Top 10 Health Stories of 2015
Consumer Reports covered a wide variety of health stories in 2015, from rising concerns about the spread of dangerous, hard-to-treat bacterial infections, to high drug costs.
In case you missed them, here’s a list of our top picks for 2015.
1. The Rise of Superbugs
The antibiotics we have relied on for nearly 70 years to protect us from deadly bacterial infections are losing their effectiveness, because of misuse of the drugs in doctors offices, hospitals, and farms.
2. The 12 Hospitals You Might Want to Avoid
Consumer Reports identified the 12 hospitals in the U.S. that got low scores in preventing hospital-acquired infections in our hospital Ratings.
3. The Dangers of Radiation From Medical Tests and Cell Phones
Consumer Reports investigated the surprising dangers of radiation from CT scans and X-rays and looked into the controversy over radiation from cell phones.
4. How to Avoid Surprise Medical Bills
Just in time for health insurance open enrollment season, we identified seven costly surprises and gave advice on how to avoid them.
5. Best Sunscreens and Insect Repellents
We identified which sunscreens provide the most skin protection (and don't stain your clothes), and found that the most effective insect repellents these days are also among the safest.
6. Are You Paying More for Your Meds?
A Consumer Reports’ poll found that one-third of Americans were hit by high drug prices. We also gave our 6 best tips on how to save money on prescription drugs.
7. Home Medical Tests to Try—and Skip
Do-it-yourself doctoring is all the rage these days. We identified which home kits to try for cholesterol, blood glucose, HIV, colon cancer, and more.
8. Dental Insurance That Will Save Your Smile
Doling out the cash to get a toothache treated can hurt almost as much as the tooth itself. Our experts identified 10 ways to cut costs and find the best care for your teeth.
9. How to Protect Your Medical Identify
Why you shouldn't share your Social Security number with your doctor and other tips on how to keep your health information away from hackers.
10. Dangerous Supplements Abound
It was a bad year for the supplements industry, with reports of the U.S. Department of Justice charging more than 100 supplement makers with fraud, contaminated diet supplements (including some spiked with speed-like drugs), and new risks linked to yohimbe, an herb reputed to boost sexual performance. We also highlighted the problems with homeopathic medicine and herbal remedies in general.
More from Consumer Reports:
The best matching washers and dryers
The best French-door refrigerators
How to get a stronger Wi-Fi signal
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