Medical Advisories – April 2013

• Hearing loss has been connected to Alzheimer’s disease, and deficiencies in folate, Vitamin B-12, and zinc might be a contributing factor in hearing problems
• “Off-label” use of everyday prescription drugs has been proven safe and effective, but some doctors are now considering other-than-intended uses of chemotherapy
• Studies continue to show that the behavioral problems of children treated with prescription drugs such as Adderall follow them into adulthood. (Conversely, a Duke University long-term study of children who were diagnosed as ADHD or borderline, but were not given drugs, showed that inattentive behavior declined in most cases.)
• Texting from your cell phone might lead to “Text Neck,” a term coined by a Florida chiropractor. To avoid this literal pain-in-the-neck, hold your cell phone at eye level, take frequent breaks, and shift positions as often as possible
• Effective January 1, 2013, 75-watt incandescent bulbs are no longer available in the U.S. The much-touted CFL bulbs are fraught with the danger of mercury contamination and poisoning, not to mention the thousands of dollars it costs to decontaminate any area where one of them shatters. LED bulbs are a much better alternative
• Long ago, Dr. Robert Atkins discovered that high blood pressure wasn’t linked to sodium, which numerous studies have since confirmed. This hard evidence did not sway the CDC, however, from the recommendation that every American should reduce salt intake by more than half, despite the evidence presented in several studies that demonstrated the connection between low salt levels and heart and kidney disease, and, in the elderly, fatigue, confusion, and poor balance
• Though pricey at $750, fibromyalgia can be detected with a simple blood test, FM/a
• A “breathprint”—a single exhalation—can detect heart failure, according to Dr. Raed Dweik of the Cleveland Clinic
• Two surveys conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists revealed that more than half of FDA scientists were influenced by political interests, one in three said they had firsthand experience of political interference in their work, and many said they feared retribution if their concerns about the agency became known

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