The Best Vitamines Available
What Vitamins are Worth Taking, and Which Ones are a Waste of Money?
With the great variety of vitamins out there, all vying for our attention, what vitamins are actually worth taking, and which are a waste of money?
This array of choices is especially confusing in light of the new studies that seem to come out every week. One says that we should take a supplement, whether to avoid breast cancer or heart attack, and the next saying that it could cause increased risk of stroke.
The one thing the doctors do seem to agree upon is that a multivitamin is a great supplement to a healthy diet, to ensure that we’re getting everything that our body needs on a daily basis. As for the rest, this is what we found out.
The first thing you should do is to ensure that your vitamins dissolve properly. You can test this by leaving your vitamin in water and seeing how easily it dissolves. If your body doesn’t absorb the vitamins, they definitely won’t be doing you any good.
Take your vitamins with food. Otherwise, your body is less likely to absorb them. It is also best to space them throughout the day, to keep levels constant.
Avoid super doses — the daily recommended percentages were selected for a reason. A normal multivitamin should be fine for the basics.
Vitamin D seems to be a wise choice for both sexes, as in the US, we are commonly deficient. Many doctors take this supplement. It is recommended that you ensure you take D3, in specific.
Many doctors also warn against the use of iron, unless it is prescribed, for both men and postmenopausal women. It is possible to overdose on iron, and on other vitamins as well and they can be toxic if too much is taken. That’s why it is important to be careful not to overload on vitamins.
Remember, food is often supplemented with extra vitamins as well. So keep an eye on everything that you ingest.
While men don’t need extra calcium, and it may in fact cause an increased risk of some kind of cancer for them, women could probably benefit from additional calcium supplementation.
Men and women may both benefit from Omega-3s, also found in fish oil, which are believed to be great for heart health. Many doctors also recommend Coenzyme Q10 which is supposed to help with immune system function.
However, beyond that, any specific choices regarding vitamin supplementation really depend upon the individual, their lifestyle, and their needs. For example, a vegetarian will have different supplementation needs than a meat-eater, and a pregnant woman has different needs (such as increased folic acid) than a non-pregnant woman.
It is important to remember that vitamin supplements are no replacement for a healthy lifestyle. Also, most vitamins are best used in combination with other vitamins, so our body may not be able to make the best use of any given supplement if we are deficient in other vitamins.
For more interesting articles about supplements and much more please visit the Drugs & Supplements section on GKHealth.
Read More»5 Most Common Drugs Prescribed
The Most Common Prescription Drugs, and What They Do
Medical science has progressed to a point that there is a treatment or cure for nearly every condition. When taking prescription medication, be sure that you understand exactly what your medication is prescribed for and how it works. This is important so that you can be on the lookout for possible complications, side effects, and interactions. The five most commonly prescribed drugs are Paxil, Lexapro, Lortab, Xanax, and Ultram.
Paxil : Most Popular Antidepressant
Paxil is an antidepressant medication available in tablets and an oral suspension. Paxil is primarily used to treat major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. Paxil is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, also known as an SSRI. It works by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, thereby making more serotonin available in the bloodstream. A patient taking Paxil should never drink alcohol, as alcohol with this type of antidepressant could be a lethal combination.
How Does Lexapro Work: SSRI Antidepressants
Lexapro is an antidepressant medication used to treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Like Paxil, Lexapro is an SSRI. The presence of serotonin reduces the occurrence of depression and anxiety, which is why SSRIs are commonly prescribed to patients suffering from depression. Just like with Paxil, a patient taking Lexapro should never drink alcohol.
Lortab IP 119
Lortab is a pain killer that is available in tablet form. Lortab is a mixture of hydrocodone barbiturate and acetaminophen. Each of these drugs are useful to treat pain on their own, but Lortab is so commonly prescribed because of the unique effectiveness of these two drugs working together. Hydrocodone is a narcotic pain killer that works on changing how the brain responds to pain. Acetaminophen is an anti-inflammatory medication and works to reduce pain by reducing the amount of inflammation. Alcohol should be avoided with Lortab because of the interactions it could have with the hydrocodone. Both hydrocodone and alcohol impact the way that the brain interprets stimuli. Too much of these types of drugs could cause a lethal reaction. Further, a patient taking Lortab should be careful not to take any other medications with acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, with it unless specifically directed to do so by a physician. An overdose of acetaminophen can result in jaundice, liver failure, and death if the overdose is not treated immediately.
Xanax: Information You Need to Know
Xanax is a medication containing the drug alprazolam. Xanax is used for the treatment of anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Xanax is a central nervous system depressant and works by slowing down the body’s response to anxiety, therefore, alcohol should be avoided by patients taking Xanax. Lethal reactions can occur if this advice is not followed.
Is Ultram Right For You
Ultram is the brand name for the drug tramadol. Tramadol is available in tablets and is a centrally activated analgesic. It is commonly used to manage or treat moderate to severe pain. This medication is almost always prescribed only to adults, though occasionally this medication is prescribed to children and dogs. The central nervous system and brain are impacted by tramadol, thereby changing the way that the brain interprets pain, in turn reducing the amount of pain that the patient feels.
For more information about drugs and other supplements please visit our Drugs & Supplements section on GKHealth.
Read More»What Supplements are Worth Taking?
What Herbal Supplements Actually Work?
St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort is most widely known as an herbal treatment for depression. In many countries, it is prescribed for mild depression, especially for those who have financial constrains. It comes in capsule, extract, tablets, teabags, and tinctures and is widely available over the counter. It is well-tolerated, with the common adverse effects being stomach upset, dizziness, confusion, tiredness and sedation. It can cause photosensitivity in some users.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is a plant with splotchy leaves and milky sap. The extract of the seeds, which contain silymarin, is usually the part used for medicinal purposes. It has a variety of effects on the liver; it can help reverse long-term damage due to environmental exposure. A recent episode of mushroom death cap poisoning was successfully treated with milk thistle extract. Some Type II diabetics suffering from cirrhosis of the liver reported using less insulin to regulate their blood sugar after taking it as a supplement blood sugar after taking it as a supplement. It has even been used to treat cancer of the liver, although this should not supplant treatment by a physician.
Gingko Biloba
Long touted as a memory enhancing supplement, gingko actually works by increasing blood flow to the whole body. The side effect of this is a brain nourished with more oxygen, which helps promote better mental functioning and clarity. The aphrodisiac effects of gingko can also be attributed to better blood flow, as it functions much like the pharmaceutical Viagra. In addition, gingko contains compounds that help clean up free radicals in the body. Eliminating free radicals can help postpone on onset of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as protect the body from various types of cancers.
<strong>Licorice Root
Powdered licorice root is an effective expectorant. It was used in ancient times as such, and is still used in modern cough syrups. It is a mild laxative, and can be used as an anti-viral agent for the treatment of herpes, shingles, and mouth ulcers. Licorice also has a calming effect on the digestive system, and is a favorite among people being treated with chemotherapy. Hygienically, it is used as a breath freshener in Europe and Africa.
Valerian Root
Made popular in the movie Fight Club, where Jack’s doctor advises him to chew valerian root to treat his insomnia, valerian root has a number of medicinal uses. In addition to being a sleep aid, it can also help restlessness, anxiety, and function as a muscle relaxant. One study found that valerian tends to sedate the agitated person and stimulate the fatigued person, which leads to a balancing effect on the body.
Ginseng
Ginseng is known as an adaptogen, which means it increases resistance to physical and chemical stresses. It is used as a whole-body revitalizer. It is also traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and treatment for erectile dysfunction, but is only useful if taken on an daily basis. A recent study of giving ginseng to diabetics showed that after 8 weeks, they had improvements in fasting blood glucose levels, mood, and general cognitive performance.
Read More»Quality of Life Over Quantity of Cholesterol Pills
It’s hard to believe that ten years ago most of us were running along side our parents, and now some of them are being prescribed cholesterol pills and groaning when they climb out of bed. Recently my father had the “ cholesterol talk with Doc,” at 60 his bad cholesterol level is just a little higher than average. Doctor: “ I would like to write you a prescription to get that cholesterol all under control.” Dad: “ Gee really? It’s that bad?” Doctor: “ Well best to kill a weed before it ruins the garden.” My father opted to not take the drug Lipitor and was seen as slightly indignant but his doctor didn’t put up a fight. He told me, “ I’d rather have quality of life, than quantity.” For those of you like me who didn’t know that there’s not cholesterol in much other than meat, and cooking fats-and that by decreasing your intake of them you can curb being bitten by the medication bug read. Find out how you can get that nasty, greasy stuff out of your arteries. Cholesterol drugs have proven to be highly effective in lowering unhealthy levels of cholesterol found in saturated fats. Cholesterol drugs, however can come with their fair share of yucky side effects. Peruse a pharmaceutical site and you’ll see a litany of fun things to deal with while lowering your cholesterol with their assistance: debilitating muscle pain/ tightness, liver problems, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headaches and skin rash, to name a few. Maybe my father has a point- wouldn’t quality of life be more enjoyable than years of side effects from the drugs keeping him kickin?’ We’ll leave it up to you but here are some helpful things to ask the doc and yourself. * Ask if changing your diet before going on cholesterol drugs might help- most high cholesterol can be brought under control with a little more movement and a few less calories. * Be informed on what constitutes good and bad cholesterol- as a start bad cholesterol is a level of 200 mg/dL and puts you in a higher risk category, Bad cholesterol is known as LDL (Low density lipoprotein) shuttles cholesterol away from the liver and can deposit it in the walls of arteries –bad news. Doctors now know that the amounts of HDL and LDL can affect someone’s heart attack risk. HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) is considered good because it tends to scavenge cholesterol out of the body and deposit it in the liver. So you might be safe if HDL is in abundance. However, if your total cholesterol is super high—240 mg/dL or more—you have twice the risk of heart disease as someone with 200 mg/dL * Ask if really at risk… or your age and family history is the main reason you’re being prescribed the drug, uncle Albert’s bad heart should not be the main reason you’re to begin cholesterol treatments. * Figure out the math- who can tell how many milligrams are too many? While the fat content in food is now thought to be a more important player in determining the cholesterol level in your body, you should still limit your dietary cholesterol to less than 300 mg/day if you are healthy, and less than 200 mg/day if you have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or elevated LDL cholesterol. The amount of cholesterol found in one egg yolk is 200mg…. you do the math. * Waist management: There’s another factor called metabolic syndrome and it raises your risk of heart disease. Weight management is especially important if you have a waist measurement of 40 inches or more for men and 35 inches or more for women on average. Go for a walk, eat more greens and cook with less grease. If you decide the drugs are what’s best for you- be mindful of the amount of milligrams you’re prescribed. The average amount to be taken is around 10 milligrams but drug companies have released studies suggesting massive amounts of 40 milligrams a day lead to the best results. Be careful in taking too much and opt for modifying your diet instead perhaps the old fashioned way-Oatmeal, Beans, Apples, Walnuts- Walnuts contain omega 3 fatty acids which are the good fats. Taking care of your health may be the only pill you need.
Read More»What Pills Have the Most Pseudoephedrine in Them?
The use of medicines which contain pseudoephedrine is common among children despite the basic health risks the drug poses to them, it has been revealed.
Boston University notes that the substance has been associated with adverse events among young patients.
In the worst cases, young individuals treated with medicine which contains the drug have been known to die.
Despite this, a study by the educational institution found that such medicines remain prevalent among the US population.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant typically used in treatments for coughs and colds.
The researchers found that almost one in 20 children are treated with the drug in any given week.
Among children aged two years or younger, this proportion rises to 8.1 per cent – potentially putting their basic health at risk.
However, the institution adds that the prevalence of pseudoephedrine has been reduced by efforts to minimise the distribution of methamphetamines.
The University of Alberta recently revealed that methamphetamine abuse is more likely in young people who engage in activities socially accepted as being risky.
Among those who do not take any other drugs, pastimes such as smoking and drinking were identified as risk factors.
Read More»Summer ‘The Season for Bacterial Infections’
While many people may view winter as the period when they are at highest risk of getting flu, summer also has basic health implications, it has been claimed.
Oregon State University has noted a seasonal trend for more bacterial infections to occur during the warmer summer months.
The causing factor behind this is unclear, but the impact on basic health is apparent and measurable.
According to the educational institution, every ten degree increase in temperatures brings about a 17 per cent increase in infections caused by bacteria.
By determining the extent of such trends for individual conditions, the scientist predict that treatments can be made more effective and response times shortened.
Among the conditions already linked with the seasonal effect are E coli, E cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii.
However, Jessina McGregor, assistant professor in the university’s College of Pharmacy, notes the general category of illnesses that could be subject to the trend.
These include gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections, as well as blood and wound infections and respiratory diseases.
Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet recently revealed that they had found a link between putting clocks forward one hour in spring and an increased chance of heart attack in the following week.
They also noted a lesser effect for reducing the risk of heart attack when clocks are put back later in the year.
Read More»