Seniors in Danger from Common Drugs

Older people run twice the risk of being treated in emergency rooms for adverse reactions to drugs than those under the age of 65. One reason is that older bodies don’t eliminate drugs as easily as younger ones do, and seniors also take many more medications than younger people. Multiple medications multiply the risk of side effects, say experts.

“If you take three medications that have sedation as a possible side effect, then the compounding effect may not be 1+1+1=3, but 3x3x3=27,” Todd Semla, an expert on drug treatment for older adults, told “Consumer Reports on Health.”

Check out the medical conditions listed below and the drugs commonly prescribed to treat them. If you’re a senior citizen and your doctor prescribes any of them for you, ask if there’s a safer alternative.

Read more: Seniors in Danger from Common Drugs
Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.

Study: Vitamin D Prevents Heart Deaths

In people with low blood levels of vitamin D, boosting them with supplements more than halved a person's risk of dying from any cause compared to someone who remained deficient, in a large new study.

Analyzing data on more than 10,000 patients, University of Kansas researchers found that 70 percent were deficient in vitamin D and they were at significantly higher risk for a variety of heart diseases.

D-deficiency also nearly doubled a person's likelihood of dying, whereas correcting the deficiency with supplements lowered their risk of death by 60 percent.

"We expected to see that there was a relationship between heart disease and vitamin D deficiency; we were surprised at how strong it was," Dr. James L. Vacek, a professor of cardiology at the University of Kansas Hospital and Medical Center, told Reuters Health.

"It was so much more profound than we expected."

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a range of illnesses, but few studies have demonstrated the reverse -- that supplements could prevent those outcomes.

Read more: Study: Vitamin D Prevents Heart Deaths
Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.

Canned Soup Sends BPA Levels Soaring

People who ate canned soup for five days straight saw their urinary levels of the chemical bisphenol A spike 1,200 percent compared to those who ate fresh soup, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

The randomized study, described as "one of the first to quantify BPA levels in humans after ingestion of canned foods," was done by Harvard University researchers and appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association's November 23 issue.

"We've known for a while that drinking beverages that have been stored in certain hard plastics can increase the amount of BPA in your body," said lead author Jenny Carwile, a doctoral student in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health.

Read more: Canned Soup Sends BPA Levels Soaring
Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.

Blame the CDC for Slow Progress Against Hospital Infections

In the emergency room with my injured daughter, I watched as rules to protect patients from infection were disregarded: a nurse wearing bangle bracelets (carrying bacteria from patient to patient); doctors touching contaminated privacy curtains and then their patients; the uncleaned stethoscope pressed on one bare back after another, caregivers pulling on gloves without cleaning their hands first, which contaminates the outside of the gloves and offers patients no protection.

On October 19, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced “impressive progress” in reducing hospital infections. That statement is as misleading as the gloves. Some hospitals are aggressively preventing infections, but the CDC’s shockingly timid goals give other hospitals a pass to do too little.

Read more on Newsmax.com: Blame the CDC for Slow Progress Against Hospital Infections
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Energy Drinks Send Thousands to the ER Each Year

ER Visits From Drinking Energy Drinks Jump Tenfold Since 2005, Report Says

By Brenda Goodman, MA
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD, FAAP

Nov. 22, 2011 -- There's been a big spike in the number of people who need emergency medical attention after they guzzle popular caffeinated energy drinks, according to a new government report.

The report shows a more than a tenfold increase in the number of emergency room visits tied to the use of these drinks between 2005 and 2009.

In 2005, 1,128 ER visits were associated with the use of energy drinks compared to 13,114 in 2009. That number peaked in 2008 with more than 16,000 ER visits linked to energy drinks.

Beverage manufacturers fired back at the statistics, charging that they are misleading since they are being taken out of context.

"Of the more than 123 million visits made to emergency room facilities each year, less than one one-hundredth of one percent involved people who consumed energy drinks according to this report," says the American Beverage Association in a statement.

"Even so, this report shares no information about the overall health of those who allegedly consumed energy drinks, or even what symptoms brought them to the ER in the first place," the statement says.

Energy Drinks and the ER---MORE>>>>>>>>>>>

Pomegranate helps fight heart disease, relieves stress and improves sex life - now it's nature's elixir of youth, claims study

It can help to prevent heart disease, relieve stress and has even been shown to improve your sex life.

And if that was not enough to convince you to try pomegranate, the fruit is now being hailed as the elixir of youth.

A £2million study has found a daily dose could slow the ageing process of DNA.

An extract of the whole fruit – including pith, peel and seeds – was given to 60 volunteers every day for a month in the form of a capsule.

Researchers monitored the activity of chemicals in their bodies compared with those who took a placebo.

They found a significant decrease in a marker associated with cell damage, which can cause impaired brain, muscle, liver and kidney function as well as ageing effects on the skin.

This decrease – a hitherto unknown benefit of consuming pomegranate – is thought to slow down the oxidation, or ‘rusting’, of the DNA in cells which naturally occurs over time, according to researchers at the private ProbelteBio laboratory in Murcia, Spain.

They are found in small quantities in the juice but mainly in the inedible rind, husk and white pith which has been harnessed into a pill and a drink.

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Dr Sergio Streitenberger, who led the study, funded by Pomegreat PurePlus, said: ‘We are very excited about this study which we believe demonstrates that regular consumption of this pomegranate extract can slow down the process of DNA oxidation

'One way to look at ageing is to think of it as rusting, or oxidising, a damaging process. Being able to guard against this process would be a significant breakthrough.’

Pomegranate has been renowned as a superfood for centuries, and has been found to contain vitamins A, C and E as well as iron and antioxidants

Dr Streitenberger’s team – whose study will be published later this month – found a decrease in levels of a chemical marker called 8-Oxo-DG in the participants’ urine tests.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060163/Pomegranate-prevents-heart-disease-improves-sex-life-elixir-youth.html#ixzz1eFhNh9oy

5 Nutrients to Cut Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (or hypertension) increases risk of stroke, kidney failure, and heart attack, and affects 30 percent of U.S. adults, says the Centers for Disease Control.

Since high blood pressure is symptomless, regular checks are important. A normal reading is 120/80. Anything over 140/90 is considered high.

Many factors, including weight, salt intake, stress, age, and family history, can increase the odds of developing high blood pressure.

For a natural, drug-free approach to keeping blood pressure in check, try these nutrients, which you can find in supplements or foods:

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). A study at the University of Western Australia found those taking 100 mg of CoQ10 twice a day reduced systolic and diastolic pressure when compared to those not taking CoQ10.

Foods rich in CoQ10 include beef, fish, eggs, whole grains, and vegetables like broccoli and spinach.

Garlic. A team of researchers at University of Adelaide in South Australia reviewed 11 studies examining the link between garlic and high blood pressure and found significant decreases in blood pressure levels of the patients who consumed garlic.

However, garlic can thin the blood, so be sure to consult with a physician before taking garlic supplements.

Folic acid (folate). A type of B vitamin, folic acid helps lower blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine. One study of more than 9,000 Americans found that those who had the highest daily intake of folic acid (400 mcg) lowered their risk of stroke 79 percent when compared to those people who consumed the least (100 mcg) amount of folic acid. Whole wheat pasta and breads are good sources.

Fish oil. Omega-3 fish oil contains both DHA (docosahexanoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), but DHA may be more beneficial than EPA in lowering blood pressure.

The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish, such as tuna, mackerel, or salmon, at least twice a week.

Quercetin. This plant-based flavonoid not only lowers blood pressure better than a commonly used antihypertensive drug, but it also prevents enlargement of the heart, which is a major complication of high blood pressure. The typical amount for adults is 100 to 250 mg three times per day. Food sources include citrus fruits, apples, onions, parsley, and tea.

Read more: 5 Nutrients to Cut Blood Pressure
Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.

Does the Pill Cause Prostate Cancer?

Are birth control pills to blame for the high rates of prostate cancer? There's no proof, but a provocative new study showed a link between use of the Pill and the number of new cases as well as deaths from prostate cancer.

Researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto compared rates of prostate cancer cases and deaths in 87 countries with rates of contraceptive use including intrauterine devices, condoms, and vaginal barrier contraceptives. But apart from the Pill, a correlation "was not found among other contraceptive methods," said lead author Dr. David Margel.

Why the connection?

Read more: Does the Pill Cause Prostate Cancer?
Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.

Try before you buy: Scanner lets patients pick and choose virtual breast enhancements

• New software produces a 3D image of patient's body and simulates the expected results of plastic surgery
• Nose jobs, liposuction and chin implants can also be digitally reconstructed for £200 a time

By Sadie Whitelocks

Last updated at 4:33 PM on 11th November 2011

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Chloe Sims, who has already had breast enlargements, tested the new 3D imaging system to see what bottom implants would look like

Before going under the surgeon's knife, patients can 'virtually' try out different sized breast implants.

Thanks to a new 3D scanner women can see what their body would look like after breast enhancement surgery.

Nose jobs, liposuction and chin implants can also be digitally reconstructed for £200 a time.

The Vectra 3-D modeling system - which is currently only available at London clinic Simply Better Breasts - is already proving a hit in the UK and The Only Way Is Essex star Chloe Sims, 29, recently used the technology to select buttock implants to enhance her petite figure.

Already known for having numerous face and breast surgeries, the reality star met with 3D imaging specialists to find out more about how the derriere enhancing procedure works and what the results would look like.

Medics claim that most patients have been selecting smaller assets than originally intended after using the imaging service.

They noticed that many considering breast augmentation ended up choosing implants only one or two cup sizes bigger - with the average being a C cup.

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'When we make changes to the breasts on the computer, we can see a very realistic and accurate view of how they will look after surgery.

'It also allows us to view the body from different angles, reassuring the patient and allowing them to make an educated decision.' Surgeon Miles Berry told The Sun.

Thanks to a new 3D scanner, available at London clinic Simply Better Breasts, women can virtually see what their body would look like after breast enhancement surgery

Developed in New Jersey in the U.S. the machine works by producing a three dimensional photograph of the patient's body.

The software then simulates the expected results of a variety of surgical procedures, allowing patients to view the specific area from multiple angles.

Dr. Mark Epstein, from the Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in New York, where the service is also available said: 'My patients absolutely love this.

'For the first time, they're able to see a 3D picture of themselves with their new look. Because it's in 3D, I can rotate their picture to any viewpoint, and they can really examine the desired result.

Nose jobs and chin implants can also be digitally simulated for £200 a time

'We can make changes here and there and agree on a final look in advance, and this truly helps them make a decision.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2060245/Breast-enlargement-surgery-Try-buy-virtual-scanner-lets-patients-choose.html#ixzz1dUofW9qE

Vaccine that could end the misery of acne for millions of teenagers

It is a condition that blights the lives of millions of teenagers and young adults.

Now scientists have made a breakthrough in the hunt for something of a medical holy grail – a treatment for acne.

A vaccine which promises to halt a key cause of the unsightly and painful condition could be available within as little as five years, they say.

Hope ahead: Scientists believe a vaccine to cure acne could be available within as little as five years

The breakthrough approach is a departure from current treatments, which mostly rely on antibiotics to ‘blitz’ the bacteria that cause spots.

The medicines can upset the skin’s natural balance and leave some sufferers at risk of scarring. Scientists at the University of California at San Diego are working in partnership with the world’s biggest vaccine company, Sanofi Pasteur, to create the jab.

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Rather than focusing on eliminating the main acne-causing bacteria, P-Acnes, it aims to neutralise a ‘troublemaking protein’ produced by the germs and key to the formation of spots. Acne is caused when the skin’s sebaceous glands produce too much sebum – the skin’s natural moisturiser – clogging the pores.

The protein then starts killing skin cells, causing the body to try to fight back with inflammation, flooding the area with white blood cells. The result is sore pimples.

New rival: The strongest cure for acne currently out there, Roaccutane, can make skin sensitive and has been linked to birth defects and depression

The experts, carrying out tests on the skin on the ears of mice, created antibodies which home in on the protein and ‘turn it off’. Mice given doses of bacteria treated with the antibodies developed much less inflammation than those given untreated bugs.

The animals’ immune systems can also be stimulated to produce their own antibodies, the study found.

More than eight out of ten teenagers suffer from spots, and the global market for acne medications is estimated at about £1.87billion a year.

While vaccines are usually used to prevent illnesses, the jab would be instead be used as a treatment. It is too early to say how often it would need to be used.

Dr Harald Gollnick, of the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne, says it may be available within five to ten years.

Despite the range of treatments currently available, acne leaves 20 per cent of sufferers with scarring.

The strongest, Roaccutane, can make skin sensitive and has been linked to birth defects and depression.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Susannah Baron, of the BMI Hospital in Canterbury, said: ‘Acne affects so many teenagers at a very difficult stage of life. A vaccine that potentially targets inflammation could prove very helpful.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2060572/Vaccine-end-misery-acne-millions-teenagers.html#ixzz1dUoGhma4