You may have heard that “sitting is new smoking.”[1]
It’s a way of saying that sitting too much takes a toll on your health that is comparable to smoking. Researchers have found that remaining in a seated position for hours at a time without getting up increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Now, new research shows that sitting with your legs crossed in a chair is particularly damaging.… Read More
America’s health care system has battled hospital-borne infections for years. But there has been little success.
Nearly 100,000 Americans a year die from hospital infections. That’s more deaths than are caused by breast, colon, and pancreatic cancers combined.[1]
Why can’t we stop this scourge? A study by researchers at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in California may have found the answer.… Read More
Choosing your doctor is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. It can literally mean the difference between life and death.
That’s why it’s so surprising that many of us put so little thought into it. We might go with someone recommended by friends. Or maybe we choose the practice that is closest to home or work. Or we might pick a doctor who gets good online reviews.… Read More
When you go to the doctor because you’re not feeling well, there’s really just one thing you want to know…
You want to know what’s wrong.
Is that asking too much?
Apparently it is. A Mayo Clinic study shows how appallingly bad American doctors can be at providing accurate diagnoses.
Only 12% of patients who came to the famed hospital in Rochester, Minn.,… Read More
Like most people, you probably were appalled a few years ago when you heard about the lead contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan. The reports of thousands of children suffering permanent brain damage were horrific.[1]
You were no doubt thankful that such a disaster was not happening in your town.
But what you may not know is that lead poisoning is surprisingly common even in people who don’t live in a city with contaminated water.… Read More
A packed plane seems like the last place you’d want to be during the pandemic.
Distancing is impossible. It’s difficult to avoid high-touch surfaces like tray tables and seat arms that could harbor the coronavirus. And although the cabin air is filtered, how much virus is floating around is anybody’s guess.
That’s why the events of March 9 seem like a recipe for disaster.… Read More