Dear Health-Conscious Friend,
You might be surprised to know millions of folks wake up with aches, pains and stiffness EVERY DAY! If you think painkillers are the best answerthink again!
In this Monday Edition of Health News Weekly, youll find out about how those harmless pain killers could actually cause more health problems than they solve
Plus, youll find out the shocking reason why more than 3 million women whose doctors gave them a clean bill of health may be at risk for a heart disaster!
There is a lot to talk about so lets get right to it
URGENT Message from Your Liver:
Your Painkillers are KILLING ME!
Headaches back pain joint and muscle stiffness these are just a few of the reasons why folks pop over-the-counter painkillers in search of relief. Doctors are raising questions about the safety of these drugs in light of recent Food and Drug Administration recommendations for stronger medicine warning labels.
In December 2006, the agency proposed stronger labeling guidelines for acetaminophenwidely known by the brand name Tylenol®and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen.
FDA officials cite gastritis peptic ulcers and stomach bleeding as possible complications from normal use of these medicines. Thats not even the worst of what can happen from using these drugs!
According to the American Liver Foundation, you can develop hepatitis and liver damage just by taking more than the recommended four-gram daily maximum of acetaminophen. The organization also says acetaminophen is even toxic in lower doses for folks who regularly drink more than two alcoholic beverages daily.
In fact, a study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences reports a 47-year-old man undergoing supervised alcohol detoxification developed severe liver disease after only receiving small doses of acetaminophen!
The FDA estimates 200,000 Americans are hospitalized each year because of overdoses and side effects associated with these common painkillers. And according to Dr. Edward Boyer, Chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology at the University of Massachusetts, acetaminophen is the leading cause of pharmaceutical deaths.
Heres Why Harmless Painkillers are
Harming Your Liver
Your liver is a four-pound organ located just under the lower ribs on the right side of your abdomen. Because it works hard to remove harmful toxins from your body before they can harm you, your liver is arguably one of the most important organs in your body.
In fact, your liver performs more than 500 bodily functions daily to keep you healthy, including:
- Manufacturing a quart of bile daily to break down fat
- Filtering toxins and other harmful substances out of nearly 100 gallons of blood each day
- Producing essential chemicals and hormones like estrogen, testosterone and cholesterol
- Regulating blood sugar levels to prevent imbalances
- And much more!
Your liver is under attack every day from prescription and over-the-counter medicines environmental pollution household chemicals chemical food additives and a host of other toxins. Over time, these substances clog the ducts leading to and from your liverwhich can make it hard for your liver to dissolve all the toxins it sucks in each day. The results?
Instead of dissolving toxinsyour liver starts to package and store them in a form that can linger in your organs for years. When your liver and other organs harbor dangerous toxins, youre liable to experience a host of health problems including: high blood pressure chronic fatigue irritable bowels rashes high cholesterol and MUCH more.
Natural Remedies for an Overworked Liver
In most cases, accidental abuse of over-the-counter medicines is the most dangerous mistake people makesimply by taking too many painkillers too quickly. Stronger warning labels can help highlight the dangers and clarify maximum recommended dosages.
It is important to realize that continuous, moderate use of these drugs can clog your liver with dangerous toxins. Mother Nature provides several powerful nutrients to help unclog your liverand eliminate the poisons accumulating in your system.
Some of the best nutrients available to defend your ailing liver include:
- Milk Thistleto help your liver replace dead or damaged cells.
- Soy Lecithinto remove excess fat and cholesterol that can clog your liver.
- Turmeric Roothelps remove toxins from the liver and stimulates bile production.
- Dandelion Rootto gently filter toxins from your liver and kidneys.
These healing nutrients are just some of the safe and natural substances you can use to help clean, improve and maintain peak liver performance. So dont poison your liver with dangerous drugsPROTECT it with soothing nutrients. By boosting your liver health, you can clobber the leading cause of many illnesses and health problemsand put yourself on the fast track to better health!
Popular Heart Exam Can Mask
Womens Heart Attack Risk
Have you heard the latest heart-wrenching news? More than 3 million women who may have been diagnosed with healthy arteries could actually be heading for a heart disaster!
According to the results of a recent study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, angiogram testsconsidered to be the gold standard for evaluating coronary artery diseasemay disguise the plaque buildup that can often form in the smaller arteries of a womans heart.
Many people assume men are more susceptible to coronary artery disease and other heart problems. According to the Womens Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the shocking fact is more American womennearly 489,000die of heart disease than men each year.
Ischemic syndrome is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart due to clogged arteries. A lack of sufficient blood flow eventually can lead to heart attacks.
According to findings from the WISE study, undetected blockages in womens coronary arteries and smaller heart blood vessels prevent oxygen-rich blood from reaching heart tissue. When angiography tests fail to detect blocked blood vessels doctors are more likely to misdiagnose womens symptoms.
Whats more, womens symptoms of ischemic heart disease can be different from mens symptomswhich may also contribute to misdiagnosis of heart disease in women.
Heres Why Sleepless Nights
Could Spell Heart D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R!
The most common symptom of a heart attack usually involves chest pain, pressure or discomfort. According to Dr. Sharonne Hayes, Director of the Mayo Clinic Womens Heart Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, chest pain may not always be the most severe symptom in women.
Dr. Hayes states women are more likely to have signs and symptoms unrelated to chest pain. These symptoms may include:
- Unusual fatigue
- Sleeplessness
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Neck, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort.
Because these symptoms are not typically associated with heart attacks, women may reach the hospital emergency room after much heart damage has already occurred.
New Set of Womens Risk Factors
Many folks assume that obesity is the most accurate predictor of future cardiovascular problems in women. It IS true that overweight women are at higher risk for coronary artery disease factors. Dr. Stephen Reis, senior author of the WISE study and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, states abnormal metabolism was independently associated with a significantly increased risk of death or a major adverse cardiovascular event.
The group of risk factors called metabolic syndrome includes:
- Excess abdomen fat (waist circumference of 35 inches or more)
- Unhealthy cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels
- Hypertension
- Use of drugs to reduce hypertension
- Excessive fasting glucose levels
People with three or more of these indicators are classified has having metabolic syndrome. Researchers found that the changes in metabolism associated with obesity are key factors placing a woman at increased risk for coronary artery disease and heart attacks.
The study findings also indicate that normal weight women with metabolic syndrome had a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Reis states that while weight loss in overweight women is practical, the ultimate goal is to control as many risk factors as possible in both normal and overweight persons to prevent or reduce metabolic syndrome.
For ultimate heart health, a balanced diet and exercise programalong with high-quality vitamin supplementsis a winning combination to help nourish and recharge your heart!
Fast Fact
Did you know that Colgate® toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?
Fast Fact
Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade® can relieve headache pain almost immediatelywithout the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers?
Health E-Hints
Who Wants Natural Wrinkle Remedies?
Lets face it: wrinkles are a normal sign of agingfrom the lines in your brow to the laugh lines around your mouth. But just because theyre a fact of life doesnt mean you cant do anything to lessen their appearance.
If you cringe at the thought of chemical peels, abrasive laser surgeries and Botox® injections to improve your skin, why not try a few natural solutions? Here are a few quick tips to help smooth and refresh aging skin:
- Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Dozens of studies prove that soaking up too much sun is the #1 cause of wrinkles. When you do head outdoors, protect your skin with a dollop of sunscreen!
- Get plenty of sleep. According to Yale dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, MD, when you dont get enough sleep, your body produces excess cortisola hormone that breaks down skin cells. When youre well rested, youll produce more human growth hormone, which helps keep your skin more elasticand less likely to wrinkle!
- Sleep on your back. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), sleeping in certain positions can cause sleep lines. Sleeping on your side increases wrinkles on cheeks and chin, while sleeping face-down gives you a furrowed brow. The AAD says sleeping on your back reduces wrinkle formation.
- Eat more fish. Salmon and other cold-water fish are great sources of proteinone of the building blocks of great skin. Fish also provides omega-3 essential fatty acids. This substance helps nourish skin and keep it plump and youthfulwhich can also help to reduce wrinkles.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. Natural plant foods are loaded with antioxidants to fight cell-damaging free radicals. A diet rich in antioxidants helps your skin look younger and more radiant!.
- Use moisturizer. Moist skin simply looks better, so lines and creases become less noticeable!
- Dont over-wash your face. Tap water strips skin of its natural oils and moisture that protect against wrinkles. Wash them off too often, and you wash away protection!
- Stop squintingget reading glasses! According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), any repetitive facial movementlike squintingoverworks your facial muscles. This, in turn, forms a groove beneath the surface of your skin. This groove eventually becomes a wrinkle. Get proper corrective eyewear and also wear sunglasses when you head outdoors. They can help protect the skin around your eyes from sun damageand keep you from squinting too!
So why not try a few of these simple solutions today? They just might help smooth away those lines and creases that can make your skin look older than you feel!