Nearly 160 Million Americans Harmed by Another's Drinking, Drug Use

Think of it as collateral damage: Millions of Americans say they have been harmed by a loved one's drug or alcohol use.

One in 3 adults who responded to a new nationwide survey said they had suffered "secondhand harm" from another person's drinking. And more than 1 in 10 said they had been harmed by a loved one's drug use. 

That...

1 in 4 Americans Now Struggling to Cover Medical Costs

U.S. health care costs are among the world's highest, and 1 in 4 adults with health coverage struggle with high out-of-pocket costs, a new survey shows.

The survey -- by the Commonwealth Fund, a health-care focused think tank -- finds that most people have coverage offered by employers, but their policies don't always provide timely or aff...

Getting Fitter Can Really Help Keep Dementia at Bay

People whose genes put them at high risk for dementia may be able to fight Mother Nature and win, new research out of Sweden suggests.

The weapon: Working out on a regular basis to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, also known as CRF. 

CRF is the capacity of the body's circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to musc...

Skin Patch Could Monitor Your Blood Pressure

A wearable patch the size of a postage stamp that can monitor blood pressure continuously could soon help people manage their hypertension.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, who developed the wearable ultrasound patch report Nov. 20 in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering that it has worked well in tests...

There May Be a Better Way to Treat Hematoma Brain Bleeds

After a hit to the head or a fall, people, especially seniors, can develop a dangerous pooling of blood and fluid between the brain's surface and it's protective covering, the dura.

These "subdural hematomas" typically require surgery to fix, but a new study suggests a better approach, one that makes sure repeat surgeries aren't required. ...

Chronic Joint Pain Plus Depression Can Take Toll on the Brain

Having achy, painful joints isn't just a physical woe: Coupled with depression, it could also degrade an older person's brain function over time.

That's the conclusion of a study of almost 5,000 older Britons tracked for 12 years. People who had both chronic joint pain and depression tended to perform worse on cognitive tests, especially t...