No heart attack or your money back?
Warranties and money-back guarantees, long used to entice buyers of products like hand tools and kitchen gadgets, are now being used to sell something more crucial: pricey new-generation drugs for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.Deals being negotiated between drugmakers and the insurers who buy medicines now sometimes include extra rebates — or even full refunds —... READ MORE
Climbers reach for new heights
Whether it’s flying, scuba diving or hiking, Carol Christian likes to be on the move. So when she first moved to Baltimore and friends invited her to join them in rock climbing, she didn’t hesitate. Now, more than 15 years later, she’s still a regular at the Earth Treks indoor climbing gym in Timonium.Christian, who lives in Baltimore City and is an astronomer with the... READ MORE
Reporting complications boosts survival
If you’re being treated for cancer, speak up about any side effects. A study that had patients use home computers to report symptoms like nausea and fatigue surprisingly improved survival — by almost half a year, which is longer than many new cancer drugs do.The online tool was intended as a quick and easy way for people to regularly report complications rather than trying to... READ MORE
Volunteers get trained for dementia visits
During his eight years working in three nursing homes, John Wortman had a first-hand view of the needs of residents.He was struck by the fact that many of those with dementia were rarely, if ever, visited by family and friends. While the staff attended to their physical and medical needs, their intellectual, emotional and spiritual needs were not well addressed, fueling feelings of... READ MORE
Climbers reach for new heights
On Leslie Hulse’s 61st birthday, a couple of years ago, her niece took her rock climbing. As she scrabbled over the neon-colored toe and finger holds toward the top of the wall, Hulse had one thought: “‘Oh my gosh, I’m having so much fun!”Today, the Capitol Hill resident regularly scales the walls at Earth Treks indoor climbing gym in Crystal City, Va.“I... READ MORE
Some great home remedies for bug bites
You know when you have one of those awkward moments that you think could go viral on social media, if only someone had a camera on you? Well, recently, my friend was outside when a bug swooped from above and descended down her V-neck shirt. Faster than you can say “bugger,” she was stung or bit on not one, but both of her breasts. It then dropped out the bottom of her shirt and... READ MORE
Some tips for those with low back pain
Low back pain is the second leading cause of disability in the United States, and the fourth worldwide. It’s also one of the top five medical problems for which people see doctors.Almost every day that I see patients, I see someone with back pain. It’s one of the top reasons for lost wages due to missed work, as well as for healthcare dollars spent. Hence, it’s a very ... READ MORE
Falls take a rising toll on older brains
Older adults are suffering concussions and other brain injuries from falls at what appear to be unprecedented rates, according to a new report from U.S. government researchers.The reason for the increase isn’t clear, the report’s authors said. But one likely factor is that a growing number of older people are living at home and taking repeated tumbles, said one... READ MORE
Living drugs: new frontier in cancer care
Ken Shefveland’s body was swollen with cancer, treatment after treatment failing until doctors gambled on a radical approach: They removed some of his immune cells, engineered them into cancer assassins and unleashed them into his bloodstream.Immune therapy is the hottest trend in cancer care and this is its next frontier — creating “living drugs” that grow inside... READ MORE
Can cocoa flavanols prevent disease?
Chocolate lovers may be on to something. A new long-term study is trying to find out if taking daily, dietary supplements of cocoa extract containing cocoa flavanols and theobromine from the cocoa bean, and/or a standard multivitamin reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer.The study is being conducted in a partnership by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the... READ MORE
