HealthBeat
Health care’s dramatic cost variation
Hospitals across the U.S. charge tens of thousands of dollars more than other hospitals for the same procedures – sometimes within the same metro areas. That was a key finding of Blue Cross Blue Shield’s “The Health of America” report, which analyzed three years of claims data for typical knee and hip replacement surgeries. The […]
January 22, 2015 5:13 pm
Smoking costs Washingtonians $1.7 million in lifetime
A pack-a-day smoker in Washington spends more than $1 million on tobacco and hundreds of thousands more on smoking-related costs. In light of Tobacco-Free Awareness Week, WalletHub calculated the financial costs of smoking in each of the states and Washington D.C. The calculations include potential monetary losses – such as the cost of purchasing a […]
January 22, 2015 2:34 pm
Study: Workaholics are riskier drinkers
A new study found people who work long hours are more likely to increase their alcohol consumption to levels that pose a health risk. The study, published in the journal BMJ, found that people who worked 49 hours a week were up to 13 percent more likely to engage in risky alcohol use compared to […]
January 15, 2015 5:51 pm
Report: Alcohol poisoning kills six people every day
An average of six people die each day in the U.S. from alcohol poisoning. That’s equal to about 2,200 adults. The majority of alcohol poisoning deaths (76 percent) are among adults ages 35 to 64 and about 76 percent are men, according to the latest Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and […]
January 15, 2015 5:11 pm
Health benefits to pet ownership
A new survey found physicians overwhelmingly believe there are health benefits to owning pets. The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation partnered with Cohen Research Group to conduct an online survey of 1,000 family physicians and general practitioners. The foundation says it’s the largest survey of its kind to explore doctors’ knowledge, attitudes and behavior […]
January 7, 2015 3:26 pm
Providence ditches soda
Providence has a New Year’s resolution we can all get behind: Swapping sugary drinks for healthier choices. Beginning this week, Providence in Oregon is phasing out sugary drinks in its dining areas, vending machines, catering and gift shops. Any drink – carbonated or not – with added sugar will be eliminated. That includes regular soda, […]
January 6, 2015 5:01 pm
Resolve to get pets healthier
New Year’s resolutions aren’t only for humans – our four-legged friends can benefit from healthier routines as well. Doctors from ACCES, an emergency veterinary hospital in Seattle, are encouraging pet owners to consider their pets when making resolutions for the new year. “Maybe it is time to focus on finally getting that extra weight off […]
December 31, 2014 1:34 pm
Stick with printed word before bed
While some may find reading a book at bedtime relaxing, researchers say it’s best to reach for the paperback rather than the e-reader. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston compared the use of light-emitting electronic devices – such as tablets and e-readers – and traditional printed books. They found that the use of […]
December 30, 2014 4:54 pm
Sick states
Washington is the sixth healthiest state, based on illness reports posted to social media. Sickweather – an app that scans social networks for indicators of illness – recently conducted a study of data culled from social media postings. That data was used to identify the Top 10 Sickest States and the Top 10 Healthiest States […]
December 23, 2014 1:59 pm
‘Eggnog: Not ideal for the lungs’
It’s all fun and games until someone inhales eggnog. A Utah County man had to learn that the hard way. At an office Christmas party earlier this month, Ryan Roche competed in an eggnog chugging contest that landed him in the hospital. One of Roche’s coworkers challenged him to take a shot at the record: […]
December 23, 2014 12:37 pm