Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control reveals that we need to do a better job of getting cancer screening tests. Screenings for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer were below targets...
Diane Archer
How to prevent elder abuse
Elder abuse is a serious problem that takes many forms. According to Brown University professor Dr. Richard Besdine, it can mean physical, mental or sexual harm and financial exploitation. It can...
Will your health plan cover the drugs you need?
Health plans often make it hard for people to know which drugs they cover before they sign up for the plan and even harder to find out what out-of-pocket costs will be for a particular drug. Yet...
Claiming Social Security benefits early disproportionately hurts...
A GAO report analyzing the characteristics of people who claim Social Security benefits early raises two questions that deserve far more attention than they get: 1. Should people claiming Social...
Members of Congress have a stake in drug and device companies...
We all know about the large amount of money the drug and device companies contribute to members of Congress, with the hope that it will lead them to support legislation that maximizes their profits...
Should drug companies be allowed to advertise on TV?
On November 17, 2015, the American Medical Association voted to support a ban on drug and medical device company advertising on TV. The AMA sees a negative impact from these ads and also says these...
Glaucoma: See a doctor if you experience loss of vision or have...
Almost one in 50 people over 40 are diagnosed with glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease that hurts the eye’s optic nerve, leading to loss of vision or blindness. Early treatment, however, generally...
Preventive care: Bone density tests and osteoporosis
Preventive care is recommended to ensure you stay healthy. Bone density tests or bone mass measurements are a type of preventive care doctors often recommend to diagnose osteoporosis. Patients with...
How does age affect your cognitive abilities?
A recent study published in Psychological Science, by Laura Germine and Joshua Harshorne, looks at the age at which different types of cognitive abilities peak across a person’s lifespan...
Side effects of drugs prescribed off-label often serious
The Supreme Court is about to consider whether drug companies should be allowed to promote their drugs for off-label use as a matter of free speech. A new study in JAMA of drugs prescribed off-label...