HealthTopics4You Health Information

Alerts and Recalls

2012-01-18T12:05:00.000-08:00

January 2012

February 2012

Diced Beef Recalled

2012-01-18T11:29:00.000-08:00

RSW Distributors of Forest City, NC, has recalled about 3104 pounds of their seasoned diced beef due to contamination of foreign materials.

This is a Class I recall meaning there is a health hazard where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

The diced beef are in cases of four 8 pound vacuum sealed pouches measuring 10x22 inches.

The label shows the beef as manufactured by Culinary Standards and is labeled "Seasoned Cooked Beef (Diced)."

The label also shows EST.8318 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The diced beef was shipped to schools as part of the school lunch program in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington on 12/9/11.

A conveyor belt broke down during production and some of the conveyor belt may have been included in the diced beef.

Consumers are advised to contact their healthcare provider concerning any injury or illness as a result of consuming this product.

Contact Pam Higgs who is the company's Vice President of Customer Relations if you have questions. Her number is 800-778-3434 (ext 22).

Source for further information: USDA.

Page review: 1/18/12

Gourmet Stuffed Clams Recalled

2012-01-17T23:31:00.000-08:00

Price Chopper Supermarkets has recalled their Gourmet Stuffed Clams sold in their seafood section of the store due to undeclared ingredients which are potential allergens.

The Gourmet Stuffed Clams have a scale code of 209181. This item contains milk, wheat, and eggs which are not disclosed on the label.

The stuffed clams were sold between 9/30/11 and 12/30/11.

Consumers are advised to return the product to Price Chopper for a full refund.

Consumers should contact Price Chopper at 800-666-7667 and select option 3 from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm.

You may also visit their website at www.pricechopper.com

Source for further information: US Food and Drug Administration.

Page review: 1/17/12

Sunflower Seeds Recalled

2012-01-17T22:42:00.000-08:00

The Ryt-way Industries company has recalled some of their sunflower seeds due to soy ingredients which may have been added and not mentioned on their packaging.

The BIGS brand of Dill Pickle Sunflower Seeds are involved in the recall. Packages are in 5.35 ounce plastic bags. Packages have best buy dates of 12/08/12 and 12/09/12. The UPC code is 896887002202.

A reaction to the soy ingredients could be serious or life threatening to those allergic or sensitive to soy products.

The sunflower seeds were distributed to convenience stores, supermarkets, and military commissaries.

Consumers are advised to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Call 866-209-0985 for questions or further information.

Source for further information: US Food and Drug Administration

Page review: 1/17/12

Tres Leches Cakes Recalled

2012-01-17T14:55:00.000-08:00

Price Chopper Supermarkets has recalled two sizes of their Central Market Classics Tres Leches cakes due to possible plastic fragments.

Recalled are the 5 inch cakes with UPC code 41735-26013 and 8 inch cakes with UPC code 41735-25128. These cakes were sold after 7/10/11.

Consumers can contact Price Chopper at 800-666-7667 and select option 3 between 8:30 am and 7:00 pm. You can also visit their website here:

Price Chopper.

Consumers are advised to return these products to Price Chopper for a full refund.

Source for further information: US Food and Drug Administration.

Page review: 1/17/12

BBQ and Dipping Sauce Recalled

2012-01-17T14:29:00.000-08:00

The Herbadashery company of Casper, WY, has recalled some of their Pine Ridge BBQ and Dipping Sauce. Also recalled is Pine Ridge Jalapeno BBQ and Dipping Sauce.

These products were manufactured after January 1, 2011 and include undeclared anchovies as part of the Worcestershire sauce which could cause allergy problems for those allergic to anchovies and be serious or life threatening.

The products were distributed via online and in retail stores between 1/1/11 and 9/1/11.

Products were packaged in 18 ounce, 34 ounce or gallon bottles. Look for lot numbers 10111 to 90111 on bottle bottoms. There is no warning about anchovies on the bottle and bottles do not have a UPC code.

Consumers are advised to return these products to the place of purchase. You can also call the Herbadashery company at 307-265-0036 from 10 am to 6 pm MST for more information.

Source for further information: US Food and Drug Administration.

Page review: 1/17/12

Calcium Plus Vitamin D Recalled

2012-01-17T13:27:00.000-08:00

The Rexall company in Deerfield Beach Florida is recalling their Rexall brand Calcium 1200 mg plus 1000 IU Vitamin D3, 60 count softgels.

The bottles contain Triple Strength Glucosamine Chondroitin and MSM tablets containing undeclared shellfish which could cause allergy problems.

The UPC code is: 3 01220 45211 3

The lot number is: 387651-04

You can contact Rexall at 888-534-6370 or return the product to Dollar General.

Source for further information: US Food & Drug Administration.

Page review: 1/17/12

Fiber and Your Health

2011-06-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Fiber

Fiber is very important for your nutrition yet most of us get less than half of the fiber recommended in our daily diet.

Fiber is used in the digestion process and is found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Studies suggest fiber helps with weight loss and may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

In particular, studies showed people who consumed the most fiber had a lower risk for heart disease. High fiber intake appears to lower the so called “bad” cholesterol helping to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Fiber can help slow the absorption of sugars in food helping to keep blood glucose from spiking which helps people who are diabetic. Research shows of 75,000 adults who were studied for 14 years, diabetes risk was significantly reduced among those consuming the highest amount of fiber from whole grains. However, exercise and weight control are still the best ways to reduce diabetes risk.

High fiber foods make you feel fuller longer helping with weight control. Fiber adds bulk to your meal without a large increase in calories. Fiber helps people eat fewer calories without feeling deprived.

500,000 adults were studied and it was found that whole grain fiber modestly reduced the risk of colorectal cancer.

Currently, men should get 38 grams of fiber per day and women should consume at least 25 grams per day.

Soluble fiber found in oat bran, beans, peas, and most fruits may help lower blood sugar and cholesterol.

Insoluble fiber found in wheat bran and some vegetables aids in digestion and constipation prevention.

As a rule, the more convenient and processed the food, the less fiber it contains. White bread has less fiber than a whole grain bread. White rice has less fiber then a brown, long grain rice.

A study of 200,000 people observed for 22 years, white rice raised the risk of type 2 diabetes but brown rice reduced the risk.

People who ate 5 weekly servings of white rice had a 17% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who ate less than one serving per month.

People who ate 2 weekly servings of brown rice had an 11% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who ate less than one serving per month.

Many food products advertise “fiber added” but there is little evidence to show this added fiber has the same benefits of the fiber in whole foods.

So eat a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits to ensure you are getting your daily fiber requirement.

Recommendations:

Increase fiber intake gradually so your body can get used to it.
Add fiber slowly to help avoid gas, bloating, and cramps.
Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts.
Eating this mix allows different fibers and a wide range of nutrients.
High fiber cereals should contain 5 or more grams of fiber per serving.
Whole grain flour should be the first ingredient in bread.

Which foods are high in fiber? Here are some lists:

Michigan home skills enhancement project.
Centers for Disease Control.
Utah State University.
National Cancer Institute.
Wikipedia.
US Department of Agriculture.
Oatmeal topped with nuts and fruit is a good choice.
Barley, wild rice, brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat pasta, and bulgur are good fiber choices.
Frozen mixed vegetables, spinach, and broccoli are good additions to pasta sauce or rice dishes.
Include a tossed salad in your meals.
Legumes such as peas, pinto beans, kidney beans, lima beans, navy beans, garbanzo beans, and lentils are good choices.
Try apples, pears, and bananas.
Try almonds, sunflower seeds, and pistachios.
Snack on low fat popcorn.

A little more focus on fiber now will help you reduce the risk of ill health and disease later on in your life.

Source for further information:
NIH News in Health, National Institutes of Health (NIH).
see also: NIH (rice).
Page review: 11/18/11

Stroke Index

2011-06-24T17:23:00.001-07:00

Resources Index

2011-06-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

News and Alerts Index

2011-06-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

Free Health Books Index

2011-06-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

Flu Facts Index

2011-06-24T16:38:00.000-07:00

Diabetes Index

2011-06-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

Article Index

2011-06-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

Find Health Answers Index

2011-06-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

Heart Pacemaker Index

2011-06-24T14:19:00.000-07:00

Hospitals: How and Where to Complain

2011-04-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

Being in a hospital is difficult enough without having to worry about poor health care. However, there are times when things don’t go right. This article will explain how to complain or raise concerns about poor medical care.

Patients have the right to complain or raise concerns about poor or substandard medical care. The patient may feel this is difficult or uncomfortable considering the attitude of many doctors and hospital staff to criticism but medical people are becoming more open to feedback as patient rights become stronger.

The first place to start is to speak with your doctor or nurses.

1) Be specific about your concerns.

2) Ask how your concerns can be resolved.

3) If necessary, ask to speak with the hospital’s social worker who will help you. Social workers also help organize services and your paperwork upon discharge.

Are you on Medicare? Then direct your concerns or complaint to the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman. The Office of the Medicare Ombudsman (OMO) is mandated by Congress to receive complaints, grievances, and requests for information from people on Medicare.

Visit the OMO website.

Your home state also has an agency to help. The Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) is there to help Medicare patients address complaints such as wrong medication, wrong surgery, or inadequate treatment.

Find your QIO by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Problems with getting the right medication or getting an infection while in the hospital should be directed to the Joint Commission. They are concerned about patient rights while in the hospital. Visit the Joint Commission website.

What do other patients say about their hospital stay? Discover how well doctors and nurses communicate, how well patients’ pain was controlled, and how patients rated their hospital.

Visit the Hospital Compare website.

Discharged too early? Talk to the hospital discharge planner if you think you are not ready to leave the hospital. The hospital discharge planner will address your concern with your doctor who makes the final decision. Insurance companies try to get patients discharged as soon as possible and sometimes too early medically speaking.

Medicare patients can file an appeal and will not be discharged until the appeal is resolved. Ask for a, “An Important Message from Medicare,” brochure which will explain how to appeal the early discharge. The appeal is free and generally takes 2 to 3 days.

If you or a helper has Internet access then you can go online for the same information.

Visit the “file an appeal” web page.

It is not easy to be assertive but it is worth the effort to get good quality medical care.

Source link for further information:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

US Dept of Health & Human Services

Dr Carolyn Clancy, MD
Page review: 11/18/11

Heart Healthy Recipes

2011-04-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

Here are two free heart healthy recipe and cookbooks from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

You can view these books online or order a free copy for yourself.

Link to the following titles here:

Keep the Beat Recipes: Deliciously Healthy Dinners (click here).
142 page recipe collection
A brand new version of the popular Keep the Beat^TMclassic cookbook has a new look-with 75 new deliciously healthy recipes, beautiful full-color design throughout, and original food photographs.

The focus is on heart healthy dinner entrees and side dishes, influenced by Asian, Latino, Mediterranean, and American cuisines.

With dishes such as Thai-Style Chicken Curry, Greek-Style Flank Steak With Tangy Yogurt Sauce, Edamame Stew, and Cinnamon-Glazed Baby Carrots, the new cookbook is sure to please a variety of people.

Keep the Beat Recipes: Deliciously Healthy Family Meals (click here).
128 page recipe collection
This new Keep the Beat ™ cookbook contains 40 recipes developed just for the NHLBI, with full-color design throughout and original food photographs.

The focus is on family-friendly meals and snacks and getting children involved in meal preparation with their caregivers.

Dishes such as Baked Eggrolls, Mexican Lasagna, Oatmeal Pecan Waffles, and Wow-y Maui Pasta Salad are sure to please most family members.

The cookbook also includes information on cooking, nutrition, and feeding children (including picky eaters).

Source: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Page review: 11/18/11

Boils, Carbuncles and Tea Tree Oil

2011-03-30T01:35:00.000-07:00

I suffer from Boils and Carbuncles.

I have had acne all my life. The acne got so bad that a dermatologist had to treat me with Accutane in the 1980s.

The Accutane treatment lasted for about 10 years but eventually the acne came back.

I was in the hospital with my first stroke in 2005. I was in my hospital room when I discovered what I thought was an acne breakout in my left arm pit.

This breakout seemed different. It grew quite large and it was horribly painful. The hospital staff took me to see a dermatologist on staff who treated me with an antibiotic.

The breakout seemed to go away and my arm pit appeared healed. Then a few years later the breakout came back with a vengeance. The bump grew quite large. It was about the size of a quarter and the pain was very bad.

I went to see my doctor who took a look and said it appeared to be a carbuncle which are two or more boils that have combined.

I was prescribed the same antibiotic I previously used in 2005. However, the treatment didn't seem to work this time. The boils calmed down a bit but did not go away.

The doctor switched me to another antibiotic but that too failed to resolve the issue.

I went to see a dermatologist who put me back on the other antibiotic for a while. The boils went down but never healed. So the dermatologist put me on a third type of antibiotic for a longer duration.

That did little good. The boil receded but did not go away. The dermatologist said we would have to cut the boil open and drain it. I said I did not want to do that because that would not address the underlying issue causing the boils.

I went home frustrated. What could I do. The doctors' medicine didn't do much good. I decided to do some research on the Internet.

I educated myself on what boils are. I found a great article from the Mayo Clinic called Boils and Carbuncles which taught me what I needed to know about my condition.

Next, I looked around the Internet for an alternative remedy since antibiotics were not doing much good. What I found was something I had never heard of called Tea Tree Oil.

I'm a natural skeptic but I really needed to find a solution. Apparently, Tea Tree Oil is an essential oil and a natural antiseptic. It has been used for skin conditions for generations. There is an excellent discussion about Tea Tree Oil in the Wikipedia encyclopedia.

My first choice was to try a Tea Tree Oil distributed by Sundown Naturals. The company described their Tea Tree Oil as follows:

"Tea Tree Oil is a pure oil, culled from the leaves of a tree native to Australia. Traditionally, it has been used as a topical agent for the skin. Traditionally used as a topical agent, our pure Tea Tree Oil is culled from the leaves of an evergreen tree native to Australia. This high quality formula is composed of less than 5% cineole and over 35% terpinen-4-ol, which qualifies for "Pharmaceutical Grade" as established by the Australian Tea Tree Oil Industry Association."

I decided to try the oil and it worked. My current boils began to heal in about three days and the pain was gone. After a couple of weeks of applying a small amount of the oil on the boils at night, they healed.

All I would do is wash the site of the boil with Dial Gold bar soap. Next, I would put my finger over the open bottle of Tea Tree Oil and turn the bottle over. I would then take the small amount of oil on my finger and spread it over the boil. I use as much as I need to completely cover the boil surface.

Essential oils have strong odors such as lavender which is why the oils are used as air fresheners. The Tea Tree oil does have its own unique smell which I do not find offensive. I apply the oil at night and by morning the smell is gone.

Every time a boil starts to form on another part of my body, I immediately treat it with soap and Tea Tree Oil. The oil is fast acting on new breakouts. So now I have an effective and inexpensive solution for treating my boils.

The 100% Tea Tree oil I use can be found here (just click on the bottle):

see also: Organic Certified Australian Essential Tea Tree Oil.

Source: Mayo Clinic, Wikipedia encyclopedia.

Source: Charles Sauvageau, Executive Editor, HealthTopics4you, I am not a medical doctor. This article is my first hand account of my experience with boils.

The material in this article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Page review: 11/18/11

Sharecare - Expert Health Advice

2011-03-24T15:07:00.000-07:00

Sharecare, founded in 2009 as an interactive Q&A platform, is an excellent resource for getting reliable health advice and answers. Sharecare is focused on the patient and has no obtrusive advertising as of this date.

Content is provided by reliable sources like Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, American Cancer Society and more with links to local health care providers in your area.

The content is very user friendly and is designed in a question and answer format which makes navigating Sharecare a breeze. Type in a question in their search box and the results are displayed in an easy to read Q&A page from their health database.

Connect to Sharecare by typing a health question or topic in the search box.

Try your own search. Here are some sample health topics:

Heart Failure
Stroke
Diabetes
Heart Surgeries
Heart Disease

Sharecare

Source links for further information:
Sharecare home page.
What is Sharecare?
Who helps to ensure Sharecare content is accurate?

Page Review: 11/18/11

Diabetes Risk Assessment

2011-03-18T23:54:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is an ever increasing problem in the United States.

Take this short Diabetes risk assessment to see where you stand.

Just click on the start button below.

Note: this interactive page may not work in the latest version of the Firefox browser. This page works just fine in Internet Explorer.

Know Your Score Widget. Flash Player 9 is required.

You can find more information about Diabetes at MedlinePlus.

Start with the following links:

Diabetes
Diabetes and Pregnancy
Diabetes Complications
Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Medicines
Diabetes Type 1
Diabetic Diet
Diabetic Eye Problems
Diabetic Foot
Diabetic Kidney Problems
Diabetic Nerve Problems
Diabetic Retinopathy see Diabetic Eye Problems

Source: US Centers for Disease Control, US National Library of Medicine
Page review: 11/18/11

Stroke Symptoms

2011-03-17T22:51:00.000-07:00

Stroke, an introduction to the symptoms of Ischemic Stroke.

This series of posts about Ischemic Stroke is a work in progress. Each chapter is being written and posted as this series develops. Please check back as further posts will be added.

Ischemic Stroke is what it is called when blood vessels are blocked by clots cutting off oxygen to the brain and causing brain tissue death. This is similar to what happens during a heart attack due to a blocked blood vessel causing heart muscle tissue death.

My adventure with Ischemic Stroke began in October 2005.

It was mid-afternoon. I was sitting at my desk working on my computer.

As I was intensely working, I noticed drips of fluid dropping from my face on to the desk surface. I thought perhaps I had a sudden runny nose. I felt fine but suddenly realized that it wasn’t a runny nose but I was drooling. The fluid was coming from my mouth.

That seemed odd and out of place. I’m not a drooler unless I’m sleeping.

I stood up and walked to the bathroom. I didn’t feel funny and I seemed to walk just fine.

I stood in front of the mirror and looked at myself. Yes, I was drooling. The left side of my face seemed to be drooping.

I have no idea why but I started to talk to my face in the mirror. That was when I realized I could not speak. My words were slurred. I couldn’t make my mouth form articulate words.

Instantly, the word “Stroke” popped into my head. I must have learned something about Stroke symptoms somewhere in my past.

I knew this was an emergency. I had the presence of mind to get my identification and walk out the back door. I knew I needed help right away.

You may ask, “why didn’t you call 911?” Simply put, I was in the middle of a Stroke crisis and the thought of calling 911 never entered my head, literally. My brain was no longer functioning properly and getting worse as time went by. The only thought I had was to seek help.

I had heard the neighbors in their yard and all my brain would tell me was to seek out the neighbors for help. I stepped out my back door and walked about 20 feet to one of the neighbors. I tried to ask for help but nothing was coming out of my mouth except this strange language I didn’t recognize.

Somehow I managed to point to my head and say, “hep, hep, hep.”

Thankfully, one of the neighbors realized I was trying to say I was having a stroke. They bundled me in a blanket, sat me down, and called 911.

It was an odd feeling. I was completely aware of my surroundings and situation. I was alert yet seemed somehow detached from the world. It was like watching yourself in your own movie and you are the star. I was sitting in this lawn chair like being in a movie theater seat. I watched all this crisis and activity going on around me and I felt like I was simply taking in the view.

I could tell that my intellect was fine yet I also felt detached from the world. I couldn’t interact with anyone around me. I just sat there waiting and watching for the next thing to happen.

It didn’t seem to bother me that I was having a Stroke. I didn’t feel scared or anxious. I just felt detached and traveling along a journey I had no control over.

I later learned that I was having a right brain Stroke. The left side of my brain was not having a Stroke. This seems to explain why I could be rational and alert about the situation yet feel in a dreamy and detached state of being. Each side of my brain was having a different experience and processing the events in different ways.

Typically, we are taught the symptoms of Stroke are:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body). I noticed unexplained drooling and the left side of my face drooping.

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech. I was not confused and able to understand speech yet I could not speak.

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. My eyes were fine.

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. I seemed fine with my walking yet I felt tired and wanted to just sit down.

Also:

Sudden severe headache with no known cause. I’m not prone to headaches and I didn’t have one at the time. There was no physical pain.

If you think someone is having a stroke with symptoms like suddenly losing the ability to speak, or move an arm or leg on one side, or experiences facial paralysis on one side then call 911 immediately.

So as you can see from my story, Stroke symptoms may not hit you like a truck but can be subtle. The key is that I could see that my symptoms were not normal. I could observe myself in the mirror and physically see this was just not me.

Finally, my first experience with Stroke happened years ago. It is important to keep in mind that recovery takes time. Lots of it. The recovery process may take months or years. Some people never fully recover like me.

My stroke happened years ago. I’m still healing and adapting even now. Stroke recovery has its own time table. More about Stroke recovery later.

Dr Stephen Silberstein, MD of Thomas Jefferson University discusses the signs and symptoms of stroke:

Click on the triangle to start this video.

Click on the triangle to start this video.

Source for this Stroke series of posts: I am not a medical doctor and the above includes my own opinion. Charles, Executive Editor, HealthTopics4You

Other Sources for this Stroke series of posts: US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and YouTube.

Page Review: 11/18/11

Five Star Books About Diabetes

2011-03-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes
By Jenny Ruhl

Based on the award winning Bloodsugar101.com web site, this book explains what peer-reviewed research published in top medical journals has to say about:

What is a normal blood sugar?
How does diabetes develop?
What really causes diabetes?
What blood sugar levels cause complications?
Must you deteriorate?
What diet is right for you?
How can you make that diet work?
What medications are safe?
What supplements lower blood sugar?

Written in clear and understandable language, this book provides all the tools needed to understand how blood sugar works and achieve blood sugar health.

For further information: Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes.

Your First Year With Diabetes: What to Do, Month by Month.
by Teresa Garnero

A 12-month plan for surviving diabetes.

The most frightening moment for most people with diabetes is when they are first diagnosed.

They are filled with questions: What can I eat? What should I do? Is there a plan for me to follow?

While some people get a plan from their doctor, most people do not.

Your First Year with Diabetes is the plan for everyone. It walks you step-by-step through a first-30-days survival plan, then shows a month-by-month program for what comes next.

Everything from a basic explanation of diabetes, what you can eat right away, and instructions on how to check glucose to a deeper knowledge about diabetes nutrition, avoiding complications, and better management.

Your First Year with Diabetes also anticipates and explains problems such as depression, illnesses, and needing to lose weight.

For further information: Your First Year With Diabetes: What to Do, Month by Month.

The Real-Life Guide to Diabetes: How to Handle Everyday Emergencies and More.
by Hope Warshaw.

Here's everything you need to know about diabetes in a one-of-a-kind book packed with information you won't find anywhere else.

Using an easy-to-search format, Real-Life Guide to Diabetes lets you find the answers to your most pressing questions quickly and easily.

Other books give you complex systems to manage your diabetes, but those rarely work in real life - it's time for a more realistic approach.

For further information: The Real-Life Guide to Diabetes: How to Handle Everyday Emergencies and More.

See also: More than 6000 titles about Diabetes.
Page review: 11/18/11

How to Spot a Health Scam

2011-03-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of bogus information and health scams on the Internet. It's pretty easy to fall victim to a health fraud sales pitch. However, here are six red flags which will help you steer clear of health scams.

Find specific health scams and more here.

Watch for the following claims:

1) "It's natural." Anything taken from "nature" can be called "natural." That doesn't guarantee it is safe or effective. Tobacco is "natural" isn't it?

2) "It's so easy." Everyone wants a quick and easy fix to their problems. People who want your money know our weakness is for an easy fix.

3) "Miracle cure." Humans have been dealing with health issues since the dawn of time. Look at all the available treatments available for various health conditions. Most treat the symptoms without addressing the actual cause. The scammers know people want to blindly believe in a miracle cure.

4) "It worked for me." Look closely at TV commercials for weight loss products. Can you see that the face of the person is sullen in the "before" photo but all smiles in the "after" photo? What are the scammers going to say, "our product really doesn't work?" Of course they want to show you a success photo. A failure photo won't sell much product.

5) "Pay now and save" What? I'm paying the scammer money so how is that saving money? Why do I have to pay now? Pressure to buy now is a classic sales technique and it works. If a product is really worth it then a customer will be allowed to get the same "good deal" after researching the product or company.

6) "They don't want you to know." Do you really think safe and effective products are a secret? News about products that are safe and effective spreads like wildfire. People like a good conspiracy theory. Scammers know that.

So if you see any of the above red flags in a pitch for some health product then just step back and take your time before you shell out your hard earned money.

Here is what to do before you invest your money:

Talk to your doctor,
Talk to your pharmacist,
Talk to a nurse,
Call the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 1-888-463-6332,
Learn about health fraud at www.fda.gov/healthfraud.

Did you spot a health scam?

Report the problem to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch,
You can also call the FDA at 1-800-332-1088,
Report false advertising to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-382-4357,
You can also connect with the FTC at www.ftc.gov.

Tainted Products Marked as Dietary Supplements:

Subscribe in a reader

Source: US Food & Drug Administration
You can print this free information here.
Access more free health information here.
Page review: 11/18/11

HealthTopics4You Health Information

Alerts and Recalls

Diced Beef Recalled

Gourmet Stuffed Clams Recalled

Sunflower Seeds Recalled

Tres Leches Cakes Recalled

BBQ and Dipping Sauce Recalled

Calcium Plus Vitamin D Recalled

Fiber and Your Health

Stroke Index

Resources Index

News and Alerts Index

Free Health Books Index

Flu Facts Index

Diabetes Index

Article Index

Find Health Answers Index

Heart Pacemaker Index

Hospitals: How and Where to Complain

Heart Healthy Recipes

Boils, Carbuncles and Tea Tree Oil

Sharecare - Expert Health Advice

Diabetes Risk Assessment

Know Your Score

Stroke Symptoms

Five Star Books About Diabetes

Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes By Jenny Ruhl

How to Spot a Health Scam

Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes
By Jenny Ruhl