Latest news with #chronicconditions
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
16 And Pregnant star Whitney Purvis claims teen son's death 'could have been prevented' as she slams her ex
Whitney Purvis has claimed the tragic death of her 16-year-old son Weston Gosa Jr could have been prevented. The 16 And Pregnant star, 32, shared a lengthy Facebook post in which she said Weston might still be alive today if he had health insurance and had been receiving proper medical care for a number of chronic conditions he suffered from. She directed much of her fury at her ex-boyfriend, Weston Gosa Sr, for failing to pay for their son's health insurance in her post on Wednesday. has reached out to Purvis and Weston Sr for comment but has yet to hear back. In her new post, Purvis slammed her ex for allegedly taking out a life insurance policy on their son but failing to pay for a health insurance policy for their son. That was despite her claim that he was required to pay for Weston Jr's health insurance as part of their custody agreement. One item she singled out that could possibly have saved her son's life was a 'Dexcom/glucose monitor that alerted when his sugar was going up or down to a dangerous level'. She also accused Weston Sr of buying plenty of luxury items despite not caring for their son's essential needs. She wrote: 'His dad bought five cars in the last six months but couldn't pay for medical insurance. 'He brags about how much money he has and has the nerve to make a GoFundMe to help bury him when he was just going to cremate him anyway because it was the cheapest, plus he had the life insurance policy.' Angry: Purvis slammed Weston Sr for allegedly buying 'five cars in the last six months' but not paying for their son's health insurance Weston Jr was ultimately cremated, and Purvis reiterated her earlier complaints about not being let into her son's funeral service, which she said denied her time to say goodbye to her late son. Purvis claimed she hadn't yet received any of her son's ashes - despite Weston Sr saying that a separate urn was purchased for her to have part of their son's remains. She also accused her ex of not responding to any of her message following the funeral service. In a response to TMZ, Weston Sr said his ex was 'clueless' and accused her of spreading falsehoods. He claimed: 'She has no idea what she's talking about. The state canceled his insurance because of how much money I was making, so I quit and let my wife work while I stay home and spend time with my family.' He alleged that he had been trying to reinstate Weston Jr's health insurance at the time of his death, and prior to that he had paid thousands out of pocket for his son's medical care and medications. He noted that Weston Jr had had a glucose monitor in the past, but he claimed they stopped using it because it was 'sketchy' and gave inaccurate blood sugar readings. He went on to defend his son's life insurance policy, claiming that it was a family tradition. He alleged that his mother had taken out life insurance on all of her grandchildren when they were born, and he said Weston Jr's policy had been in effect for years. However, it's unclear if the policy Whitney referred to was the one his mother allegedly took out, or if Weston Sr had a separate life insurance policy for his son. Finally, he denied Whitney's claims that he had blocked her from attending their son's funeral. Instead, he alleged that the funeral home had closed once the service started at 4pm, and refused to allow her to enter when she allegedly arrived about 15 minutes after its start.
Medical News Today
3 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
What medical supplies should you have at home? List and more
Medical supplies that can be useful to keep in the home include bandages, pain relief medications, antiseptics, and cold packs. People with chronic health conditions may also need to keep additional medical supplies in their homes. Medical supplies that individuals keep in their homes can range from first aid equipment to medical devices for managing chronic conditions. This article discusses which medical supplies are useful to keep in the home, how to store them safely, and when to speak with a healthcare professional for medical supplies to help provide first aid for wounds include: bandages of various sizes adhesive bandages of various sizes butterfly bandages for taping minor cuts elastic wraps for ankle, wrist, knee, and elbow injuries gauze pads and rolls for larger cuts or scrapes a triangular bandage for making an arm sling or wrapping injuries sterile scissors for cutting bandages or gauze antiseptic wipes, cream, or spray to disinfect wounds medical tape for keeping gauze in place tweezers for removing small foreign objects from the skin, such as bee stingers, splinters, or ticks safety pins for securing bandages or splints disposable gloves for reducing the risk of infection and protecting hands when treating open wounds eyewash for eye injuries » Learn more:What to know about open wound care The NHS recommends considering the following tips for storing medical supplies: Ensure any medications and other medical supplies are within the use-by date. Check if medications need to be stored above or below a certain temperature. Keep medical supplies organized so they are easy to find. Store medical supplies in a secure place away from children. If a person has a complex medication regimen, such as taking multiple medications each day, they may benefit from using a pill organizer box and setting reminders for when to take each medication. A person does not need to purchase large quantities of the supplies in this article. An appropriate quantity may vary depending on individual factors. For example, someone who experiences frequent irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) flare-ups with diarrhea may use rehydration salts more often than those who only experience diarrhea occasionally. Therefore, the former may typically keep two boxes of rehydration salts in their home, while the latter may keep one box. However, ensuring that supplies such as bandages, gauze, and adhesive bandages are available in a variety of sizes can help with various injuries. A person may be able to buy a pack of these supplies in one box of a range of sizes. By keeping medical supplies at home, a person may be able to treat minor injuries and common illnesses, such as colds and flu, without visiting a healthcare professional. However, a person should call 911 or their local emergency number immediately if someone is experiencing symptoms of a serious medical event, such as a stroke or heart attack is involved in a serious accident, such as a car accident is unconscious and unresponsive experiences sudden changes in vision, breathing, mobility, or mental state is experiencing severe bleeding People also need to contact their doctor if they experience any new symptoms that do not go away within a few days or worsening symptoms of a chronic condition. Medical supplies useful for keeping in the home include wound care supplies, such as bandages, and pain relief supplies, such as over-the-counter medications and cold packs. A person may also want to keep medical supplies for common conditions, such as colds, flu, and diarrhea. People with chronic conditions may need to keep additional medical supplies, such as prescription medications and medical devices, in their homes. A person can speak with a healthcare professional for advice about what medical supplies to keep in their home.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Outpatient & Specialty Care Stocks Q1 In Review: Select Medical (NYSE:SEM) Vs Peers
As the Q1 earnings season wraps, let's dig into this quarter's best and worst performers in the outpatient & specialty care industry, including Select Medical (NYSE:SEM) and its peers. The outpatient and specialty care industry delivers targeted medical services in non-hospital settings that are often cost-effective compared to inpatient alternatives. This means that they are more desired as rising healthcare costs and ways to combat them become more and more top-of-mind. Outpatient and specialty care providers boast revenue streams that are stable due to the recurring nature of treatment for chronic conditions and long-term patient relationships. However, their reliance on government reimbursement programs like Medicare means stroke-of-the-pen risk. Additionally, scaling a network of facilities can be capital-intensive with uneven return profiles amid competition from integrated healthcare systems. Looking ahead, the industry is positioned to grow as demand for outpatient services expands, driven by aging populations, a rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and a shift toward value-based care models. Tailwinds include advancements in medical technology that support more complex procedures in outpatient settings and the increasing focus on preventive care, which can be aided by data and AI. However, headwinds such as reimbursement rate cuts, labor shortages, and the financial strain of digitization may temper growth. The 7 outpatient & specialty care stocks we track reported a mixed Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts' consensus estimates by 0.7% while next quarter's revenue guidance was 0.8% below. Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 8.7% since the latest earnings results. With a nationwide network spanning 46 states and over 2,700 healthcare facilities, Select Medical (NYSE:SEM) operates critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers across the United States. Select Medical reported revenues of $1.35 billion, up 2.4% year on year. This print fell short of analysts' expectations by 2.6%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts' EPS estimates and full-year revenue guidance missing analysts' expectations. Select Medical delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 16.4% since reporting and currently trades at $15.24. Read our full report on Select Medical here, it's free. With a nationwide footprint spanning 671 clinics across 42 states, U.S. Physical Therapy (NYSE:USPH) operates a network of outpatient physical therapy clinics and provides industrial injury prevention services to employers across the United States. U.S. Physical Therapy reported revenues of $183.8 million, up 18.1% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 4.4%. The business had an exceptional quarter with an impressive beat of analysts' sales volume estimates and a decent beat of analysts' EPS estimates. U.S. Physical Therapy delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 8.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $77. Is now the time to buy U.S. Physical Therapy? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. With over 2,600 dialysis centers across the United States and a presence in 13 countries, DaVita (NYSE:DVA) operates a network of dialysis centers providing treatment and care for patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease. DaVita reported revenues of $3.22 billion, up 5% year on year, exceeding analysts' expectations by 0.5%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts' full-year EPS guidance estimates. As expected, the stock is down 5.5% since the results and currently trades at $136.12. Read our full analysis of DaVita's results here. With a network of 161 specialized facilities across 37 states and Puerto Rico, Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) operates inpatient rehabilitation hospitals that help patients recover from strokes, hip fractures, and other debilitating conditions. Encompass Health reported revenues of $1.46 billion, up 10.6% year on year. This number beat analysts' expectations by 1.7%. It was a strong quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts' full-year EPS guidance estimates. Encompass Health delivered the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is up 20.3% since reporting and currently trades at $122. Read our full, actionable report on Encompass Health here, it's free. Transforming how doctors care for seniors by shifting financial incentives from volume to outcomes, agilon health (NYSE:AGL) provides a platform that helps primary care physicians transition to value-based care models for Medicare patients through long-term partnerships and global capitation arrangements. agilon health reported revenues of $1.53 billion, down 4.5% year on year. This print topped analysts' expectations by 1.8%. Taking a step back, it was a decent quarter as revenue and EBITDA exceeded expectations. agilon health had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The company lost 36,000 customers and ended up with a total of 491,000. The stock is down 51.2% since reporting and currently trades at $2.19. Read our full, actionable report on agilon health here, it's free. Thanks to the Fed's rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn't send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump's November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there's still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. 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Medscape
12-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
The Role of Obesity in Heart Health
Obesity is a serious, chronic condition, and in the US, more than 2 in 5 adults present with it. The disease is often linked to a host of other chronic and dangerous conditions, and according to CDC, obesity accounts for nearly $173 billion in medical expenditures. With numbers like that, it's given you will have patients in your office presenting with obesity. When that happens, one of your chief concerns and topics to address is how obesity affects your patient's heart health. 'Obesity is often called the first domino with respect to cardiometabolic health because when patients are obese, other comorbidities usually exist, such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and metabolic disease,' said Payal Kohli, MD, founder and medical director at Cherry Creek Heart, Aurora, Colorado, and associate professor in the Division of Cardiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. 'That is why obesity can increase the risk for poor cardiovascular health through direct as well as indirect mechanisms.' Payal Kohli, MD Obesity's impact on health doesn't end there, either. According to Kohli, other complications related to the condition include elevated blood sugar, high blood pressure, inflammation and elevated sympathetic hormones. In aggregate, she said, these compromise endothelial function and result in accelerated atherosclerosis. It also affects obstructive sleep apnea and its severity, said Bradley Serwer, MD, chief medical officer at VitalSolutions. In fact, obesity is one of the main components of the dangerous condition. 'Weight loss may not fix it entirely, but it can have a positive impact,' he said. 'That's often left out of the equation when we talk about the risks of obesity.' With so many detrimental effects from the condition, finding the right approach to helping your patients with obesity is critical. Addressing the Issues At Hand There is a lot of advice you need to give to your patients with obesity, but it all begins with coaching them on lifestyle changes. Gone are the days of diets that lead to yo-yo results and in the end, might cause more harm than good. You need to have the sometimes hard conversations about weight and how to go about losing it. 'Address the issue,' said Serwer. 'Many times, PCPs [primary care physicians] don't want to address the uncomfortable topics, but you must in a diplomatic way. Urge them to consider lifestyle issues and modifications for a long-term, healthy impact.' A comprehensive approach is what's in order. This should include diet, exercise, counseling, and more. 'The cornerstones are exercise and diet, but sometimes engaging these patients is like hitting a brick wall,' said Michael Silverman, MD, a cardiologist with Johns Hopkins Medicine. 'So you have to go about it with baby steps and also figure out what's going on psychologically.' Bradley Serwer, MD This is where therapy and counseling can play a key role. There can be a host of psychological conditions beneath the condition, and it's essential to uncover them. Everything from depression and anxiety to poor home and/or work lives, to past trauma and abuse. For the PCP, it's essential to have the mental health component in mind, and a team of therapists at ready for referring your patients with obesity. One option, too, is a credible obesity clinic. These are set up with a full team ready to treat patients with obesity. From registered dieticians to counselors to physical therapists, a good obesity clinic can offer patients one-stop shopping, removing complicated barriers to accessing the many different clinicians. 'Have these resources ready to go for your obese patients,' said Serwer. 'That way they don't have to make a million different phone calls and get to numerous locations for care. It can be an incredibly valuable resource.' Even with these resources, there's still a role to play. Your counseling approach to patients with obesity needs to have sustainability in mind. 'When talking about diet, help your patients identify easy things to give up,' said Silverman. 'The first thing I'd have them get rid of is fast food — these establishments should be used for the bathroom and coffee and that's it.' Michael Silverman, MD After that, Silverman recommends patients tackle sugary drinks, juices and even diet sodas. Data backs up the fact that artificial sweeteners can trigger hunger and cravings, so address this with your patients. Beyond fast food, highly processed foods and sugary drinks, however, the approach to diet should lean toward additive versus restrictive. 'Give your patients guidance on heart healthy foods, which in turn are weight-loss friendly foods,' said Silverman. The Mediterranean Diet, for instance, is abundant in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. These are all heart-healthy foods and when you coach your patients to try this eating approach, you're giving them a valuable tool for heart health. The approach also features many foods that lead to feelings of fullness, which will help stave off cravings for unhealthier options. Your patient's approach to exercise should likewise begin small and build from there. 'This can look like walking to the mailbox every day, or around the dining room table several times, as a starting point,' said Silverman. 'They can gradually increase their walking duration and eventually the intensity, and by then they should be engaged.' But expect some pushback, Silverman said. 'They will find the barriers, so you have to have answers for that,' he explains. 'If they won't walk, suggest a stationary bike. If they won't bike, try pool walking or water aerobics. There's psychiatry involved here.' Obesity Drugs and Other Tools No conversation surrounding obesity is complete today without addressing the role that GLP-1 drugs — Wegovy, Ozempic and the like — can play. 'Weight loss is instrumental in improving cardiometabolic health and it can have a tremendous impact,' said Kohli. 'Specifically, in clinical trials of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) or GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists weight loss was associated with an improvement in waist circumference, blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and a reduction in blood sugar.' Kohli said the drug class should be considered an integral part of any weight loss toolkit and admits they have become the mainstay of therapy for obesity. 'Newer evidence has shown GLP-1s improve cardiovascular outcomes as well, and reduce adverse kidney outcomes,' she adds. There are some adverse issues surrounding the weight-loss drugs that PCPs should include when counseling and potentially prescribing them to patients, however. 'They address the symptom but still don't get to the root cause of obesity,' Serwer cautions. 'And patients can lose a significant amount of weight, but much of that will come from muscle mass, so they must offset that with strength training.' Other potential pitfalls include GI distress, costs, and potential drug shortages. The drugs can sometimes cause food aversions, too, which isn't helpful when patients are trying to eat better, more nutrient dense diets. 'The biggest problem is that they don't address lifestyle changes,' said Serwer. 'If we don't address that, the weight will eventually come back.' The best news is that with patients with obesity, even small weight loss can have big impact on cardiovascular health. Said Silverman: 'When the weight comes off, patients may be able to go off most of their medications, and that's a huge benefit.'
Health Line
12-06-2025
- Health
- Health Line
How Do You Treat Type 1 Diabetes?
Managing type 1 diabetes means you'll have to take insulin each day. You may also work with a doctor to treat T1D with other medications in addition to insulin, and determine what else may be best for your diabetes care goals. Treating type 1 diabetes (T1D) is not as simple as just taking a particular medication or using a therapy, but it's more of a management puzzle that has many different parts. People with T1D must take insulin because their bodies do not naturally produce it. This is a required and first-line treatment for anyone with this autoimmune condition. Beyond that, people with T1D may also take other medications and use different methods to help manage their blood sugar levels. This is where your healthcare team plays a key role in helping to create a diabetes management plan and how to best treat your T1D based on many factors. Managing type 1 diabetes While the 'treatment' for a chronic condition is often viewed through the lens of medications or other therapies, T1D is one of those that requires constant management and affects how certain medications work. That is why treating T1D goes beyond just insulin and medication use. Diabetes management involves monitoring blood sugar levels, keeping track of what you consume each day, maintaining enough physical activity, managing your mental health, and more. Using insulin People with T1D must take insulin each day. Their bodies don't naturally make insulin, so it must be administered in another way. Many different types of insulin exist, ranging from fast short-acting insulin taken each time you eat or consume carbohydrates to longer-acting insulin that lasts in your body for hours at a time. Whatever type of insulin you take, you administer it through injections with a syringe or prefilled insulin pen. Others may choose to use an insulin pump device to administer their insulin each day. Insulin pens Many different types of insulin pens exist for long-acting and mealtime insulin forms. You may find these differ slightly based on the insulin you're using. Many of the most common insulin pens are disposable. They contain a prefilled cartridge that can be used for a certain number of days, and when the cartridge is empty, the entire pen is thrown away. Some reusable pens are also available, allowing you to replace the insulin cartridge when it's empty. The needles on insulin pens are known as pen needles, and they come in different lengths and thicknesses based on your preferences. Insulin pumps Insulin pumps are wearable devices that people with diabetes use to deliver insulin. They are connected to a spot on your body and continuously give insulin for 2 to 4 days. These devices deliver a programmed amount of insulin through a small tube called a cannula, inserted just under the top layer of your skin. Your doctor will work with you to determine how much insulin you need each day. Insulin pumps can also deliver an insulin bolus, which is an extra dose of insulin in addition to your basal rate. Some pumps may automatically give you boluses based on your higher blood sugar or carbs, but most allow you to enter a manual bolus for the pump to deliver when needed. Historically, insulin pumps were completely manual devices that you had to program for any insulin. In more recent years, advanced technology now available allows for algorithms to calculate and automatically deliver if you use the device with a connected CGM. Off-label medications for type 1 diabetes Other diabetes medications may also be something to discuss with your doctor. These may include Metformin, GLP-1s, or SGLT-2s meds, which aren't cleared by regulators to use with T1D but may be beneficial beyond that labeling. While some research does show the benefit of these medications for T1D, it indicates there may not be a significant blood sugar improvement, and there may be a high risk of increased hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and DKA. That is why it's always important to consult a doctor and your diabetes care team to discuss possible pros and cons if you're interested in using an off-label treatment for T1D along with insulin. It's also important to take all medications as prescribed. Metformin Metformin is a type of oral medication that's approved for type 2 diabetes. However, it's now also commonly prescribed by doctors, and some people with T1Ds use them successfully along with their insulin. Since some T1Ds can develop insulin resistance, the insulin they take each day may not work as well as it once did. Metformin may be an option because it helps reduce sugar production in the liver. Your doctor may advise you to take Metformin in addition to insulin, but that could mean they'd have to write an off-label prescription. GLP-1s Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonists help manage blood sugar levels and reduce hunger and food intake, possibly supporting weight loss along with managing diabetes glucose levels. These may include: Ozempic Wegovy Trulicity Victoza While these are FDA-cleared for those with T2D, some people with type 1 diabetes also choose to use these for the same reasons. The diabetes clinical community, along with T1Ds, has been advocating for the FDA to consider labeling these medications beyond just T2D use, but as of mid-2025, that hasn't yet materialized. SGLT-2 inhibitors Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a class of medications that are also known as gliflozins. These prevent glucose from reabsorbing after it's filtered through your kidneys, helping that glucose to leave your body through urine and lowering blood sugar levels. Invokana Jardiance Farxiga Steglatro This 2023 research review found moderate benefits for SGLT-2s in people type 1 diabetes, without an increase in risk or side effects. One specific SGLT-2 called Sotagliflozin (Zynquista) could eventually be used to treat T1D along with insulin. It would work to lower glucose levels by forcing the body to release it in urine and reducing glucose absorption in the gut. This 2019 research review shows the promise of the medication being used for T1D. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied Sotagliflozin in both 2019 and 2024 due to some concerns about the medication. However, it is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and may be reconsidered by the FDA in the future. Consult your diabetes care team Managing and treating type 1 diabetes is a very individualized process that requires working with your healthcare team. They can best help you understand the condition and learn what treatments may be best for your personal diabetes management and health goals. Always consult your care team before making any treatment decisions, including the types and dosages of any medications you take. For people with T1D, this will likely include diabetes specialists, including an endocrinologist, diabetes care and education specialist, and nutritionist or dietitian. Cure research and related treatments While there isn't a T1D cure on the horizon, researchers continue studying ways to prevent this autoimmune condition and reverse it for those who've already been diagnosed. Some of the more promising research avenues currently include: Gene therapy For T1D, gene therapy could involve reprogramming alternative cells, making those reprogrammed cells perform the functions of the original insulin-producing beta cells. But the reprogrammed cells would be different enough from beta cells so that your own immune system wouldn't recognize them as 'new cells' and attack them, which is what happens in the development of T1D. Islet cell transplants This involves transplanting donated or newly created insulin-making islet cells into the body or pancreas of someone with T1D. Islet transplants aren't new and have been an experimental treatment for many years. This requires immunosuppressant drugs, which often have other side effects and are more expensive. Despite the limited promise of this therapy, many challenges exist. In 2023, the FDA approved a first-of-its-kind treatment for a small number of people with T1D who have severe hypoglycemia and struggle to maintain their blood sugars. Known as Lantrida, this is the first pancreatic islet cellular therapy made from deceased donor pancreatic cells. Other ongoing research explores using stem cells to generate new islet cells rather than transplanting them. Functional bionic therapy Largely based on technology that includes insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM), these options to treat and manage T1D may be considered a 'functional cure' —something that basically makes life with this type of diabetes minimally burdensome and almost as 'good as being cured' for some people. These may be the evolving technologies, including closed-loop systems that automatically manage insulin and glucose monitoring to keep blood sugars in target range. Various early systems exist and are getting better, and some believe that this could eventually become a standard of care in managing T1D — assuming affordability and access allow for it. The takeaway Insulin is the main and only required treatment for type 1 diabetes. This is needed because people with T1D don't naturally make insulin in their bodies as those without the condition do. Other medications and types of therapy, alongside insulin, may also help people manage their blood sugar levels and diabetes overall. Some of these prescription medications may be considered 'off-label' drugs if your doctor is willing to prescribe them for T1D. Diabetes management means routine blood sugar monitoring, exercise and eating routines, and other aspects, from sleep to mental health.
