Americans now spend twice as much on health care as they did in the 1980s

The average American household spent almost $5,000 per person on health care last year. That’s a 101% increase from the roughly $2,500 per person that Americans spent about 34 years ago in 1984, according to an analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditures Survey by data company Clever. To make accurate comparisons, Clever adjusted all dollar amounts for inflation. It’s perhaps not surprising that health care expenses have risen over the past three decades. But the main driver of the increase is not drug costs or medical services. In…

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Did You Know: Jet Lag Can Affect More Than Just Your Sleep Cycle

Jet lag can put the brakes on the most exciting vacations. Almost everyone who has ever flown across time zones knows what it feels like. The experience ranks somewhere between eating day-old cooked oatmeal and nursing a hangover. These food and drink metaphors aren’t just a coincidence. Jet lag, it turns out, affects more than our sleep; it affects our internal organs as well. Given what is known about the importance of intestinal bacteria (called the microbiome) and their connection to immune function and well-being, it’s clear that any discussion…

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Did you know a heart attack can affect men and women differently? Here’s how

Previous studies on heart attacks suggests that causes, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes can all differ between men and women. Adding to that, researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) Germany analysed patient data collected from two studies with a total of 4,100 participants. They found that within one year of having a heart attack, the women in the sample were 1.5 times more likely to die than men with similar case histories. The team are now urging doctors to provide intensive support to female heart attack patients, especially in the first 365…

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What is a Patiala Peg and How Did it Get its Name?

  If you have partied in North India, or even gone out with friends for a few drinks, there is a good chance you would have heard the term ‘Patiala Peg’ being used. Accompanied by loud banter and an attempt to outshine or exhibit bravado, the Patiala peg has come to signify more than a measure of whisky, it is almost a sign of ‘masculinity’ in Punjab. The rough volume of a Patiala peg is around 120ml. This is roughly four ‘smalls’ or two ‘large’ drinks in colloquial terms. However,…

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Parineeti Chopra’s Diet: How Did The Bollywood Actress Lose So Much Weight?

Want to know how Parineeti Chopra lost SO much weight? Scroll down for her diet and fitness regime. Among all the transformation tales of Bollywood, actress Parineeti Chopra is one of the latest ones. This bindaas actress may have won millions of hearts thanks to her acting talent, but now she’s hogging the limelight due to her mind blowing weight loss journey. (And lighting up the screen with her latest song “Jaaneman Aah” with Varun Dhawan for “Dishoom“). Not many actors openly admit to being overweight, but Parineeti Chopra not…

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Did You Know That Avocado Can Be Used as a First Food for Babies?

Feeding babies avocados, which has a neutral flavour, soft consistency and nutrient density, can help in boosting their growth and development, says a study, suggesting that the fruit can be used as a first food for infants. Babies’ ideal first foods should have a low to moderate sweet and salty flavour profile to avoid early preferences for sweet foods. The findings showed that avocados are unique among complementary and transitional foods and they provide an ideal source of calories to meet the increasing energy and growth demands of weaning infants…

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