Health Blog » Medicine

How Safe Is Tylenol?

Charlie — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:19:25 +0000

I do not know if I have ever mentioned this before, but I do have a propensity for taking pills easily. That is, whenever I feel that something is wrong with me physically, I do not hesitate much when it comes to taking pills that will solve my problem. In fact, I have my proven medication for most any kind of minor health problem. Maalox for a bum stomach. Tylenol for a headache – or most any kind of ache, actually.

Recently, though, I have been hearing a lot of rumors about Tylenol being dangerous for you. Mass e-mails about the FDA saying that acetaminophen (the active ingredient of Tylenol) can damage your liver beyond repair have been flooding my Inbox(es) – yes, all of my e-mail accounts have been bombarded. Friends and colleagues, who know of my affinity for this pill, have not been slow to inform me either.

Naturally, I had to do research of my own in order to get to the bottom of this issue once and for all. Thank goodness for Paula Kue, MD, who wrote an article about this exact thing in Yahoo. She said the magic words:

Well, STOP! Please, stop your worrying.

Acetaminophen is a truly safe medication for reducing fevers and treating pain. Unless you have a known liver disease like hepatitis, or are on medications that are themselves toxic to the liver or that already contain acetaminophen, the current dosing guidelines for Tylenol are very safe.

YAY! That’s all I can say. I don’t have hepatitis and as far as I know, I am not taking any medication that is toxic to the liver. So there!

Herbal Medicine: The New Age of Healing

Charlie — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:53:13 +0000

The different types of illnesses plaguing the world today have been something that has caught everyone by surprise. The increasing rate of health issues has made everyone standing on their feet, wondering how to resort to preventive measure to contain such illnesses from spreading like wildfire.

As an alternative, the use of herbal medicine has done wonders for various illnesses such as cancer and heart associated problems. This can be attributed to the fact that the substances and composition that all extracted herbs offer are found to negate and improve the body components.

Weird as they may sound, taste or look, it is the healing effect that holds the truth towards a successful fight against diseases and illnesses. It is not purely a matter of relying on your doctor for advice but also a matter of taking into consideration that herbal plants are existent for a reason, a health reason.

Technorati Tags: herbs, herbal plants, natural healting, alternative medicine

Your Brain – The Last Frontier

Charlie — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:54:14 +0000

The human brain is considered to be the last frontier to unlock the utter complexity of the human body. It is the most studied yet most puzzling part of our bodies due to a complexity that cannot be rivaled by today’s super-computers pound for pound. The human brain is a compact supercomputer that has an area that is larger than you think is in the human skull. The complex inner workings of the human brain has baffled scientists who know what it is made of but how it works is still a big puzzle. Today’s advanced imaging sciences and devices have allowed the unlocking of some of its secrets and the information they gather is proving to be a huge benefit to those who suffer from disease. Studies with stem cells, the body’s super-cells, are giving clues to how a totally healthy cell becomes malignant due to certain signal proteins that are produced by the body itself.
The brain is a mysterious and wondrous organ that is still one of the most studied parts of the human body. We almost have the ability to grow organs and repair limbs but to grow a brain or transplant one to another human is still a far flung dream. Much more needs to be learned about our brains that can hold the key to curing the many diseases we suffer from . Let us just hope that the information we get, would be used for the betterment of man and not for our undoing.

What’s The Most Effective Medication For Back Pain?

Charlie — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:54:34 +0000

You already probably know that many cases of back pain are not treatable. That is, even if you go to the doctor, some cases just cannot be “healed.” They normally go away on their own or you have to take pain killers till they go away. So what is the best medicine to take when your back is killing you? I personally take Tylenol most of the time. However, I read that taking too much of it can cause liver damage. Maybe it’s about time to look at other options?

An article from Spine Health provides insight on this matter:

Half of back pain sufferers reach for Advil or Aleve for relief, according to a poll conducted by Spine-health.com, a leading Web site for those with back problems.

Ibuprofen in general (Advil, Motrin and Nuprin combined) accounted for 39% of the responses. 26% of the respondents said Advil (ibuprofen) is their first choice for OTC pain relief, while 24% selected Aleve (naproxen). Tylenol (acetaminophen) was chosen by 11%, and aspirin was selected by 5%. “Other” accounted for 15% and responses ranged from various prescription drugs to no alternative specified.

It seems that I am part of the minority here. I have tried naproxen before – the generic kind – and from what I recall, it worked well. Perhaps I should try that next time I have a back pain episode.

How about you, what medication works best for your pain?

Photo courtesy of Billie

Dealing with Diarrhea or Loose Bowel Movement (LBM)

Charlie — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:44:30 +0000

Digestive disorders that would come normal would include that of consuming something that the stomach would not like. In other cases, it would include food intake of something that may have been already spoiled thus leading towards discharge of wastes and toxins that may become uncontrollable.

Loose Bowel Movement (LBM) is a natural occurrence where much of the body minerals would be affected as well. Changes in the bowel movement are sure to occur in bad digestive instances. Experiencing stomach cramps, slight chills and the usual uncomfortable feelings are among the things to watch out for in such cases.

The best way is to continuously drink water as a form of therapy since LBM drains the body of its liquids at times. Gatorade has been known to be a good alternative to drink up because of its amino acids that would ensure that the body would still have the necessary proteins and to avoid dehydration.

Technorati Tags: diarrhea, lbm, bowel movement

Cases of Twitching Eyes and Vision

Charlie — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:09:02 +0000

People who would normally spend most of their time in front of computers and not getting enough sleep to recharge their body are bound to reach a point where their 20/20 vision may get affected. Growing eye bags and twitching muscles behind the human eye are indicators of abused use of the sense of sight, also warning beforehand a person that he should also learn to rest his eyes from time to time.

While people cannot help such need to embark on body abuses relating to work and pressure stemming from their duties, it is best to adjust the whole body clock to adapt to change temporarily. Everyone will come to a point where they would have to slow down and realize that bodily abuse will catch up with them.

Vitamins and supplements may help in providing preventive maintenance, but this alone cannot help cure such illnesses. It will also need the cooperation of a person for it to work, otherwise, it is just like burning money for nothing at all.

Technorati Tags: insomnia, anemia, eyes, vision, vitamins, supplements

How to Avoid Acne and Pimples

Charlie — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 17:32:34 +0000

Anyone in the world today would be prone to acne formation usually in their face owing to the fact that the skin moisture plays a pivotal role in their sudden formation. Pollution around the world today are another factor, hence the need for proper hygiene of the body like occasionally washing of the face is a necessity in this time and age.

Pimples can also occur depending on the hereditary traits that a person would have. Some would simply pop up at any moment and this is something that has become typical for teenagers, a sign of change in their current state. Many believe that the sight of pimples is a sign of being in love, but then again, it all boils down to how sensitive a person is about his or her skin.

It is best to be aware of the level of moisture and the contraction of smoke and dust to the face. Many would use wet towels and tissues to wipe off the harmful triggers of pimples. For people who are not that inclined to pay attention to them, expect the formation of such acne and pimples either to grow or spread to various areas, most of it on the facial area of individuals.

Technorati Tags: acne, pimples, facial care, pollution, skin moisture, skin care

The Irritating Sound of Snoring

Charlie — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:18:10 +0000

For a person that pushes himself hard to be able to do all the things that need to be done, it will always come to a point where he would be looking for rest and naps to be able to temporarily recharge his energy. Some people grab any opportunity, even short naps to revitalize their tired bodies. One thing noticeable is that even in short naps, a person would tend to snore, something that would be irritating to people who would be around at that time.

Snoring is natural for people who are really tired. Snoring may be irritating, but it is also a bad sign since it means some disorders for the human body, particularly the cardiology parts of the human body. Heart problems and abuse of health has been found to contribute to snoring, meaning that at some point, people may need to consult their physicians and most probably need to have check-ups to get an overall assessment of their health status.

Snoring may not be immediately noticed by people since they are most of the time unaware of it. People around them would be the ones to hear it, and once they do and inform them about it, it would be best to take note and be more cautious.

Technorati Tags: snoring, sleep disorder, heart problems, cardiology

Why People Contract Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

Charlie — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:30:26 +0000

People would encounter times when they would suddenly feel uneasy, experience sudden attacks of fever or even feel weak without explanation. Initially, people would consider it a mild attack of possible diseases such as fever or flu. But in some cases, they would not react to the standard paracetamols or aspirins making people wonder what could possibly be wrong.

One good way to see is to check the urine of people. Difference in color such as hazy or turbid may be an indication of Urinary Tract Infection. UTI can be confirmed through proper Urinalysis examinations from laboratory examinations. UTI is usually developed when a person would try to hold the usual discharge or from consuming certain liquids that are not pure water.

The best therapy is through drinking water regularly. Water cleanses the system and forces the body to discharge body fluids through urinary discharges. UTI may not be serious at first, but taking it for granted may lead to severe cases and treatment in the long run.

Technorati Tags: UTI, therapy, laboratory, examinations

How to Treat Open Wounds

Charlie — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 08:42:05 +0000

People suffering wounds from accidents or untoward incidents such as cuts and scratches would need the immediate precautionary measures to avoid infection and to stop excessive bleeding. Applying pressure to avoid loss of excessive blood from coming out is the best way to address such injuries. It is also important to ensure that the open wounds would not solicit further infection that can be tetanus if not addressed properly.

The after affects of bleeding wounds that are not given immediate attention can lead to as far as leading to fever and further complicating illnesses. In some cases, they may even go to the extent of endangering lives since tetanus diseases can spread and may not have enough time to be treated.

Wounds can bring more than just bleeding. It can go as far as becoming complicated especially if the bleeding area is not protected properly from infection. The common belief that after a wound opens and that applying known medicine and antibiotics to help is normal, but if the timing is not correct, it may be a useless resort for most people.

Technorati Tags: wounds, tetanus, first aid, bruise, injury