Archive for June, 2010
Shift Work Can Put a Crimp on Sleep
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010To make ends meet these days, many Americans are sacrificing sleep to work night shifts or juggle two jobs.
Research suggests, though, that lack of sleep can lead to memory problems, depression, cardiovascular concerns, cancer and increased risk of accidents.
“In the last couple of years, I’ve seen more overworked patients taking on extra shifts or second [...]
Recession May Mean Fewer Nips & Tucks
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 A sagging economy may be causing fewer Americans to visit their plastic surgeons for a lift — or many other beautifying procedures, a new report finds.
In 2009, close to 10 million cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures were performed in the United States, down about 2 percent from the year before, the American Society for [...]
Vaccinating Children against Flu Helps Protect Wider Community
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010Results of a clinical trial conducted in a largely self-contained religious community during the 2008-09 influenza season show that immunizing children against seasonal influenza can significantly protect unvaccinated community members against influenza as well. The study was conducted to determine if immunized children could act as a barrier to limit the spread of influenza to [...]
Bleeding Alert Sounded for Stroke Drugs
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010People treated with the clot-dissolving drug tPA for a stroke caused by a blocked brain artery are significantly more likely to have excess bleeding if they have been taking the anti-clotting drug Coumadin, even though a test shows no great danger of bleeding, new research indicates.
“In our small sample, there was a 10-fold increased risk [...]
Blacks, Hispanics With Heart Failure Less Likely to Use Hospice
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010Blacks and Hispanics with advanced heart failure are much less likely to turn to hospice care than whites, even though blacks in particular are more likely to develop the condition, a new report finds.
Heart failure, in which the heart weakens and can’t beat effectively, is the second most common diagnosis for people in hospice care, [...]