INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Americans won’t take off work for something as innocuous as a cold, a new survey released Wednesday found, a fact that underscores the need for ready access to over-the-counter cough-cold medicines and better hand-washing/sanitizing practices in the workplace.

The survey, sponsored by Cadbury Adams’ Halls cough drop brand, found that 44% of Americans would consider going to work with a fever, and 32% said they would show up to work no matter how sick they get this season.

WASHINGTON — New York’s state Medicaid program could save $2.2 billion over 10 years by managing Medicaid pharmacy benefits more like private-sector employer plans, state employee plans and Medicare, according to a new study by healthcare policy research firm The Lewin Group.

MODESTO, Calif. — A recent scientific study showed that incorporating almonds into a person’s diet can help treat and possibly prevent Type 2 diabetes, as well as cardiovascular disease, the Almond Board of California announced Wednesday.

The study, published in the June 2010 Journal of the American College of Nutrition illustrated that consuming a diet rich in almonds may help improve insulin sensitivity and decrease LDL-cholesterol levels in those with pre-diabetes.

WASHINGTON — A new Consumer Reports poll released Monday found that only one-fifth of U.S. adults were aware of having purchased food, medication or a product (other than a car) that was recalled in the past three years.

Americans surveyed believed it is important to know about product recalls, but they were not confident that they are getting adequate information delivered to them, the poll also revealed.

WASHINGTON — Tens of millions of Americans have bought medications online without a prescription, according to a new study.

According to research funded by the Alliance for Save Online Pharmacies and released by The Partnership at DrugFree.org, illegal online pharmacies have sold drugs to 36 million Americans.

BOSTON — A recent survey regarding memorable product launches in 2010 found that — not surprisingly — the Apple iPad ranked No. 1 among this year's new innovations.

But while the iPad earned the top spot, consumer packaged goods also made their stake in this year's Most Memorable New Product Launch survey, which was conducted online by Schneider Associates, Sentient Decision Science and SymphonyIRI Group during October.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The very substantial decrease in teen smoking that began in the mid-1990s has come to a halt among younger teens in the United States, and some evidence of a possible increase in their smoking was observed this year, announced researchers that were part of the "Monitoring the Future" study on Tuesday.

CHICAGO — Healthy eating behavior varies by generation, according to new research by NPD.

The "Healthy Eating Strategies by Generation" report found that younger generations — i.e., adults ages 21 to 54 years — have the least-healthy diets. But while older generations have better diets than their younger counterparts, it seems that 4-out-of-5 adults still need to improve the quality of their diet.