HealthBeat News

Category: Bone and Joint Health

  • Alert: Big Pharma Obeys The Law!

    That’s Right – Big Pharma Is Obeying The Law!

     

    The Law Of Unintended Consequences, That Is…

     

    By Nurse mark

     

    Big Pharma gave us “the little purple pill” – that marvelous, wonderful, convenient cure for the discomfort of heartburn. Some people we know have been taking these PPI drugs for years.

    Little did we know that when Big Pharma gave us this miraculous relief for GERD they were also giving us along with it a cornucopia of potentially deadly complications.

    It seems that as with many things we do to try to trick Mother Nature, she is far smarter at keeping us healthy than Big Pharma is. When we try to fool Mother Nature she doesn’t like it and there are consequences. Serious consequences.

    Acid Blockers – What a deal!

     

    First, Not Only Will Your Heartburn Pill Stop You From Having Heartburn, It Will Stop You From Having Enough Of The Essential Mineral Magnesium.

    From the FDA:

    “[…] proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs may cause low serum magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia) […] Low serum magnesium levels can result in serious adverse events including muscle spasm (tetany), irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), and convulsions (seizures) […] In approximately one-quarter of the cases reviewed, magnesium supplementation alone did not improve low serum magnesium levels […]”

     

    So, your heartburn medicine lets you eat a lousy diet and still feel great – as long as you don’t mind having low magnesium levels and the risks of having muscle spasms, heart arrhythmia, or seizures… and maybe you feel that not having heartburn is worth that risk.

    “But Wait – There’s More!”

     

    Now not only can you have the risks that come with low magnesium, you can enjoy the risks of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine while you enjoy your heartburn relief.

    Another notice from the FDA:

    “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned consumers and health care professionals about a possible increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine with high doses or long-term use of a class of medications called proton pump inhibitors.”

     

    Well, alright – you figure that heartburn relief is worth the risk – after all, you can be really careful not to fall or anything that might bust a bone. And as long as you are sitting down when you have that seizure you should be fine…

    “And If That’s Not Enough, A Bonus!”

     

    Wow! Spasms, heart arrhythmia, seizures, and broken bones – all in the name of heartburn relief. How could it get any better?

    How about… Watery Diarrhea!

    That’s right, now, along with your spasms, arrhythmias, seizures, and fractured bones, you can have Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) – a bacterium that can cause diarrhea that doesn’t improve. Symptoms include watery stool, abdominal pain, and fever, and patients may go on to develop more serious intestinal conditions.

    Again, from the FDA:

    “FDA notified the public that the use of stomach acid drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD).”

     

    Yowza! Spasms, arrhythmias, seizures, fractured bones, and to top it all off, diarrhea that just won’t stop! All these great health risks, all in just one little purple pill!

    I’m going to run right out and get me some! NOT!

    OK – I can hear you saying “Alright Mr. Smartypants, so what am I supposed to to? I have terrible heartburn and the pill fixed it. If I stop the pill I get the heartburn back. What’s your solution?”

    Folks, this is one of the topics that we write about most often, since it is something that affects so many people. Please look through our previous HealthBet News articles.

    To help you out, here is a recent HealthBeat News article about Acid Blocker Drugs that contains plenty of links to other news and information about PPI’s, GERD, Indigestion, and more: Please re-read More Risks From Acid Blocking Drugs (PPIs)

    And for those who know that they are hooked on these nasty drugs and want help, please re-read: Help – I’m Hooked On Acid Blocking Drugs!

    Or you can just keep taking your “little purple pill” – not only will you get relief from that nasty heartburn, you get to enjoy not one, not two, not even three or four – you get to enjoy five great life-threatening health risks!

    What more could you possibly want? Hurry, Hurry, Hurry… step right up and claim your bonuses today!

     

    References
    http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm245275.htm
    http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm290838.htm
    http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm213377.htm

  • What Do You Need For Healthy Bones?

    Bone Health Or Bone Death?

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    We get a lot of questions about osteoporosis – it is a very confusing and rightfully frightening subject for older people.

    Big Pharma takes advantage of that confusion and fear to offer a variety of drugs that are so dangerous that if they were subjected to the same intense scrutiny by the FDA that mere vitamins and supplements are they would be instantly banned!

    Big Medicine is a willing accomplice to Big Pharma, using such things as “bone density tests” to terrorize women into agreeing to take some variety of a bone-killing bisphosphonate drug.

    Did I just say “bone Killing“?

    Yes! These drugs “work” by actually killing one kind of bone cell – here is an explanation from Wikipedia:

    Bone undergoes constant turnover and is kept in balance (homeostasis) by osteoblasts creating bone and osteoclasts destroying bone. Bisphosphonates inhibit the digestion of bone by encouraging osteoclasts to undergo apoptosis, or cell death, thereby slowing bone loss.

     

    This rather reminds me of that famous quote from the Vietnam War years: “It became necessary to destroy the town to save it” (that quote has transformed over the years into “We had to destroy the village in order to save it.”) It seems that Big Pharma has adopted that strategy, saying “We have to kill your bone cells in order to save your bones.”

    Yikes – what a strategy! A strategy only Big Pharma could get away with and only the FDA could approve of!

    Has Big Medicine never heard of “preventive medicine”?

    One of Dr. Myatt’s long-standing patients, Joyce, wrote recently to say that she was being pressured to accept one of the more recent bisphosphonate offerings and to ask Dr. Myatt’s opinion. Here is her question and Dr. Myatt’s answer:

    HI  I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. I was told that I have osteoporosis after having a bone density test, it is not real bad they did want to put me on more calcium and vitamin D3 but I think there is enough in my Maxi – Multi’s. They also wanted to put me on a once a year treatment of Reclast  given I V for 20 min. Because I don’t trust them I said no. Any way all I wanted to know is if there is enough calcium & vitamin D 3 in my Maxies.  Thank you Joyce.

     

    Hi Joyce:

    Wow… Here’s the scoop.

    Maxi Multi’s contain enough cal:mag for almost everyone except post-menopausal women.

    The recommendations for post menopausal females is 1200-1500 mg/day calcium, 500-800 mg/day.

    In order to achieve this dose, most women add 3 caps per day of Cal-Mag to their protocol.

    You might not need the additional if your diet contains enough extra calcium and magnesium.

    Also, strontium has been found to work as well as drugs for building bone.

    “Bone-building drugs” actually are bone-killing drugs. We’ve written about this in HealthBeat: The Ugly Truth About “Bone-Building” Drugs for Osteoporosis

    My complete recommendations for ensuring strong bones and preventing osteoporosis can be found on our website at this link: http://drmyattswellnessclub.com/osteoporosis.htm

    Please check this page out. It will give you complete instructions including amounts to take and why your idea of “no Reclast” is, in my opinion, a good decision.

    Hope this helps and here’s wishing you and yours a Happy Turkey Day!

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

     

    Now, just in case anyone thinks I am exaggerating the dangers of bisphosphonate drugs, I have taken the following information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine a government website that bills itself as “The World’s Largest Medical Library” and as a resource for conventional medical doctors:

     

    What side effects can this medication cause?

    Zoledronic acid may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

    • redness or swelling in the place where you received your injection

    • red, swollen, or teary eyes

    • constipation

    • nausea

    • vomiting

    • diarrhea

    • stomach pain

    • loss of appetite

    • weight loss

    • heartburn

    • mouth sores

    • excessive worry

    • agitation

    • depression

    • difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

    • fever, chills, and other signs of infection

    • white patches in the mouth

    • swelling, redness, irritation, burning, or itching of the vagina

    • white vaginal discharge

    • numbness, burning, or tingling in fingers or toes

    • hair loss

    Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

    • rash

    • hives

    • itching

    • swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, arms, feet, ankles, or lower legs

    • difficulty breathing or swallowing

    • upper chest pain

    • irregular heartbeat

    • numbness or tingling around the mouth

    • sudden tightening of muscles

    • unusual bruising or bleeding

    • painful or swollen gums

    • loosening of the teeth

    • numbness or heavy feeling in the jaw

    • poor healing of the jaw

    • dull, aching pain in the hips, groin, or thighs

    Zoledronic acid may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

    Being treated with a bisphosphonate medication such as zoledronic acid injection for osteoporosis may increase the risk that you will break your thigh bone(s). You may feel pain in your hips, groin, or thighs for several weeks or months before the bone(s) break, and you may find that one or both of your thigh bones have broken even though you have not fallen or experienced other trauma. It is unusual for the thigh bone to break in healthy people, but people who have osteoporosis may break this bone even if they do not receive zoledronic acid injection. Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving zoledronic acid injection.

     

    Please read the last paragraph again: “Being treated with a bisphosphonate medication such as zoledronic acid injection for osteoporosis may increase the risk that you will break your thigh bone(s).”

    Does this sound like a drug that anyone should be taking?

     

    References:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000306/#a605023-sideEffects

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphosphonate

  • Does Your Family Drink These Poisons?

     

    Does Your Family Drink These Poisons?

     

    By Dr. Dana Myatt

     

    Soda pop is slop. File this under “more good reasons to avoid soda pop.”

     

    Tooth decay, overweight, diabetes and osteoporosis are the lesser problems associated with soda pop consumption.

    But there is an even more sinister side to America’s favorite beverage.

    Benzene, a highly toxic compound that can cause liver cirrhosis, Parkinson’s disease and accelerated aging — is found in many sodas.

    In my opinion, soda pop is one of the most harmful beverages a person can drink. Let’s review the evidence.

    Each 12-ounce can of soda pop contains between 10 and 12 teaspoons of sugar. The increase in soda pop consumption parallels our current epidemic of obesity, overweight and diabetes.

    Soda pop rots teeth, but it is not the sugar alone that causes this. The acidity of soda pop combined with high sugar levels form a tooth-destroying combination.

    Phosphates in soda pop, combined with the fact that soda often replaces calcium-containing drinks like milk, are associated with an increased risk of bone loss.

    And these are the “lesser problems” that soda causes:

    Most soda contains the chemical preservative sodium benzoate. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is another common additive. When sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid interact, the highly toxic chemical benzene is formed. Benzene is an aggressive carcinogen, even in minute amounts. Any drink which contains both sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid can contain benzene.

    But now there is more evidence which suggests that sodium benzoate by itself can cause DNA damage. Research from Sheffield University in Britain shows that sodium benzoate, a common preservative in soda pop, pickles, sauces, and many other “food stuffs” has the ability to shut off vital parts of DNA known as the “mitochondria.”

    Mitochondria are the “power stations” inside the cell. According to lead researcher Piper, “These chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it: They knock it out altogether.”

    When the mitochondria are damaged, the cell begins to malfunction in a serious way. Conditions such as Parkinson’s, cirrhosis of the liver, and accelerated aging, can be linked to this type of cellular damage.

    Here’s the bottom line. We have no idea how many of these “harmless” artificial ingredients and chemical preservatives in our food can cause disease. Short-term effects are studied in the lab but long-term effects are unknown until the public acts as “guinea pigs” by consuming these chemicals for many years.

    To protect yourself, just avoid soda pop, period. Eat more “real” (unprocessed) food. Look for “sodium benzoate” on food labels and when you see it (as they say on those old TV “Cop Shows”), set the drink down and back away slowly, and no one gets hurt.

     

    Product Acid
    (Low Number=BAD)

    Sugar per 12 oz
    Pure Water 7.00 (neutral)

    0.0
    Barq’s 4.61

    10.7 tsp.
    Diet Coke 3.39

    0.0
    Mountain Dew 3.22

    11.0 tsp.
    Gatorade 2.95

    3.3 tsp
    Coke Classic 2.63

    9.3 tsp.
    Pepsi 2.49

    9.8 tsp.
    Sprite 3.42

    9.0
    Diet 7-Up 3.67

    0.0
    Diet Dr. Pepper 3.41

    0.0
    Surge 3.02

    10.0
    Gatorade 2.95

    3.3
    Hawaiian Fruit Punch 2.82

    10.2
    Orange Minute Maid 2.80

    11.2
    Dr. Pepper 2.92

    9.5
    BATTERY ACID 1.00

    0.0
    Source:
    Minnesota Dental Association *

    The threshold pH for enamel dissolution is 5.5 (and lower)

    		  

     

    Nurse Mark Adds:

    You may be interested to know that our mighty, ever-vigilant, and ever-protective FDA (which we think really stands for “Fleece and Dope Americans”) sets no limits to benzene in any beverages sold in America except bottled water – this according to the FDA’s own website! Unbelievable, but true – the FDA is happy to let the soda pop industry “develop guidance” that it claims will “minimize” (not eliminate, just “minimize“) benzene in it’s products.

    Most (if not all) of the so-called “Sports Drinks” and “Energy Drinks” – especially those labeled as “Diet” and containing artificial sweeteners – are little more than a chemical soup of potential carcinogens and neurotoxins.

    Many of our patients have told us that one of the most difficult things that they have had to do in order to restore their health was to give up their favorite soda pop or other flavored drink. Dr. Myatt searched high and low to find a satisfying and healthy replacement and discovered a product called ZipFizz. This is a powdered drink mixture packaged in tough, convenient little single-serving tubes that add easily to a standard size bottle of water. ZipFizz is an excellent, healthy alternative to sugary sodas and “sports drinks” – perfect to take to work or the office for a healthy break or to send to school with the kids – stop allowing them to poison themselves with tooth-rotting, bone-leaching, cancer-causing junky soft drinks!

    References:

    1.) Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis. Lancet 2001;357:505–8.
    2.) Soft drink consumption among US children and adolescents: nutritional consequences. J Am Diet Assoc 1999;99:436–41.
    3.) Carbonated beverages, dietary calcium, the dietary calcium/phosphorus ratio, and bone fractures in girls and boys. J Adolescent Health 1994;15:210–5.
    4.) Consumption of soft drinks with phosphoric acid as a risk factor for the development of hypocalcemia in children: a case-control study. J Pediatr 1995;126:940–2.
    5.) Phosphates and caries. Lancet 1968;i:1431.[letter]
    6.) Beverage ingredients can form carcinogen. Consum Rep. 2006 Oct;71(10):7.
    7.) Benzene in beverages. FDA Consum. 2006 Sep-Oct;40(5):9-10.  http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/506_benzene.htm
    8.) Caution: Some soft drinks may seriously harm your health: Expert links additive to cell damage. The Independent, Sunday, 27 May 2007

  • Strontium: The Missing Mineral for Strong Bones

    Strontium: The Missing Mineral for Strong Bones

    Strontium is a naturally occurring mineral, in the same mineral family as calcium and magnesium, and it’s been shown to promote bone growth in both animals and people.

    Before you get nervous, let’s clarify something: this is NOT the radioactive “strontium 90” that many of us were forced to hide from under our schoolroom desks in the 1950s during “A-bomb drills.” The strontium I’m talking about is an all-natural, non-radioactive mineral that is very safe.

    Strontium has been studied since the early 1900’s for its effect on bone density.

    In 1910, one German researcher reported that strontium appeared to be uniquely effective in stimulating rapid bone formation.

    A decade later, another researcher concluded that strontium and calcium were superior to calcium alone in mineralizing bone.

    In 1952, a report from Cornell University found  that calcium and strontium work better together than calcium alone for rebuilding bone.

    A Mayo Clinic study conducted in 1959 looked at 22 individuals with severe (and painful) osteoporosis. Part of the group took 1,700 milligrams of strontium daily. Another group took the same amount of strontium with estrogen and testosterone. In the “hormones plus strontium” group, 9 of 10 people experienced marked improvement of their symptoms, and the other one had moderate improvement. In the strontium-only group, 18 of 22 had marked improvement and the other four had moderate improvement. Bottom line: every person in this study had moderate to marked improvement using strontium.

    After this study, there wasn’t much scientific research concerning strontium for quite some time. Since strontium is a naturally-occurring mineral and can’t be patented “as is,” one wonders if the Big Pharmaceutical companies were uninterested until they could trademark some form of this promising substance. Research on many promising natural substances is woefully neglected until Big Pharma can figure out a way to profit.

    In 1979, another study was performed on a group of patients with metastatic bone cancer (cancer that has spread to bone). The results showed an improvement in bone density and decreased bone pain in the strontium-treated group.

    In 1985, another study followed the effects of strontium supplementation on bone formation in six humans. By performing “before and after” bone biopsies, researchers concluded that “Following strontium therapy, all [measurements] of bone formation increased, while bone resorption remained unchanged.”

    Sixteen years later, a research group reviewed the studies on strontium and concluded that  “In addition to its anti-resorptive activity, strontium was found to have anabolic (tissue-building) activity in bone.”

    These studies have used strontium carbonate, strontium lactate and strontium gluconate. All forms of strontium have produced positive effect, indicating that it is the strontium itself that is active and not what it is bound to. Why do I mention this little “factoid?” So that Big Pharma can’t fool you into buying an expensive drug form of strontium when a simple supplemental form should work as well.

    Naturally, the most recent strontium-osteoporosis research has been performed by a drug company using a patentable strontium combination. (Remember, strontium by itself isn’t patentable because it is a naturally-occurring substance). But combined with a synthetic substance called ranelic acid, strontium becomes a patentable drug.

    This “drug” is available in Europe as the trademarked Protos® but all studies before this suggest that it is the strontium itself which is responsible for bone-building effects. Strontium ranelate is not approved for use by the FDA.

    In a three-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study using 680 milligrams of strontium daily, women suffering from osteoporosis had a 41 percent reduction vertebral fractures compared with placebo. The overall vertebrae density in the strontium group increased by 11.4 percent compared to a 1.3 percent decrease in the placebo group.

    In another recent study,  353 women who had already experienced at least one osteoporosis-related vertebral fracture took varying levels of strontium ranelate or a placebo. In the group who tool 680 milligrams of strontium daily, there was a 3% increase in lumbar bone mineral density per year, significantly greater than placebo. At the end of the second year of the study, there was a significant decrease in fractures in the strontium group compared to placebo.

    In a 2002 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 160 post-menopausal females who did not have osteoporosis were asked to take placebo or varying amounts of strontium daily. Compared to the placebo group, women who took 340 milligrams strontium a day had a significant increase in bone mineral density in two years time. All groups also took 500 milligrams of calcium daily, but no hormones or vitamin D.

    It appears that not only can prevent osteoporosis, it can repair existing damage. And it doesn’t seem to matter what form it is in: strontium ranelate (a patented drug in Europe), strontium gluconate, strontium lactate, or strontium carbonate. It’s the mineral strontium itself that works the magic on bone!

    Sources of Strontium

    Bad news: there’s not enough strontium in food to have a significant effect if you already have osteoporosis.

    If you have a diagnosis of osteoporosis, you should take strontium in supplement form.

    If you don’t currently have osteoporosis, then eating plenty of food high in strontium “may” be enough to protect you.

    Foods high in strontium include spices, seafood, whole grains, root and leafy vegetables, and legumes.

    If you want to be on the safe side concerning osteoporosis prevention, consider taking one dose of strontium (200-400mg) per day.  For those without osteoporosis but with known risk factors (family history, immobility, smoking, etc.) one capsule twice daily is prudent.

    Also be sure to take the recommended calcium (1,200-1,500 milligrams for post-menopausal females) plus associated bone nutrients including magnesium, zinc, boron and vitamin D. I recommend a combination of Cal-Mag Amino and Strontium (taken at separate times of the day) for osteoporosis prevention and reversal.

    NOTE: Our multivitamin Maxi Multi does not contain strontium. If you see a “bone formula” with strontium, don’t take it! Strontium should be taken away from calcium and magnesium for best absorption.

     

    References

    1.) Strontium Ranelate Reduces the Risk of Nonvertebral Fractures in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis: Treatment of Peripheral Osteoporosis (TROPOS) Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 May; 90(5):2816-22. Epub 2005 Feb 22.
    2.) Picking a bone with contemporary osteoporosis management: Nutrient strategies to enhance skeletal integrity. Clinical Nutrition (Epub ahead of print, 2006 October 12).
    3.) The effects of strontium ranelate on the risk of vertebral fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.” New England Journal of Medicine 350 (2004):459 – 68.
    4.) Strontium ranelate reduces the risk of nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: Treatment of Peripheral Osteoporosis (TROPOS) study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 90 (2005):2816 – 22.
    5.) Strontium in Finnish foods. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research 52 (1982): 342 – 50.
    6.) Gaby AR. Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1994, 85–92 [review].
    7.) Strontium ranelate: a dual mode of action rebalancing bone turnover in favour of bone formation. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2006 Jun;18 Suppl 1:S11-5.

  • Dupuytren’s Contracture: Annoying But Treatable

    Dupuytren’s Contracture: There are alternatives to surgery!

     

    Dr. Myatt recently answered a question about Dupuytren’s Contracture for a friend, and we thought that the rest of our HealthBeat News readers would be interested in this information as well – this annoying and sometimes painful deformity of the hand affects nearly 8 of every 100 Americans, men more frequently than women.

    Here is what Dr. Myatt had to say to our friend Al:

    Hi Al:
    That “finger funk” you have is called Dupuytren’s Contracture. Learn more than you probably want to know at this website:

    This is basically the tightening and stiffening of tendons in the hand.

    Conventional treatment ranges from “never mind, it’s not that bad” to surgery (which isn’t always successful) with nothing in between. Thanks, guys.

    We can do better than that, and possibly even soften up some of the fibrosis. It will take 3-4 months of CONSISTENT treatment to see results, so please keep this in mind. You might notice improvement sooner, but if you’ve had this for a long time, it will take longer to see results.

    1.) PABA:  Doses that prevent/reverse fibrosis range from 6-15 grams per day. The more conservative dose (6 grams) is 12 caps per day. Because PABA is water-soluble, it is best taken in divided doses. 4 caps, 3 times per day would be best but 6 caps, 2 times per day should work also.

    PABA  is also an antioxidant and has been shown in several studies to greatly increase life span of animals. In other words, it will have more of a positive effect than just working on the fibrosis.

    2.) DMSO: Rub into hand along the entire course of the fibrosis, 2-3 times per day. Be sure your hands are clean before doing this as DMSO “drives in” whatever else it is associated with including gunk on your hand! Dr. Jonathan Wright suggests massaging a mixture of Vitamin E and DMSO into the thickened tissues.

    That’s it for now and let me know if you have and questions about this.

    Here’s to a happier, handier hand!
    In Health,
    Dana

    Please bear in mind that the website she refers Al to is the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons – and they tend to favor surgical solutions to a problem like Dupuytren’s (or any other orthopedic problem for that matter!). This should come as no surprise – since surgery is what keeps them in car payments… Still, it is a well-done webpage with some very good information – and if after a good trial of more natural remedies as listed above (like a year or so) I might be persuaded to try one of their less-invasive suggestions.

    For those who wish to try Dr. Myatt’s suggestions, we can make both PABA and DMSO available by special order – contact us for details.