A new Health Affairs study of U.S. health spending finds that spending on mental disorders was higher than for any other condition in 2013. In total, the U.S. spent $201 billion on mental health...
Diane Archer
John Oliver: When should you believe the science?
When should you believe the science? John Oliver makes a compelling case on Last Week Tonight that you should not put much faith in what the media reports on the latest scientific studies. For...
What care do you want if you become seriously ill? Talk to your...
One fourth or so of Medicare annual spending–about $33,500 a person–goes to the cost of care for the 1.8 million people over 65 who die each year. The cost of their care is high largely...
Pay attention when someone you love leaves the hospital
It’s not something most of us would instinctively believe, but hospitals can be dangerous places and leaving the hospital can be equally or more dangerous. According to the U.S. Agency for...
What is a silent heart attack?
Silent heart attacks occur more often than you might imagine, representing more than 45 percent of all heart attacks, according to the American Heart Association. They generally have no symptoms...
Are your drugs delivering good value?
Two out of three adults, 131 million people in the United States, take prescription drugs. Almost half of all Americans have used at least one prescription drug in the last 30 days. But, many drugs...
Will skipping breakfast help you lose weight?
Many of us have a favorite diet. Some of us eat more plants and try to follow the Mediterranean diet, since it has been shown to help keep one’s brain healthy and reduce the risk of...
Older adults should be checked for peripheral artery disease
Millions of Americans have peripheral artery disease; but, older adults and blacks are more at risk for it. Peripheral artery disease is a condition in which plaque builds up in your arteries...
Which states have the best health outcomes and why?
In the U.S., we invest heavily in health care and not nearly enough on the support services and programs that affect health, sometimes called the social determinants of health. Yet, there’s...
Caring for mom, dad, older adults: Ten key pieces of information...
Whether you care about your mom, dad or other loved ones, you want to be sure that the older adults in your life are safe in an emergency and that someone they trust is keeping track of key...