Ohio Man Selling $1000/Cup Kool-Aid To Raise Money For Doctor Bills
By Chris Morran on May 22, 2012 11:45 AM
38 Comments
When life hands you three bouts of pancreatitis, gall stones, a cholecystectomy, and possibly kidney stones, you make incredibly expensive lemonade in the hopes that some generous folks will pay — and that the local news will pick up your story. More »
School Fined $15,000 Because Bookstore Sold Soda During Lunch
By Chris Morran on May 21, 2012 2:36 PM
189 Comments
A high school in Utah says it won't be able to pay for some of its arts programs this year because it's been hit with a $15,000 federal fine after the school's bookstore was caught allegedly selling soda during lunch time. More »
(Handout)
Oscar Mayer Lifts Veil Of Secrecy On Ingredients With New Line Of Meats
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 15, 2012 3:00 PM
47 Comments
Pink slime backlash is seeping into all things meat related. If a consumer is going to eat some meat, companies are figuring out that hey, maybe they'd like to know what exactly it is that's going into their bodies. Which is why Oscar Mayer has announced a new line of meats with no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors. More »
New CDC Study Reveals A Third Of Young White Adult Women Get Tans Indoors
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 11, 2012 5:00 PM
83 Comments
Someone pass me the aloe — I'm feeling burned just reading about the results of a new study by the Centers for Disease Control. Not only have half of adults under 30 had a sunburn in the last year, but about a third of white women between 18 and 21 admits to going tanning 20 times on average in a year. More »
(CBS DFW)
Why Not Just Stuff Vending Machines With Healthy Snacks Instead Of Junk?
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 9, 2012 4:00 PM
81 Comments
I remember an episode of My So-Called Life where Rayanne was trying to get an apple out of a vending machine at school and thinking, "That would be great. Why aren't there more healthy vending machines? I'd eat an apple with Jordan Catalano.* " Seems one school district in Dallas also saw that episode and is trying out just such an idea to promote healthy eating among its students. More »
People In 49 States Saw Significant Decline In Health Care Access During Last Decade
By Chris Morran on May 9, 2012 3:15 PM
66 Comments
During the previous decade, millions of Americans, regardless of whether they have insurance or not, found it increasingly more difficult to find — or afford — seeing the doctor or dentist, according to a new study from the folks at the Urban Institute. More »
FDA One Step Closer To Approving First Drug For HIV Prevention
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 9, 2012 1:00 PM
79 Comments
The battle against AIDS continues, with a favorable review by the Food and Drug Administration of a pill that has been used to treat HIV. The hope is that the pill could be used to prevent people from contracting the virus that causes AIDS. More »
BPI To Permanently Shut Down Three Of Four Pink Slime Plants
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 8, 2012 4:00 PM
85 Comments
The pink slime storm of controversy may have faded a bit since it hit in March, but the after-effects are still being felt. Beef Products Inc. announced that it will permanently close three processing plants this month, due to the ruckus over its meat product, according to a company official. More »
Health Care Fraud Prosecutions Up 78% Since Launch Of Affordable Care Act
By Chris Morran on May 8, 2012 1:33 PM
28 Comments
It's been more than two years since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, and while the Supreme Court mulls over the reform's future, a look back over the last couple years shows a sharp increase in health care-related criminal fraud charges. More »
(KitanaOR)
Could Eating Yogurt Give You A Slimmer, Sexier Swagger?
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 7, 2012 3:00 PM
52 Comments
It might be time to start stocking up on yogurt, if studies on mice are any indication of health benefits to humans. Scientists researching how probiotics fight obesity stumbled upon some unexpected results in mice — they got super sexy and had increased "swagger." Swagger as defined by researchers, that is. More »
(Scoboco)
Pill Smugglers Busted Because Powdered Baby Flesh Should Not Be Ingested
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 7, 2012 2:00 PM
61 Comments
Authorities in South Korea have seized thousands of smuggled drug capsules filled with a ghoulish ingredient — powdered flesh from dead babies. Some people believe that substance can cure disease, but health officials say the pills potentially contain harmful ingredients and bacteria. And yeah, human flesh. Ick. More »
Bioethicist: If We're Going To Tax Obese People More, We Should Tax Cat Owners Too
By Chris Morran on May 3, 2012 2:36 PM
216 Comments
A growing number of people believe that obese Americans should pay more in taxes than healthy folks since being overweight can put you at a higher risk for health problems. It's similar to the logic used to justify additional taxes on cigarettes. But bioethicist Art Caplan asks: Why not tax cat owners more while we're at it? More »
Apparently What The 2012 Olympic Games Needs Is The World's Largest McDonald's
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 2, 2012 12:00 PM
36 Comments
Nothing says athletes in peak physical condition like a Big Mac and large fries, right? As such, McDonald's is building the world's largest McDonald's restaurant in London's Olympic Park for the 2012 Olympics. No other brand name food will be sold at the Olympic Park. More »
About 30% Of American Workers Aren't Getting Enough Sleep
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 27, 2012 2:00 PM
42 Comments
Maybe you're not hurting anyone if you're slumbering peacefully at your desk in the middle of the workday, but for those who work the night shift in say, hospitals, warehouses or public transportation, getting enough sleep is extra important. A new study says 30% of American workers are sleep deprived, and are getting six or fewer hours of sleep a day. More »
Dentist Accused Of Offering Cash To UPS Employees To Let Him Perform Unnecessary Procedures
By Chris Morran on April 27, 2012 11:15 AM
39 Comments
Authorities in California say that a Sacramento dentist not only performed unnecessary procedures on patients in order to rack up huge payments from insurance companies, but that he also enticed UPS employees into undergoing unneeded work because the company's dental plan had no co-pay and no maximum dollar limit. More »
Between 36-122 Million Americans Have Pre-Existing Conditions That Would Restrict Health Insurance Coverage
By Chris Morran on April 26, 2012 4:37 PM
112 Comments
Health insurance providers have a long history of telling individual policyholders — and people shopping for individual policies — that their care isn't covered or their policy is voided because of a pre-existing condition. Starting in 2014, that is all supposed to stop when a condition of the Affordable Care Act kicks in, making it illegal for health insurers in the individual market to deny coverage, increase premiums, or restrict benefits because of a pre-existing condition. Question is: Just how many people are we talking about? More »
Bayer Says They've Paid Out $142 Million In Yasmin Birth Control Settlements So Far
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 26, 2012 3:00 PM
30 Comments
Bayer says they've been shelling out some serious dough, $142 million to be exact, to settle around 651 U.S. cases involving their Yasmin and Yaz birth control pills. Consumers in those cases allege that the pills caused blood clots, which can sometimes be fatal or lead to heart attacks and strokes. That's around $218,000 per woman, on average. More »
Report: Debt Collectors Work In Emergency Rooms, Demand Payment Before Patients Receive Care
By Chris Morran on April 24, 2012 5:35 PM
189 Comments
One of the nation's largest medical debt collection companies — already the subject of a lawsuit over alleged privacy violations — finds itself in more hot water as newly released documents claim that agency employees are actually working in hospital emergency rooms and sometimes demanding that patients pay up before they receive any further medical attention. More »
(gblahe)
USDA: "No Cause For Alarm" In California Mad Cow Case
By Chris Morran on April 24, 2012 4:45 PM
55 Comments
You may have heard that officials have confirmed one case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, better known by its headline-friendly nickname "mad cow disease," in California; the first such incident since 2006. And even though BSE can be fatal to humans that eat tainted meat, the USDA says they have found no cause for mass concern. More »
(dooley)
Would $81 For A Pack Of Cigarettes Put An End To Smoking?
By Chris Morran on April 24, 2012 3:30 PM
114 Comments
While lawmakers here in the U.S. have developed a habit in recent years of raising taxes on cigarettes as a way to curb smoking while increasing tax revenue from those who continue to inhale, officials in New Zealand are giving some thought to what they would need to charge in order to make people quit smoking once and for all. More »
It Could Happen: Scanning Food With Your Phone To See If It's Safe To Eat
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 24, 2012 12:00 PM
16 Comments
Sometimes you can't trust your eyeballs — what looks like a perfectly good apple could in fact be hiding a dark, rotting and festering secret at its core. So it would be kind of neat if someone were to say, invent an edible sensor for food that you could scan with your smartphone to see if it's safe to eat. More »
Thanks For Finally Figuring Out How Brain Freeze Works, Scientists!
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 23, 2012 4:00 PM
27 Comments
Brain freeze is nobody's friend — and there's no way we can slow down when it comes to eating ice cream, so it's one of those necessary evils. The science of the whole painful experience has alluded us for a long time, but now researchers claim they've gotten to the bottom of it. More »
College Instructor Accused Of Using Patients' X-Rays Without Permission
By Chris Morran on April 23, 2012 2:30 PM
33 Comments
When you go into a hospital, even for something as simple as a broken leg, you have an expectation that your documents are only to be used by your physicians and nurses. At the very least, you don't expect that your X-rays and records will end up being used — with no attempt made to hide your identity — in a college class. More »
(Pfau)
Doctors Skip The Whole Insurance Thing By Charging Monthly Retainers
By Chris Morran on April 23, 2012 12:15 PM
71 Comments
What if, instead of paying hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars each month for health insurance that you may not even be taking advantage of, you paid a retainer of somewhere between $39 to $79 a month to your primary care physician? Some doctors say this kind of service can work out to the benefit of both caregiver and patient. More »
Don't Mind Pictures Of Icky Fish: FDA Declares Gulf Seafood Safe To Eat
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 20, 2012 2:00 PM
47 Comments
Despite photos of fish with sores or other unappetizing marks on them from the Gulf of Mexico, the Food and Drug Administration's Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory says seafood is safe to eat, two years after the BP oil spill. More »
Throw Out That Toupee: Researchers Successfully Grow Hair On A Bald Mouse
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 19, 2012 5:00 PM
25 Comments
Has your bare pate led you to extreme measures, perhaps shoplifting Rogaine? Stop your life of crime and toss your hat in celebration — scientists have successfully grown hair on a bald mouse. Humans can't be too far behind, right? More »
(Commonwealth Fund)
26% Of Working-Age Americans Went Without Health Insurance In 2011
By Chris Morran on April 19, 2012 4:15 PM
113 Comments
Having health insurance is not only too often tied to having a full-time job, it also usually requires that you be in that job for weeks or months before coverage kicks in. So with so many Americans either without staff jobs or starting work for a new employer, it's perhaps not surprising that a new study claims that 26% of working-age people in the U.S. went without coverage at some point in 2011. More »
(eviloars)
Higher Cigarette Taxes Drove Smokers To Pipe Tobacco & Cigars
By Chris Morran on April 18, 2012 4:30 PM
58 Comments
Among the intended goals of higher taxes on cigarettes is that some smokers will quit rather than deal with the increased cost. While this may happen, newly released numbers show that taxing cigarettes also drove up the sales of forms of tobacco that are taxed at lower rates. More »
Fort Worth Doesn't Want To Hire Any Smokers To Work For The City
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 17, 2012 4:00 PM
148 Comments
A smoke-free working environment? Sure, sounds good. But a workplace entirely devoid of smokers themselves? Not so good, say city employees in Fort Worth, where lawmakers are pushing to put a ban on hiring smokers. More »
Consumer Groups Ask FDA To Stop This "Corn Sugar" Silliness Already
By Chris Morran on April 17, 2012 12:45 PM
73 Comments
It's been nearly two years since the Corn Refiners Association began running ads referring to High Fructose Corn Syrup as "corn sugar," in spite of the fact that the Food & Drug Administration hadn't yet approved this name change for food labels. The FDA still hasn't gotten around to making a decision on the matter, and a number of consumer groups are tired of waiting for a decision. More »
Man Sues Hospital Where He Was Born For Circumcising Him 28 Years Ago
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 17, 2012 12:00 PM
329 Comments
A prison inmate in South Dakota just became aware that what he has down there was tampered with as a newborn. He's not happy that he was circumcised 28 years ago, and is now suing the hospital where he was born, claiming the procedure robbed him of his sexual prowess. More »
(ash)
Georgia Welfare Recipients Will Have To Pass Drug Test
By Chris Morran on April 16, 2012 4:20 PM
255 Comments
Almost six months after a federal judge halted similar legislation in Florida, the governor of Georgia has signed off on a new regulation that will require certain welfare recipients to pay for and pass a drug test. More »
Are Over-The-Counter Bug Bite Treatments Useless?
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 16, 2012 10:00 AM
46 Comments
Trying to ease that itch after a muggy night outside with hungry mosquitos? Reaching for the anti-itch cream you got at the drugstore might not do much for you, according to a new report that looked at the over-the-counter remedies we most often pick up for bug bites. More »
Beaver Anal Gland Sacs & Other Weird Stuff You've Probably Eaten
By Paul Eng on April 12, 2012 1:30 PM
55 Comments
All the talk about "pink slime" had us wondering, "What other weird things have we been eating?!" While the answers provided by the foodies at Consumer Reports often didn't come with illustrative names such as pink slime, it did leave us a better bit informed — and a lot less hungry! More »
Researcher Says A Bit Of Beer May Help Creative Problem-Solving
By Chris Morran on April 11, 2012 4:30 PM
35 Comments
Science usually plays the role of wet blanket when it comes to the topic of how alcohol affects the human body. But a researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago says that downing a couple brewskis may actually improve one's creative problem-solving abilities. More »
(ronnyg)
Seattle Makes It Illegal For Businesses To Tell Breastfeeding Moms To Cover Up Or Move
By Chris Morran on April 11, 2012 2:30 PM
150 Comments
While many states, including Washington, have laws that allow for breastfeeding moms to nurse in public without being hassled, some of those regulations are not clear on whether or not this protection extends to places like restaurant interiors or even offices. Thus, Seattle has made its stance clear: It is illegal for a business to ask a nursing mom to cover up or move elsewhere. More »
Study: Obese Moms Birth Kids With Greater Risk Of Autism
By Phil Villarreal on April 11, 2012 8:45 AM
106 Comments
Science continues to scramble for reasons that children become autistic. The latest straw to which researchers are grasping is that children whose mothers were obese during pregnancy have an increased risk of autism. More »
Jury Awards $34 Million To Alzheimer's Patient After Insurance Company Cuts Off Care
By Chris Morran on April 10, 2012 2:15 PM
64 Comments
A jury in Montana awarded a monster of a verdict to a 90-year-old woman with Alzheimer's Disease after her insurance company cancelled her long-term care policy because it decided she didn't actually need the level of medical care she was receiving. More »
Should Hospitals Stop Giving Out Free Samples Of Baby Formula To New Moms?
By Chris Morran on April 9, 2012 9:30 AM
122 Comments
It can be hard to turn your nose up at anything that's offered for free. But are hospitals doing more harm than good when they give out free samples of brand-name baby formula to mothers of newborn babies? More »
When You Need To Send Arizona Lawmakers A Message, Say It With Knit Uteruses
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 6, 2012 2:00 PM
117 Comments
Nothing says "I hate your proposal" better than packages full of knitted uteruses (uteri?) with googly eyes delivered to the offices of more than a dozen Arizona state lawmakers. That was the medium of choice used to send a message from opponents of a proposal to severely limit birth control coverage. More »
Aetna Hikes Health Insurance Rates For California Small Businesses
By Phil Villarreal on April 6, 2012 9:15 AM
55 Comments
Health insurer Aetna has raised its rates for California small business clients considerably, making for an average increase of 8 percent, with some businesses seeing increases of as much as 21 percent. The California State Insurance Commissioner called the hikes "excessive." More »
How To Tell If An Egg Is Still Good Enough To Eat
By Phil Villarreal on April 6, 2012 8:45 AM
50 Comments
Your Friday may not be so good if you eat a bad egg. If you've dug up some old eggs in the refrigerator and no longer have the expiration date handy, you'll face the decision of whether to throw out your eggs or try your luck by cooking them. More »
FDA Memo: Sushi Salmonella Suspected Of Sickening 90
By Phil Villarreal on April 4, 2012 9:15 AM
53 Comments
According to an internal memo that was sent around the Food and Drug Administration offices, a salmonella outbreak that's spread throughout sushi restaurants in 19 states and the District of Columbia could be responsible for making at least 90 people sick. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the outbreak, which has sent seven people to the hospital. More »
If You're Having A Baby, Expect Sticker Shock
By Phil Villarreal on April 2, 2012 9:45 AM
105 Comments
Those little bundles of joy parents spawn don't come cheap. Babies begin shaking you down for money months before they even pop out, and many don't quit even after they've graduated college. More »
Tobacco Companies Required To Report Levels Of Dozens Of Chemicals
By Chris Morran on March 30, 2012 1:15 PM
25 Comments
The Food & Drug Administration says there are more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco and tobacco smoke. And now the FDA says consumers have a right to know about the levels of 93 harmful or potentially harmful chemicals that are in the products they smoke and/or chew. More »
(opacity)
Government Report Says Inactivity And Obesity Are Linked To Cancer Risks
By Phil Villarreal on March 30, 2012 9:15 AM
33 Comments
According to a government report, a lack of exercise and excess weight can make you more vulnerable to as many as a third of the most common cancers in the United States. Tobacco use is the only prevalent risk factor that leads to more preventable diseases and deaths. More »
Beef Company Insists Pink Slime Doesn't Exist, While Critics Say It Ain't Ground Beef
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 28, 2012 11:00 AM
151 Comments
The makers of the ground beef filler we all know now as "pink slime" aren't taking this nickname lying down. After losing business from grocery stores, Beef Products Inc. is fighting back in the media, insisting pink slime isn't even a real thing. Opponents of the stuff are firing right back. More »
Study: Pharmacies Lie To Teens About Legal Age To Get Emergency Contraception
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 27, 2012 3:00 PM
93 Comments
It's legal for 17-year-olds to go to the pharmacy and buy emergency contraception like Plan B, but that isn't stopping pharmacy workers from lying to teens and telling them they're too young for it, says an undercover survey included in a new study. More »
Best Study Ever: Eat Chocolate Every Day & Shed Pounds?
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 27, 2012 1:00 PM
45 Comments
Like something the cartoon character Cathy might dream up when she's despairing over trying on bikinis, a new study has found a link between frequent chocolate consumption and weight loss. This is akin to someone announcing that you will get paid to sleep. Life changing. More »
Health Care Reform Makes Its Supreme Court Debut Today
By Chris Morran on March 26, 2012 8:15 AM
123 Comments
When the president signed the Affordable Care Act into law, it was pretty clear that the legislation would ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. And now, two years later, the Supremes will be hearing its first arguments on the matter. More »
(afagen)
Court Orders FDA To Investigate Use Of Antibiotics In Animal Feed
By Chris Morran on March 23, 2012 11:15 AM
31 Comments
Back in 1977, the FDA proposed a ban on putting penicillin and other antibiotics in animal feed solely for the purpose of promoting growth. Amazingly, that proposal has been gathering dust long enough to begin losing its hair and regretting its life choices. That is until yesterday, when a federal court ordered the FDA to finish what it started 35 years ago. More »
House Votes To Cap Malpractice Damages
By Chris Morran on March 22, 2012 3:45 PM
51 Comments
While the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next week over the constitutionality of the nearly two-year-old health-care reform package, members of Congress have been busy trying to chip away at the legislation. More »
Sponsor of Arizona's "Why Are You On Birth Control?" Bill Amending It
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 21, 2012 4:00 PM
149 Comments
The state representative who was sponsoring a bill that would let employers ask why female employees are on the pill, and then decide whether or not they'd pay for it based on the answer, says she's doing a bit of amending. She's claiming we all just misunderstood the controversial parts. Oh, of course. More »
Safeway To Stop Selling Ground Beef That Contains "Pink Slime"
By Chris Morran on March 21, 2012 2:15 PM
43 Comments
It's been a bad year for "lean finely textured beef," better known by the less-tasty moniker "pink slime." The ammonia-treated beef trimmings that have been used as ground beef filler for decades is quickly becoming a pariah at U.S. grocery stores like Safeway, which has announced it will no longer sell the stuff. More »
(am07)
Sugar & High Fructose Corn Syrup Fighting Over Which Is Worse For You
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 20, 2012 5:00 PM
62 Comments
Sugar and high fructose corn syrup — both have been associated with health problems like obesity and diabetes. But they sugar doesn't want to belong to any kind of club with its rival, and in fact, the sugar industry has filed a lawsuit accusing the corn industry of false advertising. More »
Believe It Or Not, People Want More Oversight Of Implanted Medical Devices
By Chris Morran on March 20, 2012 11:30 AM
41 Comments
It seems almost silly to think that anyone would want to scale back the amount of regulatory control on the safety of medical devices, and a new poll shows that an overwhelming number of Americans believe in strong oversight of these products. Yet members of the House and Senate are considering legislation that could allow potentially unsafe items to hit the market. More »
Appeals Court Rules Graphic Cigarette Labels Don't Violate Free Speech
By Chris Morran on March 20, 2012 11:15 AM
37 Comments
The latest battle over those graphic anti-smoking labels on cigarette packaging has been won by the FDA, after a federal appeals court ruled yesterday that requiring the warnings does not violate tobacco companies' First Amendment right to free speech. More »
Doctors Insist Woman With 24-Pound Tumor Is Just Pregnant
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 19, 2012 1:00 PM
79 Comments
In a story that seems like the exact opposite of those shows where women don't think they're pregnant and yet, oops, out comes a baby, a woman in Barcelona was pretty darn sure she wasn't pregnant, and yet doctors insisted she was. Really, she had a 24-pound cancerous uterine tumor. More »
There Are Enough Oranges For Your Morning Squeeze So Stop Stressing
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 19, 2012 10:00 AM
20 Comments
Remember when fungicides from Brazil and other orange-producing countries was going around tainting loads of juice and everyone was freaking out like, "Argh, now where will I get my Vitamin C from?!?!?" ? Don't worry, guys. The government says there won't be a shortage of the beloved citrus. So calm down. More »
Study: Eat White Rice, Up Your Risk Of Suffering Type 2 Diabetes
By Phil Villarreal on March 19, 2012 9:00 AM
77 Comments
If you're concerned about contracting type 2 diabetes, you may want to consider laying off white rice. That's according to Harvard School of Public Health researchers, who released a study that collected data from loads of other research to posit that people whose diets rely on white rice tend to be more at risk of being diagnosed with the condition. More »
Nutrients That Make You More Fertile
By Phil Villarreal on March 14, 2012 3:15 PM
24 Comments
Superstition and junk science will recommend all sorts of foods to aid in female fertility. Although anecdotal evidence suggests that some of these will work, the best way for to increase your babymaking capabilities is probably to eat healthily. More »
Billboard Warns Processed Meat Lovers: Hot Dogs Are Bad For Your Butt
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 14, 2012 1:00 PM
55 Comments
Baseball's Opening Day is upon us, the weather is warming up enough so that the smell of grilled meats is already wafting on the air, and yet a billboard in Chicago decides it's a great time for a wiener buzzkill, warning, "Hot Dogs Cause Butt Cancer." Sigh, health experts. Big ol' sigh to you for ruining everything with your serious health messages. More »
How To Call In Sick And Not Make Your Boss Suspicious
By Phil Villarreal on March 13, 2012 11:15 AM
85 Comments
When you call in sick, you may feel as though you're letting the world down and the office will collapse without you. But you're really doing everyone a favor when you stay home, protecting them from exposure to your illness while sparing the office from your mediocre, exhaustion-spawned work. Once you decide you're going to accept your homebound plight, you've got to confront the dreaded task of calling in. More »
(Neil101)
Study: Stairs Are Toddlers' Public Enemy Number One
By Phil Villarreal on March 13, 2012 9:00 AM
68 Comments
Parents who think it's adorable to let their toddlers wobbly amble up and down stairs are putting their kids at risk of severe injury. A study shows that stairs sent children under age 5 to the emergency room 931,000 times between 1998 and 2008. More »
Insurer Sells Couple The Wrong Policy. Is An Apology Enough?
By Chris Morran on March 8, 2012 5:03 PM
90 Comments
More than two years ago, a Florida couple called up a supplemental insurance provider to take out a disability coverage plan in case the wife became pregnant. Her work doesn't cover maternity leave, but the policy would help pay the bills while cared for the child. That is, if the insurer had sold them the correct policy. More »
Coke Clarifies That It Is Not Changing Its Recipe In Wake Of Study
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 8, 2012 2:00 PM
22 Comments
Quit your whining, Coca-Cola aficionados — the company is not changing its recipe for Coke after a consumer group study claimed the caramel color they use causes cancer. While they're disputing the study, they are also clarifying that they're just asking caramel suppliers to modify their processes in making the color. More »
Mislabeled Medication From Target Prescribes Five Times The Dose For Child
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 7, 2012 12:00 PM
55 Comments
Just because a medication comes from the pharmacist, that doesn't mean you shouldn't double check the label carefully, as one mother recently discovered. After she read over the dosage instructions on a medication from Target for her sick 18-month-old, she realized it was way too high. More »
Don't Be Seduced By Discounts On Brand-Name Drugs
By Chris Morran on March 7, 2012 11:15 AM
22 Comments
Nearly 19 million Americans took advantage of a coupon or manufacturer's discount on prescriptions last year. But what many of those people may not have known is that, while they did pay less for brand name pills, they could have gotten a generic for even less. More »
Drug Stores To Start Selling Male Fertility Kits For Home Testing
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 6, 2012 12:00 PM
31 Comments
Any man who wants to become a father but doesn't want to have to deal with going in for a doctor's visit to check on his swimmers will now have an alternative to that experience, as drug stores will start selling an over-the-counter fertility kit next month. More »
(Billogs)
Weighing The Costs Of Birth Control Options
By Phil Villarreal on March 6, 2012 9:30 AM
267 Comments
With the issue of birth control and who should pay for it becoming quite the hot button issue of late, it's a good a time as any to compare the costs of some of the more popular contraception methods. More »
(kmacp)
Packages Of Meat Will Now Contain Labels With Nutritional Information
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 2, 2012 10:00 AM
21 Comments
For those of you who ever wondered how much fat was going into your body after downing a few burgers at the cookout, or how many calories are in that gigantor T-bone steak, you'll be glad to know nutritional labels will now be on almost all packaged meat products. More »
CDC Says Processed Foods Are Making Kids Fat
By Phil Villarreal on March 1, 2012 9:15 AM
54 Comments
A major reason more than a third of American children are struggling with obesity is the copious amount of sugar they take in every day, with processed foods providing a significant share. That's the opinion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that sugars made up 16.3 percent of boys' calorie intake and 15.5 percent of that of girls. The CDC recommends that kids' discretionary calorie intake be 15 percent or lower. More »
(dooley)
Scientists Find Women Can Produce New Eggs After All
By Phil Villarreal on March 1, 2012 8:15 AM
26 Comments
Health class taught you that women were born with all the eggs they'd ever have throughout their lives, but science has cast doubt on that supposition. New research finds that women can make new eggs throughout their reproductive years, thanks to stem cells in ovaries. More »
Judge: Graphic Cigarette Warning Labels Violate Right To Free Speech
By Chris Morran on February 29, 2012 4:18 PM
93 Comments
Remember those graphic, sometimes gory, cigarette warning labels the FDA came up with? Well, a U.S. District Judge has sided with the tobacco companies and ruled that the warnings violate cigarette-makers' right to free speech. More »
(DQD)
Doctor Accused Of Billing Medicare $375 Million For Nonexistent Treatments
By Chris Morran on February 29, 2012 11:15 AM
35 Comments
It's one thing to sneak a few hundred — or even a few thousand — dollars under the federal government's radar. But how in the world did a Texas doctor allegedly manage to bilk the feds out of almost $375 million in bogus Medicare claims in only five years? More »
FDA Adds Diabetes & Memory Loss Warnings To Statins
By Chris Morran on February 28, 2012 3:44 PM
28 Comments
Widely used cholesterol-lowering statin drugs like Lipitor (atorvastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Simcor (simvastatin/niacin extended-release), Vytorin (simvastatin/ezetimibe) and many others will now have additional warnings on their packaging, according to an announcement from the Food & Drug Administration. More »
Raw Milk From PA Now Linked To At Least 78 Illnesses
By Chris Morran on February 27, 2012 10:30 AM
93 Comments
Here is some news that will definitely stoke the debate over the safety of drinking unpasteurized milk. The number of raw milk drinkers that have fallen ill from tainted milk sold by one Pennsylvania farm has now hit at least 78 people in four states. More »
McDonald's Location Introduces Digital Kiosk To Tell Customers Exactly What They're Eating
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 24, 2012 3:00 PM
24 Comments
Sure, you're eating at a fast food joint, but that doesn't necessarily mean you want to go for broke and pack in as many calories as you can. For those health conscious diners at one McDonald's location in North Texas, perusing the nutritional info for each menu on the item will be a lot easier with the digital kiosk the franchise owner has installed. More »
If You Have These Symptoms, You May Be Having A Heart Attack
By Phil Villarreal on February 23, 2012 9:15 AM
40 Comments
Some people who suffer heart attacks — especially young women — don't realize what's happening because they think they're safe from the deadly ailment and the symptoms aren't what they expected. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, some women tend not to recognize heart attacks because they weren't accompanied by chest pain. More »
FDA Green Lights Imports Of Cancer Drugs To Ease Shortages
By Phil Villarreal on February 22, 2012 8:45 AM
8 Comments
Of all the agonies that confront cancer patients, an unnecessary shortage of drugs they need must be among the more frustrating. The Food and Drug Administration is showing some compassion for the sick by easing import rules for two crucial cancer drugs in order to bulk up supply. More »
More People Are Dying Of Hepatitis C
By Phil Villarreal on February 21, 2012 10:15 AM
25 Comments
Hepatitis C, a sometimes deadly disease that attacks the liver, is claiming more victims and seems to be particularly dangerous to those born between the years 1945 and 1965 — the age group in which the majority of victims fall. Health officials suggest those born between those years should have their blood checked to see if they're affected. More »
The FDA Wants To Make Sure Inhalable Caffeine Canisters Are Safe Before You Huff
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 21, 2012 10:00 AM
59 Comments
We already make jokes about being so addicted to caffeine we need a constant IV drip in order to function, so now that a company is making an inhalable form of the beloved substance, the Food and Drug Administration is preparing to check into things just to make sure it's safe for consumers to go huffing away at it. More »
Smooth Out Dry, Scaly Skin On Elbows And Knees
By Phil Villarreal on February 20, 2012 1:00 PM
62 Comments
Cold temperatures and dry air can leave your elbows and knees discolored and as rough as sandpaper, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. But there are home remedies you can try to spring yourself from the prison of chapped skin around your joints. More »
What To Look For In A Toothbrush
By Phil Villarreal on February 20, 2012 11:30 AM
40 Comments
There are better ways to shop for toothbrushes than color, price or most convincing marketing buzzword on the packaging. We recommend taking advice from a dental insurer, figuring that those in that line of work would rather take your premiums while subsidizing as few root canals and cavity fillings as possible. More »
(Iog)
Do Those Around You A Favor By Washing Your Hands The Right Way
By Phil Villarreal on February 20, 2012 10:30 AM
77 Comments
Spend any amount of time in a public restroom and you'll encounter some incredibly fast hand-washers. A typical ritual includes an optional dab of soap, a millisecond-long sprinkle of water and a cursory wipe on a paper towel. You can not only set a good example for others but actually get the nastiness off your hands and refuse to spread it to everything you touch by making it a point to wash your hands effectively. More »
Steps To Cut Costs For Glasses And Contacts
By Phil Villarreal on February 20, 2012 9:30 AM
91 Comments
It can be expensive to keep your sight straight. Thankfully there are ways to keep down the costs for glasses or contact lenses. More »
FDA Will Give Another Look To Weight Loss Pill Said To Cause Birth Defects, Heart Problems
By Phil Villarreal on February 20, 2012 9:00 AM
47 Comments
Qnexa, a diet pill that some researchers say increases risks of birth defects and heart problems, is getting a second shot at making its way to the market. After rejecting the drug in 2010, the Food and Drug Administration will review Qnexa again Wednesday. More »
(ABC News)
Faulty Battery Likely To Blame For Electric Cigarette Exploding In Man's Mouth
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 16, 2012 2:00 PM
57 Comments
Puffing away on an electric cigarette is viewed by many as a healthier option than the traditional tobacco smoke stick, but in the case of one Florida man the e-cigarette turned out to be pretty darn dangerous to his health too, after it exploded in his mouth. More »
Indianapolis Measles Outbreak Traced Back To Super Bowl Village
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 16, 2012 10:00 AM
42 Comments
Bringing in travelers from afar, or even just other cities, has proved that anyone is vulnerable to diseases during large events. And what's bigger than the Super Bowl? Unfortunately for this year's host state, Indiana is in the midst of battling a major measles outbreak after the big game between the Giants and the Patriots. More »
(FOX5)
Man Suffers Heart Attack At The Unfortunately Named Heart Attack Grill
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 15, 2012 2:00 PM
84 Comments
Unfortunately for one man in Las Vegas, a restaurant lived up to its name quite literally. While dining out on a "Triple Bypass Burger," a man suffered a heart attack at The Heart Attack Grill over the weekend. More »
Got Lipstick? There's Probably Some Lead In It
By Chris Morran on February 15, 2012 8:45 AM
32 Comments
Back in 2007, the Food & Drug Administration did a small sample test on 33 lipsticks and found varying levels of lead in two-thirds of them. As a follow-up, the FDA requested testing of a significantly larger sampling and has now announced that it found at least trace amounts of lead in 400 varieties. More »
How To Reduce Eye Strain While You Read, Work And Watch
By Phil Villarreal on February 13, 2012 8:30 AM
27 Comments
You spend all day at work staring at a computer monitor. Then you come home and relax by glaring at a TV screen or squinting at a book or laptop. That sort of routine doesn't give your eyes much of a break, so it helps to take measures to make things easier on your beleaguered peepers. More »
(nateone)
White House Tweaks Rule Requiring Employers To Cover Birth Control
By Chris Morran on February 10, 2012 2:15 PM
247 Comments
Late last month, the Obama administration angered some people when it announced that all employers — regardless of their stance on birth control — would need to provide insurance that covers female preventative care. Today, the President said his people had come up with a compromise that he believes will provide birth control while allowing businesses to not be directly responsible for providing it. More »
Study: Driving While Stoned Is Very Dangerous, But Not As Risky As Drunk Driving
By Chris Morran on February 10, 2012 1:30 PM
77 Comments
You might have a friend — or you might even be that person — who swears that they actually drive better after smoking a bit of marijuana (I believe the kids call it "reefer"); that it clears their head and helps them focus. But a new study confirms what many people had probably already guessed: that smoking pot and driving isn't exactly a good idea. More »
(cavale)
Save Money On Medical Bills By Questioning Charges
By Phil Villarreal on February 10, 2012 11:15 AM
60 Comments
When you open up a medical bill your'e usually not stunned by how little the doctor is charging you. Inflated charges, which seem to be the norm in the industry, would be laughable if their implications weren't so crushing. But an invoice doesn't have to be the amount you end up paying. More »
Scientists Find Cancer Drug Can Put Alzheimer's On The Ropes In Mice
By Phil Villarreal on February 10, 2012 9:15 AM
28 Comments
Researchers continue to deliver promising news for patients stricken with Alzheimer's disease. Months after scientists found that an insulin nasal spray slowed the disease's progression, there's evidence that a skin cancer drug managed to reverse the disease in mice. More »
Here Is What The New Health Insurance Labels Will Look Like
By Chris Morran on February 9, 2012 2:02 PM
26 Comments
Back in August, we told you about how the Dept. of Health & Human Services was finalizing a template for new health insurance labels that would attempt to make it clear what a potential customer was buying and what sort of coverage they would receive. More »
Finding Cheap Dental Care Without Insurance
By Phil Villarreal on February 9, 2012 11:15 AM
63 Comments
A lack of dental insurance is no excuse not to take care of your teeth. If you haven't visited the dentist in a while due to a lack of coverage, know that delaying your inevitable reconciliation with the mouth gods will only give you more severe problems to deal with once you finally go back. More »
Weak Flu Season May Still Ramp Up And Get You Yet
By Phil Villarreal on February 9, 2012 8:45 AM
17 Comments
If you've managed to avoid contracting the flu so far, don't start getting cocky just yet. The typical flu season kicks into full force in February and March, so there may still be a nasty virus floating out there with your name on it. More »
Lawmakers Announce Legislation To Set Limits On Arsenic & Lead In Fruit Juice
By Chris Morran on February 8, 2012 4:08 PM
49 Comments
In the wake of a recent Consumer Reports investigation that found high levels of arsenic and lead in a number of fruit juices, Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey and Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro today announced the "Arsenic Prevention and Protection from Lead Exposure in Juice (APPLE Juice) Act of 2012," which would require the Food and Drug Administration to set standards for arsenic and lead in fruit juices. More »
Pet Owners May Be In Denial But Study Says Rover Isn't Big-Boned, He's Fat
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 8, 2012 1:00 PM
166 Comments
It's time to stop burying your head in the litter box, pet owners — Fluffy isn't pleasantly plump and Fido isn't just lovably pudgy. America's pets, like its people, are struggling with rising rates of obesity, say veterinarians, tipping the scales into chubbytown at a hefty percentage. More »
(CDC)
There's More Sodium In Your Bread Than In Your Chips... Well, Maybe
By Chris Morran on February 7, 2012 3:15 PM
69 Comments
It's American Heart Month (some sort of Valentine's-related synergy, we suppose) so the Centers for Disease Control has issued its latest report on how much sodium — a big contributor to high blood pressure — we're eating and where we're getting it from. More »
(Shippensburg Univ.)
Should More Schools Have Plan B Contraceptive Available From Vending Machines?
By Chris Morran on February 7, 2012 11:15 AM
182 Comments
Pennsylvania's Shippensburg University is making headlines across the country today after newspapers and TV stations picked up an AP story about the school offering Plan B emergency contraceptive (you can also call it levonorgestrel if you're not into brand names) via a vending machine in the school's health center. More »
Walmart Is Going To Tell You Straight Up Which Foods Are Healthy
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 7, 2012 10:00 AM
85 Comments
In case you aren't sure whether spinach is good for you, or maybe those pork rinds are trying to convince you they're healthy, Walmart is spelling it out plainly with a new logo. They're introducing a "Great For You" icon, which will be displayed on some food items in its aisles, in an attempt to convince shoppers they want you to eat healthy and save money while you're at it. More »
(birdarts)
What To Do When Mercury Hits The Floor
By Phil Villarreal on February 6, 2012 11:15 AM
111 Comments
If you break a thermometer or compact fluorescent light bulb, you're suddenly dealing with a contamination hazard. Cleanup requires more care than simply sweeping it up and throwing it away, and you need to be thorough in order to avoid being poisoned. More »
Environmental Protection Agency Says Beach Sand Can Make You Sick
By Phil Villarreal on February 6, 2012 9:00 AM
27 Comments
The beach has all sorts of ways to punish you for daring to relax and enjoy life. The sun can burn you and give you cancer, while the water can drown and poison you. Then there's the sand, which can contain pathogens that make you feel like a Patriots fan the day after yet another crushing Super Bowl humiliation at the hands of the Giants. More »
(20 buckz)
The Art Of Making Public Restroom Breaks Less Icky
By Phil Villarreal on February 6, 2012 8:00 AM
96 Comments
Practicing solid bathroom hygiene is a great way to keep from getting sick, and doing so is especially important when using heavily trafficked, rarely cleaned public lavatories. The nastier the bathroom, the more unique the health challenges they present. More »
New Legislation Would Pad Health Insurance Coffers While Screwing Over Consumers
By Chris Morran on February 3, 2012 4:15 PM
86 Comments
As part of the Affordable Care Act, health insurers must spend at least 80% of the money they earn from premiums on actually providing health care, with the remaining cash used to cover all administrative, advertising and payroll costs. Those insurers with plans that don't follow this ratio are soon supposed to start giving the extra money back in refunds and discounts. But new legislation introduced in the Senate this week could jeopardize this, while giving insurance companies even more money to stick in their dog pillows. More »
At Least 35 People Ill After Drinking Raw Milk
By Chris Morran on February 3, 2012 1:15 PM
106 Comments
Unpasteurized, aka "raw," milk is illegal to sell in a number of states because of concerns about possible pathogen contamination. Of course, those bans also tend to make raw milk a sought-after delicacy for those who believe that pasteurization has a negative effect on the taste and nutritional value of milk. But in the last few weeks, at least 35 people in four states have become ill after consuming the unpasteurized stuff. More »
Komen Foundation Reverses Decision On Planned Parenthood
By Chris Morran on February 3, 2012 12:15 PM
149 Comments
Earlier this week, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation announced a rule change that would cut off funding it had provided to Planned Parenthood to pay for breast exams. After a massive public outcry regarding this decision, the foundation today decided it had maybe made a mistake. More »
Scientists Suggest Restricting Sugar Sales For Youngsters
By Chris Morran on February 2, 2012 4:15 PM
93 Comments
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 »
(RickDrew)
Settlement Says It's Not Okay To Use Models In Short Skirts To Recruit Bone Marrow Donors
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 2, 2012 3:00 PM
35 Comments
Sex sells, which is why models in skimpy outfits sell consumers on the merits of everything from cars to web domain companies. But a Massachusetts settlement says skin gimmicks and free gifts shouldn't be used to recruit potential bone marrow donors. More »
(phirleh)
Feds Fight Big Tobacco Over Graphic Anti-Smoking Labels
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 2, 2012 12:00 PM
52 Comments
Cigarette makers appear to be winning the legal battle against the federal government's requirement that large graphic images of the consequences of smoking be displayed on all packages of cigarettes. The rule was supposed to take effect next year, but a U.S. District judge has put that plan on hold until the issue is resolved. More »
No Matter How Great Those Super Bowl Commercials Are, Don't Forget To Pee
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 1, 2012 5:00 PM
48 Comments
We know you don't want to look up the Super Bowl commercials on the Internet the day after, that's how dedicated you are to viewing each and every one when they air, but please, for the love of your urinary tract, don't forget to get up and pee at some point. More »
Control Your Weight By Recording What You Eat
By Phil Villarreal on January 30, 2012 11:30 AM
48 Comments
If it seems as though you're eating right but the weight isn't coming off, one explanation could be that you're overlooking some food splurges you're making. If you're sticking to a calorie count in an effort to maintain or lose weight, one little snack binge can throw you off track. More »
Tips For Working While You're Sick
By Phil Villarreal on January 30, 2012 8:00 AM
87 Comments
When you show up to work sick, your colleagues probably see you less as an iron man than an inconsiderate outbreak monkey. But it's not always realistic to call in sick whenever you've got the sniffles, so you'll often find yourself plugging through the work day at less than full strength. More »
Study: Sugar & HFCS Not As Identical As Some Would Have You Believe
By Chris Morran on January 27, 2012 2:15 PM
74 Comments
While the corn industry waits on the FDA to decide whether or not it can have high fructose corn sugar (HFCS) relabeled with the marketing-friendly "corn sugar" label, it continues to push home its assertion that the human body reacts the same, whether the sweetener is HFCS or table sugar. But a new study claims that just isn't the case. More »
((Mon1ca))
House Republicans Are In Favor Of Ads That Make Your Child Harass You Into Buying Junk Food
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 26, 2012 5:00 PM
224 Comments
Tossing that box of Lucky Charms back on the shelf at the grocery store after your kid tried to sneak it into the cart is going to be a lot harder, if House Republicans have their way. They're on the side of food companies that don't want the White House telling them to stop marketing sugary cereal and junk foods to kids. More »
FTC Finally Permanently Shuts Down Fake News Sites Shilling For Acai Berries
By Maggie Shader on January 26, 2012 3:30 PM
23 Comments
It was nine months ago that the Federal Trade Commission announced its crackdown on companies that created sites aimed to look like news reports that were really just advertisements for supplements and other weight loss products made from acai berries. Now, as part of a settlement agreement, six online marketers will permanently stop the deceptive practice. More »
Cut Carbs With These Food Substitutions
By Phil Villarreal on January 26, 2012 2:15 PM
75 Comments
If you're trying to lose weight by cutting down on carbohydrates, you don't necessarily need to alter your diet drastically. By swapping out carb-rich ingredients in favor of low or no-carb stuff with similar shapes, tastes and textures, you can stick to your plan without much sacrifice. More »
(tjean314)
Consumer Reports Investigates: Dangerous Infections More Likely In Pediatric ICUs
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 26, 2012 11:00 AM
22 Comments
Some shocking news from our serious siblings at Consumer Reports. They analyzed 92 pediatric ICUs across the country in a new investigation, and found that only five percent of those earned their highest Rating for preventing dangerous and sometimes deadly hospital-acquired central-line bloodstream infections. More »
(Jenn W)
Reasons To Eat Orange Peels Rather Than Trash Them
By Phil Villarreal on January 23, 2012 1:15 PM
66 Comments
Orange-eaters who dismiss the peels in favor of the good stuff within are missing out on some considerable bonus health benefits. Peels may not taste as good as slices, but there are reasons to get tough and gobble them up rather than throw them away. More »
(HHS.gov)
Consumers Union To Government Agency: Don't Delay Consumer-Friendly Wisconsin Health Insurance Provision
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 20, 2012 3:00 PM
40 Comments
Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of our benevolent benefactors at Consumer Reports, is urging the Department of Health and Human Services not to delay a consumer-friendly health insurance provision in Wisconsin. The delay could result in a loss of over $13 million rebates or lower insurance premiums to residents. More »
Study: No Amount Of Boozing Is Safe For Pregnant Women
By Phil Villarreal on January 19, 2012 8:15 AM
126 Comments
The medical consensus holds that pregnant women need to stop drinking in order to avoid harming their babies, but some conventional wisdom and myths temper that advice with the understanding that an occasional drink is OK. The latter line of thinking — reflected half-mockingly in the latest episode of Justified — is false and potentially dangerous, according to a University of California San Diego study. More »
Get Rid Of Screen Glare In A Flash
By Phil Villarreal on January 17, 2012 10:15 AM
20 Comments
If you're in a line of work that forces you to stare at a screen for hours a day, glare can wear on you. To avoid headaches, eye strain and other irritations, you'll need to take steps to eliminate glare. More »
Ways In Which Beer Can Be Good For You
By Phil Villarreal on January 17, 2012 9:00 AM
47 Comments
While the drawbacks of booze swilling are well-known and extensively chronicled, there are also upsides to drinking beer. No one is calling beer a health drink, but suds apparently aren't all bad for you. More »
(katbert)
It's OK To Salvage Moldy Cheese, Except When It Isn't
By Phil Villarreal on January 16, 2012 12:15 PM
84 Comments
Some frugal practices cross the invisible line of self-destruction. Take moldy cheese. Or leave it. Some conventional wisdom dictates you should throw out the entire block if you spot any nastiness, while many foodies will tell you you're OK if you amputate the moldy part. Either school of thought can be correct, depending on the cheese. More »
How Going To HR Made A Health Insurance Co-Pay Hike Less Huge
By Laura Northrup on January 13, 2012 11:33 AM
65 Comments
The beginning of a new year often brings an unhappy change: rate and co-pay hikes for your health insurance. E's insurer made a change to ER visit copays that, given that his daughter is being treated for cancer and makes more frequent emergency visits than most children, would have cost the family a lot more money. So he turned to his company's HR department for help...and actually received it. More »
NYC Health Department Ad Features Diabetic Amputee To Warn Against The Dangers Of Soda
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 12, 2012 12:15 PM
107 Comments
Shock is the name of the game in the most recent ads from New York City's health department, as they aim to scare people away from drinking soda and eating fast food with some jarring images. One such ad shows the increasing size of sodas set in front of a backdrop of diabetic man with most of his leg amputated. More »
Would You Pay $20 At An Electronics Store For A Fitness Progam Offered By An Insurance Company?
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 10, 2012 3:00 PM
56 Comments
Riddle me this: Where can you buy into an online fitness program run by an insurance company? Why, at an electronics store, of course, and more specifically, Best Buy stores in certain Chicago locations. More »
(CamShah)
You Can Pay Gwyneth Paltrow $425 For The Honor Of Using Her Goop Brand Cleanse
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 9, 2012 2:00 PM
64 Comments
Have you felt plugged up and like you just haven't done your part to pad Gwyneth Paltrow's pocket? You're in luck! The movie star and "goop" blogger has slapped her brand on a colon cleanse for the low low price of $425 so her fans can start the new year off fresh. More »
An Important Lesson In Bathroom Etiquette
By Phil Villarreal on January 9, 2012 11:15 AM
107 Comments
When you flush your business down the toilet, it's not a good idea to watch it swirl into oblivion. Researchers say that if you neglect to close the lid before you flush, you're unleashing countless particles of waste into the air. More »
(msmail)
Study: Only 14% Of Medical Errors Reported By Hospitals
By Chris Morran on January 6, 2012 5:00 PM
56 Comments
In order for a hospital to participate in the Medicare program, it must develop and maintain a Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program to "track medical errors and adverse patient events, analyze their causes, and implement preventive actions and mechanisms that include feedback and learning throughout the hospital." However, a new study by the Dept. of Health & Human Services found that only a small portion of patient errors are being reported — and that hospitals don't seem to give a damn about fixing things. More »
Lawsuit Against Frito-Lay: "All-Natural" Means You Shouldn't Be Using Genetically Modified Ingredients
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 6, 2012 11:00 AM
97 Comments
One woman in California isn't about to let a big food company get away with what she says is fraudulent advertising. Frito-Lay is the subject of a new class action suit, which alleges that though they tout certain products as "all natural," they actually contain genetically modified ingredients, or GMs. More »
One Man's Plan For An All-Out Attack On His Excess Baggage
By Phil Villarreal on January 5, 2012 10:15 AM
53 Comments
Some weight loss experts warn against sudden, drastic changes in lifestyle and diet to try to lose weight, but there's no restrictions on the results that determination and careful planning can yield. Those who have already given up on New Year's resolutions to lose weight may find inspiration in people who are making sweeping changes. More »
(ash)
Cancer Is Afflicting And Killing Fewer Americans
By Phil Villarreal on January 5, 2012 9:15 AM
36 Comments
Researchers at the American Cancer society say cancer prevention, detection and treatment are eroding the disease's impact. Between 2004 and 2008, cancer claimed fewer American patients and victims, presumably leading to a decrease that continues to this day. More »
FDA Bans "Extra-Label" Uses Of Popular Class Of Antibiotics On Farm Animals
By Chris Morran on January 4, 2012 2:27 PM
22 Comments
For those of you who are concerned about the amount of antibiotics being given to the cows, chickens, pigs and turkeys that provide (or end up as) the food on your plate, here's some good news. The Food and Drug Administration has announced a new regulation that prohibits "extra-label" uses of a popular class of antibiotics. More »
Study Says Calories Cause Weight Gain, No Matter Where They Come From
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 4, 2012 2:00 PM
104 Comments
We all know people obsessed with fad diets — no carbs, high-protein, juice cleanses — but it seems it comes down to the simple fact that if you eat too many calories, you will gain weight. A new study says it doesn't matter where those calories come from in your food, if you ingest a high amount of calories, you'll pack on pounds. More »
(TheeErin)
Hospital CEO Thinks It's Perfectly OK To Show Patient's Records To Newspaper
By Chris Morran on January 4, 2012 1:35 PM
126 Comments
Last January, a woman in California says she was billed by a hospital for a treatment she never received. She took her complaint to the folks at California Watch, who published a story about her predicament. But when a local newspaper went to verify the information, the hospital's CEO had absolutely no problem showing up at the reporter's door to rifle through that patient's file without her permission. More »
Tests Show No Connection Between Enfamil Baby Formula & Child Deaths
By Chris Morran on January 3, 2012 11:31 AM
12 Comments
Late last month, Walmart and a handful of other other retailers decided to pull certain lots of Enfamil powdered baby food formula from shelves following the death of an infant in Missouri who had recently consumed the product. But tests by authorities at the Enfamil plant now show no link between the formula and this child's death. More »
Should Smokers Have To Pay The Full Tax If They Roll Their Own Cigarettes?
By Chris Morran on January 3, 2012 11:15 AM
151 Comments
Since state and local governments began slapping heavy taxes on cigarettes, a number of smokers have managed to pay less by buying loose tobacco and rolling their own. But as a growing number of stores have begun offering free-to-use roll-your-own machines that take the loose material and spit out a pile of smokes that look like they came straight out of the carton, some lawmakers are crying foul. More »
Foods That May Help Keep You Cancer-Free
By Phil Villarreal on January 2, 2012 4:30 PM
32 Comments
Everything you put into your body has some effect on your health and well-being. Some foods are believed to lower the risk of cancer. While there's nothing you can eat that will insure you don't get sick, you can stack the odds in your favor by adjusting your diet. More »
(afagen)
Turns Out Hair Of The Dog Might Not Lessen A Hangover's Bite
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 30, 2011 4:00 PM
44 Comments
Put down that day-after-the-night-you-drank-too-much beer — it turns out hair of the dog probably won't make your hangover any better, and in fact might just increase the pain. So says a doctor with other tips to avoid feeling miserable on New Year's Day (and any other day, for that matter). More »
(NoNo Joe)
Study Links Increased Life Expectancy For Citizens Of NYC To Anti-Smoking Policies
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 30, 2011 12:00 PM
25 Comments
As if New York City residents need anything else to brag about to the rest of the country, they can now boast a record life expectancy of 80.6 years, which is more than the national rate of 78.2. The city attributes this longer life span in part to its anti-smoking policies. More »
FDA Warns Doctors & Pharmacists Not To Mix Up Similarly Named Eye Drops & Wart Remover
By Chris Morran on December 29, 2011 2:34 PM
29 Comments
It's been almost a year since we brought you the story of the man who sued Walgreens for giving him Durasal wart remover instead of the Durezol eye drops his doctor had prescribed. Now the Food & Drug Administration has issued an alert to pharmacists and doctors to not make the same mistake. More »
(Keltose)
Keep It In Your Pants Until You Double-Check Your Insurance
By Phil Villarreal on December 29, 2011 11:15 AM
69 Comments
Maybe someday you'll sit your future child on your knee and reassure him he was created with budgetary responsibility in mind. Those who check out the quirks of their health insurance policies beforehand and babymake accordingly will be able to do just that. More »
(tjean314)
Coffee Grounds Can Double As An Exfoliator
By Phil Villarreal on December 27, 2011 3:30 PM
52 Comments
Those coffee beans you grind each morning can apparently perk up your skin as well as your eyes. You can use coffee grounds to make an exfoliator that could save you from having to buy expensive beauty products that do the same thing. More »
Steps To Take Before You Start Running
By Phil Villarreal on December 27, 2011 11:30 AM
86 Comments
So you've plumped up over the holidays and have decided you're going to jog off the flab. Bear in mind that there's more to starting your new career as a runner than just lacing up your cross trainers and scampering in circles around the neighborhood. Rush into the hobby the same way you did that pecan pie on Sunday and you could burn yourself out. More »
(blue_j)
Man Poses As Liposuction Surgeon, Flushes Fat Down Toilet After Surgery
By Phil Villarreal on December 26, 2011 9:45 AM
65 Comments
When you're undergoing an operation, it's preferable to have a surgeon with a medical license. But an unsuspecting San Francisco woman wasn't so lucky, going under the knife of an impostor who allegedly pretended to be a physician assistant, performed liposuction and ended up flushing the fat down her toilet. More »
Use Your Flexible Spending Account To Whip Medical Bills And Taxes
By Phil Villarreal on December 23, 2011 3:15 PM
82 Comments
If you get heath insurance from your employer, you can probably take advantage of a flexible spending account (FSA) to cut your taxable income and lessen the impact of medical bills that sting you throughout the year. The way things usually work is to require you to commit a dollar figure to the account, then use the money to pay medical bills as they arise. Since the money comes out of your check, you're never taxed on the amount. More »
(kandh07)
EPA Announces New Standards To Reduce Mercury Contamination From Power Plant Emissions
By Chris Morran on December 21, 2011 2:35 PM
42 Comments
This morning, the Environmental Protection Agency announced its new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, a set of national regulations aimed at reducing power plant emissions of mercury and toxic air pollution like arsenic, acid gas, nickel, selenium, and cyanide. More »
Study: Rich People Are Unfeeling Robots Devoid Of Compassion
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 21, 2011 1:00 PM
113 Comments
Time to pity rich people! At least us poors have that capacity, whereas a new study says that the rich are less compassionate than the rest of us. Let's all pause and feel bad for them for exactly one second. More »
How Spray Tans Could Keep Skin Cancer In The Dark
By Phil Villarreal on December 20, 2011 9:00 AM
35 Comments
Those who spend hours in the sun perfecting their golden tans may snicker at orange-faced folks who opt for a tan in a can, but it could be the Oompa Loompas who are making the wiser choices. A study published in the Archives of Dermatology suggests that fake-tanners spend less time in the sun, leading to less exposure to cancer risk-increasing UV rays. More »
Supreme Court Sets Late March Dates To Hear Health Care Reform Arguments
By Chris Morran on December 19, 2011 1:36 PM
51 Comments
The countdown clock is on for health care reform. This morning, the Supreme Court announced that it has set aside three dates in late March to hear arguments surrounding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. More »
(FDA)
FDA Issues Warnings About Misleading Lap-Band Ads
By Chris Morran on December 13, 2011 2:00 PM
62 Comments
The FDA has issued warning letters to eight surgical centers in California and a marketing firm behind the 1-800-GET-THIN number for misleading advertising of the Lap-Band, an implanted device intended to promote weight loss in severely obese individuals. More »
(nvaine)
5 Ways To Keep Your Dog Warm During Cold Months
By Phil Villarreal on December 12, 2011 3:15 PM
85 Comments
Dogs are better equipped to handle the cold than humans, but Jack Frost can still put the hurt on pooches. If you own a dog who spends a lot of time outside, there are things you can do to make sure he stays warm when temperatures bottom out. More »
Study: Cutting Carbs 2 Days A Week Could Be Enough To Lose Weight
By Phil Villarreal on December 9, 2011 9:45 AM
70 Comments
Not everyone has the self-control to downsize their bellies by cutting bread completely out of their lives, but they might not need to. According to a British study, avoiding carbs just two days a week could be all dieters need to do to lose weight. More »
(mon1ca)
Study: Some Cereals For Kids Contain More Sugar Than A Twinkie
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 8, 2011 1:00 PM
87 Comments
You wouldn't feed your kids Twinkies for breakfast (right?), so the news that some cereals aimed at kids have more sugar than those processed yellow bits of foam food is a bit disturbing. As Americans get more obese by the day, a new study warns of the sugary punch packed in many cereals. More »
A Case For Charging Manufacturers A Soda Tax Instead Of Consumers
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 7, 2011 11:00 AM
130 Comments
Make someone pay more for something, and perhaps they will complain and buy less of it. Such is the reasoning behind "sin taxes" like a tax on soda, to try to curb the wave of obesity in the U.S. But should those taxes be imposed on consumers, or rather, on the manufacturers making the soda? More »
What To Do If You Think You've Got Frostbite
By Phil Villarreal on December 7, 2011 9:45 AM
42 Comments
The combination of frigid temperatures and unprepared outdoorsmen who think they're too tough to keep warm jack up the risk of contracting frostbite. If you've been exposed to extreme cold and notice an area of skin has gone hard, pale and numb, preceded by a feeling of pins and needles, you'll want to seek medical care immediately. More »
A Second Opinion On Marathon Training Regimens
By Phil Villarreal on December 5, 2011 12:15 PM
22 Comments
Last week, we talked about a possible 16-week regimen to train for a marathon. Some running enthusiasts took issue with the program's unrelenting schedule, which tasks runners to end weeks with increasingly longer runs at the end of each of the first 13 weeks. More »
Make Sure You're Not Sitting And Typing Your Way To Injury
By Phil Villarreal on December 5, 2011 8:30 AM
41 Comments
Although sitting and staring a monitor all day for work doesn't seem to be strenuous, the monotony of an office job can break you down physically. Proper form and equipment can keep desk jockeying from wearing on you. More »
5 Ways To Survive Your First Try At Yoga
By Phil Villarreal on December 2, 2011 9:45 AM
60 Comments
To the uninitiated, yoga is an unapproachable Jedi dojo of spandex-wearing gymnasts with the flexibility of rubber bands. Attempting your first class can be intimidating, so it helps to tag along with someone familiar with the discipline. More »
Patient Sues Dentist Who Threatened Legal Action Over Yelp Reviews
By Chris Morran on December 1, 2011 3:35 PM
81 Comments
A number of dentists who fear what effect a negative review on a site like Yelp can have on their business have been compelling patients to sign "privacy agreements" that aim to stop annoyed customers from going public with their complaints. But one patient has decided that these agreements go too far, especially after his comments on Yelp resulted in his dentist coming after him for money. More »
(bigpresh)
Laptops May Slaughter Sperm In More Ways Than One
By Phil Villarreal on December 1, 2011 9:15 AM
37 Comments
As we've previously pointed out, research has shown the heat from laptop use can raise the temperature of the testes and damage sperm of users who place the machines on their lap. Now researchers have found that a laptop's WiFi signal is also a member of the sperm assassination squad. More »
Why The Worst Time To Snack Is Before Lunch
By Phil Villarreal on November 30, 2011 12:15 PM
66 Comments
If you get hungry mid-morning, you may be better off eating lunch early rather than munching on something to tide you over. A study suggests snacking between breakfast and lunch could be a sign that your eating is out of control. More »
CDC Says Most HIV Patients Don't Have Infection Under Control
By Phil Villarreal on November 30, 2011 10:15 AM
59 Comments
Although HIV doesn't dominate headlines like it did 20 years ago, the virus still rages out of control in most patients it infects. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, most HIV-afflicted patients don't take the drugs they need to manage their conditions. Scarier still, as many as 20 percent of those with HIV don't know they're infected. More »
Steps You'll Need To Take To Train For A Marathon
By Phil Villarreal on November 29, 2011 1:30 PM
70 Comments
The act of completing a marathon is a towering physical achievement you'll be able to humblebrag about the rest of your life, but it's not something you can just go out and do unless you're in solid physical shape. (Excluding those who walk marathons and take half a day to finish.) More »
Food Carts Could Be Required To Post Letter Grades In New York
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 29, 2011 1:00 PM
34 Comments
Diners in New York City are used to seeing letter grades posted in restaurant windows, which can act as an either an inducement to eat there or a turn-off. And now, one local politician wants to apply that same grade standard to food carts operating in the city. More »
American Adults Are Fatter Than In 1990 And Happy About It
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 28, 2011 4:00 PM
99 Comments
The bad news is Americans are fatter today than they were in 1990, says a new Gallup poll. But the good news is that the average U.S. citizen isn't bumming about it, and instead, we're pretty content with the extra poundage. More »
(nvaine)
Turn Couch Potato Time Into A Workout
By Phil Villarreal on November 28, 2011 11:30 AM
15 Comments
Being a sports fan requires you to spend several hours a weekend in front of your TV, and three-hour commitments every Saturday and Sunday to cheer on your favorite college and NFL teams can make it tougher to squeeze in weekend workouts. No matter how much the pathetic teams to which you're devoted make your blood boil, you're still not burning many calories when you're watching TV. More »
Protect Your Dog By Denying Him Turkey Bones
By Phil Villarreal on November 25, 2011 2:30 PM
80 Comments
No matter how longingly Fido looks at you as you devour Thanksgiving leftovers, you owe it to him do deny him a turkey drumstick. Cooked bones, especially from birds, are brittle and splinter easily, potentially causing a variety of problems for hungry pets who chomp on them. More »
A Guide To Packing Away Those Leftovers
By Phil Villarreal on November 24, 2011 2:30 PM
12 Comments
Despite all your loved ones' best efforts to eat everything in sight, there's still a bunch of food remaining. Now is the time to strategically pack the food away for a lust-filled reunion at a date yet to be determined. (Probably 9 p.m. or so tonight). More »
(takgoti)
Study: Painkiller Could Be Liver Killer
By Phil Villarreal on November 24, 2011 9:45 AM
59 Comments
Over-the-counter painkillers seem harmless enough, but like any drug, they can cause plenty of pain of their own if overused. According to a study, popping too much acetaminophen over an extended period of time could cause liver failure and possibly lead to death. More »
Don't Blame Turkey For Your Laziness Today
By Phil Villarreal on November 24, 2011 9:15 AM
43 Comments
After everyone gorges themselves on their Thanksgiving mega-meals today, they'll loaf around and complain about how tired they feel. Inevitably, someone will try to sound smart and chime in that the tryptophan in the turkey is to blame for the lethargy. That gives you the opportunity to sound smarter by saying "Nope, it's actually the carbs." More »
More Americans Getting Their Medical Care At Retail Locations
By Chris Morran on November 23, 2011 2:30 PM
68 Comments
A growing number of supermarkets, drugstores and other retailers are opening in-store clinics offering everything from flu shots to dental, vision and general medical care. And the people aren't shying away from using these services. More »
Report: Some Canned Foods Have High Levels Of Suspected Carcinogen
By Phil Villarreal on November 23, 2011 8:15 AM
35 Comments
According to anecdotal testing, countless diners will sit down tomorrow to a plate of turkey with a side of cancer risk. Research from the Breast Cancer Institute found that several common canned foods served on Thanksgiving have significant levels of BPA, a chemical connected to breast cancer. More »
Walking Through Doorways Can Possibly Make You Forget Things
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 22, 2011 2:00 PM
54 Comments
You know when you walk into a room to do something and suddenly forget why you're there? It's not just you, recent research says the physical act of going through that doorway could be linked to forgetting things. More »
(Marike79)
3 Tips For Sticking To Your Diet While Traveling
By Phil Villarreal on November 22, 2011 11:15 AM
41 Comments
The holidays not only bring diet-ruining parties, but travel vortexes that trick you into changing your eating rules as you make long trips. If you have any hopes of emerging from holiday travel without the phenomenon known as "Christmas butt," you'll at least need to get to your destination without going overboard. More »
Make These Party Snacks To Avoid Plumping Up Over The Holidays
By Phil Villarreal on November 21, 2011 10:30 AM
45 Comments
When it comes to holiday parties, willpower is a non-starter because it's just about impossible to attend one without stuffing your face constantly. To avoid gaining weight, your choices are to stay home or try to stick to relatively low-calorie options. Sometimes you find yourself at events stocked only with belly-busters, but you've got more control when you're hosting or contributing to the spread. More »
(blue_j)
A Guide To Ensuring Your Entire House Does Not Become Your Fireplace
By Phil Villarreal on November 16, 2011 10:00 AM
42 Comments
There's a certain romance to a crackling fire warming up a cold November night, but if you go through the motions without ensuring your fireplace is safe you could be lighting the way to disaster. Unkempt fireplaces can spark dangers ranging from house fires to skin burns and air poisoning. More »
(PepOMint)
How To Quiet Down Your Snoring
By Phil Villarreal on November 15, 2011 4:30 PM
60 Comments
Snoring is an excellent way to make significant others, not to mention everyone around you on long flights, despise you even more than they already do. To show some courtesy for those surrounding you during slumber, it's up to you to make sure your sleep doesn't prevent others from resting. More »
(srqpix)
4 Bad Cooking Habits People Need To Break
By Chris Morran on November 15, 2011 11:00 AM
122 Comments
Thanksgiving is next week, meaning that even some people whose version of "home cooking" involves pressing a button on the microwave will be playing chef for the day. But there are a number of kitchen habits — some of them handed down through the generations — that home cooks need to break themselves of before they pop in that turkey (or tofurkey, if you're so inclined). More »
Home Remedies To Zap Headaches Away
By Phil Villarreal on November 15, 2011 10:00 AM
106 Comments
Doctors say headaches are a sign of deeper problems. And as Arnold assures you in Kindergarten Cop, it's (most likely) not a toomah. Stress, poor nutrition, lack of rest and anxiety can all trigger headaches. And while it's not easy to eliminate the causes instantly, there are simple things you can do to make the pain go away that don't involve medication. More »
Consumers Union: Public Needs Full Access To Database Of Problem Doctors
By Chris Morran on November 14, 2011 3:30 PM
26 Comments
In September, the Department of Health and Human Services removed the Public Use Data File of the online National Practitioners Data Bank after receiving a complaint from a doctor whose history of malpractice claims was published in a newspaper article. Public access was recently restored, but with a whole host of limitations that our cohorts at Consumers Union think need to be removed. More »
Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Health Care Reform Case
By Chris Morran on November 14, 2011 11:21 AM
119 Comments
We all knew this was going to happen; it was just a matter of when. Today, the Supreme Court announced it would hear the appeals in the case to strike down — at least in part — the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. More »
FDA Threatens Stores That Sell Tobacco To Kids
By Phil Villarreal on November 11, 2011 9:15 AM
42 Comments
The Food and Drug Administration is going after businesses suspected of selling cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to minors, sending out letters to 1,200 stores and threatening eventual fines if they fail to comply with the law. The FDA says it has conducted 27,500 inspections to make sure retailers aren't violating restrictions on such activities as setting up cigarette vending machines, selling cigarettes and failing to check IDs. More »
Don't Forget The Ways Exercise Combats Memory Loss
By Phil Villarreal on November 10, 2011 9:45 AM
19 Comments
While science has yet to replicate the memory-erasing technology of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, it has found a way to do the opposite, determining that exercise and a healthy diet are excellent ways to bolster fading memories. Staying active, socially engaged and eating right helps you maintain your internal hard drive to avoid an unintentional memory wipe. More »
Cigarette Makers Win Battle Against Totally Grody Warning Labels
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 8, 2011 12:30 PM
131 Comments
For all the times the tobacco industry has (rightfully) been shut down in its attempt to woo new customers, they must've been granted a boon by the legal gods, as they've won a battle against nasty, graphic cigarette package warning labels. More »
Blue Cross Blue Shield Says Man Should Pay $2,306 To Avoid Dying In His Sleep
By Ben Popken on November 3, 2011 11:00 AM
207 Comments
Jason has sleep apnea. When he sleeps, if it can be called that, he stops breathing up to twelve times per hour. His body's reflexive response is that his jaw shoots around wildly, chipping and grinding his teeth, and then he wakes up for a second. A dozen times every hour, every night, he wakes up to his teeth clanging around his mouth. As if that wasn't fun enough, of the $2,400 the mouth guard his doctor prescribed prescribed him, his insurance plan is only going to cover a max of $94. More »
Activists Say Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo Is Dangerous
By Phil Villarreal on November 2, 2011 10:15 AM
68 Comments
Concerned about chemicals in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo, consumer activists are calling for a boycott of the product. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which claims to encompass 3.5 million people in 25 groups around the world, says the formaldehyde-releasing preservative quaternium and suspected carcinogen dioxane, which are found in the shampoo, could pose a danger to children. The group says some versions of the product in other countries don't contain quaternium, and that there's no reason those in the United States need to have the chemical. More »
FDA Study Concludes That ADHD Meds Don't Cause Heart Problems
By Phil Villarreal on November 2, 2011 9:45 AM
47 Comments
A Food and Drug Administration study found that those who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can take medications without increasing their risk of heart problems. The study focused on patients ages 2 through 24. More »
FDA Trying To Protect Us From Salmonella By Testing Pet Food
By Chris Morran on November 1, 2011 2:30 PM
25 Comments
Salmonella is a nasty little pathogen that can get into your home in any number of ways. That's why the Food and Drug Administration has begun testing pet food, treats and supplements for Salmonella in an effort to keep the bacteria at bay. More »
Obama Calls On FDA To Reduce Drug Shortages
By Phil Villarreal on November 1, 2011 8:30 AM
64 Comments
In an attempt to quell drug shortages that are affecting patients around the country, President Barack Obama ordered the Food and Drug Administration to adjust policies in order to streamline the process of getting drugs into patients' hands. More »
Man Who Drank Glass Of Fat Walks Off Can Of Soda
By Ben Popken on October 31, 2011 2:00 PM
55 Comments
The same guy who drank a glass of fat to demonstrate the lard-inducing effects of soft drinks is back. This time he shows how long you have to walk to burn off the calories from a can of soda. It takes three miles! That's the distance from Union Square to Brooklyn in New York. More »
(brx0)
Taking Aspirin Could Help Prevent Hereditary Cancer
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 31, 2011 9:00 AM
27 Comments
If you've ever seen those super serious Bayer ads, you might know that aspirin can help fend off heart disease, and now a new study says taking it regularly could cut the risk of developing hereditary cancer by 50%. More »
4 Out Of 5 Metropolitan Areas Lack Competitive Health Insurance Markets
By Chris Morran on October 25, 2011 1:15 PM
38 Comments
If you've been thinking that your options for health insurance coverage have been dwindling in recent years, you're probably correct. A new report from the American Medical Association found that 83% of metropolitan areas in the United States lack a competitive commercial health insurance market. More »
(jaubele1)
Good Luck Trying To Find Out How Much A Medical Procedure Will Cost
By Chris Morran on October 24, 2011 4:15 PM
114 Comments
A new report from the folks at the Government Accountability Office has confirmed what anyone who has ever tried to get a clear estimate on what a medical procedure already knows: There's a good chance you can't. More »
Mom Crusading Against Dirty Fast Food Playgrounds Says She's Now Banned From 11 McDonald's
By Chris Morran on October 24, 2011 2:15 PM
195 Comments
Over the summer, concerned mom Erin Carr-Jordan made headlines around the country with her online crusade to clean up filthy playgrounds found at McDonald's and other fast food chains. It seems her efforts have rubbed at least one Golden Arches franchisee the wrong way, as Carr-Jordan claims she's been barred from all of his eateries. More »
Eateries Fudge Fish Labels To Make Them More Appealing
By Phil Villarreal on October 24, 2011 9:30 AM
75 Comments
The menu may identify a fish dish as one thing, but that doesn't necessarily stop the cook from sending in a stunt-fish to take its place. The practice of baiting diners with an attractive-sounding fish and switching it with something less appealing may be more common than most people realize. More »
Measles Outbreak Is Largest In 15 Years
By Phil Villarreal on October 24, 2011 9:00 AM
138 Comments
Those who disregard pediatricians' recommendations and space out their kids' vaccination schedules may want to consider inoculating their youngsters from measles. The disease is infecting its highest numbers since 1996, spreading to 214 children throughout the country. More »
Panel Suggests Energy Star-Like Labeling System For Sugar, Fats & Sodium In Food
By Chris Morran on October 20, 2011 3:15 PM
46 Comments
When you inspect the nutrition info on a package of food, it provides all sorts of information — grams of sugar and fat, milligrams of sodium — but consumers may not know exactly whether those numbers are high or low. That's why a U.S. Institute of Medicine — at the behest of Congress and the Centers for Disease Control — has suggested a rating system for food that is not unlike the Energy Star system used for appliances. More »
Heads Up, A German Satellite Could Bonk Someone On The Head This Weekend
By Phil Villarreal on October 20, 2011 8:45 AM
44 Comments
The sky could fall sometime within the next few days. German authorities say the broken-down ROSAT satellite, which once mapped stars and studied X-rays, will plunge into the Americas sometime between Friday and Tuesday. They've lost communication with the device so there's no way of knowing exactly when or where it will hit. More »
First-Ever Wheelchair-Accessible Car Unveiled
By Chris Morran on October 19, 2011 1:30 PM
48 Comments
For people who use wheelchairs to get around, this may mean an end to sitting in the back seats of conversion vans when it's time to hit the road. More »
(yoshimov)
Docs Again Warn Against TV For Kids Under 2
By Ben Popken on October 19, 2011 12:00 PM
57 Comments
Letting kids under two watch TV doesn't provide them with any educational benefit and can cut down on the interaction with others and play time that is key to their growth, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns in a new report. More »
(blue_j)
Junk Food Makes Young Guys Infertile, Study Says
By Phil Villarreal on October 19, 2011 10:15 AM
64 Comments
Scientists probably don't conduct studies to promote chalupas as passive birth control. Still, young, sexually active men who want to do discourage their sperm from making them fathers may justify eating more fast food due to findings that junk food can lower the quality of sperm. More »
Vaccine Could Stifle Malaria Menace
By Phil Villarreal on October 19, 2011 9:15 AM
32 Comments
Researchers may be about to take a bite out of malaria. The mosquito-borne disease, which infects 225 million people each year and kills 781,000 victims, but a new vaccine has cut the number of infections of test subjects in half in the year following vaccination. More »
Hair Stylists Can Be Expert Skin Cancer Spotters
By Phil Villarreal on October 18, 2011 1:15 PM
32 Comments
Of all the spots on the body skin cancer can develop, the top of the head is probably the toughest for you to scope out yourself. That's where hair stylists come in, doubling as lesion detectors for customers. Researchers in Houston found that half the stylists surveyed had detected cancerous lesions on customers' noggins. More »
(coffeego)
Study: Binge Boozing Costs Society $2 Per Drink
By Phil Villarreal on October 18, 2011 10:15 AM
69 Comments
After heavy drinkers get to the point that they've had too many, each drink ends up costing society $2 in extra medical expenses and other costs, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. The "other" costs result mainly from drunk driving — in funds spent to lock up drunk drivers and damage from accidents. More »
(cavale)
Senate Bill Would Streamline Medical Device Approval
By Phil Villarreal on October 14, 2011 9:45 AM
27 Comments
When it comes to approving medical devices for patients to use, the Food and Drug Administration is handcuffed by conflict of interest rules that it says slow the process. A bipartisan trio of senators have introduced a bill that would ease the rules in favor of getting devices approved quicker, possibly at the expense of medical ethics. More »
(zieak)
California Bans Minors From Getting A Glow On In A Tanning Bed
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 11, 2011 9:00 AM
56 Comments
There will be less California minors walking around trying to damage their precious hides on purpose after a new law — the first of its kind in the U.S. — goes into effect that prohibits anyone under 18 from using a tanning bed. More »
(_e.t.)
Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak Death Toll Now Tied With 1998 Incident
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 11, 2011 8:30 AM
34 Comments
The recent national outbreak of listeria has now upped its death toll to 21, and Federal health officials are warning that those numbers may grow. It's currently tied with another health scare for the deadliest our country has seen in years. More »
(Hank)
330 lb Man Donates $5 To Fight Childhood Obesity For Every Pound He Loses
By Ben Popken on October 7, 2011 11:00 AM
32 Comments
Some people want to look good for the beach. Others want to be able to enjoy their favorite sport again. Hank, who started his journey at 335 pounds, is motivating his weight loss goal by donating $5 for every pound he loses to a local non-profit that fights childhood obesity. More »
Drug Maker Adds Line To Pill's Surface To Delay Generic Versions
By Chris Morran on October 7, 2011 10:45 AM
81 Comments
There are numerous ways for makers of pricey brand-name drugs to delay the release of generic copies and hold on to the market for even a few months longer. They could make slight changes to the doses or even go so far as to buy a company that supplies a needed ingredient. But one pharmaceutical company is taking a new approach to putting off the release of generic versions — etching an additional score into the pill's surface. More »
Are You Overpaying For Vitamins?
By Ben Popken on October 6, 2011 4:00 PM
43 Comments
According to a recent study surveying over 60 different multivitamins, "there was almost no connection between price and quality." More »
Congressman Investigates Possible Drug Distributors' Price Gouging
By Phil Villarreal on October 6, 2011 10:15 AM
37 Comments
Investigating allegations that several drug distributors are buying scarce drugs and reselling them at massive profit to hospitals, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has started an investigation. The congressman has requested documentation of what the distributors paid for the drugs and the amounts at which they're reselling them. More »
(.sanden.)
Listeria-Tainted Cantaloupe Said To Have Caused Miscarriage
By Phil Villarreal on October 6, 2011 8:15 AM
32 Comments
Contaminated cantaloupe has turned fruit salads deadly. Not only has the tainted fruit caused 18 deaths in 20 states, but now it's believed to have taken a life before birth. A pregnant Iowa woman miscarried after suffering listeria poisoning from cantaloupe. More »
Man Sues After Eating Listeria-Tainted Cantaloupe
By Ben Popken on October 5, 2011 11:45 AM
65 Comments
Cantaloupe tainted by listeria have led to 13 deaths, and now, a lawsuit against Jensen Farms and Walmart. More »
(dmuth)
Could Bad Economy Be Responsible For Drop In Drunk Driving?
By Phil Villarreal on October 5, 2011 9:45 AM
47 Comments
To be able to terrorize the roads as a drunk driver, you need to be able to afford both a vehicle and booze, and those things aren't so easy to come by when jobs are so scarce. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a survey finds that impaired driving is down 30 percent since the boom times of 2006. More »
Popeye's Introduces Scoop-Shaped Chicken Nuggets
By Ben Popken on October 3, 2011 4:00 PM
106 Comments
Popeye's has created a new batch of fried chicken nuggets that feature a spoon-like curvature to them to make it easier to scoop up dipping sauce. This fast food innovation is dubbed "Dip'n Chick'n." More »
Residents Of Milwaukee Suburb Told To Boil Bacteria-Plagued Water
By Phil Villarreal on October 3, 2011 9:30 AM
21 Comments
Those who live in 14,000-strong Greendale, Wis. have to make like campers sustaining themselves from a creek and boil all their water until further notice. The town's officials said in a statement that coliform bacteria were found in the water supply last week, and the tap water is no longer good for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing hands. More »
(boliston)
Doctors Sue Washington State For Limiting ER Visits For Medicaid Patients
By Phil Villarreal on October 3, 2011 8:45 AM
115 Comments
In order to curb medical costs, Washington state lawmakers have capped the amount of annual "non-emergency" visits Medicaid patients can make to emergency rooms at three. Furious about the seemingly arbitrary restriction on patients' rights, a group of doctors has sued the state over the measure. More »
Pioneering Denmark Distinguishes Itself By Starting Fat Tax
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 2, 2011 12:34 PM
109 Comments
No more noshing Danishes for you, Danish people! Denmark is instituting the world's first so-called "fat tax," involving a price increase on foodstuffs that are high in saturated fats in an effort to deter citizens from buying them. More »
Washington Makes You Decide Between Medical Marijuana & Guns
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 1, 2011 12:00 PM
106 Comments
Medical marijuana and owning guns are both legal in the state of Washington. But before you're all like, oh, that is really scary/fun, don't worry/get too excited because the feds are not going to let those two things coexist. More »
(WNEM)
The Drive-Thru Flu Shot
By Ben Popken on September 30, 2011 5:00 PM
75 Comments
In a continuing trend, health care professionals are once again this year offering drive-thru flu vaccines. Oh, you hadn't heard? Yep, you can drive right up, stick out your arm, and get a flu shot, all without ever having to leave your car. More »
Tobacco Companies Put Radioactive Substance Into Cigarettes, Covered It Up
By Phil Villarreal on September 30, 2011 9:15 AM
95 Comments
Newly analyzed historical documents reveal that tobacco companies have known for decades that cigarettes contain polonium-210, a radioactive material, and covered up its own studies that found their products caused cancerous growths in smokers' lungs. More »
DOJ Petitions Supreme Court To Review Health Care Challenge
By Chris Morran on September 29, 2011 12:15 PM
43 Comments
It was inevitable that it would come to this; it was just a matter of which side would make the request first. Yesterday, the Dept. of Justice filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the nine robed ones to review the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. More »
Businesses Try To Cut Insurance Costs By Coaxing Workers To Get Healthy
By Phil Villarreal on September 29, 2011 9:45 AM
85 Comments
With health insurance premiums rising fast, businesses are looking to keep expenses down by encouraging employees to improve their health, thus cutting down on the cost of care they'll use. More companies are offering on-site gym access and check-ups, discounts on healthy cafeteria food and incentives to get workers to quit smoking. More »
A Truly Alarming Number Of People Are Dying From Eating Tainted Cantaloupe
By Mary Beth Quirk on September 28, 2011 8:00 AM
54 Comments
Hold it — before you munch on that cantaloupe, you might want to make sure it's not contaminated with bacteria. A new report from food officials has attributed at least a whopping 13 deaths to an outbreak of the melons grown in Colorado. More »
Garden On The Go Brings Veggies To Indiana's Food Deserts
By Ben Popken on September 27, 2011 5:00 PM
62 Comments
Food trucks aren't just for cleverly named cupcakes. Indiana University has launched "Garden On The Go," an initiative to send trucks full of fruits and vegetables for sale to Indiana's "food deserts." These are places where people are poor and markets with fresh veggies are frequently more than a mile away. Normally, these folks often have to get their food from gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants. More »
Poll: 28% Of Americans Who Take Prescription Meds Resort To Risky Behavior To Save Money
By Chris Morran on September 27, 2011 12:30 PM
93 Comments
With the economy and job market still stuck in "blargh," more people are making potentially dangerous decisions about their health care, all in the name of stretching their dollar just a little bit farther. More »
Women Who Drink Coffee Have 20% Lower Risk Of Depression
By Ben Popken on September 27, 2011 12:00 PM
74 Comments
According to a new study, women who drink caffeinated coffee showed a 20% lower risk of depression than non-coffee drinkers. More »
Rite Aid Sells Video Chats With Doctors
By Phil Villarreal on September 27, 2011 9:15 AM
64 Comments
Drugstores are fast becoming outlets for quick, relatively cheap medical care. Many CVS stores have MinuteClinics inside, and now Rite Aid has started offering video chats with doctors in a service called NowClinic Online Care. For $45, customers get 10 minutes of virtual face time with medical pros. Patients can also opt for voice chats or instant messages. More »
Over-The-Counter Asthma Inhalers To Vanish From Store Shelves By End Of Year
By Chris Morran on September 22, 2011 3:00 PM
90 Comments
If you or someone you know uses Primatene or any other over-the-counter epinephrine inhaler for asthma, the clock is officially ticking before they disappear off store shelves. The Food and Drug Administration announced today that, in an effort to cut down on products using ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, these inhalers will no longer be available after Dec. 31. More »
New Law Has Put 1 Million More Young Adults On Parents' Health Insurance
By Phil Villarreal on September 22, 2011 10:30 AM
58 Comments
A 2010 health insurance law that allows those under age 26 to stick to their parents' health insurance plans has allowed 1 million presumably uninsured adults in the age group to find coverage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the amount of young adults who lack health insurance has fallen from 34 percent from the beginning of 2010 to 30 percent in March. More »
For At-Risk Women, MRIs May Be Better Than Mammograms
By Phil Villarreal on September 21, 2011 10:45 AM
37 Comments
Mammograms have long been standard breast cancer detection tools, but researchers say magnetic resonance imaging may be more effective at finding tumors in women who are more at risk of contracting cancer and are medically underserved. More »
Kids' Flu Shots Cut Emergency Room Visits
By Phil Villarreal on September 20, 2011 10:15 AM
88 Comments
Parents who get their kids flu shots cut down on their chances of having to haul them in to the emergency room. According to the results of a study by American and Canadian researchers, recommendations that preschoolers receive the vaccinations have caused ER visits to drop by more than a third. More »
Study: Diabetes Sufferers More Likely To Get Dementia
By Phil Villarreal on September 20, 2011 8:15 AM
61 Comments
Those who are afflicted with diabetes are apparently more at risk of suffering dementia than others. A study confirmed the link between the conditions that researchers had long thought to be true. More »
(Enokson)
Rabid Dead Bat Discovered In Jo-Ann Fabric's Halloween Aisle
By Mary Beth Quirk on September 19, 2011 10:15 AM
81 Comments
Cleanup needed, aisle three, Halloween decorations! What's that? It's a bat? A real, dead one? Oh, and it's rabid. Gross, Jo-Ann Fabric. Just nasty. More »
FDA Scolds Big Corn For "Corn Sugar" Ads & Websites
By Chris Morran on September 16, 2011 4:51 PM
93 Comments
For more than a year, the folks at the Corn Refiners Association have been making a very public push to rebrand the controversial but widely used high fructose corn syrup as "corn sugar," telling consumers that "sugar is sugar." But newly uncovered correspondence between the Food and Drug Administration and Big Corn show that regulators aren't exactly thrilled about the new name. More »
Woman Fired After Donating Kidney To Son Afraid To Return To Work
By Phil Villarreal on September 15, 2011 10:15 AM
82 Comments
When a Philadelphia mother tried to return to work after taking leave from her job at an aircraft repair training company to donate a kidney to her ailing son, she was told she'd been replaced. Once her story went public, the employer underwent a change of heart and offered to keep her on payroll until she could apply for another opening at the company. But the woman says she fears retaliation of returning to the office and is wary of accepting the offer. More »
Nearly 50 Million Americans Lacked Health Insurance In 2010
By Phil Villarreal on September 14, 2011 9:45 AM
106 Comments
Unemployment and an erosion in employer-provided benefits are some of the major reasons the amount of uninsured American rose to 49.9 million last year. That's 900,000 more than in 2009, according to Census data. Gone are the days that it was a given that your workplace handed you an insurance plan. In 2000, 64.1 percent of the population were covered by employer-provided insurance, but those ranks slipped to 55.3 percent last year. More »
PA Judge Deems Health Insurance Mandate Unconstitutional
By Chris Morran on September 13, 2011 3:30 PM
122 Comments
Even though three U.S. Courts of Appeal have ruled on challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — though they haven't all agreed — and it will all inevitably be decided by the Supreme Court, lower courts are apparently still issuing rulings on the matter. More »
(strobist)
Nasal Spray Gives Hope To Alzheimer's Patients
By Phil Villarreal on September 13, 2011 10:30 AM
14 Comments
Researchers have found the daily dose of an insulin nasal spray may hinder the progression of Alzheimer's disease in patients. A four-month study in Seattle found that the treatment improved memory and protected cognition and functional abilities of patients. More »
(gaylordd)
Study: Fast-Paced Cartoons Mess With Kids' Minds
By Phil Villarreal on September 13, 2011 9:15 AM
94 Comments
SpongeBob SquarePants and other silly, rapid-fire cartoons have come under the cross hairs of the research community, with a study finding that 4-year-olds who watch a cartoon fitting the description of SpongeBob SquarePants had more trouble immediately performing cognitive tasks and maintaining self-control than those in two other groups, one of which watched a slower-paced cartoon while the other spent time drawing. More »
WellPoint Hiring Jeopardy-Champ Computer To Make Treatment Decisions For Customers
By Chris Morran on September 12, 2011 1:15 PM
59 Comments
We're sure that most of you were sitting around thinking that the one thing the U.S. health insurance business needs is to be even less human than it is currently. And it looks like the folks at the health insurance behemoth WellPoint have heard those thoughts, because they have decided to "hire" Watson, the IBM supercomputer that beat two humans on Jeopardy earlier this year to help them decide on issues of treatment for policyholders. More »
Daycare Owner Doped Kids To Make Them Go To Sleep
By Ben Popken on September 9, 2011 11:00 AM
81 Comments
A daycare owner in Texas was arrested by police for mixing antihistamines into the kids' milk to make them fall asleep. More »
Federal Appeals Court In Virginia Tosses Out Challenge To Health Care Reform
By Chris Morran on September 8, 2011 12:50 PM
112 Comments
The final of three federal appeals court rulings on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has come down, and this round goes to the White House. More »
DEA Set To Ban Bath Salt Drugs
By Phil Villarreal on September 8, 2011 8:45 AM
77 Comments
Following a groundswell of state bans on stimulant drugs sold at gas stations dubbed "bath salts," the Drug Enforcement Administration will reportedly place a temporary ban on possessing and selling the drugs. The drugs, Mephedrone, MDPV and Methylone, are sold under names such as Bliss and Purple Wave and are said to cause hallucinations and spark violence in users. More »
Are Cost-Conscious Parents Being Less Generous With Diaper Changing?
By Chris Morran on September 6, 2011 2:30 PM
91 Comments
The recent tough times have forced many parents to pay closer attention to the bottom line. But are they doing so at the expense of their babies' bottoms? More »
(Marike79)
5 Things You Can Do To Prevent Diabetes
By Phil Villarreal on September 6, 2011 10:15 AM
71 Comments
Nationwide obesity, combined with genetic factors, makes diabetes a fact of life for our society, but no one needs to accept the eventual contraction of the disease as a foregone conclusion. There are measures you can take every day to give yourself the best chance of avoiding type 2 diabetes. More »
COBRA Subsidies Expire, Leaving Unemployed To Scramble For Healthcare
By Phil Villarreal on September 1, 2011 8:15 AM
107 Comments
Laid-off workers who relied on COBRA subsidies to help pay for health insurance saw the benefits end Wednesday. Under the program, the government paid 65 percent of COBRA costs with federal stimulus dollars. Wednesday saw the end of 15 months of extended subsidies for those who lost their jobs between September 2008 and May 2010. More »
(20 buckz)
Could Adult Industry HIV Scare Lead To Shortage Of New Porn?
By Chris Morran on August 30, 2011 4:45 PM
97 Comments
An internet search of almost any random phrase will eventually turn up some sort of X-rated content. One could argue that this would signify no shortage of pornography available online. And yet porn fans continue to want more. Unfortunately, a number of the folks who fornicate on camera have had to take a breather this week after one adult actor has reportedly tested positive for HIV. More »
(Sh4rp_i)
Vaccine-Resistant Bird Flu Takes Flight
By Phil Villarreal on August 30, 2011 10:15 AM
39 Comments
Avian flu won't seem to go away, and there's a particularly nasty, vaccine-resistant strain of the virus popping up in China and Vietnam. The Food and Agriculture Organization says the virus poses "unpredictable risks to human health." More »
(Amazon)
Deadliest Jobs Include Fishing, Logging And Flying
By Phil Villarreal on August 30, 2011 9:45 AM
50 Comments
Mama, don't let your babies grow up to be fishermen, loggers, pilots, farmers or miners. Those were the deadliest professions in the country last year, according to a government report. More »
Beware Harmful Illegal Drugs Sold As Supplements
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 29, 2011 11:30 AM
77 Comments
As shocking as it may be to some people, there are shady companies out there hawking supposed "dietary supplements" that actually contain harmful, illegal drugs. Since many consumers trust anything labeled "natural" or marketed as a non-drug, this practice has a potential for negative consequences. More »
Dog Swallows $10,000 In Diamonds At Jewelry Store
By Phil Villarreal on August 25, 2011 9:45 AM
59 Comments
Dogs will swallow just about anything, which is why it's probably not a great idea to let them near tiny, sparkly things of great value. A dog that employees allowed to hang out at a Georgia jewelry store drove home the point by gulping down loose diamonds worth a collective $10,000. More »
(efkjr79)
FDA Says Some Cancer Drugs Are In Short Supply
By Phil Villarreal on August 25, 2011 8:45 AM
34 Comments
According to the Food and Drug Administration, several generic cancer drugs are suffering dwindling supplies, creating stumbling blocks for treatment programs. The past two years have yielded sizable spikes in shortages, many of which are generic injections used to treat testicular and breast cancer. More »
Botox Now Approved To Keep Your Overactive Bladder Wrinkle-Free
By Chris Morran on August 24, 2011 3:15 PM
11 Comments
Before it became a party favor passed around by the vanity-obsessed set, Botox was considered to have several non-cosmetic therapeutic purposes, many involving the treatment of muscle spasms. And today it was announced that the popular wrinkle-fighting drug has been approved for use by some people suffering from overactive bladder. More »
Addicted To Caffeine? Here's How To Wean Yourself
By Phil Villarreal on August 22, 2011 4:15 PM
76 Comments
Once you've gotten to the point where you need caffeine to transform into a semblance of a normal person each day, it's probably a good idea to try to distance yourself from the drug. More »
Social Security Disability Payments Could Dry Up In 2017
By Maggie Shader on August 22, 2011 2:15 PM
100 Comments
The Social Security disability fund may not be able to make payments come 2017, according to a new analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). More »
Researchers Say Dog Waste Bacteria Hovers In Cleveland, Detroit Air
By Phil Villarreal on August 19, 2011 10:15 AM
45 Comments
Colorado University researchers say something is in the air in Detroit and Cleveland, and it's nothing either city can be proud of. Their findings say bacteria found in the air in those cities most closely resembles that which is found in dog poop. More »
(boliston)
Drug Scalpers Target Hospitals
By Ben Popken on August 18, 2011 4:00 PM
41 Comments
The nation is facing a shortage of critical pharmaceuticals. Enter the price gouger. He stockpiles hard to find medications, then turns around and offers to help hospitals solve their prescription drug shortage problems, at 4,533% markup. More »
Late-Stage Melanoma Sufferers Have More Treatment Options Thanks To Drug Approval
By Phil Villarreal on August 18, 2011 10:15 AM
17 Comments
The Food and Drug Administration is bringing in reinforcements for those who suffer inoperable forms of melanoma. Zelboraf, which was recently approved by the government, joins Yervoy — approved in March — as new drugs that doctors believe will help patients live longer after treatment. More »
Proposed New Health Insurance Forms Seek To Make Sense Of It All
By Chris Morran on August 17, 2011 2:27 PM
33 Comments
Much about the health insurance business is deliberately byzantine, intended to discourage customers from understanding all the fine details of their policies. But today the Department of Health and Human Services proposed a new way of labeling insurance policies that would spell out the costs and benefits of health plans in easy-to-understand language. More »
Triple Double Oreo Hits Shelves, Crushes Them
By Ben Popken on August 17, 2011 1:00 PM
81 Comments
The new Triple Double Oreo is now on the market, bringing one layer of vanilla and one layer of chocolate creme sandwiched between three cookie layers straight to your face. More »
Study: After 25, After Every Hour Of TV Watched, Lifespan Drops By 22 Minutes
By Ben Popken on August 16, 2011 4:00 PM
103 Comments
Your mom was right. Watching TV is killing you, albeit indirectly. A new study found an association between people watching loads of TV and living shorter lives. So, it's one of those correlation/causation dealios. Even still, the results were disturbing. By tracking death rates and lifestyle survey responses, the study found that for people over 25, for every hour of TV watched, their lifespan shortened by 22 minutes. More »
Domino's CEO: Why Put Calories On The Menu If 90% Of Our Customers Never Enter The Store?
By Chris Morran on August 16, 2011 12:15 PM
113 Comments
As regulations requiring all restaurants with 20 or more outlets to label their in-restaurant menus with calorie info go nationwide, the CEO of Domino's Pizza says the idea — as constructed by the federal government — just doesn't fit a business like his, given the variable nature of pizza and its many toppings and the fact that store owners are paying for sign updates that most customers will never see. More »
Appeals Court Rules Mandatory Health Care Coverage Unconstitutional
By Chris Morran on August 12, 2011 1:52 PM
192 Comments
The legal battle over health care reform continued this morning after an appeals court in Atlanta ruled that the portion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requiring Americans to have some sort of health insurance is unconstitutional. More »
Dine On Low-Cal Food At... The Cheesecake Factory?
By Phil Villarreal on August 12, 2011 11:15 AM
36 Comments
Those who go to Cheesecake Factory usually abandon all hope of keeping their calorie counts down. But in order to appeal to the portion of potential diners who would rather not split their pants, the indulgent restaurant introduced the SkinnyLicious menu, with 15 dishes under 590 calories and 12 appetizers with fewer than 490 calories. More »
Why Allergy, Asthma Sufferers Should Beware Of The Gym
By Phil Villarreal on August 10, 2011 10:15 AM
29 Comments
There are triggers at workout facilities that aggravate those with breathing issues, and we're not talking about sights of hardbodies rocking spandex. Those with allergies and asthmatics whose problems act up while working out may be able to point to the gym itself as the culprit. More »
(oracorac)
Walgreens To Start Selling Health Insurance
By Chris Morran on August 9, 2011 1:15 PM
19 Comments
Come this fall, when you go to your local Walgreens to pick up your prescription, you may also be able to shop for a health insurance plan, as CNN reports that the country's largest drugstore chain is about to get into the insuring business. More »
(WJZ)
28 Get Rabies Shots After Apt Complex Infested With Bats
By Ben Popken on August 8, 2011 5:00 PM
54 Comments
28 different people have had rabies shots as a precaution against the horde of bats that have infested a Baltimore-area apartment complex. More »
Coconut Water's Purported Healthy Ingredients Called Into Question
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 8, 2011 9:15 AM
46 Comments
It seems every yoga mat-toting, Pilates-doing health nut these days has gone cuckoo for coconut water when it comes time to rehydrate, bro. But a new report calls into question the healthy claims made by the top brands of the trendy sport drink. More »
Man With Breast Cancer Can't Get Medicaid Coverage Because He's A Man
By Chris Morran on August 5, 2011 4:15 PM
136 Comments
While breast cancer in males is not common, it's no yellow lobster. But a South Carolina state program that provides Medicaid to breast cancer patients in need had to deny a patient because of his Y chromosome. More »
Medicare Drugs Should Cost A Little Less Next Year
By Phil Villarreal on August 5, 2011 9:15 AM
25 Comments
Good news for Medicare enrollees who are on fixed incomes and counting pennies as well as pills: The price of prescription drug premiums in the program are expected to slightly dip next year. More »
Make Sure The Nursing Home Isn't Dosing Grandma Into Submission
By Ben Popken on August 3, 2011 4:00 PM
75 Comments
A pill is just so much easier. Drug 'em up and shut 'em up. Rather than deal with all the individual needs of elderly persons with dementia in their care, some nursing homes are dosing them with powerful antipsychotics. Not only have the folk not received a diagnosis that the medicine was designed to treat, not only does the drug turn them into zombies their families don't recognize, but the FDA has warned that using antipsychotics on older patients with dementia nearly doubles their risk of death. More »
CDC: One Dead, 76 Sick, From Salmonella-fied Ground Turkey
By Chris Morran on August 2, 2011 12:15 PM
40 Comments
There is some tainted turkey making the rounds, as more than 75 people in at least 26 states have gotten salmonella poisoning from chowing down on the ground-up gobbler. And according to the Centers for Disease Control, which has yet to ID the source of the foul fowl, at least one person has died. More »
How Long Should Paid-Off Medical Debt Be Part Of Your Credit Report?
By Chris Morran on August 1, 2011 4:15 PM
75 Comments
Right now, any medical debt that gets sent to a collections agency can remain on your credit report for up to seven years, even after it's been paid off. This ding on your credit score can be the difference between qualifying for a loan or being denied. That's why the House Committee on Financial Services is looking at a bill that would erase some paid medical debts from folks' credit reports. More »
How To Squeeze In Exercise As You Travel
By Phil Villarreal on August 1, 2011 2:30 PM
23 Comments
Travel provides one of the most convenient excuses not to exercise. It's a vacation, time to relax! It's a business trip, time to focus on your work! But despite what we'd all like to believe, vacation calories count just as much as those ingested at home, and because it's tougher to come by low-cal, home-cooked meals on the road, it's crucial that you maintain a workout regimen while traveling. More »
(nateone)
Birth Control To Be Covered By Health Insurance Without Copay
By Chris Morran on August 1, 2011 12:30 PM
184 Comments
Late last month, an Institute of Medicine panel issued recommendations to the White House that birth control, along with a variety of women's health services, should be covered under the Affordable Care Act. Earlier today, the Dept. of Health and Human Services made its final decision on the matter public. More »
(Sterlic)
Man Dies From Pulmonary Embolism After Spending Hours Playing Xbox
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 1, 2011 8:00 AM
83 Comments
If you've been sitting in the same position for hours at your computer, stand up now and stretch or do some jumping jacks: A 20-year-old man addicted to gaming has unfortunately been killed by that same dedication to Xbox, falling victim to a pulmonary embolism after sitting for hours playing online games. More »
Employers Crack Down On Smokers
By Phil Villarreal on July 29, 2011 12:15 PM
156 Comments
Bosses really don't want their employees to smoke. Not necessarily because they care about the health and well-being of their workers, but because they'd rather not spring for the expenses to cover copious sick days or hospital stays that spring from complications spawned by cancer sticks. More »
Ads On Widely-Used Medical App May Wield Dangerous Influence On Doctors
By Phil Villarreal on July 29, 2011 9:30 AM
44 Comments
Nearly half of American doctors rely on virtual assistants that fit inside their pockets. They're smartphone apps made by Epocrates, and they help guide healthcare professionals through drug dosing and insurance information, but they also pimp out suggestions for sponsored medications. Some worry the apps may hinder doctors' work by urging them to place sponsor dollars over patients' needs. More »
We May Be Entering The Oxycontin Baby Era
By Phil Villarreal on July 28, 2011 11:15 AM
84 Comments
Pregnant mothers who are addicted to prescription drugs, particularly pain medications, can pass those addictions on to their babies. Health officials are afraid that drug-abusing moms could spawn a widespread class of crack baby-like "oxycontin babies." More »
Company Accused Of Wasting Medicine To Take Money From Medicare
By Phil Villarreal on July 26, 2011 9:45 AM
60 Comments
A whistle-blower lawsuit filed by a doctor and nurse accuses a kidney dialysis provider of intentionally wasting medicine in order to qualify for hundreds of millions of dollars from Medicare. According to the employee, the company used over-sized vials for medicine, intending to have the excess amount deemed to be waste that Medicare pays for. More »
(nateOne)
Science Tries To Give Men More Contraceptive Options
By Phil Villarreal on July 25, 2011 11:30 AM
188 Comments
Guys who want to take control of birth control have limited options, but researchers are aiming to change that, focusing on hormones that reduce sperm counts. Men looking for alternatives to condoms and vasectomies may one day be able to pop pills that deprive their "boys" of swimming abilities. More »
How To Stop 'Packs From Messing With Your Kids' Backs
By Phil Villarreal on July 24, 2011 12:30 PM
133 Comments
Kids tend to treat themselves as pack mules, piling heavy books into bags, then lugging them around to the detriment of their necks and backs. More »
(renfield)
There's Arsenic In The Apple Juice
By Ben Popken on July 21, 2011 4:00 PM
82 Comments
With all the things on your mind, the last thing you need to worry about is whether the apple juice you finally convinced your kid to drink has arsenic in it. But an independent lab test of several different brands of apple juice, sponsored by Food & Water Watch and Empire State Consumer Project found a sample of Mott's Apple Juice contained 55 parts per billion of arsenic, exceeding the EPA tolerance level of 10 parts per billion. The FDA does not have a set tolerance level for juice. More »
3 Medical Tests Men Need To Take
By Phil Villarreal on July 21, 2011 1:30 PM
122 Comments
It's tough to psych yourself up for medical exams, but lugging your body into the doctor's office for preventative maintenance is more effective than shunning professional medicine in hopes that you're healthy. More »
Bill Gates Foundation Dumps On Old Toilet Design, Asks For New Ideas
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 20, 2011 10:15 AM
67 Comments
Bill Gates and his foundation are feeling unsettled about the boring old toilet and the way it just... flushes. So the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has launched a challenge to transform the run-of-the-mill waste receptacle and make it better. More »
(nateone)
Panel: Birth Control Should Be Covered By Insurance Without Co-Pay
By Chris Morran on July 20, 2011 7:45 AM
230 Comments
Yesterday, an Institute of Medicine panel released its recommendations to the federal government about which services for women should insurance companies be obliged to cover. Chief among the eight recommendations was that birth control should be made available without need for a patient copay. More »
(P.E.N.)
Co-Eds Say It's Sexier If You Have Health Insurance
By Ben Popken on July 19, 2011 4:00 PM
68 Comments
According to a new survey, 90% of college students say that they were attracted to someone and then found out they had health insurance, they would be more likely to be more attracted to him or her. So forget shopping for sexy lingerie, or perfecting your conversational skills, if you really want to attract the ladies or the fellas, you should call a health insurance broker or get a job with health benefits. More »
Cheesecake Factory Once Again Dominates List Of Most Calorific Menu Items
By Chris Morran on July 19, 2011 3:33 PM
78 Comments
Once again, the folks at the Center for Science in the Public Interest have taken a look around that the menus of this nation's restaurant chains to identify those items that seem so yummy on paper, so long as you're not actually reading the nutrition info. More »
Firms Start To Offer Bedbug Insurance
By Phil Villarreal on July 19, 2011 9:45 AM
24 Comments
If you suspect there are bedbugs crawling around you when you're trying to get to sleep, it's tough find peace of mind. But some businesses are trying to sell people some easier sleep by offering bedbug insurance. More »
(stirwise)
Liposuction Doctor Convicted Of 2 Murders, Manslaughter In Practice
By Phil Villarreal on July 18, 2011 2:30 PM
41 Comments
Liposuction turned fatal for three Phoenix patients, and the allegedly sloppy doctor who worked on them was convicted of second-degree murder in two deaths, and manslaughter in another. He'll be sentenced Aug. 19. More »
Vegas Resort Tells Lodgers They May Have Been Infected By Legionnaires' Disease
By Phil Villarreal on July 18, 2011 9:45 AM
35 Comments
Not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Count legionnaires' disease among them. The Aria Resort and Casino has warned its guests that they may have been infected with the severe form of pneumonia by the hotel's water supply, which tests revealed contained high levels of the bacteria from June 21 to July 4. More »
Tips For Spending Less At The Pharmacy
By Phil Villarreal on July 15, 2011 4:15 PM
72 Comments
When you're in the market for crucial, life-improving medication, saving money may not be your top priority. But keep a level head, know what to look out for and you can avoid being gouged when you're at your weakest. More »
How To Appeal A Health Insurance Denial
By Ben Popken on July 15, 2011 2:00 PM
52 Comments
Getting your health insurance claim denied can feel like insult added to injury, but if you take these steps you can get your claim "rehabbed," and get your money. More »
(.sanden.)
Places In Homes That Breed Germs
By Phil Villarreal on July 15, 2011 10:15 AM
36 Comments
A house may look clean, but looks can be deceiving. Bacteria and other dangers could be building up in certain areas, poised to make your life difficult. More »
Fewer Kids' Movies Featured Smoking Last Year
By Phil Villarreal on July 15, 2011 9:45 AM
24 Comments
Anti-smoking groups have long pressured Hollywood to decrease smoking in kids' movies, and studios have apparently listened. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report says there were 72 percent fewer smoking incidents in kids' movies in 2010 than in 2005 levels, dropping from 2,093 instances to 595. Smoking in PG or G-rated films plummeted 94 percent (from 472 instances to 30) in that span. More »
Mom Turns Summer Vacation Into Crusade For Cleaner Playgrounds At Fast Food Joints
By Chris Morran on July 13, 2011 3:15 PM
92 Comments
Anyone who thinks playgrounds are clean either doesn't remember being a kid or is seriously deluding themselves. But one Arizona mom is so fed up with the crap-tastic conditions at the playgrounds found at fast food restaurants that she's turned her summer vacation into a research project. More »
(Baltech)
Red Cross Offers Prizes In Attempt To Spark Blood Donations
By Phil Villarreal on July 13, 2011 11:15 AM
200 Comments
Want to donate some blood to the Red Cross to help sick, possibly dying, patients? No? How about for the chance to win a trip to Disney World? Facing the lowest donor levels in more than a decade, the Red Cross is hoping drawings get people into more of a blood-giving mood. More »
Here is The Eye Exam Appointment You Didn't Ask For
By Laura Northrup on July 13, 2011 8:00 AM
59 Comments
Terry got an eye exam last year from the handy in-house doctor at a local Pearle vision, but decided not to buy the overpriced glasses that they had to offer. He had no intention of going back, so he was annoyed when they took the liberty of scheduling an appointment for him this year, and notified him of the date by e-mail. Except...well, the local store claims that they never did any such thing. More »
Meat From Radioactive Cows Sold In Japan
By Chris Morran on July 12, 2011 2:15 PM
53 Comments
Four months following the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan and caused a disaster at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, the Japanese government has confirmed that a bit of cesium-contaminated beef from that region has made its way to groceries and likely to the dinner plates of consumers. More »
Harm Yourself With These 5 Dangerous But Useful Cleaning Products
By Meg Marco on July 12, 2011 12:00 PM
77 Comments
Chlorine gas was used for chemical warfare during World War I. You can make it easily in your own home by accidentally combining chlorine and ammonia in a misguided effort to boost cleaning power. Aren't you clever? More »
Uninsured Californian: I'm Stuck With $40K Medical Bill After Being Taken To Hospital Against My Will
By Chris Morran on July 11, 2011 1:36 PM
354 Comments
An uninsured man in California is fighting a $40,000 hospital bill because the paramedics who arrived on the scene of his motorcycle accident took him to the emergency room even though he repeatedly asked them not to. More »
Exercise In The Urban Jungle For Free
By Ben Popken on July 8, 2011 3:00 PM
56 Comments
If you're looking to cut expenses, here's an argument for cancelling that gym membership. NYT profiles one guy who does all of his exercising outside, at no cost, in the middle of Manhattan. The jungle gyms, trails, and tracks of East River Park give him all the workout he needs, five days a week, in all weather. His hands are calloused from doing pushups on the sidewalk and at 48, 5 ft 8, and 185 pounds, he's in top shape. So why bother dealing with early termination fees and snooty mirror gazers when you can enjoy being outside, for free? More »
Fat Gets You High
By Ben Popken on July 8, 2011 1:00 PM
92 Comments
A new study finds that eating fatty foods triggers the release of endocannabinoids in the body, which are marijuana-like chemicals. And the feeling they give you makes you want to continue eating more fatty food. More »
(Eva_Deht)
Teen Pregnancy Down, Drug Use Up
By Phil Villarreal on July 7, 2011 11:15 AM
55 Comments
Kids today are seemingly becoming more interested in drugs than sex. Statistics from the government report dubbed America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2011 say the adolescent birth rate dropped from 21.7 per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 17 in 2008 to 20.1 per 1,000 in 2009. On the downside, the number of 8th graders who said they'd taken drugs in the last 30 days rose from 8 percent in 2009 to 10 percent in 2010. More »
Organic, Natural Meat May Have More Preservatives Than Label Says
By Phil Villarreal on July 5, 2011 11:30 AM
69 Comments
If you avoid standard processed meats because of labels indicating they're packed with potentially damaging preservatives including nitrate and nitrite, your efforts may be in vain. The "organic" and "natural" alternatives may include similar chemicals, despite what their labels say. More »
Government May Defund Veggie E.Coli, Salmonella Testing Program
By Phil Villarreal on July 5, 2011 10:15 AM
64 Comments
Budget-crunching federal lawmakers are considering taking away funding from a government safety program that prevents your salads from getting certain potentially deadly toppings, such as e.coli and salmonella. The Microbiological Data Program, which tests 15,000 annual samples of fruits and veggies for the pathogens, costs $4.5 million annually and may be on the chopping block. More »
Medicaid Providers Face Funding Cuts From States
By Phil Villarreal on July 5, 2011 8:30 AM
52 Comments
Medicaid providers have taken hits in reduced state funding, potentially making health care more difficult to come by for the 60 million low-income patients covered by the program. Federal stimulus funding of $50 million in 2010 and $60 million in 2011 to beef up the program went away July 1, making it tough for states to maintain funding levels. More »
How To Learn To Stop Worrying And Love The Gym
By Phil Villarreal on July 1, 2011 3:30 PM
89 Comments
Any time spent at the gym rather than on your couch munching on cheese fries is time well spent, but try convincing your brain of that when confronted with the choice of whether to spend a chunk of free time at the gym or the drive-thru. The key is to somehow convince yourself to actually look forward to working out rather than see the activity as a prison sentence. More »
Skin Experts: Sunburns During Childhood Double Risk Of Skin Cancer
By Phil Villarreal on July 1, 2011 11:15 AM
93 Comments
In case you needed any more reason to protect your kids from the sun, skin care experts say sunburns in childhood and adolescence double victims' chances of suffering skin cancer later in life. More »
Health Care Reform Survives First Appeals Court Battle
By Chris Morran on June 30, 2011 5:45 AM
83 Comments
One down... at least two more to go. Yesterday, a U.S. Court of Appeals panel in Cincinnati gave round one of the fight over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to the White House, upholding a lower court ruling that a stipulation in the law that requires Americans to purchase health insurance does not violate the Constitution. More »
(C.Barr)
Ways In Which Sandals Beat Up Your Feet
By Phil Villarreal on June 29, 2011 4:30 PM
189 Comments
Summer's hot weather and casual sensibilities make it difficult to summon the will to go through the socks-and-shoes routine, making sandals seem more appealing. But allowing your feet to breathe can come at the price of injury. More »
Studies Say Aspartame & Diet Soda May Be Making You Fat
By Mary Beth Quirk on June 29, 2011 11:15 AM
196 Comments
Maybe drop that diet soda and reach for some water, as two new studies presented at the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions in San Diego say you're not doing yourself a favor with diet soft drinks. More »
Exercising Before Eating Doesn't Increase Fat Burn
By Ben Popken on June 28, 2011 3:00 PM
88 Comments
Contradicting common advice, a new study says that exercising before eating doesn't increase the amount of fat you burn. You could even be hurting your body! More »
1956 Ad Says Feed 7-Up To Babies
By Ben Popken on June 28, 2011 11:00 AM
88 Comments
This Seven-Up ad from a 1956 LIFE is simply amazing. Who needs mother's milk when you have Seven-Up? More »
Feds To Use Mystery Shoppers To Investigate State Of Health Care
By Chris Morran on June 27, 2011 9:45 AM
77 Comments
Looks like our research-relishing relatives at Consumer Reports aren't the only ones using mystery shoppers to help with their investigations. A new report says the federal government is bringing on a team of undercover operatives to see how hard it is just to get an appointment with a doctor. More »
Study: Even Small Amounts Of Junk Food Can Make You Fatter Over Time
By Phil Villarreal on June 24, 2011 9:45 AM
84 Comments
According to a new study, poor eating habits you pick up over time may not make you noticeably plumper immediately, but will slowly add permanent pounds over the years. More »
(kusine)
FDA: Breast Implants Don't Last A Lifetime
By Phil Villarreal on June 24, 2011 9:15 AM
63 Comments
Women who opt for breast implants may be signing up to a lifetime of follow-up surgical procedures. That's according to the Food and Drug Administration, which says women who get implants commonly need surgery within 10 years for maintenance, such as dealing with ruptures. More »
Supreme Court: Data Mining Of Prescription Drug Records Is Free Speech
By Chris Morran on June 23, 2011 12:15 PM
73 Comments
In 2007, the state of Vermont passed a law forbidding the data mining of prescription drug records (i.e., which drugs are being prescribed and how frequently) for marketing purposes. But earlier today, the Supreme Court ruled that the Vermont law interferes with drug makers' right to free speech. More »
FICO Sells New Score That Predicts Whether You Will Take Your Medicine
By Ben Popken on June 21, 2011 4:00 PM
104 Comments
Are you going to be a good boy and take your medicine? Next time your Mom won't have to ask you. She can just check your FICO Medication Adherence Score. The same people who make the standard credit scoring model have turned their data mining drills and abacuses onto medicine. They're selling a new score that says can predict if you will take your medication correctly. More »
FDA Unveils New Tobacco Warning Labels For Teens To Laugh At While They Smoke
By Chris Morran on June 21, 2011 9:00 AM
126 Comments
Last fall, the Food & Drug Administration announced they would be requiring tobacco packaging to carry larger and more graphic warning labels. And because our governmental agencies move like quicksilver, it only took about seven months for the FDA to finalize the nine images that will soon decorate your pack of Kools. More »
Man Holds Up Bank For $1 And Free Prison Medical Care
By Chris Morran on June 21, 2011 6:48 AM
188 Comments
A 59-year-old man recently walked into a bank in Gastonia, NC, intent on robbing one dollar — no more or less — from the financial institution. Was it because he was aiming low for his first foray into bank robbery? No, he says it was because he needs medical care and the only way he could think to afford it was by going to prison. More »
AMA: Health Insurers Still Making Errors On Nearly 20% Of Claims Processed
By Chris Morran on June 20, 2011 12:15 PM
70 Comments
Last June, when the American Medical Association announced its finding that nearly one out of every five health insurance claims had been processed incorrectly, it had probably hoped it was giving the insurance biz a much needed kick in the pants. But one year and another AMA report card later, that statistic remains virtually unchanged. More »
Is Your Hot Brain Keeping You Awake? Cool It Off To Help Sleep
By Mary Beth Quirk on June 20, 2011 11:30 AM
54 Comments
It's already hard enough to sleep when it's hot outside, but what if the heat of your brain is also adding to insomnia? Researchers reported this week that cooling down your lobes can help those with sleep problems doze off faster and stay asleep longer. More »
Text 4ER411 To Find Nearby ER With Shortest Wait
By Ben Popken on June 17, 2011 4:00 PM
65 Comments
A new service called "ER Texting" lets you send a text message to 4ER411 and get a report on the expected wait times at nearby emergency rooms. More »
Feeling Woozy In The Heat? Eat Some Salt!
By Ben Popken on June 15, 2011 1:00 PM
59 Comments
Summer is here and while frolicking outside is fun, if your body isn't ready for the heat it can be a bit of a downer, or even dangerous. If you find yourself feeling light-headed, an unexpected friend in the kitchen can help you out. It sounds counter-intuitive, but a few pinches of salt may be just the trick. More »
No More Chocolate Milk, Corn Dogs Or Chicken Nuggets For L.A. School Students
By Chris Morran on June 15, 2011 12:14 PM
303 Comments
Almost a year ago, as school boards across the country began to ponder whether or not to keep chocolate milk on students' lunch menus, we asked readers for their opinions, and 75% of you said that the milky, chocolatey childhood fave should continue to be offered, at least part of the time. The folks at the Los Angeles Unified School District disagree, voting yesterday to take away chocolate milk and other goodies from students at the second largest school district in the nation. More »
800 NYC Restaurants Caught Trying To Hide Sub-Par Health Inspection Grades
By Chris Morran on June 15, 2011 11:35 AM
42 Comments
Last summer, the New York City Board of Health began requiring all restaurants to post the letter-grade results of their latest health inspections. But a large number of eateries with non-A marks opted either to not post their grade or post it in a spot where no one could see it. More »
Anthem Blue Cross Holds Off On Plan To Charge $15 To Pay Bill By Credit Card
By Chris Morran on June 14, 2011 3:30 PM
21 Comments
Last week, we told you how Anthem Blue Cross of California had decided it no longer wants to take credit card payments and will soon start charging $15 "convenience" fees for those still wishing to pay by plastic. But now that the California Attorney General is looking into the matter, Anthem has put that plan on hold. More »
FDA Announces New Labeling Standards For Sunscreen
By Chris Morran on June 14, 2011 12:31 PM
49 Comments
Earlier today, the Food and Drug Administration announced new labeling guidlines for sunscreen in an effort to make it clear to consumers which products offer the best chance of keeping your skin from turning into shoe leather. More »
After Dominating At Jeopardy, Watson Computer Becomes Med Student
By Phil Villarreal on June 8, 2011 11:45 AM
45 Comments
Watson, the computer that whipped several human opponents, but not all, in Jeopardy, is now hitting the databases to brush up on its medical knowledge. More »
Dental Surgery Leaves Woman With A European Accent
By Phil Villarreal on June 8, 2011 11:15 AM
65 Comments
It's not unusual to find it tough to talk normally after oral surgery, but an Oregon tax consultant who had several teeth removed and replaced with dentures was stuck with a strange twist — an accent that folks describe as British, Swedish or Eastern European. More »
Anthem Blue Cross To Start Charging $15/Month To Pay Bill By Credit Card
By Chris Morran on June 8, 2011 10:15 AM
49 Comments
Anthem Blue Cross, along with its parent company, perennial Worst Company In America contender WellPoint, is known for many things — trying to jack up rates on policyholders by upward of 30%, practicing rescission on breast cancer patients, and leaking customers' credit card information online. Basically everything except for providing quality health insurance. You can soon add another item to Anthem's long list of qualifications when it stops allowing credit card payments, except for those willing to pay a $15 convenience fee. More »
(dansana)
Phoenix-Area Intel Plant Explosion Sends 4 To Hospital
By Phil Villarreal on June 8, 2011 9:45 AM
29 Comments
Since the high-tech manufacturing industry deals with a bunch of caustic chemicals, it's a wonder we don't hear of more accidents such as an explosion that occurred Tuesday at a Chandler, Ariz. Intel plant, hospitalizing four workers, one who suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries. More »
German Sprouts Not Deadly E.coli Culprit, Initial Tests Show
By Ben Popken on June 6, 2011 4:00 PM
14 Comments
German sprouts are not the cause of the deadly e.coli outbreak that has killed 22 and sickened over 2,000, according to initial tests of samples from a farm that a German agriculture minister had earlier named as the epicenter. The retraction is only the latest in a series of confusing finger-pointings and "cucumber slurs," and has left European consumers afraid to eat a salad. More »
Studies: 2 New Drugs Can Slow Advanced Melanoma
By Phil Villarreal on June 6, 2011 10:15 AM
6 Comments
Physicians apparently have two strong new weapons against melanoma, according to studies that show a pair of drugs are effective at slowing the cancer in its advanced stage. The drugs could be game-changers for doctors and patients who have long struggled to find effective ways to treat the type of skin cancer. More »
The Dangers Of Over-Caffeination
By Phil Villarreal on June 4, 2011 12:30 PM
110 Comments
It's tempting to gulp down coffee and energy drinks in order to snap out of a dreary funk, but there's a price to pay for your added energy and alertness. High levels of caffeine tend to come with side effects. More »
(CDC)
"Super-Toxic" E.Coli Strain Kills 18 In Europe
By Ben Popken on June 3, 2011 12:00 PM
45 Comments
A virulent strain of antibiotic-resistant E.coli has left 18 dead in Europe, left over 1,800 sick, and touched off a continent-wide scare against all produce, suspected to be the source of the infection. More »
The Economics Of The Breast Milk Market
By Laura Northrup on May 31, 2011 11:00 AM
67 Comments
Wet nurses, women who breastfed others' children for pay, have a venerable history, only going out of style when artificial infant formulas became widely available. Mothers who can't nurse, but want their babies to have the nutritional and immune benefits of human milk now have more options than ever. These range from informal online networks of "raw" milk donors to Prolacta, a company that takes breast milk donations and sells an ultra-processed milk product for premature infants that costs thousands of dollars per baby per week. More »
(Marike79)
Study: Good Cholesterol May Not Be So Good
By Phil Villarreal on May 27, 2011 2:30 PM
39 Comments
Conventional wisdom has held that some types of cholesterol may help prevent heart disease, but government researchers have found evidence to the contrary. The findings could change the way doctors treat millions of heart patients. More »
Drinking Booze Could Help Guard Against Dementia
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 25, 2011 1:30 PM
19 Comments
Pour grandma a pint and give Uncle Teddy his martini back! A new study says moderate drinking of alcohol over the age of 75 could help prevent the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. More »
Fast Food Mini Sizes Could Help In The National Battle Of The Bulge
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 23, 2011 6:23 PM
85 Comments
Americans are used to super-sizing things by now, a fast food tactic many point to as a catalyst in the country's obesity epidemic. But there's a new trend on the scene, and hopefully this one will tip the scales in the opposite direction — mini-sizing. More »
(TLFagan)
Calculator Tells You How Much You Can Save By Biking To Work
By Phil Villarreal on May 20, 2011 9:45 AM
171 Comments
Riding a bike isn't an option for every commuter, but for those within a reasonable range, high gas prices and the approaching summer mean there's no better time than now to consider pounding the bike pedals rather than the gas pedal. More »
New HHS Rule Hopes To Rein In Some Runaway Health Insurance Premiums
By Chris Morran on May 19, 2011 2:15 PM
110 Comments
According to a recent study, the cost of health insurance coverage for a family of four has soared 131% since 1999. And the insurance companies continue to seek double-digit rate hikes even while profiting from peoples' reluctance to seek medical care. Thus, as part of the Affordable Care Act, the Dept. of Health & Human Services has just issued a new to help define what constitutes an unreasonable health insurance rate increase. More »
FDA: Diabetes Drug Avandia To Be Pulled From Retail Pharmacies In November
By Chris Morran on May 19, 2011 8:04 AM
8 Comments
For several years, prescription diabetes medicine Avandia has been at the center of a debate about whether the medication's heart attack risk was high enough to pull it from pharmacies. Now, nearly eight months after the FDA announced it would be introducing strict restrictions on its sale and use, the agency has finally gotten around to announcing the specifics of those restrictions. More »
(DQD)
Health Insurers Still Asking For Higher Rates Even As People Put Off Going To Doctor
By Chris Morran on May 16, 2011 1:10 PM
115 Comments
Between 2008 and 2010, the number of insured employees with annual deductibles of at least $2,000 doubled, now representing about 10% of all covered workers. As a result, it looks like more people are postponing or not seeking medical care. But that hasn't stopped the health insurance companies from continuing to ask for rate hikes. More »
SNL Spoofs Smarmy Corn Syrup Ads
By Ben Popken on May 16, 2011 10:00 AM
59 Comments
SNL this week parodied those ridiculous and condescending "truth about corn syrup" ads the industry put out last year. You know, the ones where a person tells another person, "oh, that's corn syrup, you know what that's about" and then is unable to back up the claim with any data. They then promptly crumble under the other person's withering logic and stream of facts about how corn syrup is awesome. More »
Dude, Where's My Melatonin-Laced Brownie?
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 16, 2011 9:30 AM
34 Comments
If you're craving a sweet treat and a (legal) mellow, the makers of new melatonin-laced desserts say they've got just the thing for you, in the form of Lazy Cakes, Kush Cakes and Lulla Pies. More »
Inside A "Big Food" Product Development Meeting
By Ben Popken on May 12, 2011 3:00 PM
15 Comments
Where do they come up with all those great ideas to make 500 different snack foods out of the same four crappy ingredients and then try to trick us into thinking they're healthy? This amusing xtranormal video takes you inside a hypothetical product development meeting at a "Big Food" company. It starts off slow but then delivers hit after hit as they skewer each of the different labeling and ingredient tactics food manufacturers use, like adding Vitamin D to Cheetos and saying they "support healthy bones." More »
(jayRaz)
Report: Families Paying More For Health Care While Employer Contributions Fall
By Chris Morran on May 12, 2011 1:34 PM
109 Comments
A new study looking at the cost of health care for American families has found that people are not only paying more for their medical needs but that employers are contributing less money to employees' coverage plans. More »
Jenny Craig Beats Out Weight Watchers For Top Spot In Consumer Reports Health Ratings
By Chris Morran on May 10, 2011 6:00 AM
53 Comments
Our more body-conscious colleagues over at Consumer Reports Health have just released their ratings for a variety of diet programs and have rated Jenny Craig the highest, far ahead of runner-up Weight Watchers. More »
(DQD)
Adults Flocking To Parents' Health Plans
By Phil Villarreal on May 9, 2011 11:15 AM
272 Comments
A health care reform law that allows adults to remain on their parents' health plans until age 26 has sparked masses of those 25 and under to take advantage. More »
(dospaz)
2 Pounds Away From Weight Loss Goal
By Ben Popken on May 6, 2011 2:00 PM
110 Comments
I'm 2 lbs away from my weight loss goal. What's my secret you ask? An ancient technique passed down to me by visions of an Aztec god: diet and exercise. Specifically soccer. Oodles of soccer. More »
Costs To Treat Kids With Lead Poisoning Dwarfs That Of Cancer, Autism
By Phil Villarreal on May 5, 2011 10:15 AM
47 Comments
When you picture costly, long-term ailments that kids suffer, cancer, intellectual disabilities and asthma spring to mind. But far more U.S. healthcare dollars are spent on lead poisoning than any of those maladies, according to a study by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine published in Health Affairs. More »
Advertisers Fire Back At Government Over Proposed Food Marketing Guidelines
By Chris Morran on April 29, 2011 1:30 PM
93 Comments
Yesterday we wrote about the proposed guidelines put forth by a federal interagency working group regarding the marketing of food to children. The "principles" asked for food companies to market products with healthier ingredients and gave suggested limits on things like fat and sodium. The ad industry is less-than-pleased by the news. More »
(takgoti)
DEA Will Be Happy To Take Your Old Drugs Off Your Hands This Saturday
By Chris Morran on April 29, 2011 12:15 PM
53 Comments
Last September's first-ever National Take-Back Day, in which the DEA and other law enforcement agencies operate stations for people with old prescription drugs to dispose of them safely, was apparently enough of a success that the agency decided to not even wait a full year to try it again. That's right, it's time to bust out your National Take-Back Day decorations, along with your old Vicodin, Oxycontin and Cipro! More »
Big Sugar Sues Big Corn Over "Corn Sugar" Ad Campaign For HFCS
By Chris Morran on April 28, 2011 4:49 PM
102 Comments
Last year, the Corn Refiners Association began a campaign to rebrand controversial sweetener high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as "corn sugar." Well that has managed to rankle the folks behind non-corn sugar, who say it is false advertising and have now taken their complaint to a U.S. District Court. More »
Government Proposes New Guidelines For Marketing Food To Kids
By Chris Morran on April 28, 2011 3:30 PM
107 Comments
Earlier today, an interagency working group consisting of folks from the Federal Trade Commission, Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, and the Dept. of Agriculture, issued a set of "proposed voluntary principles" it hopes the food industry will ultimately adopt in its marketing to the youth of America. More »
Beware Of Armadillos... Researchers Say They Can Give You Leprosy
By Phil Villarreal on April 28, 2011 9:45 AM
91 Comments
If you ever consider snuggling up with an armadillo or having one for lunch, consider whether or not your endeavor is worth the risk of contracting leprosy. More »
Is Sugar Killing Us?
By Ben Popken on April 25, 2011 4:00 PM
174 Comments
Is a packet of sugar a sweet dose of death? A big article in the New York Times Magazine recently explored how sugar might be a secret scourge destroying our health. And for the purposes of this discussion, there is no distinction between regular sugar and HFCS - for these researchers it's all toxic. Why? More »
Supreme Court Won't Hear Health Care Law Arguments Until Lower Courts Have Had Their Chance
By Chris Morran on April 25, 2011 12:08 PM
167 Comments
Earlier this year, those fighting the Constitutionality of the national healthcare reform legislation asked for permission to skip the appeals process and bring their arguments straight to the Supreme Court. Earlier today, the Supremes denied that request. More »
Botox May Deaden Empathy As Well As Your Face
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 25, 2011 9:30 AM
24 Comments
When you shoot Botox into your face to freeze it into a mask of dispassionate youthful non-expression, you might also be harming your ability to perceive emotions in others, a new study says. More »
Electronic Eyeglasses for Those Aging in the Digital Age
By Paul Eng on April 20, 2011 4:00 PM
63 Comments
If you're one of the many who wear prescription eyeglasses with bifocal or progressive lenses, your life could soon become much simpler thanks to a company called PixelOptics. More »
(PepOmint)
Vicodin: The Most Popular Prescription Pill In America's Medicine Cabinet
By Chris Morran on April 20, 2011 11:30 AM
155 Comments
With the White House and the FDA dreaming up ways to curb the pain-pill problem in the U.S., we got to wondering just what are the most popular (legal) drugs in the country? Thankfully, the folks at Time.com were thinking about the same thing, because they put together a handy/dandy list of the 10 most-prescribed meds, none of which is Viagra. More »
FTC Cracks Down On Fake News Sites Shilling For Acai Berries
By Paul Eng on April 20, 2011 8:00 AM
49 Comments
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is taking a harsh legal stand against 10 companies and individuals marketing acai berry weight-loss products online by using fake news websites which imply endorsement from major media outlets — including our sibling publication Consumer Reports. More »
(tjean314)
White House: Docs Need Training Before Prescribing OxyContin & Other Painkillers
By Chris Morran on April 19, 2011 5:11 PM
132 Comments
Too many doctors are writing unnecessary prescriptions for painkillers like OxyContin and fentanyl, says the White House. That's why the administration is looking to push through legislation that would require training for physicians who wish to write prescriptions for these drugs. More »
Sitting Can Literally Kill You
By Ben Popken on April 18, 2011 12:00 PM
59 Comments
If you've ever worried that you were slowly dying by spending your days trapped in cubicle-land, you don't have to worry anymore. You're right. And according to new research, the threat isn't merely existential. Sitting for long periods of time set off a chain reaction of events that quicken your shuffle off this mortal coil. More »
Food Expiration Dates Are Really Just Guidelines, Not Deadlines
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 18, 2011 11:15 AM
82 Comments
Don't drink that milk if it's all curdled and nasty, but just because something in your fridge is past its expiration date, that doesn't mean it's not safe to eat, says a new study and some food scientists who ostensibly know what they're on about. More »
(ashi)
Study: 25% Of Meat Sold In Groceries Contains Drug-Resistant Bacteria
By Chris Morran on April 15, 2011 1:50 PM
100 Comments
A new study claims that not only does half the meat sold in groceries harbor a nasty little bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus, but a full quarter of the beef, chicken, pork and turkey carries a drug-resistant strain of the bug. More »
Johnson & Johnson's Prescription Drugs Stink Too: 57,000 Bottles Of Topamax Recalled
By Chris Morran on April 15, 2011 10:45 AM
24 Comments
If you thought Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Labs division — the folks behind all of these recalled over-the-counter drugs — was the only branch of the company capable of creating stinky meds, you were wrong, as J&J has announced a recall of two lots of its prescription anitconvulsant Topamax for that now-classic "uncharacteristic odor." More »
(afagen)
Heavy Beer Drinkers May Increase Risk Of Cancer
By Phil Villarreal on April 7, 2011 2:30 PM
63 Comments
Science lends more proof to Homer Simpson's assertion that beer is both the cause of and solution to all of life's problems. A Spanish study found that heavy beer drinking — two or three beers a day for several years — can increase the risk of gastric cancer, especially if the drinkers possess a specific gene variant that's present in 20 percent of the population. More »
AMC Theaters To Sell Snacks Not Covered In Liquid Fat, Sugar
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 6, 2011 10:15 AM
105 Comments
Maybe you like covering your movie snacks (and therefore your insides) in gooey, fatty liquid butter and topping it with a coating of high fructose corn syrup, but for those who don't, AMC Movie Theaters are going to be offering a healthier option. More »
EECB Gets Kaiser Permanente's Attention, Reader's $900 Refund
By Laura Northrup on April 6, 2011 10:00 AM
38 Comments
Reader Laura had Kaiser Permanente health insurance through her employer. When she lost her job, she paid Kaiser directly for COBRA coverage. She stuck with the company for her employer-subsidized health insurance when she started a new job earlier this year, and was under the impression that the COBRA plan would end when her new coverage began. It didn't.
When she couldn't convince anyone in first-line customer service that she really, really didn't mean to have two separate insurance plans simultaneously, she did some research and launched an executive e-mail carpet bomb at the company, bringing the bureaucratic stupidity to the attention of someone with actual power.
More »
New York City Council To Consider Happy Meal Ban
By Chris Morran on April 5, 2011 3:30 PM
160 Comments
Months after San Francisco's city government voted to effectively ban fast food kids' meals by requiring that they meet certain health requirements, legislators in New York City may soon face a similar decision. More »
(emuphoto)
Scientists Develop Genetically Modified Cow To Produce Human-Like Milk
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 4, 2011 11:15 AM
101 Comments
You might want to put that cookie down after reading this: Scientists have developed a new "human-like" milk that comes from cows, in an effort to create an alternative to breast milk and formula. More »
Tips To Stop Yourself From Gambling
By Phil Villarreal on April 2, 2011 1:00 PM
36 Comments
No matter how successful they are at making money, compulsive gamblers can lose it all and more if they succumb to their addictions. HealthGuidance offers advice on how to curtail the impulse to risk it all. More »
Study Finds Prostate Cancer Test Doesn't Lower Risk Of Death
By Phil Villarreal on April 1, 2011 1:30 PM
49 Comments
In a study that will no doubt draw sighs of relief from middle-aged men nervous about going in for prostate cancer screenings, researchers concluded undergoing certain tests for the cancer doesn't lower the risk of death in patients. More »
Help, The Price Of My Life-Saving Drug Went Up 2000%!
By Laura Northrup on April 1, 2011 8:00 AM
151 Comments
Colchicine, a drug primarily used to treat gout, is an old drug. Very old. Extracts from the plant it comes from, colchicum, have been used in gout treatment for thousands of years. In pill form as colchicine, it's been on the market in the United States since the 19th century and predates the Food and Drug Administration. A few years ago, the company that makes one brand of the drug, Colcrys, obtained FDA approval for their version, and the exclusive rights to sell it in the United States for three years. Who cares? Reader Nick does. He works in retail, isn't wealthy, and the colchicine he takes twice a day for a serious medical condition shot up in cost from about $20 per month to closer to $400. More »
Drug Companies Pushing Up Prices In Patent-Ending Panic
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 30, 2011 11:30 AM
141 Comments
Get it while you can, big drug companies! Pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer Inc, AstraZeneca and Bristol Meyers Squibb are feeling a little panicky as the deadlines loom on patents for some of their best-selling drugs, so what do they do? Up the prices now, before those pesky generic versions arrive to drive consumer costs down. More »
Study: Radiation From TSA's Full-Body Scanners Poses "No Significant Threat"
By Chris Morran on March 29, 2011 9:15 AM
104 Comments
In a new study that will surely be argued and dissected by both sides of the full-body scanner debate, researchers claim that the risk from the ionizing radiation to which travelers are exposed in these scanners "would be extremely small, even among frequent flyers" and that there "is no significant threat of radiation from the scans." More »
Study: HFCS Leads To Much More Weight Gain In Rats Than Sugar
By Ben Popken on March 28, 2011 3:00 PM
150 Comments
A study from Princeton published in the February issue of the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior (PDF) shows that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), used as a cheap sweetener in everything from Coke to Progresso soup, is not the same as table sugar, namely for the way that it makes you gain 48% more weight. More »
Psychologists: Comfort Food Is Bad For Your Body But Good For Your Soul
By Phil Villarreal on March 28, 2011 11:15 AM
89 Comments
High-calorie foods such as meatloaf, macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes can be harmful to your diet and overall health, but psychologists suggest they can partially counteract negative effects by making eaters feel better. More »
Beverage Labeling Initiative Urges Honest Calorie Listing On 20-Ounce Bottles
By Phil Villarreal on March 28, 2011 10:15 AM
131 Comments
For years, slick soda manufacturers got away with half-truth in labeling by listing its calories per serving on the labels of 20-ounce-and-smaller bottles rather than the total amount of calories in the drink. More »
Theater Owners Don't Want You To Know A Large Popcorn Is Like Eating 3 Big Macs
By Chris Morran on March 23, 2011 4:15 PM
164 Comments
The FDA is reportedly set to announce a decision that would force movie theater operators to post calorie counts next to their items in the same way that restaurant chains must. Not surprisingly, the theater owners are popping mad about this possibility. More »
(cdedbdme)
Allegra Is Now Non-Prescription, So It Costs Me More. Sigh.
By Laura Northrup on March 23, 2011 4:00 PM
143 Comments
Good news if you prefer the allergy medication Allegra: it's now available over-the-counter. Bad news, if you're reader Cynthia: it'll cost more for you out of pocket, and you can't get it from the Kaiser mail-order pharmacy anymore. More »
Does Sleeping Less Lead To Eating More?
By Chris Morran on March 23, 2011 1:20 PM
55 Comments
In an attempt to determine the link between sleep deprivation and weight gain, researchers at Columbia University have found that when people haven't had sufficient sleep, they tend to eat around 300 calories more per day. More »
(DQD)
Ask An Insurance Expert About Health Care Reform
By consumerist.com on March 23, 2011 12:42 PM
142 Comments
The Affordable Care Act celebrates its first birthday today, but the future of the legislation remains in limbo and many Americans still have questions about the costs and benefits of the law. Luckily, our sister publication Consumer Reports Health has a resident insurance expert, Nancy Metcalf, who is willing to answer those questions. More »
(nsub1)
Food From Four Japanese Prefectures Barred From Entering U.S.
By Chris Morran on March 23, 2011 11:15 AM
43 Comments
Following the news that radiation has been detected in tap water and food products in areas closest to the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, the FDA has announced that many imported food products from prefectures near the plant will not be allowed to enter the U.S. More »
Study: Sex, Exercise Can Triple Your Risk Of Heart Attack For Sedentary
By Phil Villarreal on March 23, 2011 10:15 AM
58 Comments
If you ever find yourself sitting bored and alone on a weekend and feel guilty that you're not out trying to find romance or at least getting a workout in, take comfort in the knowledge that at least you're keeping your heart safe. More »
(jaubele1)
If At First Your Health Insurer Denies Your Claim, Try Try Again
By Chris Morran on March 21, 2011 1:30 PM
51 Comments
Among the items on recent list of things your health insurer won't tell you was the fact that you shouldn't give up if your insurance claim is initially denied. Now a new report from the Government Accountability Office says that upward of 50% of appealed claims ultimately get paid. More »
Docs: Keep Kids In Rear-Facing Seats Until 2, Booster Seats Until They're Old Enough To Steal Car
By Chris Morran on March 21, 2011 9:45 AM
235 Comments
The goodhearted folks at the American Academy of Pediatrics have revised their 2002 recommendations for how long children should remain in rear-facing car seats. You can probably guess they didn't shorten that amount of time. More »
(Marike79)
FDA Panel Recommends Ban On Menthol Cigarettes
By Chris Morran on March 18, 2011 1:15 PM
98 Comments
If you like your cigarettes minty fresh, you might want to start stocking up now. Earlier today an FDA panel announced that a ban on menthol smokes would be a good thing for the public health. More »
Crisis In Japan Leads To Spike In U.S. Demand For Anti-Radiation Drug Potassium Iodide
By Chris Morran on March 16, 2011 1:15 PM
109 Comments
The fear of a nuclear meltdown in Japan has led a number of people here in the U.S. and Canada to snatch up a drug used to protect thyroid glands following a nuclear accident. More »
(afagen)
Man Gives Up All Sustenance Except For Beer & Water During Lent
By Chris Morran on March 11, 2011 12:30 PM
84 Comments
To everyone who thought you couldn't have a less healthy diet than that of The McRunner, meet the Iowa man who says he's going to consume nothing but beer and water for the entirety of Lent. More »
Government To Take Control Of Three Tylenol Plants
By Chris Morran on March 11, 2011 11:15 AM
18 Comments
Following a slew of recalls that seemed to have pulled just about every Tylenol product from store shelves, three Johnson & Johnson plants responsible for the recalled goods are being put under the supervision of the FDA. More »
Man Trains For Marathon While Eating McDonald's-Only Diet
By Chris Morran on March 10, 2011 12:15 PM
90 Comments
It's kind of the anti-Super Size Me: Calling himself the McRunner, a 36-year-old man from the Chicago area is eating only McDonald's food products while training for the upcoming Los Angeles Marathon. More »
Need A New Urethra? They Can Now Be Grown In Labs
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 9, 2011 11:30 AM
28 Comments
We're getting closer to starfish! No but really, researchers are moving forward in the field of regenerative medicine, and can now create a urethra from cells grown in a lab. More »
Doctors: Nighttime Gadget Use Can Screw Up Your Sleep
By Phil Villarreal on March 8, 2011 11:30 AM
47 Comments
A Sleep America poll finds more than half of Americans fail to get adequate sleep almost every night, and scientists say electronic distractions are the culprit — getting you all riled up before it's time to hit the sheets. More »
Study: Secondhand Smoke Increases Risk Of Stillbirths, Birth Defects
By Phil Villarreal on March 8, 2011 9:15 AM
107 Comments
Those who smoke around pregnant women could be poisoning the fetuses, judging from the results of a a study that found exposure to secondhand smoke greatly increases the risk of stillbirths and ups the odds the baby will be born with defects. More »
Things Your Health Insurer Isn't Telling You
By Chris Morran on March 7, 2011 3:30 PM
60 Comments
Health insurance is often complicated, with a seemingly endless variety of plans to choose from, all with their own particular loopholes and problems. Over at SmartMoney.com, they have put together a round-up of things your insurance company may not be telling you. More »
Trick Yourself To Quit Smoking
By Phil Villarreal on March 3, 2011 2:30 PM
105 Comments
The most effective business model is to physically addict your customers. It's a lesson smokers know all too well, and a reason many smokers are in a perpetual, unsuccessful state of "quitting." More »
Doctor: 5-Second Rule Should Become 0-Second Rule
By Phil Villarreal on March 2, 2011 9:45 AM
118 Comments
We've written many times about science's ongoing war on the 5-second rule. Despite evidence that you really shouldn't eat food you drop on the ground, only 20 percent of voters in our poll last year said they trash food that's taken the plunge. More »
Docs: Tanning Booths Should Be Outlawed For Teens
By Chris Morran on February 28, 2011 1:15 PM
63 Comments
Last year, we asked readers if minors should be required to get parental permission to use a tanning bed and almost 75% of voters said yes. But today, the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared its belief that minors should be legally barred from entering a tanning salon. More »
(ash)
Walmart Bans Potentially Harmful Flame Retardant
By Chris Morran on February 28, 2011 11:40 AM
15 Comments
Following the lead of a handful of states, Walmart has decided to ban the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a flame retardant found in hundreds of products ranging from furniture to textiles to electronics. More »
Botox May Help Some Women Below The Belt Too
By Chris Morran on February 25, 2011 3:30 PM
55 Comments
While a lot of people are using Botox to iron out the creases above the neck, doctors say that some women can also benefit below the belt from the injection's non-cosmetic effects. More »
(LaMenta3)
No Taxation On My Syrupy Sweet Carbonation
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 25, 2011 11:15 AM
101 Comments
So annoying when syrupy sweet Large Sips cost more because they might make you fat! In Colorado, soda lovers are trying to repeal a tax on soft drinks. More »
(tomms)
Blogger Finds Over 400 Expired Items On Dominick's Shelves
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 25, 2011 10:15 AM
70 Comments
Keep your eyes sharp, Chicago grocery shoppers: A local blogger discovered cartloads of goods past the expiration date at a few Dominick's in her area. More »
Illinois Blue Cross To Pay $25 Million After Denying Coverage To Sick Kids In Need Of Nursing Care
By Chris Morran on February 24, 2011 1:15 PM
27 Comments
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, the largest health insurer in the Land of Lincoln, has agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations that it denied coverage to sick kids who needed nursing care. More »
(Masimo)
Justice Department Wants Big Tobacco To Admit Its Products Are Deadly
By Phil Villarreal on February 24, 2011 11:15 AM
112 Comments
The Justice Department wants major tobacco companies to admit its products cause 1,200 Americans to die every day, and also that it misled consumers with advertisements that "light" and low-tar" cigarettes were less harmful than regular cigarettes. More »
How To Extinguish Your Bad Breath
By Phil Villarreal on February 23, 2011 2:45 PM
62 Comments
Other than NFL linemen on Sundays, no one likes to roam around poisoning others' personal space with bad breath. If you're afraid your exhalation is stinking up the joint, you've got to take corrective measures. More »
Self-Employed Taxpayers Get Bigger Deduction For Medical Expenses
By Tax Cat on February 23, 2011 1:15 PM
23 Comments
As a self-employed certified tax cat, I make sure to take advantage of every opportunity possible to reduce my taxable income. The health insurance premiums I pay for me and my litter have always worked to bring that number down, but they never did anything to reduce the amount I had to pay in Medicare and Social Security taxes. Until now. More »
NYC May Add Bar Codes To Restaurant Inspection Grades
By Chris Morran on February 23, 2011 10:15 AM
57 Comments
It's been about a year since New York City eateries began posting huge letter grades to reflect their latest health inspection results, but now the city's Health Department is thinking about adding bar codes that people could scan to get more in-depth info on that restaurant's specific results. More »
(DQD)
American Beverage Association Responds To Call For Ban On Caramel Coloring In Cola
By Chris Morran on February 18, 2011 3:30 PM
73 Comments
Earlier this week, the Center For Science In The Public Interest petitioned the FDA to ban two forms of caramel coloring, claiming that the ammonia and sulfites used in the creation of the products results in allegedly carcinogenic chemicals making their way into the resulting food and drink. Consumerist reached out to Coca-Cola and Pepsi to get their side of the story, but were instead passed on to the American Beverage Association, which offered its own version of things. More »
FDA Approves Lap-Band Surgery For Not-As-Obese Patients
By Chris Morran on February 17, 2011 10:15 AM
108 Comments
The folks at Allergan, the company behind the popular Lap-Band weight loss surgery, have 26 million reasons to cheer today. After all, that's the number of potential new Lap-Band patients now that the FDA has lowered the minimum weight loss requirements for the procedure. More »
CSPI Asks FDA To Ban Caramel Coloring Used In Coke, Pepsi And Other Stuff You Like
By Chris Morran on February 17, 2011 9:15 AM
130 Comments
Yesterday, the folks at the Center for Science in the Public Interest sent a petition to the Food & Drug Administration, demanding that the "caramel coloring" commonly used in sodas like Coke and Pepsi be banned because they claim it contains a pair of carcinogenic chemicals. More »
Looking For Free Condoms? There's An App For That
By Chris Morran on February 14, 2011 10:15 AM
47 Comments
Nothing says "Happy Valentine's Day" like free condoms. That must be why the New York City Health Department picked today to unveil its new condom-locator app for iPhones and Android devices. More »
New Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan Steers Patients To Cheaper Hospitals
By Chris Morran on February 10, 2011 1:15 PM
104 Comments
If you live in Massachusetts and have Blue Cross Blue Shield health coverage, you may end up paying more if you want to go to certain hospitals. More »
(ash)
Why Does The Government Hate War Widows?
By Chris Morran on February 10, 2011 12:15 PM
57 Comments
Over 50,000 war widows whose late spouses paid for insurance to help support their families in the case they lost their life now find themselves unable to receive the entire benefit of the insurance — that is unless they remarry... but not until after they turn 57. More »
Would You Pay $20/Night To Guarantee A Non-Smoking Room?
By Chris Morran on February 9, 2011 3:30 PM
106 Comments
You can almost imagine the moment when some executive at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was walking by the check-in counter and heard an employee ask a guest, "Will that be smoking or non-smoking?" And in that moment, yet another idea for a tack-on fee was born. More »
Virginia AG Asks Supreme Court To Hear Health Care Case Now
By Chris Morran on February 3, 2011 1:49 PM
67 Comments
Rather than wait for his case against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to run the appellate court gauntlet, the attorney general for the commonwealth of Virginia has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments about the legislation now. More »
(NoNoJoe)
NYC Bans Smoking At Parks, Beaches
By Chris Morran on February 3, 2011 12:28 PM
178 Comments
The smokers of New York City will soon have even fewer places to light up this summer after the Big Apple's city council voted to expand the existing ban on smoking in restaurants and bars to include, beaches, parks, boardwalks and other public spaces. More »
USDA's New Guidelines Finally Listen To Tyler
By Ben Popken on February 1, 2011 1:00 PM
52 Comments
"If you read the document it really is what I've been saying for over 2+ years. The government realized, "What's the point in recommending all this ultra-healthy Whole Foods type of food if NOBODY listens to us? Let's just simplify it and listen to Tyler and what he's been saying for two years: eat less of ANY food you'd like to start off with (and learn about nutrition as you go) and just move around." - A tongue-in-cheek email about the USDA's new dietary recommendations from Tyler Weeks who documented his weight-loss journey to less than 200 lbs on 344pounds.com. More »
We Have To Pay $300 For Contraceptive We Didn't Use
By Phil Villarreal on January 28, 2011 3:30 PM
140 Comments
Dustin and his wife are out $300 because they decided not to have a doctor set his wife up with an intrauterine contraceptive after they ordered it. He says that insurance would have paid for the procedure had they decided to go through with it, but now must pay for something they don't want to use. More »
(Sh4rp_i)
Scientists Genetically Modify Chickens To Not Pass On Avian Flu
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 17, 2011 12:00 PM
34 Comments
As bird flu threatens to morph into a virus that can be passed from human to human, British scientists have taken a step forward in preventing the spread of the deadly epidemic by producing genetically modified chickens which are unable to transmit the flu to other creatures. More »
(PepOmint)
FDA Asks Prescription Drug Companies To Limit Amount Of Acetaminophen
By Chris Morran on January 13, 2011 3:30 PM
65 Comments
Worried about the possibility of liver damage from over use, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked manufacturers of prescription drugs containing acetaminophen to limit the amount of acetaminophen to no more than 325 mg in each tablet or capsule. More »
Drug Masquerading As "Bath Salts" Banned In Louisiana
By Meg Marco on January 6, 2011 8:00 PM
55 Comments
According to Wikipedia, Methylenedioxypyrovalerone hydrochloride is a drug with effects similar to meth and cocaine that is marketed as "bath salts," with names like Cloud 9, Ivory Wave, Ocean, Charge Plus, White Lightning, Scarface, Hurricane Charlie, Red Dove and White Dove. More »
Can Bedbugs At The Waldorf-Astoria Actually Give You An Anxiety Disorder?
By Meg Marco on January 6, 2011 1:35 PM
51 Comments
The bedbug lawsuits are flying... or maybe they're crawling. Anyway, Gothamist has a post about the most recent customer to point a calamine-scented finger at the Waldorf-Astoria. More »
We Are Deluded About Our Own Obesity
By Meg Marco on January 4, 2011 4:45 PM
196 Comments
The Consumer Reports National Research Center recently surveyed a national sample of 1,234 U.S. adults about their eating habits and how they maintained a healthy diet. The results? We think we're eating healthier than we are, and we're in denial about our own obesity. More »
