Erik Lief
ACSH
New York, NY, United States
Contact Erik
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Erik:
ACSH in the Media: August 2020
The COVID crisis, the unrelenting, omnipresent dilemma battering America and altering our daily lives, has commanded our attention like no other health and science issue we've ever seen. But what about other issues, like those involving the effectiveness of ordinary chemicals used around the house ... or highly-dangerous ones that would-be criminals seek to acquire to carry → Read More
American Council on Science and Health Announces 5 Vaping Guidelines for Public Health
American Council on Science and Health Announces 5 Vaping Guidelines for Public Health → Read More
After Mass Shootings, Blood Provided by Well-Meaning Donors is Often Discarded
When a health emergency strikes, the volunteer spirit displayed by Americans is almost always remarkable. This spirit inevitably surfaces in the aftermath of natural disasters brought on by floods and hurricanes, as well as from unspeakable events like mass shootings, like the one that occurred in Las Vegas last October and last weekend's deadly attack inside a Pittsburgh synagogue that claimed… → Read More
Dogs Accurately Sniff Out Malaria Parasite, Promising Study Shows
Malaria affects hundreds of millions of people around the world every year. And just two years ago, nearly half a million fatalities were recorded in a calendar year. But what if the mosquito-borne disease could be sniffed out and its presence identified, before it began delivering its debilitating, flu-like effects? Well, that is what's literally happening, with researchers utilizing dogs' keen… → Read More
Key to Maximizing Bone Density: Play Sports Regularly While Young
Loss of bone density can be a significant issue for adults later in life, especially for those with healthy lifestyles who are living longer than ever. So what's an essential way to build up strong bones while one can? Play regular, organized sports as a kid and teenager. Ugh. OK, that's great for them. But that's not much help for those of us over the age of 20. The reason that ship has already… → Read More
Key to Maximizing Bone Density: Play Youth Sports Regularly
Loss of bone density can be a significant issue for adults later in life, especially for those with healthy lifestyles who are living longer than ever. So what's an essential way to build up strong bones while one can? Play regular, organized sports as a kid and teenager. Ugh. OK, that's great for them. But that's not much help for those of us over the age of 20. The reason that ship has already… → Read More
Added Evidence for Older Drivers to Treat Their Cataracts
Older adults who drive, and those whose vision is gradually becoming ever more faulty due to cataracts, can greatly reduce their risk of being involved in a car accident if they have corrective surgery, a new study has shown. The results are encouraging news for those who wish to continue driving, but have been ambivalent about having the procedure. The research, focusing on motorists aged 60… → Read More
Ticks Feast, Death Rate Spikes for Young Moose, Study Finds
New Hampshire-based researchers are witnessing something abnormal and troubling in the state's northern woodlands in recent years. They report that the moose population is being threatened, with a sharp increase in fatalities among its young being an alarming "unprecedented " development. In a new study, these scientists found that 70 percent of moose calves have died in a recent three-year… → Read More
Stress on Their Minds, Americans Turn to Search
In these digital days, it's a common refrain and probably a pretty accurate one, as well: If you want to know what someone's all about just check their search history. Now applying that concept to personal health and what might be ailing them, what's the No. 1 concern Americans are trying to tame? Stress. A recent analysis of health-related topics searched on Google Trends over the past year… → Read More
'Sight' for Blurry and Blind Eyes
Some technological innovations are merely cool. Others can be only be viewed as life-changing, especially when they address and overcome limitations of the human body. This creation is clearly in the latter category. And for those who have trouble seeing, are gradually losing their eyesight or are already blind, this can help dramatically improve their daily lives. The device is the OrCam MyEye… → Read More
Poor Dental Health Associated with Other Serious Health Risks
"Been to the dentist recently for a cleaning?" (Actually, no I haven't.) "Well, at least you brush your teeth at least twice a day, every day, without fail, right?" (As a matter of fact, I do let it slide sometime and I could be a lot better at it. But it's not that big a deal, right?) If this sounds like a conversation that you've had with someone – or one that simply took place in your own… → Read More
Amoeba Kills Water Park Visitor. While Rare, Should Precautions Be Taken?
First of all, this was a rare occurrence. So this is not to instill fear in anyone. Yet, this tragedy did happen – and since there are simple steps that can make a small risk even smaller, should water park patrons take them? It depends on how risk averse you are, so that's for each of us to decide. In case you hadn't heard, here's what happened to a 29-year-old man, as best we know, who visited… → Read More
1 in 3 Adults Has Fast Food on Any Given Day
One thing is for sure: the fast-food industry sure knows how to market its burgers, fries and breakfast sandwiches. In the first federal study focusing on fast-food consumption, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday that on any given day in America more than one third of adults are eating this type of offering. Researchers, surveying adults over a recent three-year… → Read More
Best Ways to Safely Dispose of Unwanted Medication
As a nation we are fixated, and rightly so, on the ongoing, nightmarish opioid epidemic and the flow of prescription pills to consumers. Managing this flow more effectively is of utmost importance. What about the flow of pills, of any kind, in the opposite direction – when they are no longer wanted? When it's time to put them aside what's the best way to dispose of them? Most Americans likely… → Read More
30 NCAA Football Players Have Died During Workouts Since 2000, HBO Reveals
When writing about this topic three weeks ago, our focus was mostly on the failure of high schools to protect student-athletes from potentially-fatal heat stroke. Little did we know what the big boys – for a much longer time – were failing to do as well. With a key preventive measure being so simple – the availability of a tub full of ice water – it defies all logic that this simple step isn't… → Read More
Those Most (and Least) Likely to See a Dermatologist
Everybody has skin. (Yes, truly an amazing observation, but true.) Everybody is exposed to the sun – some more than others – so to some degree we're all equally subjected to the sun's benefits and potentially-harmful effects. As for our epidermis-related differences, our skin color, of course, varies by race. Meanwhile, some population sub-groups are born with skin conditions that require… → Read More
Work Continues on a Pill to Treat Concussions
Did you know about the idea to develop a pill to treat the effects of concussions? If you weren't aware, this effort has apparently been going on for years. And one potential treatment involves the use of cannabidiol, which is derived from marijuana plants. Perhaps you heard about this under the heading of a "concussion pill," as a search using that phrase produces results – from sources of all… → Read More
Yes, Some Actually Believe Adding Salad Lowers a Meal's Calorie Total
Many of us are aware that when it comes to food – and controlling what we eat, as well as weight loss – our minds can sometimes play tricks on us. You could say there are moments when we want to believe what we want to believe. It is that mindset that gives rise to what's called, in scientific circles, the "negative calorie illusion." Wait, what? Negative calories? There's no such thing, so… → Read More
Coming to Terms with Cancer & End-of-Life Issues
With Americans living longer than ever, more and more attention is being paid to how adults manage potentially-fatal diseases and end-of-life issues. Here are two cases in point, both focusing on the mental – not medicinal – aspects of this topic. The first is a well-publicized book that you may have noticed over the last few months, on ways to confront one's mortality. The second involves a… → Read More
Parents, Stop Kids' Need for Tommy John Surgeries, Says Tommy John
At one time, he was singularly honored to have his name attached to a groundbreaking, liberating and career-extending surgery. But today, with so many teenage athletes forced to undergo operations resulting from elbow-joint overuse, Tommy John can no longer absorb the recognition without wincing. As a result, the former Major League pitcher has an urgent message for parents. Spare your… → Read More