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Many people have small pouches in their colons that bulge outward through weak spots. Each pouch is called a diverticulum. About 10% of Americans older than age 40 years have diverticulosis, which, when the pouches become infected or inflamed, is called diverticulitis. The main cause of diverticular disease is a low-fiber diet.
About 3% of all pregnant women will give birth to twins, which is an increase in rate of nearly 60% since the early 1980s.
Aspirin is the most widely used drug in the world. It has even been recognized as such by the Guinness Book of World Records.
More than 2,500 barbiturates have been synthesized. At the height of their popularity, about 50 were marketed for human use.
Medication errors are more common among seriously ill patients than with those with minor conditions.