Ann Pietrangelo
Freelance writer and author
Ann Pietrangelo is a freelance writer and the author of "No More Secs!" and "Catch That Look."
PROJECTS
Healthline
Where You Live Can Determine Your End-of-Life Care with Cancer
How much you spend on end-of-life cancer care varies according to where you live. But more spending isn’t necessarily associated with better outcomes. A new study concludes that differences in end-of-life cancer care don’t come from patient beliefs and preferences. They have more to do with doctors’ beliefs and practice style as well as healthc...
Healthline
Abortions Are Still Safe Even Outside of Surgery Centers
There’s no significant difference in adverse events for abortions performed in ambulatory surgery centers versus office-based settings. That’s the conclusion of a new observational study led by Sarah C. M. Roberts, DrPH, an associate professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Several states have laws that require abortion facilit...
Healthline
How to Recognize the Signs of Mental and Emotional Abuse
You probably know many of the more obvious signs of mental and emotional abuse. But when you’re in the midst of it, it can be easy to miss the persistent undercurrent of abusive behavior. Psychological abuse involves a person’s attempts to frighten, control, or isolate you. It’s in the abuser’s words and actions, as well as their persistence in these behaviors. The abuser could be your spouse or other romantic partner. They could be your business partner, parent, or a caretaker.
Healthline
Common Mood Stabilizing Drug Can Increase Risk of Birth Defects
Lithium in the first trimester of pregnancy can affect the health of an unborn child, but doctors say stopping this medication can also be risky. Babies of mothers who take lithium in the first trimester of pregnancy are at higher risk of major congenital malformations. But not as high as researchers expected. According to scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, that’s because previous studies looked at smaller groups. In the largest study ever conducted to ex...
Healthline
What Is Verbal Abuse? How to Recognize Abusive Behavior and What to Do Next
Abuse comes in many forms, not all of which are physical. When someone repeatedly uses words to demean, frighten, or control someone, it’s considered verbal abuse. You’re likely to hear about verbal abuse in the context of a romantic relationship or a parent-child relationship. But it can also occur in other family relationships, socially, or on the job.
Healthline
‘Chemo Brain’ Now a ‘Widespread Problem’ for Cancer Survivors
Heather Von St. James has learned to write things down. “It’s more than being forgetful. It’s almost as if parts of my memory are missing,” the 49-year-old Minnesota resident told Healthline. Von St. James is referring to the long-term effects of the chemotherapy she had 12 years ago. She’s talking about “chemo brain,” or cancer-related c...
Healthline
Children of Older Mothers May Face More Health Risks as Adults
Children born to older mothers may have more heart risks later in life, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada have also concluded that this may be more true of male offspring. In developed countries, the average age of women giving birth to their first child has been steadily increasing.
Healthline
Causes of Cold Knees and How to Treat Them
It’s not unusual to have a temporary problem with your knees. But a frequent or persistent extreme cold sensation in your knees can be distracting.
Healthline
Brain Cancer Vaccine Moves Closer to Reality During Clinical Trial
A personalized vaccine still in clinical trials may be helping some people with glioblastoma live longer. Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive form of cancer that can spread quickly throughout the brain. According to researchers, the five-year survival rate with standard treatment is less than 5 percent. Median survival stands at 15 to 17 months.
Healthline
Cigarettes, Smog, Marijuana: Why More Women Are Getting Lung Cancer
Overall, rates of lung cancer have fallen over the past two decades. That’s the positive news. And it’s true for men and women aged 30 to 54, regardless of race or ethnic group. But younger women — previously at lower risk — are now at greater risk of getting lung cancer than younger men. This analysis comes from a collaborative study between the Ameri...
Healthline
How Can Blood Tests Be Used for an MS Diagnosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms vary from person to person. Problems with vision, balance, coordination, and fatigue are among the most common symptoms.
Healthline
Can Radiology Be Used to Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of your central nervous system (CNS). It’s thought to be the result of an immune system attack. MS causes demyelination, or the damage of myelin. This is the protective layer that surrounds your nerve fibers. As scar tissue (lesions) forms, it interferes with nerve signals within the CNS.
Healthline
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience a wide range of symptoms. Due to the nature of the disease, symptoms can vary widely from person to person. They can also change in severity from year to year, month to month, and even day to day.
Healthline
A Year’s Worth of Herceptin May Not Be Needed for Breast Cancer Treatment
Some women with breast cancer may be able to cut Herceptin treatment in half. Researchers overseeing a phase III randomized clinical trial have concluded that six months of treatment is “non-inferior” to the standard 12 months of Herceptin use. The study involved 4,088 participants with HER2-positive breast cancer.
Herceptin, the brand name for trastuzumab...
Healthline
What is a gallium scan?
A gallium scan is a diagnostic test that looks for infection, inflammation, and tumors. The scan is generally performed in the nuclear medicine department of a hospital.