Health

Related media - Recent news According to official visitor logs, a Parkinson’s disease expert from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times over an eight-month period from last summer to last spring, and met at least once with President Biden’s doctor. The expert, Dr. Kevin Cannard, is a neurologist specializing in movement disorders who recently published a paper on Parkinson’s. The logs, released by the White House, document visits from July 2023 to March of this year. More recent visits, if any, would not be disclosed until later, according to the White House’s voluntary disclosure policy. It is unclear whether Dr. Cannard was in the White House specifically to consult with the president or for unrelated meetings. Dr. Cannard’s LinkedIn page ...

More news - News 24 hours The nervous energy was palpable as hundreds of cyclists, dressed in colorful Lycra suits, awaited the start of the 50-mile ride known as Medio Siglo from the Santa Fe Railyard, a hub of art galleries, restaurants, and a farmers market in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Finally, we began pedaling through town with eight motorcycle cops clearing the road and guarding intersections. We passed the Roundhouse, where the New Mexico Legislature meets. We passed Museum Hill, home to four museums exploring the Native American Southwest, the Spanish colonial past, and more. After about twelve miles, Santa Fe was behind us and we were on our own, rolling through rolling ranchland. It was the second day of a two-day cycling event that each spring draws more than 1,500 participant...

More news - Latest news Many people who have undergone mental health therapy often highlight the positive aspects of it, such as developing better coping skills, building stronger relationships, and achieving a calmer mind. But what happens when a therapist fails to help or even causes harm? A psychologist might send warning signals to a client by yawning during sessions, consistently arriving late, or offering poor advice. Patients can report unethical behavior to a counselor’s state licensing board, but there isn’t always a recourse for those who feel a therapist is poorly trained, inexperienced, or just bad at their job. Currently, no federal agency is charged with regulating psychotherapy. Have you ever started therapy but dropped out because the treatment was ineffective or even...

More news - Latest news Climate change and contaminated water have triggered an epidemic of kidney disease. In Sri Lanka, a serene island nation in the Indian Ocean, a silent killer is claiming the lives of thousands of men. Statistics reveal an alarming spike in chronic kidney disease cases, and experts point to two main culprits: climate change and water pollution. In rural northern and eastern Sri Lanka, where agriculture is the backbone of the local economy, farmers face a daily struggle not only to cultivate their land but also to survive amid a growing health crisis. Extreme temperatures and prolonged droughts, exacerbated by climate change, have forced many farmers to rely on contaminated water sources for irrigation and personal consumption. Pesticide and fertilizer ...

More news - News 24 hours Countries with limited budgets typically choose to pay for what are considered more essential health services, such as vaccines, rather than reproductive health, said Dr Ayman Abdelmohsen, head of the family planning division of UNFPA's technical division, because they produce more immediate results. But a recent UNFPA initiative to get low-income countries to shoulder a greater share of the costs has prompted 44 governments to sign up to a new financing model that commits them to increasing their contributions to reproductive health each year. Despite this, last year saw a significant global shortfall of around $95 million in commodity purchases. Donors now pay for the majority of commodities, but their funding for 2022 was nearly 15% lower than in 2019, as...

More news - Breaking news When I was little, my father, who rarely traveled, would tell stories of a trip to Europe he took with his parents when he was 14, in 1966. He remembered how Nonie loved the pristine Swiss roads and flowerbeds; the cozy fireplace in the hillside house near Lugano, where her father was born, with its clever alcoves for drying clothes or warming bread; and the palpable poverty in the house in Pozzuoli, near Naples, where Nonie’s aunt had lined the walls with newspaper for insulation. Occasionally, my father would show me his Kodachrome slides on a projector. As an adult, I often suggested that we repeat the trip, or at least visit Switzerland and Italy, so he could show me his family roots. But as his Alzheimer’s disease progressed, the idea took on a...

More news - Latest news Ann Lurie, a former pediatric nurse turned prominent Chicago philanthropist, died Monday at her home. She was 79. Northwestern University, where Lurie was a trustee and major donor, announced her death without giving a cause. Raised in Miami by a single mother, Lurie was an only child and protested the Vietnam War during her college years. She initially planned to join the Peace Corps, but instead married Robert H. Lurie. Robert Lurie built a large real estate and investment business with Sam Zell, which included holdings such as The Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Cubs. He also invested in sports teams such as the Chicago Bulls and the White Sox. Robert Lurie died of colon cancer in 1990, leaving behind an estate valued at $425 million. Ann Lurie, who eventua...

More news - Latest news The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Thursday that all Americans 6 months and older should receive one of the new COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they become available this fall. This recommendation comes amid a summer surge in COVID-19 cases, with infection rates rising in at least 39 states and territories. While most Americans have developed some immunity to the coronavirus through previous infections or vaccinations, the new vaccines offer an incremental boost. However, their effectiveness wanes over a few months as immunity wanes and the virus continues to mutate. Data presented at a recent meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices showed that most Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 had not received the v...

More news - Latest news For many Americans, the rising tide of prescription drug prices seems like an implacable force, threatening to overwhelm family budgets and access to health care. While pharmaceutical companies often shoulder public responsibility, the web of influence on drug costs is far more intricate. Today, we shine a spotlight on a key, but typically hidden, player in this system: pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Rebecca Robbins, a leading investigative journalist specializing in pharmaceuticals for the New York Times, will take us on a deep dive into the world of PBMs. We will explore their role as intermediaries between drug manufacturers, insurers, pharmacies and, ultimately, patients. This complex dance can have a significant impact on how much yo...

More news - Recent news Mosquito-borne dengue fever is spreading rapidly around the world, reaching record levels and even popping up in unexpected places. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning doctors in the United States to watch out for cases, as the risk of infection has increased this year. Why the surge? Several factors are driving the increase in dengue. The Aedes a Egypti mosquito, which transmits the virus, thrives in warm, humid environments. Climate change is creating the ideal conditions for these mosquitoes to expand their range and become more numerous. Additionally, urbanization brings people closer to mosquito breeding grounds, increasing the chance of bites. A global problem While tropical countries like Brazil have long battled dengue, ...