Based on information that was collected from the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry, the United States FDA has issued a warning for the prescription drug Topamax, and its generic counterparts sold under the chemical name topiramate. The warning is specifically targeted to pregnant women, and even more specifically, those in the first 3 months of pregnancy. The drug with is primarily prescribed for epilepsy can sometimes also be prescribed for migraine headaches. Information from the registry shows that if this drug is taken during pregnancy, especially while in the early months when expectant mothers may not exactly be expecting to be pregnant, there is a 2000% increased chance of their child having oral birth defects like cleft lip or cleft palate.

The name brand Topamax, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson was responsible for more than $2..5 billion dollars in sales a year before generics started showing up in 2009, though it still accounted for nearly $570 million in 2010. J&J was quick to defend their product and state that it already has plenty of information and warnings regarding cautious use during pregnancy. However, they also stated that they will work with the FDA to make sure that recommendations for use among pregnant women are further clarified.

Cleft lips or palates occur naturally in roughly 0.07% of infants. When data from mothers who had been on Topamax and similar generics was analyzed, the numbers skyrocketed to 1.4%. Even women who were on different epilepsy drugs other than Topamax had an increase to around 0.38%. However, the difference between that level and topiramate derivatives is staggering. It’s also worth mentioning that J&J was previously involved in a lawsuit regarding Topamax in which they were accused of illegal marketing and hiring doctors to work with their drug reps to encourage more doctors to prescribe it for uses that it wasn’t approved for- like migraines.

Sources:

Reuters

Bloomberg Businessweek

Last month, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced the results of a nationwide survey regarding the fluoridation of drinking water in the US that showed a staggering 41% of adolescents aged 12-15 had some form of dental fluorosis, which is the visible sign of fluoride toxicity. Because of this, HHS recommended lowering the levels of fluoride added to municipal water supplies for the first time in history. While this is a step in the right direction, many feel that it’s just not good enough.

There are so many methods exposure to fluoride outside of drinking water, that any fluoridation by that method suddenly becomes overkill. Prepared foods, beverages, and dental products all still contain fluoride, which is why adding it to a source like drinking water that cannot be avoided makes no sense in the first place. Not to mention that mass medication of this nature is unethical, and unnecessary. For the first time ever, studies that have disproved the so-called “benefits” of fluoride are being heard.

Since HHS is hearing public opinions on the matter, the Fluoride Action Network has composed a letter to the department that calls out reasons for the overall removal of fluoride, not just a reduction in amounts that we’re exposed to. FAN points out cited reasons that fluoride is not a nutrient, nor is it essential for healthy teeth as well as how and why Americans will still not be protected from over exposure to fluoride even at 0.7 parts per million. HHS has also failed to consider or investigate reports on fluoride as a potential carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, its impact on the brain, or its effects on skeletal structure. Increasing rates of skeletal fluorosis was the prime reason for China banning fluoride altogether.

HHS is accepting comments until February, 14. To sign the online form to ask HHS to end water fluoridation, click here.

NSAIDs
Aspirin, along with a number of other NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs) are used by many Americans not only for pain relief, but also to help thin the blood to reduce risk for stroke or heart attack. What you may not know is that it can also deplete folate and vitamin C from your system, making you more susceptible to cold, flu, and other infections that someone with normal levels may not be. Low levels of folate have also been linked to increased risk for various cancers including breast and colon cancer.

Calcium Channel Blockers
Used to treat high blood pressure, most people are more familiar with diuretics than calcium channel blockers. While it seems to be common knowledge that diuretics (which cause water excretion) can cause the depletion of important nutrients, it’s less known that calcium channel blockers can cause the same effect. The major nutrient lost because of this is potassium, which low levels of can cause fatigue and weakness of muscles. Because of this, blood pressure can rise in response to the added stress- which completely negates the intended use of the drug in the first place.

Fibrates
Prescribed to patients who have trouble managing cholesterol with statin drugs, fibrates can help to raise HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL (bad cholesterol) as well as triglycerides. On the downside of this equation, they can also lower natural levels of both vitamin E and coenzyme Q10. Low levels of vitamin E can increase risk for nerve disorders, heart disease, and cancer to name a few. Deficiencies in CoQ10 will usually result in muscle weakness and sometimes pain.

Diabetes drugs
The most popular oral medication for diabetes, metformin, makes cells more responsive to insulin and reduces weight gain and excessively low blood glucose better than other drugs. In addition to lowering blood sugar, it also lowers levels of vitamin B-12 and folate. Depleted levels of these vital nutrients can lead to bouts with depression, forgetfulness, and fatigue.

In September of 1969, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin) gave a speech in Seattle, WA.  During this speech, and an identical one 6 days later in Atlantic City, NJ he announced his idea for a nationwide day to raise awareness of and inspire appreciation for the Earth’s environment.  Today, 40 years later, we still celebrate and advocate proactive solutions to our planet’s needs.

Denis Hayes founded the Earth Day Network to promote the first Earth Day in 1970, and their work continues today.  Their international network coordinates with over 19,000 organizations in 192 countries to plan and carry out millions of community development and environmental-protection activities throughout the year.

For the 40th anniversary, the Earth Day Network has created a number of worldwide programs that they expect at least 1.5 billion individuals to participate in.  These programs include:

Global Day of Conversation
A day of worldwide conversation between mayors that will focus on building a green economy

Athletes for the Earth
Olympic, professional, and local athletes will promote solutions for climate change

A Billion Acts of Green
Bringing together the millions of initiatives and commitments that organizations and individuals across the globe promise each year.

Artists for the Earth
Artists and art institutions all around the world take part in a campaign to raise awareness of environmental issues.

Sudden Dizziness or Chest Pain
Either of these scenarios could signal a serious cardiovascular problem stemming from lack of blood being pumped to your heart or brain.  If you experience these symptoms, you should stop exercising immediately and if they don’t subside then you should seriously consider visiting the ER.  Sometimes symptoms like chest pains or shortness of breath can be caused by sudden pains or muscle cramps, so be sure to have your doctor evaluate you to be sure.

Chills, Headache, or Blurred Vision
If you experience any of these symptoms while exercising in hot weather or inside a hot building, stop immediately.  These symptoms could be a sign of heat stroke, which is potentially fatal.  If you don’t feel better right after stopping, your body temperature could be so high that it needs to be cooled right away to prevent possible brain damage.

Feeling the “Burn”
In order for muscles to gain strength and endurance your body breaks down carbohydrates into lactic acid.  This makes your muscles acidic and causes the burning sensation.  The longer you’re in the burning zone, the longer it will take for your muscles to recuperate for your next workout.  When you start to feel the burning, slow your pace and exercise at a low intensity until it subsides.

Pain or Tenderness That Doesn’t Subside
Overuse injuries to bones, tendons, and ligaments are often preceded by localized soreness on one side of the body.  This soreness will generally get worse with continued exercise, so stop immediately if you feel this sort of pain.  This is different than delayed onset muscle soreness which will typically occur 8-24 hours after intense exercise.  This will usually take a few days to completely subside, so exercise at a lighter intensity until you’re fully recovered.

Eat Low Glycemic Carbohydrates
The Glycemic Index (GI) measures how quickly carbohydrates in food become sugar in the blood.  Foods high on the GI cause spikes in blood sugar and dips later on, which cause you to crave more sugar.  Foods with a low GI rating will stabilize your cravings and blood sugar.  Fresh, whole foods are best for maintaining your blood sugar.  Low GI foods like green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and asparagus are full of antioxidants that promote healthy skin as well.

Limit Refined Sugar
Controlling sugar is the biggest trick to shedding years by just changing your diet.  Knowing how they affect you and where they most often hide is key.  Most processed, packaged foods contain sugars that cause a process called glycosylation.  This causes the skin to become discolored and stiff over time.  If a foods list of ingredients has sugar in the top 3, then avoid it.  Remember that different types of sugar like dextrose, high fructose corn syrup and caramel may be listed instead of sugar, so beware.

Eat Antioxidant Rich Foods
Free radicals, or oxygen based molecules from toxins are the biggest culprit to advancing the aging process of your skin.  Antioxidants can repair the damage done and help reduce wrinkles and chance for skin cancers.  Some of the more powerful antioxidants can be found in the omega-3 fatty acids of fresh cold water fish like salmon and sardines.  Other good sources are quercetin, found in broccoli, onions, cranberries, and apples, lycopene in tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruits, and beta-carotene in carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and squash.

Drink Water
Water can literally plump the skin from the inside out and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Be sure to drink at least 8 tall glasses of water a day, more if possible.  Drinking plenty of water will also help detoxify your body and flush out any excess wastes.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism has just recently published a study in their March issue regarding the now epidemic level of worldwide vitamin D deficiency.  This new research has found that 59% of the world’s population is deficient in vitamin D, and almost 25% of those studied are extremely low on the vital mineral.  While certainly staggering, these numbers gain even more weight when combined with another study from the University of Copenhagen and the Department of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology.  Their studies have determined that vitamin D is linked directly to the body’s immune function by actually arming it.

T cells are white blood cells, or lymphocytes that play a large role in immunity.  This research has shown that without vitamin D, they often lay dormant and provide little protection against viruses.  When optimal levels of vitamin D are present, these cells are much more active and seek out these foreign bodies.  With such a large part of the population affected by this deficiency it’s entirely possible to say that the H1N1 flu epidemic could have been avoided by supplementing vitamin D rather than vaccines that caused a plethora of other problems once administered, especially when taking into consideration that nearly all who died from H1N1 flu were chronically deficient in vitamin D.

This new research may not seem like a real breakthrough on its own, but again when combined with other information it gathers steam.  The fact that nearly all patients suffering from kidney failure, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and multiple sclerosis are dangerously low in vitamin D says that the deficiency could single handedly be the determining factor in so many diseases.

You should already be getting plenty of vitamin C for immune health, so pairing this with more vitamin D could help activate the immune response you’ve been fortifying already.  The best source for vitamin D is of course direct sun exposure, just be sure not to shower right away as it can take a few hours for your skin to properly absorb and process it.  The best food sources are fresh fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna, fortified dairy products like milk, and cheese, and eggs.  There are numerous supplements on the market to help as well, but be sure to check the labels because some of them like cod liver oil remove the vitamin D.

As technology advances and medical research moves forward, more and more links to deadly diseases are unearthed.  Recently, a number of factors for heart disease have been discovered, but did you know that one of them could be your mood?  The International Journal of Epidemiology has published research that suggests that chronic boredom can lead to an early death.

The research doesn’t say that strictly being bored is a killer, but rather symptoms associated with it.  For example, people who are bored tend to eat more.  In these situations, they’re probably not running for the healthiest snacks either.  Boredom can be associated with depression in some cases, which also has been linked to heart disease.  People who are bored, depressed, or both are often in poor health already.  In part, this can be due to lack of motivation to live a heart healthy lifestyle including eating well and getting regular exercise.

Questionnaires that were filled out between 1985 and 1988 by 7,500 people aged 35-55 were studied in this project.  The questions centered on whether they had felt “bored at work” during the previous month.  In 2009, researchers followed up on the forms and found that the people who had stated that they had been very bored were more than twice as likely to have died from heart problems as those who weren’t.

Boredom has also been linked to anger suppression which elevates blood pressure and suppresses the natural immunity of the body.  Winter months are the hardest to cope with because of low temperatures and low amounts of vitamin D we get from limited sun exposure.  As we begin to thaw out try to get outside and get active to help live a healthier and more content life.

Keep it dark
If you’re having trouble sleeping already, be wary of turning on the TV or the computer to try to make yourself drowsy again.  The light from the screen can actually reset your internal clock and make it much harder to fall asleep again.  Keep this in mind too if you get up to go to the bathroom or to get a drink in the middle of the night.  Avoid turning on overhead lights at all costs.  Try keeping a book light or small flashlight next to your bed, or put night lights in the areas where you may need help seeing in the dark to limit your eyes light exposure.

Stay on schedule
Your body’s internal clock, also known as circadian rhythm, is not only affected by light and darkness, but routine as well.  The biggest trap that most fall into is keeping later nights and mornings on weekends than during the week.  This can throw off your sleep schedule and leave you with insomnia on Sunday night, which will start your week off in a greatly exhausted state.  If you do sleep in, make sure that it’s no more than a couple of hours difference than you would normally get up to prevent your body from being confused.

Going problem or growing problem?
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 65% of older adults are deprived of sleep because of frequent urination through the night.  The body’s natural aging process can cause this as diuretic hormones decrease over time, but it can potentially point to prostate problems in men or urinary tract issues in women.  Talk to your doctor about those tests, but in the meantime try to limit liquid intake for at least 3 hours before bed, and cut back on coffee and tea because they can irritate the bladder.