People often use hydrogen peroxide to treat minor cuts and scrapes, whiten teeth, or dye their hair. Some people claim that hydrogen peroxide can help cure cancer. These claims derive from the fact that hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing liquid, which means it gives off oxygen. Low oxygen levels can cause cancer, and some people...
Category: <span>Patient Education</span>
Can a vitamin combo prolong your life?
Vitamins are nutrients that when synthesized or assimilated in the right quantities support our health and well-being. A new review suggests that a set of known and newly categorized vitamins can help prolong a person’s lifespan, and promote health well into old age. The review, recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,...
Patients at risk of coverage denial
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital analyzed a national sample of Emergency Department visits between 2011-15 to determine what proportion of them could be denied coverage if commercial insurers across the U.S. adopted the policy of a large national insurer, Anthem, Inc., to potentially deny coverage, after the visit, based on ED discharge diagnoses. Researchers studied visits by...
Home remedies: Treating anxiety with herbal remedies
Several herbal remedies have been studied as a treatment for anxiety, but more research is needed to understand the risks and benefits. Here’s what we know—and don’t know: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Kava Kava appeared to be a promising treatment for anxiety, but reports of serious liver damage—even with short-term use—caused the Food and Drug Administration to issue warnings about...
5 questions and answers about acute flaccid myelitis, the polio-like illness confirmed in two Mass. children
The state Department of Public Health is investigating four other suspected cases of the condition. Two children in Massachusetts have contracted a serious, rare illness that causes muscle weakness and paralysis, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. The state’s first case this year of acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, was confirmed in August, according to the department, which is investigating four other...
Regular exercise should be part of cancer care for all patients
Including exercise or sport as part of cancer care can significantly improve symptom management, quality of life and fitness during and after treatment, French researchers have concluded in two presentations to be reported at the ESMO 2018 Congress in Munich. Even among patients at highest risk of poor quality of life, exercise can make a difference. More than 3,500 patients with cancer already participate in exercise programmes each year at over 80 cancer centers...
Skip this important habit–23% of people do–and you’re worse off than if you were a chronic smoker, or had heart disease or diabetes
Skip this important habit—23% of people do—and you‘re worse off than if you were a chronic smoker, or had heart disease or diabetes. In fact, we’ve seen before that a certain type of exercise can make your body act like it’s nine years younger. But a brand new study out of the Cleveland Clinic reveals that pure workaholics–many of whom are the type of people who never find the time to exercise–are creating worse...
The five stages of grief don’t come in fixed steps – everyone feels differently
Grief can seem desolate for those in the thick of it who often feel unable to imagine a way out of their suffering. But, as time passes, the pain usually dampens or becomes more fleeting. Understanding the normal trajectory of grief matters for the person experiencing the grief and those treating them. Attempts to provide...
Consuming caffeine from coffee reduces incident rosacea
Suyun Li, Ph.D., from the Qingdao University in China, and colleagues conducted a cohort study involving 82,737 women in the Nurses’ Health Study II to examine the correlation between the risk for incident rosacea and caffeine intake. (HealthDay)—Caffeine intake from coffee is inversely associated with the risk for incident rosacea, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in JAMA Dermatology....
The smell of lavender is relaxing, science confirms
A new study shows that the famous relaxing effects of lavender rely on sense of smell — and that the active compound linalool could be used medically to treat anxiety FRONTIERS Lavender works its relaxing magic all around us: from garden borders to bath bombs to fabric softener. But why not in our hospitals and clinics? And what is the science behind the magic? Research published...