Gaining weight after quitting smoking does not negate the benefits of quitting. One study showed a 50% drop in risk of fatal or non-fatal heart attack and stroke six years after quitting, regardless of weight gain.
A tear in the aorta produces a sudden, sharp, extraordinary pain with a ripping sensation between the shoulder blades and down the back or in the front of the chest.
Surgery called partial meniscectomy has been the traditional way to correct a torn meniscus in people with osteoarthritis. However, new research suggests people with this condition may be able to try physical therapy before resorting to surgery.
When a medication receives negative press, asking whether the drug caused the side effect, how many people it affected, and whether the side effect was worse than the disease the drug treats can help you weigh the drug’s benefits against its risks.
Almost half of older U.S. teens text while driving, a new survey shows. And those who text while driving are also more likely to do other dangerous things. Researchers used results from a national survey on youth behavior. They focused on answers given by 8,500 teens who were age 16 or older. Nearly 45% said they had texted or e-mailed while driving during the last 30 days. They were 5 times as likely to drive after drinking alcohol as teens who didn’t text while driving. About 25% of the teens texted while driving every day. Teens in this group were 40% less likely to wear seat belts than teens who just texted while driving once or twice in the last month. Older students and males were the most likely to text while driving. The journal Pediatrics published the study online. USA Today and HealthDay News wrote about it April 13.
About 13% of Americans age 60 and older say they are confused more often and having more problems with thinking and memory, a survey finds. One-third of this group said their confusion or memory issues have caused problems for them. They may have had problems with their social life, work, chores or other activities. Only one-third had talked to their doctors about these problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did the survey in 2011. It was the first survey of its type among older U.S. adults. Nearly 60,000 people in 21 states answered the questions. The results show that it’s important to look for early signs of dementia, experts told HealthDay News. Signs may include asking the same questions over and over, getting lost in familiar places or not being able to follow directions. People also may become more confused about time, people and places.