Daily Health News Blog

(BPT) - Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions across the United States. More than 6 million Americans abuse prescription drugs and much of the abuse begins at home, according to a national survey on drug use and health. In fact, more than 70 percent of those who illegally use prescription pain relievers obtained them through friends or family, including surreptitiously raiding the home medicine cabinet. However, a recent study revealed that only 19 percent of parents are concerned about the misuse of narcotic pain medicines in their own families, showing that many do not recognize the severity of the problem. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids or narcotic pain medications. When used along with other prescription medications like benzodiazepines and muscle relaxers, they deliver a cocaine-like high. Abuse accounts for 84 percent of patient-related prescription drug fraud, according to research by Express Scripts, the nation's largest phar

There’s good news for people with prediabetes.  Research published in  The Lancet  (Volume 379, page 2243) shows that people with prediabetes who achieve a normal glucose level through exercise or use of medication may reduce the likelihood of progressing to diabetes -- even if they achieve it just once. These findings are based on follow-up data from 1,990 adults with prediabetes who had previously enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). In the DPP, participants were randomly assigned to lifestyle interventions, the diabetes medication metformin or placebo for an average of three years. Those chosen for this analysis still had prediabetes or had reverted to normal blood glucose levels during an average follow-up period of nearly six years after the initial study ended. People who had already developed diabetes were excluded. Compared with people who continued to have prediabetes and never achieved normal glucose levels, those who did so at least once during the study

If I suggested to you that a glass of grapefruit or orange juice in the morning might be harming your health, you’d probably think I’d lost my mind. Everybody knows that citrus juice is rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants. You also know that juice is an easy way to boost your fruit and vegetable intake, so it can be part of a healthy diet. But if you take prescription drugs, you need to think twice before you reach for a glass of  juice . New research shows that many different kinds of juices change the affects of prescription drugs. For a long time, doctors and scientists have known that grapefruit juice and many drugs don’t mix, but it turns out grapefruit juice isn’t the only juice you need to worry about. It is one of the most dangerous, though, so let’s start by looking at why if you take prescriptions, you should avoid  grapefruit juice . How Grapefruit Juice Can Turn Your Prescription Into a Killer Among juice and drug interactions, grapefruit juice is unique. A

If you’ve stopped exercising due to illness, injury, or any personal setback, these six simple steps will help you get back to being fit. I have a friend who spent much of last spring training for a half marathon. She printed out a training schedule and gathered a group of friends to run with in the early morning before her kids woke up. She spent 12 weeks building her endurance, experimenting with running at different speeds, and getting mentally ready. Three days before race day she developed a deep cough. She tried to run the race but had to drop out after two miles due to the pain in her chest. Eventually the cough morphed into pneumonia. All told, she stopped exercising for 29 days, which meant that when her body was finally healed, she was sorely out of shape -- and demoralized to boot. Sound familiar? I'll bet you've thought at some point, "I'll never get in shape again.” Maybe your exercise plans got derailed by an injury. Or maybe it was work demands, f

The stress of a colon cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, so it's very important to have a support system of family and friends to help you with the questions and decisions you face. In this Health Alert, Johns Hopkins provides practical advice to help you cope. Q. My doctor just told me that I have colon cancer and will need to undergo colon cancer surgery. Should I get a second opinion? A. It is common for people to request a second opinion, especially before surgery or other involved treatment. Indeed, many insurance companies require a second opinion. Ask your insurance company what your policy covers and if it requires you to see a doctor within that plan. Also tell your doctor you would like to have a second opinion. Most doctors are accustomed to this and will be supportive. Ask for a referral and for copies of your medical records, including all test results, x-rays, and other imaging tests to take with you to the next doctor. You may have to sign a release a

Arthritis is a condition that affects nearly 70 million people. Treatment can vary extensively, based on severity, on what type of arthritis you have, and on where it strikes. While individual attention from your doctor is necessary to best manage your unique symptoms, certain Superfoods have entered the marketplace that can offer tremendous relief for many arthritis sufferers. Certain Types of Arthritis…Demand Certain Foods For Help! The most common form of arthritis is  osteoarthritis , or the deterioration of cartilage surrounding the bones. This causes bones to rub against one another, resulting in pain and difficulty moving.  Rheumatoid arthritis  is an autoimmune disease where the joint lining becomes inflamed due to dysfunction of the immune system. It can be serious and tends to effect women more than men. Though these forms of arthritis are different, both are joint conditions, which can be quite complex. They involve various systems of the body and are often unpredi

Fiber serves two main purposes that affect your health. Soluble fiber -- in foods like oat bran, nuts, beans, and some fruits and vegetables -- helps prevent your body from reabsorbing bile acids in your gastrointestinal tract, which can help lower your cholesterol without medication. Insoluble fiber -- found in wheat bran, whole wheat bread, and many vegetables -- absorbs water in your colon and can help keep you regular. Because fiber absorbs water, it can also help you feel fuller after taking in fewer calories. Most of us get less than the 25 grams of daily fiber recommended by the American Heart Association. Consuming this recommended amount can help you lose weight while improving your heart health. You can bulk up on fiber pretty easily by increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables, and making a point of trying higher-fiber breads, cereals, and rice. In some cases, you can meet your fiber goals with the use of a fiber supplement, but talk to your health care provid