Every single day, Americans are dying from diseases linked to asbestos exposure — and recent data suggests the United States may in fact be seeing more asbestos-related deaths than ever before. According to data compiled by the Institute for Health Metric and Evaluation (IHME), there were more than 40,764 asbestos-related worker deaths in 2019 alone, the year for which the latest metrics are available. That equates to roughly one asbestos-related death every 12 minutes. The…

If the years 2020 and 2021 have taught us anything it’s that nurses are invaluable and the true unsung heroes of the American workforce. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have demonstrated incredible strength and resolve, showing up for work each day no matter the risks and looking after patients under unprecedented circumstances.   During the early days of the pandemic, when hospitals were overwhelmed, these brave workers put their lives on the line each day…

Roughly one year ago, on April 14, 2020, the mesothelioma and asbestos-disease prevention community experienced an enormous and tragic loss when the well-known and deeply admired father, husband, son and courageous mesothelioma warrior Mike Mattmuller passed away at just 38 years old. During this year’s Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW), we wish to take a day to honor the memory of Mike Mattmuller. He may no longer be with us, but he will never be…

April 1 marks the kickoff to 2021 Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW), the 17th annual, weeklong awareness campaign led by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). As with previous years, GAAW will run through April 7. Largely through community advocacy, GAAW aims to educate global citizens on the health dangers of asbestos, raise awareness of asbestos-related diseases and build momentum toward a national ban on all uses and imports of asbestos in the United States.…

With rare exceptions, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that every person 6-months-old or older get a flu shot each year between October and March. Getting a flu shot this flu season is even more important than usual, as vaccinating ourselves could reduce the burden on our nation’s healthcare workers who are currently contending with a greater number of hospitalizations from the novel coronavirus. According to the CDC, “Getting a flu…

With the holiday season now well underway, many families are asking themselves a similar question: How do we celebrate this important family holiday with the current safety recommendations related to COVID-19? The question is no doubt a difficult one, and it’s understandable that millions of Americans are grappling with it as they finalize their holiday plans. The question can grow even more complicated when a family has to factor in health concerns for a vulnerable…

In recent months, the common prescription drug Elmiron®, which is used to treat a painful and common bladder condition, has fallen under scrutiny for allegedly damaging the vision of the patients who take it. Elmiron lawsuits are now being filed. Prescribed to treat the bladder pain and discomfort associated with the chronic condition known as interstitial cystitis (IC), Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium, or PPS) is the subject of lawsuits alleging the drug leads to irreversible…