Tremors & Aftershocks
When the pharmaceutical giant Merck removed Vioxx from the
market earlier this month, I had a hunch there would be aftershocks
as more details emerged. And that hunch was correct: aftershocks
have been arriving right on schedule.
For anyone who’s been using either Vioxx or Celebrex (the COX-2
inhibitors that relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis), these
aftershock reports carry some sobering news. But for anyone
who’s looking for an alternative to these drugs, I have some new
information about an alternative treatment that’s not only safe, but
also provides some of the healthiest nutrients you can find in any
dietary supplement.
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The alarm that failed
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This should be a bombshell, but I doubt it will get much attention
from the mainstream media.
When Merck pulled the plug on Vioxx, we found out that the FDA
had known for years that the drug was associated with an increased
risk of heart attack and stroke. And as unsettling as that is, that’s
not the bombshell.
This is the bombshell: In early September, the FDA approved the
use of Vioxx for kids.
Amazing, isn’t it? And according to WebMD Medical News, this
approval was based on a trial that lasted only three months. Not
exactly what you’d call a “long-term” study.
Meanwhile, several reports have been touting Celebrex as a safe
alternative to Vioxx. For instance, in August, a study led by an
FDA researcher estimated that more than 27,000 heart attacks and
sudden cardiac deaths might have been avoided if the patients had
been using Celebrex instead of Vioxx.
Okay. Celebrex may be safer. But is it safe?
The Celebrex information flyer tells us that liver and kidney
problems are among the most serious side effects – just as they are
(were) with Vioxx. But what about heart attack risk? According to
a long-term study of more than 8,000 subjects that appeared in a
2000 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the
heart attack rate among both Vioxx and Celebrex users was
“significantly higher” compared to placebo. And while the study
indicated that Vioxx was the more dangerous of the two, Celebrex
was by no means risk-free.
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Expert advice
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In the wake of the Vioxx controversy, we’re told that many
“experts” and doctors recommend using non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can be purchased over-the-
counter. But NSAIDs present plenty of problems of their own. As
we’ve discussed in e-Alerts and Members Alerts, all NSAIDs,
including aspirin and ibuprofen, have been shown to contribute to
liver and kidney impairment, an increased risk of hypertension,
and gastrointestinal conditions such as bleeding and ulcers.
Fortunately there’s a natural alternative to these drugs.
In the e-Alert “Grandma Knew the Secret for Relieving Arthritis
Pain” (2/27/02) I told you about research that shows how cod liver
oil may reverse the actions of the enzymes that break down
cartilage. In fact, studies suggest that taking cod liver oil can even
prevent the development of arthritis, while reducing symptoms in
those already afflicted with the disease.
Now we have some new evidence that confirms the conclusions of
the 2002 study. In research that was reported earlier this year,
scientists at Cardiff University in Wales recruited more than 30
subjects who were scheduled to have knee joint replacement
surgery. For a period of 10 to 12 weeks before surgery, half the
subjects took high doses of cod liver oil (2,000 mg per day), and
half took a placebo. During each patient’s surgery, doctors
removed samples of joint tissue and cartilage.
When the Cardiff researchers analyzed the samples, more than 85
percent of the cod liver oil group had significantly reduced the
amount of enzymes that are known to trigger the cartilage damage
typical of osteoarthritis. In some of the patients there was no trace
of the enzymes. Only 26 percent of the placebo group showed
reduced enzyme levels.
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Take care
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For many people, cod liver oil provides an inexpensive and
effective way to relieve the pain of arthritis. In addition, this
supplement is one of the very best sources of omega-3 fatty acids
and vitamin D; two of the most potent nutrients in the prevention
of heart disease and cancer.
But a word of caution: Because cod liver oil is a natural
anticoagulant, those who use blood-thinning medication like
warfarin should not take it. Cod liver oil may also raise blood
sugar levels in some patients, so diabetics should monitor its use
very carefully. And, as always, check with your doctor or health
care professional before adding cod liver oil to your daily
supplements.
and another thing
Do you know how to cough? Sure you do. But do you know how
to cough appropriately?
Say you have a cold, you’re in a crowded elevator, and you feel a
cough or a sneeze coming on. What do you do? If you answered,
“cough or sneeze into your hands,” then get ready for class,
students, because on the heels of the sudden shortage of flu vaccine
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is planning an education
campaign to teach hygiene and “cough etiquette.”
According to the CDC, you should NOT cough or sneeze into your
hands. If you cough or sneeze into your hands and then touch a
doorknob, an elevator button, or shake hands with someone, you’ll
be sharing your germs. And this is one area where sharing is not
the friendly thing to do.
The CDC education campaign will instruct people that the correct
place to direct a cough or sneeze is into your sleeve. It may create
laundry nightmares, but that’s a sacrifice we’ll have to make.
In addition, here are some of the CDC’s health and hygiene
suggestions to avoid picking up a bad bug during this flu season:
eat a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, exercise, drink lots of
liquids, avoid stress, wash hands frequently, avoid touching your
eyes, nose or mouth with your hands, avoid crowds and avoid
people who are coughing or sneezing.
Yep we don’t have enough flu shots for everyone this year, but if
you just follow these guidelines and sneeze into your sleeve,
you’re golden!
It sort of makes you wonder (I’m going to come right out and say
it) if we ever needed to get a flu shot at all!
If this flu season turns out to be a mild one, next year’s flu shot
sales pitch won’t have quite the same urgency. Nevertheless, you
can be sure that next season the CDC will be right back at it with
the message that all will be lost if everyone doesn’t line up for a
shot.
In the meantime, here’s my number one tip for this flu season:
Whatever you do, for goodness sake, avoid all contact with other
people’s sleeves!
To Your Good Health,
Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
Sources:
“Vioxx Was Okd for Kids” Delthia Ricks, Newsday, 10/11/04,
newsday.com
“Safety of Arthritis Drugs in Question” Steve Mitchell, WebMD
Medical News, 7/10/01, my.webmd.com
“Risk of Cardiovascular Events Associated With Selective COX-2
Inhibitors” Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol.
286, No. 8, 8/22/01, jama.ama-assn.org
“Science Backs Old Wives’ Tale – Cod Liver Oil Helps Slow
Osteoarthritis” NutraIngredients.com, 2/13/04,
nutraingredients.com
“Experts: Good Hygiene Can Ward Off Flu” Linda A. Johnson,
The Associated Press, 10/9/04, ap.org
