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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

Fiber Optics

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

Sure, you can try to lose weight using a trendy drug like Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, assuming you can afford it. (The reported cost is at least a few hundred dollars per month -- for the rest of your life.)

Or there's a cheaper, natural way: Eat more fiber.

But maybe not just any fiber. Researchers at the University of Arizona fed rats ...Read more

Sweet Dreams

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

If the amount of sleep you're getting varies by more than an hour day-to-day, you may be at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in Diabetes Care.

The findings, reports STAT, are based on analysis of more than 84,000 participants in the U.K. Biobank. People without diabetes wore monitors while sleeping for a ...Read more

So Maybe They Do Have a Shelf Life

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

The Food and Drug Administration is reportedly considering its first regulations for ultraprocessed foods, such as soda, prepackaged cookies and breakfast cereals. These foods make up roughly 60% of all calories consumed by the typical American but are notoriously laden with unhealthy ingredients, from excessive sugar and salt to preservatives...Read more

Don't Drink to That

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

After age and tobacco use, the third-biggest driver of cancers among people aged 30 and older is alcohol, with roughly 5% of cancer cases in men and women are attributable to drinking.

Recent data published by the American Cancer Society and the International Agency for Research looked at alcohol use associated with seven types of cancers, ...Read more

Calling All Healthy People

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

In the last half of 2023, it was estimated that 76% of adults and 87% of children lived in homes that did not have a landline telephone but did have at least one cellphone.

That may bode well for mobility and such, but in terms of health, recent data suggests that people who live in wireless-only homes are less likely to have health insurance...Read more

Body of Knowledge

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

The average person ingests approximately 100 milligrams (0.003 ounces) of dust and dirt each day. Doesn't sound like much, but in an average lifetime, it adds up to six pounds. It gets worse: Scientists have estimated that the average person inhales around 50 billion dust particles an hour. Over a lifetime, that works out to 45 pounds.

...Read more

Bloody Hot

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

New research indicates that when temperatures climb above 100 F, heat can cause restricted blood flow and boost heart attack risk.

In a study, volunteers wore special suits that slowly raised the surrounding temperature. All the participants experienced increased blood flow with more heat, a sign that their hearts were working harder, in part...Read more

Weighting No Longer

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

Legislators in nine states, from California to Massachusetts, are considering bans on the sale of unregulated diet pills and supplements to minors. Only New York currently has a ban in place.

Nearly 1 in 10 adolescents reportedly uses some type of poorly regulated, nonprescription weight loss product. The products, which broadly behave like ...Read more

 

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