Author Archives for Rick Woodward, L.Ac.
The Potential of Sudden Hearing Loss Prompts FDA Mandated Label Changes
Sudden hearing loss among people taking two separate classifications of drugs has prompted the Food and Drug Administration to require new label warnings. One class of drugs involves those taken for erectile dysfunction and the other is taken by people to treat a severe high blood pressure situation.
An FDA investigation into hearing loss followed on [...]
Warnings, Monitoring of Flu Vaccines Recommended by FDA
In the fall and winter of the year, Americans are urged to get their flu shots. Many see this as an excellent idea and willingly comply. Others are not so certain it’s needed and don’t fall into line to get flu shots for a variety of reasons.
Persons who are leery of accepting flu shots have [...]
FDA Approves Cancer-Causing Drug for Over-the-Counter Use
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a potentially carcinogenic drug as an over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss aid for overweight adults. Orlistat was initially approved in 1999 as a prescription drug to treat obesity, and it remains a prescription drug for obesity at a higher dose than the OTC version.
Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe, Director [...]
Knowing the Symptoms Involved Can Help Women Identify Heart Attack
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among U.S. women and affects one in 10 women over the age of 18. And while chest pain is still considered to be a major indicator that a heart attack may be occurring, it is important for women to know that chest pain is not always [...]
W.H.O. Launches “Nine Patient Safety Solutions” to Help Prevent Healthcare-related Harm
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a program to help lower the number of healthcare-related harm affecting millions of patients worldwide.
Called “Nine patient safety solutions”, the program is WHO’s response to the alarming fact that healthcare errors – avoidable “human errors” – affect 1 in every 10 patients around the world. It is hoped [...]
Medicare to Drop Payments for Hospital-Caused Infections, Injuries
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that some significant changes will be taking place to improve the accuracy of Medicare payments. Additionally, Medicare will discontinue paying for health problems caused by a hospital. One of the aims of the revisions is to provide incentives to hospitals to engage in quality improvement [...]
“Singulair®” Placed Under Ingvestigation for Possible Link to Suicide
Yet another drug is being placed under investigation by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration. This time it is the pharmaceutical drug Singulair manufactured by Merck & Co. Inc.
The FDA has received reports that the drug is responsible for causing behavior/mood changes, suicidality (suicide thinking and behavior) and suicide. The agency has issued a warning to [...]
Soda Maker Drops its “All Natural” Claim!
Under the threat of a lawsuit, a major manufacturer of soft drinks has decided to stop advertising its product as “All Natural.” The product in question contains High Fructose Corn Syrup, a popular sweetener that is put through a variety of chemical manufacturing processes before it hits the bottle or can.
The product in question is [...]