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Lung cancer is the deadliest of all cancers, and screening could save many lives − if more people could access it
Many medical organizations have been recommending lung cancer screening for decades for those at high risk of developing the disease.
But in 2022, less than 6% of people in the U.S. eligible for screening actually got screened. Compared with other common cancer screenings, lung cancer screening rates fall terribly behind. For ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q & A: Going plant-based: Exploring the myths, health benefits
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: More and more of my friends are following the plant-based diet trend. Is that the same as going vegan? Is it healthy for you? What can I actually eat?
ANSWER: Plant-based foods go beyond a "boring salad." With a whole-food plant-based diet, we focus on eating foods that are primarily coming from plants and that occur in their ...Read more
One day in the frantic life of a children's emergency room nurse
It's not exactly a superpower, but nurse Joe Schwartz can tell with his nose what is causing his patient in the Children's hospital emergency department in St. Paul to look so weak, so bony thin.
When 10-year-old Juliana Jones says hello, Schwartz smells a sharp odor, like fruit gone bad, on her breath. It suggests acid buildup in her body, ...Read more
'Breaking a promise': California deficit could halt raises for disability workers
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities say Gov. Gavin Newsom is reneging on a scheduled raise for the workers who care for their loved ones, and advocates warn of potential lawsuits if disability services become harder to get.
Citing California’s budget deficit, the Democratic governor wants...Read more
Non-drug ways to ease chronic pain
More than 50 million U.S. adults contend with chronic pain -- that is, pain that persists for more than three months. Almost 7 million find that it's so bad that it limits mobility and makes social interaction and work difficult. And for far too many folks, it leads to depression, dementia, and misuse of pain-dulling substances.
But new ...Read more
Temporary Vision Loss Could Signify A Transient Ischemic Attack
DEAR DR. ROACH: My father is in his mid-60s and recently underwent surgery to repair mitral valve prolapse. Everything went smoothly, and his recovery has been good, with the exception of this morning. He has resumed smoking (after telling his doctors that he quit), and he experienced a dizzy spell where his vision in one eye became hazy, then...Read more
Steward Health goes bankrupt after mounting financial trouble
Steward Health Care System LLC filed for bankruptcy early Monday after a period of mounting financial challenges and government scrutiny over the impact of its hospital closures on patients.
The Dallas-based firm is finalizing a rescue loan with landlord Medical Properties Trust Inc., according to the filing. It sought Chapter 11 protection in...Read more
How does the brain think?
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.
How does the brain think? – Tom, age 16, San Diego, California
Have you ever wondered how your brain creates thoughts or why something randomly popped into your head? It ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Using radiation therapy to treat brain tumors
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have been diagnosed with a brain tumor and advised to have radiation therapy. I'm very nervous about this and the risks for me, my family and, potentially, another cancer diagnosis. Can you explain why radiation therapy could be right for me?
ANSWER: Radiation therapy has been used to treat cancer since the beginning of the ...Read more
Is emotional eating sabotaging your weight-loss efforts?
You know losing that extra weight would be good for your health. Your health care team talked with you about how obesity increases your risk of other health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer. They even worked out a healthy eating plan, and you want to stick to it. And you do well for many ...Read more
Diabetes Quick Fix: Horseradish Encrusted Chicken with Garlic Sweet Potatoes and Snap Peas
Horseradish mixed with mayonnaise gives a zip to these boneless, skinless chicken thighs while the panko breadcrumbs form a golden crust.
Panko breadcrumbs are a Japanese variety of breadcrumbs and are made from bread that has been baked or toasted giving them a firm texture.
Helpful Hints:
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts can be used ...Read more
You've covered your copayment; now brace yourself for the 'facility fee'
Even if you have health insurance, you might expect to be charged a copayment for some routine care, like office-based exams and consultations. But you probably don’t expect to receive a bill a few weeks later charging you an extra $100 or more.
That’s the situation an increasing number of state lawmakers are looking to change. In ...Read more
Fact check: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is wrong about a ban on NIH research about mass shootings
“Congress prohibits the NIH from researching the cause of mass shootings.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in an April 21 post on X
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The National Institutes of Health is the federal government’s main agency for supporting medical research. Is it barred from researching mass shootings? That’s what presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr....Read more
Ask the Pediatrician: Why adolescents need one-on-one time with their doctor
Aside from all the physical changes, adolescents are developing skills that help prepare them for adulthood. Part of this means participating more in their own health care. The adolescent well-child visits are tailored to support your family in this process.
Although pediatricians lend their own style to their examinations, many start the ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q & A: What to expect during a blood draw
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've never had my blood drawn before, but I have to go in for testing soon. Honestly, I'm pretty nervous about it. What can I expect?
ANSWER: It can be a little nerve-wracking at first, but having blood drawn is a quick procedure that can be painless — sometimes, people don't even know that the collection has started!
It's ...Read more
Understanding autism: The path to diagnosis, awareness and support
Diagnosing a person with autism spectrum disorder can be challenging. It's a medical condition that no blood test, brain scan or objective test can pinpoint. And because of each person's distinctive pattern of symptoms, it can be hard to determine its severity.
As people gain familiarity with autism, however, they are becoming more open to ...Read more
Loneliness and longing for food
Food craving -- when you gotta, can't stop it, have-to-have something to eat -- affects around 90% of folks at one time or another. But for some people, it can be a constant tap on the shoulder, driving them to overeat even when they aren't hungry or know they should avoid high-fat, high-calorie food.
Triggers can include outside stimulants ...Read more
Does Intermittent Fasting Raise The Risk Of Heart Disease?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I read a recent headline that said people who fast intermittently have an increased risk of heart disease. Is there merit to this story? -- K.O.S.
ANSWER: Intermittent fasting is an increasingly common weight-loss strategy. The two most common approaches of intermittent fasting are alternate-day fasting (eating nothing one day...Read more
Optimism, doubt ahead of Chicago mayor's Treatment Not Trauma mental health plan
Belmont Cragin residents were filing into the cafeteria at Prieto Math and Science Academy last month to weigh in on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s signature plan to overhaul Chicago’s mental health system when they got unexpected evidence that the bold, still largely theoretical plan remains a focus at City Hall.
Into the school walked Johnson, ...Read more
Beer and spirits have more detrimental effects on the waistline and on cardiovascular disease risk than red or white wine
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
Drinking beer and spirits is linked to elevated levels of visceral fat – the harmful type of fat that is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and other health complications – whereas drinking wine shows no such ...Read more
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Popular Stories
- One day in the frantic life of a children's emergency room nurse
- How does the brain think?
- 'Breaking a promise': California deficit could halt raises for disability workers
- Mayo Clinic Q & A: Going plant-based: Exploring the myths, health benefits
- Lung cancer is the deadliest of all cancers, and screening could save many lives − if more people could access it