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Brain-infecting parasite found in two LA County residents: What to know about 'racoon roundworm'
LOS ANGELES — Two people in Los Angeles County are sick with a rare parasitic infection known as "raccoon roundworm," according to officials.
The parasite, called Baylisascaris procyonis, was found in the South Bay area of L.A., according to a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health news release. The parasite can infect the brain, ...Read more
Michigan sues prison health care provider, alleges it shorted subcontractors $35 million
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Corrections has sued its former health care services provider, arguing the company breached its contract with the state when it failed to pay subcontractors for roughly $35 million in medical services provided to prisoners.
The lawsuit filed Friday in Ingham County Circuit Court against Grand ...Read more
Preventive care is free by law, but many Americans get incorrectly billed − especially if you’re poor, a person of color or don’t have a college degree
Even though preventive care is supposed to be free by law for millions of Americans thanks to the Affordable Care Act, many don’t receive recommended preventive services, especially racial and ethnic minorities and other at-risk patient groups.
The Affordable Care Act exempted preventive services from patient cost-sharing for large ...Read more
House, Senate Democrats renew health care subsidies push
WASHINGTON — House and Senate Democrats are pushing leadership to quickly pass legislation to permanently expand subsidies on the health care exchanges — ideally by the end of the year.
Forty-one Senate Democrats, led by New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and 154 House Democrats, led by Lauren Underwood of Illinois, are sending a letter to ...Read more
Medicare Advantage customers face shrinking pool of insurers
Medicare Advantage plans have been successful in enrolling Medicare beneficiaries and delivering to those clients. Despite this, some insurers are downsizing their share of the market and hospitals are canceling or not renewing their contracts to serve plan members – leaving enrollees in the lurch.
In recent months, Humana, CVS and some ...Read more
Environmental Nutrition: 5 protein myths to stop believing
Your body needs protein — that’s a fact. “Protein does a lot of great things for us. It helps build and repair muscle and other tissues, moves oxygen and nutrients around our bodies, and is involved in many important bodily functions, including digestion,” says registered dietitian Caroline Susie, a spokesperson for the Academy of ...Read more
5 things to consider before working with a registered dietitian
No matter what your fitness or wellness goals are, eating the right foods to maximize nutrition can help get you there. One way to do this is to work with a RD or registered dietitian. But what exactly does a registered dietitian do? “We work in a variety of spaces and capacities to help people live healthier lives through nutrition,” says ...Read more
How do trees and green spaces enhance our health?
Trees enhance life in a multitude of ways. They combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They muffle sound pollution and reduce air pollution, drawing in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. When rain pours from the skies, trees decrease stormwater runoff, preventing flooding and soil erosion. They also provide ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Sunscreen needs for any complexion
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I spent many a summer at the beach growing up. My mother always slathered me with sunscreen. Now, as a 30-year-old woman, sunscreen remains a part of my routine, regardless of the weather. Recently, I was surprised to learn that one of my friends — a young Black woman — never wears sunscreen. She said her darker complexion ...Read more
Just Take Two Aspirin
A year ago, researchers published findings in the august New England Journal of Medicine reporting that aspirin was just as effective as injectable blood thinners at preventing life-threatening blood clots after surgery.
They argued that this was good news. It improved health equity (cheaper meds) and quality of life (no needles). But much to...Read more
Mayo Clinic Minute: What does a diagnosis of dense breasts mean?
The Food and Drug Administration issued a rule in March of 2023 that requires health care professionals to notify people if they have dense breasts. Studies have shown that dense breast tissue can make it more difficult to detect breast cancer early.
Dr. Kristin Robinson, a Mayo Clinic breast radiologist, says women with dense breast tissue are...Read more
Wildfire smoke increases risk of mental illness in children, new study finds
DENVER — Each day a child breathes wildfire smoke thick with ash and fine soot that child’s likelihood of experiencing anxiety and depression and other mental health problems increases, according to new scientific research on air pollution and childhood development.
The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, looked at the ...Read more
Tooth decay still plagues California kids nearly a decade after Medi-Cal promised change
LOS ANGELES — Eight years after an independent state watchdog agency harshly criticized the state for failing to provide dental care to low-income children, California has failed to remedy the problem or fully implement the commission's recommendations, according to a follow-up review published last week.
The Little Hoover Commission found ...Read more
How AI can help researchers make esophageal cancer less deadly
Approximately 600 times a day, the esophagus ferries whatever is in your mouth down to your stomach. It's usually a one-way route, but sometimes acid escapes the stomach and travels back up. That can damage the cells lining the esophagus, prompting them to grow back with genetic mistakes.
About 22,370 times a year in the United States, those ...Read more
Editorial: Mind and body -- New mental health parity rules will keep us all healthier
Last week, President Joe Biden and the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury issued new rules meant to ensure that insurance coverage for mental health conditions and substance abuse disorder has parity with the level of services available for physical health.
The provisions will be phased in between now and 2026, ...Read more
Worsening Hair Loss Isn't Due To A Thyroid Issue, As Suspected
DEAR DR. ROACH: For many years now, I've been experiencing hair loss, and lately, it just seems to be getting worse. I am so worried because my hair has gotten so thin, and I am afraid that I will soon be bald. I am a 70-year-old female who always had a decent amount of hair.
I have always thought that my hair loss was due to my thyroid ...Read more
Dump the slumps
From getting glasses for the first time to gaining weight, seeing thinning hair and, for women, having hot flashes, the 40s can be a time of surprising physical changes. You may also notice another burst of physical changes that usher in a loss of strength and increased susceptibility to chronic disease in your early 60s. That's the conclusion ...Read more
Homeopathy for Eczema: Natural Remedies for Healthy Skin
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition characterized by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. While conventional treatment options exist, many people seek natural alternatives to manage eczema symptoms. Homeopathy offers a holistic approach to eczema treatment, addressing the underlying causes and supporting the body's ...Read more
Health care under Harris versus Trump: A public health historian sizes up their records
Health care is a defining issue in the 2024 election – Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican contender Donald Trump have starkly different records on the issue. Rather than focusing on what they promise to do, let’s examine what their past actions reveal about their approaches to Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, ...Read more
Sleep problems in preteens increase risk of suicidal thoughts 2 years later, study finds
DENVER — A new study involving Colorado researchers found that sleep problems among preteens increase their risk of suicidal thoughts two years later, though the researchers urged parents not to panic.
Suicide rates among children between 8 and 12 increased roughly 8% each year from 2008 to 2022, according to the National Institutes of Health...Read more
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