GOOD HEALTH DETERMINED BY GENETICS, LIFESTYLE - DOCTOR

Dr Casey Nwachukwu of Wuse General Hospital, said the health of every individual depended highly on genetics and supported by his lifestyle.

Nwachukwu explained in Abuja on Sunday that a lifestyle of clean eating and physical fitness was required to support the genetics in ensuring good health.

No Antibiotics for Colds, Sore Throats

Two doctor groups are reminding physicians to use antibiotics sparingly this cold and flu season.

The American College of Physicians and the CDC urged doctors not to dole out antibiotics for colds, sore throats, bronchitis, and sinus infections that aren't complicated, according to guidance published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

"Reducing overuse of antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections in adults is a clinical priority and a high-value-care way to improve quality of care, lower healthcare costs, and slow or prevent the continued rise in antibiotic resistance," Wayne Riley, MD, MPH, president of ACP, said in a statement.

Heartbreaking video shows what happens to babies born addicted to drugs

AdClorissa sorted her life out while she was pregnant with Braxton — but her first child was taken away. Picture: Reuters

Six-month-old Braxton Jones shakes uncontrollably after being born dependant on methadone — the drug mum Clorissa was using to ween herself off heroin.

The tot has been forced to overcome withdrawal symptoms such as tremors and oversensitivity, and still has trouble feeding.

He is one of more than 130,000 children born hooked on drugs in the US in the past decade.

Clorissa has now been enrolled in a hospital program for mums battling addiction in Baltimore, Maryland.

She said: “I know Braxton saved my life in the fact that I was able to stay clean through my whole pregnancy and I’m still clean right now.

STEROIDS PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS; THE RISKS INVOLVED. . .

AdSTEROIDS PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS; THE RISKS INVOLVED . . . .
By Joy Okon

Basically, athletes involved in elite sports are tested for performance-enhancing drugs. These drugs are steroid-based. Although these drugs have been banned by sport associations worldwide, some athletes still test positive to these drugs. Now, the question is, are these drugs really worth it?

Studies have confirmed that steroids can increase muscle mass when used in large amounts and coupled with heavy exercise. However, their adverse effects far outweigh any benefits derived.

These adverse effects include:

• On the Cardiovascular system:

New FDA Approved drugs for treatment of Cancer (2015)

In the verge of getting treatment and cure for different types of Cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has fully approved these cancer drugs in 2015.

This page also lists common drug combinations used in these cancer types. The individual drugs in the combinations are FDA-approved. However, drug combinations themselves usually are not approved, but are widely used.

• FDA granted accelerated approval to alectinib (ALECENSA capsules, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.) for the treatment of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed on or are intolerant to crizotinib.  More Information.  December 11, 2015

• FDA granted approval to uridine triacetate (VISTOGARD granules, Wellstat Therapeutics Corporation) for the emergency treatment of adult and pediatric patients: 
  • following a fluorouracil or capecitabine overdose regardless of the presence of symptoms, or
  • who exhibit early-onset, severe or life-threatening toxicity affecting the cardiac or central nervous system and/or early-onset, unusually severe adverse reactions (e.g., gastrointestinal toxicity and/or neutropenia) within 96 hours following the end of fluorouracil or capecitabine administration.  More Information.  December 11, 2015
   

Good News for all Sickle Cell patients as FG now free drugs

You know how most families having a sickler as a child continue to pour in so much love, tenderness and care on the child? How the child have to suffer excruciating episodes of the disease, especially severe bone pain? But what happens when a drug, Niprisan that is used to treat patients with this condition get banned from commercial production in the country?!

Prof. Karniyus Gamaniel, the Director-General, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research Development (NIPRD), revealed to newsmen in Abuja that

“we give people who come to the Institute the sickle-cell drug; it is no longer sold in pharmacies; you only get it at the Institute. 

He said there was no cure for sickle-cell anaemia but added that the Institute, in collaboration with local traditional medicine specialists had researched and produced Niprisan to manage the disorder. The director general said that the Institute was continually making efforts at producing the drug to ensure that those with the disorder access it always.

ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY; CURE TO HIV/AIDS?

A lot of people are still with the misconception that HIV/AIDS has a cure. I’d like state here again; HIV/AIDS does NOT have a cure, at least, for now.

Another misconception is the believe that Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the cure to HIV/AIDS.

FACT: Antiretroviral therapy is NOT a cure to HIV/AIDS; it is only a management practice which is used to treat HIV patients, preventing it from developing to AIDS.

ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY, WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL?

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) involves a combination of medicines that helps fight HIV infection. ART helps control the HIV virus so that the infected person can live a longer, healthier life, reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others, and even prevent the development of HIV to AIDS.

CAN I GET HIV FROM USING OTHER KINDS OF DRUGS?

The answer to this is NO, and at the same time, YES.

NO, because no drug in itself can cause HIV/AIDS.

YES, but not directly.

As earlier stated, no drug in itself can cause HIV/AIDS, but some drugs indirectly predispose an individual to greater risks.

Let's take a look at some of these drugs. . .

There are many drugs that people use or abuse occasionally.

The most common one is alcohol (in beer, wine, or liquor).

Others include:

Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Amphetamines, Ketamine and Ecstasy.

These drugs do not only increases someone's risk of getting HIV, they can also cause special problems/complications for people who are already HIV infected.

HOW CAN I TELL IF I HAVE HIV/AIDS?

Usually, the key pointers as to whether someone is down with a particular disease are its signs and symptoms. But in this case, you cannot rely on symptoms to tell whether you have HIV. 

The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested.

At the same time, it is VERY important to know the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS so as to be health conscious and alert.

HIV/AIDS; SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of HIV vary, depending on the individual and what stage of the disease the individual is in. There are THREE stages, and they are:

●     The early stage (a.k.a acute infection or seroconversion)

●     The Clinical Latency stage

●     The late stage (progression to AIDS)

Health benefits of eating placenta 'unproven'

After giving birth, many women opt to consume their placentas for multiple health benefits. A new review of studies investigating placenta consumption, however, has failed to uncover any scientific evidence for these benefits, or that the practice is risk-free.

The study, published in Archives of Women's Mental Health involved a review of 10 published research studies on placentophagy - the practice of consuming placentas after childbirth. Four of these were human studies and six were animal studies deemed relevant to human practice.

During pregnancy, the placenta develops within the uterus to provide oxygen and nutrients for the baby and to remove waste products from its blood. When the child is born, the placenta is usually delivered shortly afterward.

PILL SWALLOWING AND CHILDREN

If you’re a parent, you know how difficult it can be to get a child to swallow a pill or capsule. Age, fear, anxiety and taste often stand in the way of doctor’s orders. Now, a new study looks at various interventions aimed at helping that medicine go down.

The researchers analyzed findings from 5 studies that looked at barriers to medication administration in kids up to 21 years old. They looked at the use of behavioral therapy, flavored throat spray, specialized pill cups, simple verbal instruction and head posture training. The results showed that all of the interventions helped children swallow pills easier…and at least one of the published articles found that younger kids, 4 to 5 years old, actually needed less training than older kids. 

CASSAVA A 'POSSIBLE' TOOL IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER

The cassava plant is a staple crop in Africa, Asia, and South America. Different parts of the plant such as the root, leaves, and sometimes the whole plant, are used in herbal remedies.

There is NO convincing scientific evidence that cassava is effective in preventing or treating cancer. However, some researchers have proposed an idea that might eventually lead to treatments that use an enzyme from the cassava plant. This approach has not been scientifically tested.

              HOW IS IT PROMOTED FOR USE?

In folk medicine, the cassava plant is promoted for treating snakebites, boils, diarrhea, flu, hernia, inflammation, conjunctivitis, sores, and several other problems including cancer.

PARACETAMOL 'NO GOOD FOR BACK PAIN'

Paracetamol is ineffective at treating back pain and osteoarthritis despite being a recommended treatment, a group of Australian researchers has warned.

Their review of 13 clinical trials, published in the British Medical Journal, said the drug did not reduce disability or improve quality of life. 

Instead, the group warned, it increased the odds of liver problems.

The NHS is to review its guidelines. Experts say patients should consult a doctor before changing medicines.

Back pain is a leading cause of disability and in the UK alone it is estimated to affect 26 million people each year.

Italy suspends Fluad Flu Vaccine from Novartis after deaths.

Italy has suspended the use of two batches of a flu vaccine made by Swiss firm Novartis after four people died shortly after receiving the drug.

Italy's pharmaceutical watchdog Aifa said the suspension of Fluad was a precautionary measure - and tests were being conducted to establish whether there was a link.

Those who died were two women and two men aged between 67 and 87.

Novartis said "no causal relationship to the vaccine has been established".

Fluad is a flu vaccine given to the elderly, which was approved in 1997.

In a statement, Aifa said: "At this point, it is not clear if there is a causal relationship or a link to the vaccination.

The ADHERETECH Smartpill bottles.

We are in a world where technological advancement in gaining grounds in every sphere and every field of life. Just when we least expected, springs up another record-breaking innovation in medical technology.

According to the WHO, only about 50 percent of people with chronic conditions adhere to their medication regimen. Poor adherence is directly linked to poor outcomes and increased likelihood of hospitalizations.

Imagine yourself receiving a text message or phone call from your pill bottle, reminding you that you have just missed the pill you should have taken at some time, or you are about taking the wrong dosage. Sounds funny doesn't it? All that are more are what the Smart pill Bottle can do for you.

ZMapp; The Ebola Curing 'MAGICAL' Cocktail.

As at of August 1, 2014, there have been at least 1,603 cases of Ebola and 887 deaths recorded in the recent outbreak which is centred in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to the World Health Organization, and the number is going on the rise everyday.

After a call to bid his wife farewell, Dr. Kent Brantly, a physician who works with the relief organization Samaritan’s Purse and had contracted Ebola after treating Ebola patients at a missionary clinic in Liberia, was called back from the gate of death after taking the

Ebola Salt-Water Therapy Claims The Lives of Two People.

What seemed to start like a joke, rumored across the nation, has turned to deny some people their rights to continue living.
At least two persons have been feared dead with 20 others hospitalised in various hospitals in Plateau State after consuming excessive quantity of salt and bitter kola to prevent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) attack following a viral message on social media that it could prevent the spread of the Ebola virus, Vanguard reports.

The deceased whose identities could not be ascertained at the time of the report were said to be hypertension patients. They were rushed to the hospital by their family members after they

NAFDAC Enforces Mobile Authentication Service (MAS).

As part of its efforts to promote and ensure the safety of the Nigerian citizens and also put the axe to the activities of fraudulent individuals who produce fake drugs in the country, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has begun the enforcement of the anti-counterfeiting technologies called the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS), which was introduced since 2010. This action was taken to achieve President Goodluck Jonathan’s declarative statement on zero tolerance to counterfeit drugs in the country.