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Among their findings, researchers observed that black and Asian people with diabetes tended to have higher average blood sugar levels than white individuals; that Asian people were less likely to be prescribed insulin and two relatively new diabetes drugs, SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists, compared to white people; and that black people were less likely to be prescribed those two new drug classes than white people. “We have long known that racial disparities and many other social determinants of health influence diabetes care and outcomes,” says Kevin Pantalone, DO, director of diabetes initiatives at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio....

Many Patients Live Far From Radiation Oncology Treatment Centers About 5 percent of Americans live 50 miles or more from the closest facility that offers radiation therapy for cancer, according to a study presented October 27 at the annual meeting of ASTRO. The survey, from researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, showed that the number of radiation therapy facilities in the United States has grown by 17 percent over the last 15 years — improving access to radiation treatments for many Americans....

The ultra-transmissible coronavirus variant appears to be spreading at a much faster rate than the previously dominant delta variant, infecting both the unvaccinated and the vaccinated. On November 24, South Africa issued its initial alert about the newly identified omicron (B.1.1.529), and just two days later, on November 26, the World Health Organization (WHO) named it a “variant of concern.” The first case of omicron was reported in the United States on December 1, and by the week ending December 25, the variant accounted for a majority of cases in this country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)....

PainRednessWarmthSwellingStiffness, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity You may experience periods of time when your symptoms worsen — called flares — and periods where they seem to fade or even disappear. However, in these periods of remission, you still have RA — RA is a lifelong condition and currently cannot be cured. An RA flare indicates that your immune system is attacking your body more than usual. The reason for this is often unknown, but common triggers include stress, infection, and overexertion....

It’s estimated that as many as 2 out of 3 people with Parkinson’s disease have sleep problems, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Some of the issues are related to the disease itself, but in some cases sleep disturbances or insomnia can be a side effect of Parkinson’s disease medications. “There are a lot of chemical changes in the brain in people with Parkinson’s disease, and we know some of those changes can impact sleep,” says Marri Horvat, MD, a neurologist who specializes in sleep disorders at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio....

“It is remarkable to find that patients with diabetes had a reduced recognition of atrial fibrillation symptoms,” said study author Tobias Reichlin, MD, professor of cardiology at Bern University Hospital at the University of Bern in Switzerland, in a release from the AHA. The heart rate in afib can range between 100 to 175 beats a minute; the normal range for a heart rate is typically 60 to 100 beats a minute, according to Mayo Clinic....

Phonak devices help with all types of hearing loss. The brand has a wide range of designs with various features, including: Rechargeable batteriesStreaming via BluetoothBinaural VoiceStream TechnologyNoise isolation and cancellation This article goes into the advantages and disadvantages of Phonak hearing aids. We also show you how much each model costs and weigh their pros and cons. 2,500 hours researched13 experts consulted30 brands considered96 models considered600+ users surveyed Our experts have spent more than 2,500 hours conducting thorough research on hearing aids....

“The beneficial compounds can be found in the lion’s mane fruiting bodies (the part that contains spores) and mycelium (the root-like structure),” says Monique Richard, a registered dietitian-nutritionist in Johnson City, Tennessee, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The fruiting bodies and mycelium contain many active ingredients. Namely, polysaccharides, erinacines, hericerins, steroids, alkaloids, and lactones, according to Lindsay Delk, RDN, based in Houston who specializes in the connection between food and mental health....

Doctors can give instructions in a few minutes during a clinic appointment, write out a prescription or print out an article, and go on their way. Patients are left with the task of carrying out their doctors’ directives, no matter how time-consuming, energy-depleting, or uncomfortable they may be. What follows are some of the most inconvenient and uncomfortable psoriasis treatments I’ve tried in my 40-plus years of living with this disease, plus my takeaway on whether they were worth it....

If, for instance, you find yourself more sedentary than usual, your body will actually start to adapt to that behavior, explains Vikash Sharma, a doctor of physical therapy at Perfect Stride Physical Therapy in New York City. “All of the tissues that are responsible for sitting will become better for sitting,” he says — tissues surrounding the joint may shorten, for example, limiting the tissue’s mobility and ushering in aches and pains....

And yet, you’re not hitting your A1C goal. Why? The A1C is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. While your personal goal depends on several factors, the target A1C for most adults with type 2 diabetes is less than 7 percent, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Your doctor uses this number to see how well your diabetes management plan is working....

All workouts, especially tough ones, stress the body. You’re fatiguing, or tiring out, various muscles when you work out, which means you’re causing microscopic damage to muscle cells. Hormone and enzyme levels fluctuate, and inflammation actually increases, explains Chris Kolba, PhD, a physical therapist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. The changes you’re causing can do your body a lot of good. They lead to muscle growth, fat loss, improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, better cardiovascular health, and overall healthier bodies....

Although 90 percent of people can be cured with 8 to 12 weeks of therapy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many people living with the virus have difficulty getting treatment. In particular, treatment options remain limited among marginalized communities, says Walid S. Ayoub, MD, associate medical director of liver transplantation at Cedars-Sinai Comprehensive Transplant Center in Los Angeles. This is especially true for people who inject drugs (PWID), because they are especially vulnerable to contracting the virus....

Nearly 60 percent of Americans drink coffee each day, making it more popular than any other beverage including tap water, according to the National Coffee Association. The average daily consumption is almost two cups for every adult in the country. But is caffeine something people living with rheumatoid arthritis should be consuming? Mixed Research Results on Caffeine and Rheumatoid Arthritis Some studies have shown that coffee is beneficial for health, but others have not....

“And that includes the scalp,” says Dina D. Strachan, MD, a dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City. Scalp psoriasis involves patches of thick, raised skin. On fair-skinned people these areas are typically red and scaly, while psoriasis on skin of color can appear violet or dark brown. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, scalp psoriasis can extend beyond the scalp....

Antidepressants These are medicines used to treat depression. Some people with schizophrenia also experience depression. Antipsychotics This is a class of drugs often used to treat schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. These medicines can help to relieve hallucinations, confused thoughts, and delusions. Antipsychotics often are used in combination with other medication. They work by changing the way certain chemicals act in the brain. There are many different antipsychotics on the market....

We know much more about COVID-19 this spring than last, but the fact remains that symptoms of seasonal allergies and coronavirus infection have quite a bit of overlap. Plus, dramatic warming throughout the country could cause pollen to be released in early spring rather than later, leading to worrisome signs of … well, you may not be sure. “Because of warmer temperatures, there’s a surge of allergens like pollen, and symptoms can come on very suddenly,” says Lakiea Wright, MD, an allergist and immunologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston....

MS relapses are usually followed by periods of remission, or “quiet periods,” that can last for months or even years. In most people with RRMS, this pattern of relapses and remission eventually changes into a steady progression of symptoms, known as secondary-progressive MS (SPMS). This happens about 60 to 70 percent of the time, according to the Mayo Clinic. For many people with MS, the word “progression” has scary connotations — conjuring up images of a rapid, debilitating decline in neurological function....

Most people experience problems with their skin first and then, years later, notice joint issues, notes the American Academy of Dermatology. (2) The severity of symptoms varies a lot. Some people have mild symptoms, while others experience debilitating pain that affects their daily lives. Symptoms may be constant, or they may come and go. It’s important to recognize the signs of psoriatic arthritis, because starting on treatment earlier may lessen the risk of joint damage, according to the American Arthritis Foundation....

Age 39 Conditions Rheumatoid arthritis, dysautonomia, generalized anxiety disorder How Long She’s Been Living With RA Half of her life After living with chronic pain from rheumatoid arthritis for over eighteen years, I’m no stranger to pain relief strategies. I’ve tried everything from hot packs to cold packs, massage to cognitive behavior therapy, acupuncture to traditional western medicine. However, until recently I had never tried virtual reality (VR) teletherapy for chronic pain....