Архив рубрики: Здоровье Америка

Cancer is generally a disease of old age. But researchers are increasingly finding that certain types—including colon, breast, stomach, and pancreatic cancers—are hitting people younger than 50 far more commonly than they used to.

In a new report, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers at Vanderbilt University focus on a relatively rare cancer—appendiceal cancer, which occurs in the appendix—and found that its rates are also rising, especially among millennials.

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Andreana Holowatyji, assistant professor of hematology and oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and her colleagues analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, a cancer registry that includes patients from 1975 to 2019. The scope of the dataset allowed them to look for generational differences in cancer rates. They specifically tracked appendix cancer, which for many years was misclassified as colorectal..

Going to the dentist is essential for preventing and detecting cavities, gum disease, and other oral issues. But few people go enough: According to the latest federal data, only 65% of adults had a dental exam or cleaning in the past year.

How often do you really need to visit the dentist? Here’s what oral health experts say.

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Why go at all?

Research shows a strong link between oral diseases and systemic ones. “Regular dental visits are critical for early detection of oral health issues before they escalate or spread to other parts of the body,” says Dr. Kemia Zeinali, founder of Dreamhouse Dental in Bell Gardens, Calif. “For example, untreated cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease can lead to serious health problems like heart disease and diabetes.”

Read More: America’s Dental Health Is in Trouble

Dentists also perform oral cancer screenings for people with risk factors or symptoms, which are “critical to catching such cancers early in their deve..

Cavities and dental costs are at risk of skyrocketing as a growing number of states consider banning the use of fluoride in public water—and children from low-income households are likely most vulnerable.

In March, Utah became the first state to prohibit adding fluoride to drinking water. A couple months later, Florida followed suit. Several other states are now considering similar bills.

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In a recent study published in JAMA Health Forum, researchersprojected what would happen if the entire country were to stop adding fluoride to the water supply. The potential impact on both people’s oral health and their dental bills was substantial: Tooth decay, the study found, would increase by about 7.5%—representing about 25 million more cavities—and the U.S. would face about $9.8 billion in additional costs over five years, including both what families would have to pay out-of-pocket for dental care and what the government would need to pay for public health ..

Tornadoes can tear down a home and hurricanes can flood entire towns. But when it comes to weather dangers, extreme heat is the great deceiver. It isn’t acute; it’s literally a matter of degrees. A 100-degree day looks pretty much like one that’s 85. The skies don’t darken in warning and the danger isn’t instantaneous, like a gunshot. It’s slow-moving and cumulative, like a poison.

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Defending against extreme heat is a growing problem, as I learned when researching the frontiers of weather forecasting and how to protect people from nature’s hazards. In some cases, climate change is driving extreme events in regions where people have little experience with or preparation for the health and other effects of high heat. We saw this with the 2021 heat wave that left hundreds dead across the Pacific Northwest.

As it turns out, the science of meteorology has gotten quite good at forecasting high temperatures—but society has far to go when it comes to using th..

Getting enough fiber is crucial for optimal health, yet more than 90% of Americans don’t. Federal dietary guidelines recommend 25–34 grams of fiber per day for adults, depending on age and gender—but the average American adult eats only about 8 grams a day, “which is far below recommended intake regardless of age or sex,” says Dr. Michelle Hughes, medical chief of quality and safety for digestive health at Yale New Haven Health and Smilow Cancer Hospital.

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Should people seek to fill that gap with fiber supplements? Here’s what experts say you should know about supplementing this essential nutrient.

What is fiber, anyway?

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that your body can’t digest. It’s found in plant foods, and “instead of being broken down and absorbed like other carbs, fiber moves through the digestive system, adding bulk to stool, feeding beneficial gut bacteria, and slowing the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream,” says Bree Phillips, a re..

Various chemicals, from those in plastics to food additives, have made headlines lately for their potential roles in triggering diseases. Pesticides are unique among chemicals, though, says Melissa Perry, an environmental epidemiologist and dean of George Mason’s College of Public Health. “They’re deliberately manufactured to kill things.”

By poisoning weeds, pesticides clear the way for farmers’ crops to thrive. But their deadly design may undermine human health, too. A recent report by a new federal advisory board, the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission chaired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calls for further investigation of pesticides’ effects to determine if their use should be limited.

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Some evidence does suggest that long-term exposure could lead to cancer and several other serious health problems. More research is needed to better understand these risks, but in the meantime, experts recommend simple, practical steps to re..

The Trump Administration has added to the confusion surrounding the U.S.’s shifting patchwork of abortion laws by rescinding Biden-era guidance that directed hospitals to provide abortions in emergency situations, even in states where abortion is restricted.

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The decision, announced on Tuesday, does not change the federal law that was at the heart of the Biden Administration’s guidance: the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which requires hospitals that receive Medicare funding—which is most of them—to provide stabilizing treatment to patients experiencing medical emergencies or transfer them to a hospital that can.

The Trump Administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said in a press release that it “will continue to enforce EMTALA, which protects all individuals who present to a hospital emergency department seeking examination or treatment, including for identified emergency medical conditions that place the ..

Trying to talk to someone stuck on their phone is such a universal experience, there’s a name for it: “phubbing,” short for “phone snubbing,” or ignoring someone in favor of a phone. “Everyone hates it, but everyone has also done it,” says Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University and author of the upcoming book 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World. “When someone phubs you, you feel like you’re not important—that whatever is on their phone is more important than you.”

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Phubbing negatively affects mental health, relationship satisfaction, and overall well-being.That’s why it’s worth speaking up about digital distraction. “It’s challenging and awkward, but we should be doing this,” Twenge says. “We need to be confronting this situation.”

Here’s exactly what to say when the person you’re trying to talk to won’t get off their phone.

“I’ve got a group chat that’s blowing up right now, but I’d rather talk to you without..

Good news for coffee lovers: A new study suggests drinking a cup—or several—each day could be linked to long-term health benefits.

The study, presented on Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando, found that roughly 3,700 women who met researchers’ criteria for “healthy aging” typically consumed an average of 315 mg of caffeine per day when they were between the ages of 45 and 60, mostly from drinking coffee. And for the women in that group of “healthy agers,” each extra cup of coffee per day was associated with a 2-5% higher chance of faring well as they aged, up to five small cups per day.

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“We found that women who consumed moderate amounts of caffeinated coffee in midlife were more likely to age in good health,” Sara Mahdavi, an adjunct professor in the University of Toronto’s department of nutritional sciences who led the research, told TIME in an email. “That’s not to say coffee is a cure-all, but for those w..

Hot days can feel unbearable without a strong air-conditioning system. Yet many of us take these essential devices for granted. “The only time people pay attention to their air conditioner is when it’s not working,” says Jeffrey Siegel, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto who researches ventilation and indoor air quality.

That’s a mistake: Taking good care of your AC can help ensure it provides sufficient air flow, controls humidity, is energy efficient, and lasts as long as possible. “An air conditioner that’s not well maintained will not provide the same level of comfort” as one that is, Siegel says.

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Here’s how experts suggest tuning-up your AC so it works optimally.

Change the filter

There’s no universal equation that determines exactly how often you need to change your AC filter, which traps airborne particles like dust, pollen, and other pollutants. Manufacturers typically advise replacing it every three months, and t..