About 1 in 4 U.S. children – nearly 19 million – have at least one parent with substance use disorder. This includes parents who misuse alcohol, marijuana, prescription opioids or…
Tag: Quick reads
Too much sitting increases risk of future health problems in chest pain patients – new research
For patients hospitalized with chest pain, the amount of time they spend sedentary afterward is linked to a greater risk for more heart problems and death within a year. That’s…
Teens of any age who drink alcohol with their parents’ permission drink more as young adults, new research shows
Children and teenagers of any age who sip or taste alcohol with their parents’ permission are more likely to engage in risky drinking in young adulthood. That was the finding…
US safety net helps protect children from abuse and neglect, and some of those programs are threatened by proposed budget cuts
President Donald Trump and Republicans in the House of Representatives have put forward budget proposals that would slash spending by hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade on…
Calorie counts on menus and food labels may not help consumers choose healthier foods, new research shows
Knowing the calorie content of foods does not help people understand which foods are healthier, according to a study I recently co-authored in the Journal of Retailing. When study participants…
Lowering the cost of insurance in Colorado – a new analysis of the Peak Health Alliance
A community-led partnership in Colorado designed to negotiate health care prices lowered health care premiums in 2020 and 2021, we find in our new paper in the Journal of Risk…
Poor neighborhoods, health care barriers are factors for heart disease risk in Black mothers
Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood contributes to a rare form of heart failure known as peripartum cardiomyopathy, a potentially deadly disease that disproportionately affects Black mothers. That’s the key finding…
Simple strategies can boost vaccination rates for adults over 65 − new study
Knowing which vaccines older adults should get and hearing a clear recommendation from their health care provider about why a particular vaccine is important strongly motivated them to get vaccinated.…
Philly’s street fentanyl contains an industrial chemical called BTMPS that’s an ingredient in plastic
As much as half of the fentanyl sold on Philly’s streets contains an industrial chemical used in plastics manufacturing. That’s according to our November 2024 testing of fentanyl samples collected…
Many gluten-free foods are high in calories and sugar, low on fiber and protein, and they cost more − new research
U.S. consumers often pay more for gluten-free products, yet these items typically provide less protein and more sugar and calories compared with gluten-containing alternatives. That is the key finding of…