These days, the message is everywhere…
Wear a face mask to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus.
But a new study shows that one of the most common types of masks may actually be worse than wearing no mask at all.[1]
Researchers at Duke University created a box-shaped device that could track the tiny respiratory particles that escape from people’s mouths when they speak.… Read More
It’s a fact of life…
As you get older, your eyes get weaker.
The first sign may be trouble reading small print. Then you may find your night vision fading.
Eventually, like so many other older Americans, you may end up with cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. All of these can lead to blindness.
More than 4 million Americans over age 40 are legally blind because of these conditions and others that worsen with age.… Read More
The number one most-prescribed drug in America is atorvastatin (Lipitor). More than 21 million people in the U.S. take it to lower their LDL cholesterol.
Nearly 15 million more take other statins such as simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and lovastatin (Mevacor).[1]
With these kind of numbers, you’d think there would be clear and convincing evidence that the drugs worked.… Read More
The most widely used type of blood pressure drug may do more harm than good for your heart, according to a major new study.
A research team led by Pennsylvania State University looked at L-type calcium channel blockers (LCCBs). These include verapamil (Calan, Isoptin) and diltiazen (Cardizem).[1]
LCCBs work by keeping excessive calcium from entering blood vessel cells. Too much calcium causes the vessels to become thick and stiff, which raises blood pressure.… Read More
Penicillin has been called the greatest advancement in the history of medicine.[1]
Since its discovery in 1928, penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic, has saved millions of people from dying of pneumonia, tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, strep, and other previously untreatable bacterial illnesses.
One researcher estimated that penicillin has prevented some 200 million deaths. That’s the equivalent of saving the life of every American living east of the Mississippi River.… Read More
In 2013, a new class of diabetes drugs was approved by the FDA. It was hailed as a breakthrough.
The medications were called SGLT2 inhibitors. They included Invokana (canagliflozin), Farxiga, (dapagliflozin), and Jardiance (empagliflozin).
The drugs worked by causing the kidneys to remove more blood sugar.
SGLT2 inhibitors were touted as providing superior blood sugar control for type 2 diabetics with no serious side effects.… Read More