Looking for an alternative to recalled Tylenol?
Since the recall last week of nearly 61,000 bottles of Tylenol Extra Strength pain relief because of a musty, moldy odor, you may be finding it hard to find the product on pharmacy shelves. Or the string of Tylenol recalls for that same problem going back over a year now might make you think that its time to look for alternatives.
Our advice: Look for store-brand or generic versions of acetaminophen instead. Generic acetaminophen typically costs much less than brand-name versions, is just as safe and effective, and hasnt been implicated in these recalls.
Is High Risk Pool Eligibility Guideline Hampering Enrollment?
A recent Denver Post article discusses the current state of GettingUsCovered the high risk pool health insurance program created last year by the PPACA. The program is very similar to the twenty-year-old CoverColorado, but does have some key differences. GettingUsCovered requires that an applicant be uninsured for at least six months before joining the program, while CoverColorado does not. CoverColorado has different pricing depending on an applicants income (reduced rates are available if the applicants household income is lower than $50,000/year), while GettingUsCovered does not. And GettingUsCovered only offers one policy, a $2500 deductible plan. Co
How much can you cut your breast cancer risk?
What can women do to avoid breast cancer? There are three key factors to watch, but much of the risk is out of our hands.
Many of the risks associated with breast cancer are hard or impossible to change, such as your family history, your age, the age at which you had children, and the age when you started your periods.
But lifestyle also plays a part. Drinking alcohol raises breast cancer risk. Getting regular exercise lowers the risk, and being overweight or obese (especially in middle age and beyond) increases the risk.
To find out how much difference lifestyle factors make, Italian researchers looked at data from a big study of women diagnosed with breast cancer, compared with women of the same age whod not had breast cancer.
Lung cancer screening could save lives, at a cost
Lung cancer is a sly disease, often not picked up until it’s well-entrenched and spreading, making treatment difficult. However, lung cancer screening holds the promise of earlier detection and treatment for people at high risk. And, according to new research, this could save lives.
Researchers have been looking at several screening approaches, with one of the most promising being low-dose spiral CT scans. These scans can produce detailed pictures of cross-sections of your lungs. Studies show that CT scans can detect more early-stage lung cancers than chest X-rays. But it has been unclear whether this might prevent many deaths. That’s where the new study comes in.
Lawn mower injuries on the rise
On a recent sunny daythe first after a long stretch of rainTimothy Strobel decided to mow his lawn. Within minutes he was stuck in the mud. Pulling hard while leaning back to gain better leverage, he struck his head so hard on a window air conditioner that he knocked himself out. When he woke up he was unable to move his arms or legs. Hes just one of many who have suffered a mowing-related injury. In 2010, more than 200,000 Americans were treated for a lawn-mower injury, a rising tally, reports the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and three other medical societies.
Timothy, a patient of mine, had suffered a spinal cord injury, and a severe concussion.