How many cookies? Your holiday diet slip-ups

Holidays derailing your diet? You’re not alone. We asked our readers to tell us about the temptations they’ve given into — and those they’ve managed to resist — and got some confessions.
“Flying from Texas back to visit the family in Detroit, I (atypically) discovered the rich, wonderful taste of eggnog,” writes Bob, who’s from Scottsdale, Ariz. “Once back in Texas, my bathroom scale revealed how much it liked me also: 10 pounds worth. Oops!”
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How Many Kids Need Cholesterol Drugs?

How Many Kids Need Cholesterol Drugs?
Feb. 16, 2009 — Following a call for more aggressive screening and
treatment of cholesterol in childhood, a new study published in the journal
shows that about 200,000 U.S. teens and preteens need
medication to lower their cholesterol.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended last summer that
doctors consider cholesterol-lowering drugs, called statins, for children aged
8 and older if a blood Read the rest of this entry »

High cost of health care results from hospital's many expenses

THANK you for your interest in Fairfield Medical Center and the issues surrounding our facility and health care in general. This week we have the following question to answer:
“Why does health care cost so much?”
I am sure at some point in time you have had to go to the hospital or the doctor for one reason or another, and you believe that the price of health care is too high.
Everyone talks about the high cost of health care, and the first Read the rest of this entry »

Too Many Hurdles

The post-Fukuda administration must strengthen relationship with its coalition partners and establish a solid and potent Cabinet lineup.
On September 1, Japanese Prime Minster Yasuo Fukuda expressed his intention to quit the top government post at a hastily arranged press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office.
His announcement came despite the reshuffling of his Cabinet a month ago, and expression of desire to address Diet affairs with his Read the rest of this entry »

Medical Edge: Ordering prescription drugs online has many risks

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I keep hearing that Viagra is available on the Internet, and that I don’t even need a prescription when I buy it that way. It sounds like a great way to save money, but are there any reasons this would not be a good idea? What are the potential risks when ordering prescriptions online?
Although ordering Viagra online may appear less expensive, the cost to your health could be quite high. Ordering prescription drugs online has many Read the rest of this entry »

Many Hawaii Unemployed Forgo Health Insurance

HONOLULU – A national study Friday confirmed what many of the unemployed in Hawaii already know, that a program designed to help jobless people keep their health insurance costs so much that it is often unaffordable.
In Hawaii, the average family on unemployment would have to pay nearly half its jobless benefits to cover COBRA health insurance premiums.
The average COBRA health insurance premiums in Hawaii are the lowest in the country. However, Read the rest of this entry »

Dermatitis Can Have Many Causes

THURSDAY, Nov. 6 (HealthDay News) — A wide variety of substances can cause the skin condition known as contact dermatitis, which often can be effectively managed with proper diagnosis and treatment, experts say.
Contact dermatitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the skin resulting from contact with a chemical, biologic or physical agent. Common culprits include cosmetics, perfumes, certain foods, nickel and some other metals, cleaning solutions, Read the rest of this entry »

Medical Debt Sending Many Over Financial Brink

TUESDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) –Since 1999, Keith and Deborah Krinsky of Magalia, Calif., have seen their health insurance deductible soar from $1,000 to $10,000.
And their health-care costs have put them in a financial hole.
A combination of Keith’s chronic asthma and potential heart problems, Deborah’s connective tissue disorder and fallen arches, and their kids’ various scrapes and stumbles led them to amass a pile of credit card debt and Read the rest of this entry »

Many jobless forgo extending health benefits

Michiganders who lose jobs often can’t afford to buy temporary policies that extend workplace health benefits because the cost eats up nearly all of their monthly unemployment checks, a report released Friday concludes.
Only one in five unemployed workers have health insurance, says a new report from FamiliesUSA, a Washington, D.C., research and advocacy organization. As a result, many delay care for themselves and their families, making it more Read the rest of this entry »

Many Clinical Trials Moving Overseas

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18 (HealthDay News) — A new report contends many clinical drug trials are now being run outside the United States and in far reaches of the globe, and that the trend raises troubling ethical and medical issues.
The implications of this, according to Dr. Kevin A. Schulman, senior study author, are that drugs are being tested on people who may not align with the types of patients in the United States who would ultimately use the drug.
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