Trending News Today: Heart Screenings in Teens May Do More Harm Than Good

Non-profit organizations that provide free or low-cost heart screenings for teenagers claim that the tests can discover abnormalities that may pose a health risk. However, the evidence behind these claims is lacking, and physicians worry that screening this population could do more harm than good, according to Kaiser Health News. A teen with no symptoms or family history of heart disease could undergo further, unnecessary testing and take further action.

Elderly adults may benefit from seeing a geriatrician rather than just a primary care physician. Geriatricians are trained to treat patients with a complexity of comorbidities, such as a history of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. While geriatricians can understand the medical needs of the elderly population, their role remains underutilized, according to Kaiser Health News.

The number of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease is growing in the United States, especially among Latinos. New diagnoses among this population are expected to increase to 3.5 million by 2060, California Healthline reported. This increasing prevalence will likely present immense financial and emotional burdens on Latino families.