Topic: health news

Poverty Is A Health Crisis–And We Need To Stop Pretending It Isn’t

Poverty Is A Health Crisis--And We Need To Stop Pretending It Isn't

When we talk, as a nation, about health care, there are a lot of important aspects we must address. Women’s health care, for one, is vital to the country’s overall wellness. So is prevention and care of obesity-related illness. But a subject that gets discussed less frequency and with less sensitivity is that of the increased health risks of those living in poverty. The idea that, for millions of Americans, health care is simply too cost-prohibitive, seems completely over the heads of many lawmakers and pundits. And yet, according to a recent Gallup poll, it’s clear: Poverty just comes with more health risk factors and more chronic disease. And we need to talk about that, too. More »

Study, CNN Say Women Vote Based On Ovulation, Not Information

Study, CNN Say Women Vote Based On Ovulation, Not Information

Remember how everything from the way you dress to the foods you eat to the men you date can all be traced back to what’s going on with your ovaries? According to a soon-to-be-published study, ovulation is also one of the driving factors behind how you vote. Because apparently ovulation is better at understanding foreign policy, economic plans, reproductive health issues, and voting record? Yeah, I’m going to go ahead and call BS on this. More »

You Aren’t Imagining It: Foodborne Illness Up 44% In Just Two Years

You Aren't Imagining It: Foodborne Illness Up 44% In Just Two Years

If it seems like every week, there’s a new recall or outbreak of foodborne illness, you’re right. Almost every day, the FDA updates their recall homepage with new food that’s being pulled from shelves, either because it’s made someone sick, or because it could. But is food really more unsafe now than it has been in the past? According to a new report by the Public Interest Research Group, incidents of foodborne illness have increased 44%…in the last two years alone. More »

Old Magazines In The Waiting Room Deemed A Health Risk; Here’s Why They Aren’t

Old Magazines In The Waiting Room Deemed A Health Risk; Here's Why They Aren't

Old magazines at the doctor’s office are pretty low-hanging comedic fruit. Such a fact of life are the years-old editions of Self and Highlights, they’re not really even a joke anymore–they’re just there, with their Atkins-era recipes and holiday decorating tips that seem laughably unimportant when you’re shivering in the air-conditioned waiting room in June. But according to one British health official, those old magazines may be no laughing matter. They might actually pose a health risk to patients who handle them. Really? More »

Got A UTI Or Bladder Infection? Science Says Cranberry May Not Help

Got A UTI Or Bladder Infection? Science Says Cranberry May Not Help

There’s not a lot that’s worse than a urinary tract infection (UTI). It’s uncomfortable, annoying–and, even though most women know exactly what it is when it hits, still usually requires a visit to the doctor and some pee in a cup. Which is why so many women turn to one well-known remedy at the first sign: Cranberry juice. Unfortunately, according to a new study, cranberry juice may not actually work for a UTI–and it definitely doesn’t work if the infection moves to the bladder and kidneys. More »

Schools Consider Banning Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Because They Are Unbelievably Unhealthy

Schools Consider Banning Flamin' Hot Cheetos Because They Are Unbelievably Unhealthy

It’s not often that a snack food so takes hold of the junior high crowd’s collective conscious like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos have. Not only are the radioactively-colored, preservative-and-salt-filled curls are a staple on my bus route and in school yards, they’ve inspired Facebook fan groups, and even widely-viewed mash notes about them on YouTube. But unfortunately for the teenage devotees of this terribly unhealthy snack, The Man has finally caught on, and it wants to harsh their mellow by banning them. Which is probably a good idea, because they are seriously junk. More »

Recall Update: Peanut Butter Recall Now Impacts Whole Peanuts, Too

Recall Update: Peanut Butter Recall Now Impacts Whole Peanuts, Too

This peanut butter recall refuses to die. In fact, it keeps spreading. New reports from the FDA over the weekend noted that now, not only are hundreds of nut butters and peanut butter-containing snacks being recalled for potentially being tainted with Salmonella, but whole peanuts may be unsafe to eat, as well. The additional information has already impacted a variety of snack bars, and will likely soon start to trickle down toward train mixes and other nut-containing food items. More »

General Mills, Nestle Vow Cut Sugar, Salt In Cereal–Here’s Why It Probably Won’t Matter To You

General Mills, Nestle Vow Cut Sugar, Salt In Cereal--Here's Why It Probably Won't Matter To You

In an exciting exclusive story this morning, Reuters is reporting that food manufacturing giants General Mills and Nestle have entered into an agreement to start cutting salt and sugar from their breakfast cereals. Unfortunately, there’s one giant caveat: They’re only doing it for cereal that’s marketed and sold outside of North America. So, unless you live across the pond, this great decision won’t impact you much at all. More »

Meningitis Update: With 14 Dead, It’s Time To Start Cracking Down On Compounding Pharmacies

Meningitis Update: With 14 Dead, It's Time To Start Cracking Down On Compounding Pharmacies

A recent deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis, which has been linked to unsterile steroid injections that have been distributed across the United States by a specialty compound pharmacy has made one thing clear: Something isn’t right. One woman has already sued the New England Compounding Center for damages–and with 170 other reported cases so far, it’s likely more lawsuits will follow. Which is a good time because, in times like this, it’s important to hold those accountable who break laws and, in doing so, gamble with the health of thousands. More »

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