Sunday, May 19

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Medicaid Coverage Leaves Out Many Older Americans Who May Need Help Paying For Medical And Long-Term Care Bills Where The Government Draws The Line
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, IMPACT

Medicaid Coverage Leaves Out Many Older Americans Who May Need Help Paying For Medical And Long-Term Care Bills Where The Government Draws The Line

Where the government draws the line for Medicaid coverage leaves out many older Americans who may need help paying for medical and long-term care bills – new research. The big idea Medicaid, which provides low-income Americans with health insurance coverage, currently excludes large numbers of adults over 65 with social, health and financial profiles similar to those of people the program does cover. Based on a study we conducted, we determined that if strict eligibility rules for Medicaid were changed to help cover such people, from 700,000 to 11.5 million people over 65 would be newly eligible for the program. We analyzed data from the 2018 Health and Retirement Study, a large national survey of older adults conducted by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan e...
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The Death Of Olympian Sprinter Tori Bowie Illustrates The Lack Of Support For Black Maternal Health
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HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Death Of Olympian Sprinter Tori Bowie Illustrates The Lack Of Support For Black Maternal Health

Olympian sprinter Tori Bowie’s surprising death illustrates the lack of support for Black maternal health, advocates say. What do you want to know about maternal health? We want to hear from you, our readers, about what we should be reporting and how we can serve you. Get in touch here. Olympic medalist Tori Bowie was eight months pregnant when something went wrong, and she died alone, in the middle of giving birth. Though her obituary estimates that she died around April 23, Bowie’s body was not found until May 2, when local authorities in Orange County, Florida, performed a welfare check on her. Whereas often the stories and names of those impacted by the maternal mortality crisis go unheard of, Bowie was a three-time Olympic medalist who at one point was deemed the “world’s fastest...
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Reductions In SNAP Benefits Won’t Help Food Insecurity That Already Affects 12 Million US Homes
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, VIDEO REELS

Reductions In SNAP Benefits Won’t Help Food Insecurity That Already Affects 12 Million US Homes

Food insecurity already affects 12 million US homes – and reductions in SNAP benefits won’t help. Millions of Americans struggle to afford healthy meals and nutritious food. Known as “food insecurity,” this problem was already rising when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits – previously called food stamps – were cut in 35 states this spring. SciLine interviewed Hilary Seligman, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, on rising grocery prices, the misconceptions about hunger in the U.S., and how food insecurity diminishes school and work performance. Hilary Seligman discussed food insecurity in the U.S. Below are some highlights from the discussion. Answers have been edited. What is food insecurity? Hilary Seligman: Food insecurity i...
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Money Can’t Buy Everything, Specially Not Fitness, You Gotta Earn It
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, Journalism, TOP FOUR

Money Can’t Buy Everything, Specially Not Fitness, You Gotta Earn It

It's long been said that money can't buy everything and most will agree if they are truly being honest throwing silliness aside. Money can't buy you true love. Money can't buy back your youth or bring back loved ones that have passed on. And additionally, money can't buy fitness no matter how much you shell out of your pocket. To make that point clear, all the money in the world cannot automatically create that perfect physique regardless of how much you are willing to pay. Sure money can pay for a private gym membership or even allow you to build your own gym in your backyard. Money will also allow you to hire a 24 hour a day personal trainer along with a chef to be at your beckoning call whenever you need a healthy meal prepared. Money can also pay for weight reduction surgeries o...
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Junk Food Diets Lacking In Micro-Nutrients May Contribute To Angry Rhetoric
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, IMPACT, POLITICS, TOP FOUR

Junk Food Diets Lacking In Micro-Nutrients May Contribute To Angry Rhetoric

Junk food and the brain: How modern diets lacking in micronutrients may contribute to angry rhetoric. Emotional, non-rational, even explosive remarks in public discourse have escalated in recent years. Politicians endure insults during legislative discussions; scientists receive emails and tweets containing verbal abuse and threats. What’s going on? This escalation in angry rhetoric is sometimes attributed to social media. But are there other influences altering communication styles? As researchers in the field of nutrition and mental health, and authors of The Better Brain, we recognize that many in our society experience brain hunger, impairing their cognitive function and emotion regulation. Ultra-processed products Obviously, we are not deficient in macronutrients: North Americans ...
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Low-Income Black Communities In States That Have Neglected Sewage Systems Hit With Parasitic Infections
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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Low-Income Black Communities In States That Have Neglected Sewage Systems Hit With Parasitic Infections

Parasitic infections hit the health of low-income Black communities where states have neglected sewage systems. Intestinal infections take a heavy toll on impoverished Black communities that have out-of-date sewage systems. These infections often spread through contaminated soil and water and are among the most common diseases worldwide. Approximately one-quarter of the global population is infected with soil-transmitted helminths, intestinal parasitic worms that can cause serious health problems. Additionally, up to 50% of people around the world are infected with Helicobacter pylori, bacteria that live in the stomach and can cause ulcers and cancer. I am a biological anthropologist, and it is clear to me that these two types of infections contribute to systemic health inequities, espe...
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A Key Reason Some Young Black Adults Consider Suicide Is Hopelessness About The Future
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HEALTH & WELLNESS

A Key Reason Some Young Black Adults Consider Suicide Is Hopelessness About The Future

Hopelessness about the future is a key reason some Black young adults consider suicide, new study finds. Feeling hopeless about the future is one of the primary reasons Black young adults consider suicide. That is one of the key findings from a new study I published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. Hopelessness proved to be the most common reason that Black men considered suicide, and it was one of the most common reasons Black women consider suicide. The Black young adult women in this study were more likely to seriously think about suicide because they could not live up to the expectations of other people and because they felt lonely and sad. The study analyzed survey responses from 264 Black young adults between the ages of 18 and 30. I recruited participants on...
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There Are A Variety Of Benefits To Both Body And Mind From The Ancient Practice Of Yoga
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, LIFESTYLE, VIDEO REELS

There Are A Variety Of Benefits To Both Body And Mind From The Ancient Practice Of Yoga

Yoga: Modern research shows a variety of benefits to both body and mind from the ancient practice. The popularity of yoga has grown tremendously in the past decade. More than 10% of U.S. adults have practiced yoga at some point in their lives. Yoga practitioners spend on average US$90 a month, and the yoga industry is worth more than $80 billion worldwide. Yoga is now a mainstream activity in the U.S. and is commonly portrayed as a healthy lifestyle choice. I am a behavioral scientist who researches how physical activity – and specifically yoga – can prevent and help manage chronic diseases. Many people attribute improvements in their physical and mental health to their yoga practice. But until recently, research had been sparse on the health benefits of yoga. As the body of rigorous res...
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Understanding The Cycle Of OCD
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, LIFESTYLE, TOP FOUR

Understanding The Cycle Of OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder is more common than you think. But it can take 9 years for an OCD diagnosis. Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a misunderstood mental illness despite affecting about one in 50 people – that’s about half a million Australians. Our new research shows how long and fraught the path to diagnosis and treatment can be. This initial study showed it takes an average of almost nine years to receive a diagnosis of OCD and about four months to get some form of help. What is OCD? OCD affects children, adolescents and adults. About 60% report symptoms before the age of 20. One misconception is that OCD is mild: someone who is extra tidy or likes cleaning. You might have even heard someone say they are “a little bit OCD” while joking about having beautiful stati...
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OCD Is A Bully
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, SOCIETY, TOP FOUR

OCD Is A Bully

OCD Is a Bully, But You Can Stand Up to It! This article is based on the concept of standing up to OCD as if it is a school bully. It introduces concepts into a well-known and widely used technique that is employed by therapists for helping those with OCD. This article is also stipulates the hard work and effort that is required by people who suffer OCD to manage this potentially crippling disorder. This article also shares true insights and realities of effectively managing OCD. OCD is misunderstood. It is often misunderstood by the general public/the general community and sometimes even those working in the mental health sector, however it should be acknowledged that nurses and other workers indeed generally have a solid understanding of mental health problems and many workers have a...
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