WDDTY e-News Service - 17 June 2004

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WDDTY e-News Service - 17 June 2004

Fri, 18 Jun 2004 05:41:45 +0100

 

WHAT DOCTORS DON’T TELL YOU - E-NEWS BROADCAST No. 87 - 17 June 2004

Please feel free to email this broadcast to any friends you feel would

appreciate receiving it.

 

 

 

 

 

COX-2: Still bleeding after all these years

 

The COX 2 inhibitors have been hailed as the great new hope in pain relief

therapy, and especially for conditions such as arthritis. Unlike the standard

NSAID (non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug), they weren’t supposed to cause

gastro-intestinal bleeding. The trouble is — they do.

 

Researchers in Toronto have discovered the problem after reviewing the

healthcare of 1.3 million residents in Ontario who were at least 66 years of

age. In the eight years between 1994 and 2002 the researchers discovered a

sudden, and significant, increase in NSAID use, and it was entirely due to the

launch of the new COX 2 drugs. Usage increased by 41 per cent, and among people

who previously were concerned about the risks of stomach bleeding with the

standard NSAIDs.

 

But, during the same period, there was a 10 per cent increase in hospital cases

of upper gastro-intestinal hemorrhage. A coincidence? The research team from

the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences thinks not.

 

Immediately before the introduction of COX 2 drugs such as rofecoxib, celecoxib

and, more recently, meloxicam, there had been a significant dip in cases of

stomach bleeding. During the study period other conditions such as heart attack

stayed at a steady rate, and gastro-intestinal problems were the only ones that

had significantly increased.

 

(Source: British Medical Journal, 2004; 328: 1415-6).

 

 

 

COX-2 AGAIN: Sorry, we haven’t finished with you yet

 

Not a great week if you happen to be a COX 2 drug. Not only do they cause the

very thing they were designed not to do, it could be they also cause heart

failure.

 

A study of the COX 2 drug Vioxx (rofecoxib) has found that it may dramatically

increase the risk of congestive heart failure, and by an alarming 80 per cent.

The good news, if any can be gleaned from such a finding, is that COX patients

with normal, healthy hearts had nothing to worry about. In other words, the

drug exacerbates a pre-existing condition.

 

The findings were based on a trial among 45,000 elderly patients in Ontario

(those Canadians again), half of whom took Vioxx or another pain reliever, and

the rest didn’t take any drug therapy.

 

After a year, researchers discovered that those who took Vioxx had an 80 per

cent increased tendency for developing heart failure, while those on ibuprofen

saw their risk increase by 40 per cent. Celebrex was the only pain reliever

that wasn’t linked to an increased risk.

 

(Source: Toronto Star, May 28, 2004).

 

 

 

THYROID CANCER: So you thought it was nothing to do with the environment

 

It sometimes takes an environmental catastrophe to demonstrate a stark cause and

effect.

 

One such example was the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near

Kiev in April 1986, which released radioactive materials over Belarus and the

Ukraine.

 

Since then doctors have noted a 12-fold increase in the rate of thyroid cancer

among women in the Belarus region. The increase has been greatest in young

females aged 14 years or lower, who have experienced a 30-fold increase in the

disease since the explosion.

 

Between 1980 and 1986 there were 0.15 cases per 100,000 girls aged below 14

years, but this increased to 43.84 cases between 1997 and 2001.

 

(Source: International Journal of Epidemiology; website:

www.ije.oupjournals.org).

 

 

 

HEART DISEASE: Another great export from the West

 

We tend to think of heart disease as a problem for the West, probably caused by

our stressful lifestyles and diet.

 

But it’s a view that needs a serious reappraisal. Heart disease is accelerating

so fast in developing countries that it may soon be seen as a disease ‘of the

East’.

 

Heart disease is already the major cause of death in many developing countries,

and it is expected to gain a similar status in others fairly soon. Around nine

million people died from cardiovascular disease in developing countries in 1990,

but this is anticipated to rise to 19 million by 2020.

 

In China there has been a doubling of the numbers of heart-related deaths during

the past 20 years, especially among the 35-54 years age group, while the

prevalence of heart disease in India has increased by a factor of eight in the

past 40 years.

 

Stroke is the major type of cardiovascular disease in China, Southeast Asia and

sub-Saharan Africa, while coronary heart disease predominates in Latin America,

the Middle East and urban India.

 

So why is it happening? Many factors play a part, but it’s principally due to

the fact that more and more of these people are taking to a Westernized diet.

The other significant factor is that more in the developing countries are

starting to smoke (presumably Western-style cigarettes).

 

(Source: New England Journal of Medicine, 2004; 350: 2438-40).

 

 

 

ARTIFIAL SWEETENERS: The bitter truth

 

Artificial sweeteners are often taken as a slimming aid. But a new report by

our sister publication Proof reveals that they can cause weight gain. Worse,

they are also dangerous.

 

But some are more dangerous than others, and the latest issue of Proof which

they are.

 

 

 

 

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK

 

OK, the summer’s finally kicked in, and you’re all crowding around the barbeque.

That ice-cold can of beer suddenly looks tempting. So you pull off the tab, put

the can to your lips and. . .stop! Look, it’s not clever, it’s not grown-up,

and it may kill you.

 

That was the sad fate of one woman who, while on a boat trip off the coast of

Madagascar, drank a can of drink she had put in the boat’s refrigerator. She

was taken ill, and she died two days later.

 

The postmortem revealed that she had died of fulminating leptospirosis.

Apparently at some stage a rat had urinated on the can.

 

A glass, anyone?

 

(Source: La Gazette de la Grande Ile, 6 April 2004).

 

 

 

HEALTHY TEETH: Healthy body

 

Our teeth can be an important indicator of our health in the rest of our body.

Doctors have discovered that people who suddenly lose their teeth could be

suffering from heart disease.

 

The teeth loss may be caused by high blood pressure, as doctors discovered when

they assessed the causes of tooth loss in two groups of postmenopausal women.

 

(Source: Hypertension, 2004; 43: 1297-1300).

 

 

 

READERS’ CORNER

 

Warts: The reader who wanted a natural remedy to remove warts from the hand has

received plenty of suggestions. Don’t mention the wart? You all have, with

advice ranging from the interesting to the bizarre. First up, someone suggests

applying duct tape to the warts, which should be regularly replaced until the

warts have disappeared. One gentleman’s wart went after his doctor applied

liquid nitrogen. Another suggests the homeopathic remedy Argent Nit 6c taken

three times a day, and apply essential oil of lemon to the wart twice a day.

Another option is tincture of blood root, which should be applied to the wart,

which should clear it within six weeks. Thuja tincture was mentioned by several

readers. If you’ve got some bananas getting too ripe, rub the inside of the

banana skin on the wart before going to bed and repeat until the warts have

gone. At least you’ll be a-peeling (sorry). Try tea tea oil, another reader

suggests. And, finally — leaving the best to last — find

someone prepared to buy the warts from you for a pound each. It happened to

one reader’s sister-in-law, and the warts mysteriously disappeared within three

weeks. Trouble is, she didn’t get her money either.

 

 

Eczema and psoriasis creams: Plenty of suggestions for the person who wanted

safe, natural creams to treat her 18-month-old son. One idea is to try Mercy

Cream, supplied by Farouche. The cream, mentioned in several past E-news,

contains African herbs, and definitely no steroids. Alternatively try Elnas

Nature Collection of Creams and Oils, available from Dulwich Health (020 8670

5883), while another reader suggests that our questioner sees a health

kinesiologist as the eczema may be linked to some allergy. Nutritionally, try

vitamin B9 and B12 and C, while a lack of vitamin A can aggravate psoriasis.

One woman found her son started developing eczema after she stopped breast

cancer, suggesting a food allergy. Remove all refined foods, and especially

white flour, white sugar, white rice and pasta, from the diet, don’t have any

citrus, including orange juice, no artificial additives, and no sweets,

chocolate, pop, squash, cakes, crisps etc. Another reader wonders if the cause

may have been antibiotics, which may have caused candida. Oxygen therapy,

combined with an anti-candida diet, did the trick. Stellaria cream is another

option, or try aloe propolis cream.

 

 

Bacterial vaginosis: A few thoughts for the reader with bacterial vaginosis

that seems to occur once a month, and around the time of her period. Several

readers suggest trying colloidal silver as a safe remedy. Another assures her

it’s not sexually transmitted, and has been advised to take showers rather than

baths as the main culprit was water entering the vagina. The health of the

intestines affects the health of the vagina, so try separating proteins and

starches when eating. Avoid sugar, coffee and tea, and drink plenty of

‘feebly-mineralised’ water such as Penta.

 

 

The pill: Some advice for the woman whose sister-in-law was advised to go on

the pill as a protective measure against cancer after her mother was diagnosed

with ovarian cancer. One advises reading John R Lee’s book ‘What Your Doctor

May Not Tell You About Pre-Menopause’, while another suggests reading ‘Hormone

Heresy’ by Sherill Sellman. She’s better advised to lead a healthy lifestyle,

says one reader who went on the pill and ever after suffered from ovarian cysts

and hormonal imbalance. One reader points out that 90 per cent of women who get

ovarian cancer have no family history of the disease.

 

 

Premature menopause: Then there’s the woman whose menopause has started at the

age of 30. The same thing happened to another reader, who went to see a

homeopath who prescribed some thyroid substance and, within six weeks, all

symptoms had disappeared. Another suggestion is to try wild yam cream with

chaste tree berry.

 

 

Dog health: I’m delighted to report that our health tips are not restricted to

homo sapiens. Man’s best friend also gets a look in as several readers have

come to the aid of the woman whose dog has microbial overgrowth in the small

intestine. Try colloidal silver in his drinking water or, better yet, give him

a 10ml syringe of it every morning if at all possible. Another suggests a

product called Transfer Factor, or Transfer Factor Plus,

 

 

AOB: The suggestion last time from one reader about trying an olive oil purge

to rid the body of gallstones attracted praise and condemnation in equal measure

(well, one reader thought it was brilliant, and says it really works, another

said it’s fashionable, and dangerous). . .one reader developed glandular fever

after being given the flu jab. Our story last time about mercury preservatives

in the vaccines explains all, he says. . .Try a product called Bright Eyes if

you suffer from dry eyes, as one reader mentioned she did a few E-news’ back.

 

 

 

Readers’ queries

 

Plenty more health problems on which you can flex your considerable health

knowledge.

 

 

Anti-mosquito cream: Any successful mosquito cream that actually works, asks

one exasperated reader, who has been eating Marmite and used lemongrass oil, and

still gets bitten.

 

 

Smear tests: One woman has just returned to her hospital for a third smear test

because there were ‘insufficient’ cells available. Do other readers find that

they are going back for more smear tests these days?

 

 

Mercury: Can it be removed from the body by a ‘bicom’ practitioner, asks one

reader? Not sure what a bicom practitioner is, but doubtlessly you will.

 

 

MMR-autism: Any views on the theory that autism is linked to the gut, and can

be improved by a special carbohydrate diet, as put forward by Elaine Gottschall?

 

 

Chronic back pain: One woman’s husband is aged 48, and he suffers from

persistent, excruciating back pain. It started in 1988 with lower back pain and

sciatica, and he’s since suffered acute disc prolapse, resulting in partial

paralysis. He had surgery to have his spine fused. His doctor says the pain is

caused by scar tissue. Any advice?

 

 

Loss of taste and smell: One woman has lost all sense of taste and smell after

suffering two heavy colds. She’s tried a course of steroids that have done

nothing. Anything else she can do?

 

 

Painful feet: One woman who lives in Africa suffers from dry cracking feet that

can make walking very difficult. A dermatologist in the UK has diagnosed

psoriasis, and the only treatment is a drug that she is not prepared to take.

Her condition improved temporarily after she visited an acupuncturist. What

else can she do (bearing in mind she lives in a remote part of Africa?)

 

 

* To search the WDDTY database - where every word from the last 14 years of

research can be found – click on http://www.wddty.co.uk/search/infodatabase.asp

 

 

 

 

 

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