Browse Category: Diseases and Disorders
A new case is scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court that could easily become one of those famous landmark cases you read about. It’s certainly controversial enough. The case in question involves vaccine safety.
Our campaign for drug company executive accountability is picking up. New Scientist magazine published a detailed article in their October issue titled “When big pharma breaks the law, prosecute the CEO.” The article was written by Paul Thacker an investigator with “Project On Government Oversight,” a non-profit organisation working to expose waste, fraud and abuse in federal government. Thacker’s credentials? He is also a congressional investigator for the United States Senate Finance Committee and was lead investigator for Senator Chuck Grassley's successful Avandia criminal investigation.
First it was the recall of over-the-counter pediatric drugs like Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl. Then CEO William Weldon admitted that Johnson & Johnson not only swept manufacturing problems under the rug, they were also were responsible for a “phantom recall” last year of more than 80,000 Motrin tablets. Now they're in the hot seat again.
Imagine losing a breast because your doctor thought a swollen lymph node was cancerous when it actually was just a bacterial infection. How tragic would that be? It happens more often that you think.
Have you ever been to the supermarket and they were out of your favorite kind of yogurt? Or maybe the fresh bread you pick up every Friday afternoon was “fresh out.” What about when you head to Target for something that’s on sale and that you could really use, but it’s sold out and they offer you a rain check? Ever had that happen to you?
I know I have, and I know how upset it makes me.
But, on the other hand, it’s not really a life or death situation. I can get the other flavor of yogurt, try a different kind of fresh bread, and most likely I can wait until the thing I wanted at Target gets re-stocked.
Things “run out” – right? And we deal.
But wait . . . what if the thing that ran out was a drug, or a special treatment that you needed to stay alive?
The past few decades have seen blockbuster movies and best sellers making billions of dollars with tales of an approaching Armageddon. The public seems to love this stuff. For some reason, watching or reading about the end of the world as we know it seems to be a welcomed escape from reality. Never mind that Armageddon describes a world of destruction, catastrophe, and seemingly void of goodness.
If you’re concerned your doctor is too quick to pull out the prescription pad each time you visit, you’re probably interested in learning why. The real reason is probably not what you think.
If you're one of the millions of Americans with type-2 diabetes and insulin resistance, you probably know how important it is to manage and guard your physical health. But now your mental health may be at risk, too.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to the H1N1 pandemic on August 10, 2010. Good news, right? But wouldn’t you know it. Just when we thought were safe from another epidemic of “germs gone wild,” we learn there is a new superbug in town. And it has the potential to cause damage on a worldwide scale.
If you’ve ever witnessed someone struggling with MS (multiple sclerosis) you understand what a challenging and debilitating condition it can be. Muscle weakness, spasms and tremors, impaired thinking, and speech and vision problems are among the challenges MS patients have to contend with.
Hearing an MS diagnosis is crushing. Long believed to be an autoimmune condition, the general consensus has been there is no known cause or cure. That may be about to change. A radical new treatment may be on the horizon that brings new hope to MS patients and their families.
The great Antibiotic Debate has just taken a startling turn. With the discovery of a new "Superbug” that is resistant to all known forms of antibiotics, scientists predict a grim future for the medication.
For centuries America has been known as a country with unstoppable optimism, the ability to squash obstacles, and stoic determination. That's in stark contrast to some European countries, notably Russia, which has been described as a dark and desolate nation filled brooding citizens. True or not, because of this, one would think Russians would have a higher rate of depression than Americans. However, research shows this isn't the case.
The nation breathed a collective sigh of relief when on July 15, 2010, 87 days after the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, the gushing BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was finally capped. For far too long, Americans watched in helpless horror as polluted scenes of oil slick waters, black stippled white sand beaches, and oil drenched sea life where broadcast into their living rooms. It was heartbreaking to hear the tales of devastation and hopelessness as thousands along the coast lost their livelihoods.
Now thankfully, the oil spill has stopped. BP tells us the danger is contained.
But is it?
If you or someone close to you is struggling with alcohol addiction, you know the devastating effect it has on your ability to simply get through the day. Personal relationships, job performance, and eventually mental and physical health suffer a downward spiral.
It’s no secret we’re living in a toxic environment. From the air we breathe to the water we drink, our natural environment has become a toxic soup of deadly chemicals.
The disturbing truth is these days it’s almost impossible to avoid toxic substances. They’re everywhere and we come into contact with them every day. As a matter of fact, three of the most common chemicals in the world have been linked to a whole host of maladies from sexual dysfunction, to behavior disorders, to cancer. And chances are great they’re lurking in your own home right this very minute.
If you have an elderly parent or grandparent, a recent report on the CBS evening news may have left you and your loved ones a bit unsettled. According to a panel of experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) nothing can be done to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. According to our nations health research agency, if Alzheimer’s is in the cards, it’s in the cards, and you have to play the hand you’re dealt.
However, the Alzheimer’s Association (and countless other medical experts) takes issue with the message. Here’s why.
It’s a scenario you often see on TV medical dramas such as Grey’s Anatomy or ER . . . two people come into the Emergency Room: one is an injured cop; the other is the criminal who tried to kill him. If the ER is short on help, who gets treated first? Typically, it’s the one who is most in need of medical attention, but it doesn’t always go that way (which, of course, sets up the drama for the next hour of the show).
While this may not happen as often in real life as it does on TV, there is something very real that is threatening your healthcare when it comes to over-flooded ERs.
You may have noticed . . . we’re smack-dab in the middle of summer. You may be planning (or already been on) a camping, canoe, or hiking expedition, or simply have been spending more time outdoors.
Which brings me to this timely topic: Lyme disease! That nasty tick bite that you may or may not have noticed could be much more dangerous than you think. Luckily, scientists are finding ways to detect Lyme disease at an earlier stage, giving you a better chance of treating it – and beating it – more effectively.
While not a ton is known about fibromyalgia, one thing is for sure: it’s an extremely debilitating condition that causes more than just mild discomfort. The medical community has been diligently searching for answers to questions surrounding fibromyalgia, including cause and treatment. And now there has been a significant breakthrough, and it has to do with your weight.
You’ve heard the old saying – “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!” . . . haven’t you? But have you ever stopped to think about that last part? What exactly is a bed bug? And can it really bite? Well, let’s just say bed bugs aren’t as innocent as the phrase they are famous for. In fact, they’ve become a serious problem! How do you know if YOU have bed bugs? Well, keep reading – we’ve got the 4-1-1 on these nasty little suckers.
