Opioid drugs like Vicodin and oxycodone have a reputation as being really strong painkillers. After all, if they are that addictive…they must get rid of the pain, right?
A definitive new study shows that’s bunk. They actually provide less pain relief than over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and Tylenol.1
… Read MoreWhen you get cancer, how do doctors decide what treatment to give you?
At least in part, they rely on guidelines produced by the U.S. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). It’s a little-known group of doctors with big clout. They recommend what cancer drugs should be used in which situations.
They frequently recommend that cancer medications be used beyond the situations for which they were approved by the FDA.… Read More
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
Tea is one of the healthiest things you can put into your body.
Its powerful antioxidants provide tremendous and diverse benefits. They improve bone density and heart health. They help you lose weight, boost your immune system, and even slow brain aging.1 2
But a new study discovered a downside to tea.
… Read MoreSaline 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
This year’s nasty flu season made us all more worried about germs and the places they hide.
Most of us know the basics… Be wary of surfaces in public bathrooms… Stay out of sneezing range of a sick co-worker… And beware of touching things like shopping cart handles and door handles.
But studies have found that germs can lurk in unlikely spots…places we might never think would hold cold or flu viruses.… Read More