“Use as directed.” That warning appears on various types of medications, both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC), to help ensure that the drug performs as intended. Regulating medications in the U.S. is the job of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which recently issued a warning that taking higher than recommended doses of the common anti-diarrheal medication loperamide can result in serious cardiac adverse ...

The debate over vaccinations has been going on for decades. One side champions a vaccination policy aiming to have every American child receive approximately 38 inoculation shots before age five. The other side believes this policy is deeply flawed and that vaccines are more hazardous than they are helpful. The truth may lie somewhere in the middle – no drug is completely without risks, and they affect people in differen...

Most of us take our vehicles for granted. We head out the door, day after day, rushing off to work or school or the store without any room in the schedule for car trouble. Given their essential role in many lives, it’s surprising how few people make time for car maintenance. There’s really no reason not to do it, and a little effort can have a big payoff when it comes to dependability, safety, and resale value. Sponsor...

Trains in the Philly area are an important part of our transportation plan, but last weekend was a tragic one for Amtrak and several families. An Amtrak train on the Northeast Corridor Line derailed in Chester, killing two Amtrak workers and injuring more than 30 people. While the National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation, Amtrak officials say the train struck a backhoe that was on the tracks. On ...

Chest pain, abdominal pain, broken bones, upper respiratory infections, back pain, skin infections, foreign objects in the body, and headaches are some of the most common reasons that people seek help at an emergency room. When you are severely ill or critically injured, you expect that you will receive prompt and proper care at the ER. Unfortunately, many people have learned the hard way that these expectations are mispla...