HEALTH

LAS VEGAS — Oregon Scientific and Gaiam on Wednesday announced a new wellness-bent product offering that includes low-profile heart-rate monitors with touchscreen technology; USB-powered air sanitizers; massagers for the head, back and body; and ultrasonic diffusers and heated candles for aromatherapy, which will be introduced first to buyers attending the Consumer Electronics Show.

Each product in the line will include a Gaiam Wellness DVD that features such yoga instructors as Rodney Yee providing a comprehensive approach to stress-free living.

NEW YORK — Procter & Gamble and popular NFL broadcaster John Madden will be generating exposure for the Prilosec OTC brand with P&G’s sponsorship of the second annual Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award, presented by Prilosec OTC. Voting started Thursday morning.

The award honors the NFL's best offensive line for the 2010 NFL regular season. Fan voting, which will be available through Jan. 21, serves as the final piece in determining this season's “best protectors” in the NFL.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Patients with one or more out of four chronic diseases studied who take their medications as prescribed may save the healthcare system as much as $7,800 per patient annually, according to findings of a new CVS Caremark study analyzing annual pharmacy and medical costs over a three-year period.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Bayer Diabetes’ Contour USB, pictured here at CVS, may be ideal for those tech-savvy boomers just learning they have diabetes. 

The monitor takes a blood-glucose reading at one end and can be inserted into the USB port of either a home computer or the laptop in the doctor’s office.

WASHINGTON — The Natural Products Association and New Hope Natural Media, which produces the NPA’s official trade show and conference, announced a new name for the organization's upcoming annual event — Natural Products Association MarketPlace.

The annual exhibit conference will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center June 23 through June 25.

HINGHAM, Mass. — Wellness Workdays on Wednesday adopted the Stayhealthy total body composition system to provide state-of-the-art measurement tools to increase the effectiveness of employee wellness programs. Wellness Workdays, a consulting firm based here, creates worksite wellness programs to inspire employees to make simple and positive changes and improve their health while working to lower healthcare costs for the employer.

MIAMI — With new leadership at the helm, Navarro Discount Pharmacy continues its goal of catering to the needs of the Hispanic community in the Miami area. Navarro is the largest Hispanic-owned drug store chain in the United States, with 28 locations that cater to the Hispanic market through their product offerings and services.


The company, which garnered about $320 million in sales in 2009, tapped in late 2009 former Bigg’s executive Steve Kaczynski to serve as CEO, and has since further bolstered its management team as part of its expansion strategy.


PITTSBURGH — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration last year initiated programs that will breathe new life into sales of smoking-cessation products. The surgeon general issued a report titled “How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease,” and the FDA will be mandating that tobacco manufacturers have smoking-is-bad-for-you messages on packaging.