These are booming times for surgical centers.
The first ones opened in 1970. They were low-cost alternatives to hospitals for minor surgeries. They were places to go for routine outpatient procedures. Things like colonoscopies or cataract removal.
But today, they’ve become a huge business. They now outnumber hospitals. There are more than 5,600 across the country. And in the quest for profits, they have started doing more complicated surgeries, like delicate spinal procedures.… Read More
Saline solution has been part of standard hospital treatment for 150 years.
It’s the bag of saltwater that hangs above many patients. It is administered intravenously to make sure patients don’t get dehydrated and their blood pressure remains strong. It is also used to administer drugs and nutrition if a patient can’t eat.
But new research finds it might also kill you.… Read More
Blood-thinning drugs are supposed to cut your risk of having a stroke. That’s the main reason millions of Americans who suffer from atrial fibrillation take them.
These medications include Coumadin (warfarin), Eliquis (apixaban), Pradaxa (dabigatran), and Xarelto (rivaroxaban).1
An alarming new study shows that in many people these drugs actually increase the chances of having a stroke.
… Read MoreMany of us don’t go a day without popping an Advil or Tylenol. One study found that the average adult takes 373 over-the-counter pain pills a year.1
But if you can buy them without a prescription, they must be safe… Right?
Not exactly.
… Read MoreIt’s one of the most terrifying realizations anyone can have: “Oh no, I’m having a heart attack!”
It might be followed by, “Will I die? What can I do to save my life?”
Someone has this moment every 40 seconds in the U.S. And every nine minutes, the victim dies within the first hour.1 2
… Read MoreMore than 170 million Americans drink tap water that contains the radioactive element radium. It’s a compound that causes cancer.1
That’s over half of the U.S. population.
… Read More