Category: Health News
Topical Pain Medication: FDA Releases Warning
| September 13, 2012 | Posted by Ronni under Health News, Pain Management |
Commonly, EasierLiving will recommend different methods of pain relief – all provided you clear it with your primary care physician before use. However, maybe even doctors got blind sided by this one. As reported on the CNN Health Blog, TheChart, the FDA “is warning consumers who typically use topical pain relievers to soothe those aches and pains that these products can cause serious burns.
Picture taking from CNN.com
You could be thinking, does this inlcude the brand you typically use? Well, most likely. The agency had received over 40 different reports of skin injuries from over-the-counter ointments which included brands such as Bengay, Icy Hot, Capzasin, Flexall and Metholatum. The reports of injuries are very small in comparison to the wide spread number of people who use the products – however the did not stop the FDA from publishing the following advice:
- Do not apply these products to irriated or damaged skin
- Do not apply bandages on top of the application area
- Do not apply heat from a heating pad, hot water bottle or lamp to the area where you have applied the product – this can increase the risk of burns.
- Seek medical attention immediately if you experience burning pain or blistering.
- Report any unexpected side effects to the FDA MedWatch program
FDA Approves Drug to Prevent HIV
| July 18, 2012 | Posted by Ronni under Health News |
Although it’s not our normal topic of conversation, this week marks a monumental moment for the advancement of medicine. EasierLiving would be amiss if we did not share this amazing news.
Since the early 1980′s HIV and AIDS has confused the medical world. As the disease spread understanding of the cause of infection and the symptoms grew, but knowledge of how to prevent or cure the virus wasn’t as easy to come by. Thirty-one years after the first AIDS case was presented to the CDC, medical advancements have lead to the FDA approval of a drug to prevent HIV. Truvada, a little blue pill now available with prescription, is a preventative drug for HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS. The FDA says they will print a warning on the label of the box that encourages other safe sex practices, like using condoms. Please read the CNN article here for more information.
Obesity Rate Declining in Americans
| January 11, 2012 | Posted by Elizabeth under Health News, Obesity |
Despite fast food chains on every corner, it looks like Americans are shifting their weight. A recent Gallup report has broken the good news that obesity is on the decline.
The decline is not drastic, but any improvements are a big step in the right direction for Americans. People know the negative affects of obesity on their health, but many are unaware of how such an overweight population can cost the country billions of dollars. This drop in overweight people could help restore the health of many and the America’s wallet.
An analysis done in December of 2010 estimated that the total cost of obesity in the United States could be as high as $270 billion due to obesity related health issues (As shown on Huffingtonpost.com).
There are several health conditions that can be brought on by obesity such as high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, gout, sleep apnea and more. Because of this, many people suffer with more than just their struggles with obesity, and getting better becomes a heightened challenge.
There are also many reasons why people gain weight. Consult your doctor if you feel as though you have gained too much weight and are developing any of these health conditions.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Heighten Risk of Certain Cancers
| November 18, 2011 | Posted by Elizabeth under Arthritis, cancer, Health News |
The most common form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), affects over 1.3 million Americans. The symptoms range but generally include swelling or stiffness in the joints.
Now, studies have shown that those afflicted with the disease are at higher risk for certain cancers.
Lung cancer: RA and lung cancer are linked in both directions, meaning that having lung cancer can increase your risk of having RA and having RA can increase your risk of getting lung cancer. Risks increase greatly for smokers, and even for RA patients who do not smoke, their risks are higher than someone without RA. The chances of being diagnosed with lung cancer are higher because of the scar tissue and inflammation in the lungs due to RA.
Skin cancer: The deadliest skin cancer, melanoma, is found to be more common in people with RA because of the TNF inhibitors that people take to treat the disease. These inhibitors are known to suppress the immune system. People with RA have also been found to be at higher risk for developing less dangerous forms of skin cancer.
Leukemia: The link between RA patients and people with leukemia is found to be higher in men than women. Immunosuppressive therapies used to treat people with severe RA are what create the higher risk for developing leukemia. (As reported on Health.com)
World Diabetes Day
| November 14, 2011 | Posted by Elizabeth under Diabetes, Health, Health News |
Today’s is World Diabetes Day, an opportunity for nations all over the globe to come together and raise awareness for a disease that affects over 6.6% of the world’s population.
Thousands of cities throughout the world are participating by lighting up some of their iconic landmarks in blue, the color of diabetes awareness.
World Diabetes Day, founded by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), strives to go beyond finding a cure and focuses on the person behind the disease and bringing a very human element to the day of awareness.
Diabetes is often a condition that goes unnoticed because of its seemingly harmless symptoms. Remember to see a doctor if you experience one or more of these symptoms:
Type 1 Diabetes
Frequent urination
Unusual thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Extreme fatigue and Irritability
Type 2 Diabetes
Any of the type 1 symptoms
Frequent infections
Blurred vision
Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections
Could America’s Favorite Bean Help Fight Skin Cancer?
| October 27, 2011 | Posted by Elizabeth under Food and Nutrition, Health, Health News |
It looks like that morning cup of coffee might be doing more than just giving you that little boost. We have all received the many mixed signals of the benefits and risks of drinking coffee, but lately is seems as though the pros out weigh the cons.
The benefits have been popping up in the news, especially in reference to certain cancers. Not long ago, we started to hear claims that drinking coffee helped to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. The latest studies are saying that America’s caffeine addiction may be benefitting our skin.
Recent studies have shown that regular coffee drinkers have a reduced risk of having one of the most common forms of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinomas, a cancer that rarely spreads or comes back once removed, is the type of skin cancer that was found to be the most affected by caffeine.
Women who drank more than three cups of coffee a day were found to be 20% 
less likely to develop basal cell carcinoma than women who drank less than one cup per month. In men, the study showed that those who drank more than three cups of coffee were 9% less likely to develop the disease than those who only drank less than one cup per month (As reported on Foxnews.com).
For those of you who like the taste of coffee minus the jitters from caffeine, you are out of luck. Decaffeinated coffee did not yield the same positive results. The studies done previously on caffeine consumption in animals showed that the caffeine helped to eliminate skin cells damaged by ultraviolet radiation.
So don’t be afraid to enjoy that beloved cup of coffee in the morning, but remember that it doesn’t replace your sunscreen!
Could Water Bottles Be Affecting Your Child’s Behavior?
| October 25, 2011 | Posted by Elizabeth under Food and Nutrition, Health, Health News |
There is a new finding that says BPA could be affecting your child’s 
behavior. Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in several products including food and drink containers, could be related to behavioral and emotional troubles in young children.
For several years, links to BPA and your health have been under close scrutiny. After a study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health, that link is appearing to be a bit stronger. The study tested BPA levels in the urine of 244 women throughout their pregnancies and then tested the urine of their children at ages one through three. According to the findings, they found BPA in over 97 percent of the urine samples. (As reported on ABC.com)
The chemical found in different containers could be causing depressive, anxious and hyperactive behaviors in children three years of age. These results were found to be more common in girls. But, there is much more work to be done. Skeptics of the findings say that more research must be done to look further into whether low-level exposure of BPA could affect children negatively.
The FDA has concerns about BPA exposure in children but also says they are not sure as to whether these findings can be confirmed.
Because there is a chance that BPA could be harmful to a child in utero, try using glass or stainless steel products to store your food while you are pregnant or for your young children.
Weekly Health News You May Have Missed
| October 7, 2011 | Posted by Ronni under Health News |
Panel: Routine prostate test not needed. “The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force analyzed previous research, and a draft report concludes there’s little if any reduction in deaths from routine screening but possible harm, including unnecessary surgery and other treatment.” Read More
Time to shop: Some Medicare plan prices drop. “If you’re a senior on Medicare – or if you help out aging parents with their money matters – it’s time to get ready to shop. The annual enrollment period for Medicare prescription drug and Advantage managed care plans is about to begin, and it’s one of the best opportunities of the year for seniors to save money.” Read More
Why Pancreatic Cancer is So Deadly. “Jobs had a rare form of pancreatic cancer called a neuroendocrine tumor. Patrick Swayze, Joan Crawford, Margaret Mead and Luciano Pavarotti all died from a more common form of pancreatic cancer, called adenocarcinoma. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in February 2009 and, 18 days later, returned to the bench.” Read More
Sexy Anorexia Halloween Costume Causes Controversy. “It’s hard to imagine a deadly disorder being translated into a Halloween costume, let alone a sexy Halloween costume. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more inappropriate than sexy Cookie Monster, a costume has come along that reaches a whole new level of just plain wrong.” Read More
Weekly News You May Have Missed
| September 23, 2011 | Posted by Ronni under Health News |
Cross-country competitor saves runner. Andover, MA high school student carries a cross country competitor to safety, after several runners pass him unconcerned. Injured student received 21 stitches in his right leg. Read More
With Bed Bugs the Cure May be Worse than the Disease. “Blood-sucking bed bugs have made a comeback in recent years. But as victims of infestation have become increasingly desperate to rid their homes of the bedeviling pests, many have only done themselves more harm.” Read More
New Hope for Blind as Europe’s First Embryonic Stem Cell Trail is Approved. “An injection aimed at curing blindness is to be given to British patients, after health authorities approved plans for the first embryonic stem cell trial of its kind on Europe. Surgeons at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London will inject cells into the eyes of 12 patients with the degenerative condition Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy. Read More
ADHD Drug May Help Wake Up People After Surgery. “The drug Ritalin, prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may help patients wake up after they’ve been placed under general anesthesia, a new study in animals suggests. Rats given the drug regained consciousness in about one-third of the time it took those given a placebo.” Read More
Weekly News Stories You Don’t Want to Miss
| September 16, 2011 | Posted by Ronni under Health News |
Apple Juice Showdown: Dr. Oz Arsenic Claim Questioned by Dr. Besser.
After Dr. Oz’s show this past week, where he reported his findings from his study on the arsenic in apple juice, the FDA and other doctors have fired back, questioning the legitimacy of his study. The FDA says that his study was conducted without merit – but Dr. Oz sticks to his story and his findings.
Surgery Separates Twins Joined at Hip.
Doctors at a Memphis, Tennessee, hospital have separated eight-month-old twins who were connected by their pelvis and lower spine. The Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital announced that they successfully operated on Joshua and Jacob Spates about two weeks ago. The twins remain in the intensive care unit, according to the hospital.
Pat Robertson Says Alzheimer’s Makes Divorce OK
“Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson stunned “700 Club” viewers Tuesday when he said divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease was justified. Robertson, chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network and former Republican presidential candidate, said he wouldn’t ‘put a guilt trip’ on someone for divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease, calling Alzheimer’s itself “a kind of death.’”
Most Child Flu Victims Did Not Receive Vaccine, Says CDC
“Among the 115 children who died of flu-related causes last year, less than a quarter of them had received the flu vaccine, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While childhood deaths from the flu are extremely rare, experts said the flu vaccine could have likely saved the lives of these children.”
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