Yesterday, America’s biggest tobacco company announced its entry into the now-crowded e-cigarette market. Altria/Phillip Morris USA advised via news release that a subsidiary will start selling the MarkTen brand of e-cigarettes in Indiana later this summer. They will join Lorillard’s Blu and RJR’s Vuse (the latter will be sold only in limited regions of Colorado [...]
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A new study on breast cancer screening has added more fuel to the fiery debate on whether or not regular mammograms reduce deaths from the disease. The 40-year study from the UK found that screenings or improvement in treatment do not account for the decreased rates in mortality from breast cancer. Published in the June [...]
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Previous studies have suggested an association between being overweight or obese during gestation and spontaneous preterm delivery, but that relationship has been unclear until now. A recent study published in JAMA found that women who were obese (BMI ≥30) or severely obese (BMI ≥35) were two to three times more likely to deliver extremely preterm [...]
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For those who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes — the overweight, obese, or those with a family history, for example — a small new study just published in Diabetes Care suggests that walking at a moderate pace for 15 minutes after meals can help prevent the disease. The study, led by Dr. [...]
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Every so often a really ingenious idea pops up that ends up making a real difference.

The federal government told a judge on Monday it will take steps to comply with orders to make emergency contraception available to anyone, regardless of age. The change of heart will allow for Teva’s Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) to be available over the counter immediately after the FDA receives and approves an application by Teva [...]
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It’s a given that the high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) in diabetes can lead to severe consequences down the road — neuropathy, kidney failure, blindness, and heart disease, for example — but it’s also the case that treating hyperglycemia can be problematic. If treating high blood sugar is too aggressive, it can cause severe [...]
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In today’s “so what?” news, a UCLA study found that a 60-year old morning sickness drug that is pretty close to useless (and was once withdrawn due to birth defect concerns) is significantly linked to an increase in adverse outcomes among newborns, and with problems in mothers as well. A more fundamental question is why [...]
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The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH) is at it again, seizing any opportunity to promote its obsessive crusade against sugary drinks. Today marks the day when the New York State Appellate Division will take its turn, sizing up the case of the New York City Board of Health — actually [...]
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It’s a message that we at ACSH have been touting for years. Yet, largely because of slick marketing, consumer ignorance and some terrible, self-serving legislation, the message is ignored. Perhaps it will now be heard. Vaccine champion and infectious disease expert (also ACSH trustee) Dr. Paul Offit, Chief of Infectious Diseases at the Children’s Hospital [...]
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