UNITEDHEALTH BEATS FIRST-QUARTER PROFIT ESTIMATES UnitedHealth, the largest U.S. health insurer, reported a first-quarter profit above estimates and raised its 2019 earnings forecast, driven by strength in its pharmacy benefit management business and higher enrollment for its health plans.
insurance sector got hit with the worst declining weekly share price since March 2009, as worries persist over proposed changes to the indus- try-wide system of rebates paid to insurers by drug makers. UnitedHealth continues to deliver consistent per- formance, but now the question is whether any rebound in shares can be sustained amid the political overhang that has plagued the sector. PLANT-BASED DIET KEY IN REDUCING RISK OF HEART FAILURE New research finds that sticking to a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish can slash heart failure risk by 41 percent. By contrast, a diet rich in fats, fried foods, processed meat, and sugary drinks can raise the risk of this condition. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot supply enough blood and oxygen to the main organs in the body. The condition affects about 5.7 million people in the United States however when you look at the affects worldwide where approximately 26 billion people suffer from the condition with some healthcare experts predicting that heart failure will become even more prevalent worldwide, which has led them to refer to it as a “global pandemic.” This new study, by Dr. Kyla Lara, a cardiology fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and her col- leagues, strengthens this idea that a diet consist- ing mainly of fruits and vegetables can prevent cardiovascular disease.
This is good news for the company as the health
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • APRIL 2019
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