Products with Health Risks
Do Cell Phone Radiation Shields Work?
You may have seen cell phone radiation blockers or radiation shields advertised on the internet. Many of these products are scams to prey on real concerns about the long-term risks of cell phone radiation. Read More
Energy drinks: Caffeine + Calories = ???
Nearly 1 in 4 adults drinks an energy drink once a week in the hopes of getting a boost in physical and mental performance. But with a high number of deaths and hospitalizations potentially connected to energy drinks, are they really safe? Read More
Home Sweet Home? Flame Retardants in Your Home
Toxic flame retardants commonly found in upholstered furniture, drapery, carpets, plastic-cased electronics, and foam baby products have been known to cause cancer and affect children’s growth and brain development. Read More
Recall of Device to Treat Irregular Heartbeats is Worrying Patients Who Have Them in Their Bodies
Defibrillators are medical devices that treat irregular heartbeats and can prevent sudden cardiac arrest. The 79,000 Americans who were implanted with the Riata or Riata ST Silicone implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads made by St. Jude Medical are left wondering what to do now that the FDA recalled the device in December 2011. This recall was announced a year after the company stopped their sales of the product. Read More
Statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) and the New Safety Warnings: What It Means for You
The FDA issued new safety warnings for statins in February 2012 about the increased risk for diabetes, memory loss and muscle pain, symptoms that we have been warning patients about for some time. Read More
Arsenic and Lead in our juice (and you thought poisoned apples were only in fairy tales!)
Learn how much arsenic has been found in common foods and drinks (too much!)–and what laws are in place to protect your family from this known carcinogen (not many!). Read More
Having Trouble Sleeping? Pills are not a Safe Solution
A compelling new study suggests that people who take sleeping pills are at an increased risk of dying or developing cancer within the next 2 and a half years. Read More
Rock-a-bye Baby, Chemicals and All: The health risks posed by crib mattresses
In recent years, the safety regulations for cribs have increased yet little attention has been given to the safety of crib mattresses. A new study finds that an alarming number of mattresses contain chemicals that may pose serious health risks for infants. Read More
Birth Control Pills: What You Need to Know
Understanding how birth control pills work and how the FDA determines whether they are safe and effective can help demystify the process of choosing the birth control pill that is right for you. Read More
Are Bayer’s Birth Control Pills too Risky?
YAZ, Yasmin, Beyaz, and other drospirenone hormonal birth control pills have been found to have an increased risk of serious blood clots. However, the FDA has not taken the pills off the market or demanded a black box warning. Read More