Health Headlines for Monday, November 20
White House: True cost of opioid epidemic tops $500 billion
AP News
The White House says the true cost of the opioid drug epidemic in 2015 was $504 billion, or roughly half a trillion dollars.
Hard to believe: Some consumers find free health insurance
AP News
Consumers are getting the word that taxpayer-subsidized health plans are widely available for next year for no monthly premium or little cost, and marketing companies say they’re starting to see an impact on sign-ups.
Higher premiums for outpatient coverage for many on Medicare
AP News
Higher monthly premiums for outpatient coverage await many Medicare beneficiaries next year, the government says. The additional expense will eat away at an increase in their Social Security checks.
Odds Are, They’re Taking Your Blood Pressure All Wrong
NPR
When was the last time you were asked to sit without saying a word for five minutes before your blood pressure was measured? If your answer was “I never remember doing that,” you’re in good company.
Americans Like Fruits More Than Veggies, But We Aren’t Eating Much of Either Says New CDC Report
Forbes
The advice to eat our fruits and veggies is always with us, but it’s not influencing most Americans to eat much of either.
Pain Management and the Opioid Crisis
New York Times
Effectively addressing the opioid crisis requires a comprehensive approach that meets immediate needs and invests in future solutions for patients.
Getting flu vaccine vital to our public health
Watertown Daily Times
The year 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Spanish flu, an epidemic that wiped out 5 percent of the world’s population and infected nearly half a billion people.
Deadly sugar addiction – why carbs, not fats, are the problem
PIX 11
Some doctors say sugar may be the number one killer in America right now. That may sound like a stretch, but you can see why they make that claim.