People with pain caused by migraines, back issues or psychological distress may have an increased risk of suicide, a new study suggests. Researchers looked at records for more than 4.8 million people in the Veterans Affairs medical system. They focused on people with chronic (long-lasting) pain that was not related to cancer. In the next 3 years, more than 2,800 people with a pain-causing condition committed suicide. People with most pain conditions had higher rates of suicide than people without pain. Some people with pain also had mental-health conditions. Researchers adjusted the numbers to account for the effects this might have on suicide rates. Three causes of pain were still linked with a higher suicide risk. The increased risk was 13% with back pain and 34% with migraines. The highest increased risk was 58% for people with psychogenic pain.

The costs of treating stroke will more than double by 2030, a new report says. The main reason given is the aging of the U.S. population. American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association released the policy statement. It predicts that the actual number of strokes will rise 20%. Stroke care costs are projected to jump from about $72 billion in 2010 to $183 billion in 2030. The result will be a strain on the health care system, an expert told HealthDay News. Lost productivity would cost another $57 billion, the policy statement says. That's up from $34 billion in 2010. About 90% of people who survive a stroke are left with some type of disability. Strokes are expected to increase most among people ages 45 to 64 years old, and among Hispanics. The journal Stroke published the statement. HealthDay News wrote about it May 22.

Sunscreens that Americans buy this summer should have more accurate labels. Updated rules from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took effect in December. But a consumer group says some labels may still be misleading. Sunscreens have a sun protection factor (SPF) to indicate how well they work. The FDA says sunscreens with an SPF of 15 to 50 can claim protection against skin cancer and early aging, as well as sunburn. The FDA says there's no proof that protection increases further for numbers above 50. But an Environmental Working Group survey found higher numbers on 1 out of 7 products. The group checked 1,400 sunscreens. Experts worry that numbers above 50 could encourage people to stay out in the sun longer. The new FDA rules require all "broad spectrum" sunscreens to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Both can cause skin cancer. UVA rays also cause skin aging.