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Top news of the day from across the health care landscape.
AbleTo Inc raised $36.6 million for its digital behavior health platform, which connects patients with licensed therapists and coaches, according The Wall Street Journal. The New York City-based company was founded in 2008 to work with employers and health plans to provide support to employees with medical conditions associated with underlying behavioral health issues. The money was closed in Series D funding and was led by Bain Capital Ventures, the WSJ reported.
Men who consume more vitamin B6 and B12 than the recommended dose dramatically increase their risk of lung cancer. According to USA Today, the National Institutes of Health recommends adults only consume approximately 1.5 milligrams of vitamin B6 per day and 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12. However, vitamin B supplements are sold up to 5000 micrograms per dose. In a recent study, investigators examined more than 77,000 patients over a decade. The findings showed, men who consumed high doses of B6 and B12 doubled their risk of lung cancer. For men who smoked, the risk increased 4-fold. Women who consumed the same amount of vitamin B did not see an increased risk, according to the report.
Twenty percent more individuals quit smoking after the price of a pack of cigarettes increases by $1, according to The New York Times. In a recent study, investigators linked the smoking habits of 632 smokers to cigarette prices in 896 chain grocery and drugstores in 19 states. Data were also gathered on local laws for indoor smoking in public areas, and the investigators followed changes in prices, laws, and smoking habits over a 10-year period. The findings showed that when the price of cigarettes increased by $1 dollar, there was a 20% increase in rates of smoking cessation, the NY Times reported. The average age of participants were 58 years.