For decades, the body mass index (BMI) has been considered the best tool to determine if you’re overweight.
The BMI’s ability to diagnose obesity has gone almost unchallenged since it was invented in the 1830s by Belgian mathematician Aldolphe Quetelet. It is the ratio of a person’s weight to the square of their height.
Our major health institutions—the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—still recommend it.… Read More
For years doctors, drug companies, and the FDA recommended a daily “baby aspirin” to prevent heart attacks and strokes as we age. And millions of us have been following that advice.
But what most people don’t know is that the FDA has quietly reversed its stance.
The agency now says daily aspirin exposes us to significant health risks.1,2
In a little-noticed press release, the FDA stated:
“The FDA has reviewed the available data and does not believe the evidence supports the general use of aspirin for primary prevention of a heart attack or stroke. … Read More
Does talcum powder cause ovarian cancer? A jury in Missouri thinks so.
It awarded $72 million to the family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer. She had used Johnson & Johnson’s popular talcum powder products for over 35 years.
The jury found that J&J failed to warn consumers for decades about a possible cancer risk.1
The lawyer for the deceased woman’s family said that J&J knew of the cancer risk as far back as the 1980s and did nothing about it.… Read More
Hillary Clinton’s uncontrollable coughing fits are making headlines across America. Her awkward episodes of nasty hacking sometimes last for minutes while she gives speeches. And they’ve sparked speculation that she has a serious health problem.1
Her medical records provide clues to the cause. They show she is taking:2
Many of us would love to lose a few quick pounds. But the problem with most crash diets is that you lose muscle along with the fat.
The problem is having muscle burns calories… So you don’t want less of it. And losing muscle also makes you feel weaker. This makes you less likely to exercise. All of this means your weight loss comes to a screeching halt.… Read More
The official cause of death for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is listed as “natural causes.”
This is a vague catch-all term used when an autopsy is not performed, as was the case with Justice Scalia.
But doctors examining the circumstances of his death at age 79 say they know exactly what killed him. And they know what could have saved him, too.… Read More