Many Americans Wait Too Long to Get Healthcare. A new report notes that some people must wait several months before receiving the healthcare services they need, potentially endangering their health. Experts from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) add that poor management of human resources in healthcare institutions is one of the main reasons patients are…

Is Codeine Safe for Kids? Due to the potential for serious complications such as slowed or difficult breathing, experts at the Food and Drug Administration are investigating whether it is safe for children to consume medicines containing codeine to treat cough and colds. Codeine is converted into morphine in the body, but some individuals process…

Dementia May Increase Health Risks Among Hospitalized COPD Patients. Taiwanese researchers examined data on one million individuals collected between 2000 and 2010 and found that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dementia have an elevated risk for acute respiratory dysfunction, severe sepsis, and hospital mortality. More specifically, they found that patients with both…

Poorly Controlled Diabetes Results in Longer Hospital Stays. Two new studies presented at the 75th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association state that diabetics who fail to control their blood sugar levels tend to have longer and more costly hospital stays. According to researchers, hospital stays for diabetics with poor blood sugar control can…

Smartphones May Interfere with Pacemakers. Though the risk is small, experts in association with the European Society of Cardiology advise patients with pacemakers and other cardiac devices to avoid storing their smartphones in pockets directly over their chest and to hold their phones over their right ear when making a call. European Society of Cardiology,…

Can Noisy Neighborhoods Cause Weight Gain? Swedish scientists say their research indicates that noise from traffic, trains, and planes may play some role in the obesity epidemic. In their study published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, they note that an individual’s risk for a larger waist size increases 25% if they are exposed…

Cellphone Noise Can Startle a Fetus. A small study indicates that sounds emitted by cellphones carried by pregnant women can disrupt the sleep and wake cycles of their unborn fetuses. What isn’t clear from the study is whether or not being repeatedly startled by the beeping and vibration of cellphones has any effect on fetal…

Global Oncology Costs Increasing. While early diagnosis and more effective cancer therapies have increased the survival rates of many cancers, costs related to cancer treatment have also risen. A new report reveals that average cancer treatment costs-per-month in the United States have increased 39% over the past ten years, and global spending on cancer medicines…

Don’t Wear Heels at Home! According to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, half of high heel-related injuries occur at home. This suggests that a simple strategy for women to reduce their risk of injury is to simply wear more appropriate footwear around the house. University of Alabama at Birmingham, May 2015

One in Four Breast Cancer Cases May Be Preventable. Experts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology advise that a healthy lifestyle can reduce a woman’s risk for breast cancer nearly 25%, even if she has a family history of the disease. Previous research has associated the following lifestyle factors with a lower risk of…