A pro-lifer says lawmakers are trying to prevent the federal government from getting specific information about things such as abortion.Under a bill the California Legislature may soon approve, medical providers and affiliated businesses could face hefty state fines if they comply with a federal subpoena seeking information about abortion. Continue reading
Everyone hates pulling up to the pharmacy, waiting in a long line, and still not leaving with what they came for. Unfortunately, this has become the reality for many seniors or others who rely on prescription drugs day to day. For someone like me who relies on blood pressure medication, a 90-day refill is normal. It makes sense for something you have to take every day, sometimes multiple times a day. In fact, my insurance won’t always cover a smaller amount. However, pharmacies and insurers have quietly shifted refill rules (seemingly overnight).
This is in response to new Medicare Part D cost-sharing structures, rising drug prices, and tighter utilization controls. The result is a system where patients must navigate more restrictions, more denials, and more hoops just to get the medications they’ve taken for years.
Here’s what you need to know about how you may be affected and what you can do to avoid delays. Continue reading
MaryJo Perry raises animals on her property outside of Jackson, Miss., and uses ivermectin to treat her cattle. To her, the drug is as familiar, safe, cheap and effective as vitamins: “We’ve been using it on the farm for 40 years.”
Perry, who studied animal science and at one time wanted to be a vet, also uses it to treat mange in stray dogs she rescues near her home. It works without side effects, she says: “I’ve never seen issues with it.”
In humans, ivermectin fights parasitic infections from roundworm, lice and scabies; it’s effective against certain tropical diseases, and may have benefits in fighting malaria. Continue reading
You probably don’t think of your poop as art or a book, but each time you finish doing your, um, business, your fecal matter tells a story. That’s because we are what we eat, and whatever we eat eventually plops into the toilet.
So if you’re interested in gazing upon what your bowels have unleashed, you may discover some clues about your health. For instance, if your stool is sticking to the toilet bowl, there’s a good chance your diet is too high in fat.
That said, no need to immediately rush out to the grocery store to revamp your entire diet. Sometimes a gross piece of fecal matter is just that ― kind of disgusting and something you can flush away and quickly forget about. Continue reading
Billionaire Mark Cuban says big drug and insurance companies in the U.S. have grown too powerful to care about ordinary people, but policymakers aren’t taking any real action to fix it.
Speaking at the Punchbowl News Conference in Washington, DC, earlier this month, Cuban said major insurance companies run vertically integrated empires — they control everything from pharmacy benefit managers to wellness programs. That’s why they hold so much power over the entire healthcare system. His fix? Force them to divest non-insurance businesses and level the playing field. Continue reading
For so long, pancreatic cancer has been a near-death sentence. Not just because of the aggressive nature of the cancer, but because so many times, the cancer isn’t found until it has already progressed far enough to be detected through metastasis (spreading to another location). By then, the cancer has already taken such a significant hold on the organ, and it can be resistant to many different treatment types.
At least, that’s how things used to be before a 2026 breakthrough. Continue reading
A study published shows that the early U.S. death toll during the COVID-19 pandemic was higher than previously recorded.
The journal Science Advances found that more than 155,000 unrecognized additional deaths outside of hospitals between March 2020 and December 2021 likely went uncounted. This suggests that 15.6 percent of deaths went uncounted, as the official death toll during that time frame was more than 840,000.
Researchers said the estimated total number of COVID-19 deaths between that timeline was More than 995,000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established that the U.S. hit 1 million COVID-19 deaths in May 2022. The study suggests that possible geographic and sociodemographic inequities contributed to coronavirus deaths not being part of the official death count. Continue reading
More than 3 million eyedrops have been recalled in the US because of a ‘lack of assurance of sterility’
Manufacturer K.C. Pharmaceuticals, based in California, issued the alert for its over-the-counter generic eye drop products due to a ‘lack of assurance of sterility’.
It is not clear whether any are contaminated, but the FDA has said this is a Class II recall, meaning there is a temporary, and reversible, risk to the eyes and vision if the products are used.
The eye drops were sold nationwide in 0.5 fl oz bottles and were on shelves at CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, H-E-B and other stores. Continue reading
Anti-aging and longevity supplements are booming in popularity, with Americans collectively spending millions a year on the products.
Among the most popular are vitamin B3 derivatives: nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide (NAM).
These forms of vitamin B3 are often taken to increase energy, protect the brain and heart and slow aging. They are touted for their ability to raise levels of NAD+, a molecule that plays a crucial role in metabolism and cell repair. Continue reading
Berries, nature’s colorful and flavorful jewels, are not just a treat for the taste buds but also a boon for heart health. Numerous studies highlight the role berries play in reducing heart attack risk while promoting overall cardiovascular wellness.
Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are a powerhouse of nutrients. Continue reading
We’re supposed to believe that medical licensing exists to protect healthcare consumers from “quacks” and “charlatans.” The purpose, we’re told, is to improve the quality of healthcare, yet this system has manifestly failed to produce good patient outcomes.
The simple explanation for this is that medical licensing was never designed to protect the interests of healthcare consumers. Instead, the purpose has always been to protect the financial interests of a medical trade organization allied with the pharmaceutical industry.
The effective result is a government-enforced medical cartel that masquerades as a “health care” system. Continue reading
For decades, doctors believed that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications such as Ritalin and Adderall worked by sharpening a person’s focus.
You’ve probably heard that few things in life are certain except death and taxes, but we’d like to add something else to the list: cleaning up in the bathroom.
So, since we have to do it, what’s the best technique? Continue reading
Chemical relaxers used to straighten hair may increase the risk of developing multiple cancers by as much as 166 percent, a new study has found
The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) sent a notice to major retailers Amazon.com, Target and Walmart on Tuesday notifying them that they are in violation for selling shampoos, body soaps and other hygienic products that contain cocamide diethanolamine, or cocamide DEA.
Cocamide DEA is derived from coconut oil and commonly used in shampoos, soaps and lotions as a foam booster, thickening agent and stabilizer.
It is made by reacting coconut oil with a chemical called ethanolamine. Continue reading