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Poppin a Tylenol? Think Again

from ABC News --
When Antonio Benedi of Springfield, Va., felt a case of the flu coming on one weekend in February 1993, he did what millions of others do -- he reached for a common over-the-counter pain medication. "I was taking Tylenol like I was supposed to, by the label," he said. A few days later the then 37-year-old Benedi was in a coma and in desperate need of a liver transplant. "I was taking Tylenol like I was supposed to, by the label," he said. Benedi, like many Americans each year, experienced acute liver failure as a result of taking acetaminophen, the most commonly used painkiller in the country. Many of these cases are due to either intentional or unintentional overdose. Past research also suggests that combining the medication with alcoholic beverages increases the risk of liver damage.

But Benedi, former special assistant to President George H. Bush, said that while he did take the medicine on a mostly empty stomach, he neither overdosed on acetaminophen, nor had an alcoholic beverage while he was taking the drug. He said he did occasionally enjoy a glass of wine, but never while taking acetaminophen. "It's not the mixing of the two; I never misused anything," he said. "I took Tylenol as recommended for three days. By Monday night, my liver was failing. By the time I reached the hospital I was near death." Benedi, now 53, is still living with the transplanted liver he received 16 years ago. Three years ago he required a kidney transplant as well -- a result of the damage that his organs sustained from the anti-rejection drugs he had to take after his liver transplant. And now this transplanted kidney may be failing as well. This past Wednesday, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration working group released a report urging stronger warnings and stricter dose limits for drugs that, like Tylenol, contain acetaminophen -- and hence may pose an increased risk of liver injury to those who use them improperly. The recommendations would also limit the strength of immediate release versions of the drug and place greater controls on the use of acetaminophen in liquid formulations for children.

Dogs And Storms

from Holistic Pet News --
Spring showers may give us hope of flowers, but could also cause the booming thunder that sends your pet running for cover. An estimated 19% of dogs suffer from what veterinarians term "thunder phobia." even before the storm arrives  The phobia ranges from mild anxiety, to jumping out of windows. It 's believed to be caused by a combination of noise, flash of lightning and change in barometric pressure.

Thunder phobia, like other health concerns, can best be dealt with through prevention. Assuring young dogs and puppies that everything will be alright and keeping them from developing the phobia can be key. With most dogs, the phobia, once developed, will only worsen with age. If your dog does have thunder phobia, it is never to late to work with your pet. Holistically, desensitization (behavior modification) can work well. It takes an investment of time on the owners part to slowly introduce the thunderstorm sounds (using a tape or CD). This will normally take several weeks. Another approach is the use of herbs and herbal-based products. Products, formulated for pets, containing chamomile are found most effective. Many of these can be given prior to the start of the storm and the calming effect will last for several hours

And Speaking of Storms

from Science Daily --
Yesterday, using data from NASA's THEMIS mission, a team of University of Alberta researchers pinpointed the impact epicenter of an earthbound space storm as it crashed into the atmosphere at 60,000 miles per hour.

Space storms dissipate massive amounts of energy. These storms can dump the equivalent of 50 billion watts of power, or the output of 10 of the world's largest power stations, into Earth's atmosphere.

The energy originates on the sun. The stream of electrically charged particles in the solar wind carries this energy toward Earth. The solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field, and ends with its release into the atmosphere as a geomagnetic substorm.

We see the benevolent side of space storms in the form of the Northern Lights, but there is also a another side. High-energy, electrically charged particles released by space storms can damage spacecraft, and satellites, and interrupt radio communications and global positioning system (GPS) navigation, and damage electric power grids

Snoring, Obesity & Diabetes

from Reuters --
Sleep apnea is often undiagnosed, and therefore untreated, in many obese patients with type 2 diabetes, according to research published yesterday. Dr. Gary Foster of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Philadelphia's Temple University,said "The fact that many obese patients with type 2 diabetes have sleep apnea and don't know it is troubling given the serious medical consequences of sleep apnea." People with obstructive sleep apnea experience episodes in which they stop breathing when they sleep. This occurs when the muscles of the upper part of the throat narrow, closing the airway and preventing oxygen from getting into the lungs.

If you read or hear of some interesting news for us, let us know. Call 828-254-6620, or go to our website, viratolive.com and contact us.