Dexilant for reflux

My doctor prescribed me Dexilant for reflux disease. Is there something cheaper I can take?

Sure, doctors have a bad habit of always prescribing newer medications. This is very common among GPs in Canada. The chief reason is that they are courted by drug reps who offer them BS gimmicks and free dinners. There are several generic versions of Proton pump inhibitors available. These are just as effective as any newer PPI. In fact, you can now buy prilosec and prevacid over the counter at 1/4th the price. Remember, newer is not always better. Medicine is a business and just like newer iphones and ipads, newer medications come and go. Most are no more effective than older medications.

Blood clots

I have been told that I have a blood clot in my leg and have been given warfarin. How long should I remain on this medicine?

If you have blood clots in your legs, you need to be on a blood thinner –which is warfarin. It is sold as Coumadin and is an excellent drug for people with blood clots. If blood clots are not treated, they may break off and fly off to the lung. In most cases of a first time blood clot in the leg, you need to take the medication for at least 6 -9 months. Unfortunately, most doctors are clueless about duration of therapy and never discontinue this medication. Patients are often on warfarin for years. The only people who need life long anticoagulation are those who have inherited coagulation disorders. In addition, you need to wear compression stockings for the rest of your life to prevent post phlebitic syndrome.

The safest diabetic drug

Which is the safest drug for diabetes?

All diabetics would like to know which is the safest drug for them. Now there is research showing that diabetic patients who are treated with sulfonylurea drugs other than metformin have a significantly higher mortality.

Glipizide, glimepiride and glyburide were recently compared to metformin in patients with coronary artery disease. The safest drug was metformin and all experts agree that today it should be the first line drug prescribed for type 2 diabetics.

Until recently, all diabetic drugs were all felt to be similar in effectiveness and safety. But now this research reveals otherwise. Metformin is now available as a generic, is very affordable, and is an excellent drug for blood glucose control. However, in patients with coronary disease, glimepiride may be the preferred drug.

Overall, glipizide and glimepiride are preferred over glyburide, but metformin should be the drug of choice in most type 2 diabetics. The other benefit of metformin is that it induces weight loss. The drug has been around for 80 years and withstood the test of time. Remember, none of the newer anti-diabetic drugs is as effective as metformin.

Ozone for back pain

Can ozone treatment help my back pain?

Millions of people suffer from back pain. For many this disorder is disabling, leads to loss of jobs and inability to make a living. There are hundreds of ads for back pain cure, ranging from herbs, medications, manipulation therapy, alternative therapy and surgery. In reality, the majority of these treatments do not work. Moreover, no one responds to the same treatment and the symptoms relief is short term. Almost every week a new treatment is introduced. Now there is another experimental treatment that is being promoted for back pain. It involves spinal injections of ozone gas and corticosteroids.

One recent study showed that this combination did help relieve back pain.

How ozone works is a mystery. Corticosteroids have been used to treat back pain but the results have never been impressive. In fact most patients do not find any major benefit from steroid injections.

The researchers in this study claimed that ozone therapy may help some patients avoid surgery.

However, experts in back pain indicate that ozone is just another scam.

Ozone therapy is widely used in some parts of Europe to treat a variety of disorders including back pain. Unfortunately many of the reports on ozone are case reports and small case studies. Further, the benefits of ozone have not been consistently been seen in all patients and the therapy is not cheap.

 

For consumers who have back pain, a word of warning- ozone is considered experimental therapy and is not approved by the FDA. In my opinion, it is just one more treatment with a lot of gas but no real science behind it. Leave ozone for the quacks who have money to waste. When it comes to back pain, the only people who benefit are the providers of therapies-the majority of patients continue to suffer.

Tight undies and genitals

I have heard that wearing tight undergarments can be harmful to my genitals. Is this true?

No, this a myth, which was perpetuated in the 60s and 70s when tight bathing trunks, were in fashion. There are some fools who believe that that wearing tight shorts leads to a build up of temperature in the groin that can lead to poor quality semen or sperm. However, there is ZERO evidence showing that men who have worn tight undergarments are sterile. Shit, to keep warm astronauts are sent in space with multilayered tight fitting garments and they come up and still breed like rabbits. Many women wear tight pants and undergarments and are barely able to take them off -and they have no problems with breeding either.

So if you like wearing tight undies, go ahead, there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, many women like men wearing such garments. It does tend to amplify your assets well, especially if you got a small dick.

Lice and bed sharing

My niece’s daughter has lice and she often sleeps in the same bed as us. Is there a chance I can acquire these creatures?

Yes, 100% you can be affected. Lice will crawl up to you because they love warm bodies. So if I were you, I would stop sharing the bed until she gets treated. In addition, all the linen has been thoroughly washed in hot water.

High protein diet for weight loss

Can a high protein diet help me lose weight?

 

Every single week there is a new weight loss diet being touted in the news. Gone are low carbohydrate diets. This year we have high protein diets. And the chief reason why high protein diets have come into vogue is because there is some evidence that perhaps these diets may be better able to satisfy hunger and limit the amount of calories one takes. This eventually results in loss of weight.

In the last decade, some researchers have shown that diets high in protein with low carbohydrates along with a lifestyle of regular exercise can not only reduce weight but also decrease blood cholesterol and help control blood sugars. Moreover, at the same time diminish the hunger pangs.

So far, it is not understood how proteins can decrease appetite. Some researchers believe that the high protein diets signal the brain to receive a lower level of appetite stimulating chemicals.

The current Daily Recommendations for protein range anywhere from 10%-35% of total calories- meaning that for an average adult one can consume anywhere from 45- 200 grams of protein a day. Most Americans have no problem getting this much protein and in fact, get twice that amount daily. The other question being asked is if it possible to eat too much protein and be safe? In general, as long as one does not have kidney disease, there are no dangers to eating a high protein diet.

The majority of individuals obtain their protein from either animal or plant foods. This includes poultry, fish, dairy, cereals, nuts, grains and legumes.

One final word, just eating a high protein diet will not help you lose weight.  There is no diet that alone can help you lose weight by sitting on the couch, except starvation. No matter what diet you choose, you must eat less and walk more. Eating in excess of 2000 calories./day will make you gain weight if you do not exercise. Best advice, all these diet stuff is a bunch of BS. If you want to lose weight, eat less and walk more.