According to the research firm Quintile IMS, about 55% of Americans regularly take a prescription medication. Additionally, the number of prescriptions filled by Americans rose 85% between 1997 and 2016, from 2.4 billion to 4.5 billion a year. By … [Read more...]
Health Alert
Alcohol Use and Abuse Increasing in the US
Rates of drinking and alcohol abuse are on the rise in the United States (US). An analysis of data has found that the rate of alcohol use in the US increased from 65% in 2001-2002 to nearly 73% by 2012-2013. Furthermore, the prevalence of alcoholism … [Read more...]
Some Prostate Drugs May Cause Harm
A popular hormone-based medication for the treatment of an enlarged prostate may increase men’s risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and/or stroke. A review of records of 460 men treated for enlarged prostate at a single urologist's office in … [Read more...]
These Heartburn Meds May Shorten Your Life…
Proton pump inhibitor medications used to treat heartburn may increase the risk of early death when taken for extended periods of time. Investigators compared the medical records of nearly 276,000 users of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) against those … [Read more...]
Higher BMI Linked to Increased Risk Cardiometabolic Disease
In a study that included 119,859 participants, researchers examined the association between body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic disease traits and found a link between a higher BMI and an increased risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, … [Read more...]
Teen Drivers Face Triple the Risk of a Fatal Crash
An analysis of national data found that compared with drivers aged 30-59 years old in the United States, teen drivers are 4.5 times more likely to be involved in a crash and over three times as likely to be in a fatal collision. The investigators say … [Read more...]
Sunscreen Use May Cause Vitamin D Deficiency
Sunscreen is key to protecting our skin from the damaging effects of the sun, but a new study suggests that using sunscreen could lead to vitamin D deficiency. In this study, researchers found that using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher could … [Read more...]
Hepatitis C Infections Hit 15-Year High
According to a government report, new hepatitis C infections have nearly tripled over the last five years in the United States, reaching a 15-year high. Hepatitis C is a virus that is spread by contact with contaminated blood, such as sharing … [Read more...]
Any Level of Smoking Promotes Heart Risks
You may think that having an occasional cigarette in a social setting is less harmful for your heart than smoking a pack a day, but a new study suggests otherwise. Researchers reviewed health data concerning nearly 40,000 people in the United States … [Read more...]
Could Gray Hair Mean a Higher Risk for Heart Disease?
Atherosclerosis (the narrowing of the arteries due to the build-up of cholesterol and other substances on arterial walls) and graying hair have similar causes: the damaged DNA that comes with aging, increased oxidative stress, and the aging of cells. … [Read more...]
US Pedestrian Deaths Are a Growing Problem
According to a new Governors Highway Safety Association report, 15% of all motor vehicle collision-related deaths in 2016 were pedestrians, which is up from 11% just a decade ago. Factors that may possibly play a role in this increase include … [Read more...]
Don’t Watch TV During Meals
Switching off your TV during meal time may help keep you slim. Researchers analyzed data on nearly 13,000 adults and found that those who said they never watched TV or videos during family meals were much less likely to be obese than those who always … [Read more...]
Morbid Obesity Doubles Risk of Early Death
In this study, investigators tracked the weight history of over 225,000 participants over a twelve-year period and found the participants who were morbidly obese (greater than 35 BMI) were twice as likely to die from any cause, more than three times … [Read more...]
Children May Have Flame Retardant Chemicals in Their Blood
If the flame retardant chemicals often found in textiles, electronics, and furniture mix with household dust, they may pose a health hazard. In this study, researchers found that house cats from 17 households had elevated levels of flame-retardant … [Read more...]