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Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
8 Things Doctors Would Never, Ever Do When It's Hot Outside
The past couple years have seen unpleasantly hot summers in much of the country, with many states seeing heat waves ― and the blistering temperatures are expected to stick around. At the very least, this type of weather makes it nearly impossible to hold outdoor events or complete routine activities like a daily run. In the worst cases, though, hot weather can be deadly, especially for older adults who are 'more prone to get dehydrated more quickly in excessive heat,' said Dr. John Schumann, the Oklahoma-based executive medical director of Oak Street Health. But there are a range of heat-related conditions that can impact anyone, like heat cramps, dehydration and passing out from the high temperatures. Another is heat exhaustion, which causes 'thirst, fatigue ― you can even have mild changes in your mental status, like a little bit of confusion,' according to Dr. Martin Huecker, an emergency care doctor at UofL Health in Louisville, Kentucky. 'And then when you get to heatstroke, that's the most significant, the most severe form,' Huecker added. 'That's where you start seeing definite mental status changes, and then what we call a cardiovascular collapse or instability. The vital signs change. The heart rate and blood pressure start to change.' You should immediately call 911 if you notice confusion in someone who has been out in the heat. You should also call 911 if symptoms like heat cramps, heavy sweating or dizziness last more than an hour, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. saw the most heat-related deaths ever in 2023, and with more hot days on the horizon, it's important to stay safe. Below, experts share what they'd avoid doing on hot days when keeping safety in mind. When extreme temperatures are in town, you shouldn't assume they're no big deal. Instead, you should plan ahead and be aware of the weather forecast, Huecker said. 'You can look at UV index and heat index,' he noted, referring to measures of ultraviolet radiation and temperature plus humidity. 'Some days the temperature isn't telling the whole story.' Many weather apps will give you the 'real feel' temperature, which can be higher or lower than the air temperature due to sun, humidity or wind. When you understand what weather conditions are in store, you can plan appropriately to stay safe from the heat. 'If you reach the point where you're actually thirsty, you're already dehydrated,' said Schumann. 'You should be hydrating enough so that you're not getting thirsty.' When spending time outside on a very hot day, it's important to have water or a water-based beverage available, Schumann said. But that's not the only thing your body might need. 'If you are sweating a lot, you lose more than just water,' Huecker said. 'You're losing sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium. When you replenish, you want to replenish more than just water; you want to add electrolytes to it.' You can get a lot of your electrolytes through food, Huecker said, so you might not need sports drinks or other electrolyte products. But 'if you're out walking or exercising, doing a two-hour trip outside, and you just wanted to bring some water with you, that's where you might want to throw in electrolytes,' Huecker said. Brands like LMNT, Liquid I.V. and Pedialyte sell electrolyte powders and drinks. Alternatively, 'you can get as simple as throwing a little bit of sugar or honey with some sea salt [in your water] — that has a good amount of sodium chloride and some of the other electrolytes,' Huecker said. 'You don't have to get real fancy and spend a bunch of money.' It may be common to crack open a cold beer at a summer barbecue or make a frozen cocktail on a sunny day, but Schumann said you should be careful about consuming alcohol when it's hot outside. 'Moderation is going to be the key. If you're someone who likes to drink, it can be refreshing. But when it's this hot out ... alcohol will dehydrate you faster than you otherwise would,' Schumann said. 'If you could avoid drinking, [that's] so much better. And stay with something that's going to keep you hydrated.' 4. They wouldn't stay outside at the hottest time of day.'You want to avoid the hottest part of the day,' Huecker stressed, adding that temperatures typically peak from 'noon to 3 or 4 p.m.'Try to save yard work or other outdoor tasks for a cooler part of the day — like first thing in the morning or as the sun is setting in the evening.5. They wouldn't remain in the sun without taking you have to be outside — say, for work or an outdoor event — it's important to take breaks from the sunshine when possible.'Getting out of the sun and into the shade, or indoors or air conditioning,' is key to preventing heat-related illness, Schumann said, adding that he personally tries to be in the shade whenever possible.6. They wouldn't forget bug and pest need to keep more than just sun safety in mind. If you're taking part in outdoor activities like hiking, you also should be wary of illnesses transmitted by ticks, Schumann the same goes for mosquitoes. Many people tend to go swimming on hot days, but these insects often linger around bodies of encourages his patients to use permethrin or other tick repellents on their clothes, and bug sprays with DEET to repel mosquitoes. 7. They wouldn't skip should always wear sunscreen to protect against harmful rays, but this is especially important on very sunny days. When it's hot outside, Schumann said he wears sunscreen and a hat to avoid sunburns.'Look for products labeled 'broad spectrum' to ensure protection from UVB and UVA rays and with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30,' Dr. Kevin Boyd, a dermatologist at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, previously told HuffPost via email.8. They wouldn't ignore how certain medications react to heat and to pharmacist Michael Schuh, there are four categories of relatively common medications that can affect your heat tolerance: antidepressants, antihistamines, blood pressure drugs and antipsychotics.'Those are probably the main drugs one would think of that would cause heat intolerance,' said Schuh, who works at Mayo Clinic in can mess with your brain's thermal heat regulation and how much you sweat, putting you at higher risk of dehydration, heatstroke and more, he said.'There are a lot of drugs, too, that will also make people more sensitive to the sun, that will make them burn more easily,' Schuh noted. 'Some antibiotics can make people more sun-sensitive, where they'll burn more easily, maybe even get a rash. ... Some diuretics will do it. Some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents will do it ― things like ibuprofen. And some hormones will do it.'Be aware of any drugs that may prevent your body from regulating its temperature or put you at risk of sunburn. You can look online to see if this applies to your medications, or you can talk to a pharmacist or physician, Schuh while it's important to know the possible effects of dangerously high temperatures, this doesn't mean you have to stay inside all summer.'I would encourage people to not be completely afraid of the heat and to get a little bit of exposure to it,' said Huecker. 'There are a lot of health benefits to sauna and other heat-related environments, and so I wouldn't avoid at all costs. I would just be smart about it.' 'Coolcations' Are On The Rise This Summer. Here's How To Take One. Does Your Sunburn Require Medical Attention? Here Are The 2 Signs It Does. TikTok Claims These Foods Can Relieve Sunburn, And Doctors Actually Back It Up
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
8 Things Doctors Would Never, Ever Do When It's Hot Outside
The past couple years have seen unpleasantly hot summers in much of the country, with many states seeing heat waves ― and the blistering temperatures are expected to stick around. At the very least, this type of weather makes it nearly impossible to hold outdoor events or complete routine activities like a daily run. In the worst cases, though, hot weather can be deadly, especially for older adults who are 'more prone to get dehydrated more quickly in excessive heat,' said Dr. John Schumann, the Oklahoma-based executive medical director of Oak Street Health. But there are a range of heat-related conditions that can impact anyone, like heat cramps, dehydration and passing out from the high temperatures. Another is heat exhaustion, which causes 'thirst, fatigue ― you can even have mild changes in your mental status, like a little bit of confusion,' according to Dr. Martin Huecker, an emergency care doctor at UofL Health in Louisville, Kentucky. 'And then when you get to heatstroke, that's the most significant, the most severe form,' Huecker added. 'That's where you start seeing definite mental status changes, and then what we call a cardiovascular collapse or instability. The vital signs change. The heart rate and blood pressure start to change.' You should immediately call 911 if you notice confusion in someone who has been out in the heat. You should also call 911 if symptoms like heat cramps, heavy sweating or dizziness last more than an hour, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. saw the most heat-related deaths ever in 2023, and with more hot days on the horizon, it's important to stay safe. Below, experts share what they'd avoid doing on hot days when keeping safety in mind. When extreme temperatures are in town, you shouldn't assume they're no big deal. Instead, you should plan ahead and be aware of the weather forecast, Huecker said. 'You can look at UV index and heat index,' he noted, referring to measures of ultraviolet radiation and temperature plus humidity. 'Some days the temperature isn't telling the whole story.' Many weather apps will give you the 'real feel' temperature, which can be higher or lower than the air temperature due to sun, humidity or wind. When you understand what weather conditions are in store, you can plan appropriately to stay safe from the heat. 'If you reach the point where you're actually thirsty, you're already dehydrated,' said Schumann. 'You should be hydrating enough so that you're not getting thirsty.' When spending time outside on a very hot day, it's important to have water or a water-based beverage available, Schumann said. But that's not the only thing your body might need. 'If you are sweating a lot, you lose more than just water,' Huecker said. 'You're losing sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium. When you replenish, you want to replenish more than just water; you want to add electrolytes to it.' You can get a lot of your electrolytes through food, Huecker said, so you might not need sports drinks or other electrolyte products. But 'if you're out walking or exercising, doing a two-hour trip outside, and you just wanted to bring some water with you, that's where you might want to throw in electrolytes,' Huecker said. Brands like LMNT, Liquid I.V. and Pedialyte sell electrolyte powders and drinks. Alternatively, 'you can get as simple as throwing a little bit of sugar or honey with some sea salt [in your water] — that has a good amount of sodium chloride and some of the other electrolytes,' Huecker said. 'You don't have to get real fancy and spend a bunch of money.' It may be common to crack open a cold beer at a summer barbecue or make a frozen cocktail on a sunny day, but Schumann said you should be careful about consuming alcohol when it's hot outside. 'Moderation is going to be the key. If you're someone who likes to drink, it can be refreshing. But when it's this hot out ... alcohol will dehydrate you faster than you otherwise would,' Schumann said. 'If you could avoid drinking, [that's] so much better. And stay with something that's going to keep you hydrated.' 'You want to avoid the hottest part of the day,' Huecker stressed, adding that temperatures typically peak from 'noon to 3 or 4 p.m.' Try to save yard work or other outdoor tasks for a cooler part of the day — like first thing in the morning or as the sun is setting in the evening. If you have to be outside — say, for work or an outdoor event — it's important to take breaks from the sunshine when possible. 'Getting out of the sun and into the shade, or indoors or air conditioning,' is key to preventing heat-related illness, Schumann said, adding that he personally tries to be in the shade whenever possible. You need to keep more than just sun safety in mind. If you're taking part in outdoor activities like hiking, you also should be wary of illnesses transmitted by ticks, Schumann said. And the same goes for mosquitoes. Many people tend to go swimming on hot days, but these insects often linger around bodies of water. Schumann encourages his patients to use permethrin or other tick repellents on their clothes, and bug sprays with DEET to repel mosquitoes. You should always wear sunscreen to protect against harmful rays, but this is especially important on very sunny days. When it's hot outside, Schumann said he wears sunscreen and a hat to avoid sunburns. 'Look for products labeled 'broad spectrum' to ensure protection from UVB and UVA rays and with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30,' Dr. Kevin Boyd, a dermatologist at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, previously told HuffPost via email. According to pharmacist Michael Schuh, there are four categories of relatively common medications that can affect your heat tolerance: antidepressants, antihistamines, blood pressure drugs and antipsychotics. 'Those are probably the main drugs one would think of that would cause heat intolerance,' said Schuh, who works at Mayo Clinic in Florida. These can mess with your brain's thermal heat regulation and how much you sweat, putting you at higher risk of dehydration, heatstroke and more, he said. 'There are a lot of drugs, too, that will also make people more sensitive to the sun, that will make them burn more easily,' Schuh noted. 'Some antibiotics can make people more sun-sensitive, where they'll burn more easily, maybe even get a rash. ... Some diuretics will do it. Some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents will do it ― things like ibuprofen. And some hormones will do it.' Be aware of any drugs that may prevent your body from regulating its temperature or put you at risk of sunburn. You can look online to see if this applies to your medications, or you can talk to a pharmacist or physician, Schuh said. And while it's important to know the possible effects of dangerously high temperatures, this doesn't mean you have to stay inside all summer. 'I would encourage people to not be completely afraid of the heat and to get a little bit of exposure to it,' said Huecker. 'There are a lot of health benefits to sauna and other heat-related environments, and so I wouldn't avoid at all costs. I would just be smart about it.' 'Coolcations' Are On The Rise This Summer. Here's How To Take One. Does Your Sunburn Require Medical Attention? Here Are The 2 Signs It Does. TikTok Claims These Foods Can Relieve Sunburn, And Doctors Actually Back It Up
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exploring CVS' Health Services Segment: A Key Growth Engine for 2025?
Healthcare conglomerate CVS Health CVS formed its Health Services segment through a realignment tied to a new operating model adopted in early 2023. In its last reported quarter, the segment contributed more than $43 billion in revenues — up 8% year over year — driven by growth in specialty pharmacy, higher pricing of branded medications and pharmacy drug mix. However, these gains were partially offset by ongoing price improvements extended to pharmacy clients. The segment includes CVS Caremark, one of the leading pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) in the United States, which helps curb drug spend through its solutions without compromising quality care. Starting July 1, Caremark will list Novo Nordisk's NVO Wegovy as the preferred GLP-1 medicine on its largest commercial template formularies. The Novo Nordisk partnership echoes CVS' launch of a low-cost Humira biosimilar via its Cordavis subsidiary, which now leads the U.S. market. CVS will also serve as the first retail pharmacy in NVO's NovoCare pharmacy network, increasing Wegovy's access at 9,000 community health locations. In the first quarter of 2025, CVS Health processed more than $464 million of pharmacy claims on a 30-day equivalent basis, with membership reaching almost 88 million as of March-end. In the healthcare delivery business, growth continues to be led by the performance of Oak Street and Signify Health assets. Still, persistently elevated Medicare Advantage remains a concern for Oak Street Health's growth. Meanwhile, CVS exited the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health ('ACO REACH') program and sold its Medicare Shared Savings Program ('MSSP') business to Wellvana Health, incurring a combined loss of $247 million in the first quarter. Still, analysts continue to remain bullish on the segment, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate indicating a 4.6% increase in Health Services revenues over 2024. The Cigna Group CI is gaining from the strength of its Evernorth Health Services portfolio. Within this, CI reported 14% year-over-year growth in Pharmacy Benefit Services in the first quarter of 2025, mainly from existing client relationships and new businesses. Strong specialty volume growth in Cigna's Specialty and Care Services drove an 18.9% improvement. Organic growth in specialty businesses was supported by higher Humira biosimilar adoption. At Humana HUM, the CenterWell segment, which includes the company's pharmacy, primary care and home solutions operations, reported a 37.5% increase in service revenues in the first quarter of 2025. Humana reduced operating costs in this segment owing to its value creation initiatives and also benefited from more favorable operating trends in the primary care business. Still, HUM saw some of the improvement being offset by the impact of the v28 risk model revision. Year to date, CVS Health shares have surged 49.4% against the industry's 0.2% dip. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research In terms of valuation, CVS is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales of 0.22X compared to the industry average of 0.41X. The stock's Value Score of A further adds to its appeal. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Consensus estimates for CVS Health's 2025 earnings have been trending upward over the past 90 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research CVS stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Humana Inc. (HUM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cigna Group (CI) : Free Stock Analysis Report CVS Health Corporation (CVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Globe and Mail
18-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Exploring CVS' Health Services Segment: A Key Growth Engine for 2025?
Healthcare conglomerate CVS Health CVS formed its Health Services segment through a realignment tied to a new operating model adopted in early 2023. In its last reported quarter, the segment contributed more than $43 billion in revenues — up 8% year over year — driven by growth in specialty pharmacy, higher pricing of branded medications and pharmacy drug mix. However, these gains were partially offset by ongoing price improvements extended to pharmacy clients. The segment includes CVS Caremark, one of the leading pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) in the United States, which helps curb drug spend through its solutions without compromising quality care. Starting July 1, Caremark will list Novo Nordisk 's NVO Wegovy as the preferred GLP-1 medicine on its largest commercial template formularies. The Novo Nordisk partnership echoes CVS' launch of a low-cost Humira biosimilar via its Cordavis subsidiary, which now leads the U.S. market. CVS will also serve as the first retail pharmacy in NVO's NovoCare pharmacy network, increasing Wegovy's access at 9,000 community health locations. In the first quarter of 2025, CVS Health processed more than $464 million of pharmacy claims on a 30-day equivalent basis, with membership reaching almost 88 million as of March-end. In the healthcare delivery business, growth continues to be led by the performance of Oak Street and Signify Health assets. Still, persistently elevated Medicare Advantage remains a concern for Oak Street Health's growth. Meanwhile, CVS exited the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health ('ACO REACH') program and sold its Medicare Shared Savings Program ('MSSP') business to Wellvana Health, incurring a combined loss of $247 million in the first quarter. Still, analysts continue to remain bullish on the segment, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate indicating a 4.6% increase in Health Services revenues over 2024. What About CVS' Peers? The Cigna Group CI is gaining from the strength of its Evernorth Health Services portfolio. Within this, CI reported 14% year-over-year growth in Pharmacy Benefit Services in the first quarter of 2025, mainly from existing client relationships and new businesses. Strong specialty volume growth in Cigna's Specialty and Care Services drove an 18.9% improvement. Organic growth in specialty businesses was supported by higher Humira biosimilar adoption. At Humana HUM, the CenterWell segment, which includes the company's pharmacy, primary care and home solutions operations, reported a 37.5% increase in service revenues in the first quarter of 2025. Humana reduced operating costs in this segment owing to its value creation initiatives and also benefited from more favorable operating trends in the primary care business. Still, HUM saw some of the improvement being offset by the impact of the v28 risk model revision. CVS' Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates Year to date, CVS Health shares have surged 49.4% against the industry's 0.2% dip. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research In terms of valuation, CVS is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales of 0.22X compared to the industry average of 0.41X. The stock's Value Score of A further adds to its appeal. Consensus estimates for CVS Health's 2025 earnings have been trending upward over the past 90 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research CVS stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO): Free Stock Analysis Report Humana Inc. (HUM): Free Stock Analysis Report Cigna Group (CI): Free Stock Analysis Report CVS Health Corporation (CVS): Free Stock Analysis Report
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CVS opens new center offering primary care, pharmacy in one building
(WJET/WFXP)– CVS has opened the doors to a new first-of-its-kind center for Erie, allowing seniors to make the trip to their primary care doctor and pick up their prescriptions in one spot, the company announced Tuesday. The new Erie center, located at 1535 West 26th Street, has a full-service pharmacy alongside an Oak Street Health primary care center for Medicare-eligible adults in a move CVS said will help address patient care gaps. Pet owners will soon be able to honor pets at new Rainbow Bridge Memorial Garden Additionally, the center offers social activities in their community room for older adults and free rides to appointments to eligible patients courtesy of Oak Street Health. The full pharmacy will remain open to the public, offering prescription filling, vaccinations, and other pharmacy services to anyone who uses CVS Pharmacy. Tickets now available Erie Zoo's centennial Mane Event 'With the integration of Oak Street Health, we look forward to working as part of a patient's broader care team, collaborating with Oak Street Health providers to help patients manage their medications, identify potential ways to save on prescription costs, and provide recommended vaccinations and adherence support,' said Himaswetha Bharatha, PharmD, Pharmacy Manager, CVS Pharmacy. Similar centers have also been opened in Harrisburg and Norristown, Pennsylvania. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
