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Woman Wakes Up With Swollen Fingers After A Salty Pasta Dish
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have noticed that I gain weight after eating salted foods. Last night, I had a pasta dish that was salty. Upon awakening, all my fingers were swollen to a point of not bending. Besides drinking a lot of water to flush it out, I'm concerned that there could be potential for an undetected cause.
I'm an 82-year-old woman, and ...Read more
Walk away from back pain
Chances are you -- or someone you know -- is contending with back pain. Nearly 65 million Americans say they've had a recent bout of "bad-back-itis," and around 16 million adults contend with life-altering, chronic back pain.
But what if you could walk away from the achy, stiff, lousy feeling that back pain can cause? Well, you can. According ...Read more
Homeopathy for Psoriasis: Exploring Natural Approaches to Manage Symptoms
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by red, inflamed patches of skin covered with silvery scales. While there is no cure for psoriasis, many individuals seek alternative approaches to manage their symptoms and promote overall skin health. Homeopathy, a natural and holistic system of medicine, offers potential remedies that may...Read more

New vaccine for typhoid, salmonella shows promise
A new vaccine against salmonella and typhoid moves closer to approval, according to results of a clinical trial published by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Oct. 8.
“These results are highly encouraging,” study lead investigator Dr. Wilbur Chen said in a statement announcing the news. “They show that [this ...Read more

West Nile virus surges in Missouri, KC cases reported; officials urge vigilance
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Health officials are warning residents to remain on guard after Missouri experienced an increase in human West Nile virus cases so far this year.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is urging residents to remain vigilant and take precautions, as surveillance data shows a marked increase in cases in ...Read more

Nuclear missile workers are contracting cancer. They blame the bases
At a memorial service in 2022, veteran Air Force Capt. Monte Watts bumped into a fellow former Minuteman III nuclear missile operator, who told him that she had non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Watts knew other missileers with similar cancers. But the connection really hit home later that same January day, when the results of a blood test revealed that ...Read more

Workers' wages siphoned to pay medical bills, despite consumer protections
Stacey Knoll thought the court summons she received was a scam. She didn’t remember getting any medical bills from Montrose Regional Health, a nonprofit hospital, after a 2020 emergency room visit.
So she was shocked when, three years after the trip to the hospital, her employer received court orders requiring it to start funneling a chunk of...Read more

Wary of RFK Jr., Colorado started revamping its vaccine policies in the spring
As Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s dismantling of federal vaccine policy continues to roil the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some Democratic-led states have struck out on their own, setting up new systems to help them assess the science and maintain immunization access for their residents.
Four ...Read more

Doctors and nurses are punched, choked, even shot. States want to stop that
One morning earlier this year, as Deb Capistrano came on duty for her shift as a nurse in her hospital’s stroke unit, her colleagues from the night shift warned her that one of her patients for the day was a man who’d been threatening to harm them.
Capistrano has been a registered nurse for 17 years. Threats of violence aren’t new to her....Read more

Medicine from a vending machine? Advocate Health Care installs devices in Chicago
CHICAGO -- Most patients don’t expect to be sent to a vending machine immediately after a doctor’s appointment or a hospital stay.
But there are two new vending machines in Chicago that dole out prescription medications — not snacks — at Advocate Trinity Hospital in Calumet Heights and Advocate Medical Group’s Imani Village clinic in ...Read more
After Changing Doctors, Patient's Record Now Has Some Issues
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently turned 65 and changed primary doctors because my previous doctor did not accept Medicare patients. I very much liked my new doctor. He ordered a vitamin D test. However, when I got to the lab, they gave me something to sign because Medicare might not cover the test. (It was about a $250 cost.) I declined the test.
...Read more
The diabetes-depression, depression-diabetes connection
"Round like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel. Never ending or beginning on an ever-spinning reel," are lyrics from "The Windmills of Your Mind." But they could describe the relationship of diabetes and depression.
It turns out that people living with diabetes are 48% more likely to develop depression than folks without diabetes...Read more
Homeopathy for Cataracts: Natural Approaches for Eye Health
Cataracts are a common age-related eye condition characterized by the clouding of the lens, leading to blurry vision and impaired eyesight. While conventional treatment options include surgery, some individuals may explore alternative approaches, such as homeopathy, to support their eye health. In this article, we explore several homeopathic ...Read more

As shutdown lingers, Marjorie Taylor Greene splits with GOP leaders on health care
WASHINGTON — Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is openly criticizing Republican leaders in Congress over their handling of the government shutdown and health care funding.
Greene’s social media posts and public statements are part of a trend in recent months of her taking positions that are populist but which conflict with public...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: Smart swaps for a healthier ice cream fix
Are you craving ice cream but watching your calories, sugar, or fat intake? Good news — there are plenty of lighter options that satisfy your sweet tooth without derailing your health goals.
Frozen yogurt is a classic alternative, offering less fat than traditional ice cream. Choose plain or low-sugar varieties and top with fresh fruit ...Read more

Eating Well: Eat too much sugar last night? Do this today
So you ate an entire pint of ice cream while binge-watching. Or maybe you ate more dessert than felt comfortable at a family gathering. We’ve all been there. But then the inevitable happens. You wake up the next morning feeling not so great and maybe a little anxious and guilty. And you’re wondering what to do next.
The first thing you ...Read more

5 timeless habits for better health
A veritable avalanche of influencers, news headlines, and well-meaning friends and family offer conflicting advice on wellness. If you’re overwhelmed by fads and hype around wellness, read on. Dr. Wynne Armand, a primary care physician at Harvard-affiliated Mass General Brigham health care in Boston, recommends five simple habits to boost ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q&A: What do pharmacists do?
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’m sure pharmacists are busy, but what do they do? No one likes to wait for a prescription, especially if you’re not feeling well. When you see a pharmacist on the news, you see them counting pills. When I get prescriptions filled, I see the pharmacist looking at a computer. What training do pharmacists have? And what do ...Read more
Spilling the Beans
Excessive coffee consumption is not good. It can lead to increased blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, digestive issues and muscle twitching, among other things.
Talk about clouds in my coffee.
On the other hand, moderate coffee consumption has been linked to longer life, lower risk of type 2 diabetes, heart failure, stroke, colon ...Read more

At least 170 US hospitals face major flood risk. Experts say Trump is making it worse
LOUISVILLE, Tenn. — When a big storm hits, Peninsula Hospital could be underwater.
At this decades-old psychiatric hospital on the edge of the Tennessee River, an intense storm could submerge the building in 11 feet of water, cutting off all roads around the facility, according to a sophisticated computer simulation of flood risk.
Aurora, a ...Read more