HSA recalls 3 brands of high blood pressure drugs over potentially harmful impurity [Channel NewsAsia]

The affected products are from the brands Losartas, Losagen and Hyperten

31 Mar 2019

Three brands of high blood pressure medicine containing the ingredient losartan have been recalled because they contain higher than acceptable levels of a potentially harmful impurity, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Thursday (Mar 28).

The drugs contain the active ingredient losartan potassium, which was manufactured by Indian pharmaceutical company Hetero Labs.

The affected products are the 50mg and 100mg tablets from the brands Losartas, Losagen and Hyperten and distributed by local suppliers Apotheca Marketing, Medicell Pharmaceutical and Goldplus Universal, respectively.

About 137,000 patients in Singapore are using the three recalled brands of losartan medicine, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Losartas is prescribed in public healthcare institutions, while Losartas, Losagen and Hyperten are prescribed at private healthcare institutions.

HSA has advised patients not to stop treatment on their own as there is no immediate health risk and sudden stopping of the drugs can pose greater immediate risk to their health.

https://www.gov.sg/news/content/hsa-recalls-3-brands-of-high-blood-pressure-drugs

New cancer-causing toxin found in recalled blood pressure pills

U.S. health regulators said on Friday a third cancer-causing toxin was found in some blood pressure pills recalled by India's Hetero Labs Ltd a day earlier, adding to a global recall of commonly used drugs to treat hypertension.

02 MAR 2019

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is also looking into whether these types of impurities could be found in other classes of drugs, a spokeswoman for the regulator said.

The toxin, N-Nitroso-N-methyl-4-aminobutyric acid (NMBA), identified in 87 lots of Hetero’s losartan potassium pills, was not found in medicines that were previously recalled by a number of drugmakers.

The FDA said Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd is expanding its voluntary recall to include 114 additional lots of losartan-containing medication due to unacceptable amounts of NMBA in the losartan manufactured by Hetero Labs.

Global authorities have been clamping down on sales of some blood pressure medicines as they are suspected to be tainted with two probable carcinogens - N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).

The drugs, including losartan, belong to a class of widely used medicines for treating high blood pressure called angiotensin II receptor blockers, or ARBs. Some generic versions of other ARBs, such as valsartan and irbesartan, have also been recalled.

The FDA said increased risk of cancer in patients exposed to the new impurity, NMBA, appeared to be the same as those exposed to NDMA, but less than the risk from NDEA.

The recalls began last year after regulators said ingredients used by Chinese manufacturer Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals Co to produce valsartan contained cancer-causing impurities.

Since then, generic drugmakers such as Mylan NV, Teva Pharmaceutical and Novartis’ Sandoz have recalled products containing the tainted ingredients.

In January, the FDA warned of the possibility of additional shortages of hypertension drugs in the United States due to the recalls.

The FDA also said it is working to develop testing methods to detect other cancer-causing impurities.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-bloodpressure-fda/new-cancer-causing-toxin-found-in-recalled-blood-pressure-pills

Common blood pressure pills recalled worldwide: Production of Valsartan is shut down after cancer-causing chemical contaminates medicine

• Valsartan has been widely prescribed across the world for 15 years
• Evidence suggests batches since 2012 have been contaminated by a carcinogen
• The UK and US already banned the drug over safety fears earlier this month 
• Now the Chinese authorities have told all doctors to stop handing it out 

By SAM BLANCHARD and MIA DE GRAAF FOR MAILONLINE 

PUBLISHED: 11:36 BST, 31 July 2018 | UPDATED: 11:44 BST, 31 July 2018

A common blood pressure drug has been recalled worldwide and production has stopped after it was found to contain a cancer-causing chemical.

The drug Valsartan, made in a factory in China, was recalled in 22 countries including the UK and the US earlier in July, but the warning is now worldwide. 

Investigators found a chemical used in rocket fuel, called N-Nitrosodimethylamine, had contaminated the drug's production at Zhejiang Huahai, a Chinese supplier which ships the medicine worldwide. 

N-Nitrosodimethylamine is thought to be carcinogenic, meaning it could cause cancer in humans, so production of the pills has stopped.

China's National Health and Family Planning Commission said yesterday that the drug must not be used for diagnosis or treatment, and the pills have already been banned in the UK and US. 

Experts say the contamination could date back as far as 2012, when the company changed its manufacturing process.   

+1

British pharmacists were today warned a change in how valsartan is manufactured has caused a dangerous impurity in several medications

The US Food and Drug Administration banned Valsartan on July 17, two weeks after the UK recalled the drug, which has been widely prescribed across the world for 15 years.

America's decision to follow suit came on the heels of a warning from European regulators earlier that day that the drug's dangers may have been present in batches as far back as 2012.

Valsartan was originally developed by Novartis and the Swiss company marketed it as Diovan, but it is now off patent and is used in a number of generic medicines supplied by various companies. 

In addition to tackling high blood pressure, it is also prescribed to treat heart failure.

The main manufacturer in China is Zhejiang Huahai, which was founded in 1989 and listed on the Shanghai stock exchange in 2003, was one of the first Chinese companies to get drugs approved in the US market.

Company also makes ingredients for HIV and depression drugs 

That same firm makes active ingredients for a number of different medicines to treat heart problems, depression, allergies and HIV, according to its website.

Overall, more than two-thirds of all active drug ingredients originate in China and India, industry experts estimate, with China accounting for the lion's share. 

The revelation that the problem with Valsartan likely dates back to changes in manufacturing processes at Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical six years ago suggests many patients could potentially have been exposed to cancer risk. 

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which first raised the alarm over the Chinese supplied Valsartan on July 5, said it was working to establish how long and at what levels patients might have been exposed to the impurity known as NDMA.

Chemical thought to cause cancer in humans 

NDMA, or N-nitrosodimethylamine, is classified as a probable human carcinogen. Based on results from laboratory tests, it may cause cancer with long-term use.

'It is still too early to provide information on the longer term risk NDMA may have posed for patients. 

'EMA has made this aspect of the review a priority and will update the public as soon as new information becomes available,' the agency said.

EU authorities recalled medicines containing Valsartan from Zhejiang Huahai, and the EMA said such medicines should no longer be available in pharmacies.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also took action to recall affected valsartan-containing medicines.

Zhejiang Huahai has already acknowledged that there was an impurity in some of its Valsartan, which it said had sales of $50 million in 2017.  

The EMA said NDMA was an unexpected impurity that was not detected by routine tests carried out by Zhejiang Huahai, adding that the manufacturing changes introduced in 2012 were believed to have produced NDMA as a by-product.

EU and US depend on Asia for drugs - but don't pay enough attention to safety 

The case shows the reliance of consumers around the world on medicines containing active pharmaceutical ingredients made in China.

Regulators have been stepping up oversight of foreign factories in recent years to try and ensure the quality of drugs made in China and India, which is another major supplier to global drug markets.

But it remains a work in progress, as highlighted by the EMA's Executive Director Guido Rasi, who wrote recently in the agency's annual report:

'We need to think globally and work strategically with partners from around the world to make best use of our inspection capacity, so that patients can rely on the quality, safety and efficacy of all medicines, no matter where they have been manufactured.'

WHAT ARE THE VALSARTAN CONTAINING DRUGS THAT ARE AFFECTED? 

Product name	Marketing Authorisation Holder	PL Number
VALSARTAN 40MG CAPSULES, HARD	DEXCEL PHARMA LIMITED	PL 14017/0192
VALSARTAN 80MG CAPSULES, HARD	DEXCEL PHARMA LIMITED	PL 14017/0193
VALSARTAN 160MG CAPSULES, HARD	DEXCEL PHARMA LIMITED	PL 14017/0194
VALSARTAN 40MG FILM-COATED TABLETS	ACTAVIS GROUP PTC EHF	PL 30306/0109
VALSARTAN 80MG FILM-COATED TABLETS	ACTAVIS GROUP PTC EHF	PL 30306/0110
VALSARTAN 160MG FILM-COATED TABLETS	ACTAVIS GROUP PTC EHF	PL 30306/0111
VALSARTAN 320MG FILM-COATED TABLETS	ACTAVIS GROUP PTC EHF	PL 30306/0405

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6010077/Blood-pressure-pills-recalled-worldwide-contaminated-cancer-causing-chemical.html

How do you know your drug is legit? Just use this app

Want to ensure that the medicine or supplement you are taking is legit?

December 29, 2017 Health, Wellness

By TAN SHIOW CHIN

Are your meds legit? Photo: Shutterstock

The first thing you need to do is to check if the product box has the Meditag holographic security label, as well as a unique eight-digit registration number beginning with MAL, and ending with A for controlled drugs, X for over-the-counter drugs. T for traditional medicines and N for nutritional or health supplements.

All pharmaceutical products sold in Malaysia must be registered with the Drug Control Authority, assigned a unique registration number and labelled with the Meditag security label, which is solely produced by Mediharta Sdn Bhd.

But how do you ensure that the security label you see is authentic?

While previously, pharmacies had a Meditag hologram decoder for this purpose, now smartphone users can check the authenticity of their medicines directly themselves via the Meditag Checker app.

This free app allows users to scan the QR code embedded within the fourth and latest version of the Meditag holographic security label on such products to check whether or not they are genuine.

The app also provides direct links to the relevant Health Ministry websites to enable users to find out more information about the product they are scanning, as well as to instantly report any fake products they may detect.

According to Mediharta chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Nordin Mohd Nor, this latest version of Meditag also has individually-coded labels, enabling track-and-trace technology that gives retailers and the authorities the option of keeping track of these products.

Health secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min noted that the Meditag label, launched in 2005, is the first of its kind in the world.

“The use of this security label has increased the effectiveness of enforcement activities,” he said during the launch of the Meditag 4 label at a Kuala Lumpur hotel recently.

“(From January 2016) Until November 2017, as many as 43,207 unregistered products worth RM75,4mil were confiscated.”

According to a directive by Pharmacy Services senior director Dr Salmah Bahri, the use of Meditag 4 was to be implemented as of Oct 12.

However, the Meditag 3 security labels can still be used by manufacturers and importers until their current stock is finished.

The authenticity of Meditag 3 security labels can also be verified via the Meditag Checker app, although this third version does not have the extra layer of security provided by the embedded QR code in Meditag 4 labels.

Step-by-step instructions on how to authenticate the two versions of the security label are detailed within the app.

Dr Chen also noted that the Pharmacy Enforcement Division now has a state-of-the-art cyber forensic lab to enable them to monitor and investigate the online sales of unregistered and counterfeit medicines.

“This lab is on par with cyberlabs owned by other enforcement agencies like Cybersecurity Malaysia, the police and customs,” he said.

https://www.star2.com/health/wellness/2017/12/29/how-do-you-know-your-drug-is-legit-just-use-this-app/

10 Surprising Reasons You're Gaining Weight

When we see people who are overweight, many commonly assume that the individual is overeating and not exercising.   Neither of these instances is cause for prejudice, fat shaming or other negatives.  There are men and women who ...

By Staff Editor
Oct 5, 2016 - 1:41:01 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - When we see people who are overweight, many commonly assume that the individual is overeating and not exercising.   Neither of these instances is cause for prejudice, fat shaming or other negatives.  There are men and women who seemingly do everything right when it comes to diet and exercise and they are either gaining weight or simply unable to shed pounds.  This can be incredibly disheartening and wreak havoc one one’s self esteem. 

Here are 10 surprising reasons provided by Dr. Christopher Calapai as to why this might be occurring.  Dr. Christopher Calapai D.O. is a New York City anti-aging and stem cell specialist, and long-time nutrition advisor to the New York Rangers hockey team.

Lack of Sleep

There are two issues at work with sleep and weight gain. First, if you're up late, the odds are greater that you're doing some late-night snacking, which means more calories. The other reason involves what's going on in your body when you're sleep-deprived. Changes in hormone levels increase hunger and appetite and also make you feel not as full after eating.

Medication

“Many anti-depressant medications cause weight gain—so if you're depressed and taking pills for it, expect to see a bump in weight between 5 and 15 pounds, with continued gradual accumulation over the years,” says Dr. Calapai.  If you're not taking pills, there’s evidence that feelings of depression can correlate to weight gain. If patients are taking anti-depressants  that could be the culprit of their weight gain, they should see their prescribing doctor and be weaned off slowly. “There's a long list of medications that can cause weight gain: If you're taking birth control pills, excess hormones for hormone therapy, steroids, beta-blockers for heart disease and blood pressure, anti-seizure meds, breast cancer medications like Tamoxifen, some treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, and even some migraine and heartburn medications, you may notice pounds creeping on,” says Dr. Calapai.

Your gut is slow

Digestive issues, including slow bowel movements, may also account for excess pounds. "Ideally, you eat, and then, an hour or so later, you have a bowel movement," says Dr. Calapai. "But once or twice a day is still in the healthy range."  If you're not so regular, dehydration, medications, low fiber, or even a lack of good flora in your gut could be to blame. If constipation is your only symptom, then trying probiotics can help your digestive tract work properly.  If you're still having trouble, check with your doctor to rule out a range of disorders, including hypothyroidism or a neurological issue.

You're getting older

It's the one condition that's unavoidable. "Often, I hear patients tell me they think their metabolism is slowing down," says Dr. Calapai. "This is real. We don't burn as many calories at 40 or 50 as we used to burn at 20. So we need more exercise and less foo to keep the metabolism going.  "Remember that all calories are not equal when it comes to weight," says Dr. Calapai.  "Eating lean protein will cause your body to burn calories more efficiently. On the other hand, carbs are something your body tends to burn more slowly and even store in your body more readily."

You have plantar fasciitis

"Many musculoskeletal conditions, including plantar fasciitis, but also osteoarthritis and knee or hip pain, can result in unintentional weight gain," says Dr. Calapai. "Plantar fasciitis certainly can force you to cut back on your activity enough to cause weight gain."

You have Cushing's Syndrome

Weight gain accompanied by high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and changes in your skin tone and quality, including purple or silvery stretch marks on your abdomen and ruddy cheeks, could be a sign that your body isn't processing nutrients the way it should, due to a cortisol-producing tumor on one of your adrenal glands. The syndrome affects only about 15 in every million adults annually, so proceed with caution before demanding a battery of tests. "Cushing's Syndrome is not terribly common," says Dr. Calapai, "but one of the telltale signs is that your fat distribution is more in the midsection of your body, leaving your arms and legs looking more slender."

LIQUID CALORIES

It is often overlooked that liquids have calories. Calories from juices and soft drinks can quickly add up and at restaurants where free refills are the norm, the calorie build-up can go unrecognized. Wright also explains that liquid calories have no satiety factor. “Satiety relates to how long we stay satisfied after we consume something. If you ate 500 calories of healthy solid food, he/she would be full and unlikely to eat anything for quite some time, but after drinking the same amount of calories in orange juice, cola or root beer, you might be hungry minutes later.”

WEIGHT TRAINING

Many people do not realize that weight gain is not just fat gain. Weight training can increase your muscle mass, therefore increasing your weight. When you gain muscle faster than you lose fat, your body mass is increasing.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS):

PCOS is one of the most common reproductive problems diagnosed in younger women, striking perhaps up to 10% of women who are of childbearing age (i.e. roughly 12-45 years old). It involves the development of many small cysts on the ovaries, as well as menstrual disturbances. The hormone disruption caused by PCOS has many unpleasant consequences, including unwanted weight gain (usually because of a higher resistance to insulin). If you also suffer from acne, find that you are hairier than most women and do not have regular periods, ask your doctor about being tested for PCOS. This usually involves blood tests and an ultrasound of your ovaries. If you do have PCOS then you can lose the unwanted weight, but the unfortunate fact of the matter is that you will have to adopt an attitude towards healthy eating and exercise that is substantially more diligent than that of your peers.

Quitting Smoking:

Although making the decision to stop smoking is extremely good for your body in a great many respects, most people who do quit smoking end up gaining around 7-10 pounds. Most of this is due to the fact that reaching for cigarettes tends to be replaced with reaching for snacks, but the new absence of nicotine in your body will also lead to a drop in metabolic rate (so you won't be able to eat as much as you used to without gaining weight).

“Carb intake makes it difficult for your body to burn fat as a primary fuel . Low carb diets work well to burn fat and lower cholesterol and lose weight, “says Dr. Calapai. If you suspect you are gaining weight that you can't attribute to your eating habits, medications, or lack of exercise, a few tests—including a blood test and urinalysis, to get an accurate check of your body's cortisol levels, will give your doctor the first clues to this condition. If the levels are deemed excessively high, then your doctor will order further tests, like a CT scan of your pituitary and adrenal glands, to determine if such a tumor exists. If the tumor is confirmed, doctors will likely perform surgery to remove the tumor (and possibly the affected gland), followed by a course of steroids to help regulate the remaining gland.

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/News_10/10-Surprising-Reasons-You-re-Gaining-Weight.shtml

Millions Of Americans Do Not Take High Blood Pressure Drugs Properly

Almost half of Medicare beneficiaries with high blood pressure do not take medications prescribed for their condition properly putting them at increased risk ...

13 September 2016, 11:23 pm EDT By Rhodi Lee Tech Times

About 5 million Americans who have high blood pressure do not take their medicines properly. Improper use of these drugs may put older adults at risk for heart disease and other unwanted health outcomes.  ( Joe Raedle | Getty Images )

Almost half of Medicare beneficiaries with high blood pressure do not take medications prescribed for their condition properly putting them at increased risk for a range of health complications.

Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that about 5 million people age 65 years and older do not manage their high blood pressure correctly and this poses concern because it can increase their risk for stroke, heart disease, kidney disease and even premature death.

In a new study published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on Sept. 13, Matthew Ritchey, from CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, and colleagues found that about 70 percent of adults in the U.S. who are at least 65 years old suffer from high blood pressure but almost half of these do not have their condition under control.

Researchers also found that 26.3 percent of Medicare Part D beneficiaries, which is equivalent to 4.9 million people, do not adhere to a drug regimen, which can contribute to increased likelihood for hypertension and related health conditions.

The study likewise found that the percentage of people who do not take their blood pressure medicine is higher among certain ethnic and racial groups such as Hispanics, Blacks and American Indian/Alaska Natives.

Southern U.S. states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were also found to have the highest overall rate of people who do not take their blood pressure medicine as directed.

"Although multiple factors contribute to the high proportion of uncontrolled blood pressure among persons in this age group, persons who are adherent to their antihypertensives are 45 [percent] more likely to achieve blood pressure control and have up to a 38 [percent] decreased risk for having a cardiovascular event compared with persons who are nonadherent," the researchers reported.

The study did not look at the possible reasons why many people do not adhere to their blood pressure medications but researchers have identified possible factors such as concerns over the unwanted side effects of taking these medications and complex drug regimens.

CDC director Tom Frieden, who described the findings as troubling, said that many people also have the misconception that their blood pressure is fine since they do not experience or show any symptoms.

"There's a reason hypertension is called the silent killer," Frieden said adding that many patients who have very high blood pressure feel fine until they suffer from heart attack or stroke.

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/177558/20160913/millions-of-americans-do-not-take-blood-pressure-drugs-properly.htm

Doctor's Diary: Taking prescribed drugs indefinitely can have unknown consequences

The dangers of polypharmacy, a recurring theme in this column, are prodigiously compounded, observes retired Professor of Cardiology Desmond Julian, by the current practice of prescribing drugs indefinitely, “even though their long-term safety and efficacy are unknown” – as he knows only too well from personal experience.


The dangers of polypharmacy CREDIT: ALAMY

 James Le Fanu 

7 DECEMBER 2015 • 7:00AM

Long-term safety of drugs for life

The dangers of polypharmacy, a recurring theme in this column, are prodigiously compounded, observes retired Professor of Cardiology Desmond Julian, by the current practice of prescribing drugs indefinitely, “even though their long-term safety and efficacy are unknown” – as he knows only too well from personal experience.

Following a heart attack in his early seventies, Professor Julian commenced the currently recommended quartet of “preventive” drugs: statins, aspirin, Ace inhibitors and betablockers. These were initially well tolerated but after a decade of taking the Ace inhibitor Ramipril he developed the distressing, if well recognised, side effect of an intractable cough.

Several years later he had an episode of internal bleeding from the stomach caused by his daily aspirin. Most recently his beta blocker has resulted in two separate, potentially lethal, complications of a profound fall in blood pressure on exertion and slowing of the heart rate (sinoatrial block). “These could have been fatal had immediate help not been available,” he notes. 

 
Aspirin CREDIT: ALAMY

Two separate issues are at stake here. The first is the “gap of knowledge” (to put it mildly) between the evidence for the short and long-term effects of the use of these drugs. They will over a period of five years modestly reduce the risk of a further heart attack but no one has the slightest clue whether they continue to do so over decades.

Next, it is highly likely that medicines prescribed in late middle age will cause problems later on, and for several obvious reasons, notably an age-related decline in their “clearance” by the liver and kidneys and altered sensitivity to their action.

The scale of adverse effects caused by this (so far) unchallenged routine of prescribing these drugs “for life” could be readily resolved by a “discontinuation” trial - comparing the outcome in those who stop them after an appropriate interval with those who continue taking them. Meanwhile common sense would suggest that, given Professor Julian’s experience, those who do opt out will be doing themselves a favour.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/wellbeing/doctors-diary/doctors-diary-taking-prescribed-drugs-indefinitely-can-have-unkn/

Click on Healthwise for more articles

Prescription drug death epidemic continues

Saturday, August 24, 2013 by: J. D. Heyes

Can Big Pharma be stopped?

(NaturalNews) Death by prescription drug continues to be a major health problem in the United States, as Big Pharma remains influential and dominant in traditional medical practice. But a noted neurosurgeon and contributing CNN health expert may represent the first chink in Big Pharma's formidable armor, according to a recently published commentary he authored, in which he discussed the scope of the problem.

"It's the biggest man-made epidemic in the United States. That's how a doctor in Washington state described it to me as we sat outside the state Capitol in Olympia," wrote Dr. Sanjay Gupta, in paraphrasing a discussion he had with Gary Franklin, medical director for Washington state's Department of Labor and Industries.

Franklin was lamenting a litany of "terrifying" cases where scores of innocent patients were killed by the very medications they had been prescribed, a worsening situation that had become "the saddest thing he had ever seen."

Alcohol + pain medications = Accidental overdose

In one particularly gloomy case, Franklin told Gupta about a teenager he'd heard about that had died after taking too much narcotic medication following a dental procedure.

The most common occurrences; however, according to Franklin, involve men in their 40s or 50s who went to see a doctor for back pain, and who then walked out of the office with a prescription for painkillers. An average of three years later, many of those same men die in their sleep from taking too many pills and mixing them with alcohol.

They're not trying to kill themselves, say the medical professionals, but some 20,000 times annually, or once every 19 minutes on average, that's what happens.

It has become so common, in fact, that accidental overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental deaths in the U.S., passing up automobile crashes.

"As a neurosurgeon working in a busy level 1 trauma hospital, I had an idea that the problem was growing - but the numbers still boggle the mind," Gupta wrote.

The numbers say it all. Distribution of morphine - the primary ingredient in the most popular of painkillers - has exploded 600 percent from 1997-2007, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency says. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called accidental overdoses of prescription medication "an epidemic."

"In the United States, we now prescribe enough pain pills to give every man, woman and child one every four hours, around the clock, for three weeks," Gupta says, adding that the problem usually only makes national headlines if a celebrity overdoses, not our close friends, neighbors or our own family members.

What brought the issue storming home for Gupta was a call from former President Bill Clinton:

He called me a few months ago, and I could immediately tell he was broken up about something. I had worked for him in the White House in the late '90s, talked to him countless times since then, and I had never heard him like this. Two of his friends had both lost sons, he told me. The cause: accidental overdose.

Gupta says he'll never forget how the former president framed the issue.

"Look, no one thinks having a few beers and an Oxycontin is a good idea, but you also don't expect to die," Clinton said, according to the neurosurgeon and CNN analyst.

It was then that Gupta said he felt a responsibility, as a medical expert and member of the media, "to shine a bright light on this issue and find solutions that work."

He notes that a good starting point would be to clean up our own act here in the U.S. He says 80 percent of the world's pain medications are taken in the United States, based on figures from 2011 congressional testimony from the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.
While there are no doubt legitimate cases for pain medication intervention, Gupta says, culturally our nation has become so intolerant of even minor amounts of pain; we have in turn become entirely too comfortable with taking heavy-duty pain medications.

What's needed is to change doctors' attitudes about pain treatment

What is probably less known; however, is that after just a few months of taking such medications, the body changes - it compensates for the over-medication, if you will.

The effectiveness of the pain med "wears off," Gupta explains, "and patients typically report getting only about 30 percent pain relief, compared with when they started." What's worse, he says, "a subgroup of these patients develop a condition known as hyperalgesia, an increased sensitivity to pain."

Gupta concludes that what really needs to happen is a sea change within the medical community regarding better, less dangerous ways to combat pain.

"In my upcoming documentary, I will explain how we arrived in this deadly situation, but more importantly, explore solutions to address it," he says.

We here at Natural News will keep an eye out for it and bring you his findings.

Sources:
http://www.cnn.com
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6101a3.htm
http://abcnews.go.com

http://www.naturalnews.com/041768_Big_Pharma_death_epidemic_deadly_medications.html

Avoid Weakening Your Liver Function

Originally published on Monday, April 8th, 2013
GENERAL HEALTH, Urgent Care by Bel Marra Health for Bel Marra Health


The liver is one of the largest and most important organs in the human body. It processes nutrients, builds proteins, and removes toxins from the body. It is often referred to as a “resilient” organ by the medical establishment; however, liver function can be seriously weakened if we don’t treat it properly.

For decades research has supported the thought that liver health depends largely on lifestyle.  Whether we eat a healthy diet, participate in regular exercise, get enough fresh air, and avoid unhealthy vices, can determine the long-term outcome of our liver function.

Poor Liver Function and Food Choices

Since our liver acts as a filter, there are many things that can impact it. Some lifestyle choices can be more harmful than others though.

Gastrointestinal specialists say the standard American diet is not very good for the liver. Fast food is a no-no. A recent U.S study shows that fast food consumption can lead to a condition called, “fatty liver”. The research demonstrates that after just 4 weeks of consistently eating fast food, there are big changes in the liver; changes that resemble hepatitis and can lead to liver failure. Eating foods that are rich in flavonoids, iron, magnesium, selenium and B-vitamins is a way to ensure good liver health.

These nutrients can help your liver detoxify your body.  Consuming more fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds and nuts can help us to achieve better liver function. Foods rich in antioxidants such as, broccoli, cabbage, and brussel sprouts can help stop free radicals and help detoxify the body.

What the Research on Liver Function Says

Over the last few years more research says that carbohydrates are killing us. Too many carbs are causing fatty build-up in the liver of thousands of Americans and this can lead to liver dysfunction.

According to a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center, cutting carbohydrates is more effective in reducing fat in the liver than reducing calories. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition did point out that if your doctor tells you that you should do something about fatty build-up in your liver, you can reverse some of the damage within a month by changing your eating habits. The key is to catch the problem.

RELATED READING: Avoid the 7 Danger Signs of a Toxic Liver

One of the leading causes of liver failure in both the United States and the United Kingdom is drug induced liver problems. Drug induced liver injury is caused by either physician prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications, illegal drugs, over-use of vitamins and herbs or even environmental toxins. Long term use of medications when closely monitored by a doctor shouldn’t cause problems, but when directions are not followed properly serious problems can arise.  Misuse of acetaminophen is one of the biggest causes of drug induced liver injury in the U.S.

Liver Health and What You Drink

What you drink is important to your liver health as well. We all know that too much alcohol can have a serious affect on the liver. Close to 30 thousand Americans die every year from cirrhosis of the liver. It is either caused by alcohol or hepatitis C.  There is no cure, except is some cases people have the option of getting a liver transplant. The average liver can handle moderate alcohol consumption, but studies show that 50 per cent of excessive drinkers experience some or all of the symptoms associated with alcohol induced liver damage. Those symptoms include:

• Fat deposits in liver
• Discoloration of skin
• Swelling of abdomen
• Inflammation of liver tissue
• Abdominal pain

What you combine with drinking can also impact your liver. For instance, you may not be a heavy drinker, but you should never take acetaminophen with alcohol. Some research indicates that the two combined can destroy liver cells.
 
http://www.belmarrahealth.com/general-health-2/avoid-weakening-your-liver-function/

When Your Doctor Is Ignorant, It’s Not Bliss

Dr. Mark Wiley | May 01, 2013

Ignorance is bliss, the old saying goes. And, sure, it’s true that not realizing the severity of something can leave you temporarily feeling good. But ignorance of medical facts is no trivial matter. On a basic level, everyone needs to be able to assess their health and wellness and decide if they need help.

Knowing when a problem is too serious for supplements or over-the-counter medications and requires a visit to a healthcare professional is important. But when the doctor you consult is ignorant, there’s no bliss. Instead, there’s danger.

The Situation

I don’t usually indulge in rants, but I encountered an infuriating situation that gives me no choice.

Recently, I accompanied a friend to see one of the leading immunologists in our area. She needed to discuss results of blood work, her pain levels related to viral syndrome and other symptoms; and she wanted me there for support. While my friend was waiting to see the main doctor, the doctor doing her “fellowship” came in to begin the visit. All was fine until my friend mentioned that she started feeling better after taking olive leaf extract and curcumin (turmeric) supplements.

At this, the young doctor smirked ever so slightly (but still noticeably) and began spewing her allopathic medical “party line.” You know it all too well, I am sure. The one about how alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and Indian therapies are nice things and all but not medically valid. Mostly, I hear these things from established physicians, usually over the age of 60. Those older physicians were trained in the medical field and gained their long years of experience during a time when many of the clinical trials on natural medicine had not yet been conducted. Today, thanks to some of that research, I don’t think that the medical profession scoffs so much at alternative medicine or treatments.

But on this visit, the medical fellow sitting before us was young. She’s coming up in a medical world where the model is shifting toward self-care, prevention and alternative therapies complementing and being used in lieu of certain medical practices and medications. She is not of the old guard. So her comments were just ignorant. Plain and simple, they were based in her having zero knowledge of the subject matter. And instead of trying to better herself, increase her knowledge and offer better responses to patients, she assumed with great arrogance that such things are useless.

The Exchange Between Doctor And Patient

Doctor: “How are your pain and symptoms?”

Friend: “Much better since I began taking olive leaf extract to boost my immunity and curcumin for the inflammation. It’s surprising how much they’ve helped.”

Doctor (smirking): “Well, I am not sure what to say. I mean, I have not read all of the papers; but really there are no studies that show that these supplements work. Actually, there are no studies that show if they work or don’t work. So we really have no way of knowing. But if you think they are helping you with something else, keep taking them. But really, our opinion is they do nothing for immunity. There simply is no scientific data for them.”

Her condescending words displayed her ignorance. I sat quietly, trying to fathom such an ignorant statement. It’s not that she “hasn’t read all the papers.” In fact, she has not read any of the papers. In fact, she doesn’t know they exist. And to dismiss everything in one fell swoop based on lack of knowledge and understanding is just plain ignorant. Worse, her comments totally undermined our trust in any of the medical information she shared that day. It left us wondering if she were just as ignorant of that.

The Scoop

When I got home, I decided to check PubMed.com to see just how many articles there were on olive leaf extract and curcumin as used for immunity and inflammation. And the result: a whopping tens of thousands of study results. Yes, there are thousands and thousands of scientifically carried out and vetted, placebo-controlled studies done by reputable universities like Harvard and published in prestigious journals the world over. Not just a few, mind you, but tens of thousands.

Searching Olive Leaf Extract

A search of the term “olive” showed 18,657 results of olives mentioned as part of clinical trials and studies. A search for “olive oil and cholesterol” displayed 831 scientific papers. “Olive leaf extract antiviral” uncovered five specific studies on its usefulness for HIV-1, rotovirus, influenza and VHSV virus.

Consider this search finding:

The olive leaf extract exhibits antiviral activity against viral haemorrhagic septicaemia rhabdovirus (VHSV). Antiviral Res. 2005 Jun;66(2-3):129-36. Epub 2005 Apr 18.

“A commercial plant extract derived from olive tree leaf (Olea europaea) (LExt) and its major compound, oleuropein (Ole), inhibited the in vitro infectivity of the viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), a salmonid rhabdovirus…”

Searching Turmeric and Curcumin

When doing a PubMed search for turmeric, that gold-colored root that adds vibrancy to Indian food, I got 2,437 results. There were 236 scientific studies on turmeric for inflammation alone and another 72 for the use of turmeric to help manage diabetes. When a search was made for curcumin (the active part of turmeric), 5,590 results showed. These scientific studies included such things as curcumin’s application in arthritis, hepatitis, cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Here is an example of an interesting abstract:

Therapeutic roles of curcumin: lessons learned from clinical trials. AAPS J. 2013 Jan;15(1):195-218. doi: 10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8. Epub 2012 Nov 10.

“Extensive research over the past half century has shown that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a component of the golden spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), can modulate multiple cell signaling pathways…”

And There’s Much More

Additional studies can be found in great numbers for omega-3 fatty acids (more than 17,000) and traditional Chinese medicine (25,826). The list goes on and on.

So I guess the doctor is right. (Now, I’m smirking.) There are no scientific studies showing whether supplements and herbs are helpful or harmful. There are tens of thousands. And if your healthcare provider tells you otherwise or gives you flack for trying to help yourself with natural means, then I suggest visiting a site like Pubmed.com and downloading a few of the abstracts to bring with you on your next visit. If I had thought to do so before my friend’s appointment, the conversation would have proceeded quite differently.

http://easyhealthoptions.com/alternative-medicine/when-your-doctors-is-ignorant-its-not-bliss/