The FDA warning released about the serious health risks associated with Avandia has left patients confused, concerned and even in danger. Patients who terminate their use of the drug without the oversight of a physician may be taking even greater medical risks off the drug than on it, experts warn.
Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, Avandia is used to treat type 2 diabetics. It functions as an insulin sensitizer, boosting the body's ability to control blood glucose levels. Clinical studies and complaints filed to the FDA show that long-term effects of Avandia include heightened risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke. Affected individuals and their families have filed Avandia lawsuits for personal injury and wrongful death related to these health risks.
Reports of these claims have been met by widespread controversy. In fact, when the FDA released its September 2010 restriction on the drug, GlaxoSmithKline (the drug's manufacturer) responded with a 30-page rebuttal stating that the evidence cited by the FDA did not match the credibility of the extensive clinical trials conducted by the company. The FDA's restriction on the drug instructed that the drug was only to be administered in patients who have already proven to use Avandia without the aforementioned side effects, patients who have no other option for effectively controlling their blood glucose levels and patients who have signed a release indicating they are aware of the potential health risks associated with the drug.
In the wake of so much controversy, and in light of a rash of consumers filing an Avandia lawsuit, type 2 diabetics need clear answers to their questions. Questions they are asking include: If I am already taking Avandia, should I continue taking it? Is there a way to know if it is truly safe for me? Are there other drugs on the market that serve the same purpose without the health risks associated with Avandia? What recourse can I take if I feel Avandia has harmed me?
If I am already taking Avandia, should I continue taking it? Is there a way to know if it is truly safe for me? Experts agree that until an alternative therapy is prescribed by a physician, patients currently taking Avandia should continue to use the drug. Patients who stop taking Avandia without an alternative in place are immediate and great risk related to their glucose levels. If taking Avandia over the long term scares you, consult with your medical provider before ceasing use of the drug.
Are there other drugs on the market that serve the same purpose without the health risks associated with Avandia? Takeda Pharmaceutical's Actos is a drug in the same class as Avandia. While it may also increase the risk of congenital heart failure, it is not known to cause heart attack, angina or stroke.
What recourse can I take if I feel that Avandia has harmed me? The FDA maintains the MedWatch program, through which consumers may file reports of adverse drug incidents. You may also join the ranks of other diabetics filing Avandia lawsuits.
Yaz is an oral contraceptive marketed by Bayer. Since its approval by the FDA in 2006, Yaz has become the most popular oral contraceptive in the United States. However, during its short availability, it has been the subject of criticism, FDA warnings and even Yaz lawsuits. The drug is used effectively for contraception when taken as indicated, but it contains a powerful diuretic, drospirenone, which is a chemical form of progesterone. Drospirenone is not an ingredient in any other oral contraceptives in the U.S. other than the similar products Yasmine and Ocella, which have also been criticized for their safety. Drospirenone is noted for its likelihood to cause severe health problems which challenges the overall safety and value of Yaz. Yaz lawyers argue, based on FDA warnings, that the company neglected to adequately warn the public of the drospirenone's health risks and even went so far as to claim other benefits of the drug that had not yet been proven.
Yaz is effective as a contraceptive because it prevents ovulation and changes conditions within the cervix and uterus in order to make it difficult for sperm to enter or fertilized eggs to impant. Drospirenone was noted for its close similarity to organic progesterone, which is the hormone present when ovulation is not taking place. The presence of this synthetic version of progesterone has also been found to prevent acne and eleviate symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) – not to be confused with PMS.
Unfortunately, drospirenone has been found to cause several dangerous and even potentially fatal side effects. A powerful diuretic, drospirenone can cause potassium levels in the bloodstream to increase dangerously (hyperkalemia). Hyperkalemia causes blood clots to form ,potentially leading to stroke, heart attack and deep vein thrombosis. Thrombosis refers to the formation of blood clots within a vein, which typically occur in deep veins in the legs and pelvic area. When blood clots form in the pulmonary artery of the heart, the patient may experience heart attack. Blood clots may also travel through the blood stream and become stuck int the brain, which causes stroke. Other recorded outcomes of Yaz include gallbladder disease, kidney failure, liver failure, cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death.
To date, dozens of Yaz lawsuits have been filed related to these problems and Yaz lawyers are working to represent thousands of others impacted by the drug. Yaz lawyers cite FDA warnings as early as 2003 for the similar drug Yasmin. In the earliest of these warnings, Bayer is accused of failing to conduct proper testing on drospirenone and neglecting to make the health risks of the drug known to the public. FDA warnings in 2008 and 2009 condemn the company for its misleading advertisements which claim unproven uses for Yaz (such as the treatment of PMS, which has never been substantiated) and which fail to notify consumers of the side effects. Yaz is still available to the public, but the growing number of Yaz lawsuits combined with the frequent FDA warnings will hopefully keep more consumers safe from the negative effects of drospirenone in the future.
Avandia, sold by GlaxoSmithKline, has been a popular drug used to treat type 2 diabetics in the U.S. As a result of their illness, diabetics are at high risk of heart attack and heart failure – in fact, two-thirds of people with diabetes die of heart problems. People with diabeteshave been prescribed Avandia in large part to reduce their likelihoodof heart attack and heart failure. However, Avandia has been found to increase the risk of heart disease in patients who use it for a long period of time. Avandia has been investigated by the Food and Drug Administration since 2007, but it is still legal in the U.S.. An estimated 13,000 Avandia law suits have been filed against the company since 2007.
To date, GlaxoSmithKline has settled in over 10,000 of the Avandia law suits, paying out an estimated $1 - $6 billion dollars in damages. Successful Avandia lawyers have represented individuals who can connecttheir experience of one of the following conditions to taking Avandia: congestive heart failure, heart attack, liver toxicity, severe allergic reaction and stroke. The drug maker, GlaxoSmithKline, has been accused of withholding information from the FDA and patients of potential side effects of the drug. Evidence suggests that the drug maker had evidence of these risks and withheld the information in order to continue to sell this popular product. In its investigation of Avandia, the Senate Finance Committee uncovered that GlaxoSmithKline paid to have articles written promoting the benefitsof Avandia in spite of GlaxoSmithKline's knowledge of opposing evidence as early as 2000.
Despite three years of investigations into the drug and the thousands of law suits GlaxoSmithKline that have been filed by Avandia lawyers, the drug is still being prescribed in the U.S. Conflicting studies have created disagreement at the FDAover the safety of Avandia. In 2007, the FDA voted to keep the drug on the market, but added a "black box" warning about the possible side effectsof Avandia. The FDA voted again in July 0f 2010 that Avandia would still be available in the U.S.. The possibility of attaching a new, stronger warning was discussed but rejected at that time. During September of 2010, the FDA finally voted to restrict the sale of Avandia to patients who had already shown they were doing fine on the drug. Sales of the drug dropped significantly following the release of FDA warnings in 2007 and some physicians reportedly no longer prescribe Avandia to their patients altogether. The FDA recommends that patients stay on Avandia until their physician prescribes an alternative.
Avandia passed initial safety testing and was approved for use in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration, and was also common in Europe and other countries. However, safety testing of pharmaceuticals, which occurs over a two- to three-year period, did not reveal the negative effects of taking the drug over the long-term. Two- to three-year testing is most effective for drugs used to treat acute symptoms in the short term, but the failure to detect the side effects of long-termingestion of Avandia suggests that a new system for long-term drug testing needs to be adopted. It is important to note that the FDA's Associate Director of Drug Safety pointed to similar prescriptions withsimilar efficacy in treatment but without the deadly side effects much earlier. It speaks volumes that similar diabetes medications from other manufacturers have been shown to be equally effective in treatment but with much lower cardiovascular dangers, yet Avandia still remains on the market. Investigations will be conducted by the FDA to determine what information GlaxoSmithKline may have withheld. Plus thousands of Avandia lawyers are proceeding with their own discovery process as part of the lawsuits over Avandia they are engaged in. With more and more prescription drugs being taken for indefinite periods of time, this would appear that the FDA has simply agreed to outsource its primary role, the safety of the public, to the companies that stand to make the most from finding no flaws with their products, the drug manufacturers.
Teen obesity has reached nearly epidemic proportions in recent years. The American Heart Association and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that between 15% and 33% of adolescents in the United States alone are overweight. The increase in overweight and obese teenagers has also increased the number of teens being diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and other physical problems.
Obesity is defined as a body weight roughly 10% higher than recommended according to body type and height. Unfortunately, obesity causes an alarming 300,000 deaths annually in the United States alone, at a cost of nearly 1 billion dollars a year.
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, medical conditions and disorders are responsible for approximately 1% of all teens diagnosed as being overweight or obese, while overeating and lack of exercise make up the majority. Major contributing factors to teen obesity include:
Low self esteem
Lack of exercise
Poor eating and nutritional habits
One can argue that the plethora of fast food restaurants on every corner has contributed to the general rise of weight in teens caused by high fat, high calorie, and high sugar menu items. In addition to the physical manifestations that obesity may cause, teens who are overweight may also experience emotional difficulties, that when coupled with obesity, may cause anxiety, depression, withdrawal, lack of self-confidence and self-esteem and even the development of some obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Treatment of Obesity in Teens Obesity in teens may be treated with a variety of options, from medications to surgery. However, any weight loss treatment for teenagers should focus on providing long-term benefits that includes education regarding exercise programs, building healthy and nutritional dietary habits, and family support.
Weight loss treatment centers and support groups are a growing popular option among teenagers, as are adolescent weight loss and obesity surgical procedures. Nevertheless, teen bariatric surgical procedures represent less than 1% of weight loss surgical procedures, based on the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
In most cases, bariatric surgeons will only recommend bariatric surgical procedures if weight may potentially cause more harm to the teenager's health than potential surgery risks. Still, gastric banding is one of the most commonly performed weight loss surgical procedures for teens, coupled with a multi-disciplinary approach to weight loss and weight loss management that includes nutritional education by certified nutritionists, psychological counseling by trained and experienced psychologists, and certified fitness instructors.
Considerations for Teen Obesity Surgery The American Academy of Pediatrics devised guidelines under which teenagers might be considered for weight loss surgery. These guidelines include:
Failure, following six or more months, of continuous attempt at weight loss or weight management programs.
Requiring the teen to have attained full skeletal growth, meaning 13 years of age or older for girls, and 15 years of age or older for boys.
Body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 with a obesity-related problem such as diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, joint problems, or breathing difficulties, among others to be determined by the teenager's physician.
A teenager undergoing weight loss treatments or procedures should be willing, able and mature enough to maintain a strict nutritional diet that adheres to bariatric surgery guidelines following surgery such as gastric bypass or lap banding.
The two most commonly performed weight loss surgical procedures for teens have included the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and adjustable gastric banding procedure. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass involves stapling a portion of the stomach and attaching a Y-shaped section of the small intestine to the newly created stomach pouch so food bypasses the first portion of the intestine, reducing the amount of food digested and absorbed by the body.
Lap banding utilizes the placement of an elastic band around a portion of the stomach to decrease its size. This procedure is adjustable and removable.
Conclusion While bariatric surgery may provide physical benefits and aid to weight loss endeavors for teenagers, such procedures must be combined with education, counseling, and support in order to be successful and to encourage long-term weight loss and weight loss maintenance.
The complete guide to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol-without medication-through a proven diet, exercise, and weight loss program Finally, the #1 ranked DASH diet is popularized and user-friendly. Unlike any diet before it, DASH, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, came out of groundbreaking NIH-funded research. Now, Marla Heller, MS, RD, who was trained by one of th...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects about one in four Americans -- but this potentially life-threatening condition can exist virtually without symptoms. Now, the latest medical advances that can help prevent the damaging effects of hypertension are compiled in a convenient reference under the authority of the American Medical Association. Here is clear, concise information that can help...
This digital document is an article from Internal Medicine News, published by Thomson Gale on January 15, 2007. The length of the article is 545 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: JNC-...
The user-friendly guide to the DASH diet, proven to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. The DASH diet is recommended by the American Heart Association, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the US treatment guidelines for hypertension. The DASH diet is a healthy plan, based on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and non- or low-fat dairy. At the heart of the book are recipes and 28 days of menus, with adjustments for 1200-, 1600-, and 2000-calorie diets. The DASH Diet Action Plan provides the lifestyle plan to improved heart health, including the DASH diet, exercise, weight loss, and additional healthy lifestyle changes.
The United States is one of the sickest nations on the planet. Despite our wealth, access to educational media, natural resources, and opportunity, most Americans accept atherosclerosis, cancer, hypertension, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other degenerative chronic diseases as part of the normal aging process. Unfortunately, even our traditional modern medicine practitioners believe this misguided and bleak picture out of ignorance. This is because in a traditional curriculum, many physicians-in-training only receive one course in nutrition -- the safest, most effective, and least expensive form of chronic disease prevention available. This one course is guided by the faulty 1992 Food Pyramid of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), which derived from the even more dangerous Basic Four Food Groups of 1956. In both cases, the approval of these dietary guidelines was a political rather than a medical decision, and recent scientific evidence has shown how these guidelines keep Americans sick rather than healthy.The Vegan Diet as Chronic Disease Prevention explores the mountain of evidence that suggests that a diet free of animal products can have radically beneficial effects on many conditions that affect vast numbers of Americans. Dr. Saunders provides an exhaustive list of references and sources in arguably the most comprehensive argument in print for the human health benefits of the vegan diet.
It is estimated that no less than 600 million people worldwide are affected by hypertension. Described as a "murderer silent" Hypertension causes 5 million premature deaths each year (World Health Organization) and the numbers are increasing.
There are two types of hypertension: primary hypertension, which can not be attributed to one thing, and secondary hypertension, which is attributable to some other disease body. Both are equally threatening, and perform the same damage in the body, such as cardiovascular disease (angina pectoris, stroke, heart attack or atrial fibrillation).
Usually the treatment is of two types: lifestyle and medication. Lifestyle changes include not smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eat healthier, exercise more and more rest. The drugs include ACE inhibitors to make the walls blood vessels relax and widen, blockers, calcium channel to widen blood vessels, diuretics to cause hormonal changes and beta blockers to reduce the workload of the heart during times of physical stress. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of these treatments if administered separately or together is variable, good to bad. And of course there is a double-edged sword when medication is used: the positive effects are offset by its negative.
However, Hypertension can be treated differently, so that has been clinically proven to achieve consistently good results, often eliminating the disease completely while making other positive side effects that promote greater health and wellness. It is the practice of meditation.
In recent 30 years has been extensive research on meditation's effects on health, and there is no longer any doubt about the positive effect of not only the spirit, but in the mind and body as well. Meditation changes the frequencies of brain waves of a person and in doing so, change your brain bioelectrical activity and commands sent to the rest of your body.
By meditating, a person may have more endorphins released into your system making you feel "high" they might also have an increase in neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin) that are associated with positive states of mind, your brain might also give the signal to release more melatonin and DHEA (anti aging and rejuvenation of hormones) into the bloodstream and all are extremely beneficial to the physical and mental health.
When you feel mentally can not fail to have a positive effect on physical well-being, just as physical well-being will a positive effect on a mental welfare. Through practiced meditation, the mind-body connection becomes positive symbiotic. There is a constant feedback positive between the two that, in time, will result in a person not only reduced their blood pressure, but the improvement of their physical and mental.
For more information about meditation, how to meditate better health and easy ways to achieve a meditative state please visit: title = "On Meditation"> www.positivemindstates.com / AboutMeditation.htm
About the Author
About Me -- I have spent many years in the study of personal development. Diagnosed with leaukemia 11 years ago. I used the power of meditation, autosuggestion and visualization to heal myself. I knew I could do this because I realised it was the way I was using my mind in the first place that made me ill. For four years prior to the illness I had been performing in a piece about 'blood going bad'. I literally focussed my brain on that negative suggestion - not realising that I was manifesting it in my body. This was a right of passage that taught me about the importance of focussing my mind on what I wanted, not on what I did not want. Our mind is the most precious resource for creating the life we want and whatever way we work it - works!
• Proves that the majority of cases of stroke, heart attack, and hypertension can easily be prevented by maintaining the proper ratio of potassium to sodium in the diet. • Updated with scientific evidence from a recent Finnish study showing a 60 percent decline in deaths attributed to strokes and heart attacks. • Provides a comprehensive program for balancing body chemistry at t...
Help your patients avoid a new or recurrent stroke—with this evidence-based guide Featuring a rigorous evidence-based approach and hands-on tools, this book will enable you to go further in minimizing the risk of stroke for your patients. Edited by two global authorities, Stroke Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation offers leading-edge insights, new data, and best practices f...
This digital document is an article from MedSurg Nursing, published by Jannetti Publications, Inc. on June 1, 2002. The length of the article is 6761 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.From the author: Lif...
This volume of Advances in Cell Aging and Gerontology provides a timely review on the molecular and cellular basis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Age itself is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which include loss of vasomotor function, athero- and arterio-sclerosis, hypertension, congestive heart failure and stroke. Together these pathologies comprise the leading causes of permanent disability, hospitalization and death for individuals over the age of 65. Thus, there is a critical need to assess both the age-associated causes leading to CVD as well as the current state of knowledge on preventive regimens designed to slow or modulate disease progression. This book concisely summarizes the current knowledge related to the major aspects contributing to cardiovascular disfunction in the elderly as well as potential ways of maintaining or improving human cardiovascular healthspan.
