As soldiers return from Afghanistan and Iraq, several studies are uncovering patterns of mental and physical condition that are affecting these veterans.
For example, physical symptoms such as migraine headaches are prevalent in some returning vets, and these headaches may signal a higher risk of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans.
PTSD, a psychological condition common in people who've experienced extreme stress, is also taking its toll on returning soldiers. New research has found the youngest returning veterans -- ages 18 years to 24 years old -- are are showing the highest incidence of PTSD and other mental health problems.
And PTSD may carry physical risks as well -- a study of veterans since World War II has found a link between PTSD and increased risk of heart attack and arthritis.
But awareness of these combat-related health issues is having an effect. For example, the U.S. military, doctors, and other healthcare experts are making moves to better care for this new generation of veterans, including making new guidelines for managing the medications and treatment of Afghan and Iraq veterans, both those who return home and those still fighting in the Middle East. Hopefully moves such as this one will help returning soldiers transition more easily back into their everyday lives.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Top News: Hormone Replacement Therapy and Heart Risks
New research has confirmed that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should not be used by older women to help reduce their risk of heart disease. The authors of a new study say that in older women, HRT increased study participants' risk of cardiovascular problems and blood clots. However, the study did suggest that HRT appears safe and effective for use by younger women.
This is the second piece of bad news about heart risks and HRT this year. In May, researchers found that some painkillers interfered with the cardiovascular protection that's long been associated with HRT. The study found that women who take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex, ibuprofen, and naproxen along with HRT may lose the therapy's protective effects.
This is the second piece of bad news about heart risks and HRT this year. In May, researchers found that some painkillers interfered with the cardiovascular protection that's long been associated with HRT. The study found that women who take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex, ibuprofen, and naproxen along with HRT may lose the therapy's protective effects.
Monday, July 16, 2007
News roundup July 9-13
If you missed the newsletters for the past week here are some of the top stories by condition:
Asthma/Allergy
-A diet rich in fish, fruit may help fight teen asthma
Alzheimer's
-The FDA approved the Exelon skin patch
Cancer
-A diet full of meat and sweets dramatically raises the risk of breast cancer
-The Swiss approved the first brain-cancer vaccine
Crohn's
-Researchers have found a new gene they believe may be responsible for ulcerative colitis
Chronic Pain
-Doctors are working on new treatments for pain-med addiction, which is now at the highest rates ever in the U.S.
-More evidence that fibromyalgia is a real medical condition has been published.
Digestion
-Probiotics ease diarrhea caused by antibiotics
Heart Disease
-Generic Plavix has been, unsurprisingly, blocked again.
High Cholesterol
-High-dose statins may benefit older patients
-WelChol may help Type 2 diabetics control both cholesterol and diabetes
Mental Health
-Suicide rates drop with treatment with either therapy or antidepressants, contrary to the studies that have linked antidepressant use to a higher rate of suicide attempts.
-As co-pays rise for medications, use of medications drops. This is a particular problem for people with chronic conditions such as schizophrenia, heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Osteoarthritis
-Three new meds are moving forward in clinical trials: Diclofenac cream, hylastan (an injectable med), and NicOx. These are all non-systemic meds for OA (i.e. they're topical or injected), significant because systemic meds like Celebrex have been linked with so many side effects. So this appears to be a trend in OA treatment.
-Aldea is giving good results for OA. It's another injectable med.
Osteoporosis
-Diet and exercise won't help osteoporosis once it starts; people need medications to do that.
Rheumatoid Arthritis/Inflammatory Arthritis
-A new experimental med CP-690,550 (CP) is making strides at improving RA remission rates in trials. (Pfizer med)
-Actemra continues to show good results as an add-on treatment for RA (with methotrexate)
Asthma/Allergy
-A diet rich in fish, fruit may help fight teen asthma
Alzheimer's
-The FDA approved the Exelon skin patch
Cancer
-A diet full of meat and sweets dramatically raises the risk of breast cancer
-The Swiss approved the first brain-cancer vaccine
Crohn's
-Researchers have found a new gene they believe may be responsible for ulcerative colitis
Chronic Pain
-Doctors are working on new treatments for pain-med addiction, which is now at the highest rates ever in the U.S.
-More evidence that fibromyalgia is a real medical condition has been published.
Digestion
-Probiotics ease diarrhea caused by antibiotics
Heart Disease
-Generic Plavix has been, unsurprisingly, blocked again.
High Cholesterol
-High-dose statins may benefit older patients
-WelChol may help Type 2 diabetics control both cholesterol and diabetes
Mental Health
-Suicide rates drop with treatment with either therapy or antidepressants, contrary to the studies that have linked antidepressant use to a higher rate of suicide attempts.
-As co-pays rise for medications, use of medications drops. This is a particular problem for people with chronic conditions such as schizophrenia, heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Osteoarthritis
-Three new meds are moving forward in clinical trials: Diclofenac cream, hylastan (an injectable med), and NicOx. These are all non-systemic meds for OA (i.e. they're topical or injected), significant because systemic meds like Celebrex have been linked with so many side effects. So this appears to be a trend in OA treatment.
-Aldea is giving good results for OA. It's another injectable med.
Osteoporosis
-Diet and exercise won't help osteoporosis once it starts; people need medications to do that.
Rheumatoid Arthritis/Inflammatory Arthritis
-A new experimental med CP-690,550 (CP) is making strides at improving RA remission rates in trials. (Pfizer med)
-Actemra continues to show good results as an add-on treatment for RA (with methotrexate)
Thursday, July 12, 2007
In-Depth: Antidepressants and Birth Defects
HealthDay News reported last week on new research that suggests women who use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants may not be putting their babies at risk for birth defects. The authors of two new studies say that though SSRIs such as Paxil and Zoloft may increase the risk for certain defects, the medications' absolute risk for birth defects is "extremely small."
This new research comes in the wake of previous studies that suggested the antidepressant Paxil caused heart defects in babies born to women who took the drug while pregnant. News of this link has even spawned lawsuits by people who feel taking Paxil has adversely affected their babies' health.
The two studies reported in HealthDay News don't mark the first time the link between SSRIs and birth defects has been questioned. In June 2006, German researchers reported doubts about the risks of antidepressants for babies born to women who used the drugs.
Clearly, there's much disagreement on the risks SSRI antidepressants pose to unborn babies. But one thing experts can agree on that women who take antidepressants while pregnant (or who are considering becoming pregnant) should talk to their doctors about their use of these meds. Depression can be dangerous for both mothers and their babies too, and discussing the risks associated with both medication use and the conditions they treat with medical professionals is always the safest route for patients to take.
This new research comes in the wake of previous studies that suggested the antidepressant Paxil caused heart defects in babies born to women who took the drug while pregnant. News of this link has even spawned lawsuits by people who feel taking Paxil has adversely affected their babies' health.
The two studies reported in HealthDay News don't mark the first time the link between SSRIs and birth defects has been questioned. In June 2006, German researchers reported doubts about the risks of antidepressants for babies born to women who used the drugs.
Clearly, there's much disagreement on the risks SSRI antidepressants pose to unborn babies. But one thing experts can agree on that women who take antidepressants while pregnant (or who are considering becoming pregnant) should talk to their doctors about their use of these meds. Depression can be dangerous for both mothers and their babies too, and discussing the risks associated with both medication use and the conditions they treat with medical professionals is always the safest route for patients to take.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Weekly Newsletter Review
If you've missed out on the news in the past two weeks, here's your chance to catch up. This is a look at the top news in each newsletter category. As usual, if you'd like to read about these in greater depth you can view the newsletters at www.medtrackalert.com.
Asthma/Allergy
- Antibiotics may increase an infant's asthma risk
- Cats affect breathing in people with allergies, even if that person is not specifically allergic to felines.
High Cholesterol
- Generic statins work for about 63 percent of the people who take them. The rest need the more potent statins like Crestor and Lipitor.
- Statins, heart meds like ACE inhibitors may help Alzheimer's.
- Two new studies on Vytorin (Zetia/Zocor combo med) show it works better for people with Type 2 diabetes than Lipitor and reduces heart risks better than Crestor.
- Four hours of non-stop seated travel doubles the risk of DVT -- and it doesn't matter whether it's a plane, bus, or car.
Inflammatory Arthritis/Rheumatoid Arthritis
- A couple of new studies have rated the new RA meds, with Orencia, Rheumatrex, continuing to come out on top.
- Enbrel may reduce disability in RA patients.
- RA meds are generally given to men earlier in the disease because doctors fail to take women's complaints of subjective symptoms like pain as seriously. This was a big study because women tend to do far worse with RA and get treatment much later, and this might help explain why.
- Vitamin A derivatives may help RA.
- Remicade is showing promise as an ankylosing spondylitis treatment. This is a severe form of arthritis in the spine.
- Steroids may cut the lymphoma risk associated with RA.
- Humira improves productivity in RA patients and may help them stay at work longer before they're disabled.
Chronic Pain
- Lyrica became the first medication ever approved for fibromyalgia.
- There's a new double-opioid painkiller in trials that combines OxyContin and morphine into a pill. Because it doubles them up at half the strength each, the med is less addictive and more effective against pain. It's still in clinical trials in Australia.
Osteoporosis
- COPD (emphysema) has been linked to bone loss.
- Bone-loss meds, including estrogen and bisphosphonates, do actually reduce fracture risks, a new study shows.
Osteoarthritis
- The narcotic drug Avinza improves sleep in OA patients.
- Prexige is better for OA patients who have high blood pressure because it doesn't boost the BP every time it's used.
- In the never-ending debate about glucosamine for OA, a new study says that the huge variations in the positive results in the trials for this supplement are pointing to industry bias ("cooking the books") to say the stuff works. Experts say it doesn't work at all. Other experts read this and accused these experts of "cooking the books." So the jury's still out.
- European regulators wants all medications that contain piroxicam to be restricted because it can cause GI problems and severe skin reactions. This includes the painkiller Feldene.
Heart Disease
- Latairis may help with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a serious form of heart failure.
- Exforge (Diovan/Norvasc combo) was finally approved by the FDA; Novartis will be selling it in the U.S.
- Rasilez was okayed by the agency that advises European regulators who approve new drugs. It's a new hypertension med.
- Lipitor helps cuts heart risks in Type 2 diabetics.
- Obesity may help people NOT die from a heart attack, but it does help give them the heart attack in the first place.
Mental Health
- Psychiatrists at the AMA want video game addiction added to the list of "formal disorders" like compulsive gambling. The AMA voted and said they need to do more research before they officially call it an addiction.
- Children are increasingly being given antipsychotics, even though they're not approved for children.
- Risperdal is being considered for approval for use in teens and children.
- Adding a second depression med or mood stabilizer to an elderly patient's regimen of Paxil improves their recovery rates.
- Mother's antidepressant use apparently only puts their babies at a slightly increased risk.
- People who have insomnia often have mental health problems too.
Crohn's disease
- IBD has grown tenfold in the past 50 years and researchers don't know the exact cause.
Diabetes
- Byetta may lower heart risks for patients with Type 2 diabetes.
- Pre-diabetes increases heart risks.
- Avandia has been linked to increased fracture risk in men. This follows a 2006 study that suggested that Avandia increased fracture risk in women.
Cancer
- Some sunscreens may be dangerous for women recovering from breast cancer
- A new medication to treat head and neck cancer has been granted priority review by the FDA.
- Cancer patients who take IV bisphosphonates are putting themselves at
risk for jawbone and facial infections.
Weight
- An FDA panel recommended against approval for the diet-drug Acomplia. As a result drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis pulled their FDA new drug application.
- Childhood obesity has skyrocketed and may one day overwhelm the health care industry.
- High carbohydrate diets have been linked to an increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides.
Alzheimer's
- A dulled sense of smell may be an early indicator of memory loss.
- Keeping the brain active with activities such as reading, working puzzles, and taking up new hobbies may help keep Alzheimer's at bay.
Asthma/Allergy
- Antibiotics may increase an infant's asthma risk
- Cats affect breathing in people with allergies, even if that person is not specifically allergic to felines.
High Cholesterol
- Generic statins work for about 63 percent of the people who take them. The rest need the more potent statins like Crestor and Lipitor.
- Statins, heart meds like ACE inhibitors may help Alzheimer's.
- Two new studies on Vytorin (Zetia/Zocor combo med) show it works better for people with Type 2 diabetes than Lipitor and reduces heart risks better than Crestor.
- Four hours of non-stop seated travel doubles the risk of DVT -- and it doesn't matter whether it's a plane, bus, or car.
Inflammatory Arthritis/Rheumatoid Arthritis
- A couple of new studies have rated the new RA meds, with Orencia, Rheumatrex, continuing to come out on top.
- Enbrel may reduce disability in RA patients.
- RA meds are generally given to men earlier in the disease because doctors fail to take women's complaints of subjective symptoms like pain as seriously. This was a big study because women tend to do far worse with RA and get treatment much later, and this might help explain why.
- Vitamin A derivatives may help RA.
- Remicade is showing promise as an ankylosing spondylitis treatment. This is a severe form of arthritis in the spine.
- Steroids may cut the lymphoma risk associated with RA.
- Humira improves productivity in RA patients and may help them stay at work longer before they're disabled.
Chronic Pain
- Lyrica became the first medication ever approved for fibromyalgia.
- There's a new double-opioid painkiller in trials that combines OxyContin and morphine into a pill. Because it doubles them up at half the strength each, the med is less addictive and more effective against pain. It's still in clinical trials in Australia.
Osteoporosis
- COPD (emphysema) has been linked to bone loss.
- Bone-loss meds, including estrogen and bisphosphonates, do actually reduce fracture risks, a new study shows.
Osteoarthritis
- The narcotic drug Avinza improves sleep in OA patients.
- Prexige is better for OA patients who have high blood pressure because it doesn't boost the BP every time it's used.
- In the never-ending debate about glucosamine for OA, a new study says that the huge variations in the positive results in the trials for this supplement are pointing to industry bias ("cooking the books") to say the stuff works. Experts say it doesn't work at all. Other experts read this and accused these experts of "cooking the books." So the jury's still out.
- European regulators wants all medications that contain piroxicam to be restricted because it can cause GI problems and severe skin reactions. This includes the painkiller Feldene.
Heart Disease
- Latairis may help with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a serious form of heart failure.
- Exforge (Diovan/Norvasc combo) was finally approved by the FDA; Novartis will be selling it in the U.S.
- Rasilez was okayed by the agency that advises European regulators who approve new drugs. It's a new hypertension med.
- Lipitor helps cuts heart risks in Type 2 diabetics.
- Obesity may help people NOT die from a heart attack, but it does help give them the heart attack in the first place.
Mental Health
- Psychiatrists at the AMA want video game addiction added to the list of "formal disorders" like compulsive gambling. The AMA voted and said they need to do more research before they officially call it an addiction.
- Children are increasingly being given antipsychotics, even though they're not approved for children.
- Risperdal is being considered for approval for use in teens and children.
- Adding a second depression med or mood stabilizer to an elderly patient's regimen of Paxil improves their recovery rates.
- Mother's antidepressant use apparently only puts their babies at a slightly increased risk.
- People who have insomnia often have mental health problems too.
Crohn's disease
- IBD has grown tenfold in the past 50 years and researchers don't know the exact cause.
Diabetes
- Byetta may lower heart risks for patients with Type 2 diabetes.
- Pre-diabetes increases heart risks.
- Avandia has been linked to increased fracture risk in men. This follows a 2006 study that suggested that Avandia increased fracture risk in women.
Cancer
- Some sunscreens may be dangerous for women recovering from breast cancer
- A new medication to treat head and neck cancer has been granted priority review by the FDA.
- Cancer patients who take IV bisphosphonates are putting themselves at
risk for jawbone and facial infections.
Weight
- An FDA panel recommended against approval for the diet-drug Acomplia. As a result drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis pulled their FDA new drug application.
- Childhood obesity has skyrocketed and may one day overwhelm the health care industry.
- High carbohydrate diets have been linked to an increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides.
Alzheimer's
- A dulled sense of smell may be an early indicator of memory loss.
- Keeping the brain active with activities such as reading, working puzzles, and taking up new hobbies may help keep Alzheimer's at bay.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Summer Safety
In the Summer, a person's fancy turns to thoughts of sand, surf, and barbecue, but for those of you taking prescrptions medications a few safety tips may be in order.
A lot of medications make people sensitive to sunlight. Meds that interrupt your body's ability to regulate its temperature, such as Lasix or Thiazide could make you more susceptible to the heat, for example. And many antibiotics can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which increases your risk of sunburn and sun rash. But these aren't the only culprits. Over-the-counter allergy medications, some arthritis meds, and depression medications may also increase your sensitivity.
For a list of other drugs that may increase your sensitivity click here.
Experts say taking these drugs doesn't mean you're doomed to spend the sunny months indoors, they just require a little more planning. If you're going to be out in the sun, wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above. Plan your outdoor activities early or late in the day, to avoid the direct sunlight, and stay well hydrated.
A lot of medications make people sensitive to sunlight. Meds that interrupt your body's ability to regulate its temperature, such as Lasix or Thiazide could make you more susceptible to the heat, for example. And many antibiotics can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which increases your risk of sunburn and sun rash. But these aren't the only culprits. Over-the-counter allergy medications, some arthritis meds, and depression medications may also increase your sensitivity.
For a list of other drugs that may increase your sensitivity click here.
Experts say taking these drugs doesn't mean you're doomed to spend the sunny months indoors, they just require a little more planning. If you're going to be out in the sun, wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above. Plan your outdoor activities early or late in the day, to avoid the direct sunlight, and stay well hydrated.
Pre-diabetes--are you at risk?
According to some experts, having a disease is a lot like taking a car trip: the road you take determines your final destination. And for the 54 million Americans with impaired glucose tolerance, that road may lead them right into Type 2 diabetes.
There has been a lot of information lately about Pre-diabetes. And experts say that preventing diabetes before it starts is easier than treating it.
But since pre-diabetes has no symptoms, how do you know if you’re at risk?
Here are a few of the most common risk factors for developing Pre-diabetes, or Type 2 diabetes:
- A family history of Type 2 diabetes
- Being obese or overweight, particularly if you carry your weight around the middle (are ‘apple shaped’)
- High triglycerides, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and low “good” cholesterol.
- Having poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Being a couch potato
If you have any of the above risk factors you should talk to your doctor about having a Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Both of these tests can help you determine if you fall into the category defined as pre-diabetic.
For the FPG test, a result that falls between 100 mg/dL - 125 mg/dL is defined as Pre-diabetes. For the OGTT, 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL means you are at risk.
According to research, identifying pre-diabetes and treating the risk factors could lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 60 percent. It may also lower your risk of complications from diabetes, such as kidney and heart problems.
Experts say the best thing you can do if you’re diagnosed with pre-diabetes is lose weight. And that doesn't mean you have to be bikini-ready. Even a 5 to 10 percent drop in your weight could be enough to stabilize your blood sugar. Along with losing weight, exercise, and treating high blood pressure and high cholesterol will also help.
There has been a lot of information lately about Pre-diabetes. And experts say that preventing diabetes before it starts is easier than treating it.
But since pre-diabetes has no symptoms, how do you know if you’re at risk?
Here are a few of the most common risk factors for developing Pre-diabetes, or Type 2 diabetes:
- A family history of Type 2 diabetes
- Being obese or overweight, particularly if you carry your weight around the middle (are ‘apple shaped’)
- High triglycerides, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and low “good” cholesterol.
- Having poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Being a couch potato
If you have any of the above risk factors you should talk to your doctor about having a Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Both of these tests can help you determine if you fall into the category defined as pre-diabetic.
For the FPG test, a result that falls between 100 mg/dL - 125 mg/dL is defined as Pre-diabetes. For the OGTT, 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL means you are at risk.
According to research, identifying pre-diabetes and treating the risk factors could lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 60 percent. It may also lower your risk of complications from diabetes, such as kidney and heart problems.
Experts say the best thing you can do if you’re diagnosed with pre-diabetes is lose weight. And that doesn't mean you have to be bikini-ready. Even a 5 to 10 percent drop in your weight could be enough to stabilize your blood sugar. Along with losing weight, exercise, and treating high blood pressure and high cholesterol will also help.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Alcohol and medications can be a deadly mix
According to ABC-affiliate 49 in Topeka, Kansas,, almost one in five American adults have misused alcohol and prescription medications. In fact, this potentially deadly mixture has become one of the fastest growing medical problems in the United States.
Though most prescription medications will include a warning label if they shouldn't be combined with alcohol, experts say many people ignore these labels. But those labels are there for good reason: alcohol affects the way many medications work. Here's a sample of the impact alcohol can have on different kinds of medications:
- Sleep Medications: Alcohol can depress the central nervous system and intesify the effect of some sleep meds.
- Pain Medications: When mixed, the effects of both pain meds and alcohol are intensified, which slows down the brain and the respiratory system.
- Tranquilizers: The combination of alcohol and tranquilizers slows down alertness and inhibits judgment. This can lead to accidents.
- Blood-pressure medications: This is an especially dangerous mix because blood-pressure drugs lower blood pressure, and adding alcohol lowers blood pressure even more, which can lead to dangerously low levels. Because some hypertension meds are time-released, alcohol can lead to accidental overdose.
Jean Holthaus, Program Director of Senior Prevention, Intervention, Counseling, Education (SPICE), an expert on this type of substance abuse, points out that another part of this issue is that alcohol and prescription drug use is often a hidden problem. So how can you tell if a loved one is suffering from this problem? Holthaus says that some signs are obvious: alcohol on the person's breath, for example. But other things she suggests you can look for include:
- a loved one "shopping" doctors for increased prescriptions
- mood changes such as depression or irritability
- memory loss or confusion
- changes in appearance
- frequent accidents or falls
Though most prescription medications will include a warning label if they shouldn't be combined with alcohol, experts say many people ignore these labels. But those labels are there for good reason: alcohol affects the way many medications work. Here's a sample of the impact alcohol can have on different kinds of medications:
- Sleep Medications: Alcohol can depress the central nervous system and intesify the effect of some sleep meds.
- Pain Medications: When mixed, the effects of both pain meds and alcohol are intensified, which slows down the brain and the respiratory system.
- Tranquilizers: The combination of alcohol and tranquilizers slows down alertness and inhibits judgment. This can lead to accidents.
- Blood-pressure medications: This is an especially dangerous mix because blood-pressure drugs lower blood pressure, and adding alcohol lowers blood pressure even more, which can lead to dangerously low levels. Because some hypertension meds are time-released, alcohol can lead to accidental overdose.
Jean Holthaus, Program Director of Senior Prevention, Intervention, Counseling, Education (SPICE), an expert on this type of substance abuse, points out that another part of this issue is that alcohol and prescription drug use is often a hidden problem. So how can you tell if a loved one is suffering from this problem? Holthaus says that some signs are obvious: alcohol on the person's breath, for example. But other things she suggests you can look for include:
- a loved one "shopping" doctors for increased prescriptions
- mood changes such as depression or irritability
- memory loss or confusion
- changes in appearance
- frequent accidents or falls