Death Rates From Prescription Drugs Explode at the Beginning of Each Month

According to research, deaths attributed to medication errors rise by as much as 25 percent above normal in the first few days of every month. This study is the first to document a beginning-of-the-month boost in deaths associated with mistakes in prescription drugs. The Problem The primary culprit behind these death rates: A beginning-of-the-month increase in pharmacy workloads and a consequential increase in their error rates. To offer a further explanation of this occurrence, one sociologist stated, "Government assistance payments to the old, sick and the poor are typically received at the beginning of each month. Because of this, there is a beginning-of-the-month spike in purchases of prescription medications." However, further findings suggest otherwise. Researchers examined all United States death certificates from 1970 to 2000 to analyze some 131,000 deaths caused by fatal poisoning accidents from drugs. They found that a small number (3 percent) of the deaths were from adverse effects of the right drug taken at the right dose, while the majority of deaths (97 percent) resulted from medication errors: Wrong dose given or taken Accidental overdose of a drug A drug taken inadvertently It was also discovered that the beginning-of-the-month spike in deaths was apparent in the young and well as in the elderly and poor, indicating the problem is partially due to pharmacy error. (The study did not include specific clinical information regarding prescription type, dosage or days supply, nor did it include deaths associated with overdose of street drugs or from intentional poisoning.) The Solution In order to reduce the medication-error death rate researchers recommended: Pharmacies to consider increasing staffing levels at the beginning of each month Government officials to consider spreading assistance payments out over the entire month, rather than the beginning Both patients and clinical staff to make a special effort to check the accuracy of their prescriptions at the beginning of each month Science Daily January 6, 2005

8 Drugs that Doctors would never use

Doctors know which prescription and over-the-counter drugs are the most dangerous. The writers of this article asked them the question, "Which medications would you skip?" Here were their answers:

Advair

It‘s asthma medicine that can make your asthma deadly. Advair contains the long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) salmeterol. A 2006 analysis found that regular use of LABAs can increase the severity of an asthma attack. Researchers estimate that salmeterol may contribute to as many as 5,000 asthma-related deaths in the United States each year.

Avandia

Diabetes is destructive enough on its own, but if you try to control it with rosiglitazone, better known as Avandia, it could cause a heart attack. A study found that people who took rosiglitazone for at least a year increased their risk of heart failure or a heart attack by 109 percent and 42 percent, respectively.

Celebrex

This painkiller has been linked to increased risks of stomach bleeding, kidney trouble, and liver damage. And according to a 2005 study, people taking 200 mg of Celebrex twice a day more than doubled their risk of dying of cardiovascular disease. Those on 400 mg twice a day more than tripled their risk.

Ketek

This antibiotic, which has traditionally been prescribed for respiratory-tract infections, carries a high risk of severe liver side effects. In February 2007, the FDA limited the usage of Ketek to the treatment of pneumonia.

Prilosec and Nexium

The FDA has investigated a suspected link between cardiac trouble and these acid-reflux remedies, although they did not find a "likely" connection. But whether this is true or not, they can raise your risk of pneumonia, and result in an elevated risk of bone loss. The risk of a bone fracture has been estimated to be over 40 percent higher in patients who use these drugs long-term.

Visine Original

These eye drops “get the red out” by shrinking blood vessels. Overuse of the active ingredient tetrahydrozoline can perpetuate the vessel dilating-and-constricting cycle and may cause even more redness.

Pseudoephedrine

This decongestant, found in many drugs, can raise blood pressure and heart rate, setting the stage for vascular catastrophe. Over the years, pseudoephedrine has been linked to heart attacks and strokes, as well as worsening the symptoms of prostate disease and glaucoma.

Sources:

• MSN Health

Back to Work!

I just came back from the Dominican Republic this past weekend after a much needed and (I'd like to think) well deserved vacation.

I must admit that I have often undermined the true value in a getaway vacation. I do spend a lot of weekends traveling to see my wife and family, but rarely do I vacation. Sadly this vacation was too short, as most are. I spent a week in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We stayed on a beautiful resort, The Bahia Principe, with gorgeous beaches and unbelievable weather!

My wife and I enjoyed the much needed rest and relaxation, combined with a worry free environment. There was plenty of healthy food to eat with an abundant selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. We both spent plenty of time in the ocean and enjoyed the sun (in moderation). We had the privilege of going speed boating and a treatment at the spa. It was the perfect week :)

It was very refreshing to say the least, and for those contemplating going away, it is worth every penny!

This now leads me to my post. I feel very fortunate to be able to go away on such a trip and thanks to years of hard work I appreciated the time off even more. I sometimes ask myself what the meaning of life is to me and observe the actions of other and try to figure out what the meaning of life is to them based on their behaviors.

Life is about balance, sometimes a very fine balance. Growing up in the Western world I see that there is a heavy emphasis on going to a job you hate, amassing large amounts of money and material assets(that you may never spend because you died twenty years early stressing out about it) and complaining. There is a complete disregard for exercise, eating healthy and thinking healthy. Remember as I always say, "Your health will cost you your wealth"

Imagine removing these stressors from your life. What would be left? Most people would have nothing to talk about and nothing to do! What did our hunter and gatherer ancestors do with all this free time? They certainly were not "surfing the net" or writing blogs.

I think that we (myself included) as westerners lack balance. We live beyond our means then complain we have no money, we eat shitty diets and complain we are gaining weight, we try fad diets to try to lose weight and when they don't work we complain about that. We are extremely wasteful and have a complete disregard for the planet's resources.

Many of us are not grateful for the basic necessities (water, sewage, electricity)that a large portion of the world does not even have. Next time you find yourself complaining about a meal or you suddenly realize your house is not big enough, realize that there are other humans on this planet that would love to be in your shoes, eating that meal in your house...I remind myself of this very fact on a daily basis.

This trip made me realize how lucky we truly are and how grateful we should be for the things that we have. If we spent more time being grateful for the things we have and less time complaining about the things we don't, I guarantee it will change our lives.

During our stay we were able to see the local city and the amount of poverty outside of the resort was quite startling. I wonder how the locals feel when Americans and Canadians come to their country and spend more in a week then they earn in a year? It breaks my heart to think of it. What it made me realize is how lucky we really are and that each day should be greeted with thanks and a purpose.

My purpose in life is to live congruently with my body, planet and spirit. In doing so, I hope to set an example for my friends, family and patients. May we all be grateful for the things we have and content with our fortunes no matter their size.

What is your purpose?

Drug Free America

I think this cartoon (one of my favorites) sums up the current oxy-moron we call a drug-free policy. From birth we are bombarded by pharmaceutical drugs and agents such as vaccines and anti-biotics that only create future dependence. What ever happened to eating a healthy, well balanced diet, getting plenty of exercise and having a balanced state of emotional well-being?

Science and research have done some amazing things over the past few decades, but the irrefutable fact is that nature did it best. There is no evidence to show that we are born with a drug deficiency. There is mounting evidence that lifestyle choices lead to nutrient deficiencies and movement deficiencies, which ultimately lead to poor health and decay from the inside-out.

It is your responsibility to take control of your health and well-being. think twice before you put anything in your mouth. Ask yourself is the food you are putting in your mouth contributing to your health or impairing it?

Are your Adrenal Glands sending you a message?

By: Dr Sachin Patel

Stress can really undermine the health of our population. The connection between stress and high blood pressure, heart disease and many digestive problems is well-established in the medical literature. Stress also creates hormonal and blood sugar changes, causes the body to excrete nutrients and affects the immune system.

The adrenal glands are responsible for the “flight or fight” response. In a stressful situation they raise blood pressure, divert blood to the extremities, increase heart rate and suppress the immune system. Most people in our modern society do not have the luxury of a recovery period from this flight or fight response. We are overworked and overstressed. The affects of over production of adrenal secretions stays with us. So individuals with adrenal stress will have a tendency to catch colds or have other immune problems including allergies. Blood flow to the digestive system is decreased, causing indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome etc. Prolonged adrenal stress can also lead to arterial plaque formation.

People with weak adrenal function will have a frequent craving of sugar and coffee, as well as salt. Coffee and sugar stimulate the adrenal glands. However, rest is more important than satisfying this constant craving.

You must control your stress levels since they have such a huge impact on adrenal function. Stress on the adrenal glands can come in many forms including: emotional factors, extreme temperature exposures, a lack of sleep, toxic exposure, sugar consumption and weight related issues.

Eating frequent meals may help decrease the sugar burden. Ironically stress makes you crave foods that are bad for you. Eating sugar and skipping meals are two things that are especially stressful on the adrenals.

The following symptoms (amongst others) may result from poor adrenal function:

1. Tend to be a night person

2. Difficulty falling asleep

3. Slow starter in the AM

4. Grinding teeth

5. Sugar cravings

6. Crave salty foods

7. Chronic fatigue

8. Afternoon yawning

9. Pain in the inner thighs

10. Calm on the outside, troubled on the inside

If you feel you are experiencing adrenal exhaustion, please contact your doctor. There are simple tests that can determine whether your adrenals are functioning optimally

An increased intake of healthy water will greatly enhance digestion, nutrient absorption, skin hydration, detoxification and your overall health

By: Charles D. Strand
Water Quality Specialist, Editor, Author, Holder of 17 U.S. Patents for Water Filtration Products, President/CEO Sun Water.

So many common ailments and illnesses can be prevented and greatly reduced by an increased intake of healthy water. Headaches, hypertension, back pain, arthritis, ulcers, asthma, morning sickness, fatigue and metabolism can all benefit (and in many cases be prevented) by regulating the body's natural fluid levels.
Recently there has been a dramatic change in medical theory and a long overdue realization about wellness.

The best way to prevent, help, overcome and, in many cases, eliminate illness is to give the body the right tools and let it go to work. With the proper intake of healthy water, and the right minerals and nutrients, the body can overcome many challenges.

The human body is an amazing healing machine, with bad cells being replaced by good ones millions of times per second!
Constant regeneration of skin, bones, hair, nails, damaged nerves, organ linings... virtually every healing process that happens in the body happens primarily with water!

Hundreds of recent studies have confirmed that many of the medications our society has become dependent on, primarily antibiotics and analgesics , often do much more harm than good. Antibiotics can be extremely damaging to the liver and have an adverse effect on the immune system. The more frequently we turn to synthetic medicines to overcome infections, the weaker our natural defenses become and the more likely we are to have repeated incidences of infection.

An increased intake of water and the proper immune-enhancing nutrients, combined with a little patience and common sense, are by far the best defense against most minor infections. Allowing the body to overcome minor infections with fever, fluids, nutrition and rest increases natural resistance and makes us less susceptible to biological intruders in the future. Truly the best offense to maintain a good defense.

Pain medications also work contrary to the way the body naturally heals itself. In a very informative book called "Your Body's Many Cries for Water" (very highly recommended), studies by medical experts explain how many of the pain sensations we experience are initially the result of moderate or acute dehydration.

Headaches...The brain is more than 75% water and when it detects a shortage of available fluids it implements a water-rationing process by producing histamines, causing pain and fatigue. This natural process is meant to slow us down and conserve water for defense uses (just as an animal lies in the shade when ill). Histamines are released as a warning signal that something is wrong. When we take antihistamines or analgesic medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen we mainly turn off the signal and do little or nothing for the problem. A big glass of pure water and a 20 minute decompression break will overcome most common stress-related headaches. (It takes medications longer to work than that!)

Back pain is often the result of a deficiency in body fluid levels. The discs in the back are really little hydraulic shock absorbers. These discs are made up of an outer shell of flexible joint tissue filled with fluid pockets, primarily water. A properly hydrated disk creates a cushion that absorbs the normal shock of physical activity and supports the weight of the upper body. These discs are self-hydrating as long as there are adequate fluid levels and regular movement. Movement that compresses and releases pressure on the disc creates a suction that allows body fluids (99% water) to be pulled inside the disc, keeping it properly hydrated. When a disc is fully hydrated, the shell of the disc supports 25% of the weight load and the fluid supports 75%. When these discs become dehydrated, the shell has to support a larger portion of the load, causing pain, swelling and soreness which can lead to more serious problems, also more permanent ones.

Passive activities like standing in one place or sitting at a desk without regular movement for prolonged periods, allow constant pressure on the discs which slowly forces the fluid out. Without sufficient body fluid levels and spine movement, the pressure on the discs increases,resulting in pain and stiffness. Simply by maintaining a constant and adequate intake of water, as well as regular movement such as bending forward, backwards and side to side, with your head and upper body allowing the discs to hydrate, you can prevent most minor back and neck pain. Try it; you'll be amazed how easy and effective these natural solutions can be.

Hypertension is very often a result of the body's adjusting to blood-volume loss. The most common cause of lower blood volume is dehydration. Since blood is more than 83% water, its total volume is heavily affected by water intake. When the body detects a loss of blood volume, it closes off less active capillary beds in order to maintain proper blood flow to the more active areas. These vessel closings cause a rise in tension throughout the circulatory system, which is known as "hypertension." More water allows proper blood volume and a lower level of circulatory tension.

Arthritis pain and stiffness are now understood to be initially a result of increased friction and swelling in the bone joints. Water is what the body uses to lubricate the pliable joint cartilage. When the water level is reduced, there is increased friction between the cartilage surfaces, resulting in swelling, stiffness and pain. Movement of the joints causes a suction that pulls water from the bone marrow into the joint cavity if there is proper hydration. Increased intake of water and gentle rhythmic movements of the joints can ease and, in many cases, overcome minor arthritic pain and swelling. A more detailed explanation of this natural process can be found in "The Body's Many Cries for Water" and a recent publication by three very highly respected medical doctors called "The Water We Drink."

Asthma, which affects over 12 million children in North America alone and causes the deaths of several thousand each year, is a direct result of increased histamine production. Dehydration initiates exaggerated histamine production as a water-regulating control. It is well known that asthmatics have excessive levels of histamines in their lung tissue, causing constriction of the bronchial passages and increased mucus build-up. Water is used in the lungs to keep the tissues moist, but each time we exhale, we expel moisture from our lungs. Under normal hydrated conditions, the moisture is rapidly replaced. If we are in a dehydrated state, the tissues inside the lungs begin to get coated with mucus to prevent drying. It has been demonstrated in many animal studies that increased water intake will reduce histamine levels and, over a two to three week period, restore normal hydration to lung tissue and reduce mucus build up. Once this occurs, the bronchial passages begin to open and normal breathing is restored. The same histamine related effects apply to allergies, and again, significant benefits can be seen with an increased intake of healthy water and increased movement.

Morning sickness, something thought of as normal, is a direct result of dehydration. The fetus lives in a world of water, which the body naturally prioritizes above all other needs. Throughout the night, which is the longest period without water intake, the uterus draws water from the mother's system to maintain its fluid levels and that of the fetus. In the morning the mother awakens in a state of dehydration, histamine nausea and fatigue. Hence the term "morning sickness", more appropriately "morning dehydration."

A common hang-over produces the same symptoms and has essentially the same cause, (dehydration), as morning sickness... only with a less noble purpose. Alcohol is a very strong diuretic that causes the body to excrete water, often leading to advanced dehydration. Both morning sickness and the common hang-over can be prevented by drinking plenty of water before going to bed and throughout the night.

While water is certainly not an absolute cure-all, we must recognize it as the primary ingredient to every preventive and healing process inside the body. The body is truly a magnificent creation capable of preventing and curing even the worst disease and illness.

Understanding how the body works is the first step toward achieving optimum health. It's easy to grasp if you just remember that we are more than 70% water!

Once we gain this simple understanding, our actions will usually begin to work in better harmony with our body's natural instincts, ideally creating the perfect internal environment.

Visit the link below for a 20% discount off all orders!

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs and Cancer

By: Shane Ellison, M.Sc.

The use of cholesterol-lowering drugs for the prevention of heart disease may increase your chances of suffering from the pandemic killer known as cancer. Few doctors are aware of this real and present danger.

Well-designed studies have shown the link between cholesterol-lowering drug use and cancer. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Thomas B. Newman MD, MPH and co-workers show that all cholesterol-lowering drugs, both the early drugs known as fibrates (glofibrate, gemfibrozil) and the newer drugs known as statins (Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor), cause cancer in rodents at the equivalent doses used by man.

The extrapolation of evidence of cancer from rodent to human is very uncertain. This is the argument of those in favor of using cholesterol-lowering drugs. The argument would only be plausible if human studies also showed an increase in cancer rates. And in fact, that is what science is showing.

Evidence from the cholesterol-lowering drug trial known as CARE (Cholesterol And Recurrent Events) showed that Pravachol(a cholesterol-lowering drug made by Bristol-Myer Squib) reduced the chance of suffering from a heart attack by an absolute reduction rate of 1.1%. This miniscule benefit was accompanied by a 1500% increase in breast cancer among women taking Pravachol.

It is rare that cancer would show up in most other cholesterol-lowering drug trials. Drug company-funded studies for these drugs are conveniently short in nature, typically 5 years or less. It can take decades for cancer to develop. Therefore, cancer rarely shows up. In fact, even heavy smoking will not cause lung cancer within 5 years. Yet it is a well-known fact that smoking leads to lung cancer. Therefore, as long as statin drug trials last only 5 years, this side effect will continue to fly below the radar.

If cancer were to show up as a negative side effect, there is concern whether or not it would be reported. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) has reported that of 164 statin drug trials reviewed, only 48 reported the number of participants with one or more negative side effects caused by the drug.

Statins have killed and injured more people than the government has acknowledged -- USA Today

As if in recognition of this, attempts have been made to warn the public. Dr. Gloria Troendle, deputy director for the Division of Metabolism and Endocrine Drug Products for the FDA, noted that the cholesterol-lowering drug gemfibrozil belonged to a class of drugs that has repeatedly been shown to increase death rates among users. Moreover, Dr. Troendle stated that she does not believe the FDA has ever approved a drug for long-term use that was as cancer causing at human doses as gemfibrozil. Elizabeth Barbehenn, PhD, concluded to the FDA, "fibrates must be considered as potential human carcinogens and their carcinogenic potential should be part of the risk benefit equation for evaluating gemfibrozil."

Historically, FDA advisors were reluctant to approve the cholesterol-lowering drugs. When asked to vote whether or not the cholesterol-lowering drug gemfibrozil should be approved for the prevention of heart disease, only 3 out of 9 members of the FDA advisory committee voted in favor of approval. Unfortunately, these votes are only "advisory" and the FDA decided to approve gemfibrozil for human consumption against the better judgment of the committee.

One mechanism by which cholesterol-lowering drugs may cause cancer has been identified. Published in Nature Medicine, Dr. Michael Simons of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston shows that statin drugs mimic a substance known as vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). The biochemical VEGF promotes the growth of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. While angiogenesis may help the growth of arteries, the benefit is quickly negated by the potential for growth of cancer. The British Journal of Cancer reports that VEGF plays an important role in the spread of colorectal cancer. Further, for those who already have tumors, VEGF and compounds that mimic VEGF significantly diminishes that person's survival time.

Benefits associated with cholesterol-lowering drugs do not exceed risk. Looking at the statin-drug trials,only two of the many cholesterol-lowering trials prevented absolute total mortality rates when compared to a placebo, all others provided no benefit.

The Long Term Intervention with Pravastatin (Pravachol) in Ischemic Heart Disease (LIPID) trial showed a contemptible 3.1% reduction in absolute total mortality rates. Similarly, the 4S trial showed a minimal 3.3% reduction in absolute total mortality rates among those taking 20-40mg/day of Zocor.

USA Today reported that, "Statins have killed and injured more people than the government has acknowledged." Oblivious to their dangers, medical doctors are calling cholesterol-lowering drugs the "new aspirin" and are even recommending that children be prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs.

The medical community failed to protect the public from Vioxx. Now they are failing to protect them from the dangers of cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Health and longevity was not meant to be risky, complicated or expensive. To attenuate the risk of using cholesterol-lowering drugs while preventing heart disease, the general public must utilize healthy lifestyle habits.

References:

1. Newman, Thomas B. et al. Carcinogenicity of Lipid-Lowering Drugs. JAMA. January 3, 1996-Vol 275, No. 1.
2. Ravnskov, Uffe. Statins as the new aspirin. Letters. BMJ. 2002; 324:789 (30 March).
3. Law, M.R. et al. Quantifying effect of statins on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ischaemic heart disease, and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2003 June 28; 326 (7404): 1423.
4. Akagi K. et al. Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression in human colorectal cancer tissues. Br J Cancer. 2000 Oct; 83 (7):887-91.
5. Nature Medicine September, 2000;6:965-966, 1004-1010.
6. Sternberg, Steve. USA Today. 08/20/2001.