Health

Oxygen Bars : Healthy or Just Hype?
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Dispensing oxygen without a prescription is against federal law, and oxygen bars may subject customers to unnecessary risk. People with certain medical conditions are another matter.

Animal Health Concern : Sheep Industry, Big Birds
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The U.S. sheep population has been steadily decreasing since the 1940s - from its peak at 56 million in 1942 to less than 7 million in 2002, says the USDA. The lack of approved drugs for sheep is one factor contributing to the decline, says Oeller.

Animal Drug Shortages, Focus on Fish, Alternative Meat Animals
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The continued shortage of minor use drugs not only poses a serious threat to the health of animals - it also may set in motion a chain of events that could adversely affect nearly every American.

A Major Animal Health Concern : The MUMS Bill
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The shortage of approved drugs to treat some animal species may be eased through research partnerships and proposed legislation.

Dietary Supplements in Pet Foods
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Dietary supplements for pets and other animals have been marketed for many years; some are sold legally and others are not. Dietary supplements for animals, such as most vitamin and mineral products, are considered animal feeds.

Blood and Plasma Products, AIDS and the Blood Supply
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
From the 1950s through the 1970s, evidence indicated that the blood obtained from commercial blood banks carried a greater risk of hepatitis transmission. This led to more careful testing, and to increased regulation of blood to further protect the blood

Biologics Regulation : Polio Vaccine, Measles Vaccine
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Around the turn of the last century, diphtheria patients were routinely treated with antitoxin derived from the blood of horses. There were no central or uniform controls in place and the antitoxin was often manufactured in local plants.

Robots Helping Surgeons : Future, Robotics and Telesurgery
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The da Vinci and ZEUS make it possible for surgeons to perform robotic surgery across long distances. Surgeons from the European Institute of Technology used ZEUS and high-speed telecommunications to perform the first complete long-distance robotic

Robots Helping Surgeons : What Can Go Wrong? The Learning Curve
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
From a regulatory standpoint, the FDA pays close attention to the potential for error and whether robotic equipment meets performance standards, says Ogden. 'We evaluate the possibility of technical failure of the computer and whether it translates into

Robots Helping Surgeons : Why Use Robots? Robotic Heart Surgery
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Along with helping surgeons perform minimally invasive surgical tasks, robots have superhuman capabilities that make surgery easier, says Paul Massimiano, M.D., a cardiac surgeon at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia.

Robots Helping Surgeons: The da Vinci and ZEUS Surgical System
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Robot-assisted surgery is the latest development in the larger movement of endoscopy, a type of minimally invasive surgery--the idea being that less invasive procedures translate into less trauma and pain for patients.

Home Diagnostic Tests : Popular Products, Buying Test Kits Online
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Complications of home testing may interfere with obtaining accurate results. Consumers may not be able to follow the instructions. Proper collection, storage and shipment of specimens are all critical for accuracy.

Home Diagnostic Tests : Find a Reputable Source, Follow the Directions
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Those who rely on home tests also miss out on pre- and post-test counseling, which offer information, support, competence, interpretation, and follow-up advice to consumers that only a health-care professional can give.

Home Diagnostic Tests
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Home diagnostic tests offer convenience and privacy. However, health-care professionals warn that the tests have limitations and are not a replacement for regular visits to your health-care provider.

Understanding Full-Body CT Scans
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Ads touting full-body CT screening as a tool to detect cancer, heart disease, and other conditions in their earliest stages are becoming more prevalent. But there is no proof that this screening X-ray procedure lives up to the hype.

Flea and Tick Bites
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Fleas are truly devoted to their work. In one day, a single flea can bite your cat or dog more than 400 times. During that same day, the flea can consume more than its body weight of your pet's blood.

Pet Food : Keeping Pet Food Fresh, Irradiation
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Recognizing the close link between diet and disease, CVM does allow certain health-related information on labels to help consumers evaluate pet foods. For example, while a product cannot claim to treat feline lower urinary tract disease, a concern

Pet Food : Dietary Supplements, Feeding Guidelines
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Just as dietary supplements for people are growing in popularity, so are animal food supplements for pets. 'Many people treat their dogs and cats like replacement children,' says Jennifer Kvamme, D.V.M., associate editor of Petfood Industry magazine.

Pet Food Labels : Nutritional Adequacy, Ingredients
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The guaranteed analysis specifies the product's minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat. It also gives the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture. 'Crude' refers to a specific method of measuring the nutrient, and is not an indication

Pet Food Labels
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
U.S. consumers spend more than $11 billion a year on cat and dog food. Here are some tips to help you choose pet food that is nutritious and a good value. So how can pet owners choose the right food for their pets?