Despite their life-saving benefits, statin drugs can uncommonly cause reversible memory loss, a discussion that you should pursue with your doctor if you are more concerned about your memory than your heart.
Surprising tidbit: Even over-the-counter cold and allergy medications can contribute to memory problems; in fact, injecting lab animals with the active ingredient in Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a research model for memory loss that immediately simulates Alzheimer's.
Showing posts with label pill pusher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pill pusher. Show all posts
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
snake oil
This image is a “balloon race”. The higher a bubble, the greater the evidence for its effectiveness. But the supplements are only effective for the conditions listed inside the bubble.
You might also see multiple bubbles for certain supps. These is because some supps affect a range of conditions, but the evidence quality varies from condition to condition. For example, there’s strong evidence that Green Tea is good for cholesterol levels. But evidence for its anti-cancer effects is conflicting. In these cases, we give a supp another bubble.
Visit Information is Beautiful for the interactive version.
- Taken from puppiesandflowers -
Monday, August 31, 2009
long article... ass-pain
The panacea is the holy grail of pharmacy. Each day, drug manufacturers led by their very own Dr. Indiana Joneses and Prof. Robert Langdons battle snakes (possibly for their venom) and enclosed spaces of their lab-yrinths in order to uncover and divulge the secrets and mysteries that shroud the “miracle drug”. Panacea got its name from the Greek goddess of healing. It’s the kind of stuff you would use in most RPG to heal the members of your party from any sort of ailments at all.
Ever since the beginning of time, and when I say that, I mean since the birth of witch doctors, shamans and our very own bomohs, mythical and mystical miracle drugs have been sought. And so, after many generations, we have yet come close to the end of this quest. However, some might beg to differ. They claim that we already have this “miracle drug”. In fact, most of us have this drug at home or even in our bags! Don’t believe me? Have a check first before you read on.
Sitting in our very own medications cubbyhole is one single drug which has been our constant companion for the longest of time. This drug is able to prevent strokes, reduce arthritis suffering, dampen inflammation, prevent heart attacks, reduce cancer risk, prevent vascular disease, and control headaches! In other words, this drug can save your life. Next time, if someone were to ask you a stupid question like such, “If you were on a deserted island, what would be the one thing you wish to have?” just say this drug. Oh and did I mention this drug costs no more than a few cents (RM) per tablet?! This “miracle drug”? A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), or better known as Aspirin.
The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, who lived sometime between 460 B.C and 377 B.C. left historical records of pain relief treatments, including the use of powder made from the bark and leaves of the willow tree to help heal headaches, pains and fevers. By 1829, scientists discovered that it was the compound called salicin in willow plants which gave you the pain relief.
Dogs don't want to be barking up this wrong tree [Whomping Willow].
But it wasn’t until 1899, that Bayer pharmaceuticals, which is the same company that brought us heroin and mustard gas, as well as methadone, launched Aspirin (Okay… that sounds like a ship. Probably the word I was looking for is patented.), courtesy of a German, Felix Hoffman, who developed this drug while seeking an agent for his father’s rheumatism.
1899 Aspirin Bottle First Bottle of Aspirin
One of the most common uses of aspirin is to control pain and inflammation in people with conditions such as arthritis. In addition, the use of low-dose aspirin or baby aspirin (75mg [standard: 300mg]) is effective in preventing blood clotting in people at high risk for heart attack (usually for patients who have had heart attack before) or reducing (not prevent) the incidence of stroke.
So, in the event of a heart attack, doctors would recommend people to chew two aspirin, and the effect of easing the effect of a blood clot is almost immediate. Doctors would also prescribe aspirin to patients who just had coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). But of course too much of a good thing may be quite bad. According to a new study by British scientists (in a report dated 31/08/09), healthy people taking a daily dose of aspirin to prevent heart attacks may be doing themselves more harm than good. Researchers found that the risks of bleeding from taking aspirin were such that its routine use in healthy people "cannot be supported" -- although they did not dispute its use in patients with a history of vascular problems.
This leads to the major downside of prolonged aspirin therapy, which occurs with most other NSAIDs as well, is the risk of peptic ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. However, nowadays we can find aspirin in enteric coated tablet forms, so as not to irritate the stomach and cause internal bleeding. Even so, aspirin still has a relatively clean track record.
However, there are other adverse reactions of taking aspirins. Aspirin can irritate the lining of the stomach; that much we know so far. This can cause heartburn, nausea, and vomiting and rarely, internal bleeding. You don't have to take big doses to get ulcers. In some people, even one aspirin a day over a long period can cause ulcers. Secondly, some people may experience allergic problems the first time they take aspirin. Or allergy may hit suddenly even after taking aspirin without problems for many years. Most commonly, aspirin-allergic people develop rashes. Thirdly, some people may get salicylism, or aspirin poisoning. It usually happens through accidental overdosing. Typically, you're taking normal doses of aspirin - while also taking drugs that you don't realize contain aspirin. The first warning sign of aspirin poisoning is usually ringing in the ears and decreased hearing.
Of course, aspirin is not all bad. In fact, its benefits outweigh its risks. But you should never take daily aspirin without consulting with your doctor or pharmacist. Aspirin may cause problems with other drugs you take. Sometimes aspirin worsens their risks - or decreases their effectiveness. Or it can work in reverse: other drugs may worsen aspirin's risks or decrease its effectiveness. Or aspirin may increase the risk of other drugs.
Research is also exploring other potential life-extending benefits of aspirin. Aspirin has been associated with decreased risk of asthma and prostate cancer in the elderly. Also, aspirin has been linked with lowering the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer and Kawasaki disease as well.
If a drug as widely available as aspirin and with as few side effects can have that many benefits, potentially saving tens of thousands of lives, then it is no wonder aspirin is known as the “miracle drug”. Ahh… Aspirin, you will always have a place in our hearts, I mean our medicine cabinet.
Ever since the beginning of time, and when I say that, I mean since the birth of witch doctors, shamans and our very own bomohs, mythical and mystical miracle drugs have been sought. And so, after many generations, we have yet come close to the end of this quest. However, some might beg to differ. They claim that we already have this “miracle drug”. In fact, most of us have this drug at home or even in our bags! Don’t believe me? Have a check first before you read on.
Sitting in our very own medications cubbyhole is one single drug which has been our constant companion for the longest of time. This drug is able to prevent strokes, reduce arthritis suffering, dampen inflammation, prevent heart attacks, reduce cancer risk, prevent vascular disease, and control headaches! In other words, this drug can save your life. Next time, if someone were to ask you a stupid question like such, “If you were on a deserted island, what would be the one thing you wish to have?” just say this drug. Oh and did I mention this drug costs no more than a few cents (RM) per tablet?! This “miracle drug”? A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), or better known as Aspirin.
The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, who lived sometime between 460 B.C and 377 B.C. left historical records of pain relief treatments, including the use of powder made from the bark and leaves of the willow tree to help heal headaches, pains and fevers. By 1829, scientists discovered that it was the compound called salicin in willow plants which gave you the pain relief.
Arthritis is the most common medical problems afflicting dogs today. To relief their pain, dogs would bite off pieces of bark of a Willow tree. If you do give aspirin to your dog, make sure it is Ascriptin or a form of aspirin formulated for dogs.
Dogs don't want to be barking up this wrong tree [Whomping Willow].But it wasn’t until 1899, that Bayer pharmaceuticals, which is the same company that brought us heroin and mustard gas, as well as methadone, launched Aspirin (Okay… that sounds like a ship. Probably the word I was looking for is patented.), courtesy of a German, Felix Hoffman, who developed this drug while seeking an agent for his father’s rheumatism.
1899 Aspirin Bottle First Bottle of AspirinOne of the most common uses of aspirin is to control pain and inflammation in people with conditions such as arthritis. In addition, the use of low-dose aspirin or baby aspirin (75mg [standard: 300mg]) is effective in preventing blood clotting in people at high risk for heart attack (usually for patients who have had heart attack before) or reducing (not prevent) the incidence of stroke.
So, in the event of a heart attack, doctors would recommend people to chew two aspirin, and the effect of easing the effect of a blood clot is almost immediate. Doctors would also prescribe aspirin to patients who just had coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). But of course too much of a good thing may be quite bad. According to a new study by British scientists (in a report dated 31/08/09), healthy people taking a daily dose of aspirin to prevent heart attacks may be doing themselves more harm than good. Researchers found that the risks of bleeding from taking aspirin were such that its routine use in healthy people "cannot be supported" -- although they did not dispute its use in patients with a history of vascular problems.
This leads to the major downside of prolonged aspirin therapy, which occurs with most other NSAIDs as well, is the risk of peptic ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. However, nowadays we can find aspirin in enteric coated tablet forms, so as not to irritate the stomach and cause internal bleeding. Even so, aspirin still has a relatively clean track record.
However, there are other adverse reactions of taking aspirins. Aspirin can irritate the lining of the stomach; that much we know so far. This can cause heartburn, nausea, and vomiting and rarely, internal bleeding. You don't have to take big doses to get ulcers. In some people, even one aspirin a day over a long period can cause ulcers. Secondly, some people may experience allergic problems the first time they take aspirin. Or allergy may hit suddenly even after taking aspirin without problems for many years. Most commonly, aspirin-allergic people develop rashes. Thirdly, some people may get salicylism, or aspirin poisoning. It usually happens through accidental overdosing. Typically, you're taking normal doses of aspirin - while also taking drugs that you don't realize contain aspirin. The first warning sign of aspirin poisoning is usually ringing in the ears and decreased hearing.
Of course, aspirin is not all bad. In fact, its benefits outweigh its risks. But you should never take daily aspirin without consulting with your doctor or pharmacist. Aspirin may cause problems with other drugs you take. Sometimes aspirin worsens their risks - or decreases their effectiveness. Or it can work in reverse: other drugs may worsen aspirin's risks or decrease its effectiveness. Or aspirin may increase the risk of other drugs.
Research is also exploring other potential life-extending benefits of aspirin. Aspirin has been associated with decreased risk of asthma and prostate cancer in the elderly. Also, aspirin has been linked with lowering the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer and Kawasaki disease as well.
If a drug as widely available as aspirin and with as few side effects can have that many benefits, potentially saving tens of thousands of lives, then it is no wonder aspirin is known as the “miracle drug”. Ahh… Aspirin, you will always have a place in our hearts, I mean our medicine cabinet.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
dirt treat
Any idea what are these, being sold in a Sierra Leone market?This is another clue:-
Okay... this is a big giveaway :p
Yup... CLAY.
It's not uncommon for women to experience cravings for odd foods while they are pregnant, like Juno's strange craving for blue slushie with chocolate sauce on top. But in Sierra Leone and other parts of Africa, the cravings can be for something most people consider inedible... C-L-A-Y.
Some say clay taste like chocolate; real smooth (obviously not the sandy ones), like a candy. But when I think of clay, I think of MUD and hook worms... Just not my kind of desserts... sorry.
The eating of inappropriate objects and material is known as "pica". In Africa, pregnant and lactating women are able to satisfy the very different nutritional needs of their bodies by eating clay. The clays are eaten as desired and often without water. The "cravings" in pregnancy for a varied nutritional intake (during pregnancy, the body requires 20% more nutrients and 50% more during lactation) are solved by geophagy (earth eating). The clay commonly ingested in Africa contains important nutrients such as: phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, and iron.The ingestion of kaolin, also known as "white dirt," "chalk," or "white clay," is a type of pica. Kaolin is a naturally deposited clay used in the manufacture of ceramics as well as in coatings for paper and textiles. It is also a key ingredient used in medicines for diarrhoea. Indeed, Rolaids, Maalox and other medicines recommended for nausea and stomach upset are filled with the same antacid compounds found in white kaolin clays. But if you look at it from another way, kaolin is also capable of causing constipation. Some even suffer ruptured colons. Low blood-hemoglobin levels, a sign of anemia, are common, because the ingestion of kaolin inhibits absorption of iron from foods. Those who eat clay at the expense of healthier foods often develop malnutrition.
However, according to some researchers, by eating dirt, it's possible that the pregnant woman would be strengthening her immune system at the same time she's going to turn antibodies to the child. Another advantage to eating clay during pregnancy may be the calming effect it can have on the mother's gastrointestinal system, which can succumb to bouts of nausea and morning sickness.
Speaking of g-astro, NASA even state that, along with the specific-training regiments, astronauts living in space are required to take calcium rich clay tablets (not just calcium rich tablets) to assist with keeping optimum bone density under conditions of weightlessness. According to doctors, such conditions weaken the body and increase chances that kidney stones may develop during flights lasting months or years. Little or no benefits were noted, when calcium alone was added. This means that the clay supplement contained some factor or factors other than calcium which promoted improved calcium utilisation and bone formation. So clearly it is also possible that this dietary supplement helps against osteoporosis.To put it simply, many people partake in geophagy, but not in a habitual way. Indeed, taking these supplements can help cure the condition and often iron supplements are prescribed which for some helps relieve cravings.
Dirt anyone?Friday, August 21, 2009
coal-mining monkeys
Monkeys are smart!!
Red Colombus Monkeys from the African island of Zanzibar have learned that ingesting charcoal will counteract the adverse affects of toxic substances in their diet (eg., Indian almond and mango leaves).
Like any other mischievous kid, monkeys have been known to snatchchocolates charcoal while our backs are turned, lying near kilns, where they are produced for cooking. They would also nibble the charred wood of burning trees (effects of deforestation). A typical monkey would eat about five grams of charcoal a day. Of course, our commercial powdered activated charcoal works better than these charcoal. But it works quite well for them.
The reason why these monkeys are still chomping those leaves albeit being toxic is because they are high in protein and highly digestible. This would explain the monkey boom in the Indian almond and mango habitat, which are significantly higher than those in the ground water forest.
Even though, our population in their habitats have increased, these monkeys have decided to look the glass at half full with a hint of cheekiness as they learned to coexist with us, by snacking on charcoal. I say well done to the monkeys!
Activated charcoal has a well-known ability to adsorb toxins and it is effective in treating overdoses and poisonings, and in Europe people use it in liquid form as a digestive aid. Adsorption is the ability of substances, in this case the toxins, to stick to the surface of a solid, such as charcoal.
What does "Activated" mean? Basically it means a raw charcoal product which is purified for internal use. Use the powdered form if possible, as commercial tablets are about half as effective and should be chewed. Read more here.
Red Colombus Monkeys from the African island of Zanzibar have learned that ingesting charcoal will counteract the adverse affects of toxic substances in their diet (eg., Indian almond and mango leaves).Like any other mischievous kid, monkeys have been known to snatch
The reason why these monkeys are still chomping those leaves albeit being toxic is because they are high in protein and highly digestible. This would explain the monkey boom in the Indian almond and mango habitat, which are significantly higher than those in the ground water forest.
Even though, our population in their habitats have increased, these monkeys have decided to look the glass at half full with a hint of cheekiness as they learned to coexist with us, by snacking on charcoal. I say well done to the monkeys!
... ... ... ... ...
Activated charcoal has a well-known ability to adsorb toxins and it is effective in treating overdoses and poisonings, and in Europe people use it in liquid form as a digestive aid. Adsorption is the ability of substances, in this case the toxins, to stick to the surface of a solid, such as charcoal.What does "Activated" mean? Basically it means a raw charcoal product which is purified for internal use. Use the powdered form if possible, as commercial tablets are about half as effective and should be chewed. Read more here.
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