A woman stands at the edge of a river. She wants to get to the other side.

With her are three experts. Each weighs the benefits against the risks of wading across.

The toxicologist assures her that the river is only cold, not toxic.

The cardiologist assures her that, given her good health, the cold will not affect her.

The hydrologist assures her that the river is neither so swift nor so deep that she cannot cross.

The woman refuses. [Read more…]

Does health insurance stress you out? Feel insecure about medical care?

A recent study of bankruptcies discovered that over half were caused by medical costs breaking the back of family finances. 3 out of 4 of the families that went bust had insurance when their medical troubles started. Then they got sick, couldn’t work, lost their job and with it their insurance, and the medical bills piled up. [Read more…]

Unlike most retail industries that make their money in the run up to Christmas, health clubs get their big financial hit after the holidays in the wake of those New Year’s resolutions.

But by September, 80 to 90 percent of those new members will have stopped exercising.

Character flaw? Inability to stick with it? No willpower? [Read more…]

The LA Times headline warned “Cancer Study Re-Indicts Red, Processed Meats: Colorectal malignancies rose by up to 50% among high-consumption group.”

The reporter gasped at how all it takes is 3 ounces a day if you’re a man or 2 ounces a day if you’re a woman to be in the high-consumption group that’s going to get colon cancer in two minutes. [Read more…]