Health Rewind: Are Spanx Crushing Your Insides?

Plus, is weed more dangerous than liquor?

How Shapewear May Hurt Women’s Organs - In a recent Huffington Post article, three doctors sound off on the dangers of wearing shapewear such as Spanx. The experts claim that because shapewear’s job is to condense your problem areas, it can compress your stomach, intestines and colon. It can also worsen acid reflux and heartburn, and cause numbness in your legs and thighs. —Kellee Terrell (@kelleent)(Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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How Shapewear May Hurt Women’s Organs - In a recent Huffington Post article, three doctors sound off on the dangers of wearing shapewear such as Spanx. The experts claim that because shapewear’s job is to condense your problem areas, it can compress your stomach, intestines and colon. It can also worsen acid reflux and heartburn, and cause numbness in your legs and thighs. —Kellee Terrell (@kelleent)(Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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Does Depression in Black Women Increase Asthma Risk? - As part of the Black Women’s Health Study, researchers found a connection between depression and asthma rates among African-American women. Women with asthma were 2.8 times more likely to suffer from high bouts of depression, Psych Central.Com wrote. It’s not clear why this connection exists, but their findings are consistent with past reports. (Photo: Clive Gee/PA Photos /Landov)

Cease and Desist - The National Rifle Association has reached a new low, said two Connecticut senators after learning that the powerful gun lobbying group has been making robocalls to residents of Newtown. In a letter demanding it stop, they wrote, "In a community that's still very much in crisis, to be making these calls opens a wound that these families are still trying hard to heal."  (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

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Texting While Walking Is a Dangerous Combination - We know that texting and driving is dangerous, but a recent study suggests that doing it while walking is a problem, too. Researchers in Australia warn that it can interfere with your balance making you more susceptible to falling and cause you to not pay attention when crossing the street, HealthDay.Com writes. (Photo: James Whitaker/Getty Images)

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Half of Prison Guards Are Behind Prison Rapes - A recent report from the Justice Department found that rape rates among prisoners was up 11 percent and that prison guards are responsible for half of those sexual assaults. However, prosecuting these prison guards was very rare, given that only 10 percent of the allegations were actually investigated by the prison administration, Propublica wrote.  (Photo: Lucy Nicholson/Landov)

“Wait and See” Approach Is “Bad” for Black Men - For men with early stages of prostate cancer, some doctors use the “wait and see” approach instead of surgery and treatment. But a 2013 study found that this approach translated into more Black men developing aggressive forms of the disease down the road. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images)

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Black Men’s Poor Health Costs Billions - Health disparities aren’t just bad for our lives, but also for the economy and our pockets, a new study suggests. Researchers from Johns Hopkins found that between the years 2006-2009, racial health disparities among Black men accrued a whopping $341.8 billion in excess medical costs. Black men in this report were more likely to be obese, have diabetes and suffer from heart disease.  (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images)

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Former NBA Star Dennis Rodman Goes to Rehab - Former Chicago Bulls player Dennis Rodman has checked himself into a rehab center again to address his longtime addiction to alcohol, his agent told the press. It’s unknown which facility Rodman is at or how long he will be there, the Associated Press reports. This news comes shortly after his highly publicized and controversial trip to North Korea. (Photo: AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

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Former NBA Star Dennis Rodman Goes to Rehab - Former Chicago Bulls player Dennis Rodman has checked himself into a rehab center again to address his longtime addiction to alcohol, his agent told the press. It’s unknown which facility Rodman is at or how long he will be there, the Associated Press reports. This news comes shortly after his highly publicized and controversial trip to North Korea. (Photo: AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

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Why Don’t More Black Parents Text Kids Health Info? - While African-Americans are more likely to use smart phones to attain health information, a recent report suggests that when it comes to sharing that info, we may be lagging. Researchers found that while 87 percent of Black mothers were interested in being sent info, only 17 percent texted health info to their kids, says FierceMobileHealthCare.Com. (Photo: Tooga/GettyImages)

Gun Control Takes a Back Seat - Whatever momentum had been gained to ensure the passage of a background check bill in the Senate lost steam after the Boston Marathon bombing. On April 17, it and several other measures were defeated, which Obama called "shameful." (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Gun Owners at Higher Risk for Suicide and Homicide - Whether you are a gun owner or have guns in your home, your risk for suicide and gun death increases, says a recent study. Researchers analyzed 15 past studies and found that men were four times more likely to kill themselves with a firearm, while women were three times more likely to be victims of gun homicide, HealthDay.com writes. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Louisiana Study Aims at Helping Black Girls Lose Weight - Trim Teens, a southeast Louisiana-based weight loss program for Black teens, is seeing some serious results, WWLTV.com reports. This 12-week study aims at addressing the disproportionately obesity epidemic by providing  nutrition, behavior and exercise counseling. Tja'h Edwards, 13, told WWLTV that she has lost 16 pounds in 9 weeks and feels “good” and “doesn’t feel sluggish anymore.” (Photo: WWL-TV)

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Louisiana Study Aims at Helping Black Girls Lose Weight - Trim Teens, a southeast Louisiana-based weight loss program for Black teens, is seeing some serious results, WWLTV.com reports. This 12-week study aims at addressing the disproportionately obesity epidemic by providing  nutrition, behavior and exercise counseling. Tja'h Edwards, 13, told WWLTV that she has lost 16 pounds in 9 weeks and feels “good” and “doesn’t feel sluggish anymore.” (Photo: WWL-TV)

Is Weed More Dangerous Than Alcohol? - While President Obama seems to think so, some health experts disagree, USA Today writes. Some strongly believe that marijuana is dangerous and can have detrimental health affects for long terms smokers and impair judgment. But the existing data suggests otherwise: While marijuana can harm, alcohol is much more addictive and can lead to more accidents and deaths. (Photos from left: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, GettyImages)

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Is Weed More Dangerous Than Alcohol? - While President Obama seems to think so, some health experts disagree, USA Today writes. Some strongly believe that marijuana is dangerous and can have detrimental health affects for long terms smokers and impair judgment. But the existing data suggests otherwise: While marijuana can harm, alcohol is much more addictive and can lead to more accidents and deaths. (Photos from left: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, GettyImages)