TUESDAY, June 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Millions of people pop vitamins and supplements every day in hopes of staving off heart disease and cancer, but a new report finds the evidence to support that strategy is largely lacking.While there is some research showing that a daily multivitamin may slightly reduce cancer risk, the bigger picture suggests a lack of enough evidence to say that supplements can help prevent heart disease and cancer.There is, however, enough evidence to state that beta carotene supplements may actually increase risk of lung cancer, especially among folks who are at high risk, and may also increase the chances of dying from heart disease. What's more, vitamin E provides no cancer or heart disease prevention benefits.Those are the main takeaways from the new...

TUESDAY, June 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- As a weekend heat wave that put more than 15 million Americans in the Northern and Central Plains on alert slowly moves east, the nation's emergency doctors have advice to keep you safe."Overexposure to the sun or heat can turn into an emergency faster than most people expect," said Dr. Gillian Schmitz, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). By Tuesday, the heat dome is expected to shift to the Great Lakes and the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, and then into the southeast by Wednesday, The New York Times reported.Schmitz said Americans can enjoy the summer and avoid the emergency department by taking precautions against heat-related illness and knowing the signs of an emergency.It's important to monitor how much time...

TUESDAY, June 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Medicare might want to take note of the pricing strategy of a new online pharmacy run by tech entrepreneur and "Shark Tank" judge Mark Cuban if it wants to save billions on prescription drugs, a new study suggests.Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug offers certain generic drugs at cheaper prices by selling them at a markup of 15% plus a $3 flat fee. Patients pay for the medications, which include the blood pressure drug Lisinopril and the antidepressant Prozac (fluoxetine), out of pocket because Cost Plus doesn’t accept insurance. It also doesn’t sell brand-name drugs. The new study found that if Medicare was paying the same prices, it would have saved nearly $4 billion in 2020. “Medicare is overpaying for some of the generic drugs," study author...

TUESDAY, June 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- While chronic stress is a key risk factor for heart disease and stroke, most cat and dog owners say pets help them chill out and stay active.A new American Heart Association (AHA) survey of 1,000 pet owners found 95% relying on their animal companions for stress relief. About 7 in 10 said they'd rather spend time with their pet than watch television, and nearly half (47%) said their pets helped them be more active."Many pet owners have found emotional support from their pets, and science backs up the physical and mental health benefits to pet companionship," said Dr. Glenn Levine, chief of cardiology at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston and lead author of the AHA's scientific statement on pet ownership and heart disease risk....