Patients often are warned against taking certain pills with grapefruit juice, which can turn normal doses of a drug into a toxic overdose. Now, researchers have raised a new concern: grapefruit, orange and apple juices may also block the effects of some drugs, wiping out any potential benefit to patients, according to a new study.
Healthy volunteers took a dose of the allergy drug fexofenadine, downing it with water or juice. When the drug was taken with grapefruit juice, for instance, only half of the dose was absorbed into the bloodstream, compared to taking it with water. The findings were presented this week at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society by researchers at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.
So far, the investigators have found that grapefruit, orange and apple juices reduce absorption of the anticancer drug etoposide; certain beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure; cyclosporine, used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs; and certain antibiotics. Additional drugs are likely to be added to the list, said David G. Bailey, a professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of Western Ontario.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Dr. Bailey said in a press release. “I’m sure we’ll find more and more drugs that are affected this way.”
It was Dr. Bailey who originally identified the potential harm in consuming medications with grapefruit juice, showing that it can interact with drugs in a way that raises blood concentration of the medication to dangerous levels. It’s known to affect about 50 drugs, ranging from cholesterol-lowering statins to Viagra. Some drugs now carry labels warning consumers against taking them with grapefruit juice or fresh grapefruit.
Dr. Bailey said patients should consult with their doctors or pharmacists before taking any medications with grapefruit or other juices. The best advice, however, is to take most medications only with water.
Source: http://www.aolhealth.com/conditions/by-the-way-doctor-whats-the-problem-with-grapefruit-juice-and-statins
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Basic principles of medical ethics..
Easy as A, B, C, D, E and F
Physicians deal with many ethical issues on a daily basis. Fundamental ethical principles assist us in understanding, negotiating and navigating these issues. Ethical dilemmas arise when two or more ethical principles apply in a particular case and would lead to different outcomes. In these situations physicians must balance these principles to arrive at the best course of action. There are other approaches to bioethics in which other principles may apply. However, in caring for patients, it is important for physicians to understand the following fundamental ethical principles:
Autonomy: “Self rule”- Physicians must respect a patient’s right to make decisions regarding his medical care. Competent, informed patients have the right to choose among treatment options and refuse any unwanted medical interventions. By providing informed consent and following patients’ wishes, physicians demonstrate their respect for the patient’s autonomy.
Beneficence: Physicians must act in the best interests of their patients. Patients are vulnerable because of illness and lack medical expertise. Therefore, patients rely on physicians to offer sound advice and to place the their well-being first. If patients lack decision-making capacity, they need to be protected from making decisions that are contrary to their best interests. Physicians must put the interests of their patients ahead of their own interests or those of third parties such as insurers or managed care organizations.
Confidentiality: Physicians must maintain the confidentiality of medical information. Confidentiality respects patient autonomy and encourages patients to present for care and be candid. However, confidentiality can be overridden in order to protect third parties when there is the potential for serious, foreseeable harm to third parties. Legally mandated reporting includes certain infectious diseases like tuberculosis, loss of consciousness or child or elder abuse or domestic violence.
Do no harm: The principle of non-maleficence directs physicians to “do no harm” to patients. Physicians must refrain from providing ineffective treatments or acting with malice toward patients. This principle, however, offers little useful guidance to physicians since many beneficial therapies also have serious risks. The pertinent ethical issue is whether the benefits outweigh the burdens.
Equality: The principle of distributive justice deals with issues of treating patients equally. Physicians should treat similarly situated patients similarly and allocate resources justly. In the face of limited health care resources, physicians should practice cost-effective medicine. Physicians should make recommendations and decisions based on ethically pertinent considerations.
Fairness: The principle of procedural justice requires that the process for making decisions for patients be fair and just. For example the process by which patients appeal rulings by the insurance company or by which organs are allocated must be fair and just.
Physicians deal with many ethical issues on a daily basis. Fundamental ethical principles assist us in understanding, negotiating and navigating these issues. Ethical dilemmas arise when two or more ethical principles apply in a particular case and would lead to different outcomes. In these situations physicians must balance these principles to arrive at the best course of action. There are other approaches to bioethics in which other principles may apply. However, in caring for patients, it is important for physicians to understand the following fundamental ethical principles:
Autonomy: “Self rule”- Physicians must respect a patient’s right to make decisions regarding his medical care. Competent, informed patients have the right to choose among treatment options and refuse any unwanted medical interventions. By providing informed consent and following patients’ wishes, physicians demonstrate their respect for the patient’s autonomy.
Beneficence: Physicians must act in the best interests of their patients. Patients are vulnerable because of illness and lack medical expertise. Therefore, patients rely on physicians to offer sound advice and to place the their well-being first. If patients lack decision-making capacity, they need to be protected from making decisions that are contrary to their best interests. Physicians must put the interests of their patients ahead of their own interests or those of third parties such as insurers or managed care organizations.
Confidentiality: Physicians must maintain the confidentiality of medical information. Confidentiality respects patient autonomy and encourages patients to present for care and be candid. However, confidentiality can be overridden in order to protect third parties when there is the potential for serious, foreseeable harm to third parties. Legally mandated reporting includes certain infectious diseases like tuberculosis, loss of consciousness or child or elder abuse or domestic violence.
Do no harm: The principle of non-maleficence directs physicians to “do no harm” to patients. Physicians must refrain from providing ineffective treatments or acting with malice toward patients. This principle, however, offers little useful guidance to physicians since many beneficial therapies also have serious risks. The pertinent ethical issue is whether the benefits outweigh the burdens.
Equality: The principle of distributive justice deals with issues of treating patients equally. Physicians should treat similarly situated patients similarly and allocate resources justly. In the face of limited health care resources, physicians should practice cost-effective medicine. Physicians should make recommendations and decisions based on ethically pertinent considerations.
Fairness: The principle of procedural justice requires that the process for making decisions for patients be fair and just. For example the process by which patients appeal rulings by the insurance company or by which organs are allocated must be fair and just.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Contents of cigarettes....
Cigarettes are one of few products which can be sold legally which can harm and even kill you over time if used as intended.
Currently there are ongoing lawsuits in the USA which aim to hold tobacco companies responsible for the effects of smoking on the health of long term smokers. Here's a list of what cigarettes basically contain:
Ammonia: Household cleaner
Angelica root extract: Known to cause cancer in animals
Arsenic: Used in rat poisons
Benzene: Used in making dyes, synthetic rubber
Butane: Gas; used in lighter fluid
Carbon monoxide: Poisonous gas
Cadmium: Used in batteries
Cyanide: Deadly poison
DDT: A banned insecticide
Ethyl Furoate: Causes liver damage in animals
Lead: Poisonous in high doses
Formaldehiyde: Used to preserve dead specimens
Methoprene: Insecticide
Megastigmatrienone: Chemical naturally found in grapefruit juice
Maltitol: Sweetener for diabetics
Napthalene: Ingredient in mothballs
Methyl isocyanate: Its accidental release killed 2000 people in Bhopal, India in 1984
Polonium: Cancer-causing radioactive element
All things added together: death is in a cigarette
Source: www.quitsmokingsupport.com/whatsinit.htm
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Blood donation benefits both the donor and the recipient
It only takes about an hour out of your busy schedule to save a life. Donating blood may not only benefit the person who receive the blood cells but may also improve the health of the donor.
While the most obvious health benefit of donating blood is the wonderful feeling derived from giving something vital to someone who needs it, the benefits of donating blood may extend far beyond this to having a positive impact on the donor's health.
Blood donation removes some of the excess iron which can cause free radical formation in the body. Excess iron is thought to promote free radical damage to the arteries, which can contribute to heart disease. Studies have shown that men who donate blood on a regular basis have a lower risk of heart disease. With heart disease being the number one cause of death in males, this is, indeed, an important health benefit of donating blood.
How can you be sure you're not giving away too much iron? Before you're allowed to donate blood, your hemoglobin level, a rough measure of your iron levels, will be checked. If it's deemed too low, you won't be allowed to donate that day. Your hemoglobin level will be monitored closely every time you present for donation and you'll only be allowed to donate every eight weeks to prevent too much iron from being removed from your body. It's a free and easy way to keep track of your iron levels.
Vitamin C increases iron absorption?
Many foods contain iron, and eating a wide range of foods can help most people meet their needs for this nutrient. Iron from animal sources (haem iron) is better absorbed than iron from plant sources (non-haem iron). About 15% of iron in diets containing meat or fish is absorbed. Absorption of non-haem iron is affected by various factors in food.
Phytates (in cereals and pulses), fibre, tannins (in tea and coffee) and calcium can bind non-haem iron, which reduces absorption. Vitamin C increases absorption of non-haem iron. This means iron absorption will be increased by having food and drinks which contain vitamin C with meals, e.g. vegetables, salad, orange juice. But tea and coffee with meals will reduce absorption.
So, next time you eat food high in iron, be sure to have an element of Vitamin C.
Phytates (in cereals and pulses), fibre, tannins (in tea and coffee) and calcium can bind non-haem iron, which reduces absorption. Vitamin C increases absorption of non-haem iron. This means iron absorption will be increased by having food and drinks which contain vitamin C with meals, e.g. vegetables, salad, orange juice. But tea and coffee with meals will reduce absorption.
So, next time you eat food high in iron, be sure to have an element of Vitamin C.
Monday, January 5, 2009
What are the side effects of too much Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is certainly important in maintaining your health. Vitamin C is a water-soluble micronutrient that acts as a reducing agent, protecting the body’s tissues against oxidative stress. In the past, it was well-known in its prevention against scurvy. Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties play a significant role in the prevention of certain cancers such as stomach cancer. It curative properties assist the body in conferring immunity against infections. The body also needs ascorbic acid to process iron. Vitamin C has been shown to inhibit cardiovascular disease such as congestive heart failure. It has also been shown that Vitamin C is useful in preventing cataracts. The best sources of Vitamin C come from eating your fruits and vegetables; 5 servings per day are recommended. When taken at the recommended dietary allowances, at 60 mg per individual, Vitamin C is the “miracle worker” of the human body.
When an individual is deficient in Vitamin C, certain physical problems can occur. Deficiencies in Vitamin C can lead to bleeding gums and bruising on your skin. You also don’t have that immunity against infections. You may also experience a longer period before a wound heals properly. Fatigue is another factor to consider when Vitamin C levels in your body are low.
All the positive outcomes by taking Vitamin C are well-documented; however, physiological problems do occur with over-ingestion of Vitamin C. While the harmful effects of this “miracle worker” have not been conclusively determined experimentally, certain side effects do manifest themselves when too much is ingested. To get the most out of Vitamin C, you should take enough of this micronutrient so that it saturates your tissues. This is when the body is optimally protected against oxidative damage. When your body receives much more than the recommended daily allowances of Vitamin C, it body can no longer absorb Vitamin C and treats the excess micronutrient as waste. This results in gastrointestinal stress. Diarrhea can occur. Stomach cramping, flatulence, and nausea are also common when unabsorbed Vitamin C passes through the intestines. Finally, some studies have shown that increased levels of Vitamin C can actually put you at risk for the development of kidney stones.
When an individual is deficient in Vitamin C, certain physical problems can occur. Deficiencies in Vitamin C can lead to bleeding gums and bruising on your skin. You also don’t have that immunity against infections. You may also experience a longer period before a wound heals properly. Fatigue is another factor to consider when Vitamin C levels in your body are low.
All the positive outcomes by taking Vitamin C are well-documented; however, physiological problems do occur with over-ingestion of Vitamin C. While the harmful effects of this “miracle worker” have not been conclusively determined experimentally, certain side effects do manifest themselves when too much is ingested. To get the most out of Vitamin C, you should take enough of this micronutrient so that it saturates your tissues. This is when the body is optimally protected against oxidative damage. When your body receives much more than the recommended daily allowances of Vitamin C, it body can no longer absorb Vitamin C and treats the excess micronutrient as waste. This results in gastrointestinal stress. Diarrhea can occur. Stomach cramping, flatulence, and nausea are also common when unabsorbed Vitamin C passes through the intestines. Finally, some studies have shown that increased levels of Vitamin C can actually put you at risk for the development of kidney stones.
Exposure to Media Damages Children's Long-Term Health
Lots of time spent in front of the TV, playing video games, and surfing the Web can increase a child's risk of health problems, according to recent study results.
Investigators from the National Institutes of Health, Yale University, and the California Pacific Medical Center examined 173 studies conducted since 1980 that assessed the effects of use of various media, primarily television, but also including video games, film, music, and computers.
In 80% of the studies, greater media exposure was linked to negative health outcomes for children and adolescents. Eighty-six percent of 73 studies found a statistically significant relationship between increased exposure to media and obesity risk, while 88% of 24 studies found such a link with tobacco use. Increased media exposure was linked to drug use in 75% of eight studies, alcohol use in 80% of 10 studies, low academic achievement in 65% of 31 studies, sexual behavior in 93% of 14 studies, and ADHD in 69% of 13 studies.
Investigators from the National Institutes of Health, Yale University, and the California Pacific Medical Center examined 173 studies conducted since 1980 that assessed the effects of use of various media, primarily television, but also including video games, film, music, and computers.
In 80% of the studies, greater media exposure was linked to negative health outcomes for children and adolescents. Eighty-six percent of 73 studies found a statistically significant relationship between increased exposure to media and obesity risk, while 88% of 24 studies found such a link with tobacco use. Increased media exposure was linked to drug use in 75% of eight studies, alcohol use in 80% of 10 studies, low academic achievement in 65% of 31 studies, sexual behavior in 93% of 14 studies, and ADHD in 69% of 13 studies.
The Hippocratic Oath & The Declaration Of Geneva
THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH
1. I swear by Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath.
2. To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.
3. I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
4. I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
5. But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
6. I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
7. In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.
8. All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
9. If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.
THE DECLARATION OF GENEVA
1. I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
2. I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;
3. I will practise my profession with conscience and dignity;
4. The health of my patient will be my first consideration;
5. I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
6. I will maintain by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
7. My colleagues will be my sisters and brothers;
8. I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
9. I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;
10. I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;
11. I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honour.
1. I swear by Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath.
2. To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.
3. I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
4. I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
5. But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
6. I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
7. In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.
8. All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
9. If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.
THE DECLARATION OF GENEVA
1. I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
2. I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;
3. I will practise my profession with conscience and dignity;
4. The health of my patient will be my first consideration;
5. I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
6. I will maintain by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
7. My colleagues will be my sisters and brothers;
8. I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
9. I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;
10. I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;
11. I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honour.
What is medicine?
Medicine is the art and science of healing. It encompasses a range of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness.
Contemporary medicine applies health science, biomedical research, and medical technology to diagnose and treat injury and disease, typically through medication, surgery, or some other form of therapy. The word medicine is derived from the Latin ars medicina, meaning the art of healing
Medicine arose out of the primal sympathy of man with man; out of the desire to help those in sorrow, need and sickness
Contemporary medicine applies health science, biomedical research, and medical technology to diagnose and treat injury and disease, typically through medication, surgery, or some other form of therapy. The word medicine is derived from the Latin ars medicina, meaning the art of healing
Medicine arose out of the primal sympathy of man with man; out of the desire to help those in sorrow, need and sickness
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