Can an Aspirin a Day Help Prevent a Heart Attack?

Since my stroke in July I have been on a low-dose "pirin" regiment (think Robin Williams, "The Birdcage" with Nathan Lane).  Being that I have also had 2 heart-attacks in the last 10 years, I never thought twice about my doctors recommendation and I was in no shape to question it. (Long story but I am not happy with the medical care I am receiving or received at the hospital ER.  Bare bones basics, and the ER twit doctor labeled me in his report as a "non-compliant patient with an excuse for everything" after a 10-15 minute 'consult' and not aware of my patient history.)

Now based on articles elsewhere (ie. U.S. Task Force Narrows Recommendation for Aspirin Use), one would think some new insight was recently discovered.  But alas, this is "old" news (from 2014) although still pertinent.

Scientific evidence shows that taking an aspirin daily can help prevent a heart attack or stroke in some people, but not in everyone. It also can cause unwanted side effects.

According to Robert Temple, M.D., deputy director for clinical science at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), one thing is certain: You should use daily aspirin therapy only after first talking to your health care professional, who can weigh the benefits and risks.
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The bottom line is that in people who have had a heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular problems, daily aspirin therapy is worth considering. And if you're thinking of using aspirin therapy, you should first talk to your health care professional to get an informed opinion, Temple says.
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If your health care professional recommends daily aspirin to lower the risk of a heart attack and clot-related stroke, read the labels carefully to make sure you have the right product. Some drugs combine aspirin with other pain relievers or other ingredients, and should not be used for long-term aspirin therapy.

Can an Aspirin a Day Help Prevent a Heart Attack?

Pa. bill would eliminate gift card fees, expiration dates

A Pennsylvania senator has introduced legislation to eliminate expiration dates and inactivity fees that lower the value of gift cards.

Sen. Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin/Perry) said his proposal would go beyond the protections of the federal Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009.

The CARD Act says money on store-issued and bank-issued cards cannot expire before five years and inactivity fees are prohibited unless the card is not used for 12 months.

Teplitz’s measure, Senate Bill 150, would prohibit the sale of gift cards and gift certificates that have an expiration date, service charge, dormancy fee, account maintenance fee, cash-out fee, replacement card fee or activation or reactivation fee.

Pa. bill would eliminate gift card fees, expiration dates

Recalls of note

28,980 Pounds Of Chicken Kiev Recalled For Connection With Salmonella Illness

,,,But if you’ve got some Antioch Farms Chicken Kiev sitting in your freezer, check the label because 29,000 pounds of the pre-stuffed chicken have been recalled for possible Salmonella contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Aspen Foods, a division of Koch Meats in Chicago, recalled 28,980 pounds of partial prepared chicken products sold under the Antioch Farms brand. 

The recall was initiated at the request of the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) after Minnesota health officials and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified a cluster of salmonella cases that appeared to be connected to the product.

Nissan Recalls 1,848 Infiniti Vehicles Over Defective Takata Airbags

The number of vehicles recalled related to defective Takata airbags increased by more than 1,000 vehicles Friday, as Nissan issued a recall of luxury Infiniti vehicles.

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notice [PDF], Nissan issued the recall after determining that 1,848 model year 2013 Infiniti QX56 and model year 2014 Infiniti QX80 vehicles may contain defective airbags made by the same company responsible for the recall of more than 8 million cars.

Ford Begins Its Own Recallapalooza With Five Recalls Totaling More Than 202,000 Cars

Ford announced the five North American recalls covering 202,241 vehicles for various reasons including an incorrect repair from a previous recall, airbag deployment issues and fuel lines that are improperly routed.

The first recall involves 38,645 model year 2005 to 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car vehicles that many have been improperly repaired during a 2013 recall. 
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The second recall involves 27,597 model year 2014 Ford Transit Connect vehicles that may have incorrect fuel and vapor line routing. 
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The company’s third recall involves 960 model year 2014 Ford F-150 trucks for an issue that may cause the vehicle’s brake lights to delay illumination or not illuminate at all.

Nissan Recalls Nearly 16,000 Infiniti Hybrid Sedans For Transmission, Software Issues

A notice [PDF] from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that Nissan initiated the recall of 14,438 model year 2014 Q50 and Q70 hybrid sedans because the electric motor may stop running.
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Nissan’s second recall of the day involves 1,641 model year 2014 Infiniti Q50, A70 and Q70L hybrid sedans with possible transmission housing issues.

According to NHTSA documents [PDF], the vehicles have automatic transmission housing that may have cracks caused during manufacturing.

Audi Recalls Nearly 102,000 Vehicles For Airbag Deployment Issues

Fresh off a recall of nearly a million vehicles, Audi issued another call back of nearly 102,000 cars for an airbag problem that could prevent the frontal safety devices from deploying.

According to a notice [PDF] from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Audi recalled 101,938 model year 2013 to 2015 A4 and S4 vehicles because of an issue that could prevent front airbags from deploying in a secondary crash.

Officials with the car maker say an improper algorithm and coding could prevent the frontal airbags from deploying.

Nissan Recalls 53,000 Sedans, SUVs For Takata Airbag Defect

According to a notice [PDF] posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the new recall involves 52,738 model year 2003 to 2004 Pathfinder, 2004 to 2006 Sentra, 2003 to 2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35 and the 2006 M35 and M45 vehicles.

The recall applies only to vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Florida and adjacent counties in southern Georgia, as well as the coastal areas of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

Officials with Nissan say in the notice to NHTSA that airbags in the affected vehicles may rupture, sending metal fragments toward front-seat passengers in the event of a crash.

Mercedes Recalls Nearly 11,000 Vehicles For Loss Of Steering Issue 

According to a notice [PDF] from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Mercedes-Benz recalled 10,509 model year 2015 C300 and C400 vehicles in the United States because they may lose steering power while traveling at low speeds.

Officials with Mercedes say the recall was initiated after two incidents from outside the U.S. alleging loss of steering.

It was determined that the vehicle’s sliding shaft, which is part of the steering column, could become disengaged from the steering coupling socket due to vibrations, steering thrust, or load feedback from the road surface. If the shaft disengages, the vehicle may lose steering control, which could increase the risk of a crash.

Ford Expands Ranger Recall By Nearly 10,000 Trucks Over Takata Airbag Defect

The number of vehicles affected by potentially defective Takata airbags continues to grow. This time it comes from Ford, with the manufacturer expanding its previous recall regarding the Ranger pickup truck, bringing the total number of affected trucks to 23,713.

Bloomberg reports the 9,792 vehicle expansion came after a fifth death was tied to Takata airbags in Malaysia last week.

While the vehicle linked to the latest death was a Honda model, the airbag used in the car is similar to, but not the same as the safety device used in model year 2004 to 2005 Ford Rangers.

1.2 Million Pounds Of Pretzel Hot Dogs Recalled Because Boxes Didn’t Disclose Presence Of Soy 

City Line Foods Manufacturing Co. in Lancaster, PA is recalling about 1,196,669 pounds of the product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the FSIS announced today.

The pretzel dogs were produced between Feb. 14, 2014 and Nov. 14, 2014, and were sold under various names (check the official release for more product boxes and labels),,,

Consumer Updates > Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health

When you take prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications, do you take also a vitamin, mineral, or other dietary supplements? Have you considered whether there is any danger in mixing medications and dietary supplements?

There could be, says Robert Mozersky, a medical officer at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Some dietary supplements may increase the effect of your medication, and other dietary supplements may decrease it,” he says.

Certain dietary supplements can change absorption, metabolism, or excretion of a medication and therefore affect its potency. “You may be getting either too much or too little of a medication you need,” Mozersky warns.

Consequently, combining dietary supplements and medications could have dangerous and even life-threatening effects. For example, drugs for HIV/AIDS, heart disease, depression, treatments for organ transplants, and birth control pills are less effective when taken with St. John’s Wort, an herbal supplement. Depending on the medication involved, the results can be serious.

In addition, warfarin (a prescription blood thinner), ginkgo biloba (an herbal supplement), aspirin and vitamin E (a supplement) can each thin the blood. Taking any of these products together may increase the potential for internal bleeding or stroke.

Consumer Updates > Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health

Spreadsheets, Ex-Cons And A Karate Studio: Life At The Bottom Of The Debt Business : Planet Money : NPR

Many years ago I used to write extensively concerning debt and debt collection and how to deal with characters highlighted in this article. Though I no longer follow the topic like before, consumer issues are still something I do follow (recalls, predatory loans, for-profit schools.) This is a good look into the back-alley aspect of debt-collections coming out of my home town of Buffalo, NY.
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A few years back, James Nelms opened his own debt collection business. He didn't have a fancy resume, or much money. He was an ex-con whose siblings staked him $10,000 to get his business up and running.

This isn't as odd as it may seem. Many debt collection agencies are small businesses, eking out a living in storefront shops. A few years back, when the world was going wild for debt, lots of people were getting into the business. All that debt meant lots of money to be collected.

By the time he opened his shop, Jimmy Nelms — almost everyone calls him Jimmy — had already been through a lot. He'd gotten involved in drugs, gone to jail on a gun charge, and worked as a debt collector at a big, corporate agency. It turned out, he was really good at collecting debts.

"I was one of the best," he says. "Walking in there, smoking like a pound a weed. And out of all those people, I was producing."

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It didn't last. Just like some people on Wall Street went wild with debt and started going too far, some debt collectors in Buffalo started doing things that were blatantly illegal, like telling people they'd go to jail if they didn't pay.

Things were also getting out of control at the highest echelons of the debt business.

"Larry himself got debt from a broker way up the food chain who was making lots of money, who was basically selling debt he didn't own," Jake Halpern says. "Straight up theft."

Larry brokered a few deals where his customers wound up with this stolen debt.

"We let greed step in," he says. "We stopped doing our due diligence because the money was right there to be gotten. And we wanted it."

Spreadsheets, Ex-Cons And A Karate Studio: Life At The Bottom Of The Debt Business : Planet Money : NPR

October Recall Roundup: Let’s Review The Difference Between Tables And Chairs – Consumerist

There is a lot here so give it a good look,,,

In the Recall Roundup for October, some American consumers aren’t clear on how tables work, an appliance that’s supposed to kill bedbugs tries to do so by burning your house down, and a Halloween flashlight can overheat and melt in a terrifying way. Here are the consumer items recalled in the last month.

October Recall Roundup: Let’s Review The Difference Between Tables And Chairs – Consumerist

Chrysler Recalls 33,000 Trucks, SUVs, And Minivans For Tire Pressure Problems – Consumerist

Chrysler continues its recall roll this week, issuing two more notices calling back more than 33,000 vehicles for issues related to tire pressure monitoring systems.

The car manufacturer announced the recall of 10,390 model year 2014 Jeep Wranglers, Dodge Grand Caravans and Chrysler Town & Country minivans because of false warnings from the tire pressure monitor (TPM) system.

Officials with the company say recall was initiated to reconfigure a TPM module to disable a test mode that was inadvertently left on following shipment of the vehicles.
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The second recall, which involves 23,053 model year 2014 Ram ProMaster full-size vans, concerns a needed software upgrade in the TPM system.

According to Chrysler, the vans contain TPM sensors that lack the capability to recognize which tire the pressure data is coming from. The issue can create false signals of low tire pressure.

Additionally, if the light is already activated, the system may not properly alert vehicle occupants if tire pressure actually becomes low.

Chrysler Recalls 33,000 Trucks, SUVs, And Minivans For Tire Pressure Problems – Consumerist

Maker Of Airbags Linked To 8M Recalled Vehicles Used Unusual Chemical Explosive For Inflation – Consumerist

Takata, the Japanese/German auto-parts maker, that supplied airbags used in millions of recalled vehicles employed an unusual explosive chemical to inflate the safety devices, which may have contributed to the spraying of metal shrapnel at vehicle passengers.

Bloomberg Businessweek reports that the chemical will likely become the focus of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigators as they continue a probe into the defective airbags that have so far been linked to four deaths and 30 injuries in the United States.

Chemicals have long been the powerful mechanism behind airbags. That’s why after some crashes, the driver or front-seat passenger in a vehicle may have chemical burns on their skin.

Typically the inside of an airbag contains an igniter that heats an aspirin-sized tablet of compressed chemical. The ensuing reaction fills the airbag with gas, inflating it at speeds reaching a few hundred miles per hour.

Takata began using ammonium nitrate in its airbags in the late 1990s, because of the chemical’s ability to make airbags inflate in a matter of milliseconds.

Maker Of Airbags Linked To 8M Recalled Vehicles Used Unusual Chemical Explosive For Inflation – Consumerist

Company Touting Work-From-Home Opportunities Must Pay $25M To Consumers Who Made No Money – Consumerist

The FTC announced today that a federal district judge ordered business opportunity company, Zaken Corp. and its president to pay more than $25 million in refunds to consumer who fell victim to bogus claims that they could earn substantial income working from home.

According to the summary judgment, the court found that more than 99.8% of the 110,000 consumers affected by the alleged scheme didn’t make a penny.

Zaken Corp. and its president, Tiran Zaken, were found by the court to be in violation of the FTC Act and the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule, which requires business opportunity sellers to provide specific information to help consumes evaluate a business opportunity.

The company allegedly claimed that, for a fee of $148 or more, their “QuickSell” program would help consumers find businesses with excess inventory to sell, and that they would find a buyer for the inventory and pay consumers half the sales price.

Consumers were promised they would earn at least $4,000 or more in the first 30 days and, on average, $4,280 per deal.

After consumers bought the program, they were inundated with ads to buy more business tools that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. According to the FTC, consumers were encouraged to spend an extra $2,300 if they were serious about making money. However, consumers who made the additional investment received only a directory of defunct companies’ telephone numbers.

Company Touting Work-From-Home Opportunities Must Pay $25M To Consumers Who Made No Money – Consumerist

CFPB: Private Student Loan Companies Provide Few Options For Borrower, Driving Them To Default – Consumerist

I found this article of interest as recentlly a well known internet preacherman has been "advertising" this

With the following comment:

Which raised a few red-flags as I have been dealing with the student loan fiasco for 20+ years.  Although the advertisement is not clear (nor is the attached website) as to what loans they are able to work with, it is disconcerting to see how many where so willing to turn over they identities to this company without a whimper.  The comments run into the thousands, and this is the first of two postings I am aware of by Feuerstein.

As I said in my comments, privately held student loans are handled much different than federally backed studdent loans.  A point this article makes quite clear.

By now we all know that for many consumers taking out private student loans is the only option when it comes to financing their higher education. We also know that many of those same borrowers will ultimately end up defaulting on their debt. A new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggests that it’s not borrowers’ lack of willingness to repay that lands them further in debt, but a lack of resources provided by lenders that drives consumers to default.

The new report [PDF], which analyzed 5,300 private student loan complaints over the past year, reiterated previous assumptions that private student lenders are not doing enough to help struggling consumers repay their loan obligations and avoid default.

The report highlights borrowers’ helpless in the face of evasive practices perpetrated by many private student loan lenders.

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Although private student loans do not come with the same repayment plans afforded to federal student loans, many lenders may offer borrowers’ temporary forbearance.

The short-term fix, which provides a brief period of time when no payment is due, often does little to actually provide relief to borrowers. In fact, many consumers reported encountering burdensome enrollment fees and processing delays that sometimes led to surprise defaults.

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Officials with the CFPB say these shortcomings reflect an industry that has done little to make good on commitments by lenders to expand alternative repayment options.

“The response by the private student loan industry to distressed borrowers is failing to help them avoid default,” Rohit Chopra, CFPB student loan ombudsman says in the report. “Too many borrowers are barely treading water, losing hope that these companies will throw them a lifeline.”

Because there are few alternatives for private borrowers, many reported that the lack of assistance from lenders resulted in the consumer being driven to default.

CFPB: Private Student Loan Companies Provide Few Options For Borrower, Driving Them To Default – Consumerist

The Costco Effect: Science Says We Choose Less Variety When Buying In Bulk – Consumerist

Something to keep in mind whilst on your next shopping binge,,,

When you go to a convenience store to grab a few cold drinks and some snacks, you’re probably going to make different shopping choices than you would at the supermarket or warehouse store. And a new study claims that we tend to go for more variety when we’re not buying in bulk — even if the bulk packages offer variety.

A new study [PDF] from an international group of researchers published in the Journal of Consumer Research looks at consumers’ desire to opt for variety when purchasing single products versus purchasing them in bundles.

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The researchers believe that their findings have implications for how retailers manage their businesses.

For example, while many bundles are discounted in order to entice customers to clear out inventory by paying a lower unit price, the researchers believe that bundles could also be used to simply entice people to buy more of the same product even if there is no price incentive.

The results also imply that consumers who shop at smaller markets, where things are less likely to be bundled together, are more likely to choose variety than those who patronize warehouse stores and other retailers where buying in bulk is the norm.

“If this conjecture is correct, then it should be easier, other things being equal, for new competitors to gain a foothold in small rather than in large retail outlets,” conclude the researchers.

The Costco Effect: Science Says We Choose Less Variety When Buying In Bulk – Consumerist

Note:  I find it interesting that it is being called the Costco Effect, why not BJs or Aldi's?

Potentially harmful bacteria prompts voluntarily baby wipes recall | abc13.com

Simply Right baby wipes from Sam's Club are no longer on the shelf after the wipes were found to have bacteria that can make kids sick.

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The recall is not being ordered by the FDA. Instead Sam's Club is voluntarily recalling the effected product which was sold since June of this year.

The company says, "We're communicating with members who have recently purchased the item so they understand the quality concerns and can return their product to Sam's Club for a full refund."

Potentially harmful bacteria prompts voluntarily baby wipes recall | abc13.com

Newspapers Warning About “Readers Payment Service” Subscription Scam – Consumerist

All around the country, people are receiving subscription renewal notices from a company called Readers Payment Services (or various other names) for any one of dozens of newspapers. The invoices, which ask for your credit card and personal information, may look legitimate, but the newspapers are warning their subscribers to not fall for this scam.

According to the Arizona Republic, it has received at least 60 complaints from readers who received these bogus Readers Payment Services, which not only want to steal victims’ info, but are also overstating the actual renewal cost by about 20%.

“I want to be clear that this scam has nothing to do with anyone accessing our databases. These are random mailings going out into the market,” said Republic publisher John Zidich. “We are taking the precaution to contact our subscribers, of which more than 70 percent do not pay by mail, to make them aware that this scam exists.”

Dozens of other papers’ have been targeted by the scam as well.

This morning, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution posted this PDF with more information about the scammers,,,

Newspapers Warning About “Readers Payment Service” Subscription Scam – Consumerist

Senators Tell The FDA To Hurry Up Already With Finalizing Those Months-Old E-Cigarette Regulations – Consumerist

When the Food and Drug Administration unveiled proposed regulations for electronic cigarettes back in April, it was an announcement five years in the making. Now several months later little has happened, and a group of senators fear that the failure to quickly finalize the rules has led to the perpetration of misleading health warnings created by tobacco companies themselves.

In the letter sent to the FDA on Thursday senators Barbara Boxer of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Edward Markey of Massachusetts urged the agency to adopt stronger warning labels for e-cigarettes and to quickly finalize proposed regulations.

The group expressed their concern that the proposed warning label does not adequately communicate the health consequences of e-cigarette use based on scientific facts.

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In addition to asking for a more defined warning label, the senators pushed for the FDA to quickly finalize regulations for fear that in the absence of clear federal standards, e-cigarette manufacturers are beginning to concoct their own health warnings about their products.

The group referenced the inconsistency between warning labels from well-known cigarette manufacturers Reynolds American and Altria.

The Reynolds label states that their product is not intended for those “who have an unstable heart condition, high blood pressure, or diabetes; or persons who are at risk for heart disease or are taking medicine for depression or asthma.” On the other hand the Altria label states, “Nicotine is addictive and habit forming, and is very toxic by inhalation, in contact with the skin, or if swallowed.”

Senators Tell The FDA To Hurry Up Already With Finalizing Those Months-Old E-Cigarette Regulations – Consumerist

UPDATE::Home Depot says malware affected 56M payment cards | wivb.com

Home Depot said Thursday that a data breach that lasted for months at its stores in the U.S. and Canada affected 56 million debit and credit cards, far more than a pre-Christmas 2013 attack on Target customers.

The size of the theft at Home Depot trails only that of the heist of data from 90 million TJX Cos. customers, which was disclosed in 2007. Target’s breach compromised 40 million credit and debit cards.

Home Depot, the nation’s largest home improvement retailer, said that the malware used in the data breach that took place between April and September has been eliminated.

It said there was no evidence that debit PIN numbers were compromised or that the breach affected stores in Mexico or customers who shopped online at Homedepot.com. It said it has also completed a “major” payment security project that provides enhanced encryption of customers’ payment data in the company’s U.S. stores.

But unlike Target’s breach, which sent the retailer’s sales and profits falling as wary shoppers went elsewhere, customers seem to have stuck with Atlanta-based Home Depot. Still, the breach’s ultimate cost to the company remains unknown. Greg Melich, an analyst at International Strategy & Investment Group LLC, estimates the costs will run in the several hundred million dollars, similar to Target’s breach.

Home Depot says malware affected 56M payment cards | wivb.com

Report: Secret Service Now Investigating Home Depot Breach – Consumerist

Nothing scares big-box shoppers and retailers quite like the specter of another nationwide credit-card data breach. Home improvement chain Home Depot has announced that it is investigating a possible data breach of the payment systems in its 2,200 stores, and the blog Krebs on Security analyzed data found in a shady corner of the Internet to show that this is likely what happened. Now Reuters reports that the Secret Service is involved in the matter.

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A law enforcement source told the wire service Reuters that Home Depot has now contacted the Secret Service, and is also working with private security firms to determine whether there has been a breach at all.

Report: Secret Service Now Investigating Home Depot Breach – Consumerist 

See also: U.S. Finds ‘Backoff’ Hacker Tool Is Widespread

More than 1,000 American businesses have been affected by the cyberattack that hit the in-store cash register systems at Target, Supervalu and most recently UPS Stores, the Department of Homeland Security said in an advisory released on Friday.

The attacks were much more pervasive than previously reported, the advisory said, and hackers were pilfering the data of millions of payment cards from American consumers without companies knowing about it. The breadth of the breaches, once considered limited to a handful of businesses, underscored the vulnerability of payment systems widely used by retail stores across the country.

On July 31, Homeland Security, along with the Secret Service, the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center and their partners in the security industry, warned companies to check their in-store cash register systems for a malware package that security experts called Backoff after a word that appeared in its code. Until that point, Backoff malware and variations of it were undetectable by antivirus products.

Facebook Mobile Users: Beware The Autoplay Videos Eating Up Your Data Plan – Consumerist

Perhaps you didn’t even mean to check out Maddie’s Amazing 3rd Birthday Party!!! footage on Facebook, maybe you were just scrolling along on your phone and stopped to read a post below that one. Nevertheless, if you haven’t turned the video autoplay feature off on your mobile devices, that sucker will start playing and could eat into your data allotment big time, as many users are finding out the rough way.

Facebook phone users have been reporting bill shock after one too many videos has gone and played itself, says consumer finance site MoneySavingExpert.com, saying they’ve “seen many complaints from people who have been stung with data bills after exceeding their monthly allowance and who believe it to be because of Facebook autoplaying videos.”

Facebook Mobile Users: Beware The Autoplay Videos Eating Up Your Data Plan – Consumerist

DEA tightens controls on hydrocodone painkiller drugs - LA Times

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is putting tighter controls on the nation's most widely prescribed narcotic painkiller in a move to stem an epidemic of addiction, overdose and death.

The agency said it would publish a rule Friday to place combination products, such as Vicodin and Norco, in the same category as other frequently abused medications, including OxyContin and fentanyl.

Once the rule takes effect in 45 days, all hydrocodone products will be considered Schedule II drugs — pharmaceuticals with accepted medical uses but also the highest potential for harm and abuse. Patients will see new restrictions on prescriptions and refills, and pharmacies will have to follow stricter procedures for handling and storage of the drugs.

Hydrocodone products are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S. Americans consume 99% of the hydrocodone produced worldwide, according to the International Narcotics Control Board.

But these drugs and other narcotic painkillers cause or contribute to more than 16,000 deaths annually, a death toll greater than for heroin and cocaine combined. As a result of a surge in prescription overdoses, drug fatalities have surpassed deaths from motor vehicle crashes, long the leading cause of accidental death in this country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DEA tightens controls on hydrocodone painkiller drugs - LA Times

PA Attorney General Warns of Credit Card Phone Scam - WeAreCentralPA.com - your one stop community web portal for all your Central Pennsylvania News, Sports and Weather, powered by WTAJ Your News Leader

In the last few weeks, the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection has received similar complaints from multiple consumers regarding this scam.

The scam consists of an automated call from a toll-free number telling the consumer that a hold has been placed on their credit or debit card account. If the consumer believes it is their card, they are asked to press "1" and then asked to enter the credit card number to proceed. Credit card companies will not ask consumers to give their information this way.

These scam artists will also leave messages with a number to call back. The call's recording also asks the consumer if they do not have the certain credit card mentioned to have a family member call back instead.

Attorney General Kane is warning consumers not to fall for this scam. If a consumer is concerned about their card, they should hang up and call the number on the back of their card instead.

PA Attorney General Warns of Credit Card Phone Scam - WeAreCentralPA.com - your one stop community web portal for all your Central Pennsylvania News, Sports and Weather, powered by WTAJ Your News Leader

NHTSA Launches Online Search Tool So Consumers Can Find Out For Themselves If A Vehicle Has Been Recalled – Consumerist

With more than 46 million vehicles having been recalled so far this year, the thought of accidentally purchasing a used car with safety defects might be a bit nerve-wracking for consumers. A new online search tool from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aims to take the worry and guess-work out of whether or not a used car has been recalled and fixed.

Late Tuesday NHTSA launched an online search tool that allows consumers to easily check the recall status of their vehicle or motorcycle, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Under the new mandate, NHTSA requires car and motorcycle manufacturers to provide at least 15 years of data and update their information every seven days. Additionally, manufacturers will be required to have a place on their websites where consumers can search for recalls using their vehicle identification numbers (VIN).

NHTSA Launches Online Search Tool So Consumers Can Find Out For Themselves If A Vehicle Has Been Recalled – Consumerist