My health and my politics walk into a doctor's office …
In my case, the culprit is Ewing's sarcoma, an exceedingly rare cancer that usually afflicts adolescents and is famous for sneaking through the body and launching stealth attacks. My diagnosis at the start of 2023 at the age of 77 took everyone by surprise; the stats for my age bracket are almost all extrapolated from pediatrics and, as is very often the case, the chemotherapy and surgery treatments to try to stop it proved unsuccessful.
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Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
America's Leading Doctors 2025
Statista and Newsweek have partnered to provide patients with a comprehensive resource to aid in finding the best doctors in the United States across 15 medical fields for their specific treatment needs. America's Leading Doctors awards the top 175-200 doctors in the following medical specialties: Cardiothoracic surgery, Cataracts surgery, Colorectal surgery, Foot and Ankle surgery, Glaucoma surgery, Hand surgery, Hip surgery, Knee surgery, Mohs surgery, Pain Management, Retina surgery, Shoulder surgery, Spine surgery, Sports Medicine, and Vascular surgery. The lists are based on four data sources: Doctor performance data : Analysis of 2022-2023 performance benchmark data based on Medicare Fee-for-Service claims and commercial data sourced from Arcadia Online survey by state : Online survey of thousands of medical experts (doctors, managers/ administrators, and other medical professionals) across 20 states with knowledge in the respective medical field Quality Score : Quality of care rating by peers Certifications: Certifications from several American medical and surgical certification boards Doctor performance data: Sixty percent of the total score is based on exclusive performance benchmark data sourced from Arcadia. Doctors' performance was evaluated based on Episode of care data, including all medical episodes relevant to the respective specialty, as well as referral volume data. The following episodes are example cases for the specialty of Hand surgery: Joint or tendon inflammation of the finger/wrist/hand Joint cyst Inflammation or injury of the tendons or ligaments in the arm Fracture/dislocation treatment arm/wrist/hand Carpal tunnel & related syndromes The volume of episodes performed and the following six outcome measures per episode were considered: Average LOS (Days) of Institutional Long-term Stay ER Visits per 1,000 Episodes Mortality Rate Complications by Episode Unplanned Readmissions per 1,000 Episodes Average Episode Payment Scores were assigned for volume of episodes and outcomes measures per episode by comparing each doctor's performance for each metric relative to all other doctors of the same specialty practicing in the same state in a given year. Additionally, physicians who treated a particularly high number of patients for one or more relevant episodes within their state in 2023 received a High Performance award in the form of 1, 2, or 3 ribbons. Online survey by state From March to May 2025, Statista invited thousands of medical experts (physicians, managers/administrators, and other medical with knowledge in the respective medical field) in the 20 U.S. states with the highest number of doctors (varies per specialty) to an online survey. The survey was also promoted on Participants were asked to recommend doctors in their own state and in any of the other U.S. states included in the survey. The reason for recommendation (e.g., well-known specialist), the work experience of the participant, and the order of recommendation were taken into account. They were also able to specify a 'peers' choice' standout treatment for each recommended doctor. Recommendations from peers constitute 27.5% of the total doctor score. Quality Score For within-state recommendations, participants were asked to assess the quality of care (e.g., treatments, follow-up care, use of most recent equipment) and professional expertise (e.g., knowledge in medical field) of the doctor. For each recommended physician, participants rated the quality dimensions on a scale from 1 ('poor') to 10 ('excellent'). A quality score was calculated for each physician with within-state recommendations. This score accounts for 7.5% of the total score. Certifications Certifications from American medical and surgical certification boards were included in the evaluation. For example, in the specialty of Hand Surgery: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery: Orthopaedic Surgery Certification Subspecialty Certification in 'Surgery of the Hand' American Board of Plastic Surgery: Hand Surgery Certification Certifications contribute 5% to the total score. Notes regarding results tables: Hospital affiliation for each physician was determined by patient volume. For physicians with no data related to hospital affiliation, affiliation was determined by desk research. If the specified affiliated hospital has been awarded in a hospital ranking, it is listed under 'Affiliated with a Newsweek Best Hospital'. Up to three ribbons were awarded for each episode based on each doctor's percentile rank for episode volume within their state. If a particular procedure was recommended frequently by peers, it is indicated under 'Peers' Choice'. The methodology overview is available here. The extended methodology is available here. Disclaimer The rankings are comprised exclusively of doctors that are eligible regarding the scope described in this article. A mention in the top lists is a positive recognition based on peer recommendations and available data sources at the time. The top lists are the result of an elaborate process which, due to the interval of data-collection and analysis, is a reflection of the past 12 months only. Furthermore, any events preceding or following the period June 25th, 2024 – June 24th, 2025, were not included in the metrics. As such, the results of these top lists should not be used as the sole source of information for future deliberations. The information provided in these top lists should be considered in conjunction with other available information about physicians or, if possible, accompanied by a visit to a hospital/physician's practice. The quality of physicians that are not included in the top lists are not disputed. About Statista R Statista R is a world leader in the creation of company, brand, and product rankings and top lists, based on comprehensive market research and data analysis: Statista R recognizes the best. With a team of over 100 expert analysts and in cooperation with more than 40 high profile media brands across all continents, Statista R creates transparency for consumers and business decision makers and helps companies build trust and recognition across a plethora of industries and product categories. Visit Statista R is a division of Statista. The leading data and business intelligence portal provides an extensive collection of statistics, reports, and insights on over 80,000 topics from 22,500 sources in 170 industries. Find out more at We may earn a commission from partner links on Newsweek, but commissions do not affect placement and have no influence on editor opinions or evaluations.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
AstraZeneca increasing focus on US market, as it is 'first to provide access to patients': CFO
AstraZeneca (AZN) is shifting its focus to the US, calling itself an "American company" on Tuesday as it ramps up manufacturing and proposes price cuts for the US market. CEO Pascal Soriot told reporters Tuesday that the company, which reported its best quarter to date on the same day, "We are a very American company. We are global, but we are certainly very much rooted and present in the US." Tuesday's comment comes as the UK-based and UK-listed company is reportedly considering moving its main stock market listing to New York. In addition, the company recently announced $50 billion in manufacturing commitments in the US — including a brand-new facility in Virginia — and stated its goal of having 50% of its revenue come from the US by 2030. AstraZeneca's top-selling drugs include cancer drug Tagrisso and diabetes drug Farxiga. CFO Aradhana Sarin told Yahoo Finance that the moves are independent of Trump's tariff threats of up to 200% on the pharmaceutical industry. "We have been thinking about our strategic manufacturing — this probably goes back 3 or 4 years," she said. "So, post-COVID, we made a strategic decision because we're such a global company that we needed to have segregated supply chains." "This new facility [in Virginia] that we announced was part of the plan anyway," she added. "But that's separate, it's nothing to do with tariffs. It's actually based on the demand that we see potentially for our new cardiovascular medicine." And there are other reasons why the market is more appealing — including how quickly products reach patients in the US versus other countries. "When new therapies come ... the US market is almost the first to provide access to patients. Physicians ... are really into looking at the data," Sarin said, explaining why the US market is more appealing to pharma than other markets. AstraZeneca is also focused on other strategies that appeal to the US government, including price cuts. It sent a proposal to the US government on price reductions for some of its drugs. The proposal is under review, Soriot said. Anjalee Khemlani is the senior health reporter at Yahoo Finance, covering all things pharma, insurance, provider services, digital health, PBMs, and health policy and politics. That includes GLP-1s, of course. Follow Anjalee as AnjKhem on social media platforms X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky @AnjKhem. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest health industry news and events impacting stock prices Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
A cardiologist explains how to tell if your heart is aging too fast, and 4 tips to keep it young
Your heart could be older than you think, limiting your potential lifespan by up to a decade. But a cardiologist says a few simple lifestyle changes could help. New research from Northwestern University School of Medicine shows the average American's heart health makes them four to seven years older than their calendar age. That's because of risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and sedentary routines, driving up their risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the US. You can check your own heart age for free online using a test developed by Northwestern researchers. If you don't like what you see, incorporating daily habits like regular exercise can improve your heart age, said Dr. Sadiya Khan, a preventive cardiologist and professor of cardiovascular epidemiology who led the team that developed the calculator. "As we think about our growing, aging population, some people age faster than others, and slowing that down can have a lot of impact for health," Khan told Business Insider. How to tell if your heart is healthy Usually, doctors measure heart health in percentages using your vital signs. For instance, a patient with a 7.5% risk of heart disease is considered intermediate risk. But that doesn't translate well for the average person. "It's a challenging piece of information to communicate and grasp. What does it mean to have a risk of 7.5%?" Khan said. That's why Khan's team made an age predictor. It's easier to come up with a plan for your heart health if you understand in real terms what it means for your life expectancy. The researchers studied 14,000 adults in the US aged 30 to 79, with no prior history of heart disease. They found that, on average, women's heart health age was about four years older than their chronological age, and men's heart age was about seven years older than their chronological age. The gap widened for people with a lower income and education level; their heart age was as much as 10 years older than their chronological age. Khan added a caveat: it's important to note that the calculator is meant to be a more accurate predictor of heart health risk, but it's not designed to be used alone to manage your health. Talk to your doctor about your risk. "There's no exact number that means people should be alarmed or be concerned, but provide some context for what it means to have a heart age that's five years older or 10 years older," she said. Simple ways to boost heart health Knowing your heart health age can help you find simple, actionable steps to potentially boost longevity, Khan said. "We wanted to be sure it was a tool to motivate heart-healthy behavior," she said. "There are things we already know that can help with your heart age and improve it." To boost your heart health: Stop smoking: If you're a smoker, quitting is the number one change you can make to improve your heart health, Khan said. That's not just tobacco — marijuana has been linked to worse heart health, even in edible form. Optimize your workout: Regular physical activity, including low-intensity movement like walking, helps to strengthen your heart, and every added minute counts. Get the right macros: Whole foods rich in fiber and healthy fats like omega-3s help support your heart. Avoid processed foods and added sugars. Manage your stress: prevent strain on your heart. If you're already young at heart, following the above tips can help you stay that way for years to come. "If your heart age is a good spot, it's about strategies to maintain it," Khan said.
