Published February 11, 2012
in General.
DRINKING and driving is never a good idea, and neither is smoking pot and driving, a study finds.
People who get behind the wheel within a few hours of smoking marijuana may be almost twice as likely to cause an accident as those who are sober.
A review of nine studies on pot smoking and car crashes was done by researchers from Dalhousie University in Canada.
The authors wrote that previous studies had been somewhat inconclusive about marijuana’s effect on car collisions, some showing it linked with a higher risk of crashes, and some showing a lower risk.
Continue reading ‘Cars and cannabis don’t mix’
Published September 3, 2011
in General.
A 24-year-old Cincinnati father died from a tooth infection this week because he couldn’t afford his medication, offering a sobering reminder of the importance of oral health and the number of people without access to dental or health care.
According to NBC affiliate WLWT, Kyle Willis’ wisdom tooth started hurting two weeks ago. When dentists told him it needed to be pulled, he decided to forgo the procedure, because he was unemployed and had no health insurance.
Continue reading ‘Man Dies From Toothache, Couldn’t Afford Meds’
(CBS/AP) Is Zocor dangerous? The FDA is warning that high doses of the blockbuster cholesterol drug can harm muscles and cause potentially deadly kidney damage. It’s added new warnings to Zocor in an effort to caution doctors about prescribing the drug in high doses.
Regulators said Wednesday that patients taking the 80-milligram dose of Zocor or generic simvastatin are at higher risk than patients taking lower doses of the drug or other statins.
Continue reading ‘Cholesterol drug Zocor (simvastatin) dangerous at high doses’
Advanced melanoma patients treated with an experimental pill developed by Roche and Daiichi Sankyo were 63 percent less likely to die than patients given chemotherapy, according to a new trial.
The drug, vemurafenib, is designed for use in patients with tumors that have a mutation in a gene known as BRAF. About half of all melanomas — the deadliest form of skin cancer — have the genetic aberration.
Continue reading ‘Roche melanoma drug cuts risk of death by 63 percent’
In tests of 22 sprays, creams and lotions, Consumer Reports Health identifies nine products that provide excellent protection against the UVB rays that cause sunburn and very good protection against UVA rays, even after immersion in water.
Consumer Reports Health identifies three “CR Best Buys:” Up & Up Sport SPF 30 (Target), No-Ad with Aloe and Vitamin E SPF 45, and Equate Baby SPF 50. The Up & Up is a spray while the other two products are lotions. On UVB protection, all three products provide “Excellent” protection, while providing “Very Good” protection against UVA radiation, which penetrates deeper than UVB, and can cause tanning and aging the skin. But consumers shouldn’t rely on sunscreen alone, notes the report. “Sunscreens can be very effective but you should combine them with other good options for protecting your skin such as broad-brimmed hats, tightly woven clothing, and umbrellas. You can be creative—consider bringing a small tent to the beach for your kids to crawl into,” said Jamie Hirsh, senior associate editor, Consumer Reports Health.
Continue reading ‘Tests Reveal Top Performing Sunscreens’
