and early signs of PTSD are common in firefighters and other first responders − here’s what to watch out for
- The long-term health effects of LA County wildfire smoke
- Bird flu flares up again in Michigan poultry – an infectious disease expert explains the risk to humans, chickens, cows and other animals