Here are some of the latest developments in the world of health and medicine:
* FDA Panel Issues Warnings on Prescription/Non-Prescription Painkillers. Acetaminophen, the popular over-the-counter pain reliever that has been widely used for nearly a half century, has been taken to task by a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel. The panel recommended that the maximum dosage allowed for acetaminophen, which is marketed under such brand names as Tylenol and Excedrin, be lowered because of the general public’s tendency to over-use the product, which can result in severe liver damage and even death. The panel noted that people often take more than the recommended dose to address severe pain, or accidentally overdose when combining acetaminophen tablets with other products that contain the drug, such as NyQuil or Theraflu. The panel also recommended that two popular prescription painkillers, Vicodin and Percocet, which combine acetaminophen with an opiate narcotic, be banned because of drug-related deaths. The panel’s recommendations are not binding, although the FDA is expected to adopt them. Since its introduction in the 1950s, acetaminophen has been popular because it does not cause stomach upset or bleeding like other pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprophen, neither of which are affected by the current advisory panel recommendations.
* Vitamin D Deficiency on the Rise. A new study appearing in the scientific journal Osteoporosis International warns that people all over the world, including the United States, are suffering from increasingly serious deficiencies of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is associated with calcium production in the body, which is critical to proper organ function as well as bone health. The most common problems linked to Vitamin D deficiency is osteoporosis (brittle bones) and bone fractures. In severe cases, it can lead to rickets, a bone softening disease that can result in permanent disfigurement. Although Vitamin D is found in many foods, and is added to many milk products as a supplement, perhaps the best way to get more Vitamin D is to go outside. Yes, the richest source of Vitamin D is natural sunlight. (The more bare skin that is exposed, the better.) Sunlight is available all day long and, best of all, it’s free!
* Proper Grilling Can Reduce Cancer Risks. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center has issued a set of recommendations for helping people make outdoor barbequing a healthier activity. In addition to recommending that people barbeque more vegetables, chicken and fish in place of traditional red meats, they also suggest ways they can decrease the cancer risk associated with charred meats of any kind. These suggestions include: Pre-cooking meats in a microwave before putting them on the grill; lowering the heat on propane grills or using hardwood briquettes, such as hickory or maple instead of pine (which burns hotter); and flipping meat frequently while cooking. Also, marinating meats beforehand can not only improve flavor, but also reduce carcinogen production during cooking.
* Food Commercials Linked to Overeating. Yale University researchers publishing in Health Psychology have shown a powerful link between food ads on TV and overeating. In a series of experiments, the researchers found that both children and adults compulsively ate more after watching commercials for restaurants and food products on television—even when they weren’t necessarily hungry. So next time you’re watching TV and have a sudden urge for tortilla chips and bean dip, remember, it may be your eyes, not your stomach that’s doing the talking.
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