| Prilosec as Effective as Expensive Prescriptions, Study Finds
A widely available nonprescription drug -- Prilosec OTC -- is as effective a treatment for heartburn and acid reflux disease as prescription drugs costing almost 10 times more, according to an analysis from Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, a public education project of Consumers Union. "Many people with heartburn and acid reflux could save $1,000 to $2,000 a year by taking an over-the-counter drug that's just as effective as high-priced prescription drugs," said Gail Shearer, director of the project. "These are dramatic savings, and illustrate why consumers should talk to their doctors about identifying effective, lower-cost medicines," Shearer added. The over-the-counter drug Prilosec costs $19 to $26 a month on average nationwide, and can be even cheaper at large discount stores.
Contract review hiatus hampers state's work
MONTGOMERY -- A more than two-month break in meetings by the state's contract review committee is causing headaches for state departments and agencies in need of products and services, according to lawmakers. Legislators attribute the lull to a problem with state law and an attorney general's opinion from four years ago. State Rep. Neal Morrison, a Cullman Democrat who served as vice chairman of the committee the last four years and was reappointed as a member for the next four, said several state agencies have called him expressing a concern about the interval since the last meeting and he is aware it has caused a problem for some of them. An attorney general's opinion states the committee cannot meet between the General Election, which was Nov.
ORLive Presents: A Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding for Obesity Minimally Invasive Weight Loss Surgery
A laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure for obesity will be performed live over the Internet from Tampa General Hospital on March 6, 2007 at 4 PM EST on www.OR-Live.com. The LAP-BAND(R) System procedure involves placing an adjustable band around the connection between the food pipe and stomach to restrict the amount of food an individual can consume at one time. Since it is adjustable, the band can gradually be tightened by the physician during office visits, allowing individuals to use it as a tool to change their eating behaviors and lose weight. The procedure is intended to help patients reach a healthier weight in order to lead more mobile and active lives. Obesity is a chronic disease that affects more than 60 million Americans over the age of 20. It affects every organ system in the body and can cause major illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, acid reflux disease and degenerative joint disease.
Bunco fans on a roll for charity
She's been playing the dice game of chance since 1991, mainly with a group of fellow teachers from Heights Elementary School in Texas City. On Saturday, she was wearing a denim jacket encrusted with lavender and white rhinestones depicting the three dice used in the game, "Let 'Em Roll" embroidered in purple thread beneath. "It doesn't take talent, it doesn't take skill," Coburn said. "It's just a lot of fun, and you meet a lot of people." Coburn and her husband, David, were in San Antonio for more than just bunco fun. As players in the regional Bunco Charity Challenge, they were also playing for a good cause, the National Breast Cancer Foundation. .
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