Your MD vs. hospitalists- who’s better?
The old-fashioned, family doctor style of medicine could be lifesaving for older hospitalized patients, a big study suggested, showing benefits over a rapidly expanding alternative that has hospital-based doctors overseeing care instead. Medicare patients with common conditions including pneumonia, heart failure and urinary infections who were treated by their own primary care doctors... READ MORE
Take this pill; it will call me in the morning
Scientists have developed a swallowed capsule packed with tiny electronics and millions of genetically engineered living cells that might someday be used to spot health problems from inside the gut. The capsule was tested in pigs and correctly detected signs of bleeding, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported in the journal Science. At more than an inch... READ MORE
Is it safe to use your expired medicines?
Just how firm are expiration dates on bottles of allergy or pain pills? Probably not as crucial as the “Best By” date on milk cartons. Medicines are expensive and, amid occasional shortages, some people are tempted to use expired pills. After all, a pill good till July 31 can’t be useless on Aug. 1. The expiration date, typically just one or two years after manufacture, simply... READ MORE
Supplement for pain may pose cancer risk
Q: I was thinking about taking chondroitin for my arthritis pain. But I recently read it might cause melanoma. Should I avoid it? A: Chondroitin sulfate is among the most popular supplements in the world. It’s often taken in combination with glucosamine for joint disease. Some take it for prevention, others to treat pain. And yet, evidence that it actually works at all is limited at ... READ MORE
Many doctors approve marijuana for pain
Nearly half of U.S. cancer doctors who responded to a survey say they’ve recently recommended medical marijuana to patients, although most say they don’t know enough about medicinal use. The results reflect how marijuana policy in some states has outpaced research, the study authors said. All 29 states with medical marijuana programs (which include Maryland and the District of... READ MORE
Studying ways pets help keep us healthy
The unconditional love of a pet can do more than keep you company. Pets may also decrease stress, improve heart health, and even help children with their emotional and social skills. Over the past 10 years, the National Institute of Health has partnered with the Mars Corporation’s Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition to fund research studies. Scientists are looking at what the potential... READ MORE
Studying if weight loss can help with COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of illnesses that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In people with COPD, the airways in the lungs become partly blocked, which makes it more difficult to breathe. COPD is a progressive disease, and is primarily caused by long-term smoking. It is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Symptoms of... READ MORE
Update on heart attacks and antibiotics
First some interesting facts: The beating sound your heart makes is caused by its valves, which open and close routinely, in a specific rhythm. Most heart attacks happen on a Monday. Not to be scrooge, but December 25th, Christmas Day, is the most common day of the year for heart attacks. In an average day, your heart pumps the equivalent of nearly 2,000 gallons of blood through... READ MORE
Study says limit alcohol to one drink a day
Here’s some sobering news: A large international study says adults should average no more than one alcoholic drink per day, and that means drinking guidelines in many countries may be far too loose. The study found that people who down more than seven drinks a week can expect to die sooner than those who drink less. “What this is saying is, if you’re really concerned about your... READ MORE
‘Instant’ chicken takes the pressure off
Not a day goes by that I don’t get a recipe request or question about the Instant Pot. So, dear readers, today is the day for my starter recipe for you Instant Pot (Multi-Pot, etc.) fans. I’ll start by pointing out that we are really talking about here is an automated, easy-to-use electric pressure cooker. I hear a collective sigh of recognition from a whole generation of... READ MORE
Health 2025
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