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Not Gut for You

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

ATTENTION! There is Language in the 25th Paragraph That Some Readers May Find Offensive. Thank You For Your Attention.

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that in seven states, the adult obesity rate was 35% or higher. Six years later, it's now 23 states, plus Guam and Puerto Rico, with obesity rates of 35% ...Read more

Chip Off the Old Brain

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

The futuristic notion of a brain-computer interface just got one step closer.

Synchron, a neurotechnology startup, reports that implanting its Stentrode device, which allows users to control personal devices using their thoughts, in six patients with neurodegenerative diseases did not produce dangerous side effects.

A few participants ...Read more

Healthy Salaries

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

If you're on a med for high blood pressure, paid for by insurance, take one now.

It should come as no surprise that the CEOs and leaders of health care companies are well compensated. (They probably don't even have to do the copay.) In 2023, the median industry CEO salary was $4.1 million. That means half of CEOs made more, half made less. ...Read more

Liver and Let's Go

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis is a kind of chronic liver inflammation and scarring caused by excessive fat cells in the organ. It is quite common -- approximately 22 million Americans have it. Untreated, it can progress to liver cancer and organ failure.

As with diabetes, intensive lifestyle and diet interventions are the ...Read more

COVID-19 Lockdown and Teens

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

The extended lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant adverse mental health effects for teens who necessarily attended school remotely for months or even years. It may have also physically affected their brains.

Researchers conducting a longitudinal study of teens found that the brains of teen girls aged 4.2 years more ...Read more

Bigger Belly But Better

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

Belly fat is not good. It can increase the risk of many health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, dementia, metabolic disorders, kidney problems and joint and back pain.

But it turns out that maybe not all belly fat is equally bad. Researchers studied belly fat from people who had a long...Read more

Not Just Antibody

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

As part of a study on hybrid immunity to SARS-CoV-2, University of Texas at Austin researchers say they've discovered and isolated a broadly neutralizing plasma antibody, called SC27, from a single patient.

The researchers obtained its exact molecular sequence, opening the possibility of manufacturing it on a larger scale for future ...Read more

Alzheimer's Drug Downer

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

People with Down syndrome have the highest prevalence for developing Alzheimer's disease. Roughly 30% are diagnosed with the neurological condition by their 50s. They have over a 90% chance of developing dementia from Alzheimer's in their lifetime.

Landmark Food and Drug Administration approval of anti-amyloid drugs like lecanemab and ...Read more

Don't Leave These Muscles Behind

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

Your gluteus maximus muscles are among the body's strongest, but (there has to be a "butt") like the rest of you, they need care and maintenance. Long days of sitting at desks, on couches or in cars can wreak havoc, particularly in the form of a condition called gluteal amnesia.

Otherwise known as "dead butt syndrome."

DBS occurs when your ...Read more

It's Tough to Be an American Woman

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

Women in the United States have worse health care access and outcomes than their peers in 13 other high-income countries, such as Australia, Japan, Canada and South Korea.

For example, according to STAT:

Women in the U.S. have the lowest life expectancy and the highest rate of avoidable deaths. If prevention measures had been in place or the...Read more

Just Take Two Aspirin

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

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

One Moo Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

More and more dairy cow herds are becoming infected with the H5N1 bird flu, with documented cases of the flu being transmitted to humans working with the animals. Veterinary vaccine manufacturers are working to develop a bird flu vaccine for bovines, not only to better protect cows but potentially to reduce the transmission threat to humans.

...Read more

Dire Prior

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

Almost 80% of physicians surveyed say that the prior authorization process "often or sometimes" leads their patients to abandon treatment. Prior authorization is a cost-control measure used by health insurance companies that requires patients and their doctors to get approval from the insurance carrier before care or treatment can proceed.

...Read more

 

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