|
|
It is believed that the Incas used anesthesia. Evidence supports the theory that shamans chewed cocoa leaves and drilled holes into the heads of patients (letting evil spirits escape), spitting into the wounds they made. The mixture of cocaine, saliva, and resin numbed the site enough to allow hours of drilling.
Oliver Wendell Holmes is credited with introducing the words "anesthesia" and "anesthetic" into the English language in 1846.
On average, someone in the United States has a stroke about every 40 seconds. This is about 795,000 people per year.
The most common treatment options for addiction include psychotherapy, support groups, and individual counseling.
About 100 new prescription or over-the-counter drugs come into the U.S. market every year.