Outrage is growing this week amid revelations that the pharmaceutical company Valeant raised the price for its critical lead-poisoning treatment by more than 2,700 percent in a single year. Before Valeant took control of the medication, known as Calcium EDTA, in 2013, the average price for a package of vials was stable at $950, the […]
Category: Health
Major Autism Research Foundation No Longer Seeking Cure
For the first time, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization has revamped its agenda and one notable objective is no more. Autism Speaks’ board of directors voted in late September to modify the organization’s mission statement, marking the first such change since the nonprofit was established in 2005. The new iteration is shorter and strikes […]
Does New Plant Based Burger Taste Like the Real Thing?
Our nation’s obsession with red meat takes a large toll on the environment and our health, but Beyond Meat—the company behind the 100 percent vegan, plant-based Beyond Burger—wants to change all that. It introduced a savory patty made strictly from plants that it claims looks, cooks, and tastes like red meat. Its ultimate goal: To […]
Some doctors no longer recommending weight loss
Several years ago, I was meeting a young woman in my clinic for the first time. She was healthy but had been obese most of her adult life, even though she had tried many methods of losing weight. We spoke for a few minutes about diet and exercise, and she agreed to see the nutritionist. […]
Zika spreading to new areas
Public health officials in Florida have identified a new area in Miami-Dade County where the Zika virus is being spread by mosquitoes, according to a report by the Florida Department of Health. In total, five people — three people living in the area and two who either visited or worked in the area — are […]
Siamese Twins conjoined at head, successfully seperated
Two formerly conjoined twins are recovering after undergoing a lengthy surgery that separated them. Jadon and Anias McDonald underwent a rare surgery at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City on Thursday that lasted more than 20 hours as doctors carefully separated the boys, according to the hospital’s Facebook page. Anias is still being operated […]
Oregon votes on marijuana expansion
Last year, Golden Leaf Holdings, a leading cannabis company, paid $3.3 million for almost 100 acres of land in Oregon to build a marijuana growing, processing and research site. The future looked bright: Oregon voters had legalized recreational marijuana in 2014. But Measure 91 gave counties and towns the opportunity to opt out and ban […]
Police demanding boycott of Ben and Jerry’s due to Black Lives Matter support
Blue Lives Matter, a group of active and retired law enforcement officials, issued a statement on Monday demanding all Americans boycott Ben & Jerry’s after the ice cream maker announced its public support of Black Lives Matter last week. “Ben & Jerry’s went beyond making a statement in support of civil rights when they actively […]
Sickle cell disease corrected by genetic modification?
The promise of a revolutionary gene-editing technology is beginning to be realized in experiments aimed at curing sickle cell disease. Scientists reported Wednesday that they used the CRISPR-Cas9 system to correct a tiny genetic mutation that causes the blood disease, which affects millions of people around the world. So far, the feat has been demonstrated only […]
To Fight Obesity W.H.O. Urges Tax on Sugary Drinks
The World Health Organization on Tuesday urged countries to impose a tax on sugary drinks to battle the growing obesity epidemic and presented new data on the beneficial health effects of such a tax. A tax on sugary drinks raising their price 20 percent would result in a proportionate reduction in consumption of such drinks, […]
Allergic reactions leads to Lunchables recall
Kraft Heinz Company has recalled 959 pounds of Lunchables Ham and American Cracker Stackers after food inspectors confirmed the products were mislabeled and contain wheat and soy. Those ingredients, which are common allergens, were not declared on the packaging. Although the Fullerton, California, establishment hasn’t received any reports of illnesses, the Department of Agriculture’s Food […]
DEA puts Kratom ban on hold
In late August, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency announced a ban on the herbal supplement kratom. Now, after much public outcry and demands made by lawmakers, the agency is reconsidering its decision. Easily purchased online and at many health food stores, the popular herb would be just as illegal as heroin or ecstasy once the […]