consumer-reports-health

Jenny Craig Beats Out Weight Watchers For Top Spot In Consumer Reports Health Ratings
Our more body-conscious colleagues over at Consumer Reports Health have just released their ratings for a variety of diet programs and have rated Jenny Craig the highest, far ahead of runner-up Weight Watchers. More »

Is 5-Hour Energy Any Better At Keeping You Awake Than Coffee?
Do you know what 2:30 feels like? The makers of 5-Hour Energy may have made a commercial worthy of a Worst Ad In America nomination, but that hasn't stopped the pick-me-up from being the top seller in the $800 million/year energy shot market. But our sensible siblings at Consumer Reports Health wanted to find out if the concoction was any better at keeping you awake than a cup of coffee. More »

Ask An Insurance Expert About Health Care Reform
The Affordable Care Act celebrates its first birthday today, but the future of the legislation remains in limbo and many Americans still have questions about the costs and benefits of the law. Luckily, our sister publication Consumer Reports Health has a resident insurance expert, Nancy Metcalf, who is willing to answer those questions. More »

Costco Rated Top Store To Buy Your Eyeglasses
Costco isn't just a place to buy enough toilet paper or cereal to supply a small army; it's also the place where you'll find the best deals on eyeglasses, says a new study from our fitter and trimmer siblings at Consumer Reports Health. More »

Is Prescription Pep Pill Nuvigil Worth The Side Effects?
If you listen to the radio enough, you've probably heard the ads for Nuvigil (aka armodafinil), a prescription stimulant being heavily marketed toward shift workers as a way to stay alert and awake on the job. But our curious siblings at Consumer Reports Health wanted to know if it really is the cure for "Shift Work Disorder." More »

Choose A Multivitamin
Multivitamins come in an array of packages like "Silver," "Kids Chewables," and "Schwarzenegger," but it's all marketing. Just buy the cheapest. They're all the same, just in different colored boxes. That's the advice Consumer Reports is dishing out after it tested 21 different kinds of multivitamins, and finding most were indistinguishable from one another, with two exceptions. More »

Ask President Obama About Health Care Reform
Consumer Reports Health is going to the White House next week, to speak directly with President Obama about health reform, and they want your help. Send in your questions, and they may become part of the interview. More »

Are Muscle Relaxers The Best Choice For Muscle Pain?
Have you ever used a muscle relaxer to treat muscle pain? In this video from our sister publication, Consumer Reports Health shows how that might not be the best first choice. More »

Resume Licking Pigs: FDA Approves Swine Flu Vaccines

—>Line up, Americans! The FDA has approved swine flu (H1N1) vaccines from four different manufacturers. Like seasonal flu vaccines, they're available to anyone who visits their doctor and asks for a shot. Who should make sure they get the shot ASAP, though?  More »

Have You Taken Alli Or Xenical? We Want To Hear From You

—>Have you or someone you know taken the weight loss drug Orlistat, marketed as Alli (OTC) and Xenical (prescription)? Our colleagues at Consumer Reports would like to know what kind of side effects you've experienced for a future article, no matter how disgusting.  More »

No health insurance? The emergency room usually shouldn't be your first stop. Here's where you should go for help.  More »

Earplugs: You're Probably Inserting Them Wrong

—>Do you engage in any really loud summer activities, like chainsawing, monster truck rallies, or vacuuming a library? If you do, Consumer Reports Health wants you to know that not only should you be wearing earplugs, you're probably inserting them wrong.  More »

How To Spot A Contaminated Swimming Pool, And Why You Should

—>It's gray and rainy up here in the tropical paradise of upstate New York, but for those of you in more temperate climes, Consumer Reports Health kicks off the weekend with some frightening statistics about the American public's pool hygiene, and how to tell whether a pool will make you sick or not before you dive in.  More »

80% of Medical Bills Have Errors

—>Read those bills from doctors and hospitals carefully! According to a report cited by Consumer Reports Health, up to 80% of all such bills contain errors. CRH recommends insisting on an itemized bill — and reading it carefully. Some of the more common errors:  More »

Does Boniva Really Let You Play Twister With Sally Field's Skeleton?

"Tear yourself away from this vigorous game of Twister so we call tell about some of the more serious side effects associated with this class of drugs." [Consumer Reports Health]  More »