Sugar Editorial Picks
Feb 06, 2007 -
We have all heard about random drug testing in our respective places of employment and in professional sports, but what about in public schools?
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy recently announced that it would be holding four regional summits promoting random student drug testing in public middle and high schools. The program, which has actually already been implemented in almost 1,000 schools across the country, requires that kids submit to random drug testing if they would like to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities.
- 51 Comments
Other Search Results
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Symptoms
- Complications
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Treatment for NSAID-Induced...
- Medications
- Treatment for Bleeding Ulce...
- Lifestyle Changes
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Risk with cardiovascular medications
While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the major medications responsible for causing peptic ulcers, drugs taken for cardiovascular disease and its risk factors may also cause ulcers. Recent studies have found an association between increased risk of ulcer and the following drugs:
- Spironolactone, a common diuretic used in heart failure
- Niacin, a drug used to lower "bad" cholesterol and raise "good" cholesterol
- Vitamin K antagonists, commonly prescribed anticoagulants
- Dipyridamole, a drug for secondary stroke prevention
- Low-dose aspirin, prescribed for both heart attack and stroke prevention
Risk of peptic ulcer increases dramatically when these drugs are used in combination. Considering the millions of people who take these medications to prevent a life-threatening cardiovascular event, their impact on peptic ulcer development could be monumental.
- 0 Comments
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Prognosis
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Treatment Approaches
- Medications Used for Treatm...
- Prevention
- Medications Used for Preven...
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Migraine Surveys
- About 17.1% of women and 5.6% of men suffer migraines, according to the 2007 American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention survey. Nearly a third of respondents reported 3 or more migraine attacks per month. Over half were severely impaired or needed bed rest during attacks.
- 1 Comment
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Risk Factors
- Causes
- Prognosis
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Medications
- Other Treatments
- Therapy and Lifestyle Chang...
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Drug Approval
In 2007, the FDA approved risperidone (Risperdal) for short-term treatment of manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder in children ages 10 - 17. Risperidone (an atypical antipsychotic) and lithium (a mood stabilizer) are the two drugs currently approved for treating pediatric patients with bipolar disorder.
Drug Warnings
- Olanzapine (Zyprexa, Symbex) causes a greater risk for high blood sugar than other atypical antipsychotics, according to updated information added to the drug’s warning label.
- 1 Comment
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Cholesterol's Effect on the...
- Cholesterol's Effect on the...
- Risk Factors
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Lifestyle Changes
- Treatment
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
New Guidelines for Children and Adolescents
In 2007, the American Heart Association (AHA) established new guidelines for assessing and treating high cholesterol in children and adolescents. According to the AHA’s scientific statement:
- LDL (“bad") cholesterol goals for children should be 190 mg/dL or less for children without heart disease risk factors and 160 mg/dL or less for children with heart disease risk factors.
- Children who are overweight or obese, as well as those with a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease, should get their cholesterol levels checked.
- For overweight and obese children with cholesterol imbalances, diet changes and exercise should be tried before drug treatment. For children with cholesterol imbalances who have a family history of cholesterol and heart problems, statins are the best first-line drug therapy.
Herbs and Supplements
- Garlic, whether raw or in supplement form, does not help lower LDL in patients with moderately high LDL levels, according to a 2007 Archives of Internal Medicine Study.
- Policosanol, a dietary supplement derived from sugar cane, has no effect on cholesterol, indicates a 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study.
Diet Plans
- In a 2007 JAMA comparison study of four diet plans (Atkins, Ornish, Zone, and LEARN), the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet was best at raising HDL (“good cholesterol”) levels and lowering triglyceride levels, but did not affect LDL levels.
- 0 Comments
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Symptoms
- Risk Factors
- Complications
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Levadopa (L-dopa)
- Other Medications
- Surgery
- Lifestyle Changes
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Drug Approvals
- In 2007, the FDA approved the first skin patch drug for treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Transdermal rotigotine (Neupro) is a dopamine agonist drug that may help improve symptoms of early-stage Parkinson’s disease. The patch is applied daily.
- Rivastigimine (Exelon), an Alzheimer’s disease drug, was approved in 2006 for treatment of mild-to-moderate dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Drug Withdrawal
In 2007, the FDA withdrew the dopamine agonist pergolide (Permax) from the market due to safety concerns.
- 2 Comments
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Symptoms
- Complications
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Lifestyle Changes
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Drug Treatment Approaches
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to single-drug therapy often do better when a combination of drugs is used, indicates a review of 23 clinical trials published in 2007 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. However, the researchers were unable to determine which combinations of drugs work best or which individual drugs are more effective than others.
- Combination drug treatment is now becoming a standard approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis while it is still in its early stages. Another 2007 Annals of Internal Medicine study indicated that initial combination therapies slow progression of joint damage more rapidly than single-drug therapy but, after several years, all treatment strategies produce benefits.
Fish Oil for Joint Pain
The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may have anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve joint pain, indicates a 2007 review in Pain.
- 0 Comments
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Prevention
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Medications
- Stages
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Alzheimer’s Disease Toll Increasing
More than 5 million Americans now have Alzheimer’s disease, and the number could increase to 16 million by mid-century, according to a 2007 report from the Alzheimer’s Association.
New Drug Indication
In 2006, the FDA expanded the use of donepezil (Aricept) to include treatment of people with severe dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Donepezil was previously approved only for people with mild-to-moderate dementia.
- 1 Comment
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Complications
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Medications
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Treatment
- The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends medications for restless legs syndrome (RLS) or periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) only for persons who fulfill strict diagnostic criteria and experience too much daytime sleepiness as a result of these conditions. (Excessive daytime sleepiness results from nighttime sleeplessness due to RLS or PLMD symptoms).
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in March 2007 that the dopamine agonist drug pergolide (Permax) has been voluntarily withdrawn from the market.
- 2 Comments
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Symptoms
- Complications
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Medications
- Therapy
- Other Treatments
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Drug Approvals
- In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration approved risperidone (Risperdal) and aripiprazole (Abilify) for treatment schizophrenia in teenagers. These drugs are the first atypical antipsychotics approved specifically for children.
- Paliperidone (Invega) is the newest atypical antipsychotic drug approved for treatment of schizophrenia in adults. Paliperidone is chemically related to risperidone.
Diabetes Risk and Atypical Antipsychotics
- In 2007, the manufacturer of olanzapine (Zyprexa, Symbex) added new warnings to the drug’s prescribing label.
- 0 Comments