Female smokers have a much greater risk of death from lung cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) in recent years than did female smokers 20 or 40 years ago, reflecting changes in smoking behavior according to a Special Article published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

A “time-out” instituted to eliminate mistakes during surgery is not being complied with by a significant number of medical personnel, according to a new study. “Methodology and Bias in Assessing Compliance with a Surgical Safety Checklist,” published in the February issue of Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, found that although surgical safety checklists -- such as the perioperative time-out -- have been shown to improve performance on a variety of patient safety measures, some of the items on it are being skipped.

With heart disease a virtual epidemic in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants the public better informed about its most dire symptom: a heart attack.

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has presented formal comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on the proposed rule, “Incentives for Nondiscriminatory Wellness Programs in Group Health Plans” promulgated by DHHS and the Departments of Labor and Treasury.
 

A California lawmaker is urging federal regulators to investigate a new tanning industry group he says is using “junk science” to mislead the public about the risks of sunbeds.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the second year of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions data on its website, which provides public access to emissions data by sector, by greenhouse gas, and by geographic region such as county or state.

Hearing loss among older adults appears to be associated with faster cognitive decline than people without hearing loss, researchers found, in a report published in the Los Angeles Times.

During February -- American Heart Month -- the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is conducting The Heart Truth campaign to bring to light the stories of women who are actively protecting their hearts inspiring others to do the same.

Hearing loss is common and, in young persons, can compromise social development, communication skills, and educational achievement. A survey was conducted to examine the current prevalence of hearing loss in U.S. adolescents and determine whether it has changed over time, with results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Injury Center:

Appropriate diagnosis and management of children and teens with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), including concussion, can help safeguard the health of young Americans.