Justin Bieber says Prince William should use Propecia to fight his hair loss

Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber is perhaps not famously renowned for his medical knowledge or hair loss expertise. Despite this, it has not stopped the teen icon from offering his words of wisdom on the rapidly diminishing mane of Prince William and urging him to use the effective hair restoration medication, Propecia.

The 18-year-old ‘Boyfriend’ singer made his jibes about the balding 30-year-old Prince when  speaking to Rollercoaster magazine during a recent promotional trip to the UK in support of his ‘Believe’ album.

Bieber first emerged into the global spotlight back in 2008 after being discovered via his uploaded home videos on YouTube. Part of Bieber’s popularity was somewhat due to his baby-faced good looks, and luxurious flowing locks which he initially had stylised into a bowl-shaped cut upon his breakthrough. However, for the previous two years Bieber has sported a much shorter spiked-up quiff after causing a massive media sensation in 2010 when he decided to get rid of his longer hair.

Whereas Bieber can grow his hair back should he wish to do so, Prince William has been losing his hair an alarming rate in recent years and where hair is concerned, he has evidently taken after his father Prince Charles and uncle Prince Edward who are both suffering with male pattern baldness (MPB).

For the interview in Rollercoaster Magazine, Bieber was quizzed about what he would do if he started to lose his locks to MPB and his hair started to thin like the young Prince’s. Justin said, “I mean, there are things to prevent that nowadays, like Propecia. I don’t know why he doesn’t just get those things, those products. You just take Propecia and your hair grows back. Have you not got it over here?”

In reply to Justin’s question; yes we do have Propecia ‘over here’ and it is obtainable today from Medical Specialists Pharmacy working out from as little as £47.58 per month. The medication Propecia (finasteride) is commonly used to treat male pattern baldness and works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to an androgen thought to cause hair loss. Its effectiveness and popularity are obvious when even a teenage pop star with a full head of hair is aware of its existence!

With Male pattern baldness affecting 6.5 million men in the UK alone, Medical Specialists are committed to doing everything we can to help. Other options as well as Propecia, include Regaine Foam, as seen on television adverts. Obtainable from Medical Specialists Pharmacy from as little as £46.45, this product contains the active ingredient Minoxidil which is clinically proven to help prevent further hereditary hair loss, showing success in 4 out of 5 men. It works by increasing the blood supply to the hair follicles which helps to strengthen existing hair and stimulate secondary hair growth.

There are also emerging over the counter products that have been released in recent times. Alpecin Caffeine C1 Shampoo stimulates hair growth directly at the roots, strengthens weakened hair roots and prevents hereditary hair loss. In just in 2 minutes, the active ingredient travels along the hair shaft directly into the hair follicles. If the shampoo is left on for longer, the caffeine will also penetrate into the scalp.

When leading Trichologist David Bailey was asked about Bieber comments, he said, “Well it would seem obvious from his comments that he knows all about Male Pattern Hair Loss! How does he know whether the Prince is already taking Propecia or not? As the manufacturer clearly states, it works in the majority of men, but not all. Also, not everybody can take Propecia, they have to have it prescribed by a Doctor after a consultation.”

Evidence shows correlation between smoking and the bone disease osteoporosis

A report published in ACS’ Journal of Proteome Research, has investigated the connection between cigarette smoking and the development of bone fractures, as well as the bone degeneration condition osteoporosis.

Sufferers of osteoporosis will usually experience the spine, wrist and hips affected, but other bones such as the arm or pelvis can deteriorate too.  Once becoming weak and fragile, the bones are at a higher risk of fracturing (breaking).

Common risk factors for osteoporosis include:
. Family history of the disease.
. The inability to absorb certain nutrients from food (malabsorption).
. Diseases of the hormone glands, such as an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
. Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.
. Having Rheumatoid arthritis is a risk factor.

Another risk factor for osteoporosis is cigarette smoking, which may come as a surprise to some people to know that it was first established as a cause of the bone disease nearly 20 years ago.
The latest analysis into the link was carried out by Gary Guishan Xiao and colleagues from the Functional Genomics and Proteomics laboratories at the Creighton University, USA. They decided to compare the genetic activity in the bone marrow cells of both smokers and non-smokers.

Their intrigue developed after they had realised that past studies  had just primarily centred on how toxins in cigarette smoke debilitated bones by having detrimental impacts on osteoblasts (cells that originate in bone marrow and contribute to bone production), and osteoclasts (cells that break down and absorb bone tissue back into the body).

After concluding their investigations, Xiao and his team found that smokers produce abnormally vast amounts of two different proteins that support production of bone-resorbing osteoclasts compared to the non-smokers.

There are currently around 3 million people in the UK who are believed to be suffering from osteoporosis and because of this, an estimated 250,000 bone fractures occur each year. Once thought of as just an older woman’s disease, the condition is actually a widespread global problem. In fact, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, there are 2 million North American males who suffer from it, which equates to approximately 20% of the 10 million US sufferers.

There are numerous steps you can take though to minimise your chances of developing the disease, and they include:

. Avoid excessive levels of alcohol consumption and this can hinder your body’s ability to absorb calcium.
. If you think you are suffering from depression, seek immediate help from your doctor. Depression that is left untreated can lead to the production of cortisol, a stress-related hormone that can actually deplete minerals from your bones.
. Exercise regularly. The workout you give to your bodily muscles can help to stimulate bone-making cells and bolster your bones. It is recommended that adults undergo at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week. Weight-bearing and resistance exercise is also vital for enhancing bone density.
. Quit smoking. Chemicals from tobacco smoke enter the bloodstream and have been shown to make bone loss worse. If you do smoke then we advise that you make an effort to stop, and Medical Specialists Pharmacy can help you, providing effective treatment for this.

Champix is a prescription medication that works out from as little as just £75.00 per pack, an incredibly small price when it comes to your long-term health. Champix mimics the effect of nicotine on the body, reducing the urge to smoke and relieving withdrawal symptoms. It can also decrease the enjoyment you experience of smoking if you are still smoking whilst on the treatment. Studies have shown 44% smokers who used champix on a daily basis where able to quit smoking.

High intake of alcohol mixed with energy drinks can lead to unsafe sex

Energy drinks such as Monster or Red Bull have long been a staple in the diet of many young people, especially students. Either as a quick ‘pick-me-up’, or used as a mixer with spirits such as Vodka, it seems their demand is as high as ever.

However, a new study to emerge from the University of Buffalo, has seemingly found that the increase in casual and risky sex (i.e. without the use of a condom or other contraception), could possibly be connected to the high consumption of caffeinated energy drinks that are being mixed with alcohol.

Study author Kathleen E. Miller was inspired to conduct some research after noting the rather blasé ‘hook-up’ culture on numerous college sites across America, with many students indulging in casual sex with multiple partners. Also she had witnessed a 16-year family friend break out in sudden shakes and jitters due to an excessive Red Bull consumption.

For her study, Miller enlisted 648 subjects from introductory-level courses at at unnamed public university. The age span of participants ranged from 18 to 40 years of age, but 60% of the 648 people were under the age of 21, and 47.5% of the total subjects were comprised of women.
The study’s results have been published in the print edition of Journal of Caffeine Research. Some of the key findings were that 29.3% said they had consumed energy drinks in the previous month, and at the most latest sexual encounter, 45.1% reported it was ‘casual’, 24.8% admitted to being drunk and 43.6% revealed they had not bothered to use a condom.

This irresponsible attitude amongst drinkers is a dangerous trend that shows no sign of improving. They will be putting themselves at risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as Chlamydia, which is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, with 186,753 people in England testing positive for this during 2010. Up to 70% of people do not experience any symptoms of infection and it can cause infertility in both men and women. The only way of checking if you have a chlamydia infection is to take a chlamydia test such as the Clamelle test kit, available from just £24.85 at Medical Specialists Pharmacy.

Genital herpes is another common STI, highly prevalent in people aged between 20 to 24 years. In 2008, it was reported that roughly 29,000 people attended a sexual health clinic in the UK with a first clinical attack of genital herpes. An effective medication for this is Valtrex, which is an antiviral drug that contains valaciclovir. It slows the growth and spread of the herpes virus so that the body can fight off the infection.

Miller commented on the results from her study, saying, “Mixing energy drinks with alcohol can lead to unintentional over drinking, because the caffeine makes it harder to assess your own level of intoxication. AmEDs (energy drinks) have stronger priming effects than alcohol alone. In other words, they increase the craving for another drink, so that you end up drinking more overall.”

She further added that while mixing AmEDs and alcohol will not necessarily lead to casual sexual encounters, it does increase the chances of them occurring. But there was some good news to counter the bad. Miller continued, “Regardless of their AmED use, participants in the study were more likely to use a condom during sex with a casual partner than during sex with a steady partner, consistent with previous research.”

Actor Jeremy Renner found it ‘hard’ to sleep after Viagra blunder

Erectile Dysfunction (ED), also known as male impotence is a very common condition affecting about 4 in 10 men over the age of 40 and it is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection that is sufficient for sexual intercourse. In addition, it is estimated that half of all males between the ages of 40 to 70 will have some varying degree of ED. Difficulties in this aspect may have detrimental effects on a man’s self-esteem and could create stress that can damage his health and relationship with his partner.

The common, effective forms of treatment are Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, with variations such as Cialis Daily and Levitra ODT (Orodispersible). With the three main ED medications, it could be confusing for men as to which one could be most effective for them.

Whilst on a recent gruelling 11-hour London bound flight from Los Angeles, the actor Jeremy Renner found this out the hard way. The actor was the star of 2008’s ‘Hurt Locker’, and will soon be appearing on movie screens across the world in the latest instalment of the Bourne series, ‘The Bourne Legacy’.

Whilst on his flight, Renner took what he believed to initially be an Ambien sleeping tablet, which unfortunately for him is sometimes manufactured in a very similar shade of colour to the little blue pills known as Viagra.

It was only after taking the tablet, he realised it was too late and that he would not spend the flight sleeping, but instead fighting to try and conceal the effects that the wonderfully potent medication Viagra had done to him!

He explained, “I had to get off the plane to go to work so I had to sleep on the plane… Somebody gave me some pills… so great. I took a little sleeping pill…and I realised nothing’s happening but something else is happening, and I realised pretty quickly that that ‘A’ was a little ‘V’ on the pill. Not only did I not sleep on the entire flight, I was camping… There was no walking. If I had to go to the restroom, it was so embarrassing. I had Dennis Hopper, God rest his soul, laying next to me and his daughter was there playing with this little glass menagerie on the ledge…I’m like playing with her and I’m like, Hold on a second, man. I’m gonna go to jail, I’m gonna get arrested. This does not look good.”

Renner’s unfortunate experience however does highlight the effectiveness of Viagra, if it was ever in doubt! If you are suffering from ED and would like more information on the range of treatment available at Medical Specialists Pharmacy, click here. The medications we provide for male impotence can be obtained with or without a private prescription, and pending approval from one of our registered doctors, can arrive to you within a mere 24 hours to your house, place of work, or another required destination. Prices equate to as little as £29.97 for 4 Viagra tablets. We also offer Cialis and Levitra at fantastic prices too.

Northwest Online Pharmacy joins forces with American Drugwatch.com

Medical Specialists Pharmacy, the leading online pharmacy with doctors based in the North West, has teamed up with several UK Media Houses and America’s well known Drugwatch.com to produce and bring valuable information about drugs to the online population via its in-house medical news team.

In 1994, Medical Specialists came about because entrepreneur and Managing Director David Bailey had a vision of online medication. The company has progressed since and become the first online clinic in 2001. In 2010, Medical Specialists became the first online Pharmacy with Doctors, meaning you could have an online consultation with one of their in-house Doctors who could then produce a digital prescription, which would be dispensed by one of their in-house Pharmacist, and the medication with you within 24 hours, either at your home, place of work or other nominated delivery point.

This year saw Medical Specialists Pharmacy as one of the first online NHS Pharmacies offering the new EPS2 system, which means your own GP can send paperless digital prescriptions direct to them. Medical Specialists Pharmacy can then dispense your NHS medication via Royal Mail Special Delivery to the patient the very next day, and once again either at your home, place of work or other nominated delivery point. See www.medical-specialists.co.uk for further information.

A News Team was set up to report on new drugs, problem with drugs and medication, or other interesting medical news. The team has grown over the years, and is now producing a number of stories each day for publication on the internet. This has become a great source of interest by the online public and the media, and they have been approached by a number of UK Media Houses and America’s well known Drugwatch.com. The two latest stories, ‘Bladder Cancer Linked to Type 2 Diabetes Drug’ and ‘Brits Risk Eyesight as Survey Reveals Majority in the Dark’ being some of them.

Managing Director David Bailey said, “We are constantly being approached to produce stories regarding certain subjects, and have also been approached by Drugwatch.com to publish certain stories of theirs appertaining to side effects of specific drugs. Also, several UK Media Houses have approached us with a view to publishing stories for their clients. If we feel the stories are suitable, then we are willing to consider publishing them.”

He went on to say, “We have also been approached by a number of small television production companies regarding very specific medical problems such as Erectile Dysfunction and Hair Loss with a view to making programmes, but at this moment are unable to give further information, so…watch this space!”

Medications over their expiry date can pose health risks

A survey conducted on behalf of over the counter medicine range Care, has found that an alarming two-thirds of all adults could possess and use medication that has long passed its date of expiration.

The worrying statistic was determined after 5,000 adults were quizzed. The results indicated that a quarter of British adults have willingly ingested out of date medicine, clearly unaware of the health risks this could pose to them. A further 7% were under the assumption that medicines do not have a shelf life. More results from the study show that approximately two-fifths of adults do not bother to look at the important patient information leaflets provided with medications, and 12% admitted that they simply just guess what the right dose is that they should take.

The figure of 62% of adults having medicine out of date, works out at roughly 73 million out of date products just in the UK alone. Health authorities may now need to act and devise a scheme to help encourage people to regularly check the medicines they have sitting in their cabinets at home, see if they are in date, and if not – then dispose of them in a safe manner.

A London based GP, Dr Sarah Jarvis, says, “It is extremely worrying to hear so many of us are taking out of date medicines. Just like food that goes off, medicines past their expiry date can deteriorate and make you ill. You need to be particularly careful with your eyes, nose or a wound as these areas are especially prone to letting in bacteria.”

Dr Jarvis’ comments were supported by English Pharmacy Board member Sid Dajani who commented, “People are risking their lives by not taking the use by dates on their medicines seriously. The danger is what they don’t do for you – anti-seizure drugs resulting in fits, people with asthma suffocating because their blue inhaler doesn’t work or pregnancy tests showing a false negative because the active HCG reagent is too old. I urge everybody to check the use by date before taking medication, and to return out of date medicines to their local pharmacy where they’ll be disposed of safely.”

Medical Specialists Pharmacy advise that you never simply place unused or expired medicines into the rubbish bin or flush them down the toilet. For instance, there is a big risk that babies and children will get the medicine from the bin and ingest them. Also, medication can eventually end up contaminating local drinking water systems after being flushed down the toilet or be hazardous to the environment. You should take unwanted or expired medicines to a pharmacy, who can dispose of them safely.

In regards to Medical Specialists Pharmacy, you do not ever need to worry about out of date products. We have a strict and rigorous system in place that ensures all of our prescription medications such as Viagra, Cialis, Propecia, Dianette, etc. are well in-date, and this applies to our chemist shop items too such as condoms and hair loss products such as Alpecin shampoo.

Brits risk eyesight as survey reveals majority in the dark

· Loss of vision costs the UK more than £20 billion per year [1]
· Every day around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight [2]
· By the age of 65, 1 in 6 will become blind or partially sighted[3]
Taking regular eye tests will help address these problems – improving the nation’s health and significantly reducing costs of a cash strapped NHS.

Despite two thirds of people in the UK claiming they know how to look after their sight, the majority of Brits are still in the dark about eye care, according to a new global health survey released today.

One of the key issues to emerge from the results is that most people don’t realise eye tests can pick up serious medical conditions such as diabetes years before symptoms emerge in other parts of the body.
Over half of those asked (63%) think that because they don’t have health symptoms there is no need to get their eyes tested, while one in three believe that if they can see, their eyesight is fine. According to the World Health Organisation approximately 80% of visual impairment is preventable[4] yet almost 20% of UK respondents said their last eye examination was over three years ago or that they had never had an eye test.

Doctor Rob Hicks, commented: “The results show that people clearly value vision but don’t do much to protect their eye sight. The key reason people don’t get their eyes tested is because they don’t believe they have any symptoms – they can see so their eyes are fine. We need to correct this misconception. Getting regular eye examinations not only helps improve one’s vision, but can also provide early detection of other serious diseases years before a patient displays other symptoms. The majority of visual impairments are preventable when caught and treated early.”

Paul Hurrell, Vice President Vision Care, Northern Europe, Bausch + Lomb added: “Currently people are not taking the necessary steps to protect their eyesight. We hope the results of this survey will draw attention to what is a significant public health issue. We are committed to helping eye care professionals further educate patients about the importance of regular eye tests.”

Key findings:

- Over a quarter (28%) of Brits are gambling with the sight and general health by not going for regular eye tests every 2 years (in line with NHS recommendations).
- Getting hitched is good for the eyes, with over half of married couples in the UK going for an eye test within the last 12 months, while 74% are more knowledgeable about eye care than singles at just 64%
- Women come out top in the battle of the sexes by taking far better care of their eyes, such as eating a healthy diet and wearing sunglasses, which is not surprisingly confirmed by 94% of UK opticians
- If forced to choose, Brits would rather lose almost anything else, such as their sense of taste, hearing or salary, with 76% preferring to lose a limb than their eyesight
- Younger Brits (aged 18 to 24) are most likely to believe all common eye myths compared to the older population (aged 55+).

Regional variations:

- Those living in Tyne Tees are most likely to have regular eyes tests, with 77% attending every two years (in line with NHS recommendations).
- Londoners are the worst in the UK for getting their eyes tested, only 63% have had an eye appointment within the past 2 years.
- Scots are least likely to be put off by the cost of eye care, with only 28% citing this as a reason not to go, compared with 57% in Tyne Tees.
- Those in the Midlands are least aware of the dangers that smoking (52%) and obesity (70%) pose to their sight.
- Those in Yorkshire are most likely to sacrifice a limb (79%) or their sense of taste (93%) for their sight!

Press contact:
Stephanie Robertson / Stacey Blevins
Weber Shandwick on Behalf of Bausch + Lomb
Tel 07809 665773 / 07909 891498
srobertson@webershandwick.com / sblevins@webershandwick.com
About the Barometer of Global Eye Health:

The Global Eye Health Barometer surveyed more than 11,000 people in 11 representative countries (U.S., Germany, France, Italy, Spain Brazil, U.K., China, Japan, Russia and India), benchmarking people’s habits, and perceptions around eye health. Bausch + Lomb collaborated with more than 140 eye health professionals from 26 countries to construct the global eye health barometer to ensure the results provided information to better understand people’s knowledge and behaviors regarding eye health. The findings will be used to inform and augment existing educational programming and shared with eye health advocates from around the globe – helping people distinguish between fact and myth and encourage better eye health. With these survey results Bausch + Lomb is uniquely positioned to call attention to the significant public health issue on a global level and to empower eye health professionals, third party organizations and critical influencers to develop sustainable solutions for patients.

About Bausch + Lomb
Headquartered in Rochester, Bausch + Lomb was founded in 1853 and employs approximately 11,000 people worldwide. Bausch + Lomb is solely dedicated to eye health – manufacturing contact lenses, lens solutions, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, over-the counter medicines, surgical equipment, inter-ocular lenses (IOLs) and other eye surgery products. Bausch + Lomb products are sold in more than 100 countries

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[1] RNIB study, 2008 http://www.rnib.org.uk/aboutus/Research/reports/prevention/Pages/fsluk1.aspx
[2] Action for Blind People, 2003 data on new registrations, http://www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/facts-and-figures-about-issues-around-sight-loss/
[3] Fight for Sight, 2010, http://www.pruprotect.co.uk/conditions/ (then click on ‘Eye’)
[4] WHO Elimination of Avoidable Blindness. Report by the Secretariat. Geneva 2003

Many older people could have undetected heart conditions

New evidence has emerged in the last few weeks that show the older generation could be missing out on very basic healthcare that could help to prolong their lifespan.

A study that has been published in the journal ‘Heart’ was conducted by researchers at Newcastle University. The researchers underwent various medical tests on 300 elderly people aged between 87 and 89 years of age. After examinations were complete it was discovered that staggeringly, roughly a quarter of these people had a previously undiagnosed heart condition.

The authors behind the study say that if there was medication more accessible to older people, then money would be saved that is currently being spent by the NHS for costly hospital trips. They have further advised routine heart scans for anybody over the age of 85 who is complaining of breathlessness, which could be a sign of heart trouble.

The problem could escalate with the number of elderly people expected to increase. The Department of Health say that although a 40% decrease in cardiovascular disease has been seen in the last 10 years, more could be done. A spokesperson said, “We are currently developing a cardiovascular disease strategy which will consider how we better identify and treat heart diseases for people of all ages, including older people.”

However lead researcher Prof Bernard Keavney says, “We were surprised to discover just how many older people have heart problems. Many of these people could be treated with drugs that we know work, if their condition were recognised. This would improve their quality of life and it’s likely to slow their progression to heart failure.”

This study comes less than two weeks after scientists claim that older people could benefit from statins, with statistics showing that prescribing rates begin to drop for those over the age of 75.
Indeed, like their counterparts at Newcastle, researchers from both Oxford and Birmingham Universities claim that older people are being somewhat overlooked in regards to healthcare, and should be given cholesterol-lowering statins such as Crestor and Lipitor to help cut their risk of cardiovascular disease. The study authors from the two Universities published their findings in the British Medical Journal.

They analysed almost 37,000 subjects who were aged 40 and above, with no cardiovascular disease at the beginning of their study. They found for every extra 5 years of age, the chance of them being prescribed blood pressure medication increased up until age 85, when it then started to decrease. In comparison, statin prescription rates fell from just age 75.

When commenting on these findings, the authors said there is no evidence that statins are harmful for older patients and that the guidelines for the prescribing of the drugs need to be reviewed. They have also stated there should now be a ‘simple trial of use of statins in people over the age of 80’. Backing up those comments was the British Heart Foundation’s senior cardiac nurse June Davison, who says, “Available evidence would suggest that older people can benefit from heart protective drugs, but more research is needed.”

New drug Tudorza Pressair is given FDA backing for the treatment of COPD

This week has seen yet another new drug been given a clearance by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following the recent seal of approval for two new weight loss medications, Qsymia and Belviq, as we reported last week.

On this occasion, the drug to be given an authorisation for public use is a twice-daily inhaled medication named ‘Tudorza Pressair’, which is used to help treat symptoms of bronchospasm. This is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), aka ‘smoker’s cough’.

COPD is a term used for numerous conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and is similar in certain characteristics to asthma. Bronchitis and emphysema are commonly co-existing diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed, thus making it difficult for air to get in or out of the lungs.  Obvious symptoms can include chronic cough, tightness in the chest, and excessive phlegm.

Asthma and COPD can exist in the same person. However, in contrast to asthma, the inflammation of the lungs with COPD is not triggered by allergies and does not respond well to anti-inflammatory medication. In 2005, there were over 3 million deaths worldwide linked to COPD, with the main cause being the damaging effects of cigarette smoking.

On Tuesday, Spain’s biggest pharmaceutical company Almirall, and US drugmaker Forest Laboratories, confirmed they had been given the coveted FDA green light for Tudorza Pressair. This followed a slight hiccup back in March when the FDA demanded that it wanted a three-month extended time period to analyse the review data supporting the New Drug Application for aclidinium bromide (the powder ingredient within Tudorza Pressair).

Despite entering into an already competitive market where highly popular effective medications such as Ventolin can alleviate COPD symptoms, analysts at Sanford Bernstein say that sales of the Forest/Almirall drug could hit $164 million by 2015.

A spokesperson at Forest commented saying, “As the first long-acting inhaled anticholinergic agent approved in over 8 years for COPD, Tudorza will be an important treatment option.”
Curtis Rosebraugh, MD, Office of Drug Evaluation II, FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Rockville, Maryland, said, “COPD is a serious disease that gets worse over time. The availability of long-term maintenance drugs for COPD provides additional treatment options for the millions of people who suffer with this debilitating disease.”

However, the FDA have also warned that the drug may cause some serious side effects such as paradoxical bronchospasm, new or worsened urinary retention, or new or worsened pressure in the eyes (known as acute narrow-angle glaucoma). The FDA also says the medication is not fit to be used as a rescue therapy to help aid sudden breathing difficulties such as acute bronchospasm.

When Medical Specialists Pharmacy know more about this and other medications that are being approved by the FDA to help with asthma or COPD, we will update our patients immediately. In the meantime, Medical Specialists Pharmacy provides a huge range of medications to help asthma sufferers, all at great prices. If you have already been prescribed an inhaler, have lost your inhaler, or run out and cannot get a prescription immediately, we are able to supply you an inhaler to help your asthma symptoms.   After undergoing a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors, if you are suitable they will then write you a prescription which is passed to our in-house Pharmacists and dispensed to a location of your choice. This is all done discretely and within just 24 hours. We offer both blue (relievers) inhalers such as Ventolin and Salbutamol, and brown (preventers) inhalers such as Qvar Beclomethasone, Qvar Easi-Breathe, and Pulvinal Beclomethasone.

Bladder Cancer Linked to Type 2 Diabetes Drug

From nearly the moment it was invented, the type 2 diabetes drug Actos has been linked to bladder cancer. During the drug’s clinical trials, bladder tumors showed up in male lab rats. Once the drug was released to the public, the disease started showing up in Actos patients. Yet, despite these Actos complications, the drugs’ sales shot through the roof.

With the help of tiny font, glitzy advertising and the downfall of its main competition, Actos rose to stardom, and the bladder cancer risk went largely unnoticed for years. By the time researchers had definitive proof, Actos had a hold on the market and the drug was established as a household name.

Actos Moves In

It began in 1999 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Actos for sale. The active ingredient, pioglitazone, works by making the cells more receptive to insulin, a key component to type 2 diabetes control. While Takeda was trying to establish Actos as the go-to drug, another drug in the same family, GlaxoSmithKline’s type 2 diabetes drug, Avandia, was having its own problems.

At the time, Avandia was on the top of the type 2 diabetes drug food chain — that was, until it was linked to heart problems. Seeing their chance, Takeda executives pushed Actos as a safer alternative. The public bought into it.

Soon Actos owned the diabetes market. Doctors, convinced that Actos was a safer medication with few or no side effects, wrote millions of prescriptions – more than 100 million prescriptions globally by 2011.  Patients trusted it.

Actos-Bladder Cancer Link Revealed

While all this maneuvering was going on, Actos had a secret in plain sight. Written in tiny font on the drug’s label, Takeda revealed that the medication was shown to cause bladder tumors in male rats.  Even though the FDA knew of the risks, most of the public did not. The FDA ordered Takeda to launch a 10-year investigational study into the link at the same time the drug was made publically available. In 2007, Takeda said the initial results of the study showed that those taking the drug for longer than a year had 40 percent increased risk for bladder cancer.  About the same time, drug regulators in Germany and France revealed similar findings from their own Actos study. Some European countries banned or restricted the drug’s sales. The FDA’s response was to only added more wording to the drug’s label, underscoring the bladder cancer risk.

Actos Collapse?

Today, Actos has fallen out of favor with physicians and patients. Doctors don’t want to prescribe it, and patients don’t trust it. While the Takeda-run study won’t be completed until 2013, the latest independent study shows that Actos increases the bladder cancer risk up to 80 percent. At the same time, a whistleblower has accused Takeda of orchestrating the downfall of Avandia to promote Actos and skewing the FDA data to make the drug seem safer.
What’s left are the patients who are left diseased and worried after taking Actos? Many have started filing Actos lawsuits, against Takeda.

Disclaimer:-

This information is provided by Drugwatch.com and is not suitable for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Drugwatch.com is wholly responsible for this article, and should any third party wish to discuss or have concerns over any part of this article, we may be contacted at: webmaster@drugwatch.com

Viagra not banned from Olympians

Manufactured by Pfizer and introduced in 1998, Viagra is the trade name for the compound sildenafil citrate. This drug is used primarily to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), but it has also found niche uses as well for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, high blood pressure in the lungs) and altitude sickness. Viagra is similar in properties to both Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil), which are also prescribed for ED.

By inhibiting an enzyme in the penis called cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5, Viagra acts by increasing blood flow that produces an erection. Viagra acts as a vasodilator because it dilates the blood vessels. The famous ‘blue pill’ is available in dosages of 25, 50 and 100 mg, and is recommended for use not more than once per day, between 30 minutes to 4 hours prior to sexual intercourse.

If Viagra can produce greater blood flow in the penis, could it also produce increased blood flow elsewhere in the body? And, as a result, might it lead to increased oxygen delivery to the muscles in a way that could enhance athletic performance?

Interestingly, we learned during the Balco investigation that many professional baseball players and other athletes were using Viagra as an on-field performance-enhancing agent. In fact, in 2008 Victor Balco claimed that the use of Viagra was even more common than the use of creatine.
The science about Viagra and athletic performance is actually very sparse.

Interest in this regard was stimulated by a study of 14 mountaineers and trekkers by a group of investigators at the University of Giessen in 2004[1]. They studied the athletes using a cycling test at near sea level (in Giessen), with a reduced-oxygen environment, and again at Mount Everest Base Camp (5245 m). They found that Viagra increased the maximum workload in each setting and concluded that “sildenafil is the first drug shown to increase exercise capacity during severe hypoxia both at sea level and at high altitude.”

There has been just one other study in humans to show a direct benefit of Viagra on athletic performance [2]. A group of investigators from Stanford hypothesised that Viagra would improve the cardiac output (CO), arterial oxygen saturation (PaO2), and performance at altitude (relatively low oxygen environment), but would have no effect at sea level (with a normal level of atmospheric oxygen). They studied 10 cyclists with a 10 km time trial (TT) at both sea level and simulated high altitude (3874 m). At sea level, Viagra had no effect on the outcome measures. At altitude, Viagra produced higher CO, higher PaO2, and a 15% improvement in time for the 10 km TT. On review, though, the investigators found that there were actually 2 subgroups: a group of Viagra responders, who improved their TT performance by 39% and a group of non-responders who improved their TT performance by only 1% (which was not statistically significant). The authors concluded that Viagra can greatly improve cardiovascular function and performance in a low-oxygen environment for certain individuals.

But, of course typical athletes don’t compete at altitudes of 2+ miles!

The issue of whether Viagra might affect athletic performance drew the world’s attention heading into the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. In assembling its list of banned substances for 2008, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wrote: “As regards sildenafil (Viagra), WADA is aware of studies presented in relation to the potential of sildenafil to restore pulmonary capacities at very high altitudes. WADA is currently funding a number of research projects on the effects of sildenafil at various altitudes. These projects are ongoing.” Indeed, Viagra has not yet been added to the WADA list of banned substances.

In summary, then, Viagra is useful for the treatment of ED and PAH. Although there is some evidence of performance-enhancing effects on athletic performance (in some individuals) at altitude, there is no evidence that Viagra improves performance in typical athletic activities.

One thing we can be sure of is that Viagra greatly improves ED and therefore the performance in the bedroom. Whether or not any Olympians will be taking Viagra for on or off the track activities remains to be seen. Either way, Medical Specialists Pharmacy can guarantee that their Viagra is genuine and from Pfizer, and is available to suitable patients after an online consultation with one of our in-house Doctors. It will then be dispensed by our in-house Pharmacy, and delivered to your required destination (home, office or even the Olympics), within 24 hours.

References:

1. Ghofrani HA, Reichenberger F, Kohstall MG, et al. Sildenafil increased exercise capacity during hypoxia at low altitudes and at Mount Everest Base Camp. Ann Int Med 2004; 141:169-177.

2. Hsu A, Bamholt KE, Grundmann NK, et al. Sildenafil improves cardiac output and exercise performance during acute hypoxia, but not normoxia. J Appl Physiol 2006; 100:2031-2034.

Medics at the London Summer Olympics are braced for the event of a cardiac arrest

In just three days’ time on the 27 July, the London Summer Olympic Games will finally commence. It is estimated that there will be a total cast of 15,000 taking part in the London 2012 Opening and Closing Ceremonies, which will be watched by an estimated audience of four billion.

After being chosen as the host nation for the games back in 2005, it has been a long seven-year wait for British athletes to showcase their talents in diverse sporting events such as football, fencing, basketball, tennis and many more.

For the four billion people around the world who will be watching the exciting events unfold on their television screens, it will no doubt be an assumption that these ‘superhuman’ athletes are at the peak of physical fitness, almost immune to ailments.

However such assumptions may be slightly naïve. This year alone we have seen seemingly fit and healthy individuals suffer with cardiac arrest, related to underlying heart conditions. When Bolton Wanders footballer Fabrice Muamba collapsed due to cardiac arrest on the White Hart Lane pitch on 17 March, the whole world was shocked by his near-death and the suddenness of the event. Muamba was lucky to receive a rapid response by medical personnel and somehow managed to survive this.

Others unfortunately were not as lucky as Muamba. Less than a month after the collapse of Muamba, Italian footballer Piermario Morisini stumbled on the ground in the 31^st minute of Livorno’s Serie B match against Pescara. After trying to get up, he collapsed and lost consciousness. Despite receiving medical attention on the field, there was no defibrillator inside the stadium and crucial time was wasted in waiting for one to arrive. In a tragic sense of irony, this happened in a country that is incredibly cautious about cardiac problems and has been routinely screening all athletes since the 1970s. This is done in three main ways; Physical examination and medical history, Lead Electrocardiogram (ECG) and finally by a Transthoracic Echocardiogram (ECHO).

After the tragic collapse and death of 32-year old Claire Squires during the London Marathon in May of this year, this has further intensified the spotlight on sudden cardiac arrests. Claire was slim, healthy and was described as a ‘fitness fanatic’ by friends and family. She had even previously successfully run the London Marathon, which made her shock death more difficult to comprehend.

After Claire had collapsed on Birdcage Walk close to Buckingham Palace, it was medical director for the marathon, Dr Sanjay Sharma, who desperately tried to save her life. Claire’s death will undoubtedly have had a major emotional impact on Dr Sharma, and as head of the cardiology team for the 2012 Olympics, he will be putting all his efforts into making sure any sudden cardiac arrests or deaths do not rear their head during the games.

In fact, Dr Sharma and his team of experts decided to screen approximately 1,000 possible Olympic athletes for any potential underlying cardiac conditions. He says, “We had to screen 32 different squads from various sporting disciplines ranging from athletics to rowing, many of which contained individuals not necessarily going to make the final team. The aim was to identify conditions that could potentially cause sudden cardiac death in an individual.”

Of these athletes who were screened, two were discovered to have Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome (WPW). This is a syndrome that is usually present from birth and involves episodes of rapid heart rate (tachycardia) caused by abnormal electrical pathways (circuits) in the heart. These athletes would not have been authorised to compete at London without having a catheter ablation and Dr Sharma is unaware of whether these particular two individuals ended up successfully making it to the final Olympic squad.

In the subsequent recent months since Muamba first collapsed, there has also been the sudden cardiac deaths of the 24-year old expected gold medallist, Norwegian swimmer Alexander Dale-Owen expected gold medallist, and also the death of 24-year old Serbian rower Nemanja Nesic.

These distressing occurrences will likely raise fears amongst Olympians says Dr Sharma, who expects a high number of athletes to visit the £17million constructed ‘polyclinic’, the newly built health centre in Stratford, Central London. The medical personnel at the polyclinic are said to include three GPs, three nurses, four sports medicine doctors, six dentists, with 30 physiotherapists on duty at any one time at the clinic. In addition, there will be a further 80 on-call specialists available, including cardiologists, dermatologists, orthopaedic surgeons, ophthalmologists and psychiatrists.

Dr Sharma spoke about how the high-profile cardiac incidents of this year, will probably raise concern, saying, “We may have athletes who complain of symptoms suggestive of cardiac disease. Chest pain is common, and it’s not always due to cardiac causes. It may be due to a musculoskeletal injury or maybe pleurisy because they have caught a cold. I anticipate athletes coming in with palpitations, which can happen with anxiety, or if you’ve hit the caffeine or been training very hard. Or there may be an athlete who is not used to too much pollen who gets more breathless every time they exercise.”

Athletes at the games need not worry too much though and should try to relax and enjoy themselves. They are in safe hands as Dr Sharma says the cardiac emergency response has been thoroughly planned. There will be a huge availability of defibrillators and a high number of medical staff who can carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation. “There will be at least one automated external defibrillator for every mile of the marathon, but there will be cycle responders in between who will be carrying AEDs”, says Dr Sharma. He further attempted to alleviate any worries and said, “I’m not expecting any catastrophes.”

Medical Specialists Pharmacy wishes a safe and enjoyable experience for all the athletes who are involved at the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games and we will be proudly supporting Team GB in their quest for gold. Let the games begin!

Women heavily using fake tan risk fertility complications and birth defects

In a country such as England where the usual weather is dark, gloomy and rain-filled, the chance of developing a natural tan is rather slim. It is now a common occurrence for many men and women to resort to using sunbeds and fake tanning products to achieve the bronzed appearance that so many desire.

The dangers of heavy sunbed use have been widely reported in the news in recent years, with excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation being responsible for an increasing number of young adults being diagnosed with both malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.

Fake tanning products have long been viewed as the safe option for women to use to avoid the risks with sunbeds; however these products may not be as completely safe as first thought.

In fact, the chemicals used in fake tan are so hazardous that they are now being linked to fertility problems and also increasing the chance of women giving birth to a baby with birth defects.

Just one of the types of these chemicals is carcinogens including formaldehyde and nitrosamines. A carcinogen is a substance or agent that is directly responsible for inducing cancer within humans and animals. They are particularly rife in cigarettes which could partly explain why tobacco smoke has been shown to also cause birth defects if the baby’s mother smokes during pregnancy, with a cleft lip or skull abnormality just two problems that could occur.

As well as carcinogens, it is believed that fake tan comprises of other harmful chemicals and skin irritants that may cause allergies to worsen, which is not good news for the millions of hay fever sufferers in the UK who are already suffering with the unexpected warm weather this week.

Elizabeth Salter-Green from UK charity the Chem Trust, says, “Many of the chemicals in fake tan are toxic to reproduction and can harm a foetus.” Jacqueline McGlade, executive director of the European Environment Agency, further spoke about the dangers of fake tan and said they could be a contributing factor responsible for the surge in cases of cancers, diabetes, obesity and falling fertility.

The primary ingredient in the fake tanning products is the chemical compound dihydroxyacetone. The chemical works with the skin’s amino acids to transform the colour to brown. However, once sprayed there is a risk of the person inhaling the substance and it going straight into the bloodstream.

Scientists in the US now claim that this could result in DNA damage, tumours, and the aggravation of numerous lung conditions such as emphysema and asthma. Dr Lynn Goldman dean of the School of Public Health and Health Services at George Washington University, in Washington DC, says, “What we’re concerned about is not so much that reaction that creates the tanning, but reactions that may occur deeper down with living cells that might then change DNA, causing a mutation, and what the possible impacts of that might be.”

Poor food labels blamed for stomach cancer caused by high salt intake

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has spoken out about the issue of salt content in foods, calling for all companies to label their products more clearly. This is in response to the increasing number of stomach cancer cases that have been linked to a high consumption of salt. High levels of salt are particularly prominent in popular foods such as bread, bacon, cheese, breakfast cereals, crisps and soup.

The recommended daily salt intake for adults is 6g, which is approximately around one full teaspoon. This figure is obviously less for children and babies, and the following are the general guidelines for salt intake depending on age:

. 1 to 3 years: 2g salt a day (0.8g sodium).
. 4 to 6 years: 3g salt a day (1.2g sodium).
. 7 to 10 years: 5g salt a day (2g sodium).
. 11 years and over: 6g salt a day (2.4g sodium).

The WCRF say that if adults strictly kept to this 6g limit, then this could help to reduce the 6,000 new cases of stomach cancer each year in the UK by 14% (around 800). Kate Mendoza, health of health information at the charity, says, “Stomach cancer is difficult to treat successfully because most cases are not caught until the disease is well-established. This places even greater emphasis on making lifestyle choices to prevent the disease occurring in the first place – such as cutting down on salt intake and eating more fruit and vegetables.”

She further continued, “Because around three-quarters of the salt we consume is already in processed food when we buy it, WCRF would like to see traffic light labelling on the front of food and drink packaging to give clear guidance on the levels of salt as well as sugar, fat and saturated fat. Standardised labelling among retailers and manufacturers – rather than the different voluntary systems currently in place – would help consumers make better informed and healthy choices.”

As Kate Mendoza explained, the difficult aspect of dealing with stomach cancer is that it is not usually diagnosed until the disease is at an advanced stage. Medical Specialists Pharmacy advises that you visit your doctor immediately for a check-up if you suffer from any of the following early symptoms of stomach cancer:

. Heartburn.
. Persistent indigestion.
. A bloated feeling after eating.
. Trapped wind and incessant burping.
. Feeling full very soon after beginning to eat.
. Difficulty in swallowing.

As you can see, many of the early-stage symptoms of stomach cancer are quite similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is why it is vital to see your GP who will ask you detailed questions, and refer you for further scans if necessary. If it is IBS you have, then this can be treated with a wide range of effective medications such as Mebeverine and Buscopan IBS relief. In addition, there is also the medication Lansoprazole which can help with acid reflux problems that cause heartburn and complications with swallowing. All aforementioned medicines are available at low prices from the Stomach and Bowel section of the Medical Specialists Pharmacy website.

Hot dogs come under fire for their lack of dietary goodness

A Hot dog or ‘Frankfurter’ as they were originally commonly known, is a widely popular choice of food and some say they date back to the 13^th century when they were distributed to the masses during the event of an imperial coronation. Fast-forward to the present day and they are constantly seen being offered to the crowds at sporting events such as football, baseball and basketball, or being sold to the public at movie cinemas for a usual extortionate sum.

Their popularity is at a high risk of nose-diving this week however with news about the questionable methods of their creation and the dangers they could pose to one’s health. Charlie Powell, a member of food lobby group Sustain, has hit out at cheap factory-produced meat that comprises a typical sausage, and he says, “Cheap frankfurters are highly processed and have little in them that will improve your health. If they are eaten on a regular basis, they cannot be good for you. They are one of the least natural foods I can think of.”

Indeed there are many people who blame their stomach and bowel issues with the consumption of hotdogs, and they like most processed meats, have been shown to be linked to bowel cancer. With the opening of a niche London restaurant named ‘Bubbledogs’ (serving hot dogs and champagne), this has kick-started campaigns for more genuine, better-made hotdogs.

Originally purely made of pork and originating from the German city of Frankfurt, they are rumoured to have eventually made it to America in the 19^th century courtesy of German immigrants. Nowadays, the main ingredients comprise of pork, beef, chicken, or a variety of combinations of these meats. However, Tesco’s ‘Red Dogs’ range consist of 64% mechanically reclaimed chicken meat and only 17% is actually pork. The phrase ‘mechanically reclaimed’ is used to describe the process of recovering meat from carcasses that have already initially had their meat taken off.

The carcass is forced through a machine which acts like a sieve and provides a blast of liquid to remove the meat. This mushy substance then gets mixed with a variety of additives such as flavourings and colourings, before being put into plastic tubes to be cooked. If this suspect process of creation doesn’t put you off hot dogs, perhaps the health impacts might – many hotdogs are made up of 2% salt and are in the high-salt category of foods. An abundance of consumption can therefore raise your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. Dr Rachel Thompson from The World Cancer Research, commented, “If everyone ate less than 70g a week – or two hot dogs – it would mean there would be fewer cases of bowel cancer in the UK each year.”

Not only do hotdogs have potential effects for long-term health, they are also the cause for a surprisingly number of choking-related deaths. A past study in the US discovered 17% of food-related asphyxiations in children younger than 10 years of age happened because of a hot dog. Doctors claim it is incredibly difficult for them to attempt to remove a stuck sausage from a child’s windpipe and the risk may be reduced if parents cut the meat into smaller pieces.

The New York childhood asthma rate is more than US national average

Statistics released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that an average of one in eight New York City children have been diagnosed with asthma. This means that the prevalence rate is higher than the US national average for childhood asthma, which is currently about one in ten.

Thomas Matte, assistant commissioner for environmental surveillance and policy, commented on the findings and said, “New York City’s rate on average is higher, but then within the city we know the rate varies dramatically. Our rate is really pulled up by the high rates in poor neighbourhoods.”

Matte gives his opinions on why this is so, and says that households with lower income will probably have more possible asthma triggers such as mould, pest infestations, and the chemicals in cigarette smoke can irritate the lungs. The links between tobacco smoke and lung conditions such as asthma is a topic Medical Specialists Pharmacy previously reported earlier this year, and we advise that asthma suffers must have their reliever inhaler in their possession at all times, especially when there is a risk of being in the presence of somebody who smokes.

He further advises that written instructions for children and parents would be an effective method of managing their asthma.  According to the CDC survey, only one in three children using medication for asthma was actually doing this.

It is calculated that children residing in East Harlem are almost 13 times more likely to require asthma-related hospital treatment in comparison to counterparts living in the Upper East Side. The same report claims that 18% of Hispanic children and 17% of black children have been diagnosed with asthma, and just 5% of white children.

Dr Joshua Needleman, a paediatric pulmonologist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, says Doctors are already aware of the trends that the report highlights, saying, “You find asthma all over the place, but the kids in the poor areas is where you see the most burden.”

With soaring temperatures currently gripping the US, child and adult asthma sufferers in both poor and wealthy areas will no doubt see their symptoms worsen, and this will apply to those who have hay fever too. Days with high humidity or pollution can especially cause problems for asthma sufferers and this can be dangerous if left untreated. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) have said, “Although symptoms may not always be severe, summertime allergies and asthma are serious and, in some cases, deadly.”

At Medical Specialists Pharmacy we offer our patients a huge range of medications to help both asthma and allergy sufferers, all at great prices. If you have already been prescribed an inhaler, have lost your inhaler, or run out and cannot get a prescription immediately, we are able to supply you an inhaler to help your asthma symptoms. After undergoing a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors, if you are suitable they will then write you a prescription which is passed to our in-house Pharmacists and dispensed to a location of your choice. We have both blue (relievers) inhalers such as Ventolin and Salbutamol cheaper than the NHS, and brown (preventers) inhalers such as Qvar Beclomethasone, Qvar Easi-Breathe and Pulvinal Beclomethasone.

An effective treatment for allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is Nasonex nasal spray. Available with or without a prescription, Nasonex is a medication used to help with congestion, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, and nasal itching due to allergies. It is also prescribed for nasal polyps (small, non-cancerous growths on the lining inside the nose). Prices of this medication are from as little as £9.98 per pack. Our chemist shop has now been expanded to include products such Prevalin allergy nasal spray, Prevalin allergy kids nasal spray and Alomide allergy eye drops, which can all help to ease the symptoms of hay fever.

Sports drinks are good for you, truth or myth?

Sports drinks such as Lucozade, Powerade and Gatorade that claim to increase energy levels and to help you exercise better have been called into question by researchers from Oxford and Harvard Universities.

They warn that rather than being beneficial to our health, such drinks contain large amounts of sugar and calories which encourage weight gain. They also go on to accuse these companies of convincing gym-goers that they are on the verge of dehydration, and that the human thirst mechanism is not a reliable indicator for detecting and responding to dehydration.

The sports drinks market rose 10% in Britain last year to £1 billion and it is little wonder because such marketing giants as Coca-Cola, GlaxoSmithKline and Pepsico are behind these products.

This has seen them using athletes and footballers such as Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Daley Thompson to endorse their products. On top of this an investigation by the British Medical Journal has found that these companies use sponsored scientists who have gone on to develop a whole area of science dedicated to hydration. These same scientists advise influential sports medicine organisations.

The advice from these organisations has filtered down to everyday health advice and has spread fear about the dangers of dehydration. The researchers warned that despite such claims there is a worrying lack of evidence to support most of these claims.

A spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Lucozade, said: “more than 40 years of research and 85 peer reviewed studies have supported the development of Lucozade sport and all our claims are based on scientific evidence that has been reviewed by the European Food Safety Authority”.

Likewise Coca-Cola, who makes Powerade, said sports drinks have a wealth of scientific research that can be relied on.

A London NHS trust is fined by the ICO after careless data management

An investigation into data handling by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has concluded with St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust in London being slapped with a vast financial penalty of £60,000. The fine is the fourth one given by the ICO in the last two months to various NHS institutions, with the message being that the ICO have no hesitation in hitting people hard in the pocket if they do not adhere to data protection legislation. The news emerges only two weeks after we reported that one of London’s biggest NHS trusts, Imperial College Healthcare, are facing an enquiry into the deaths of 25 patients due to bad data management.

According to the ICO, the St George’s NHS Trust were punished after twice sending sensitive personal medical records by post to an address that the patient had not occupied for half a decade. The mistake is perhaps inexplicable when taken into consideration that the particular patient had given the Trust their latest address preceding the medical appointment, and the correct address had even been logged on the NHS spine. This means staff had failed to check that details on their local patient database corresponded with those on the spine. The sensitive information included details of the patient’s physical examination and subsequent results, medical history and a health professional’s advice on the issue.

Questions will surely now be raised on the efficacy of the NHS spine, and staff faith in the system. The current deputy government CIO, Liam Maxwell, has previously criticised the spine and suggested the health service would benefit more from using health systems from either Google or Microsoft. The spine system incorporates three aspects to its design; The Personal Demographics Service (PDS), The Summary Care Record (SCR) and The Secondary Uses Service (SUS). The PDS stores patient demographic data and NHS Numbers. There is no opt-out facility for this but patients can choose to have their PDS as ‘sensitive’ to prevent their contact details being viewed by 831,000 staff. The SCR summarises clinical information, such as allergies and adverse reactions to medicine that a patient may have. Finally, the SUS intelligently uses patient data from their records to create anonymised and pseudonymised business reports and statistics for research, planning and public health delivery.

When explaining the justification of the hefty £60,000 fine, ICO head of enforcement Stephen Eckersley commented, “It’s hard to imagine a more distressing situation for a vulnerable person than the thought of their sensitive health information being sent to someone who had no reason to see it. This breach was clearly preventable and is the result of the Trust’s failure to make sure the contact details they have for their patients are accurate and up to date.”

Medical Specialists Pharmacy fully understands the fines being issued by the ICO. Respecting the Data Protection Act has always been at the core of our business practice and we demonstrate this in a number of ways such as:

. Private and confidential online consultations, these are discrete between the patient and doctor.
. Information is processed online over a secure and encrypted connection.
. All processing/dispensing is conducted done in-house.
. Patient details are seen by absolutely no third parties or doctors other than our own.
. We do not send spam, junk, or unnecessary correspondence via either post or email.
. Medications are dispatched (free of charge) through Royal Mail Special Delivery, meaning everything must be signed and accounted for, and will not simply be shoved through your letter box for anybody to get hold of.

Daily ‘polypill’ could give 11 years of extra life to the over-50s

Experts behind a new four-in-one ‘polypill’ claim that the drug could potentially save the lives of 200,000 people every year. The tablet is said to contain three separate blood pressure lowering medications mixed together with a cholesterol-busting statin.

Statins are used in conjunction with a healthy diet and work by lowering ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. Many studies conducted this year so far have proven their worth. There have been calls for even ‘healthy’ adults to be given them, as statins such as Crestor may massively benefit them in the future. Therefore, it is no surprise that more research has been carried out into their potential.
The new polypill could work-out at costing patients less than £1 per day and there have been claims it can give over 50s the blood pressure and cholesterol readings of somebody in their 20s. This could add on an extra 11 years of living to the average Brit.

Analysis of the potential new drug was conducted at Queen Mary, University of London. Researchers decided to use a statin with three already available blood pressure drugs. For the study, 84 people over the age of 50 years old were tested. Patients were assigned either the polypill or a dummy pill, once a day over a three month time period. Therapies were then switched after the three months and patients spent an additional three months taking the other pill.

After the six months it was noted that the polypill successfully lowered blood pressure by 12% and LDL cholesterol by 39%. The beneficial effects seen in the therapy has resulted in Dr David Wald, the cardiologist who led the research, calling for the drug to be made available over the counter and without the requirement of a prescription.

Dr Wald says, “The health implications of our results are large. If people took the polypill from age 50, an estimated 28% would benefit by avoiding or delaying a heart attack or stroke during their lifetime. On average, those who benefit would gain 11 years of life without a heart attack or stroke. When something like this is developed it should be made available as quickly as possible. How people pay for it is a judgment society needs to make.”

His comments for a quick release of the drug have come about after acknowledging it could yet be another 1 to 2 years before the medication has even been given an official approval by health regulators. If you are suffering from high cholesterol then it would be in your interest to act today and not wait the few years it could take for the polypill to possibly be approved.

In addition, others have warned for a degree of caution when considering how effective the polypill may be. The British Heart Foundation’s senior cardiac nurse, Natasha Stewart, commented, “Research into polypills is encouraging, but there are still many questions to answer before this ‘wonder drug’ is prescribed by doctors. This research only studied a very small number of people, so we’d need to see further large scale trials on a wider population to get more detailed results. However interesting this potential new pill is, medicines are not a substitute for living a healthy lifestyle. Staying active, eating healthily and not smoking are still vital ways to help keep your heart in good shape.”

In the UK the average cholesterol reading is 5.8mmol/l, which means that many people are not adhering to Natasha’s advice to stay in ‘good shape’. To put this into context, this is nearly double the average cholesterol reading of the East (e.g. China), and some Brits have much higher readings. This means a large percentage of the population are at risk of heart disease, strokes and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). One of the explanations for the average high reading shown for the UK could be down to the fact there are approximately 10 million adults who are smoking. Quitting smoking can have positive impacts to cholesterol levels and more health conditions such as asthma, etc., as we reported earlier this month.

When it comes to your health, the time to act is NOW. Do not wait one or two years for the next ‘miracle’ drug. Medical Specialists Pharmacy provides private and confidential online consultations, and for suitable patients our in-house doctors can prescribe statin medication (Lipitor and Crestor), and our in-house pharmacists can dispense to patients within just 24 hours. We also dispense statins for patients who can provide a private prescription, and have recently introduced the legally available generic Atorvastatin at much lower prices for suitable patients.

Second new weight loss drug is given an FDA seal of approval

Vivus, Inc. has been given to go ahead to sell a new weight loss medication named ‘Qsymia’ by the US regulators The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The approval from the FDA comes less than a month after delivering the same decision on another product for weight loss; Arena Pharmaceutical’s Belviq, which was given the go-ahead on June 27.

The dual approval by the FDA marks the first time a weight loss product has been certified fit for public use since 1999 when Roche were approved to sell ‘Xenical’. Some financial analysts now predict that Qsymia could generate an impressive $1.2 billion in sales by 2016.

The name Qsymia may be unfamiliar to most people as it was first manufactured under the name ‘Qnexa’, and declined by the FDA back in July of 2010 after they decided there were too many risks involved and that these were outweighing the benefits of the drug. Qsymia is an amalgamation of the appetite suppressant phentermine and the antiseizure drug topiramate.

The turnaround by the FDA on Qsymia may be partly due to Arena’s efforts to get their drug approved. In October 2010 the FDA declined Belviq and Arena set out to prove that the medication wasn’t as dangerous as the FDA believed it to be. Echocardiograms were carried out on almost 8,000 people to analyse heart-valve function. It was shown that there was no heart abnormalities present in the patient’s taking the medication and Arena have vowed to do six post-marketing studies which will include a long-term cardiovascular trial.

To demonstrate the safety of Qsymia, Vivus orchestrated two placebo-controlled trials spanning over a twelve month time period. The studies involved roughly 3,700 overweight and obese patients, some of whom had various health conditions that were linked to their weight. Subjects were instructed to make positive changes to their lifestyle and diet.

After the year had passed it was found that on average patients had experienced a weight loss of between 6.7% to 8.9%, depending on the dosage. It is expected that the recommended daily dose of Qsymia will 7.5 mg of phentermine and 46 mg of topiramate extended-release, with a higher dose of 15 mg phentermine and 92 mg of topiramate extended-release for certain patients.

However like all medications, some warnings will be issued in regards to who can and cannot take the drug. For starters, the FDA have made it clear that use of the medication will strictly be restricted to those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above, or those with a BMI of 27 or more who also have a health condition that is linked to their weight. This could include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

In addition, pregnant women will not be allowed to take the drug as there has been shown to be a huge risk to harm being caused to the foetus, such as a cleft lip forming or other problems. Patients with glaucoma or hyperthyroidism are also forbidden from taking the drug. As Qsymia can increase heart-rate, it is not advised for people to take it if they have heart disease or a stroke in the previous six months. The next stage for Vivus will be to perform further studies to thoroughly analyse what impact the drug has on cardiac health.

With the future releases of Belvic and Qsymia, these are clearly interesting times for the weight loss community. Furthermore, Californian biopharmaceutical company Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc., are currently undergoing clinical trials of its product, Contrave, targeting a 2014 FDA approval date. Keep checking the Medical Specialists Pharmacy website for all the latest news and information about the release dates of all three medications.

Urinary incontinence shown to be prevalent in younger women too

Bladder control problems also known as ‘urinary incontinence’, has long been assumed to primarily affect those women who have recently given birth and those in old age. Besides the fact the problem can also affect males too (with many opting for Tena for men to combat the issue), an Australian study to emerge this week had indicated that urinary incontinence is prevalent amongst those women who have never given birth.

Over 1,000 women between the ages of 16 to 30 were investigated for the study and all subjects had not previously been pregnant. Almost an eighth of the women (equivalent to nearly 13%) complained that they suffered with bladder problems.

Senior researcher Susan R. David, of Monash University in Melbourne, explained the reasoning for undertaking the new study and said, “The traditional belief has been that incontinence really occurs as a consequence of pregnancy and aging. What prompted us to undertake this study was the fact that nobody had actually looked at incontinence in younger women who had never been pregnant.”

Mary K. Townsend, an epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, was not involved in this particular study but has done previous extensive inquiries into incontinence and its causes. She spoke out regarding the new study and said, “The study contributes significantly to current knowledge about urinary incontinence in young women. Overall, a key message from this study is that urinary incontinence is a significant problem for women of all ages.”
The women involved in the study were from either college campuses or health clinics in Australia. This has resulted in the study authors warning for some degree of caution in interpreting the results and that they may not be completely accurate representative of all women.  Also, only 63% of women who picked up surveys across the campuses or health clinics actually took the time to return them, meaning the results could be an overestimation as those with the problem may be more likely to answer the questions.

The study interestingly discovered that a connection could be present between urinary incontinence and sexually active women who are not using any kind of birth control. This particular group were shown to have the highest risk, with 22% stating they had experience problems in the previous month. This compares to just 10% of the women having urinary problems who had either never have never had sex or were on the pill and sexually active.

Incontinence is not the only urination issue that is common though. On the other end of the scale, other problems can even include the inability to pass urine easily, with some people experiencing a ‘stop and start’ motion in their passing of urine. Or, many people find they have to get up several times in the middle of the night to go to the toilet, sometimes never quite feeling fully emptied.

If you are a male suffering with any of the aforementioned symptoms, there is a chance you could be one of the 2.4 million men in the UK suffering from a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Also known as an enlarged prostate gland, it can be treated through the use of effective medication such as Flomax Relief, which eases the symptoms associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) of a BPH. Flomax works by relaxing muscles in the prostate gland, relaxing the muscles in the urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outside of the body).  This lets urine pass more freely through the urethra, making it easier to urinate. It is available today from the Medical Specialists Pharmacy chemist shop, costing just £8.75 for 14 capsules, or £15.95 for 28.