Good news on lung cancer: What to make of it
Recently, an analysis by the American Cancer Society found that the overall cancer death rate in the U.S. made its “biggest single-year drop ever,” or 2.2%, between 2016 and 2017. On average, cancer rates have been dropping by about 1.5% per year over the last three decades. That means the cancer death rate dropped nearly
Know your rights if you’re pulled over for DUI in Tennessee
Being pulled over for a DUI can be terrifying. Whether you’re actually over the limit or not, you should know what your legal rights and options are before you decide what to do. Here is a quick Q&A: What should I do if the police pull me over? Remain calm and do not panic. Pull
Study: Common pesticides linked to mortality, heart disease risk
Pyrethroids are insecticides that are widely used for mosquito and tick control. They are synthetic versions of an insecticide called pyrethrin, which is derived from chrysanthemums. You may have come into contact with pyrethroids because they are commonly used in chemical mosquito control.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that people treat their
Do ignition interlock devices actually cause more accidents?
If you’re convicted of drunk driving in Tennessee or 33 other states, you could be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on your car. This device is kind of like a breathalyzer. It is hard-wired into your car’s engine — at your expense — and requires you to provide a clean breath sample
Planning a home remodeling project? Plan for asbestos risk
Asbestos is a fiber that was widely used in insulation, flooring, roof tiles and other building materials especially before 1978. The Environmental Protection Agency says there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Exposure can cause serious illnesses, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. If you have a home that was built before 1978, there
Warning: Gabapentin with opioids can cause breathing problems
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has ordered manufacturers to include warnings on the product labels for gabapentinoids, certain drugs that depress the central nervous system, and opioids. The warning will indicate that taking gabapentinoids with opioids can cause serious breathing problems. These problems were also found in people taking gabapentin who had underlying respiratory
Holiday DUI enforcement still going on through New Year’s Day
If you’ve noticed an unusual number of DUI checkpoints lately, it’s not your imagination. The rate of drunk driving tends to spike this time of year due to all the alcohol available at holiday festivities. Therefore, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office and law enforcement agencies across Tennessee are upping their game with an increased DUI
Vaping nicotine may cause chronic lung disease
There’s more bad news for people who took up vaping in the hopes it would be a safe alternative to cigarette smoking. Despite what some have claimed, vaping is not safe just because it doesn’t involve smoke. Some of those safety claims came straight from Juul, the largest manufacturer of vaping devices in the U.S.
Reuters: Is sealed evidence hiding wrongdoing by corporations?
In 1978, a lawyer representing injured workers found a treasure trove of evidence involving asbestos. It was a log of the evidence from a prior worker’s lawsuit, including documents written by the one-time president of Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. Those documents contained detailed proof the company — and other asbestos companies — knew that asbestos exposure could
What to do if you’re arrested for DUI after an accident
There’s good news and bad news in Tennessee when it comes to drunk-driving crashes. According to the Tennessee Highway Safety office, there have been fewer such crashes this year (5,171) than this time last year (5,327). And, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, there have been fewer DUI arrests over the past few years, even