I also pass huge amounts of foul-smelling gas. My body has turned into a gas factory! This seems to flare up every few months. My symptoms will lessen or go away and then one day they're back with a vengeance.
My family is suffering and my coworkers are becoming more vocal about my problem.
Please, tell me what I should be doing. My life is miserable!
A. Ask your doctor to test you for celiac disease. This inability to digest gluten from wheat, barley or rye may set off a variety of digestive tract symptoms. Another possible culprit would be lactose intolerance (trouble digesting milk sugar).
While you are at it, the doctor could check you for infection with the stomach bacteria Helicobacter pylori. It can contribute to bad breath, gastritis, ulcers and gas.
Even if you can't find a cause, there are some approaches that may help, including probiotics, Pepto-Bismol, fennel tea and Angostura bitters. We provide more details about such remedies and treatments for H pylori in our brand new Guide to Digestive Disorders.
]]>A. We have heard from a few other readers that pomegranate juice can help. A Caribbean remedy uses the dried red pomegranate peel to make a type of tea to treat diarrhea. It sounds like your grandmother's remedy is a variation on that theme.
I don't know how long this went on, but I'm worried about what long-term effects chronic saltpeter consumption may have, sexual and otherwise.
A. Saltpeter is a common name for potassium nitrate. It is used as a preservative in cured meat and an ingredient in toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Many decades ago, doctors prescribed potassium nitrate for asthma and arthritis.
Despite persistent folklore, there is no evidence that saltpeter reduces libido. At high doses, it can cause headache, stomach upset, kidney damage or anemia. If you are well now, you probably don't need to worry about your previous exposure.
BPA (bisphenol A) has become a target for criticism. It is used in everything from water bottles and football helmets to baby bottles and eyeglasses.
The FDA recently revised its formerly nonchalant attitude to the chemical, a potential hormone mimic. The agency now admits there may be some concern over BPA's effects on brain development in fetuses, babies and young children. Since BPA acts like estrogen, it might also influence breast and prostate development. The agency has called for additional research to be conducted by the National Toxicology Program.
In the meantime, the FDA suggests that consumers take steps to protect themselves and their children by not heating foods or liquids in hard plastic containers in the microwave, and by not putting hot liquids into sippy cups or bottles that contain BPA. The chemical is also found in the lining of metal cans. An article in Consumer Reports (December 2009) revealed that a surprising amount of BPA had leached into some canned goods.
New data from the Environmental Working Group show just how thoroughly BPA has made its way into our tissues. Scientists for the nonprofit advocacy group found BPA in nine of ten samples of umbilical cord blood they tested, suggesting that exposure begins in the womb.
If consumers carefully avoid food from cans and hard, clear containers, they might minimize the amount of BPA they take in. But what about those soft, bendable containers at the take-out counter? Are they a safer alternative?
Unfortunately, they might not be. Many soft plastics contain different types of plasticizers, called phthalates, to keep products flexible. And there are growing concerns about phthalates as well.
Like BPA, phthalate compounds may sometimes act like hormones. Some researchers consider them endocrine disruptors, although the American Chemistry Council disagrees. Parents have been warned not to allow babies to chew on phthalate-containing soft plastic toys and to choose phthalate-free baby powder and lotions.
Another hidden source of phthalates can be pill coatings. Both over-the-counter and prescription drugs may be covered with phthalate-containing plastic. Every time you swallow such a pill your exposure increases dramatically. Researchers have found that phthalate levels can rise as much as 100 fold after a few months of taking such a medication (Environmental Health Perspectives, Feb. 2009).
Both BPA and phthalates can migrate from plastic containers into the food inside. No one knows for sure whether this poses a significant risk for adults, but it seems prudent to minimize the exposure of infants and pregnant women.
Here are some guidelines that will help:
* Never use plastic containers (hard or soft) to heat food in the microwave.
* Look for canned food or beverages that do not have BPA in the lining.
* Do not use BPA-containing baby bottles or pacifiers that contain phthalates.
* Avoid pills that have plastic coatings containing phthalates. Ask your pharmacist to check with the manufacturer.
Dr. David Servan-Schreiber faced this question himself when his brain cancer recurred. He went to the medical literature to find the evidence on ways to strengthen the immune system and prevent cancer. And he found a great deal of science to back up the recommendations in his book, Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life. The book has become an international bestseller, published in 35 languages, and it has just come out in a revised edition. What did Dr. Servan-Schreiber add to this wonderful resource, making it even better?
Guest: David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, is a neuroscientist and clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He co-founded the Center for Integrative Medicine there. He is also a founding member of Doctors Without Borders. His newly revised book is Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life.
We can't believe the results he has gotten within just a few days from this simple remedy. He takes 500 mg of vitamin C twice a day.
He used to get huge welts all over and scratch and itch terribly. I want to thank that mom for sharing her great information. If it weren't for that, my husband would still be keeping me up at night and, worst of all, suffering needlessly.
A. We are always delighted when a remedy one reader has found useful also helps others.
]]>When I looked for more information, I read it should not be taken if you have high blood pressure. Since I take atenolol, my blood pressure is under control. Does that mean it would be safe for me to take this weight loss pill?
A. Meridia (sibutramine) is a controlled prescription diet pill. It should only be taken under careful medical supervision, as there are a number of potentially serious side effects and drug interactions to watch out for.
Although there are Web sites that offer to sell Meridia without a prescription, this is a dangerous plan. Sites that sell controlled substances without requiring a bona fide prescription might have few scruples about selling you counterfeit medicine.
What is more, the FDA notified doctors in November, 2009, that it is evaluating whether Meridia puts patients at higher risk for heart attacks and strokes. Your doctor will know if your blood pressure is controlled well enough for this risk.
Vitamin D Protects Against Colorectal Cancer
Aggressive Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Can Be Deadly
Lexapro Antidepressant Speeds Stroke Recovery
There is an exciting new use for a related antidepressant. Doctors at the University of Iowa have found that giving the antidepressant Lexapro (escitalopram) within the first few months after a stroke may help speed recovery. In the study, stroke...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2010/02/04/lexapro-antidepressant-speeds-stroke-recovery/
Antidepressants May Make Nursing Challenging
Can Fish Oil Prevent Psychosis?
After several years 1248 people had come down with colorectal cancer. The investigators matched them to 1248 EPIC participants who were not diagnosed with cancer and compared the vitamin D levels. Those with the highest levels of this hormone were 40 percent less likely to have developed colorectal cancer.
[British Medical Journal Online First, Jan 22, 2010]
There was a time when tight blood sugar control was considered highly desirable. This often meant treating type 2 diabetes quite aggressively in an attempt to achieve as close to normal blood glucose levels as possible. The hope was that this strategy would lower the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other complications of diabetes.
A new report published in The Lancet, however, suggests that such an approach may produce unexpected complications. In this European study patients who used insulin to bring blood sugar levels close to normal had a 49 percent higher risk of dying than those who just used oral medications to manage their diabetes. The results confirm those of a large U.S. trial that was stopped prematurely because there were one fifth more deaths in diabetes patients who were treated aggressively than among those treated more cautiously. The message seems to be that blood sugar should never be too high or too low.
[The Lancet, Feb. 6, 2010]
In the study, stroke patients who took Lexapro within three months of the event recovered more cognitive skills for memory and learning than those who took placebo pills. A third group followed Problem Solving Therapy designed for treating depression. After three months, tests of verbal and visual memory showed that the patients on Lexapro were doing better. They were also functioning better in their activities of daily life.
[Archives of General Psychiatry, Feb., 2010]
Now another concern has been added to the list. Women who take SSRI-type antidepressants may have a harder time nursing during the first day or two after delivery. The researchers fear that delayed lactation might lead to dehydration in the baby or cause worry and frustration for the mother. This might discourage breastfeeding altogether.
Although the study was small, there is reason to believe that drugs that affect the neurochemical serotonin might affect breast milk production. The recommendation is that women who must take such medications should consult a lactation specialist before giving birth.
[Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, February 2010]
]]>The investigators assigned subjects to receive either 1.2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids daily or look-alike pills containing coconut oil for 12 weeks. At the end of a year, only 5 percent of the patients who received the fish oil were diagnosed with full blown schizophrenia. Nearly 30 percent of those on placebo had progressed to psychosis.
The researchers urge caution in interpreting their results because the study was relatively small. Nevertheless they conclude that their study strong suggests that a natural substance, fish oil, offers a viable prevention and treatment strategy with minimal associated risk in young people at ultra-high risk of psychosis.
[Archives of General Psychiatry, Feb., 2010]
]]>A. There are enough alternatives that you should be able to tailor something that will work for you. The first step is to keep your bedroom cool. Make sure you exercise regularly. Research shows that active women have less trouble with hot flashes. Herbal products such as Pycnogenol (pine bark extract), Remifemin (black cohosh extract) or St. John's wort (hypericum extract) may be helpful (Menopause, Feb. 2010).
We are sending you our Guide to Menopause, with a discussion of prescription products as well as numerous nondrug approaches for these symptoms.
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