FDA Says Heartburn Meds Can Increase Your Fracture Risk — Mercola.com. NICE. And my doctor told me there was no risk being on Nexium for the rest of my life. I am so glad I got myself off Nexium, and you can too.
The Hidden Truth About Statins — The Healthy Skeptic.
50 Power Twitter Tips — Chris Brogan. This is spot on.
Oh those technology obsessed neglectful parents… — PhD. in Parenting. I love this article. I think she nails it.
F.D.A. Concerned About Substance in Food Packaging — The New York Times.
In a shift of position, the Food and Drug Administration is expressing concerns about possible health risks from bisphenol-A, or BPA, a widely used component of plastic bottles and food packaging that it declared safe in 2008.
The agency said Friday that it had “some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children,” and would join other federal health agencies in studying the chemical in both animals and humans.
ls suggested a number of things people could do to limit their exposure to BPA, like throwing away scratched or worn bottles or cups made with BPA (it can leak from the scratches), not putting very hot liquids into cups or bottles with BPA and checking the labels on containers to make sure they are microwave safe. The drug agency also recommended that mothers breastfeed their infants for at least 12 months; liquid formula contains traces of BPA.
Why We Won’t be Signing up for the Library’s Summer Reading Program — Steady Mom (newly redesigned by DCR Design, I might add!)
Time Unknown — Blackbelt Oma. This post tore a little bitty hole in my heart.
I think I just need to sit & stay awhile reading:) Lots of great links! Thanks for linking up:)
I’ve never met a Dr. yet who didn’t know of the main risks of statin side effects and they all monitor for them very closely. I’ve taken care of cardiac patients for 15 years and have had close to thousands of patients. A few of them have muscle aches, NONE have had liver enzyme elevations. I’d rather risk a transient liver enzyme elevation than walk around with triglycerides > 300 or an LDL level at 180 if I was diabetic and hypertensive. The fear mongering about statins is way out of control.
I think the long-term effects of the PPP’s and H2 blockers are just now being discovered. Those drugs were *never* meant to be taken long term….I think the longest indication on most of the package inserts or prescribing information is maybe 8 weeks. There are some patients who have very real, pre-cancerous changes in their throat from acid reflux so the risk/benefit measurement for them becomes…risk a fracture or risk esophageal cancer. I’m pretty sure I would risk a fracture. Esophageal cancer = half of your face/jaw/neck removed and no more oral intake. Ever. I admire your lifestyle changes and wholeheartedly would love for my patients to make such aggressive changes. But please don’t scare away the people who have pre-cancerous changes (Barrett’s Esophagus) who truly, truly need this drug.
The package may say 8 weeks, but reality is, doctors are prescribing it long term and telling their patients that it’s harmless. And the way these drugs are designed creates a vicious cycle – because when you miss a dose, you feel worse than you ever did before you went on them, and you think you need them, so you keep refilling the script. And round it goes. This is because they actually do the opposite of what your body needs.
Yes, there is harm in allowing GERD to go unchecked, but no one is advocating anyone go off the meds without managing the condition.
People deserve to know that THERE ARE OPTIONS. And there are BETTER ways to treat these diseases than traditional meds.
I’m thankful for medicine, and I realize that there is a time and a place for it, but the fact is, PPIs are being way over prescribed, and people aren’t getting good counsel about other ways they can manage these conditions.
I implore anyone living on a PPI to find a doctor who will help you manage your condition with diet and lifestyle changes. It is not easy to find. I went to 2 different internists and 2 different gastroenterologists and all 4 told me I’d be on Nexium forever. At 35 years old. That made no sense to me, so I started doing my own research.
Word of warning: most typical doctors’ idea of diet changes are usually not drastic enough to manage the condition without meds. It really is a major lifestyle change, but it can be done.
I am no super hero. I’m your typical American girl who loves McDonalds and pizza and Doritos and coffee and Coca Cola. If I can do it, anyone can.
For those who would rather live on meds, so be it. But for those who want to feel better and don’t want to be addicted to meds, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS. And that is why I continue to post articles that point to the harmful effects of these drugs and that offer better alternatives – because everyone deserves to know their options.
**obligatory disclaimer – I am not a doctor or a medical professional of any kind. Do your research and come to your own conclusions.
Yes Jo-Lynne! You said it well!
Extra interesting links today, maybe because we’re on our way home from a wedding & I have time to read all of them.
So for those of us who couldn’t breast feed for 12 months what are we supposed to do? Ugh, one more thing to be freaked out about!!
Well, there’s always something to be freaked out about. I breastfed, but my kids gnawed on those plastic sippy cups for years. What can ya do?
I enjoyed the link on twitter tips–thanks!
RE: Chris Brogan’s tips.
One of them is “Follow anyone who follows you.” To each his own, but…I ardently disagree with that piece of advice. I would advise new Twitter users to only follow people that they are GENUINELY interested in getting to know.
I actually disagree with that one too. I do not follow a lot of people. But for the most part, he made great points, and I just like the way he articulated them.