The difference between urgent and emergency care
JAN 18, 2017 When you’re sick or injured, it helps to understand the different levels of care and when they’re needed. For example, there are urgent situations that aren’t emergencies, such as a minor sprain or a sinus infection. Then there are situations where you should go straight to an emergency room as soon as […]
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly. Considerations Almost everyone has pain in the abdomen at some point. Most of the time, it is not serious. How bad your pain is does not always reflect the seriousness of […]
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl – and in all other sports
Steven P. Broglio, University of Michigan An estimated 90 million to 100 million Americans will tune in to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday. Unlikely to be mentioned during the festivities is this sobering but significant side note: Athletes participating in collision sports are among those at highest risk for concussion. That risk is not […]
Medicines to Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke: Questions for the doctor
Statins are medicines that reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by helping to lower cholesterol (“koh-LEHS-tuh-rahl”) levels in the blood. Experts recommend that you take a statin if all 3 of these statements are true: You are age 40 to 75. You have high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, or you smoke. Your […]
Get Tested for Colorectal Cancer
The Basics If you are age 50 to 75, get tested regularly for colorectal cancer. A special test (called a screening test) can help prevent colorectal cancer or find it early, when it may be easier to treat. You may need to get tested before age 50 if colorectal cancer runs in your family. Talk with your […]
Talk with Your Doctor about Taking Aspirin to Prevent Disease
The Basics Taking low-dose aspirin (or “baby aspirin”) regularly can lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, and colorectal cancer. For most people, aspirin is safe. But it’s not right for everyone. Ask your doctor about taking aspirin regularly if you are age 50 to 59 and you have any of these risk factors for […]
Reduce Stress for a Healthier Heart
(NewsUSA) – Whether it’s from everyday deadlines, financial struggles, or the COVID-19 pandemic, stress shows up often in life. And your body reacts to it: your heart rate increases, your blood vessels narrow — and over time, these little blows can add up and do damage to your health, particularly your heart. With chronic stress, […]
Omicron makes booster shots more critical for medically vulnerable seniors
Laurie Archbald-Pannone, University of Virginia People are understandably worn out, tired of thinking about COVID-19 and wanting to get back to a true normal. This so-called “pandemic fatigue” is real. But it’s also contributing to lapses in COVID-19 precautions and to more people getting infected with the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. It is become starkly […]
Is the omicron variant Mother Nature’s way of vaccinating the masses and curbing the pandemic?
Prakash Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina and Mitzi Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina In the short time since the omicron variant was identified in South Africa in November 2021, researchers have quickly learned that it has three unique characteristics: It spreads efficiently and quickly, it generally causes milder disease than previous variants and it may […]
How mRNA and DNA vaccines could soon treat cancers, HIV, autoimmune disorders and genetic diseases
Deborah Fuller, University of Washington The two most successful coronavirus vaccines developed in the U.S. – the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines – are both mRNA vaccines. The idea of using genetic material to produce an immune response has opened up a world of research and potential medical uses far out of reach of traditional vaccines. […]