This article is provided by the National Consumer Alliance as part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of its members by providing educational information. Content source for this article was provided by Everest Career Education Network. Click HERE to be linked to the original article.
Massage feels great, but it also has measurable health benefits.
The Mayo Clinic, one of America’s most respected health care facilities, discusses massage at length on its http://www.mayoclinic.com/ website. In its review of benefits, the article reports massage can provide help with:
■Stress relief
■Anxiety and depression management
■Pain
■Stiffness
■Blood pressure control
■Infant growth
■Sports-related injuries
■Boosting immunity
■Cancer treatment
The health care website MedicineNet.com lists additional conditions that can benefit from regular therapeutic massage. These include:
In its article, “Massage: It’s Real Medicine,” CNN’s website, www.CNN.com, discusses even more conditions upon which massage has been shown to have a positive impact. These include:
■Migraine headaches
■Labor pains
■Fibromyalgia
The reasons massage can be so beneficial are many. As detailed in these and similar articles on the subject, medical research has discovered massage triggers a number of measurable physiological changes in the body:
■It reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol
■It increases levels of serotonin and dopamine
■It slows one’s heart rate and lowers blood pressure
■It increases delta waves in the brain, which are associated with sleep and relaxation
■It increases blood flow to muscles
In short, for many common conditions associated with stress and overexertion, massage can be just what the doctor ordered!
This article is provided by the National Consumer Alliance as part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of its members by providing educational information. Content source for this article was provided by Pickthebrain.com. The article was written by Timothy Romano who is the author of Secrets to Improve Memory, a complete memory improvement course from basic, to advanced techniques. Click HERE to be linked to the original article.
You’ve met them. You probably even have a few in your family that you see at barbecues every summer. It’s the 65 year old uncle that has the memory of an elephant and can recall small details from events in the 1950’s. Perhaps you have a relative that can quote specific dates from their childhood, or even experiences they had overseas in another “life.” If you are like me, you wish that you had a magic formula to improve your memory power to have the same abilities as these impressive individuals. Well, I’m here to tell you that with the tips I’m going to give you in this article, you’ll have the information to improve your memory, and you can get started right away!
Tip #1: Reduce Stress
Stress is one of the greatest enemies of the mind, and increasingly more common, the health of the entire body. Stress can cause heart attacks, strokes, and the long-term degradation of one’s health. Specifically, it kills your brain’s cells, and has a negative effect on the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is responsible for recording and storing long and short-term memories. Some of the best improve your memory information I ever received was to get ahold of stress, and eliminate as much of it as you can. There are many ways to do this, but one of the techniques I’ve found to be most effective is meditation. Meditation is effective in calming your nerves, finding your inner quiet and peace, and producing a deep state of relaxation. It’s easy to learn some basic techniques, and these will go a long way in helping reduce your overall stress levels, thereby improving the power of your mind.
Tip #2: Exercise Your Brain
If you were planning on running a marathon next summer, would you train your body to increase its performance and improve your chances for success? Of course you would! You’d specifically train your body to target the muscles and organs necessary for successfully completing a 26 mile run. Well, your brain is no different than the rest of your body. If you require increased performance and reliability from your brain, you have to continually use it and train it in ways that you don’t normally use it. Try things like brushing your teeth or writing with your non-dominant hand. Learn a foreign language or a musical instrument. Read about or study a new area of interest that you have little knowledge of. All of these things will require your brain to create new neural pathways, which will improve memory power and overall brain performance.
Tip #3: Listen and Actively Engage
How many times have you met someone at a party, a business setting, or any other situation, and five minutes later you can’t remember the person’s name that you just met? It happens to all of us, and can be embarrassing, but it is an easy faux pas to avoid if you know how to do it. Any time you are performing a task, speaking to someone, meeting someone for the first time, etc., make it a point to block out all other distractions and pay attention. We humans make so many errors, and fail to remember a lot of important information because of the failure of this basic skill. Try to pay close attention to detail in all aspects of your life and you will see that it becomes second nature, and pretty soon you won’t even have to try. When you are meeting that new person, engage him and repeat his name back while you are being introduced. This will help reinforce the name into your brain for future recall. Be more engaged in all of your conversations and make an effort to listen more attentively and you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll be able to remember later.
By putting this information to improve your memory into use, you will soon see that your brain is sharper, and you will be recalling important information more quickly and accurately than before. This improvement in memory power might not put you in the league of your 65 year old uncle, but the rest of your family, friends, and colleagues will think that you are one of the sharpest people they know!
This article is provided by the National Consumer Alliance as part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of its members by providing educational information. Content source for this article was provided by the Mayo Clinic. Click HERE to be linked to the original article.
Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary by individual. These guidelines can help ensure you drink enough fluids.
How much water should you drink each day? It’s a simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.
Although no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body’s need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.
Health benefits of water
Water is your body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.
Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.
How much water do you need?
Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.
What about the advice to drink eight glasses a day?
Everyone has heard the advice, “Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.” That’s about 1.9 liters, which isn’t that different from the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Although the “8 by 8″ rule isn’t supported by hard evidence, it remains popular because it’s easy to remember. Just keep in mind that the rule should be reframed as: “Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day,” because all fluids count toward the daily total.
Factors that influence water needs
You may need to modify your total fluid intake depending on how active you are, the climate you live in, your health status, and if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 400 to 600 milliliters (about 1.5 to 2.5 cups) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, and the duration and type of exercise. During long bouts of intense exercise, it’s best to use a sports drink that contains sodium, as this will help replace sodium lost in sweat and reduce the chances of developing hyponatremia, which can be life-threatening. Also, continue to replace fluids after you’re finished exercising.
Environment. Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional intake of fluid. Heated indoor air also can cause your skin to lose moisture during wintertime. Further, altitudes greater than 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves.
Illnesses or health conditions. When you have fever, vomiting or diarrhea, your body loses additional fluids. In these cases, you should drink more water. In some cases, your doctor may recommend oral rehydration solutions, such as Gatorade, Powerade or CeraLyte. Also, you may need increased fluid intake if you develop certain conditions, including bladder infections or urinary tract stones. On the other hand, some conditions such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver and adrenal diseases may impair excretion of water and even require that you limit your fluid intake.
Pregnancy or breast-feeding. Women who are expecting or breast-feeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated. Large amounts of fluid are used especially when nursing. The Institute of Medicine recommends that pregnant women drink 2.3 liters (about 10 cups) of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) of fluids a day.
Beyond the tap: Other sources of water
Although it’s a great idea to keep water within reach at all times, you don’t need to rely only on what you drink to meet your fluid needs. What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake. For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and tomatoes, are 90 percent or more water by weight.
In addition, beverages such as milk and juice are composed mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, tea or soda — can contribute, but these should not be a major portion of your daily total fluid intake. Water is still your best bet because it’s calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available.
Staying safely hydrated
Generally if you drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and produce 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) or more of colorless or light yellow urine a day, your fluid intake is probably adequate. If you’re concerned about your fluid intake or have health issues, check with your doctor or a registered dietitian. He or she can help you determine the amount of water that’s right for you.
To ward off dehydration and make sure your body has the fluids it needs, make water your beverage of choice. It’s also a good idea to:
• Drink a glass of water or other calorie-free or low-calorie beverage with each meal and between each meal.
• Drink water before, during and after exercise.
Although uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia. Endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, who drink large amounts of water, are at higher risk of hyponatremia. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare in healthy adults who eat an average American diet.
This article is provided by the National Consumer Alliance as part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of its members by providing educational information. Content source for this article was provided by the American Heart Association. Managing blood pressure is just one of seven steps you can take to make a difference in your health. The other steps include: control cholesterol, reduce blood sugar, stop smoking, lose weight, get active and eat better. Click HERE to be linked to the original article.
High blood pressure is the single most significant risk factor for heart disease. When your blood pressure stays within healthy ranges, you reduce the strain on your heart, arteries, and kidneys which keeps you healthier longer.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, means the blood running through your arteries flows with too much force and puts pressure on your arteries, stretching them past their healthy limit and causing microscopic tears. Our body then kicks into injury-healing mode to repair these tears with scar tissue. But unfortunately, the scar tissue traps plaque and white blood cells which can form into blockages, blood clots, and hardened, weakened arteries.
By keeping your blood pressure in the healthy range, you are:
1. Reducing your risk of overstretched or injured blood vessel walls
2. Reducing your risk of blockages which also protects your heart and brain
3. Protecting your entire body so that your tissue receives regular supplies of blood that is rich in the oxygen it needs.
What is the Cost of High Blood Pressure?
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can injure or kill you. It’s sometimes called “the silent killer” because it has no symptoms. Approximately 90% of all Americans will develop hypertension over their lifetime and one in three adults has high blood pressure, yet, many people don’t even know they have it. Uncontrolled high blood pressure kills people and wreaks havoc on many lives by causing heart disease and stroke.
Blockages and blood clots mean less blood can get to our vital organs, and without blood, the tissue dies. That’s why high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and even heart failure.
What Can I Do to Reduce My Blood Pressure?
Good news! High blood pressure is manageable. Whether your blood pressure is high or normal (normal is less than 120 mm Hg systolic AND less than 80 mm Hg diastolic or
In addition, these changes may reduce your blood pressure without the use of prescription medications:
• eating a heart-healthy diet, which includes reducing sodium;
• enjoying regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight;
• managing stress; limiting alcohol; avoiding tobacco smoke.
This article is provided by the National Consumer Alliance as part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of its members by providing educational information. Content source for this article was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Click HERE to be linked to the original article.
Studies have shown that these five steps will help you quit and quit for good. You have the best chances of quitting if you use them together.
1. Get Ready
• Set a quit date.
• Change your environment.
• Get rid of ALL cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work.
• Don’t let people smoke in your home.
• Review your past attempts to quit. Think about what worked and what did not.
• Once you quit, don’t smoke—NOT EVEN A PUFF!
2. Get Support and Encouragement
Studies have shown that you have a better chance of being successful if you have help. You can get support in many ways:
• Tell your family, friends, and co-workers that you are going to quit and want their support. Ask them not to smoke around you or leave cigarettes out where you can see them.
• Talk to your health care provider (e.g., doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, psychologist, or smoking cessation coach or counselor).
• Get individual, group, or telephone counseling. Counseling doubles your chances of success.
• The more help you have, the better your chances are of quitting. Free programs are available at local hospitals and health centers. Call your local health department for information about programs in your area.
• Telephone counseling is available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
3. Learn New Skills and Behaviors
• Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or get busy with a task.
• When you first try to quit, change your routine. Use a different route to work. Drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a different place.
• Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, exercise, or read a book.
• Plan something enjoyable to do every day.
• Drink a lot of water and other fluids.
4. Get Medication and Use It CorrectlyMedications can help you stop smoking and lessen the urge to smoke.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved seven medications to help you quit smoking:
o Bupropion SR—Available by prescription.
o Nicotine gum—Available over-the-counter.
o Nicotine inhaler—Available by prescription.
o Nicotine nasal spray—Available by prescription.
o Nicotine patch—Available by prescription and over-the-counter.
o Nicotine lozenge—Available over-the-counter.
o Varenicline tartrate—Available by prescription.
• Ask your health care provider for advice and carefully read the information on the package.
• All of these medications will at least double your chances of quitting and quitting for good.
• Nearly everyone who is trying to quit can benefit from using a medication. However, if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, nursing, younger than 18 years of age, smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day, or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor or other health care provider before taking medications.
• For information on FDA-approved medications, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. To find out more about prescriptions, contact your health care provider.
5. Be Prepared for Relapse or Difficult Situations
Most relapses occur within the first 3 months after quitting. Don’t be discouraged if you start smoking again. Remember, most people try several times before they finally quit. The following are some difficult situations you may encounter:
• Alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your chances of success.
• Other smokers: Being around smoking can make you want to smoke.
• Weight gain: Many smokers will gain some weight when they quit, usually less than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet and stay active. Don’t let weight gain distract you from your main goal—quitting smoking. Some quit-smoking medications may help delay weight gain.
• Bad mood or depression: There are a lot of ways to improve your mood other than smoking. Some smoking cessation medications also lessen depression.
If you are having problems with any of these situations, talk to your doctor or other health care provider.
For more information on quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit www.smokefree.gov
This article is provided by the National Consumer Alliance as part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of its members by providing educational information. Content source for this article was provided by the Acupuncture Massage College. Click HERE to be linked to the original article.
Oriental medicine is a holistic approach, which is based on the treatment of all bodily systems. Acupuncture benefits the improvement of physical health conditions as well as affective disorders and instills a feeling of increased mental clarity.
Acupuncture works directly with the body’s energy or qi, as acupuncture practitioners believe that all illnesses are a result of the natural flow of energy through the body becoming stuck, depleted or weakened and thus making the individual susceptible to illness. Acupuncture benefits the rebalance of qi through treatment of specific acupoints related to symptoms or illness present. Treatment is effective in removing these energy obstructions.
Through clinical trials, acupuncture has been proven effective in treating various medical conditions and its use has been expanded into conventional medicine practices.
Although best known for the control of pain, acupuncture benefits a wide variety of disorders. Respiratory disorders such as sinusitis, common cold, bronchitis and asthma can be effectively treated with acupuncture.
Conjunctivitis, (pink eye), nearsightedness and cataracts are a few of the eye disorders acupuncture benefits. Toothache can be reduced through acupuncture. Neurological and musculoskeletal disorders including paralysis following stroke, frozen shoulder or Tennis elbow, sciatica and osteoarthritis are also treatable with acupuncture.
With certain health conditions, acupuncture can be effective enough to reduce or eliminate the need to take drugs to control pain or symptoms. Additional benefits of acupuncture are faster recovery from injuries, decreased symptoms of stress and improved circulation.
Acupuncture benefits the strengthening of the immune system function, which through treatment is better able to withstand colds, minor infections, and flu.
Post-surgical nausea and vomiting can also be reduced through acupuncture. Many post-surgical patients find that acupuncture treatment is effective in increasing energy, and brings a sense of vitality. It also benefits the individual through a sense of restoring a sense of “normal self” after surgery or illness.
Multiple emotional or psychological disorders can be treated by acupuncture, which benefits addictions, phobias, obsessive behavior, eating disorders, and anxiety. Acupuncture can also be beneficial when used alongside conventional medicine treatments for both acute and chronic disease.
Often used as a form of preventative medicine, acupuncture is beneficial in preventing illness from occurring. Many people receive acupuncture without suffering from any particular malady or ailment. Treatment strengthens general constitution, and can correct a feeling of being unwell although there is no physical disorder, imbalance or illness in the traditional Western medicine sense.
This article is provided by the National Consumer Alliance as part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of its members by providing educational information. Content source for this article was provided by WebMD Health News. It was written by Bill Hendrick and reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD. Click HERE to be linked to the original article.
Many Americans may be unaware of the active ingredients and potential side effects of popular over-the-counter pain relievers, according to a new study.
Tylenol contains acetaminophen, Bayer contains aspirin, Advil and Motrin contain ibuprofen, and Aleve contains naproxen sodium. But many people know little about the ingredients in their pain relievers, the study suggests.
This is alarming, says Michael Wolf, PhD, MPH, a study researcher and an associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
Acetaminophen and the Liver
Acetaminophen, the ingredient in Tylenol, is found in more than 600 over-the-counter and prescription medications.
But ignorance about which medications contain acetaminophen may be why acetaminophen overdose has become the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States, according to the study, which was financed by Tylenol’s manufacturer, McNeil Consumer Healthcare.
People Aren’t Aware of Ingredients in Pain Drugs
The researchers say in the study that of the 45 adults in Atlanta and Chicago who were questioned:
31% knew that Tylenol contains acetaminophen.
75% knew Bayer contains aspirin.
47% knew Motrin contains ibuprofen.
19% knew Aleve’s active ingredient is naproxen sodium.
19% knew Advil contains ibuprofen.
Because acetaminophen is sold over the counter, many people consider it safe, not realizing that taking too much of the drug can be dangerous and lead to liver damage.
That’s one reason why researchers say a universal icon for acetaminophen should be developed that would appear on all medicine labels containing the ingredient.
“It’s incredibly alarming,” says Wolf, who has worked as a paid consultant for McNeil Consumer Healthcare. “People may unintentionally misuse these medicines to a point where they cause severe liver damage.”
He says it’s easy “to exceed the safe limit if people don’t realize how much acetaminophen they are taking” and because Tylenol and other products with acetaminophen are sold over the counter, no doctors or pharmacies are monitoring how much people are taking.
Jennifer King, MPH, also of the Feinberg School of Medicine and study co-author, says many people do not realize they may be taking acetaminophen simultaneously in multiple medications.
Many People Don’t Read Labels
Only 41% of people surveyed said they read labels to determine the ingredients they contained.
“When you have pain, you aren’t paying attention to what’s in a medicine, you just want relief,” King says. “People think, ‘If I can buy it without a prescription, it can’t be harmful.’”
But they’re wrong, because exceeding the maximum dose of acetaminophen can cause liver damage, she says.
Also, sometimes it’s hard to read labels, because on some drugs, acetaminophen is called APAP.
“It’s confusing, so even if a person is looking for acetaminophen on the label, she wouldn’t know APAP is the same ingredient in her Tylenol,” King says.
Consumers surveyed also said they would like to see more clear warnings about potential liver damage on packages.
The researchers interviewed 45 people in six focus groups in Chicago and Atlanta to evaluate consumer knowledge and attention to product information on labels. They say 44% of the people, all English speakers, had limited literacy, reading at or below the sixth-grade level. The researchers focused on acetaminophen because overdosing on the drug has surpassed viral hepatitis as the leading cause of acute liver failure and contributes to more than 30,000 hospitalizations a year.
One-half to two-thirds of such overdoses are unintentional, which the study authors say is likely caused by “poor understanding of medication labeling or failure to recognize the consequences of exceeding the recommended maximum daily dosage.”
The study is published in the May 2011 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
This article is provided by the National Consumer Alliance as part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of its members by providing educational information. Content source for this article was provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Department of Health and Human Services. Click HERE to be linked to the original article.
People often combine foods. For example, chocolate and peanut butter might be considered a tasty combination. But eating chocolate and taking certain drugs might carry risks. In fact, eating chocolate and taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, such as Nardil (phenelzine) or Parnate (tranylcypromine), could be dangerous.
MAO inhibitors treat depression. Someone who eats an excessive amount of chocolate after taking an MAO inhibitor may experience a sharp rise in blood pressure.
Other foods that should be avoided when taking MAO inhibitors: aged cheese, sausage, bologna, pepperoni, and salami. These foods can also cause elevated blood pressure when taken with these medications.
There are three main types of drug interactions:
Drugs with food and beverages
Drugs with dietary supplements
Drugs with other drugs
“Consumers should learn about the warnings for their medications and talk with their health care professionals about how to lower the risk of interactions,” says Shiew-Mei Huang, Ph.D., deputy director of the Office of Clinical Pharmacology in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).
Drugs with Food and Beverages
Consequences of drug interactions with food and beverages may include delayed, decreased, or enhanced absorption of a medication. Food can affect the bioavailability (the degree and rate at which a drug is absorbed into someone’s system), metabolism, and excretion of certain medications.
Examples of drug interactions with food and beverages …
Alcohol: If you are taking any sort of medication, it’s recommended that you avoid alcohol, which can increase or decrease the effect of many drugs.
Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit juice is often mentioned as a product that can interact negatively with drugs, but the actual number of drugs the juice can interact with is less well-known. Grapefruit juice shouldn’t be taken with certain blood pressure-lowering drugs or cyclosporine for the prevention of organ transplant rejection. That’s because grapefruit juice can cause higher levels of those medicines in your body, making it more likely that you will have side effects from the medicine. The juice can also interact to cause higher blood levels of the anti-anxiety medicine Buspar (buspirone); the anti-malaria drugs Quinerva or Quinite (quinine); and Halcion (triazolam), a medication used to treat insomnia.
Licorice: This would appear to be a fairly harmless snack food. However, for someone taking Lanoxin (digoxin), some forms of licorice may increase the risk for Lanoxin toxicity. Lanoxin is used to treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. Licorice may also reduce the effects of blood pressure drugs or diuretic (urine-producing) drugs, including Hydrodiuril (hydrochlorothiazide) and Aldactone (spironolactone).
Chocolate: MAO inhibitors are just one category of drugs that shouldn’t be consumed with excessive amounts of chocolate. The caffeine in chocolate can also interact with stimulant drugs such as Ritalin (methylphenidate), increasing their effect, or by decreasing the effect of sedative-hypnotics such as Ambien (zolpidem).
Drugs with Dietary Supplements
Research has shown that 50 percent or more of American adults use dietary supplements on a regular basis, according to congressional testimony by the Office of Dietary Supplements in the National Institutes of Health.
The law defines dietary supplements in part as products taken by mouth that contain a “dietary ingredient.” Dietary ingredients include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs or botanicals, as well as other substances that can be used to supplement the diet.
Examples of drug interactions with dietary supplements …
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum): This herb is considered an inducer of liver enzymes, which means it can reduce the concentration of medications in the blood. St. John’s Wort can reduce the blood level of medications such as Lanoxin, the cholesterol-lowering drugs Mevacor and Altocor (lovastatin), and the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra (sildenafil).
Vitamin E: Taking vitamin E with a blood-thinning medication such as Coumadin can increase anti-clotting activity and may cause an increased risk of bleeding.
Ginseng: This herb can interfere with the bleeding effects of Coumadin. In addition, ginseng can enhance the bleeding effects of heparin, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. Combining ginseng with MAO inhibitors such as Nardil or Parnate may cause headache, trouble sleeping, nervousness, and hyperactivity.
Ginkgo Biloba: High doses of the herb Ginkgo biloba could decrease the effectiveness of anticonvulsant therapy in patients taking the following medications to control seizures: Tegretol, Equetro or Carbatrol (carbamazepine), and Depakote (valproic acid).
Drugs with Other Drugs
Two out of every three patients who visit a doctor leave with at least one prescription for medication, according to a 2007 report on medication safety issued by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Close to 40 percent of the U.S. population receive prescriptions for four or more medications. And the rate of adverse drug reactions increases dramatically after a patient is on four or more medications.
Drug-drug interactions have led to adverse events and withdrawals of drugs from the market, according to an article on drug interactions co-authored by Shiew-Mei Huang, Ph.D., deputy director of FDA’s Office of Clinical Pharmacology. The paper was published in the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
However, market withdrawal of a drug is a fairly drastic measure. More often, FDA will issue an alert warning the public and health care providers about risks as the result of drug interactions.
Examples of drug interactions with other drugs …
Cordarone (amiodarone): FDA issued an alert in August 2008, warning patients about taking Cordarone to correct abnormal rhythms of the heart and the cholesterol-lowering drug Zocor (Simvastatin). Patients taking Zocor in doses higher than 20 mg while also taking Cordarone run the risk of developing a rare condition of muscle injury called rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney failure or death. “Cordarone also can inhibit or reduce the effect of the blood thinner Coumadin (warfarin),” said Huang. “So if you’re using Cordarone, you may need to reduce the amount of Coumadin you’re taking.”
Lanoxin (digoxin): “Lanoxin has a narrow therapeutic range. So other drugs, such as Norvir (ritonvair), can elevate the level of Lanoxin,” says Huang. “And an increased level of Lanoxin can cause irregular heart rhythms.” Norvir is a protease inhibitor used to treat HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Antihistamines: Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines are drugs that temporarily relieve a runny nose, or reduce sneezing, itching of the nose or throat, and itchy watery eyes. If you are taking sedatives, tranquilizers, or a prescription drug for high blood pressure or depression, you should check with a doctor or pharmacist before you start using antihistimines. Some antihistamines can increase the depressant effects (such as sleepiness) of a sedative or tranquilizer. The sedating effect of some antihistamines combined with a sedating antidepressant could strongly affect your concentration level. Operating a car or any other machinery could be particularly dangerous if your ability to focus is impaired. Antihistamines taken in conjunction with blood pressure medication may cause a person’s blood pressure to increase and may also speed up the heart rate.
Tips to Avoid Problems
There are lots of things you can do to take prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications in a safe and responsible manner.
Always read drug labels carefully.
Learn about the warnings for all the drugs you take.
Keep medications in their original containers so that you can easily identify them.
Ask your doctor what you need to avoid when you are prescribed a new medication. Ask about food, beverages, dietary supplements, and other drugs.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking an OTC drug if you are taking any prescription medications.
Use one pharmacy for all of your drug needs.
Keep all of your health care professionals informed about everything that you take.
Keep a record of all prescription drugs, OTC drugs, and dietary supplements (including herbs) that you take. Try to keep this list with you at all times, but especially when you go on any medical appointment.
This article is provided by the National Consumer Alliance as part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of its members by providing educational information. Content source for this article was provided by: MayoClinic.com. Click HERE to be linked to the Mayo Clinic website and the original article.
Your oral health is more important than you may realize. Get the facts about how the health of your mouth, teeth and gums may affect your general health.
By Mayo Clinic staff
Did you know that your oral health can offer clues about your overall health? Or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Understand the intimate connection between oral health and overall health and what you can do to protect yourself.
What’s the connection between oral health and overall health?
Your mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of them harmless. Normally the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However, harmful bacteria can sometimes grow out of control and cause oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, dental procedures, medications, or treatments that reduce saliva flow, disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth or breach the mouth’s normal protective barriers may make it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream.
What conditions may be linked to oral health?
Your oral health may affect, be affected by or contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:
Endocarditis. Gum disease and dental procedures that cut your gums may allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. If you have a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, this can cause infection in other parts of the body — such as an infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis).
Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke may be linked to oral bacteria, possibly due to chronic inflammation from periodontitis — a severe form of gum disease.
Pregnancy and birth. Gum disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
Diabetes. Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection — putting the gums at risk. In addition, people who have inadequate blood sugar control may develop more-frequent and severe infections of the gums and the bone that holds teeth in place, and they may lose more teeth than do people who have good blood sugar control.
HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis — which causes bones to become weak and brittle — may be associated with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss.
Alzheimer’s disease. Tooth loss before age 35 may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Other conditions. Other conditions that may be linked to oral health include Sjogren’s syndrome — an immune system disorder — and eating disorders.
Be sure to tell your dentist if you’re taking any medications or have had any changes in your overall health — especially if you’ve had any recent illnesses or you have a chronic condition.
How can I protect my oral health?
To protect your oral health, resolve to practice good oral hygiene every day. For example:
Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
Floss daily.
Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks.
Schedule regular dental checkups.
Also, watch for signs and symptoms of oral disease and contact your dentist as soon as a problem arises. Remember, taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health.
This article is provided by the National Consumer Alliance as part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of its members by providing educational information. Content source for this article was provided by: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Click HERE for additional information.
Research has shown that strengthening exercises are both safe and effective for women and men of all ages, including those who are not in perfect health. In fact, people with health concerns—including heart disease or arthritis—often benefit the most from an exercise program that includes lifting weights a few times each week.
Strength training, particularly in conjunction with regular aerobic exercise, can also have a profound impact on a person’s mental and emotional health.
Benefits of Strength Training
There are numerous benefits to strength training regularly, particularly as you grow older. It can be very powerful in reducing the signs and symptoms of numerous diseases and chronic conditions, among them:
Scientific research has shown that exercise can slow the physiological aging clock. While aerobic exercise, such as walking, jogging, or swimming, has many excellent health benefits—it maintains the heart and lungs and increases cardiovascular fitness and endurance—it does not make your muscles strong. Strength training does. Studies have shown that lifting weights two or three times a week increases strength by building muscle mass and bone density.
One 12-month study conducted on postmenopausal women at Tufts University demonstrated 1% gains in hip and spine bone density, 75% increases in strength and 13% increases in dynamic balance with just two days per week of progressive strength training. The control group had losses in bone, strength, and balance. Strength training programs can also have a profound effect on reducing risk for falls, which translates to fewer fractures.
