The People's Perspective on Medicine, since 1976
Helping you to make informed decisions about both traditional and alternative treatments.
A New Carcinogen DMF Discovered in Valsartan BP …
And now there are FOUR potential carcinogens found in blood pressure medicines called ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers). For almost a year Americans have faced repeated recalls of BP pills like irb…
Forget Vitamin D Supplements for Heart Disease
Vitamin D supplements disappoint again. That’s the conclusion of a meta-analysis published in JAMA Cardiology this week. The researchers noted that many epidemiological studies have linked low vitam…
How Do You Feed Your Microbiota?
Scientists know that the community of microbes that lives in your digestive tract is unique to you (your microbiota). They hypothesize that if you want to stay healthy, you have to keep the community …
Will Hot Water Help You Move Your Bowels?
In years past, people put a lot of emphasis on regularity. They thought a bathroom visit every day, preferably first thing in the morning, was essential to good health. Some folks had their favorite t…
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Cause Cognitive Probl…
As people grow older, they may begin to have difficulty with memory or complex cognitive tasks. The family might chalk the problem up to encroaching dementia due to aging. In some cases, though, cogni…
Will Soy Sauce Ease Your Burn Pain?
If you have ever had hot liquid splash on your hand accidentally, you've looked for a burn remedy. Holding the singed fingers under cold tap water is the recommended first aid, but it may ease your bu…
Why Aren’t Docs Outraged by Inadequate Generic…
Doctors, pharmacists and nurses are directly responsible for patient care. They prescribe, dispense and oversee treatment. Why aren’t they more concerned about generic drug quality? We are confounde…
How Can You Prevent Tick Bites?
As we move into summertime and look forward to outdoor activities such as biking, hiking and camping, people start to worry about Lyme disease. While this infection can be serious, it is not the only …
Decongestant Spray Addiction is Hard to Kick
When your nose is stopped up because of a cold or allergies, you feel awful. Breathing through your mouth when you are trying to sleep can be especially challenging. It’s hardly surprising that peop…
Generic Furosemide Disappoints | How to Afford L…
Ask any doctor about the importance of furosemide (Lasix) and you are likely to get an earful. The FDA approved this diuretic in 1966. It is considered an essential medicine by the World Health Organi…
Show 1169: What Are the Problems with Generic Dr…
You may not be aware that the vast majority of medications Americans take are generic drugs. This helps hold down the costs that patients have to pay, especially if you are taking one of the medicines…
PPIs are Safe! New Study Contradicts Prior Resea…
Prepare for whiplash. Last week we reported on a large VA study using medical records from 150,000 veterans (BMJ, May 30, 2019). It showed that people taking proton pump inhibitors to suppress s…
Warfarin and Green Leafy Vegetables Can Be OK
For decades, patients taking the anticoagulant warfarin, known by the brand name Coumadin, have been admonished to be very careful about consuming foods rich in vitamin K. That’s because too much vi…
Diabetes Risk No Lower with Vitamin D Supplement…
People with very low levels of vitamin D are known to be at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. A study demonstrates that vitamin D supplements don’t alter diabetes risk (New England Journal…
Could TV On All Night Make You Gain Weight?
Do you leave the TV on in your bedroom overnight? Data from the Sister Study suggests you might want to turn it off (JAMA Internal Medicine, online June 10, 2019). What Does the Sister Study Say About…
Will Soaking in a Hot Tub Ease Your PAD Pain?
Just as plaque can clog the arteries leading to the heart to cause coronary artery disease (CAD), it can also narrow arteries in legs, arms and elsewhere in the body. Doctors term this peripheral arte…
Dermatologists Are Unhappy with PediatricianR…
Many parents become so frustrated dealing with lice infestations that they are tempted to pull their own hair out. Some parents are concerned about having to use insecticides repeatedly. As lice devel…
Doctor Wants Alternative Treatment for Sore Knee…
Have you ever had sore knees? It makes it hard to climb stairs. Even walking can be a challenge when your knees hurt. Most people take NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like celecoxib (Cel…
Is Celecoxib Safe To Prevent Nighttime Urination…
There is nothing more annoying than waking up in the middle of the night with a strong urge to pee. Well, actually there is. Waking up to discover that you have had an accident in bed is uncomfortable…
Will Flaxseed Save Nails Damaged from Psoriasis?
Many people assume that ugly nails indicate a fungal infection of the nail bed. While this is frequently a reasonable conclusion, psoriasis can also cause nails to become discolored, crumble or separa…
Can Stopping Aspirin Suddenly Lead to Deadly Blo…
Aspirin gets very little respect from health professionals or patients these days. That may be partly because: 1) it’s really old. Aspirin has been around for more than 100 years. 2) Americans prize…
What Can You Do About Poison Ivy?
This is a scary time of year for millions of people who are sensitive to urushiol. That is the scientific name for the resin found on the leaves, stems or roots of poison ivy, poison oak and poison su…
How Can You Find Natural Cough Medicine That Wor…
Have you ever looked for a natural cough medicine that you can take until you recover from your cold or bronchitis? Some readers have encountered cold remedies in Europe that they found helpful. When …
Show 1168: What Should You Know About Women̵…
When you think about heart health, you may not think about any gender differences in symptoms or treatment. Most doctors don’t, so why would patients? However, women don’t always experience the cl…
Why Popular Heartburn Drugs PPIs Are Linked to P…
Millions of people take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to suppress the secretion of stomach acid. At last count, doctors wrote over 100 million prescriptions for drugs like dexlansoprazole (Dexilent), …
Can Blueberries Combat Metabolic Syndrome?
A cup of blueberries a day could be a tasty way to combat metabolic syndrome. In this condition, extra fat in the abdomen makes the waist larger. Elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin …
Is White Meat Better for Your Heart Than Red Mea…
For decades, Americans have been told that red meat is bad for the heart. They’ve been encouraged to substitute white meat instead. As a result, millions treat pork chops, steaks and burgers as forb…
Will a Mediterranean Diet Benefit Your Brain?
The Mediterranean diet has earned a reputation for promoting heart health, as we discuss below. Now a Harvard study suggests it can also be good for the brain, especially for people with type 2 diabet…
Do You Know About Soy Sauce for a Blister?
If you have ever gone for a long hike in a new pair of shoes, you might know a lot about the pain of a blister. Excess friction over time raises a fluid-filled bump on the skin that may be tender for …
Why Does Coffee Make You Poop With Regularity?
OK, we admit that this is not one of the great medical mysteries of all time. It is intriguing, though. You might think that researchers have far more important things to do than try to figure out can…