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Amazon turned drivers into first responders in Europe experiment

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Amazon.com Inc. equipped some delivery vans in Europe with defibrillators to see if drivers crisscrossing residential areas could speed up aid to heart-attack victims.

The world’s largest online retailer tested a program, called Project Pulse, as a pilot in Amsterdam in November 2023, and expanded it to London and Bologna, Italy, according to...Read more

Pornography may be commonplace, but a growing body of research shows it causes lasting harm to the brain and relationships

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

While pornography has been present throughout human history in various forms, such as ancient erotic art to more modernized motion pictures, research shows an increase in use over recent decades given the rise of technology and accessibility.

Pornography, meaning any media intended to depict or describe sexual content to heighten ...Read more

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Slashed federal funding cancels vaccine clinics amid measles surge

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

More than a dozen vaccination clinics were canceled in Pima County, Arizona.

So was a media blitz to bring low-income children in Washoe County, Nevada, up to date on their shots.

Planned clinics were also scuttled in Texas, Minnesota and Washington, among other places.

Immunization efforts across the country were upended after the federal ...Read more

VA research stalls under hiring freeze

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

PITTSBURGH — One hundred years ago, scientific research began at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, eventually yielding discoveries like the implantable pacemaker, the nicotine patch and the concept of a CT scan.

This spring, the National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations thought it would be prioritizing ...Read more

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Tax time triggers fraud alarms for some Obamacare enrollees

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Because of past fraud by rogue brokers, some Affordable Care Act policyholders may get an unexpected tax bill this season.

But that isn’t the only potential shock. Other changes coming soon — stemming from proposals by the administration of President Donald Trump — could affect their coverage and its cost. And sorting out related problems...Read more

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Measles vaccination rates below threshold in most Las Vegas schools

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

LAS VEGAS — More than three-quarters of Clark County schools began the academic year with a reported kindergarten vaccination rate of less than 95%, the threshold needed to prevent an outbreak of the highly contagious virus, new data shows.

Five percent, or 16 schools, reported rates below 80%, with one charter school as low as 33%, according...Read more

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Allentown City Council to consider bill protecting transgender health care

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown City Council appears poised to pass a resolution declaring the city a “safe haven” for transgender people seeking gender-affirming care.

Council member Natalie Santos introduced the proposal, which directs the city to “state its commitment” to LGBT human rights and health care access and directs city ...Read more

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Hantavirus caused 3 recent deaths in California. Here's what to know about the virus

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

LOS ANGELES — Three people in Mammoth Lakes died recently after contracting hantavirus, the same infection that killed Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa earlier this year. The cases have heightened concerns among public health officials about the spread of the rare but deadly disease that attacks the lungs.

At a news conference last month, Dr...Read more

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Ready to hoop it up? Net some benefits on the court, but be wary of risks

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

It's the most wonderful time of the year to be a basketball fan. And whether you're enjoying the memory of your alma mater's winning buzzer-beater in the NCAA tournament or hoping to see your favorite pro posterize an opponent in the NBA playoffs, all those high-flying jams and nothing-but-net 3-pointers might have you wondering, "Can I do that?...Read more

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Blockbuster deal will wipe out $30 billion in medical debt. Even backers say it's not enough

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Underscoring the massive scale of America’s medical debt problem, a New York-based nonprofit has struck a deal to pay off old medical bills for an estimated 20 million people.

Undue Medical Debt, which buys patient debt, is retiring $30 billion worth of unpaid bills in a single transaction with Pendrick Capital Partners, a Virginia-based debt...Read more

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Rural hospitals question whether they can afford Medicare Advantage contracts

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Rural hospital leaders are questioning whether they can continue to afford to do business with Medicare Advantage companies, and some say the only way to maintain services and protect patients is to end their contracts with the private insurers.

Medicare Advantage plans pay hospitals lower rates than traditional Medicare, said Jason Merkley, ...Read more

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The House speaker's eyeing big cuts to Medicaid. In his Louisiana district, it's a lifeline

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

MANSFIELD, La. — When Desoto Regional Health System took out $36 million in loans last year to renovate a rural hospital that opened in 1952, officials were banking on its main funding source remaining stable: Medicaid, the joint federal-state health program for low-income people and the disabled.

But those dollars are now in jeopardy, as ...Read more

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Georgia public health board frets over measles, Kennedy vaccine message

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

ATLANTA — Georgia public health leaders on Tuesday underscored the gravity of the Texas measles outbreak, and expressed concern over the impact of misinformation from Washington.

Three unvaccinated people are the only Georgia measles cases so far this year. All recovered. Georgia Department of Public Health workers in a public meeting Tuesday...Read more

Colorado’s early childhood education workers face burnout and health disparities, but a wellness campaign could help

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

A lot of research has been done on the outcomes of young children who receive care in early education programs across the country. High-quality early childhood education programs positively shape young children’s development. Far less research has focused on the early childhood workforce that powers these programs.

We set out to ...Read more

Trump administration blocks Medicare from covering obesity drugs — why it matters

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

President Trump’s administration has made the decision not to cover highly-popular obesity treatments under the 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D policies. One day after the Senate confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz as head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the CMS said in a filing that it would not start covering anti-obesity drugs for...Read more

Which foods and drinks help reduce anxiety?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

​​Anxiety causes intense fear and panic and affects about 19% of people in the United States per year. Consider talking to a mental healthcare provider who can offer you guidance and treatment options if you have a hard time managing symptoms at home.

Here are 12 foods and drinks that may help reduce your anxiety.

1. Avocado

Consuming ...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: Is cod liver oil a healthy addition to your diet?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

As the name suggests, cod liver oil is the fat extracted from the livers of Atlantic cod and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA). Omega-3 supplements, on the other hand, are extracted from whole fish. Cod liver oil supplements, which are available over-the-counter, are also rich in vitamins A and D.

If you need therapeutic doses of EPA...Read more

Can probiotics help calm inflammatory bowel disease?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Approximately three million Americans have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is an umbrella term for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, illnesses marked by chronic or repeated bouts of inflammation in the digestive tract. Both types of IBD represent a complex interplay of genes, environment, and immune factors.

Current therapies for ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Spinal adjustment techniques differ among practitioners

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What happens during a spinal adjustment? Can professionals other than chiropractors safely do spinal adjustments?

ANSWER: Chiropractors commonly perform spinal adjustments, also known as spinal manipulation. However, osteopathic doctors, physical therapists and medical doctors who are specially trained in manipulation may ...Read more

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How much will that surgery cost? Hospital prices remain largely unhelpful

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

It’s a holy grail of health care: forcing the industry to reveal prices negotiated between health plans and hospitals — information that had long been treated as a trade secret. And among the flurry of executive orders President Donald Trump signed during his first five weeks back in office was a promise to “Make America Healthy Again” ...Read more