Health category, Page 130
Developers of suicide prediction score hope to prevent teen deaths
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...
Avoiding overuse wrist injuries
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...
Vitamins: What men and women need
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...
How to train like Captain Marvel — physically and mentally
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....
In biggest advance for depression in years, FDA approves novel treatment for hardest cases
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...
Decade after first person was cured of HIV, second patient is in long-term remission
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...
30,000 pounds of beef recalled because of possible contamination
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...
‘Delay the Disease’ exercise regimen aims to combat effects of Parkinson’s DiseaseVideo
Officials from OhioHealth, a charitable healthcare-focused arm of the United Methodist Church, are hoping that an exercise regimen designed to combat the onset of Parkinson’s disease can gain traction in the Pittsburgh area. Redstone Highlands officials in North Huntingdon have incorporated the “Delay the Disease” regimen into its programming for...
Senators draw on own experiences to chastise drug companies
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...
Excela bolsters system’s health with focus on primary careVideo
When officials at the Excela Health System were looking to leverage their impact in Westmoreland County, it didn’t take long to target diabetes care. “There’s no shortage of diabetics in Western Pennsylvania, and we’re here to help,” Dr. David S. Richards said. Richards, a Westmoreland County native, is executive medical...
What’s new with nutrition facts label?
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...
Rare Disease Day reminds public and policy makers of ‘orphan’ illnessesVideo
February is that rare month, the calendar’s shortest and, every 4 years, one day longer as Leap Year arrives. Fittingly, it’s the month in which Rare Disease Day is recognized, always on the last day. According to its website, establishment of Rare Disease Day is an effort to raise public...
5 things to know about this year’s flu season
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...
Cat scratch fever is more than just an old rock ‘n roll song
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...
Health Happenings – Feb. 26, 2019
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...
Anti-vaxxers face backlash as measles cases surgeVideo
The resurgence of measles across the United States is spurring a backlash against vaccine critics, from congressional hearings probing the spread of vaccine misinformation to state measures that would make it harder for parents to opt out of immunizing their children. In Washington state, where the worst measles outbreak in...
FDA takes fresh look at whether opioids are effective for chronic pain
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...
The Big Number: Diet drinks linked to 23 percent increase in stroke risk in women
Swapping regular sodas for diet drinks might seem like a smart way to cut calories. But new research suggests that women who drink a lot of artificially sweetened beverages increase their risk of having a stroke by 23 percent. What’s a lot? At least two diet beverages a day for...
‘We’re here to help’: Excela bolsters system’s health with focus on primary careVideo
When officials at the Excela Health System were looking to leverage their impact in Westmoreland County, it didn’t take long to target diabetes care. “There’s no shortage of diabetics in Western Pennsylvania and we’re here to help,” said Dr. David S. Richards. Richards, a Westmoreland County native, is executive medical...
AHN to offer Saturday appointments for colonoscopies in March
Allegheny Health Network patients who can’t make it to the doctor during the week will have the chance to get a colonoscopy on Saturdays in March. The Saturday appointments at select outpatient locations are part of AHN’s observance of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and a way to make it...
Measles outbreak leads lawmakers to rethink religion exemptions for vaccines
Recent measles outbreaks in states such as Washington, New York and New Jersey have cast a spotlight on a group of Americans who receive exemptions from immunizing their children on the grounds that the vaccines violate their religious freedoms. Now the states that suffered outbreaks are taking aim at those...
U.S. mining sites dump 50 million gallons of fouled wastewater daily
RIMINI, Mont. — Every day many millions of gallons of water loaded with arsenic, lead and other toxic metals flow from some of the most contaminated mining sites in the United States and into surrounding lakes and streams without being treated, the Associated Press has found. That torrent is poisoning...
Smoking can damage eyesight by age 35, study suggests
Smoking cigarettes has long been known for its ability to damage eyesight, on top of the harm it causes to the lungs, heart, and other organs. But a new study suggests that smoking can impair vision far earlier than is commonly thought. Heavy smokers with an average age of 35...
Understanding the depression gender gap
Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression and it can occur at any age. Some mood changes and depressed feelings occur with normal hormonal changes, but hormonal changes alone don’t cause depression. Other biological factors, inherited traits and personal life circumstances and experiences are...
Health happenings in Westmoreland County
Blood drives • American Red Cross blood drives: — 12:30-6 p.m. Friday , Norwin Christian Church, 9610 Barnes Lake Road, Irwin —9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday , St. Michael’s Orthodox Church, 1182 Ashland St., Greensburg — 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday, First Commonwealth, 111 S. Main St., Greensburg Appointments: 800-733-2767 or redcrossblood.org;...
