YONKERS, N.Y., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Welcome to Consumer Reports Health News for health and medical journalists. Consumer Reports and ConsumerReports.org cover issues pertaining to the efficacy and safety of prescription and non-prescription drugs (including natural medicines), mental health, diet and nutrition, food safety, and fitness. CR tests health and fitness products, rates the effectiveness and affordability of prescription drugs, and evaluates the claims made by drug companies and the health-care industry -- all without commercial agendas or advertiser influence.
Copies of the reports highlighted below are available upon request.
HOW TO WINTERIZE YOUR SKIN
When cold temperatures set in and we hunker down inside, it's tempting to take long hot baths and snuggle up under a pile of electric blankets. But those are just a couple of things that can aggravate dry skin, a common complaint in the winter. The December issue of Consumer Reports On Health has several tips for avoiding activities that will suck the moisture right out of a person's skin. CR recommends several steps for winterizing skin, such as adding humidity by placing a water filled bowl near a heating vent or radiator, or using a humidifier. It's important to make sure the humidifier has a humidistat that shuts the humidifier off when the preset humidity level is reached. The report with tips is available online at http://www.consumerreports.org/health.
TIS THE SEASON -- FOR HEARTBURN
It's that time of year when food and wine are served in generous proportions and it's hard to resist those extra hors d'oeuvres at the office party. According to Consumer Reports' Chief Medical Adviser, Dr. Marvin Lipman, about 20 percent of people in the U.S. suffer at least once a week from symptoms of acid reflux, or heartburn, and another 20 percent have it less frequently. In his regular "Office Visit" column for Consumer Reports on Health, Dr. Lipman tells consumers what they can do to get some relief from heartburn along with his version of Heartburn 101 -- an explanation of the underlying causes and complications associated with heartburn.
CONSUMER REPORTS LAUNCHES AD WATCH
Drug companies are increasingly using carefully-crafted, direct-to-consumer, television advertisements to market their products to millions of consumers across the U.S. To help consumers separate fact from fiction, Consumer Reports has launched AD WATCH, in which marketing messages in TV advertisements for drugs are taken apart, analyzed, and commented upon. Log on to http://www.consumerreports.org/health for the first in the series, which focuses on a new drug, Requip, for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).
CONSUMER REPORTS: HOW TO CLEAN THE AIR INDOORS
In its latest tests of air purifiers, CR tested portable air purifiers, furnace filters, and professionally installed whole-house purifiers, as well as two portable ozone generators for a report in the December issue, available online at http://www.consumerreports.org/aircleaning. Consumer Reports' experts concluded that filter-based models are a consumer's best choice because they don't emit ozone.
CR also notes that air purifiers alone won't clean the air or relieve asthma or allergy symptoms. In fact, there are some basic steps consumers can take to clean the air, such as:
-- Banning indoor smoking
-- Keeping pets out of bedrooms
-- Removing carpeting and other dust-mite harbors
-- Opening windows whenever possible
-- Using outdoor-venting fans in the bathroom and kitchen
-- Maintaining heating equipment
FLU SHOTS AND FLU TREATMENT FAQs
Three years ago a flu-vaccine shortage kept many people from getting the shots. Now consumers are more likely to be confused by the multiple vaccine options available, including the nasal spray recently approved even for use in toddlers, and which drugs to take if you do come down with the flu. Possible health concerns have added to the uncertainty. Here's CR's answer to some common questions:
Who should get vaccinated?
All adults should get a flu shot every year, especially if they are age 50 or older, live in a long-term-care facility, are pregnant, have weakened immunity or a chronic illness, or live with or care for people in any of those groups.
Should I get the shot or the newer nasal spray?
Most people, including kids, should opt for the shot. It works as well as the spray (FluMist) and costs less. Moreover, the spray is not approved for children under age 2 or adults over 49, and its live vaccine poses unacceptable risks to pregnant women and people with weakened immunity. But consider the spray if you are overweight, since excess fat can make it hard for the needle to reach the necessary depth, or if excessive fear of shots keeps you from getting vaccinated.
Are mercury-free shots better?
There is no convincing evidence linking the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal with autism or other health problems, though research continues. If you are concerned, ask for a preservative-free vaccine, such as Fluzone. What about the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome? Roughly one out of every 1 million people vaccinated may develop that neurological disorder. But the shot's protection against illness, hospitalization, and death far outweighs the risk. Still, if you have had Guillain-Barre syndrome, avoid the spray vaccine and discuss with your doctor whether to get a shot.
DECEMBER 2007
The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports(R) is published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our independence and impartiality, Consumers Union accepts no outside advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. Consumers Union supports itself through the sale of our information products and services, individual contributions, and a few noncommercial grants.
Consumer Reports
