Health Warnings

Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or vinyl, is arguably one of the most toxic types of plastic in our lives.

One reason why PVC is so toxic is that it is often mixed with softening chemicals called plasticizers, the most well known variety being phalates.

Exposure to PVC and the plasticizers that often come with it have been strongly associated with an increased risk of developing the following conditions:

A study published in a recent edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that taking heartburn drugs like Nexium, Prilosec, or Prevacid for one year or longer can significantly increase the risk of experiencing a hip fracture in people over 50 years of age.

According to IMS Health, a corporation that tracks drug sales all over the world, Nexium is one of the most popular drugs in the world, second only to the cholesterol drug Lipitor. Sales of Nexium totaled $4.6 billion in 2005.

A report issued on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 by Ontario's auditor general indicates that children in Ontario are often exposed to unnecessary amounts of ionizing radiation when they get a CT scan, also known as a CAT scan. Read more »

A study published in the November, 2006 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that eating bacon and skinless chicken on a regular basis can significantly increase one's risk of developing bladder cancer.

Data on more than 130,000 people over the course of 22 years was examined by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health. Their key findings were as follows:

Research out of Otago and Oxford Universities in New Zealand indicates that having LASIK surgery can lead to permanent problems with vision over the long term.

If you are not yet aware of the potential dangers of triclosan, you should know that this antibacterial agent has been strongly linked to the following effects on human health:

* Abnormalities with the endocrine system, particularly with thyroid hormone signaling
* Weakening of the immune system

If you are still using antibacterial soap that contains a compound called triclosan, I hope that a brilliant study published in the journal, Aquatic Toxicology will persuade you to consider switching to the plainest bar of soap that you can find.

Researchers have discovered that exposure to triclosan can cause significant disruption to the endocrine system, a finding that has countless and serious health implications.

Generic brands of acetaminophen sold at major retailers like Wal-Mart, Safeway, and CVS have been recalled because of possible contamination with fragments of metal.

All told, 11 million bottles that were manufactured by a company called Perrigo Co. and privately labeled under a variety of generic brand names have been pulled off the shelves. The bottles in question contain 500 mg caplets of acetaminophen.

A recent study conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) indicates that some popular brands of guacamole contain only trace amounts of avocado, the health-promoting fruit that has traditionally served as the main ingredient in authentic guacamole recipes.

This finding is a terrible shame, since guacamole made with real avocados is one of the healthiest dips that we can eat. Avocados are abundant in vitamin E, lutein (extremely important for preserving eyesight), potassium, and dietary fiber. Avocados are also rich in healthy fats, which are essential to allowing our bodies to absorb fat-soluble nutrients such as beta-carotene and vitamin A.

One of the main goals that I have for this web site is to encourage our readers to learn how to be their own best doctors.

Please don't misunderstand me; I think that there are some wonderfully caring and competent doctors in our world.

But there are also many doctors who don't have each of their patients' best interests at or even near the top of their list of priorities. Read more »