Even with malpractice insurance, doctors opt for expensive, defensive medicine

Some months ago, the receptionist in my clinic handed me a registered letter. The name of the sender seemed familiar. “Dear Sir,” the letter read. “Please be advised that this letter serves as official notice that I am considering a potential claim against you in a medical Malpractice claim in regard to my husband. . . .” I stood, stunned. My white coat, which held the daily tools of my profession — my list of patients, the Sanford antibiotic manual, a black stethoscope — felt extraordinarily heavy. While my receptionist and staff made themselves busy and waited for my reaction, I struggled to recall the patient, so many patients ago . . . and my alleged misdeed…

Bedbugs found in basement of Empire State Building

NEW YORK (AP) — Officials say exterminators had to clean out an employee changing room in the Empire State Building’s basement after bedbugs were found there last week. The officials tell The New York Daily News that an employee had the bedbugs on his clothes and brought them into the building, but that the problem is now under control. BEDBUGS: More offices see infestations Tourists visiting the skyscraper say they are disgusted by the bloodsucking pests. Bedbugs have been discovered recently in New York City theaters, clothing stores, office buildings, housing projects and posh apartments. The city fielded 11,000 complaints about bedbugs last year.

Stay hydrated in hot weather with lifestyle-geared tips

With the heat and humidity on high this summer, give some thought to your fluid intake. Maintaining proper fluid intake is important for many bodily functions including these: • Transporting nutrients • Digesting • Eliminating wastes • Lubricating joints • Dissipating heat Being dehydrated as little as 2% can affect your body and leave you feeling lethargic and cranky as well. Some general guidelines: Inactive lifestyle The average adult requires 64 ounces of water a day as a base. Water, tea, soda, coffee, lemonade etc, all count toward your daily …

Adult kids’ problems still affect parents’ mental health

SAN DIEGO — Even after they grow up, some kids don’t stop giving their parents grief. And new research presented Thursday shows that an adult child with problems has a negative impact on a parent’s mental health, even if the family’s other kids are successful. The study of 633 parents and their 1,251 adult children was part of a program on social relationships and well-being presented here on the opening day of the American Psychological Association’s annual meeting, where about 12,600 psychological professionals gathered. “If you think your kid is a problem, it’s …

The Staycation, the healthful road not taken

If you flip on a reality-TV show about weight loss, you can expect to see an exercise montage and get a helpful nutrition tidbit or two. But if you ever try to emulate the participants’ success at home, you’ll quickly realize the cameras have forgotten to depict one critical thing: reality. This Story The road not taken: A healthful staycation : Get in shape while vacationing at home Inspiration: They busted the camera-adds-10-pounds myth A healthful staycation: One week to a stronger you From the archives: Squeeze in a workout in between …

Disputed chemical bisphenol-A found in paper receipts

As lawmakers and health experts wrestle over whether a controversial chemical, bisphenol-A, should be banned from food and beverage containers, a new analysis by an environmental group suggests Americans are being exposed to BPA through another, surprising route: paper receipts. The Environmental Working Group found BPA on 40 percent of the receipts it collected from supermarkets, automated teller machines, gas stations and chain stores. In some cases, the total amount of BPA on the receipt was 1,000 times the amount found in the epoxy lining of a can of food, another controversial use of the chemical. Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst with the environmental group, says BPA’s prevalence on receipts could help…

Disputed chemical bisphenol-A found in paper receipts

As lawmakers and health experts wrestle over whether a controversial chemical, bisphenol-A, should be banned from food and beverage containers, a new analysis by an environmental group suggests Americans are being exposed to BPA through another, surprising route: paper receipts. The Environmental Working Group found BPA on 40 percent of the receipts it collected from supermarkets, automated teller machines, gas stations and chain stores. In some cases, the total amount of BPA on the receipt was 1,000 times the amount found in the epoxy lining of a can of food, another controversial use of the chemical. Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst with the environmental group, says BPA’s prevalence on receipts could…

Nutrition buzzwords make hay out of grains of truth

The plastic soup can looks as if it’s a single-size meal, a healthful lunch option for one hurried customer. But the nutrition label on the back says otherwise. Gummy fruit snacks show a shower of strawberries on the label, which reads “naturally fruit flavored.” Customers would be hard-pressed to find any strawberries in the ingredient list. Because of rising obesity rates and a push for more healthy living, many new products in the supermarket claim to be low-fat, immunity-boosting, vitamin-added foods. Some brands have become more healthful. But many manufacturers are promoting a product’s healthful ingredients while playing down its less nutritional qualities. It is a food label sleight-of-hand that Bruce Silverglade…

Instant Recess promotes health for adults by making exercise a group activity

At precisely 1:05 p.m., Stacey Thompson announced, “Okay. It’s time!” Within seconds, a dozen co-workers in her downtown Washington office had gathered by the reception desk to march in place, roll their shoulders and prepare to dance. The employees of Summit Health Institute for Research and Education (SHIRE), a nonprofit organization that fights obesity, are fittingly among the first in the city to embrace Instant Recess, a nationwide push to establish a daily 10-minute exercise break. Think coffee break or cigarette break, but good for you. “This is hard for folks to ignore. You can’t say, ‘I didn’t know it was happening.’ And if your…

The cheesy fast-food breakfast

Since when did American cheese become a breakfast staple? This Story Too many mcmuffins, not enough nutrients A nutrition wake-up call Nothing I have ever made for breakfast at home has included American cheese. But a quick survey of breakfast options at various fast-food joints shows that those cheese slices are among the most common ingredients. And, despite recent reports that fast-food breakfast sales have slid as the economy has slumped, there are now more of those meals on the market than ever. Cheese has always been part of the iconic Egg McMuffin…

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