Breastfeeding &The Cost Of Prescrition Drugs
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7:00am Segment Info:
A new study finds older people who have low levels of Vitamin D may be at a higher risk of depression.
That's because low Vitamin D is tied to high levels of parathyroid hormone, which is linked to depression. The Dutch study of people over 65 found those who were depressed had Vitamin D levels that were 14% lower compared to people who were not depressed. The good news is those levels can improve if you get more vitamin d from the sun or supplements.
And there's more proof this morning that breast is best.
MORE AFTER THE JUMP...
A new study finds breastfeeding may improve a child's intelligence scores. According to the report, compared to formula fed kids children who were breastfed scored higher in reading, writing and overall intelligence. Researchers say it's not clear if the benefits come from breast milk or the physical and social interactions involved in breastfeeding.
8:00am Segment Info:
If you pay a lot for your prescriptions you want to shop around.
A new study finds the price of prescription drugs can vary by $100 or more for the same drug from store to store even within the same chain. This is important because experts say more people are paying a higher percentage of out-of-pocket expenses for their prescriptions than they did in 2002.
Where can people get the cheapest drugs?
In this survey, Costco was the cheapest source. Big chains like Walgreen’s and rite-aid were among the most expensive and surprisingly a lot of mom and pop stores. Those independent drugs stores were competitive. While they weren't the cheapest, they were pretty close. Remember generic drugs can cost 50% less than name brands and some stores have discount programs. The message here is that you really need to shop around.
Speaking of medications, there's a new report on ibuprofen.
You take it for your aches and pains, and now a new study finds people who take the painkiller ibuprofen for more than five years can lower their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 40%.
Other non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs also lower the risk, but only by 25%. There's currently no cure for the disease and very few effective treatments. But remember, these drugs come with significant side effects like ulcers, kidney dysfuntion and high blood pressure. So it's not recommended that you take them to prevent Alzheimer’s.
