FDA: Calories on the Nutrition Facts Label
What Are Calories? Calories refers to the total number of calories, or “energy” you get from all sources (carbohydrate, fat, protein, and alcohol) in a serving of a food or beverage. Calories Go Big Calories are displayed in large and bold font on the Nutrition Facts label to make the information easier to find and […]
Secondhand (and Third-Hand) Smoke May Be Making Your Pet Sick
If you’re a smoker, you probably realize the dangers smoking may pose to your health. But have you ever thought about how the habit affects your pet? According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) veterinarian Carmela Stamper, D.V. M., the news is not good. “Smoking’s not only harmful to people; it’s harmful to pets, too,” […]
FDA: Should Your Child Participate in a Clinical Trial?
Clinical trials help provide reliable evidence needed when studying medical products to diagnose, prevent, treat, and sometimes even cure, childhood diseases. Children who participate in these research studies may also potentially benefit from the medical products under investigation. Before deciding whether your child should participate in a clinical trial, there’s a lot to know, including […]
CDC: Diabetes and Your Heart
Diabetes and heart disease often go hand in hand. Learn how to protect your heart with simple lifestyle changes that can also help you manage diabetes. Heart disease is very common and serious. It’s the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. If you have diabetes, you’re twice as likely […]
FDA: 5 Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults
Whether you’re settling into your 60s or heading into your 90s, be careful when taking medicines, herbal preparations and supplements. Why the special concern? The older we get, the more likely we are to use more prescription and nonprescription (or over-the-counter, OTC) medicines. That can increase the chance of harmful side effects and drug interactions. […]
FDA: Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. Despite being one of the most preventable types of cancer, over 50,000 deaths from colorectal cancer occur each year. African Americans and American Indians/Alaska Natives are disproportionately affected. Health care providers recommend routine screening starting at age 45, or earlier if you are […]
FDA: 6 Tip-offs to Rip-offs: Don’t Fall for Health Fraud Scams
A health product is fraudulent if it is promoted to treat a disease or condition, but not scientifically proven safe and effective for that purpose. Bogus product! Danger! Health fraud alert! You’ll never see these warnings on health products, but that’s what you ought to be thinking when you see claims like “miracle cure,” “guaranteed […]
CDC: Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance Before you travel, consider getting travel insurance to cover yourself in case delays, accidents, or illness occur on your trip. Your current medical insurance may not cover care in another country. Also, some types of travel insurance help you cover costs if your travel is cancelled or disrupted. There are different types of […]
CDC: Asthma and Secondhand Smoke
What Is Asthma? Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways of the lungs. During an asthma attack, airways (tubes that carry air to your lungs) become swollen, making it hard to breathe. As the walls of the airways swell, they narrow, and less air gets in and out of the lungs. Cells in the airways […]
FDA: Tissue & Tissue Products
Human cells or tissue intended for implantation, transplantation, infusion, or transfer into a human recipient is regulated as a human cell, tissue, and cellular and tissue-based product or HCT/P. The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) regulates HCT/Ps under 21 CFR Parts 1270 and 1271. Examples of such tissues are bone, skin, corneas, ligaments, […]