Years ago, liver disease carried a terrible stigma.
When someone had it, it was assumed they had a drinking problem. And back then, alcoholism was often viewed as a failure of character rather than the disease that it is.
Today, more Americans than ever have liver disease. But for the vast majority, it has nothing to do with alcohol.
The statistics are terrifying…
More than 30% of Americans have the most common form of liver disease.… Read More
There is no shortage of products to help you quit smoking. There are chewing gums, patches, nasal sprays, and lozenges. There are anti-craving pills and filter systems. There are even apps to provide emotional and educational support.
But when smokers want to quit, chances are they won’t use any of these.
Instead they’ll turn to e-cigarettes.
Vaping is by far the most popular way Americans try to kick the habit.… Read More
When cortisone was introduced in the 1940s, it seemed like a miracle drug.
People who were bedridden with arthritis or needed wheelchairs could suddenly walk or even climb stairs for the first time in years.
The anti-inflammatory effects were so dramatic that the three researchers who formulated cortisone shared a Nobel Prize in 1950 for the discovery.[1]
Soon, scientists came up with other similar corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone, dexamethasone, and prednisolone.… Read More
One of the most confounding aspects of COVID-19 is that it’s hard to know if you have it.
The symptoms are similar to other respiratory illnesses. So when you get a stuffy nose or a fever you might have a cold or the flu…or you might have COVID. You really can’t tell unless you get tested.
The coronavirus does cause one particular symptom that is clear evidence you have it: loss of smell and taste.… Read More
When bodies are donated for medical research, scientists closely examine the cadavers. Lately, what they’ve been finding is disturbing.
Professor Rolf Halden is an Arizona State University researcher. He and his colleagues are finding tiny bits of plastic throughout the bodies they look at. It is concentrated in the liver, kidneys, lungs, and spleen, but it’s in other organs as well.… Read More
At first glance, it makes sense to take a daily low-dose aspirin to prevent heart disease.
Aspirin thins the blood. This should reduce your risk of a blood clot that could lead to a stroke or heart attack.
But this benefit comes at a high price.
A study in the British Journal of Pharmacology found that daily aspirin reduces risk of a heart attack or stroke by 17%.… Read More