In addition to altering their corporate name, CVS announced that they will pull all tobacco products off their shelves in an effort to focus more on their customer’s health. CVS, the nation’s second-largest drugstore chain, will tweak their corporate name to CVS Health. The name change will be effective immediately, however it may not be recognized by customers because CVS doesn’t plan to change the signs of its roughly 7,600 stores across the country. What will be transparent, though, is … [Read more...]

A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that states with legalized medical marijuana for pain management have significantly lower rates of prescription painkiller overdoses. The study’s researchers looked at medical marijuana cards and death certificates from every state between 1999 and 2010, only 13 states during that period had legalized medical marijuana. Dr. Marcus Bachhuber, lead study author, said a 25% lower rate of prescription painkiller overdose was found in … [Read more...]

According to a recently released policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that adolescents are not getting enough sleep, creating a serious health problem.   In addition to poor academic performance, sleep deprivation raises the rates of traffic accidents, obesity, and depression in teenagers, with schools that start too early exacerbating the problem.   Sleep deprived adolescents tend to consume a high level of carbohydrates and fats, according to the … [Read more...]

The long-held belief that moderate alcohol consumption benefits one’s health has been contradicted by many studies in the past, creating mixed opinions on the belief. However, earlier this year, the World Health Organization released a report that vehemently suggested a link between cancer and alcohol, which ultimately labeled any amount of alcohol unsafe. In addition to providing a link between cancer and alcohol consumption, the report also suggested that, contrary to past beliefs, … [Read more...]

According to a new study, Southern comfort foods, such as fried chicken, sweet drinks, and desserts, are deadly for those with kidney disease. Researchers discovered that over a 6 year period a Southern-style diet was tied into a 50 percent greater risk of death for people with kidney disease. A typical Southern diet includes foods that contain harmful fats, sugars, and minerals that those with kidney disease cannot functionally filter out. Therefore, the diet becomes particularly … [Read more...]

A recent survey of American adults across 18 states reveals that 17 percent consume at least one soda per day, with percentages varying extensively across states. Only about 12 percent of people in Hawaii and New York drink one soda per day. However, in Tennessee and Mississippi, nearly 32 percent of people admitted to drinking a soda every day. The survey, conducted by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also discovered that adults consumed high levels of … [Read more...]

Not a vegetarian? Well, you might just become one if bitten by a certain tick. Across the nation, doctors are seeing a sudden rise of meat allergies in people who have been bitten by the Lone Star tick, named after the state famous for its steakhouses and barbeques. The unusual problem is relatively new, but is certainly a growing problem as the tick spreads from the Southwest to other parts of the country. Some contracted allergies have been so bad, a bite of a hamburger or steak has … [Read more...]