The Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) and its provincial associations are launching “Best Foot Forward” — a public education program aimed at preventing falls in seniors. Continue reading Preventing falls in Canada
Monthly Archives: March 2008
Calcium lowers fracture risk … if you actually take it
And the difference in risk between taking calcium-only vs calcium with vitamin D is small and not statistically significant, according to researchers in Australia. Continue reading Calcium lowers fracture risk … if you actually take it
Benefits of a vegan diet for rheumatoid arthritis
Dietary manipulation helps people regain a sense of control over their disease.
In addition, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden report changes that might be beneficial. Continue reading Benefits of a vegan diet for rheumatoid arthritis
Snoezelen for dementia
Snoezelen (or multi-sensory stimulation) is used to promote positive mood in older people with dementia, as well as manage maladaptive behaviors (eg, autism and other behaviors that interfere with everyday activities).
The Snoezelen (pronounced SNOOzelen) environment provides gentle stimulation of the primary senses. The objective is to overcome inhibitions, enhance self-esteem, and reduce tension.
A Cochrane review found no scientific support, but others disagree. Continue reading Snoezelen for dementia
Coffee and the risk of gout
Contrary to popular thinking, drinking more coffee appears to lower the risk. Continue reading Coffee and the risk of gout
Update: Grapefruit juice:Rx drug interactions
According to Dr. William McCloskey, the likelihood of drug:grapefruit juice interactions having a negative effect on a patient’s response to the drug has not been clearly established.
This might be due to the fact that many drugs affected by grapefruit juice have a wide therapeutic index. In other words, toxic blood levels are so much higher than the blood levels needed to achieve an effective treatment dose that any increase caused by grapefruit juice is not sufficient to reach toxicity.
That’s not to say there is no risk of a grapefruit juice:drug interaction.
Unfortunately, the source article has been deleted, but here’s the bottom line. If you take any of the drugs listed below and feel you must drink grapefruit juice, first discuss it with your doctor.
- Amiodarone (Cordarone)
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- Buspirone (Buspar)
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Clomipramine (Anafranil)
- Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Etoposide (VePesid)
- Felodipine (Plendil)
- Fexofenadine (Allegra)
- Itraconazole (Sporanox)
- Lovastatin (Mevacor)
- Methadone (Methadose)
- Midazolam (Versed)
- Nicardipine (Cardene)
- Nifedipine (Procardia)
- Nimodipine (Nimotop)
- Nisoldipine (Sular)
- Saquinavir (Invirase)
- Sildenafil (Viagra)
- Simvastatin (Zocor)
- Triazolam (Halcion)
3/19/08 11:13 JR
The association between folic acid deficiency and cleft palate
Norway has one of the highest rates of facial clefts in Europe and does not allow foods to be fortified with folic acid.
Now, it appears that this decision was a fateful one.
Continue reading The association between folic acid deficiency and cleft palate
ACT and yoga for drug-refractory epilepsy
In patients with epilepsy that does not respond to drug therapy, researchers from the University of Uppsala in Sweden reported, “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and yoga decrease seizure index and increase quality of life.” Continue reading ACT and yoga for drug-refractory epilepsy
Growth hormone does not improve athletic performance
I guess this fits if you view growth hormones as a complementary addition to athletic conditioning. Continue reading Growth hormone does not improve athletic performance
An academic allopathic view of CAM options for arthritic pain
Dr. Eric Ruderman, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago has published a review on Medscape, with lots of space devoted to CAM: exercise, acupuncture, and nutritional supplements. Continue reading An academic allopathic view of CAM options for arthritic pain
The effect of transcendental meditation on blood pressure
“Adding Transcendental Medication is about equivalent to adding a second antihypertension agent to one’s current regimen only safer and less troublesome,” according to reviewers from the University of Kentucky. Continue reading The effect of transcendental meditation on blood pressure
Managing pelvic and back pain during pregnancy
There are lots of recommendations to prevent or treat this cause of back pain.
Here’s what the Cochrane Collaboration found.
Continue reading Managing pelvic and back pain during pregnancy
Using omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in patients with recurrent self-harm
This study concludes that omega 3 fatty acid supplementation contributes to substantial reductions in surrogate markers of suicidal behavior and improvements in well-being. Continue reading Using omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in patients with recurrent self-harm
Banned in Boston
Boston on Thursday became the latest city to ban artificial trans fats from food served in restaurants and grocery stores.
It’s no longer news, except for this quote. Continue reading Banned in Boston
Lung cancer associated with cannabis smoking
“Long-term cannabis use increases the risk of lung cancer in young adults,” according to this study from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand in Wellington. Continue reading Lung cancer associated with cannabis smoking
Is dementia the Achilles heel of mainstream medicine?
Writing in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Dr. Mark Hyman asserts, “We are at a crossroads where the old ideas we have about disease and diagnosis become less meaningful as we understand more and more about the importance of individual differences in determining illness.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the poster child for the limitations of allopathic medicine. Continue reading Is dementia the Achilles heel of mainstream medicine?
Assessing the value of biofeedback following stroke
Despite evidence from a few studies, electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BFB) plus standard physiotherapy does not produce improvements compared to physiotherapy alone, according to this Cochrane Review. Continue reading Assessing the value of biofeedback following stroke
Risk factors for regaining weight after weight loss
Maybe if we knew the risks for weight regain after weight loss we could avoid the latter.
Well, here they are. Continue reading Risk factors for regaining weight after weight loss
Psychological treatments reduce back pain
When psychologists began developing treatments for chronic pain several decades ago, the goal was to help patients live with their pain more successfully.
Now we find it can reduce their level of pain.
Qigong benefits in elderly people with depression
The results of this study show that regular qigong practice could relieve depression and improve self-efficacy and personal well being among elderly persons with chronic physical illness and depression.
The real message is that active seniors have better quality of life than their sedentary neighbors. Continue reading Qigong benefits in elderly people with depression