Going Long: Viruses Linger With Lasting Impact
“Herpes, HIV, Epstein-Barr and other viruses hang around, causing potential long-term health woes. Should long COVID surprise us?”
US Prisoners Being Undertreated for Common Chronic Health Conditions
“As national headlines are being dominated by claims of inhumane conditions contributing to the death of LaShawn Johnson inside of a Fulton County justice facility, a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association is outlining the undertreatment of chronic health conditions among incarcerated individuals in the US.”
Obese and Female Patients More Likely to Have Long COVID
“Obesity and female sex are consistent determinants for symptoms persisting after COVID-19, according to data shared at ECCMID 2023: the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, held in Copenhagen, Denmark (abstract O0045).”
Who deserves a liver transplant?
“With deaths from alcohol-related disease on rise, some in the field are rethinking criteria that exclude patients from life-saving care”
The Big Squeeze: More Enrollees and Smaller Networks Plague Some ACA Plans
“Record enrollment brought more consumers into the market, while many insurers began offering smaller networks of doctors and hospitals.”
You may not have heard of fatty liver disease. Experts say you need to know
“Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease happens when fat builds up in the liver. Experts say it’s hard to say what exactly causes it, but it’s associated with poor diet and not enough exercise. Most people experience no symptoms of fatty liver disease — so you may not know you have it.”
As Health Plans Address Social Determinants, UnitedHealth Group To Make 2.5 Million Home Visits This Year
“UnitedHealth Group clinicians will make more than 2.5 million visits to patients’ homes this year as health insurers and the medical care providers they own intensify efforts to address social determinants of health.”
Want to check if you’re healthy? Do this simple exercise
“This exercise can’t indicate complete physical health, but it can give an initial idea. So set a timer for 20 seconds and stand on one leg.”
Bill to Ban Asbestos Reintroduced by Oregon Legislators
“Two Oregon legislators have reintroduced a bill to end the importation of asbestos, a known carcinogen banned in nearly 70 other countries. The bill would amend the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 and ban asbestos in the United States.”
How to Help Someone You Love Quit Vaping
“Most e-cigarettes (99%) contain nicotine, in addition to various other chemicals that are dangerous to your health. The vapor that is inhaled when you smoke e-cigarettes is not harmless water vapor, but rather a mix of these dangerous chemicals including heavy metals, cancer-causing chemicals, flavoring chemicals, nicotine, volatile organic compounds, and ultrafine particles. The chemicals commonly found in e-cigarettes have been linked to lung disease, heart disease, acute lung injury, COPD, asthma, and lung cancer in other studies.”
How to Boost Mental Health Through Better Nutrition
“The relationship between nutrition and mental health is bidirectional: the foods we eat affect our mental health, and our mental health status affects what and how well we eat. This month, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) are partnering to highlight the interconnectedness of nutrition and mental health.”
Acupuncture Can Improve Sleep for Cancer Survivors With Chronic Pain
“Acupuncture improved the sleep of cancer survivors faced with chronic pain, opening the door to nonpharmacological methods of sustainable pain management, according to a recent study.”
He Began Feeling Depressed. He Didn’t Realize It Was an Early Symptom of Parkinson’s
“When Vikas Chinnan suddenly began to feel apathetic and depressed, he sought treatment for his mental health challenges. He had no idea they were early signs of Parkinson’s disease.”
How Mindfulness Can Help Create Calmer Classrooms
“In an Arizona school district, a mindfulness program has helped students manage their emotions, feel less stressed, and learn better.”