Even as economic inequity and inequality fuel a nationwide plague of “deaths of despair,” a runaway and inefficient health system hits Americans hard in their pocketbooks, in effect imposing an $8,000 annual tax on every household, a pair of leading economists say. The crushing cost of the U.S. health system, exceeding $1 trillion a year,….
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Here’s something as frightful as the weather outside: winter weight gain
Many of us may feel a little too hefty after weeks of seasonal feasting and merrymaking. But Old Man Winter also may share a slice of the blame for our weight gain at this time of year and beyond. Packing on a pound or two, maybe even five, may be more common at this time….
Continue ReadingFor safety’s sake: Pedestrians, put down the phone! Bikers, put on the helmet!
With the pedestrian death toll climbing to scary levels and bike-vehicle accidents zooming up too, individuals may need to take common sense steps to safeguard themselves and not rely on motorists or traffic planners for their safety. Just as drivers need to put away electronic devices while they’re on the road, so, too, should folks….
Continue ReadingWith data and disclosures, experts, families, and friends battle suicide’s toll
Dogged medical detective work combined with public advocacy to dispel the shame that surrounds suicide — these may be productive ways to attack the public health nightmare of increasing numbers of Americans taking their own lives. This is a crisis that can’t be hidden or allowed to keep going up, with some experts estimating that roughly….
Continue ReadingAnother abuse scandal may change ‘The Talk’ with college-bound students
It’s that time of year when parents send their kids off to schools and opportunities near or far away. While this should be a mostly welcome happening, sadly grownups may want to have The Talk with their young adults before they go to college or university. No, they won’t be discussing just the birds and….
Continue ReadingLoneliness, debilitation, and depression blamed for seniors’ rising suicides
The nation’s rising suicide crisis torments seniors, too, with just under one out of five such deaths in 2017 occurring with individuals 65 and older. Men 65-plus, experts say, face the highest suicide risk, while seniors 85 and older, men and women, rank No. 2 in groups most likely to die by taking their own….
Continue ReadingIn season of higher risk for kids, cautions about mowers and pool chemicals
As the nation slips into summer and the statistical 100 deadliest days for kids, there are some timely reminders about keeping youngsters safer around swimming pools and the chemicals used with them and protecting them from the harms of riding mowers when the devices are run in reverse. The Red Cross, of course, reminds that….
Continue ReadingFor cancer patients in online support groups, another grief: illness fakers
For all the benefits that the cyber world has bestowed on billions of users, it also has brought out trolls and bullies aplenty. It also potentially has created a new category of sick people. They use online forums to fake illnesses and gain sympathy and even money. There’s even a new term for it: Munchausen….
Continue ReadingYoung people have rampant stress, anxiety & depression, plus trouble getting help from adults
Recent news reports underscore how the nation’s youth are struggling more than had been believed with stress, anxiety, and depression. The New York Times, based on nationwide polling by the respected Pew Research Center, reported that 70 percent of teenagers surveyed cited mental health concerns as a top issue for them. It ranked ahead of….
Continue ReadingOverdose deaths soar among women 30+
A new kind of gender equality can only be seen as tragic and sad: Drug overdoses are soaring among women older than 30, with a giant spike in these deaths due to opioids. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that since 1999, drug overdose death rates “increased by approximately 200 percent….
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