The United States is facing a serious issue with pregnancy-related deaths. The number of women dying from pregnancy complications has been increasing. This is a problem that can be prevented, but it's getting worse. Researchers looked at data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They found that between 2018 and 2022, the rate of pregnancy-relat...
HPV testing is vital for managing oropharyngeal cancer. It helps doctors understand the severity of the cancer and plan treatment. However, the frequency of this testing across the US is unclear. A recent study aimed to clarify this by examining how often HPV DNA-RNA and p16 tests are conducted for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The study uncovered some fasc...
The United States faces a significant challenge with maternal health. It has a higher maternal death rate compared to most other wealthy nations. The rate is more than 2. 5 times higher than in France and Canada and 3. 5 times higher than in the United Kingdom. New York State has seen a troubling increase in maternal deaths. From 2018 to 2021, the state experienced ...
India's COVID-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the country's health inequalities. Health is not just about biology. It's also about money and education. The pandemic has made this crystal clear. The rich and well-educated have had an easier time managing health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes. This is not fair. Everyone should have the same cha...
In the world of healthcare, technology is changing the game. One of the most exciting developments is telesurgery. This is where doctors use robots and high-speed internet to perform operations from far away. It all started back in 2001 with a famous surgery called the Lindbergh operation. A surgeon in New York operated on a patient in France. This showed that telesu...
Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is on the rise globally, with Europe seeing its own unique patterns. Unlike some regions, Europe doesn't have a single dominant risk factor. Instead, it's a mix of conditions like primary sclerosing cholangitis, gallstones, and liver cirrhosis, though many cases pop up without any clear cause. What's alarming is that more young people under...
Breast cancer is a serious health issue worldwide, and genetic testing can play a big role in managing it. However, many people in middle-income countries do not have access to this important tool. This is a big problem because genetic testing can help doctors understand if a person has a higher risk of getting breast cancer. This knowledge can lead to better prevent...
Asthma is a common issue among kids, but diagnosing it can be challenging. One major hurdle is how doctors measure lung function. They often use a tool called the Global Lung Initiative (GLI) equation. This equation doesn't consider race, which can lead to problems. Recent studies have shown that when this race-neutral equation is used, it can make it seem like Blac...
Medical aid in dying, or MAID, is a significant topic in the United States. It's legal in many states, covering over one-fifth of the population. However, the majority of people who choose MAID are white and well-educated. This raises some important questions. Does everyone understand what MAID is? Do people's personal preferences align with how MAID is actually use...
Mental health and substance use disorders often go hand in hand, making treatment more complex. People dealing with both issues face a tough challenge, especially when services for both aren't easily available. A recent study looked into where these combined services are located and what might be stopping their spread. The study found that most of these inte...