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.

Are There Gaps in Your Diet?

Many Americans don’t get enough of recommended vitamins. Smarter food choices and judicious use of nutrition supplements can fill dietary holes and help ward off disease. The ideal diet is varied, rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products plus modest amounts of fish and low-fat meat and chicken. For those who have trouble regularly consuming healthful foods, a daily multivitamin can help.  ConsumerReportsHealth.org provides a rundown on some of the latest research on vitamins and minerals, including:

Vitamin D.  Low levels of this vitamin can contribute to a host of illnesses.  Get it from herring, salmon, shitake mushrooms, and eggs, or from fortified milk, tofu, orange juice, and cereal.

B vitamins.  You need B vitamins to extract energy from food, but extra may not help. Despite the claims of fortified-drink makers, more Bs won’t give you an energy boost. The only groups who may need supplements are strict vegetarians, people older than 50, and women of child-bearing age.

Magnesium.  This overlooked mineral plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure, blood sugar, and calcium metabolism. Eat more of those green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains.

For the full report, log on to www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

The Terrors of Texting

Texting-related accidents are nothing to LOL about. Studies have shown that a person using a cell phone while driving – hands-free or not – is four times more likely to crush and, as a result, land in a hospital, and that using a cell phone while driving is as risky as driving drunk. Not only can drivers be distracted by texting, but so can pedestrians, cyclists,  and  rollerbladers.  Texting  or  cell-phone  talking  have  been known to result in facial injuries from tripping; collision injuries involving bikers, rollerbladers, and pedestrians; and walking into traffic.

CR advises people – whether they walk, ride, drive, or blade – to take care while texting.  For common-sense safety measures to stay out of the emergency room, go to www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

Look Before Leaping into Lasik Eye Surgery

Millions of Americans have had LASIK eye surgery to correct routine vision problems, most with good results. But some patients suffer side effects that impair the quality of their eyesight, even if visual acuity is improved. Evidence shows that six months after surgery some 10 to 25 percent of patients experience eye dryness, glare, or difficulty driving at night.

CR advises consumers to ask their surgeons questions to ensure that their eyes are in good hands – from what’s included in the presurgical evaluation to what kind of experience to look for in a surgeon to what to expect after surgery.

To read the full article on LASIK eye surgery, log on to www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

10 Questions to Ask About Aspirin for Prevention

More than 50 million Americans – 36 percent of adults – take aspirin regularly to prevent the formation of blood clots that can cause heart attacks. Many people who could benefit from the drug – some 20 percent of women and 14 percent of men – aren’t taking it. On the other hand, aspirin has its risks as well.  It can irritate the stomach and cause potentially dangerous internal bleeding, including, in rare cases, in the brain.  That can lead to hemorrhagic stroke. In some people, aspirin can trigger asthma.

How can consumers determine whether they might benefit from aspirin? CR provides a list of 10 key questions and answers to help consumers weigh that decision and ensure that aspirin therapy is as safe and effective as possible.  For the full report, go to www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.