FDA Examines Weight-Loss Drug's Effect on Liver
The only over-the-counter drug for weight loss that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration is being reviewed by the agency after reports suggested the drug, orlistat, may cause liver damage, the Associated Press reports. More than 30 reports to the agency, spanning nearly a decade, said that patients taking Alli and Xenical, the prescription form of the pill, had experienced liver damage, according to the AP. Many wound up hospitalized for their condition, the AP reports, while six patients were treated for liver failure. Though the FDA is reviewing the cases, it has not directly linked the drugs to liver injury.
Read about weight-loss ingredients the FDA says may endanger your health, along with 28 weight-loss products that contain them.
Foods Surprisingly High In Sugar
Added sugars, which are sprinkled on and processed into packaged foods and beverages, have become all too common in the American diet, says the American Heart Association. The group argues that sugar bingeing is helping drive the increase in metabolic changes in the American population, including the exploding obesity rate, and has now recommended an upper limit on daily consumption, U.S. News's Sarah Baldauf reports.
Women should consume no more than 100 calories per day of added sugars, and men should not top 150 calories per day, which means they might consider giving up on their soda habit, Baldauf writes. One 12-ounce can contain about 8 teaspoons (about 33 grams) of added sugar, which equals approximately 130 calories, notes the AHA. (One gram of sugar serves up 4 calories.) In fact, the average American rings up an average of more than 22 teaspoons, or 355 calories per day, of added sugars, mostly from sugar-sweetened beverages. Baldauf lists 11 foods surprisingly high in added sugars, a list that includes ketchup, flavored popcorn, and fortune cookies.
Here are 10 foods high in sodium that may make hypertension worse, and learn why research says you should avoid dining out.
7 Things That May Make Sleep Apnea Worse
More than 12 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing, and many are unaware of their condition, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Untreated sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, memory loss, obesity, and insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. And a recent study in the Public Library of Science reaffirmed a long-suspected link between severe sleep apnea, the repeated drops in blood oxygen levels, and premature death, U.S. News's Lindsay Lyon reports. The condition is often first detected by symptoms that include loud snoring and chronic exhaustion; those deemed at risk may be referred to a sleep specialist for an in-clinic sleep study, although home-based testing options have become available. Lyon lists 7 things that doctors say can exacerbate or put people at risk for obstructive sleep apnea, including drinking alcohol, which is a muscle relaxant. Alcohol can slacken throat tissues more than usual during sleep, making the airway more vulnerable to obstruction. Though its effect usually dissipates as it clears the body throughout the night, cutting down may help, Lyon writes.
Learn about home tests for sleep apnea along with the latest treatments. Chronic sleep problems can be a sign of sleep apnea or other medical issues. Find out why sleep problems should not be ignored, and here are 10 ways to get better sleep.
Other Popular Articles F rom USNews.com
- Battling Diabetes With Diet and Exercise
- 10 Cities Where Coronary Bypass Surgery Outpaces Angioplasty
- 10 Reasons Not to Skimp on Sleep
- 5 Risks Linked to Diabetes Medications
- 7 Steps Newly Diagnosed Diabetics Should Take
- 6 Ways to Reduce Inflammation Without Taking a Statin
- Need Care? Scan the Rankings: Best Nursing Homes, Best Health Plans, and Best Hospitals.
Reader Comments Read all comments (1)