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Health officials are intensifying the monitoring of hospital workers who provided care to the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. after one of them was infected with the virus despite wearing protective gear. Tests confirmed the first known case of Ebola transmitted in the nation, raising questions about assurances by health … Read more

Insurers and patients are decrying the cost for the new drug, nearly $95,000 for a 12-week course of treatment, which is more expensive than Gilead’s other hepatitis C drug, Sovaldi. But unlike some hepatitis C treatments, Harvoni can be taken without injections usually given to hepatitis C patients. The New York Times: Harvoni, A Hepatitis … Read more

Adults in the United States suffered from approximately 14 million major medical conditions attributable to smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease in the United States. Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ and organ system in the body. The authors of the study used data from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2009, National … Read more

A chemical found in broccoli, cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables may reduce symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, suggests a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.   For the study, scientists at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children’s Lurie Center for Autism gave young men with moderate to severe autism, … Read more

The amount of caffeine in diet supplements varies widely and product labels are often inaccurate or have no caffeine information at all, according to a new study of supplements sold on military bases. Although the caffeine doses probably wouldn’t be a problem on their own, they may cause issues when the pills or powders are … Read more

For over 50% of the American workforce, sitting in front of our computers is not only a part of our daily routine, it is an economic necessity. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), the most frequent health complaints among computer workers are vision-related. Studies indicate that 50 to 90 percent of computer users suffer … Read more

A decade ago almost all doctors kept paper charts on every patient. That is changing quickly as laptops become as common as stethoscopes in exam rooms. Recent hacking attacks have raised questions about how safe that data may be. Here are some frequently asked questions about this evolution underway in American medicine and the government … Read more

Bottled water is the world’s fastest growing beverage, but consumers would be better served by simply turning on the tap, asserts an environmental group. Bottlers of water generally capitalize on consumer concerns about municipal water supplies, creating demand for their product via an association with pristine environs. Some bottled waters, however, differ from tap water … Read more

Health warnings issued when beaches have high levels of bacteria do not keep many surfers out of the water, according to a new study by Oregon State University. Nearly three in 10 surfers admit they knowingly surf during health advisories – nearly the same amount that chooses not to surf during periods of elevated bacteria. … Read more