According to a study conducted by Tobacco Control, the typical smoker averaged 16 cigarettes per day in 2001. Three years later, that number decreased to 14 cigarettes daily. The price for a pack of cigarettes increased from $3.96 in 2001 to $4.41 in … [Read more...]
Health Alert
Health Alert: Childhood Obesity Rates Falling!
During the first decade of the 21st century, childhood obesity rates among children in lower income families in the United States have decreased (14.94% in 2010 vs. 15.21% in 2003). The Journal of the American Medical Association, December 2012 … [Read more...]
Health Alert: Parental Math Skills and Medication Errors
Parents with poor math skills (3rd grade level or below) are 5 times more likely to measure the wrong dose of medication for their child than parents with math skills at the 6th grade level or greater. In a study of 289 parents, 27% had math skills … [Read more...]
Health Alert: ‘Smoke-Free’ Laws!
Laws that ended smoking at work and public places have resulted in lowered hospitalizations for heart attacks by 15%, strokes by 16%, and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by 24%. It has reduced health care costs and also increased … [Read more...]
Health Alert: Hip Replacement and Stroke Risk
Hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke risk is ~4% higher within 2 weeks of total hip replacement surgery. A hemorrhagic stroke is brought on by bleeding in the brain, while an ischemic stroke is brought on by arterial blockage. Total hip replacement … [Read more...]
Health Alert: Stop Smoking!
Female smokers in the UK die 10 years earlier (on average) than non-smokers. However, women who stop smoking by age 30 are 97% less likely to suffer a smoking related, premature death. The Lancet, October 2012 … [Read more...]
Health Alert: Fast-Tracked Drugs!
A recent study tracked a total of 434 new active substances (NASs) approved by Health Canada between 1995 and 2010. The NASs were then compared to see whether a difference in safety existed between those that had gone through Health Canada's standard … [Read more...]
Chiropractic: Pregnancy and Back Pain
Approximately 60% of pregnant women suffer from back pain; however, only about 30% report symptoms to their prenatal provider and only 25% of providers recommend treatment. A review of 17 pregnant women who sought chiropractic care for back pain … [Read more...]
Diet: Omega-3 Intake & Young Adults
For the first time, scientists have studied the effects of Omega-3 supplementation on young adults (ages 18-25). After 6 months of supplementation, subjects were able to improve their working memory (used for reason and comprehension) despite the … [Read more...]
Health Alert: Tattoo Infections?
Some tattoo inks are tainted with nontuberculous Mycobacteria. This bacteria can cause lung disease, eye problems, and organ and joint infections. Tattoo inks and pigments may also be contaminated with fungi and mold. Tattoo artists should make sure … [Read more...]
Health Alert: Bad Medicine?
Approximately one in five prescriptions to elderly people are inappropriate. Some of the medications with the highest rates of inappropriate use were the antihistamine diphenhydramine, the antidepressant amitriptyline, and the pain reliever … [Read more...]
Health Alert: Calcium and Vitamin D?
It has been a long standing protocol for men at risk of bone loss from hormonal treatment for prostate cancer to take Calcium and vitamin D supplements. New research shows this type of supplementation does not prevent bone loss and may increase the … [Read more...]
Fatigue is a Warning Sign
Unfortunately, fatigue is a problem that saps the joy out of life for numerous people every day. Maybe the person working next to you, a family member, or even you, have felt the effects of being too tired to work properly. You simply do not have the … [Read more...]
Health Alert: Pediatric Blood Pressure!
A study of 2500 pediatric patient visits revealed that doctors and nurses failed to check blood pressure 20% of the time. Of the 2000 patients who were checked, 726 had elevated blood pressure scores; however, 87% of these findings went unremarked … [Read more...]