For the past few years there has been a push by pharmaceutical companies to get women to take drugs to counteract the effects of osteoporosis. It sounds like a good idea–osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become more brittle, and are therefore more likely to fracture. Preventing fractures is a good thing, right? Sure. […]
Possible Fracture Risk with Osteoporosis Drugs Read More »
Elizabeth Goodyear, who died last month at age 103, loved chocolate, champagne, and books. She enjoyed all three daily, until she became blind. Then, she regained the joy of books thanks to the generosity of strangers. Those strangers became friends and surrogate family. Ms. Goodyear’s moving story was told earlier this month in The New
The Power of Life, Love, and Friends Read More »
Like millions of other people around the world, I have been following the plight of the miners in Chile. Thirty-three men trapped 2,000 feet below the surface of everyday life for more than two months. I barely slept last night, waiting and watching a high-tech live feed as the first few men were brought to the surface
Holding Onto Hope, When Hope is Invisible Read More »
You know that feeling of dragging your body around in a North Carolina heatwave? Feeling sluggish and fatigued and just plain drained? (Yes, I’m happy it’s finally autumn.) But what if that feeling didn’t go away when the weather broke? That’s what happened to Marilyn Berger, a contributor to The New York Times. As she
A Fall, Followed by Brain Surgery Read More »
I say we make the standards sky-high. There’s no reason to allow a known toxin or poison into any product designed to be used by a child. No, let me rephrase that: There’s no reason to allow a known toxin or poison into a product designed to be used by a human.
McDonald's Shrek Glasses Scarier than Ever Read More »
The pharmaceutical company Pfizer has announced a recall of more than 190,000 bottles of the popular cholesterol-control medication LIPITOR (atorvastatin). Only 40 mg pills in specific bottles are included in this recall. The reason for the concern is that there have been reports of an uncharacteristic odor in the bottles. According to an FDA press
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that Abbott Laboratories has agreed to voluntarily withdraw its obesity drug Meridia (sibutramine) because scientific research has shown that the drug increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. According to John Jenkins, MD, director of the Office of New Drugs in the FDA’s Center for
Obesity Drug Meridia Withdrawn from Market Read More »
Women who exercised had fewer overall fractures and no hip fractures. They also had better balance, faster walking speed, and improved ability to do daily chores.
A Little Exercise Prevents Falls and Hip Fractures Read More »
For years, new parents have been advised about how to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): keep cribs free of quilts, comforters, pillows, and stuffed toys…and always place an infant on his or her back at night or during nap time. Some companies have been selling “infant sleep positioners,” which they claim
Deaths Prompt Warning About Infant Sleep Positioners Read More »
Avandia has been banned in Europe, and restricted (but not banned) in the United States. Thousands of innocent people hurt or even killed by the drug’s side effects. We all weigh risks and benefits daily, but it is a tragedy to be harmed by a medication known to be dangerous, especially if those dangers aren’t clearly, completely, and loudly disclosed.
Sale of Dangerous Drug Avandia to Continue in United States Read More »