Category: Health
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Rural Americans More Likely to Die in Motor Vehicle Crashes
Motor vehicle crashes are among the leading causes of death in the U.S. A recent study found the rate of death for adult drivers and passengers from motor vehicle crashes is 3 to 10 times higher among rural Americans. The simple act of buckling seat belts can prevent needless loss of life. Researchers at the…
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Gov. Ivey Proclaims September Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month
If you suffer from the pain of arthritis, lupus or fibromyalgia, then you understand the scope of a rheumatic disease. Rheumatic diseases are the leading cause of disability in the United States and affect one-in-four Americans. By the year 2040, it’s estimated that more than 78 million American will be diagnosed with one of the…
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ProAssurance Establishes the Nation’s First Academic Research Program Dedicated to Physician Wellness
BIRMINGHAM – ProAssurance Corporation has announced the establishment of the ProAssurance Endowed Chair for Physician Wellness at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This academic chair is the first of its kind in the United States and demonstrates ProAssurance’s commitment to its role as a leading advocate for America’s physicians. The initial $1.5 million gift…
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Public Health Warns of Increased Pertussis Cases in Alabama
The Alabama Department of Public Health’s Immunization Division is warning citizens that pertussis cases are significantly higher in Alabama and continue to be on the rise. Immunization data reveals an increase from 113 reported cases in 2016, to 151 reported cases thus far in 2017. Pertussis cases have occurred statewide in 2017, including multiple outbreaks…
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Study: Many Still Sidestep End-Of-Life Care Planning
Before being deployed overseas for the Iraq War in 2003, Army reservist Don Morrison filled out military forms that gave instructions about where to send his body and possessions if he were killed. “I thought, wow, this is mortality right in your face,” Morrison, now 70, recalled. With his attention keenly focused on how things…
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Report: Deaths from Cancer Higher in Rural America
Despite decreases in cancer death rates nationwide, a new report shows slower reduction in cancer death rates in rural America (a decrease of 1.0 percent per year) compared with urban America (a decrease of 1.6 percent per year), according to data released today in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report is part of a series of…
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UPDATE: No Vote on Senate Health Care Bill Before July 4
REVISED June 28, 2017: Although Senate Republicans had initially promised a vote on its “Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017,” now it appears that will not be the case prior to the July 4 recess. With the release of the Congressional Budget Office report on the act, it did not appear there would be enough support…
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Opioids in Alabama: Where Do We Go From Here?
The numbers are staggering. In 2015 alone opioid-related overdoses accounted for more than 33,000 deaths — nearly as many as traffic fatalities. Today more than 2.5 million adults in the U.S. are struggling with addiction to opioid drugs, including prescription opioids and heroin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About 91 Americans…
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Today is National Call Your Doctor Day!
Today is the day a woman can do one thing for herself that will take less time than tying her shoes…call your doctor and schedule your annual wellness exam. Today is National Call Your Doctor Day! Making this day halfway through the year holds significance because so many women delay their routine care. Often placing…
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Law Allows Alabama Students to Apply Sunscreen at School
A new law allows Alabama school students to apply personal sunscreen at school without the need for special permission from a doctor or parent. The law includes public and private schools and went into effect immediately. “Students will now be able to apply sunscreen to protect themselves from sunburn before going outside. We know that…