A recent study revealed what medical symptoms were the most commonly searched on Google, state by state across the U.S. People turned to the search engine for a variety of health-related questions and concerns. Although many of the searches were for common symptoms, that was not the case in South Carolina. The symptom Palmetto State...
Category: <span>Patient Education</span>
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Nursing homes increasingly pushing patients into rehab at end-of-life
A new study reveals a growing trend of potentially unnecessary—and harmful— high-intensity rehabilitation services for residents of nursing homes. The study finds that this trend, which may be driven by a desire to maximize reimbursement rates, is on the rise for patients in the last 30 days of life, indicating that these services may be...
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Have asthma and a pet? Re-homing your cat or dog may not be necessary
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CHEST PHYSICIANS A study from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital analyzed environmental exposures, like a pet and secondhand smoke, to determine if they have a role in asthma control among children whose asthma is managed per NAEPP (EPR-3) guidelines. Researchers found that once asthma guidelines are followed, environmental exposures to pets or secondhand...
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Tarragon supplements may make healthy women gain weight
Pennington Biomedical study indicates plant extracts’ benefits may be sex-dependent Russian tarragon and bitter melon supplements may be less helpful for women than men when it comes to combating metabolic syndrome, whose symptoms include high blood sugar, high blood pressure and excess fat around the waist. IMAGE: CO-DIRECTOR OF LSU’S PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER’S BOTANICAL DIETARY...
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Diabetes: Fridge temperature may make insulin less effective
New research that set out to analyze the temperatures at which people living with diabetes store their insulin is now warning against the perils of improper storage for the quality and effectiveness of the hormone. Storage temperatures may affect the quality of the insulin. More than 30 million people in the United States are currently living with diabetes....
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Broke your arm? Exercise the other one to strengthen it…
If you have ever broken an arm and had to wear a cast or splint for a few weeks, you will be familiar with the alarming loss of muscle and uneasy feeling of weakness experienced after removing your cast. Image: In a research study, students with an immobilized left arm who trained their opposite wrist...
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Woman’s swollen pinky finger was a rare sign of deadly tuberculosis which doctors think she caught from her husband’s cough
The unnamed woman went to hospital with a swollen and painful little finger She had not injured it recently so doctors examined it in more detail They discovered the same bacteria which cause lung infection tuberculosis The woman’s husband had been diagnosed with the disease after a trip to China It may seem over-the-top to go to hospital because of a...
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It’s not just for kids — even adults appear to benefit from a regular bedtime
Adults with varied sleep-wake times weigh more, have higher blood sugar, risk of disease DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER DURHAM, N.C. — Sufficient sleep has been proven to help keep the body healthy and the mind sharp. But it’s not just an issue of logging at least seven hours of Z’s. A new study on sleep...
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Are there health benefits to taking turmeric?
Can an ancient yellow root spice be good for you? A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, effectively kills certain cancer cells. While research continues on the role turmeric plays in treating cancer, there may be other health benefits to ingesting the...
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How the elderly can avoid one of old age’s most dangerous events
Baby boomers, who once viewed themselves as the coolest generation in history, are now turning their thoughts away from such things as partying and touring alongside rock bands to how to they can stay healthy as they age. And, one of the most important parts of healthy aging is avoiding a fall, the number one...