The People's Perspective on Medicine, since 1976
Helping you to make informed decisions about both traditional and alternative treatments.
New Research Confirms Link | Herpes Virus Infect…
Could Alzheimer disease be caused in part by a viral infection? Such an association seems bizarre and yet the evidence is accumulating that certain strains of herpes virus infections and Alzheimer dis…
Better Diet for Poor Americans Is Not a SNAP
Poor diet may underly a wide range of undesirable health problems, from obesity to diabetes and heart disease. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was designed to help very low-income…
Alcohol for Longer Life? How Much is Enough and …
The alcohol wars have been raging for decades. Some studies suggest that “moderate” amounts of alcohol have health benefits. In other words, people who drink a little alcohol for longer life may b…
Will Nutrients Slow Deterioration from Alzheimer…
Could nutritional supplements delay the deterioration from Alzheimer disease? A pilot study from Ireland suggests this might be possible (Nolan et al, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, June 2018). Ca…
Can Women Lower Breast Cancer Risk with Vitamin …
Vitamin D levels may be important as a way for women to lower breast cancer risk. That is the conclusion from an epidemiological study (PLOS One, June 15, 2018). Which Women Had a Lower Breast Cancer …
Will Chiropractic Care Help You Recover from Bac…
Back pain is common, but doctors disagree about the best treatment. Often, physicians recommend that sufferers take pain relievers and let nature take its course to recovery. Patients sometimes consid…
Will Raisins in the Evening Help You Stay in Bed…
Have you ever had to get up at night to urinate? Most of us have. Going once or even twice in the course of the night may not be much of a problem, but having to trek to the bathroom multiple times ca…
Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics and Life-Threatening…
For decades, doctors have prescribed fluoroquinolone antibiotics with abandon. They were perceived as highly effective and safe medications against a wide variety of bacterial infections. Tens of mill…
Will Vitamin D Pills Help You Avoid Cancer?
New research strongly suggests that people with too little vitamin D in their systems are more likely to get colorectal cancer (McCullough et al, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, June 14, 201…
Can You Ease Raynaud’s Syndrome Naturally?
In 1862, a French physician named Maurice Raynaud described a condition in which fingers (and occasionally toes, ears and noses) become painful and turn white in the cold. The medical experts of the d…
Why Won’t the Vitamin Wars Ever End?
Experts still cannot agree about vitamin and mineral supplements. Many health professionals maintain that they are a total waste of money and could be dangerous. Others say that vitamin insurance is e…
How Much Beet Juice Will Lower Your Blood Pressu…
People with high blood pressure are more likely to experience heart attacks and strokes. That is why doctors emphasize blood pressure control. They often prescribe medication to achieve this goal. Som…
Can You Boost Your Bone Density with Exercise?
Weakened bones with low bone density put a person at risk for fracture. When an older person breaks a hip, the consequences can be devastating. As a result, it makes sense to look for ways to boost yo…
Insurers Are Refusing to Pay for Life-Saving Hep…
One of the great pharmaceutical advances of the last decade has been the development of antiviral medications that are highly effective against hepatitis C (aka HEP C or HCV for hepatitis C virus). Ke…
Where in the World Are Cancer Rates Highest?
Cancer rates around the world vary greatly. Epidemiologists reviewed data from 195 countries in 2016 and found quite a large range (JAMA Oncology, June 2, 2018). Cancer Rates Are Highest in Australia:…
Can You Fight Bacteria with Viruses?
Antibiotic resistance has become a global concern. But Mother Nature has come up with a fascinating option for overcoming bacterial infection: viruses that fight bacteria. Using Viruses to Fight Bacte…
When Do Americans Develop a Sweet Tooth?
How early do Americans develop their sweet tooth and a taste for added sugar? A new study found that 99 percent of toddlers less than two years old consumed more than seven teaspoons of added sugar a …
Make Sure Your Vegetarian Diet Is High Quality
A vegetarian diet can be beneficial, but even vegetarians need to pay attention to the quality of the food they eat. Harvard researchers who have tracked the dietary habits and health of more than 125…
Show 1126: Can You Find Your Best Diet?
People get excited about their favorite diets. Maybe you do, too. Are you a low-carb champion or a low-fat fan? Which one really is your best diet? The DIETFITS Study: A big study from the Stanford Pr…
Natural Ways to Get Your Cholesterol Down
Cholesterol is only one of numerous risk factors for heart disease. However, physicians can't do much about some of your other risk factors, such as your family history. They can prescribe medications…
Can You Find a Good Sunscreen Without Oxybenzone…
In the last few years, alert consumers have sought sunscreens that do not contain endocrine disruptors. Sometimes, this can be quite a challenge. Two consumer organizations have recently issued their …
Should You Have a Blue Thumb to Be Pain Free?
Gentian violet is an old but versatile medication. It was created in the 19th century, and although it is a bright blue dye, it was never used to color cloth or products. Its applications were strictl…
Can Meloxicam Raise Blood Pressure Dangerously H…
Meloxicam (Mobic) is one of the most popular prescription NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in the pharmacy. According to our calculations, over 22 million prescriptions are dispensed each…
How Can You Find Quinine for Leg Cramps?
When a common remedy becomes unavailable, people often become creative. They find new ways to address the problem. That is what many folks have needed to do once the FDA took quinine for leg cramps of…
Is There a Dark Side to the Diabetes Drug Jardia…
If you watch television, there is a decent chance you have seen a Jardiance commercial. The manufacturer is promoting “Big News” about this diabetes drug. Towards the end of the TV spot, the inter…
Who Makes More Mistakes | Bank Tellers or Pharma…
We have been stunned by the number of mistakes that occur in pharmacies. A few years ago we asked the question: how many errors occur annually in drug stores? What we discovered was beyond shocking. O…
How to Ease Migraine Pain without Prescriptions
I truly sympathize with those who suffer from chronic migraines. While I occasionally have a mild headache, only once do I think I may have experienced something even close to migraine pain. When I ha…
Old Data Behind Statin Guidelines Led to Serious…
In 2013 the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) issued new statin guidelines for physicians. The recommendations were based on the Heart Risk Calculator. Doct…
Show 1125: How Can You Find Your Sleep Solution?
You may have read or heard that adequate sleep is a pillar of good health, like exercise and a healthy diet. Sleep affects blood pressure and heart disease, metabolism and obesity, the immune system, …
Can You Skip Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer?
Some women with the most common type of breast cancer might safely skip chemotherapy. That’s the finding from a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting and published in …