Blockers: Truth Blockers?
If you look for information about weight loss pills, it's
hard to avoid finding ads for so-called "fat blockers." Labels
claim that these pills absorb fat from the food you eat and
redirect it out of the body.
and Drug Administration states that these products have not
been successful in weight loss or appetite suppression. Don't
be fooled by ads about pills that "capture" "intercept" "burn"
"block" or "flush" fat. At best, the products will have no
impact at all. At worst, they can be addictive and cause damage
to the heart and central nervous system.
Food and Drug Administration, December 2001
Scrapers: Worth It?
Your dentist may be promoting a new tool for your oral hygiene:
the tongue scraper. Are tongue scrapers really beneficial?
would say yes. Scrapers may be more effective than tooth brushes
at removing bacteria from your tongue. Many people find that
tongue scrapers improve breath odor as well.
your dentist if you're wondering whether using a tongue scraper
would be beneficial for you.
American Dental Association, December 2001
Cough and Cold Remedies
Guidelines for over-the-counter treatment of cold and cough
pains and fever: acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen,
ketoprofen, naproxen. (Children 18 and under shouldn't take
without mucous: antitussives
with mucous: expectorants
oral decongestants-ephedrine, pseudoephedrine
American Academy of Family Practitioners, December 2001
Last spring, The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
issued new, stricter guidelines indicating that more Americans
are at risk of a heart attack than previously thought. According
to the guidelines, the number of people who would be advised
to take cholesterol-lowering drugs, called statins, would
and Drug Administration has approved five statins. Trade names
are Mevacor, Zocor, Pravachol, Lescol and Lipitor. Statins
can greatly reduce the levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol,
which reduces the risk of heart attack. Most people tolerate
these drugs well.
doctor recommends a statin for you, it's important to take
it every day. Side effects are usually minimal, but if you
do experience them, talk with your doctor. Whatever you do,
don't stop taking the drug on your own.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Food and Drug Administration,