By: Daniel Pearce, D.O., FCOI, AAHIVMS
SPLENDA® IS TOXIC
A popular artificial sweetener, sucralose, or Splenda has been shown to break up DNA and cause bacteria to leak from the intestines into the blood. Please read labels and avoid this chemical.
WORLD HEALTH ORG SAYS STOP ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
They say they have no benefit. They do not decrease weight; in fact they promote weight gain and some are toxic. There may be an association with cancer and increased fat in newborns and there seems to be an association with premature births when the mother consumes artificial sweeteners. They looked at diabetes, heart and stroke issues, body fat, glucose, insulin, cholesterol, and blood pressure. There was no beneficial effect. We must break the habit of eating these chemicals with no nutritional value. Toothpaste, etc is probably OK, but why are we putting these chemicals in our mouths?
SHORTAGE OF DIABETIC
WEIGHT LOSS MEDS, AVOID COMPOUNDED MEDS
The FDA has issued a warning not to seek compounded meds (medications certain pharmacies can mix up and put in capsules) to replace Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Rybelsus® many are using for weight loss and diabetes. The shortages cause people to find some uncommon source of the medications, such as compounding. The shortages are caused by many going on these meds to lose weight. They do have side effects in many people. Ozempic®/Wegovy® (same medication) may cause nausea in 44% of people, Diarrhea in 30%, Constipation in 24%, Vomiting in 24%, Abdominal pain in 20%, and Headaches in 14% based on studies. But they do help you lose weight, Is this from the side effects and the good effects?
TEENS FAIL MORE WITH
VARIABLE BEDTIMES
Students have been shown to fail more classes, be suspended, and expelled more when they have bedtimes that vary. This may be true for young adults too. College or job problems may also come from this. Variable bedtimes and the effects remind me of how I feel jetlagged flying from more than a time zone hour away. If I watch a movie or binge on streaming episodes, and go to bed an hour late, I feel it the next morning and day. I am slower, and have to force myself to concentrate. Sleep experts emphasize a consistent bedtime and wake up time for best health and energy and mood.
CONSTIPATION: DRUGS
RANKED
Constipation, if not caused by scarring, medications, another disease may be treated with many medications. Docusate or Colace hasn’t had enough research to recommend it. I found this surprising since it has been a main med I was taught and have used for more than 40 years in my patients. Poor intake of fiber, less than 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day is the main cause of constipaton. Polyethylene glycol, Miralax®, is at the top of the recommended list. It is a powder that can let you easily adjust the dose.
LYRICA IS GOOD FOR
NEUROPATHIC PAIN, BUT A CANNABINOID WAS BETTER
Pregabalin, Lyrica, has been shown in a controlled trial to be helpful in relieving neuropathic pain, but the cannabinoid product was better. No major side effects were found. The cannabinoid product has not been named or marketed yet.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE
ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
In a patient with mild or worse mental changes, as with normal medical practice, a provider gets information from the patient and records to narrow down the possible cause, then orders laboratory and imaging tests to get closer to the diagnosis. Amyloid (a protein) plaques are present in Alzheimers and a PET scan is the best way to prove them in the brain. MediCare does not pay for this test. If the plaques are not there then they look for other causes besides Alzheimers, If the plaques are there, then that makes Alzheimers a possibility along with a few other causes. Tests on the spinal fluid and blood will confirm whether it is Alzheimers. We are getting closer to getting a firmer diagnosis of Alzheimers.
CELIBACY BEFORE
MARRIAGE MAKES LONG
TERM MARRIAGE MORE
LIKELY
Divorce and unhappy marriages were less in those who had less sexual partners before marriage in this study by the Mormon university, Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City, Utah. I don’t see any articles yet mentioning there might be bias by the authors that confirms this belief.
CHARGING MORE FOR
INSURED PATIENTS ILLEGAL
The Supreme Court decided that a pharmacy cannot charge more to insured people than they do for cash patients. Insurance in the US is by private companies and the government. This makes sense.
SOCIAL NEEDS
ASSESSMENTS NOT PAID FOR BY GOVERNMENT INSURANCE BUT ARE REQUIRED.
The categories are: Transportation, housing and food insecurity, and need for case management. These links are weak in making patients healthy and must be addressed but the health budget is not large enough, so people remain unhealthy. One broken link makes the chain of all the other interventions worthless.
Keep those questions coming and be safe!
dpearce@western.edu
Daniel Pearce, D.O.,
FACOI, AAHIVMS
Associate Professor of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine HIV, Hepatitis B,C, Transgender, Suboxone Specialist, Neighborhood Health (Riverside, Hemet), Loma Linda SACH (San Bernardino) Member, Coachella Valley Clinical Research Initiative
REFERENCES: Medscape®