Health Tip: Buying Drugs Over the Counter
When aches and pains send you to the drug store looking for relief, make sure you choose the right product for you and your ailment.
After reading the product labels carefully, the University of Iowa suggests you ask yourself (or possibly your physician or pharmacist) these questions:
* What conditions or symptoms does the medication treat?
* How severe are my symptoms, and how long have I had them?
* How much medicine should I take, how often, and for how long?
* Can I drive while taking the medication?
* Can this medicine affect other health conditions I might have, such as asthma, high blood pressure or pregnancy?
Health Tip: Nuts Are Good for You
Have you stopped snacking on nuts because you've heard they're too fatty, caloric, and salty? Well, take heart.
According to the University of California, Berkley, studies have shown that nuts can help prevent coronary disease.
They're rich in unsaturated fats, vitamin E, fiber, folic acid, and other B vitamins. And walnuts are especially rich in heart-healthy oil.
So dig in, but choose the unsalted variety and, as with any food, enjoy them in moderation.
Study: Water Purifier Helped Save Kenyans
A newly published study shows that cases of diarrhea and deaths from the illness dropped significantly among Kenyan villagers when they treated their water with the Procter & Gamble Co. product Pur.
Study Finds N.Y. Smoking Ban Helping
Bar and restaurant workers in New York are suffering fewer sore throats and runny noses since the state's workplace smoking ban went into effect, health officials reported Wednesday.
Minn. Paramedics to Test Heart Device
For a clinical trial, paramedics in St. Paul and Minneapolis will be testing experimental suction devices on heart attack patients without their prior consent.
Study Says Echinacea Doesn't Help Colds
New research finds that taking the popular herbal remedy echinacea does nothing to treat or prevent colds. The federally funded study was what fans and foes of such substances say they have long needed -— rigorous, scientific testing. It found that patients who took an echinacea plant extract fared no better than those who took a dummy treatment.
Study: Gaps in Insurance Affects Kids
For every child who lacks health insurance, another has gaps in coverage and is just as likely to miss out on seeing a doctor or getting a prescription refilled, suggests a new comprehensive study of federal data.
Gluten-Free Market Goes Mainstream
For about 2 million Americans, the bread basket used to be filled with a tasteless, brick-like loaf that crumbled when sliced.
That was the bleak world of food Bernie Mansbach found 25 years ago when he was diagnosed with celiac disease, or an intolerance to a wheat protein called gluten.
"In those days, the doctor just stuck his head in the door and said, 'Don't eat gluten,'" said Mansbach, 74, of Scotia. "There were very few commercial gluten-free foods available then."
Now manufacturers are rolling out gluten-free equivalents of everything from pizza crusts to doughnuts, buns and cakes. Once banished to the dusty bottom shelves of obscure grocers, the gluten-free revolution is surfacing in the aisles of major supermarkets.
At Wal-Mart, "gluten-free" products are hitting the shelves this month. The retailing giant is requiring suppliers to identify whenever gluten is used in its private-label products, said Bob Anderson, general merchandise manager of the company's Great Value brand.
So far, 982 of the company's 1,254 products have been identified as gluten-free.
Study: Beta Blockers Don't Help All
New research raises concerns about the popular practice of giving most heart patients drugs that reduce the heart's workload before and after major surgery.
Bill for Reporting Medical Errors Cleared
A national system designed to increase reporting of medical errors won final congressional approval Wednesday and was sent to President Bush.
Weight-Loss Surgeon Accused of Negligence
A weight-loss surgeon was accused by state regulators of gross negligence and incompetence in the treatment of 11 gastric-bypass patients, including six who died.
Study: Male Circumcision Lowers AIDS Risk
Male circumcision significantly reduces the chances of female-to-male transmission of the AIDS virus, according to a new study French researchers announced Tuesday.
Food Fact:
Mesclun around.
Translate this peculiar French word as "easy nutrition" for folks on the run. Mesclun, a mix of baby greens, gives the health-conscious yet harried salad eater a welcome break. Mesclun, also called gourmet salad mix, usually contains oak leaf lettuce, radicchio, mache, arugula and a smattering of fresh herbs. Even if the mix varies somewhat, it's certain to include an antioxidant-rich blend. Choose mesclun with crisp, dry leaves and no signs of wilting. Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days. Wash and spin dry just before serving.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Find the right activity.
Answers to three questions will tell you if your exercise program is right for you. Try different activities, and ask yourself : Do I look forward to this? Do I enjoy doing it? Do I feel good afterward? If you answer yes to all three, it's an activity you'll probably keep doing. Remember, no exercise program will work for long if you have to force yourself to do it.
FAQ of the day:
Are vitamin D supplements a good idea?
A daily multivitamin will provide safe amounts of vitamin D and other nutrients. Consider a calcium supplement as well, if there's no other rich source of calcium in your diet. You need both calcium and vitamin D to reduce your risk of osteoporosis and possibly colon cancer.
No comments:
Post a Comment