Published January 12, 2011

Drugs cause damage even after you stop taking them

You probably know that Merck had to withdraw its pain drug Vioxx in 2004. The recall came after a study showed Vioxx significantly increased the risk of heart disease and death in those who used it. During the five years it was on the market, it caused nearly 40,000 deaths. You also might know that I was the first to warn of Vioxx’s terrible side effects in 2000. Well, today I’ve got another warning for you about this terrible drug.

Why would I need to warn you about a drug that’s off the market?

If you’re taking any of the other cox-2 inhibitor NSAID drugs, such as Celebrex, lessons from the Vioxx calamity apply to these drugs as well. Here’s why.

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Published January 7, 2011

Is this common protein attacking your brain?

Many years ago, in Alaska, I saw a senior lady, who other than a balance problem, was in fine physical shape. She had cerebellar ataxia. The cerebellum is a part of your brain below the occipital lobe. It’s responsible for balance.

I saw this woman before I understood that a common food problem could have been the cause of her neurological degeneration. Our intense therapies had little impact. But a simple dietary change could have solved her problem quickly. And it could solve your balance problems as well. Here’s the reason why.

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Published January 6, 2011

Is there a better way to check your blood pressure?

We all know that blood pressure is important. Even mild elevations of blood pressure increase your risk of strokes and heart attacks. Studies show that in order to keep your risk at a minimum level, you need to keep your systolic (the high number) blood pressure below 115. Unfortunately, when your doctor takes your blood pressure, it’s probably inaccurate. But that’s not the worst news for your doctor. There’s new evidence that the current method for monitoring your blood pressure and its impact on your health may not be the most effective.

Researchers at the Division of Cardiology at the Cornell University in New York have been studying the measurement of central aortic blood pressure as opposed to brachial blood pressure.

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