A study shows that media portrayals of celebrities influence how adolescents feel about their looks and influence their decisions to undergo cosmetic surgery. Young adults are not just mimicking the clothing and hairstyles of their favorite celebrities, but rather undergoing invasive procedures to feel better about how they look.
Read More »Medical Care for Adults
The National Center for Health Research reviews important new research as soon as it is published. We cut through the hype regarding various medical treatments to let you know what is proven and what is unknown about the risks and benefits of various treatment options. We do not accept funding from the companies that make medical products, so you can trust that our information is based on science, and not biased by financial ties to the treatments we’re evaluating.
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Some of these articles were written this year and others were not, however, if they are on our website it means the information is up-to-date. We always scrutinize new research and call the researchers to learn even more. Then we translate it into plain language that everyone can understand.
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Emergency Contraception & Sexual Assault: Why Compassionate Care Should Be a Standard of Care
The Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act of 2009 (H.R.1236) and the Prevention First Act of 2009 (H.R.463/S.21) were introduced in Congress in early 2009. The sole purpose of the CARE Act, and one of several goals of the Prevention First Act, would be to direct hospitals and emergency medicine facilities that receive federal funding to inform all women who have been sexually assaulted about emergency contraception (also known as the “morning after pill” or “Plan B”) and to make it available to them, regardless of their ability to pay.
Read More »What You Need to Know About Treating Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin, kidneys, blood, muscles, joints, and brain. Learn about the risk factors, signs, and symptoms related to this illness.
Read More »Recall of Device to Treat Irregular Heartbeats is Worrying Patients Who Have Them In Their Bodies
Defibrillators are medical devices that treat irregular heartbeats and can prevent sudden cardiac arrest. The 79,000 Americans who were implanted with the Riata or Riata ST Silicone implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads made by St. Jude Medical are left wondering what to do now that the FDA recalled the device in December 2011. This recall was announced a year after the company stopped their sales of the product.
Read More »Exposure to Heavy Metals and Fertility: What a Couple Should Know
Are you or someone you love trying to start a family or have another baby? A study suggests that when men or women are exposed to heavy metals in their environment it can make it more difficult for a woman to get pregnant. We should be aware of the ways we come into contact with these metals, and limit our exposure. Taking a few preventative measures today might make it easier to get pregnant and have a healthy baby.
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