Health category, Page 115

SEATTLE — Monthly shots of HIV drugs worked as well as daily pills to control the virus that causes AIDS in two large international tests, researchers reported Thursday. If approved by regulators in the United States and Europe, the shots would be a new option for people with HIV and...

Two Pittsburgh hospitals have been named among the best in the country by IBM Watson Health. West Penn Hospital and St. Clair Hospital were named in the 100 Top Hospitals list the company puts out each year. IBM Watson Health recognizes hospitals of all sizes, in five different categories —...

A group that represents about 500 nursing home operators across Pennsylvania expressed concerns about Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget for next fiscal year, saying flat funding threatens the state’s rapidly aging population. The Medicaid reimbursement rate for Pennsylvania nursing home residents has increased less than $9 a day since July...

Dogs need to go on walks, and walking is good exercise for older adults. Seniors who combine the two - by walking a dog - are healthier than people who don’t, according to some research. But a new study by University of Pennsylvania researchers offers a cautionary note. Strolling with...

If you’re wondering how it’s possible that Luke Perry died from a stroke at only 52 years old, you might be surprised. It’s more common to suffer a stroke earlier in life than some may think. Dr. Rick Williamson, director of endovascular neurosurgery at Allegheny General Hospital, said out of...

The top official overseeing Washington state’s worst measles outbreak in two decades is calling on the federal government to launch a national campaign to counter anti-vaccine groups spreading false information. John Wiesman, Washington state’s health secretary, said in an interview Monday that a national campaign similar to the U.S. government...

The notion that vaccines might cause autism was refuted nine years ago, when a British medical panel concluded in 2010 that Andrew Wakefield, the doctor with undisclosed financial interests in making such claims, had acted with “callous disregard” in conducting his research. But in 2019, professional epidemiologists are still devoting...

Addiction screenings • Narconon can help you take steps to overcome addiction in your family. Call today for free screenings or referrals 1-800-431-1754. Blood drives American Red Cross will host these blood drives: — 12:30-5 p.m. Monday , Levin Furniture Store, Route 30, Greensburg or 12:30- 6:30 p.m., Charter Oak Church,...

Suicide is an increasingly prominent public health issue, with rates rising across the country and suicide ranking as the second leading cause of death for Americans aged 15 to 34. But ask an expert to predict who is most at risk, and they’ll only be able to give you an...

It may seem hard to believe, considering that you use your hands and wrists to do almost everything, but some of the most common wrist injuries are caused by overuse and repetitive motion. Dr. Sanj Kakar, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon, says you have to get creative...

What’s the difference between men’s and women’s multivitamins? If a woman takes a formulation designated for men, will her voice lower an octave? Will a young man’s hair turn gray if he ingests a supplement for men over 50? Maybe these dreary days of winter cause me to wonder about...

Brie Larson was hanging upside down and suspended by her legs when she was about to attempt one of her most challenging “Captain Marvel” stunts for the first time on set. It had already been a long day by the time the 29-year-old actress was dangling by a wire system....

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration approved a novel antidepressant — the first in decades to work in a completely new way in the brain — for people with depression that does not respond to other treatments. The drug, a nasal spray called esketamine, has been eagerly anticipated by...

A London man has been in remission from HIV for a year and a half, without drugs, after receiving a stem cell transplant of virus-resistant cells — raising the prospect that he has become the second person to ever be cured of the disease. The “London patient” case, cautiously reported...

About 30,000 pounds of beef shipped nationwide are being recalled for possible contamination. Washington Beef, LLC is recalling several lots of ground beef products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Saturday. The ground beef was produced on...

WASHINGTON — Drawing from their personal experiences, senators on Tuesday chastised drug company executives over the high cost of prescription drugs, as the company officials cautioned that heavy-handed congressional action could jeopardize medical breakthroughs going forward. Tuesday’s Senate Finance Committee hearing marked the first time lawmakers have called the industry’s...

What’s the most important information to look for — always, always, always — on a food label? Most people say calories. Others say fat. Sugar is important, too, especially added sugar. But what’s the most important information? Serving size. Everything else is based on that particular amount of food. Let’s...

As influenza season trudges on, public health officials report fewer cases than last year’s severe and deadly season. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released recently shows a more effective vaccine compared with the previous two seasons and called this season a low-severity year so far for influenza...

Dear Mayo Clinic: My cat scratched me while I was trimming his claws and the wound later became infected. Are cat scratches a special concern? Answer: A bite or scratch from a cat carries particular risks, and infection is common. Cat scratch disease (or cat scratch fever) is a specific...

Blood drives American Red Cross will host these blood drives: — 12:30-5 p.m. Thursday American Legion Post 515, 1811 Ligonier St., Latrobe — Noon-4:30 p.m. Monday , Excela Square at Frick, 508 S. Church St., Mt. Pleasant Appointments: 1-800 733-2767 or redcrossblood.org Classes/programs • These classes will meet in Excela...

The Food and Drug Administration will require drug companies to study whether prescription opioids already on the market are effective in quelling chronic pain — another step in the government’s efforts to rein in use of the narcotics that spawned the drug epidemic. Some studies already indicate that opioids are...