pain relievers Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Expiring Medications Could Pose Challenge on Long Space Missions

The AHA! Team — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 08:11:11 +0000

Duke Health – Medications used by astronauts on the International Space Station might not be good enough for a three-year journey to Mars. A new study led by Duke Health shows that over half of the medicines stocked in space — staples such as pain relievers, antibiotics, allergy medicines, and sleep aids — would expire before astronauts could return to Earth. Astronauts could end up relying on ineffective or even harmful drugs, according to the study appearing July 3 in npj Microgravity, a Nature journal. “It doesn’t necessarily mean the medicines won’t work, but in the same way you shouldn’t take expired medications you have lying around at home, space exploration agencies will need to plan on expired medications being less effective,” said senior study author Daniel Buckland, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and an aerospace medicine researcher. Expired medications can lose their strength by a little – or a lot. The actual stability and potency of medications in space compared to Earth remain largely unknown. The harsh space environment, including radiation, could reduce the effectiveness of medications. Buckland and co-author Thomas E. Diaz, a pharmacy resident at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, noted that expired medications could pose a challenge as space agencies plan for long-duration missions to Mars and beyond. Diaz used a Freedom of Information Act Request to obtain information about the space station formulary, assuming NASA would use similar medications for a Mars mission. Using a database of international drug expiration dates, the researchers determined that 54 of the 91 medications had a shelf-life of 36 months or less. Using the most optimistic estimates, about 60% of these medications would expire before a Mars mission concludes. Under more conservative assumptions, the figure jumps to 98%. The study did not assume accelerated degradation but focused on the inability to resupply a Mars mission with newer medicines. This lack of resupply affects not only medications but also other critical supplies, such as food. Increasing the number of medications brought on board could also help compensate for lowered efficacy of expired meds, authors said. “Those responsible for the health of space flight crews will have to find ways to extend the expiration of medications to complete a Mars mission duration of three years, select medications with longer shelf-lives, or accept the elevated risk associated with administering expired medication,” Diaz said. “Prior experience and research show astronauts do get ill on the International Space Station, but there is real-time communication with the ground and a well-stocked pharmacy that is regularly resupplied, which prevents small injuries or minor illnesses from turning into issues that affect the mission,” Buckland said. Additional authors include Emma Ives and Diana I. Lazare. The study received no external funding. To read the original article click here.

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5-Steps to Relieve Tinnitus

The AHA! Team — Mon, 27 May 2024 08:03:23 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – My patient T.K. was a wreck. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a week. I asked him what was going on. “It’s nothing you can fix, doc,” he said. “I’ve been to three specialists, and they all told me the same thing… “I’ve got tinnitus, and I just have to live with it.” Luckily, I was able to help him. Tinnitus is an aggravating, nerve-racking, and unseen condition. The constant ringing in your ears robs you of sleep, makes you miserable as it drowns out your hearing, and, over time, makes you more prone to illness. Tinnitus also shatters your focus and concentration. Sadly, up to 25% of the U.S. population suffers from the condition.1 And that number skyrockets to up to 90% of people who are hearing-impaired. And standard medicine can’t do a darn thing to fix it. There’s no drug that cures tinnitus. But there are plenty of Big Pharma pills that can CAUSE it… The most common are analgesic drugs. These pain relievers are available by prescription and over the counter. Examples of analgesic painkillers include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories like Advil, Aleve, and Motrin; the acetaminophen in Tylenol, Excedrin, and NyQuil; and old-fashioned aspirin. But it’s not just painkillers that damage your ears. Blood pressure medications like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, cancer drugs, and certain antibiotics can cause or worsen tinnitus. Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants – Big Medicine’s “solution” to treat the symptoms – are known to actually increase the ringing in the ears.2 Another preventable cause of tinnitus is aspartame, the most common artificial sweetener on the market. Aspartame, which has been deemed safe by the FDA, is known as an “excitatory neurotransmitter.” It increases electrical activity in the brain, specifically in the auditory cortex. Use my 5-step protocol to relieve tinnitus For years, I’ve treated patients with a simple five-step protocol. Ditch your ear-damaging pain relievers. Taking an NSAID for the occasional aches and pain typically isn’t a problem. But if you find yourself reaching for one of these pills regularly, consider replacing it with a natural alternative… Tulsi (holy basil): This powerful adaptogen reduces inflammation. It also contains ursolic acid, which inhibits the production of the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme. I recommend taking 150 mg three times a day. Indian Frankincense — Indian Frankincense, also known as Boswellia, “significantly increases” both pain threshold and pain tolerance. Researchers even recommend it as a treatment for osteoarthritis.3 I suggest 400 mg three times a day. White Willow Bark. This plant contains salicin, the same compound found in aspirin. Studies show it relieves arthritis pain as well as lower back pain.4 I recommend 240 mg per day. Lower blood pressure with my favorite supplement. Studies show boosting CoQ10 can drop blood pressure an amazing 11 to 17 mmHg in systolic pressure and 8 to 10 mmHg in diastolic pressure.5 I recommend taking 100 mg daily until your blood pressure is controlled. At that point, you can drop to 60 mg. And make sure you take the ubiquinol form of CoQ10 – it’s the most potent. Protect your ears with omega-3. The Blue Mountain Hearing Study followed almost 3,000 people for eight years. The researchers found those with the highest intake of omega-3 had a 42% lower risk of hearing loss.6 I recommend taking 1,000 mg of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA each day. Look for a formula made from calamari oil. It has one of the highest concentrations of DHA available. Turn down the noise with ginkgo biloba. Over 40 clinical studies show ginkgo eases tinnitus. For example, one study had tinnitus patients take ginkgo or a placebo. After 12 weeks, the ginkgo group had reduced ringing.7 Take 80 mg three times a day. But make sure your ginkgo contains at least 24% “flavone glycosides” and 6% “terpene lactones.” Try this for trauma-related tinnitus. If your tinnitus was caused by exposure to loud noises, I recommend you use the brain-booster vinpocetine for relief. It’s widely used in Europe and Japan, but doctors in the Americas don’t know much about it. In one study, tinnitus disappeared in half of those who took it within one week of trauma. But even if you don’t take it right away, it can lessen the severity. Despite the time lapse since the trauma, 66% saw a significant decrease. I recommend 20 mg a day.8 To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Bhatt J, et al. “Tinnitus epidemiology: prevalence, severity, exposures and treatment patterns in the United States.” JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016 Oct 1; 142(10): 959–965. 2. Tang Z and Trussell L. “Serotonergic modulation of sensory representation in a central multisensory circuit is pathway specific.” Cell Rep. 2017;20(8):1844-1854. 3. Yu G, et al. “Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” BMC Complement Ther Med. 2020:20(1). 4. Chrubasik S., et al. “Treatment of low back pain exacerbations with willow bark extract: A randomized double-blind study.” Am J Med. 2000. 5. Rosenfeldt FL, et al. “Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of hypertension: a meta-analysis of the clinical trials.” J Hum Hypertens. 2007;21(4):297-306. 6. Gopinath B, et al. “Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and fish and risk of age-related hearing loss.” Am J Clin Nutr. 2010; 92( 2): 416-421 7. Morgenstern C. et al., “The efficacy of Ginkgo special extract EGb 761 in patients with tinnitus.” Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2002; 40(5): 188-97. 8. Konopka W, et al. “Treatment results of acoustic trauma.” Otolaryngol Pol. 1997;51 Suppl 25:281-4. To read the original article click here.

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Discover 6 NATURAL Ways to Prevent Migraine Headaches

AHA Publisher — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 07:00:02 +0000

Robert Simon via NaturalHealth365 – Migraine headaches can be severely debilitating, and those of us who frequently suffer from them can end up with a terribly diminished quality of life. In this article, we’re going to take a look at six effective steps you can take to prevent migraines or at least catch them when they strike to minimize the pain and discomfort often associated with this condition. Prevention Is Always the Best Medicine Here are some preventative measures you can incorporate to reduce the likelihood of migraines and severe headaches: #1: Check your diet: Is it free of headache triggers? Around one-tenth of people who suffer from migraines do so as a result of their food choices. Try logging your food intake for a few days and highlight potential offenders such as dairy, wheat, and refined sugars. Although this seems rather ‘basic’ – you’ll be surprised what you discover – once you start keeping track of what you’re eating. #2: Improve your sleep situation Often, all it takes is a concerted effort to improve your sleeping habits to reduce the incidence of a migraine. Getting in a routine of sleeping and waking at roughly the same time each day – even at weekends – can help regulate your hormonal levels, leading to a great reduction of headaches. Experiment with removing all electronic devices from your bedroom, such as TVs and mobile devices. Keep the bedroom as dark as possible and look into “grounding” sheets for your bed to get you ‘connected’ to the earth. #3: Improve your circulation Paying extra attention to your circulatory health can help reduce migraine attacks and help relieve symptoms when one strikes. For example, using ginger (in fresh vegetable juices) and cayenne pepper in your food (or drink) can positively affect your circulation. And, of course, don’t underestimate the health benefits of exercise. Although a 20-minute walk (at low intensity) promotes good blood flow and the ‘relaxation response’ within the body, more intense exercise seems to confer even more benefits. A review article published in 2020 concluded that an adequately rigorous aerobic exercise regimen alone is enough to produce a statistically significant drop in migraine frequency. Finally, try contrasting the temperature of your shower water. Alternate 1-2 minutes of hot water with 30-60 seconds of cold, and be sure to pay attention to your extremities. When I get a migraine – what can I do? Sometimes all the prevention in the world won’t be enough to stop the onset of a migraine or headache, so here are a few tips for making the experience less painful and hopefully stop your headache dead in its tracks. #4: Natural pain relievers can be as simple as herbal remedies such as chamomile and peppermint tea – which can work wonders when it comes to helping you relax and relieving some of the tension of a headache. You might also like to consider using curcumin – in supplement or powder form. Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric which has become increasingly popular due to its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, being available in pill format makes it very convenient to take in place of a harsher chemical pain killer such as aspirin – which can be damaging to the liver. #5. Cool off using an ice pack or cold compress on the affected region can be a highly effective way of helping to relieve pain – temporarily. You can also place your hands in ice-cold water for a few minutes while repeatedly clenching and opening your fists for a similar effect. Obviously, once the pain subsides – it would be a good idea to get some much-needed rest. (back to #2) #6: Relax! Sometimes the most effective remedy is to simply take a step back from your daily ‘grind’ and let go. Don’t allow the daily pressures of work and family life to get the best of you. Yes, this comes down to mindset, and many times, that can make all the difference in the world. If you feel a migraine (or headache) rearing its ugly head – put yourself into a hot bath; lay down in a dark, quiet room for a while, or practice some simple breathing techniques. Settling down and relaxing your mind will, in turn, relax your body, resulting in the release of natural mood-enhancing and pain-relieving hormones such as serotonin and endorphins – and ultimately natural migraine relief. Of course, it can’t hurt to try some self-massage or, if possible, have someone else do it. This can do wonders for relaxing the body and mind. Your Diet and Lifestyle May Hold the Key to Preventing Migraines and Relieving Headaches In conclusion, a change in your lifestyle is perhaps the most significant factor to consider when it comes to headache relief. Try to change your diet by removing sugary drinks, fast food, and possible allergens while also participating in regular exercise. Over time, you will be able to identify your own personal dos and don’ts in terms of what reduces your symptoms and what causes them to flare up. Consistency and thoroughness are crucial, and by gradually applying these preventative measures and migraine-relieving techniques, you should vastly improve your quality of life, free from pain and discomfort. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov WikiHow.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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