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(Reuters Health) - - Patients sent home from the hospital around Christmas time are more likely to have bad outcomes compared to those discharged at other times, a Canadian study suggests. Researchers poring through data from Ontario hospitals found that patients discharged during the Christmas season were more likely to die or to be readmitted during the following 30 days compared to patients discharged in late November or late January. The new findings, published in the BMJ, echo results of research on “the weekend effect,” in which patients admitted to the hospital on weekends are more likely to die than patients admitted on weekdays. There are a couple of things patients can do to improve their odds of a better outcome, said Dr. Lauren Lapointe-Shaw, a general internist at Toronto General Hospital. “The main thing is to inquire about whether a follow-up visit is recommended . . . and if so, how soon it should occur,” Lapointe-Shaw said. “We … [Read more...] about Hospital discharge during December holidays tied to more…

(Reuters Health) - - Having a baby temporarily increases the risk of breast cancer by about 80 percent compared to the risk in women who have never given birth, researchers behind a new study have concluded. FILE PHOTO: A woman holds her stomach at the last stages of her pregnancy in Bordeaux April 28, 2010. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau But the 80 percent-higher breast cancer risk is not as scary as it first sounds because “fortunately, breast cancer is uncommon in young women,” chief author Dr. Hazel Nichols told Reuters Health in a telephone interview. Nichols and colleagues found that the breast cancer risk peaks 4.6 years after a woman’s most recent birth but then begins to fall. After another 19 years, the risk returns to the same level as a woman who has never given birth. And from there, it continues to drop. By 34.5 years after birth of the youngest child, the breast cancer risk is 23 percent lower than the risk in women who had never been pregnant. … [Read more...] about Delivering a baby increases

By Maggie Gordon, Staff writer Published 7:00 am CST, Saturday, December 8, 2018 Increasingly, pets are becoming part of the family and that means Americans are spending more on them for Christmas. Increasingly, pets are becoming part of the family and that means Americans are spending more on them for Christmas. Photo: Hillary Kladke /Getty Images Photo: Hillary Kladke /Getty Images Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Image 1 of 5 Increasingly, pets are becoming part of the family and that means Americans are spending more on them for Christmas. Increasingly, pets are becoming part of the family and that means Americans are spending more on them for Christmas. Photo: Hillary Kladke /Getty Images Americans will spend … [Read more...] about Americans will spend more than $200 on pet presents this year

Express-News Editorial Board Published 12:00 am CST, Saturday, December 8, 2018 President Donald Trump refuses to act on climate change, despite the dire warnings. And that will affect all for decades to come, slamming the economy and putting Americans’ health at risk. President Donald Trump refuses to act on climate change, despite the dire warnings. And that will affect all for decades to come, slamming the economy and putting Americans’ health at risk. Photo: Andrew Harnik / Associated Press Photo: Andrew Harnik / Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 President Donald Trump refuses to act on climate change, despite the dire warnings. And that will affect all for decades to come, slamming the economy and putting Americans’ health at … [Read more...] about Trump should listen to his government’s climate report

By Josh Brodesky Published 12:00 am CST, Saturday, December 8, 2018 City Manager Sheryl Sculley listens to former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger speak to the council Sept. 6. Hardberger hired Sculley in a “weak mayor” system, yet he was a strong mayor. City Manager Sheryl Sculley listens to former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger speak to the council Sept. 6. Hardberger hired Sculley in a “weak mayor” system, yet he was a strong mayor. Photo: William Luther / Staff File Photo Photo: William Luther / Staff File Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 City Manager Sheryl Sculley listens to former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger speak to the council Sept. 6. Hardberger hired Sculley in a “weak mayor” system, yet he was a strong … [Read more...] about ‘Strong mayor’ system no guarantee of strong mayor