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Once thought to have neurofibromatosis, Joseph Merrick (also known as "the elephant man") is now, in retrospect, thought by clinical experts to have had Proteus syndrome. This endocrine disease causes continued and abnormal growth of the bones, muscles, skin, and so on and can become completely debilitating with severe deformities occurring anywhere on the body.
According to the FDA, adverse drug events harmed or killed approximately 1,200,000 people in the United States in the year 2015.
About 100 new prescription or over-the-counter drugs come into the U.S. market every year.
In 2010, opiate painkllers, such as morphine, OxyContin®, and Vicodin®, were tied to almost 60% of drug overdose deaths.
Asthma cases in Americans are about 75% higher today than they were in 1980.