Welcome to Consumer Reports Health News for health and medical journalists. Consumer Reports and ConsumerReportsHealth.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.

How to Prevent Medical Identity Theft

Medical identity theft now affects an estimated 250,000 Americans each year and that number may be on the rise.  The crime occurs when someone steals another person’s information to get medical care.  Perpetrators include criminals who intend to sell the information on the black market or make quick cash by submitting false health insurance claims, in addition to people who can’t afford health care.  People might not find out they’ve been victimized until they get a bill in the mail for care they never received. 

Below are some CR tips for guarding against medical identity theft:

• Share health insurance information only with trusted providers.
• Keep copies of your health care records.
• Check your credit history for medical liens by going to www.annualcreditreport.com or calling 877-322-8228 to request a free copy.

For more details and tips, log on to www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org

How Mediterranean is Your Diet?

We’ve been hearing it for years from the Europeans across the pond—the best, healthiest cuisine is a Mediterranean diet if you want to live a long life.  In the first U.S.—based study of the Mediterranean diet, researchers have confirmed the life-extending benefits of eating a diet filled with plentiful vegetables, fruit, whole grains, fish, legumes, nuts and seeds, washed down with a moderate amount of wine or beer.  How Mediterranean is your diet? Take the online test at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org and gauge your longevity.  Scores below a 6 on a scale from 1-9 might indicate that it’s time to adjust to your eating habits. 

Six Steps for Clearing Away Brain Fog

A new report from Consumer Reports on Health identifies a close link between general mental health and mental clarity.  Many people chalk up “brain fog” to old age, says CR, but the culprit  at  center  stage is most often disturbances in a person’s sleep or mood.  People who experience “brain fog” have frequent bouts of feeling scattered-brained, forgetful, or unfocused.  What’s turning on the fog machine?  The March issue of Consumer Reports on Health provides six steps for restoring mental clarity, including a chart of common drugs that can cloud thinking. CR also hones in on the multitasking myth, noting that recent research has found that working on several tasks at once can take two to four times longer than tackling them one at a time.  Log on to www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org for the full report.

Making Sense of Cancer Risks

The news about cancer is seldom straightforward and the advice is rarely unequivocal.  In a special report, Consumer Reports on Health culls together the best advice on prevention, detection, and treatment. CR tackles the role of genes as a determinant for cancer risk, the impact of environmental exposures, and the best diet. CR also assesses many commonly held assumptions about cancer.   A complete copy of the report is available upon request.  

How to Prevent a Staph Infection

Just a few years ago, a painful skin infection like a boil could be quickly wiped out with an antibiotic, such as amoxicillin.  But today, there’s a form of staph, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), that has become resistant to antibiotics in the penicillin family.  MRSA infections occur most frequently in hospitals and other health care facilities, but they can also cause illness elsewhere, particularly in crowded areas.   How can people avoid getting infected or reinfected?  Consumer Reports recommends good old fashioned hygiene, such as hand-washing; showering after working out; covering any cut or scrape with a clean, dry bandage; not sharing clothing, towels, and razors; using a cloth barrier between one’s skin and shared equipment in a gym or community; and wiping equipment surfaces before and after using them.   Log on to www.ConsumerReports.org for the full report.