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# 2012 Health News Roundup  The Good and Bad News on Drugs, Food, Lifestyle, and Health Care Policy
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/drugs_food_lifestyle_and_health_care_policy_1231120145/
- Published: 2012-12-31T14:41:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:05:25.000Z
- Description: The roundup notes the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act while only 15 states agreed to run exchanges, aspirin drew favourable research, pink slime and a glass-contaminated Lipitor recall made bad news, and fish oil looked less impressive than hoped.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Healthcare, Health News, #vivvo-import

**2012 Health News Roundup** 
***The Good and Bad News on Drugs, Food, Lifestyle, and Health Care Policy***

2012 has come and gone, but many of its health innovations—and setbacks—will stick around for years to come. 

Of course, the most far-reaching health news of 2012 will affect all of us in the U.S. The national health care reform law (also referred to as “Affordable Care Act” or “Obamacare”) was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June. Most states, however, are not up to the enormous task of running health exchanges for their citizens, with only 15 states signing on to do so. 

Drug research led to more good news for an oldie but goodie drug: aspirin. Researchers found that aspirin might protect against liver disease and cancer, and even slow elderly brain decline. On the higher-tech side, researchers manufactured stem cells that can target and destroy HIV. But we also saw a number of drug contaminations, including a Lipitor recall due to contamination with minuscule glass shards. A new, non-HIV immunodeficiency disease was found, and scientists determined that chemotherapy could damage neighboring healthy cells. 

As far as food goes, some news was more than welcome: chocolate can lower the risk of stroke in men, turmeric can protect against diabetes, and coffee can lower the risk of heart failure. Counterbalancing the good news, though, we had the pink slime scandal that rocked the U.S. meat industry; energy drinks appeared to be associated with a number of deaths; and fish oil and omega-3s might not be the miracle ingredients we once thought they were. 

It’s not all doom and gloom, though: dopamine levels, associated with good mood, appear to improve long-term memory formation. A decline in smoking rates means fewer heart attacks. And studies show that while a lack of sleep during your teenage years can raise the risk of diabetes, happiness in adolescence can lead to a wealthier adulthood. 

The flooding from hurricane Sandy damaged years of research at NYU, but research and policy have still progressed by leaps and bounds. The UN reported a 24% drop in HIV infections in children since 2009\. Access to free birth control was linked to a drop in abortion rates, and child mortality has fallen more than 40% in the past 20 years. 

Despite some setbacks, 2012 showed us a number of ways to live better: eat chocolate, pop popcorn, and spend time with friends. Take a look at our highlights below, compiled from AskaPatient’s tweets over the course of the past year. May your 2013 be even happier and healthier than 2012\. Cheers! 

*\-by Chuck Pletcher. Contact him and follow health news at Twitter.com/Askapatient*   

**Drugs and Treatments: The Good News**

[**Aspirin**](http://t.co/bY2a5CEY?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could help prevent liver disease** 
**Daily dose of** [**aspirin**](http://t.co/pn2TCZqT?ref=foodconsumer.org) **may reduce the risk of many cancers**

**Aspirin can slow** [**brain decline**](http://t.co/FUNZjnMv?ref=foodconsumer.org) **in elderly patients**

**The State Department plans to have**[ **AIDS**](http://t.co/94WQR1yd?ref=foodconsumer.org) **under control within four years**

[**Psoriasis drugs**](http://t.co/MxAyie4s?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could slow the progression of dementia**

**Transplants from their own nose cells helped** [**paralyzed**](http://t.co/Z6LZRrXt?ref=foodconsumer.org) **dogs walk again**

**One** [**colonoscopy**](http://t.co/yweA7Ekd?ref=foodconsumer.org) **is enough to prevent colon cancer in some patients**

**Replacing defective DNA may be able to treat** [**genetic diseases**](http://t.co/6Mn2dWHI?ref=foodconsumer.org)

[**Hormone therapy**](http://t.co/aZO4zw0c?ref=foodconsumer.org) **within five years of menopause could reduce Alzheimer's risk**

[**Snake venom**](http://t.co/Ew2dBqtB?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could be a more effective pain killer than morphine**

[**Snake venom**](http://t.co/FPdwI4PJ?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could hold clues to curing cancer and diabetes**

**Cancer Research UK predicts a 17% drop in** [**cancer deaths**](http://t.co/vWQmQ6tB?ref=foodconsumer.org) **by 2030**

**Human muscle has been** [**regrown**](http://t.co/lpVyQ2Lb?ref=foodconsumer.org) **using animal-muscle scaffolding**

**Scientists have been able to grow ears, bone, and skin to heal** [**wounded troops**](http://t.co/qzAPETVb?ref=foodconsumer.org)

**The first total** [**artificial heart**](http://t.co/SGqgaJK4?ref=foodconsumer.org) **has been deemed a success**

[**Stem cells**](http://t.co/HPUUehx5?ref=foodconsumer.org) **were manufactured that target and 'kill' HIV**

**Drugs & Treatment: The Bad News**

[**Lipitor**](http://t.co/BJPnAtwZ?ref=foodconsumer.org) **was recalled due to contamination from tiny glass particles**

[**Digoxin**](http://t.co/7jt8MIH3?ref=foodconsumer.org) **has been linked to deaths due to its narrow dose range**

[**Genes**](http://t.co/wifaqbLh?ref=foodconsumer.org)**, not sunlight, are behind redheads' increased risk of melanoma**

[**Antidepressants**](http://t.co/MooJpgoQ?ref=foodconsumer.org) **may pose risks for women during pregnancy**

**Some** [**antidepressants**](http://t.co/ETradO8v?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could raise stroke risk**

[**Climate change**](http://t.co/yiZ6h4Ku?ref=foodconsumer.org) **will make mosquito-borne diseases more lethal**

[**Influenza vaccines**](http://t.co/ot11jLDG?ref=foodconsumer.org) **might not be as effective as thought**

**Ontario reported the first case of pig-to-human** [**H1N1**](http://t.co/GCfdNYDW?ref=foodconsumer.org) **transfer**

**A non-HIV** [**immunodeficiency disease**](http://t.co/mkJNBwJi?ref=foodconsumer.org) **was found in Thailand and Taiwan**

[**Chemotherapy**](http://t.co/iISxQcri?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could damage nearby healthy cells**

[**Methadone**](http://t.co/Qkb3HMik?ref=foodconsumer.org) **painkillers account for 5000 deaths every year**

**The** [**iodide**](http://t.co/066XdTUE?ref=foodconsumer.org) **used in routine scans could damage thyroid glands**

**7% of US adults carry** [**HPV**](http://t.co/NywAqrVp?ref=foodconsumer.org) **in their mouths**

**Doctors in India reported a strain of** [**TB**](http://t.co/gekCY7Q1?ref=foodconsumer.org) **that is totally** [**resistant**](http://t.co/lmCuDJBy?ref=foodconsumer.org) **to drugs**

**Food: The Good News**

[**Pepsi**](http://t.co/AhE36wb6?ref=foodconsumer.org) **is releasing a drink in Japan that includes a weight-loss-inducing fiber**

**A** [**tomato-rich**](http://t.co/2oXGniZU?ref=foodconsumer.org) **diet could lower your risk of stroke**

**A blend of sesame and rice bran oil can lower your** [**blood pressure**](http://t.co/oKraTGIa?ref=foodconsumer.org)

**The shape of your** [**beer glass**](http://t.co/iXO9pNDS?ref=foodconsumer.org) **can affect how fast you drink**

**Restaurants with softer music and lower lighting can help with** [**portion control**](http://t.co/4s6PxDbh?ref=foodconsumer.org)

[**Chocolate**](http://t.co/gv0JNsya?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could lower stroke risk in men**

**Dark** [**chocolate**](http://t.co/mb4iYpTE?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could help lower your blood pressure**

**A daily dose of** [**walnuts**](http://t.co/FQKVxc08?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could improve sperm quality**

**A compound in** [**turmeric**](http://t.co/LqcZvZ5R?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could help fend off diabetes**

**Moderate** [**coffee**](http://t.co/v8Xhh3pJ?ref=foodconsumer.org) **consumption decreases the risk of heart failure**

[**Popcorn**](http://t.co/yUdyIvhg?ref=foodconsumer.org) **is loaded with antioxidants and other health benefits**

[**Dessert**](http://t.co/JwZ0ste4?ref=foodconsumer.org) **as the first meal of the day might help dieters lose weight**

**Frying food in** [**sunflower**](http://t.co/XdpbVyEu?ref=foodconsumer.org) **or olive oil is better than frying in other oils**

**Food: The Bad News**

**ABC News is** [**sued**](http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/25/us-usa-beef-pinkslime-abc-lawsuit-idUSBRE89O00D20121025?ref=foodconsumer.org) **over report that “**[**pink slime**](http://t.co/7fAH2Djr?ref=foodconsumer.org)**” is in U.S. ground beef**

[**High fructose corn syrup**](http://t.co/lbPaYFtV?ref=foodconsumer.org) **is linked to type 2 diabetes**

**Drinking** [**grapefruit juice**](http://t.co/D2r6Xu25?ref=foodconsumer.org) **with certain medications could be deadly**

**The FDA has released reports on the deaths associated with** [**energy drinks**](http://t.co/GCCuiObu?ref=foodconsumer.org)

**Caffeine levels in** [**energy drinks**](http://t.co/GZodV6up?ref=foodconsumer.org) **can often stray from what the labels indicate**

**Overweight and** [**obese kids**](http://t.co/9IR1O8Rw?ref=foodconsumer.org) **face kidney risks down the line**

**3 or more cups of** [**coffee**](http://t.co/DbCQe02v?ref=foodconsumer.org) **per day may cause vision loss**

**Too much** [**salt**](http://t.co/j0U57MSP?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could be harming kids' health**

**Bread accounts for most of the** [**salt**](http://t.co/oeXuETBW?ref=foodconsumer.org) **in Americans' diets**

[**Fish oil**](http://t.co/MroI1jYs?ref=foodconsumer.org) **and Omega-3s don't ward off heart attacks**

**Diseases linked to**[ **imported spices**](http://t.co/Fv66pi6i?ref=foodconsumer.org) **and fish are on the rise**

[**Cadmium**](http://t.co/evsnlaGp?ref=foodconsumer.org) **in food could raise the risk of breast cancer**

**Chlorinated** [**tap water**](http://t.co/tyVCfGUM?ref=foodconsumer.org) **has been linked to the increase of food allergies**

**'Good'** [**cholesterol**](http://t.co/XzQpyWY8?ref=foodconsumer.org) **might not be that good for us**

**Lifestyle: The Good News**

[**Happiness**](http://t.co/InfhmWeM?ref=foodconsumer.org) **during adolescence linked to increased wealth in adulthood**

[**Dopamine**](http://t.co/RZMoVikM?ref=foodconsumer.org) **has been linked to improved long-term memory formation**

**Bans on** [**smoking**](http://t.co/kUdREK5i?ref=foodconsumer.org) **are reducing heart attack rates**

**Women who quit** [**smoking**](http://t.co/gYaaRKUD?ref=foodconsumer.org) **before 40 can avoid up to 90% of its risks**

**Russia is planning a ban on all public tobacco** [**smoking**](http://t.co/xS3pPDWO?ref=foodconsumer.org)

**Group** [**weight loss programs**](http://t.co/clV8Rw0I?ref=foodconsumer.org) **appear to work best**

**Free bus passes could encourage** [**seniors**](http://t.co/pbNeRPS2?ref=foodconsumer.org) **to stay active**

[**Sitting**](http://t.co/gYoXSq5D?ref=foodconsumer.org) **fewer than 3 hours a day could increase your lifespan by 2 years**

**Brain scans showed that people can** [**learn to forget**](http://t.co/1jR9Y2N1?ref=foodconsumer.org) **regrets as they age**

**Lifestyle: The Bad News**

**The CDC has found a correlation between traffic** [**pollution**](http://t.co/dQ1Lw5Z4?ref=foodconsumer.org) **and autism**

[**Weight loss surgery**](http://t.co/UVxI81V3?ref=foodconsumer.org) **not an effective solution to fighting diabetes**

**Flame retardants found in** [**furniture**](http://t.co/ckv8LiRZ?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could pose health risks**

[**Unemployment**](http://t.co/Y5pTxh6U?ref=foodconsumer.org) **is a significant risk factor for a heart attack**

**Chronic exposure to** [**bright light**](http://t.co/XOWDyREe?ref=foodconsumer.org) **at night could trigger depression**

[**High blood pressure**](http://t.co/tvUYI0rc?ref=foodconsumer.org) **can accelerate brain aging in middle-aged people**

**The longer mice stayed** [**overweight**](http://t.co/7Qq86pqb?ref=foodconsumer.org)**, the harder it was to shed pounds**

[**Lead paint**](http://t.co/DNpAFPlq?ref=foodconsumer.org) **is still a risk in millions of Americans' homes**

[**Lead**](http://t.co/A7CXMdAk?ref=foodconsumer.org) **has been found in 400 types of lipstick**

[**Indoor tanning**](http://t.co/iZ2CoodU?ref=foodconsumer.org) **has been linked to 170,000 skin cancers each year**

**Lack of** [**sleep**](http://t.co/LoeElvQq?ref=foodconsumer.org) **during the teen years could raise risk of diabetes**

[**Second-hand smoke**](http://t.co/UmS0Xsf4?ref=foodconsumer.org) **can damage everyday memory**

**A third of adults in the US have** [**high blood pressure**](http://t.co/9PxX2yCS?ref=foodconsumer.org)

**One in three people uses his or her phone--even** [**texts**](http://t.co/xc51edJc?ref=foodconsumer.org)**\--while crossing the street.**

**Health Care Policy & Practice: The Good News**

**The FDA has approved the first flu vaccine produced in** [**cell culture**](http://t.co/F3oXWCxa?ref=foodconsumer.org)

**The UN reports a 24% drop in new** [**HIV infections**](http://t.co/okVDqJEv?ref=foodconsumer.org) **in children since 2009**

**Access to free birth control caused** [**abortion**](http://t.co/MZke4qG7?ref=foodconsumer.org) **rates to drop**

**The FDA is cracking down on online pharmacies for selling** [**bad drugs**](http://t.co/WvjioCcp?ref=foodconsumer.org)

**A government task force is urging doctors to check for signs of** [**alcohol**](http://t.co/th3E0EFN?ref=foodconsumer.org) **overuse**

[**Child mortality**](http://t.co/sbeMKL5t?ref=foodconsumer.org) **has fallen more than 40% in the past 20 years**

**Remote-controlled drug-releasing** [**implants**](http://t.co/QyN6M5CA?ref=foodconsumer.org) **recently tested in humans**

**2025 is a deadline for an** [**Alzheimer's**](http://t.co/N1WaYIyw?ref=foodconsumer.org) **treatment or cure**

**Health Care Policy & Practice: The Bad News**

**The** [**drug industry's**](http://t.co/DUGIY1SG?ref=foodconsumer.org) **ties to research can bias findings**

**A shortage of primary care** [**physicians**](http://t.co/RtJwgsZ5?ref=foodconsumer.org) **could lead to health care issues**

**Medical research was lost in the** [**flooding**](http://t.co/3sgU99YD?ref=foodconsumer.org) **at NYU**

**In-vitro fertilization linked to** [**birth defect**](http://t.co/EHLMqLQA?ref=foodconsumer.org) **risks**

**Deadly** [**intestinal bacterium**](http://t.co/EcJowjFg?ref=foodconsumer.org) **targets untreated HIV-positive individuals**

**TRICARE doesn't provide enough help for** [**soldiers**](http://t.co/S2SDGST4?ref=foodconsumer.org) **coping with substance abuse**

**30 cents of every dollar spent on** [**US health care**](http://t.co/pab1PRfF?ref=foodconsumer.org) **is wasted**

**A study says that hospital sounds are getting in the way of** [**patients' sleep**](http://t.co/9j5HoePd?ref=foodconsumer.org)

**Children's** [**vaccines**](http://t.co/jICxNDXn?ref=foodconsumer.org) **in the US might not be stored properly**

**1 in 33** [**baby boomers**](http://t.co/dQizVEwa?ref=foodconsumer.org) **has hepatitis C**

[**Overweight doctors**](http://t.co/0NiWehxW?ref=foodconsumer.org) **less likely to help patients tackle weight problems**

**Higher bills aren't the only problem:** [**patients often kept out** ](http://t.co/7AcItcrG?ref=foodconsumer.org)**of electronic record billing loop.**

*\-2012 Health Care Roundup List edited by Thomas Williams.*

*AskaPatient.com has been providing comparative drug information for consumers since 2000\. Operated by Consumer Health Resource Group, LLC, AskaPatient has more than 100,000 patient reviews of prescription drugs. Subscribe to our weekly twitter news feed at* [*www.askapatient.com*](http://www.askapatient.com/?ref=foodconsumer.org)