Author: healthadmin

The Wisconsin Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill that, if signed, would release $125 million set aside nearly three years ago to address PFAS contamination in the state’s water supplies. The vote, which took place on the last day the Senate was scheduled to be in session for the year, was the culmination of years of legislative negotiations between Republican lawmakers, Gov. Tony Evers, the state Department of Natural Resources and numerous outside interest groups. A similar bill passed Congress last Congress, but Evers vetoed it over the objections of Democrats and environmental groups who said it was too…

A new study shows that combining everyday wearable data with routine blood tests could help detect insulin resistance early, opening the door to more accessible screening for type 2 diabetes before it takes hold. Research: Prediction of insulin resistance from wearable and routine blood biomarkers. Image credit: Black_Kira / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal natureresearchers developed a method to predict insulin resistance (IR) using data from wearable devices, blood biomarkers, demographics, and other health information. Currently, 537 million people worldwide have diabetes, and the majority (approximately 90%) have type 2 diabetes (T2D). The main problem with…

Recent research published in journals sensing provide evidence that people who play outdoor sports have better color detection abilities in their peripheral vision compared to indoor athletes and non-athletes. This suggests that intense exercise training in large, open environments can physically shape and improve basic visual skills. The findings show that the adult brain retains the ability to adapt low-level sensory functions based on real-world experiences even after childhood development has ended. The human eye has a specific biological structure that determines how well certain things can be seen. The center of the visual field is packed with specific light-detecting…

The past few weeks have seen extreme weather across the United States. While the West braces for the peak of a record heat wave, several Midwestern states are being battered by massive snowstorms and hail. Meanwhile, communities in the Southeast and along the East Coast are battling severe storms that could cause flooding and wind damage across the region. In certain areas, these storms can produce the most deadly weather disasters – tornadoes. Multiple tornadoes struck the Midwest earlier this month, resulting in multiple deaths. There have already been several twisters this week, including in Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina.…

Facts about the Kentucky General AssemblyLearn important facts about the Kentucky General Assembly, including its history, structure, and functions of state government.A Kentucky bill is headed to the governor that could make it harder to sue pesticide manufacturers.Under the bill, EPA-approved labels would automatically meet state warning requirements.Supporters say the bill would protect businesses from frivolous lawsuits, while opponents worry it would prevent consumers from proving damages.This article has been updated to reflect that Senate Bill 199 must return to the Senate for a vote after amendments in the House.A controversial bill that could make it harder for Kentuckians to…

More than 20 years after FDA approval of Flovent, GSK still dominates the U.S. asthma inhaler market through partnerships with “authorized generic” distributors that forced many users to pay higher prices and allowed the British drugmaker to avoid paying Medicaid rebates, according to a report (PDF) released by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D.H.). GSK’s market dominance has reduced access to Flovent and created financial hardship for some people who need the drug, the report said. As a result, patients who needed help became sicker and emergency department visits and hospitalizations increased, the report added. “For decades, (GSK) has deterred competitors and…

Building on years of significant investment from big pharmaceutical companies, Indiana is moving forward with a multibillion-dollar initiative of its own to establish the state as a leading hub for life sciences innovation, including health sciences. Indiana Governor Mike Brown announced in a recent press release that the state’s $1 billion initiative will focus on creating new jobs and higher wages, with a goal of creating 100,000 “good-wage” jobs over the next 10 years. “Indiana is a leader in life sciences, and we are now investing to accelerate that growth with the goal of creating 100,000 new high-wage jobs over…

The Wisconsin Senate has passed two bills that provide a framework for spending $133 million to address PFAS contamination and protect so-called innocent landowners. They now head to Gov. Tony Evers for his signature. Mr. Evers has long been at odds with Republicans over his approach to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). “While I wish Congress had not taken so long to join me in this important work, I am pleased that these bills will soon reach my desk so we can get these important and long-awaited investments to the people and families who need them,” Evers said in a…

People who are obsessed with celebrities or have high levels of narcissism are more likely to develop unhealthy habits on Instagram. New research published in psychology journal reveals that this behavior is driven by an underlying fear of missing out and a struggle to control difficult emotions. This study provides a clearer picture of how certain personality traits make some users vulnerable to addictive social media routines. Psychology researchers frequently investigate how the Internet shapes human behavior. As social platforms grow, experts want to understand why some individuals use these apps in ways that disrupt their daily lives. Instagram is…

GuardDog Telehealth, the defendant in Epic’s high-profile lawsuit over alleged misuse of patient data, has admitted to accessing patient medical records under false pretenses in order to provide information to a law firm. The telemedicine company made this concession as part of a consent agreement it entered into with Epic and its co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit to get out of the lawsuit. In its legal filing (link to PDF), GuardDog acknowledged that “since it began operating as a company in 2024, its goal has been to provide chronic care management and remote patient monitoring to patients, which has not materialized.”…