Who wants the flu this year? No one? That’s what we thought. So how come lots of people — especially those most at risk for getting sick — aren’t going in for flu shots? Health experts aren’t sure, they just know that flu shots are somewhat of a hard sell lately. And those who most need one, pregnant women and health care workers, aren’t showing up to get vaccinated as much as they should. [More]
Nobody Wants To Get Sick But Plenty Of People Are Still Avoiding Flu Shots
By September 27, 2012
McDonald's Menu Boards To Reveal How Many Calories Are Going Along For The Ride With That Big Mac
By September 12, 2012
You’re going to have a lot harder time avoiding the plain truth of how many calories you’re ingesting along with that Big Mac and fries at a McDonald’s near you soon. The company announced that it will now be posting the caloric content of all its items on menu boards and drive-thru menus across the U.S. It’s a big move for the fast food industry, one that other chains could feel compelled to follow its lead. [More]
Hantavirus Case Linked To Home Cleaned Out On TLC's 'Hoarders' TV Show
By September 10, 2012
First of all, whoever is volunteering to help clean out homes on TLC’s Hoarders: Buried Alive, you are a better person than most of us, because sorting through piles of stuff/garbage/cats/whathaveyou can’t always be a fun time. Especially for at least one person who has reportedly contracted hantavirus — the same disease that has killed three people who visited Yosemite National Park — after filming a recent episode of the reality TV show in Texas. [More]
Does It Matter If Organic Food Isn't Actually More Nutritious Than Conventional Products?
By September 4, 2012
Clutch your kale close, organic food lovers — a new study says organic products aren’t any better for you nutrition-wise than conventional foods. The four-year project looked at 240 other studies covering nutrients in foods as well as potential contaminants like pesticides and found that even though we might pay more for our organic veggies, fruits and meat, they’re no better for us than regular food. [More]
Yosemite National Park Warns 1,700 Visitors They Might Have Gotten A Rodent-Borne Disease
By August 29, 2012
Any of the 1,700 people who visited Yosemite National Park and stayed in some of its quaintest rustic tent cabins in June, July or August should take note — park officials are warning visitors from this summer that they maybe could’ve caught a rare rodent-borne disease called hantavirus. So far two visitors have died from the disease and two others have fallen ill. [More]
Playing Doctor: Consumerist Readers Explain How To Cure Anything With Just About Everything
By August 17, 2012
Earlier this week we turned to you, our wise and experienced Consumerist readers, to tell us which home remedies you’ve had success with in treating various bodily ailments. Or maybe the treatment wasn’t so successful but you learned an important life lesson on the process. We’ve combed through your highly entertaining and definitely useful comments and have compiled a few of the most common and well, interesting ones here (ahem, earwax?). [More]
Scientists Say Ingredient Common In Microwave Popcorn Could Be Linked To Alzheimer's
By August 8, 2012
Alzheimer’s has proved a mysterious disease for researchers who have been trying to pinpoint what can cause it, and how it can be deterred. Researchers now think they’ve got another insight into what could cause Alzheimer’s after studying an ingredient called diacetyl, a flavoring often used to make microwave popcorn smell and test buttery. [More]
Man Accused Of Starting New Hampshire Hepatitis C Outbreak Was A Traveling Technician In 8 States
By July 25, 2012
While telling everyone not to panic, New Hampshire is expanding the amount of patients at a particular hospital it says needs to be tested for hepatitis C, from 1,200 to 6,000. Meanwhile, new details have emerged regarding the hospital employee accused of being responsible for the outbreak, who allegedly would shoot himself up and then use the syringe on patients — turns out he was a traveling technician who worked in as many as eight other states. [More]
Using Viagra When You Don’t Need It Could Make You Psychologically Dependent On It
By July 24, 2012
Many moons ago, when Viagra first came on the market, I had a co-worker who went through those pills like they were breath mints, in spite of not actually needing them. And he’s not alone, as untold number of men without erectile dysfunction use the drug recreationally, believing it enhances their lovemaking prowess. But the results of a new study claim that all the pill-popping may lead users to second-guess their erectile ability. [More]
Bar Cares About Your Unborn Babies, Puts Pregnancy Test Dispenser In Bathroom For Peace Of Mind
By July 20, 2012
The owner of a bar in Mankato, Minn. wants to make sure his patrons aren’t doing damage to any unborn babies they might be carrying, which is why he’s installed a pregnancy test dispenser in the women’s restroom. The way he sees it, it’s just one more way to prevent prenatal exposure to alcohol. [More]
NYC Movie Theaters Fight Back Against Mayor’s Big Soda Ban
By July 6, 2012
While hit new movies might make millionaires out of actors, directors and key grips, movie theaters often make little to no money on the actual ticket sales of high-profile, first-run movies. Instead, they depend on those movies to bring in customers to pay big bucks for huge drinks and buckets of popcorn. Thus, you can imagine why theater owners in New York City aren’t exactly doing somersaults in celebration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed ban of large sodas. [More]
Hospital Says Employee May Have Spread Hepatitis C By Getting High & Injecting Patients With Used Syringe
By June 14, 2012
Health officials in New Hampshire are trying to track down what could have caused an outbreak of hepatitis C at one particular hospital. One scary possibility? An employee abused drugs and then used that used syringe to inject patients. Shudder. [More]
Now You Can Get Pricey Blood Thinning Drug Plavix In Cheaper Generic Form
By May 18, 2012
The Food and Drug Administration has given the go ahead to seven companies to begin producing Plavix in generic form. As someone who has to shell out over $100 for about 10 pills to quarter and force an unwilling, yet sick cat, to take, I am pretty darn excited about this whole situation. [More]
Special K Chocolatey Delight Has More Calories Than Cocoa Puffs
By May 15, 2012
Eating Special K to lose weight? Splurging on the chocolate version? You might want to read the label. Our sisters at ShopSmart (also published by Consumer Reports) took a look at a variety of “junk” health foods for the June issue and discovered that “Special K Chocolatey Delight” isn’t that different from Cocoa Puffs. [More]
Report: Overuse Of Seat Warmers Could Result In "Toasted Skin Syndrome"
By February 27, 2012
We know it’s cold up there in the wintry north in Minnesota, but be careful you’re not cozying up to your heated car seats or laptop batteries in excess, warns a local news story. You could end up with something called “Toasted Skin Syndrome.” Eww. [More]
Scientists Suggest Restricting Sugar Sales For Youngsters
By February 2, 2012
Arguing that sugar is as additive as tobacco or alcohol, scientists at the University of California San Francisco say that the sweet stuff should be regulated in much the same way as those products. That means taxes to discourage consumption and age-dependent restrictions on how much can be sold to a consumer. [More]
Diabetes Didn't Cost That Man His Leg, Photoshop Did The Dirty Work
By January 25, 2012
Remember how the New York City Department of Health appealed to the side of you that likes having all limbs intact to warn against the dangers of drinking too much soda and eating lots of fast food? They used a shocking image of a man with part of one leg amputated, to show how diabetes is not fun. Thing is, that man has both his legs intact, and might not even have diabetes for all we know. [More]
Penis Tattoo Gives Man A Permanent Erection
By January 10, 2012
Thinking of getting a penis tattoo? Apparently, they come with the risk of a permanent erection. Let’s see if we can get through this one without a Jason Stackhouse joke… Nope! [More]
