Breaking News

Health

Inhaler is first to combine three medicines

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first inhaler combining three medicines to ease breathing in patients with emphysema or chronic bronchitis. The FDA approved sales of Trelegy Ellipta, developed jointly by GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Innoviva Inc. It contains three widely used types of medicine to prevent — rather than treat —flare-ups of the life-threatening breathing disorders. Once daily, patients inhale the medicines through their mouth to open breathing passages and reduce inflammation that can make breathing difficult in people with ...

Long-term care costs are surging

By Tom Murphy AP Health Writer Long-term care costs are surging again and the most expensive option — a private nursing home room — may soon top $100,000 per year. Growing labor expenses and sicker patients helped push the median cost of care that includes adult day care and assisted living communities up an average of 4.5 percent this year, according to a survey by Genworth Financial. That’s the second-highest increase since Genworth started its survey in 2004. The cost of home health aide services climbed the most, rising 6 percent, to $21.50 an hour. Private nursing home ...

Treatment restores signs of awareness in brain-injured man

NEW YORK (AP) — French researchers say they restored some signs of consciousness in a brain-injured man who hadn’t shown any awareness in 15 years. During months of experimental treatment, his gaze could follow a moving object and he turned his head toward people speaking to him. He could also turn his head when asked to do so, and his eyes widened when a researcher suddenly came very close to his face, the researchers reported. The treatment involved implanting a device in the man’s chest to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which extends into the brain. The technique is ...

Will cancer immune therapy work for me?

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Dennis Lyon was a genetic train wreck. Cancer was ravaging his liver, lungs, bones and brain, and tests showed so many tumor mutations that drugs targeting one or two wouldn’t do much good. It seemed like very bad news, yet his doctors were encouraged. The reason: People with the most messed-up genes often are the ones who do best on treatments that enlist the immune system. “These are the patients we used to be very depressed about,” thinking they couldn’t be helped, said Dr. Razelle Kurzrock at the University of California, San Diego. “Now when we see ...

Free diabetes workshop to be offered

ESCANABA — A free diabetes self-management workshop is coming to MTEC Center. The Diabetes–PATH (Personal Action Towards Health) workshop is a six-week workshop designed to provide the skills and tools needed by people living with Type 2 diabetes to improve their health and manage their symptoms. As a result, participants are better equipped to face the daily challenge of living with diabetes. Two trained leaders conduct the workshop. Subjects covered include: symptoms of diabetes, stress, managing fatigue and emotional problems, exercise, healthy eating, medications, and working ...

Pulmonary Support Group plans meeting

IRON MOUNTAIN — A Pulmonary Support Group has been established for anyone with a chronic lung disease, on oxygen therapy, waiting for or has received a lung transplant, and their care givers. The next meeting is Oct. 12 in the DCH Rehab Gym, located on the main level of Dickinson Memorial Hospital. Discussions will include, but are not limited to, insurance, transplant questions, home oxygen therapy, day to day issues and concerns, as well as the sharing of experiences and encouragement. These meetings will be held on the second Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. and will last ...