Why Do Statin Drugs Fail Miserably at Heart Attack Prevention?

• Statins are the world's most-prescribed class of medications. About 24 million Americans take drugs such as Pravachol, Mevacor, Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor.
• But in recent months, the drugs' medical reputation has come under tough scrutiny.
• Today, a majority of people who use statins are doing so for primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes. It is this use of statins that has come under recent attack.
  
• “[M]edical researchers found that, contrary to widely held belief, statins do not drive down death rates among those who take them to prevent a first heart attack.
  
  A second article cast significant doubt on the influential findings of [the 2006 JUPITER] study ... that has driven the expansion of statins' use by healthy people ...
  
  A third article suggested potential ethical, clinical and financial conflicts of interest at work in the execution of the JUPITER study”.
  
• 
  
• The JUPITER study referred to above was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008. It boasted that statin drugs could lower the risk of heart attack by 54 percent, the risk of stroke by 48 percent, the risk of needing angioplasty or bypass surgery by 46 percent, and the risk of death from all causes by 20 percent.
  
  However, the funding for this study came from none other than Astra-Zeneca, the maker of Crestor, so these results were perhaps to be expected.
  
  Now, the JUPITER study is finally starting to receive the scrutiny it should have been given from the very beginning, considering how instrumental it was in driving up statin drug sales.
  
• 
  
• 
  

• Surprise, Surprise: Millions of Statin Users Receive No Benefit

• Originally, statin drugs were prescribed for secondary prevention, meaning the prevention of a second heart attack or stroke if you’d already suffered one and had clear signs of heart disease.
  
  But the JUPITER study dramatically expanded the market by claiming statins could be of significant benefit as primary prevention, i.e. “preventive medicine” – to help people with certain risk factors of heart disease – although otherwise healthy -- from having a heart attack or stroke in the first place.
  
  But once again, we find that industry-funded claims of health benefits for highly profit-producing drugs need to be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism.
  
  No less than three articles were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in the month of June, refuting the claims laid down by the industry-funded JUPITER study.
  
• "Tens of billions of dollars of revenue for the sponsor over the patent life of the drug were at stake in the JUPITER trial, as well as potentially millions of dollars in royalties for the principal investigator," wrote Dr. Lee Green of the University of Michigan Medical School in an editorial accompanying the trio of studies.
  
  "Doubtless, both sponsor and investigative team believe they made their design decisions for the right reasons," Green added. "But social psychology research provides abundant evidence that we human beings both respond strongly to self-interest incentives and firmly believe that we do not."
  
  Indeed, it appears as though the JUPITER study may have fallen prey to such “self-interest incentives,” allowing the researchers to find what needed to be found in order to justify their paychecks.
  
  One of these three new studies titled Cholesterol lowering, cardiovascular diseases, and the rosuvastatin-JUPITER controversy: a critical reappraisal, carefully reviewed the methods and the results of the JUPITER trial, concluding that:
  
  “The trial was flawed.
  
  It was discontinued… after fewer than 2 years of follow-up, with no differences between the 2 groups on the most objective criteria.
  
  Clinical data showed a major discrepancy between significant reduction of nonfatal stroke and myocardial infarction but no effect on mortality from stroke and myocardial infarction.
  
  Cardiovascular mortality was surprisingly low compared with total mortality-between 5% and 18%-whereas the expected rate would have been close to 40%. Finally, there was a very low case-fatality rate of myocardial infarction, far from the expected number of close to 50%.
  
  The possibility that bias entered the trial is particularly concerning because of the strong commercial interest in the study.
  
  … The results of the trial do not support the use of statin treatment for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases and raise troubling questions concerning the role of commercial sponsors.”
  
  In addition, the meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials, found no evidence to back up the JUPITER trial claim that statins can reduce your risk of death when used as primary prevention against heart disease.
  
  Please remember that statin drugs are clearly NOT “preventive medicine,” and are not the way to prevent heart attack or stroke, should you have risk factors for heart disease.
  
• 
  
• 
  

• Idiotic Ideas Reach an All Time High

• Meanwhile, British “experts” have come up with one of the dumbest ideas.
• They suggest that fast food outlets should hand out cholesterol-lowering statin drugs with their food to counteract the ill effects of the meal.
• The article, published in the August 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology, states:
  
  “…statin therapy can neutralize the cardiovascular risk caused by harmful diet choices. In other spheres of human activity, individuals choosing risky pursuits (motorcycling, smoking, driving) are advised or compelled to use measures to minimize the risk (safety equipment, filters, seatbelts).
  
  Likewise, some individuals eat unhealthily. Routine accessibility of statins in establishments providing unhealthy food might be a rational modern means to offset the cardiovascular risk.
  
  Fast food outlets already offer free condiments to supplement meals. A free statin-containing accompaniment would offer cardiovascular benefits, opposite to the effects of equally available salt, sugar, and high-fat condiments.
  
  Although no substitute for systematic lifestyle improvements, including healthy diet, regular exercise, weight loss, and smoking cessation, complimentary statin packets would add, at little cost, 1 positive choice to a panoply of negative ones.”
  
  The analogy that you can reduce harm from a fast food diet with a statin drug, in the same way that you can prevent mortality from car accidents by wearing seat belts, is beyond ludicrous.
  
  If seatbelts -- like statins -- caused muscle problems, increased cancer risk, anemia, acidosis, sexual dysfunction, immune depression, pancreas and liver dysfunction, and cataracts, then perhaps this could be a viable analogy.
  
  As it stands, seatbelts do not come with a panoply of detrimental side effects. Unlike statins, they are nothing more than a harmless strap that keeps you from flying out the window should you have an accident. Statins, on the other hand, will drive your health into the ground, and that low-cost “complimentary” statin packet would undoubtedly rocket health care costs into the stratosphere.
  
  No, there is no such thing as a “free” statin with your lunch.
  
  Chewable Lipitor is also being proposed, to accommodate the latest target market – your children. This despite the fact there are over 900 studies showing the harmful effects of these drugs.
  
  Suggestions like these look like April Fool’s jokes, but they’re not... These are medical recommendations based on pure greed, without any regard for human health.
  
  If we start doling out statins in middle schools, burying your child before yourself or your spouse will become the rule rather than the exception.
  
• 
  

• How to Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally

• There’s really NO reason to take statins and suffer the consequences from these ill-conceived drugs. If you truly want to normalize your cholesterol levels, following these simple lifestyle changes can get you there:
• 
  
• First, normalize your insulin levels by eliminating sugar (particularly fructose) and grains. A fasting insulin level is easy to draw and is very inexpensive. It should be below 3.Second, you can take a high-quality krill oil or fish oil that is chock full of beneficial animal based omega-3 fatty acids.Eat the right foods for your nutritional type, and eat a good portion of your food rawAdditionally, if you are a man, or a woman who is in menopause, you should check your iron levels, as elevated levels of iron can cause major oxidative damage in the blood vessels, heart and other organs. Excess iron is also one of the major contributing factors of cancer risk.Regular exercise is another important tool that can help. When you exercise you increase your circulation and the blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of fighting an illness before it has the opportunity to spread.Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol excessively.
• Posted by amazingfacts 0 comments

• Could This be the Key Factor Spiking the Rise in ADHD?

• 
  
• Close to 1 million children in the United States have potentially been misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) -- simply because they are the youngest, and therefore the most immature, in their kindergarten class.
• These children are significantly more likely to be prescribed behavior-modifying drugs such as Ritalin. Such inappropriate treatment is particularly troubling because of the unknown impacts of long-term stimulant use on children's health.
  
• 
  
• “It also wastes an estimated $320 million-$500 million a year on unnecessary medication -- some $80 million-$90 million of it paid by Medicaid”.
• 
  
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) seem to have become more or less the catch-all designations for children who do not “behave well,” and as this study shows, this personal observation may have some merit.
  
  As of 2006, at least 4.5 million American children under the age of 18 were diagnosed with ADHD, according to CDC statistics.
  
  The study above, published in the Journal of Health Economics in June, determined that about 20 percent of these children have likely been misdiagnosed. That’s nearly one million children in the US alone.
  
  The study found that many of the youngest children in any given grade level are perceived as exhibiting “symptoms” of ADHD, such as fidgeting and inability to concentrate, simply because they’re compared to more mature classmates.
  
• 
  

• How Do You Diagnose ADHD?

• ADHD involves a cluster of symptoms that include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behaviors. There is no definitive diagnostic tool, such as a brain scan, to determine if you have ADHD. There’s only subjective evaluation, and, for better or worse, teachers can play a significant role in this evaluation.
  
  The term ADD has largely been replaced with ADHD, as it describes two of the most common symptoms of the condition, inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behavior.
  
  Most children display a combination of these two traits, and may also show the following symptoms:
  
• 
  
• Frequent fidgeting or squirming Feels restless or often runs and climbs excessively, or leaves his or her seat in the classroom when not appropriate Has difficulty playing quietly Talks excessively, interrupts often, and may blurt out answers to questions at inappropriate times Always seems on the go Has difficulty waiting his or her turn
• As you can see, many of these “symptoms” could describe most children at one time or another! Therefore, only those who struggle with inattention and hyperactive or impulsive behaviors around the clock are candidates for the ADHD label.
  
  Children who display these symptoms at school but not at home or with friends are not considered to have ADHD. Likewise, with children who display symptoms at home but not at school.
  
• 
  
• 
  

• Is it ADHD, or Just Immaturity?

• Since this behavioral disorder is so easily misdiagnosed, and the ramifications of a diagnosis so severe, it’s essential that you become actively involved and pay close attention to your child’s developmental progress.
  
  The drugs prescribed for this condition are quite dangerous, and can lead to addiction and long-term health complications, including death. Drugs really should be a last resort, and not a knee-jerk consequence of immature or “poor” behavior.
  
  The study found that the youngest students were 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than the oldest in the same grade. And when you take into account the maturity level, and in large part normal behavior of a 6 versus a 7-year old, you can easily see why.
  
• 
  
• “… the "smoking gun" of the study is that ADHD diagnoses depend on a child's age relative to classmates and the teacher's perceptions of whether the child has symptoms.
  
  "If a child is behaving poorly, if he's inattentive, if he can't sit still, it may simply be because he's 5 and the other kids are 6," said Elder, assistant professor of economics. "There's a big difference between a 5-year-old and a 6-year-old, and teachers and medical practitioners need to take that into account when evaluating whether children have ADHD."
  
  In addition, it’s important for parents to remain in charge and make their own assessments known, as the study also concluded that,
  
  “ A child’s birth date relative to the eligibility cutoff also strongly influences teachers’ assessments of whether the child exhibits ADHD symptoms but is only weakly associated with similarly measured parental assessments, suggesting that many diagnoses may be driven by teachers’ perceptions of poor behavior among the youngest children in a classroom.
  
  These perceptions have long-lasting consequences: the youngest children in fifth and eighth grades are nearly twice as likely as their older classmates to regularly use stimulants prescribed to treat ADHD.”
  
• 
  
• 
  

• What Causes ADHD?

• There are a number of theories to explain the rise in ADHD diagnoses, including:
• Sugars and Grains. Children who consume highly processed foods loaded with high fructose corn syrup and fruit juices tend to have a higher rate and severity of these symptoms. While organic whole grains are superior to processed ones, many children with ADHD do not respond well to most grains, especially wheat.Genetic factors -- Some scientists are now aiming their research at finding genes that may make a person more susceptible to this disorderEnvironmental toxins -- A 2006 study found that a mother's use of cigarettes, alcohol, or other drugs during pregnancy could increase the risk for ADHD. Exposure to lead and mercury may also cause ADHD symptoms, and pesticides and the industrial chemicals polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have also been named as potential culprits.Allergic reactions -- Chemically-sensitive people may exhibit ADHD symptoms when exposed to something as simple as clothing washed with perfumed and chemical-laden soap. Permanent press or stain-resistant products also contain chemicals that can initiate ADHD-like reactions in sensitive individuals.Processed food additives – Certain food dyes and other additives may cause ADHD-like symptoms. These chemicals have a particularly pernicious synergy if they are combined with sugars such as fructose.Increased number of childhood vaccinations – One 2007 survey found a strong correlation between rates of neurological disorders, such as ADHD, and childhood vaccinations. Vaccine adjuvants have also been associated with ADHD-type neurological problems.Fluoridated water Emotionally unstable home environments Stress is the frequently unappreciated and overlooked variable that can easily worsen ADHD. If the parents are having trouble in their relationship this can easily influence the child’s behavior.Increased rates of birth interventions. Thiscan result in birth trauma and lack of oxygen in the newborn, which significantly increases the risk of developmental delay.
• But the key factor, is nutrition, or rather lack thereof.
• 
  
• We know the food choices of most children -- and adults -- today are incredibly poor. How can you possibly expect a child to have normal behavior if he is fed refined grains, sugars, processed foods loaded with chemicals and genetically engineered ingredients, and juices and sodas instead of pure water?
• 
  
• Add to that the substandard amount of vegetables in most people’s diets -- up to 90 percent fewer than what is required for health -- an overabundance of highly processed, damaged omega-6 fats and a deficiency of omega-3 fats, and behavioral issues are not far behind.
• 
  
• You simply cannot have a healthy functioning brain when the proper ingredients to develop or maintain a healthy brain are not being given!
• 
  

• The ADHD “Epidemic” is Creating a Generation of Drug Addicts

• Once a diagnosis has been made, the conventional approach typically involves drug therapy. Commonly prescribed drugs include:
• 
  
• Ritalin® Concerta® Adderall® Strattera®
• 
  

• Ritalin and Concerta contain different formulations of methylphenidate, a powerful psychostimulant drug that is in the same class as cocaine. Adderall contains amphetamine (aka "speed") and dextroamphetamine.
  
  Please understand that just because these drugs are by prescription does NOT make them safer than their illegal “street drug” counterparts.
  
  Methylphenidate behaves similarly to highly addictive drugs. Ritalin, for example, has the same pharmacological profile as cocaine, yet its effects are even more potent. Using brain imaging, scientists have found that, in pill form, Ritalin occupies more of the neural transporters responsible for the “high” experienced by addicts than smoked or injected cocaine.
  
  In essence, we have created a large body of new drug addicts, priming them for addiction from an extremely young age.
  
  This is a particularly painful thought when you consider that, in all likelihood, nearly one million children are being drugged simply because they act their age! And even more children are likely receiving addictive drugs when what they really need is proper nutrition.
  
  It’s also worth mentioning that, like antidepressants, some ADHD drugs have been linked to an increased probability of suicidal thoughts and behavior.
  
  Strattera®, which contains atomoxetine hydrochloride, carries this warning. Hallucinations, increased aggressive behavior, heart attack and stroke are also possible side effects of ADHD drugs.
  

• 
  
• 
  

• Ritalin Use in America is Out of Control

• U.S. pharmacists distribute five times more Ritalin than the rest of the world combined, according to Dr. Samuel Epstein’s Cancer Prevention Coalition (CPC). In all, 60 percent to 90 percent of U.S. kids with attention deficit disorders are prescribed this powerful drug, which amounts to 3 percent to 5 percent of U.S. children and teens on Ritalin.
  
  By definition, Ritalin stimulates your central nervous system, leading to side effects such as:
  
• 
  
• Increased blood pressure Increased heart rate Increased body temperature Increased alertness Suppressed appetite
• Research has also linked Ritalin with more severe health problems such as cancer.
• 
  
• 
  

• Natural Ways to Relieve ADHD Symptoms

• Before you consider drugs, please consider implementing the following strategies first, in addition to making sure that your child is assessed in an age-appropriate manner:
• Eliminate most grains and sugars from your child’s diet. Grains and sugars both tend to cause allergies in sensitive individuals. Even organic, whole grain can cause problems in many children so it would be wise to give them a grain holiday and see if their behavior improves.Replace soft drinks (whether diet and regular), fruit juices, and pasteurized milk with pure, clean non-fluoridated water.Increase omega-3 fats by taking a high quality animal-based omega-3 oil. Research has confirmed that something as simple as animal-based omega-3 fat can improve the symptoms of ADHD more effectively than drugs like Ritalin® and Concerta®. Minimize your use of nearly all processed fats, especially trans fats as they disrupt nerve cell intercommunication.Avoid all processed foods, especially those containing artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, which may trigger or worsen symptoms.Clear your house of dangerous pesticides and other commercial chemicals. Pesticide exposure has been linked with ADHD.Avoid commercial washing detergents and cleaning products used on clothes, and replace them with naturally derived cleaning products with no added perfumes, softeners, etc.Spend more time in nature. Researchers have found that exposing ADHD children to nature is an affordable, healthy way of controlling symptoms.Investigate sensory therapy and emotional wellness tools. Instead of looking for a quick fix, encourage ADHD sufferers to talk, and find out what emotions are causing issues. You may want to consider the energy tapping techniques to improve emotional coping and healing.
• Posted by amazingfacts 0 comments

• The Many Benefits of Himalayan Crystal Bath Salts

• Your skin is an excretive organ that mirrors the condition of your intestines. When you take a brine bath, the salt minerals help your skin in the form of ions. Bio-energetic weak points will be balanced and your body's energy flow will be activated.
• To get the full benefits of a natural crystal salt bath, the right salt concentration is critical. The salt concentration has to be at least the same as the one of your body fluids (approximately 1%) to activate the osmotic exchange ratio. The formula for a 1% solution is 1.28 ounces of salt per gallon of water.
  

• Since a full tub normally takes from 100 to 120 liters (27-32 gallons) of water, at least 1.2 kg. (2.6 pounds) of natural salt is required.

• To avoid using body energy to balance the temperature, the water should be approximately 37° Celsius (97° Fahrenheit). Your bath will remain at a constant temperature because the biophysical composition of the salt is so strong - it causes the molecules to move in a constant rhythm.

• Do not use any bath additives, soaps, or oils.

• Your bath should last 20 to 30 minutes. During this time, the temperature and the makeup of the brine bath is comparable to the amniotic fluid in which the embryo floats in the prenatal state.

• Do not shower off, simply dry off with a towel.

• After your brine bath, you should rest for at least 30 minutes.

• WARNING: While brine baths have a positive effect, they are also demanding on your circulatory system. If you suffer from weak or poor heart circulation, always consult your doctor first.
  
• 
  

• How to Use the Bath Salt for Other Uses

• When water and salt combine, the positive ions of the salt surround the negative ions of the water molecules and the negative ions of the salt surround the positive ions of the water molecules. The ions become hydrolyzed and the geometrical structure of the salt and the water is changed to form a completely new structure.
• In this process called hydration, the biophotons (photons emitted spontaneously by all living systems) stored in the crystal salt are set free in the brine, which occurs without any additional energy. This is pure hydration. You can make your own brine right in your own home.
• You can start to use crystal salt for these purposes by putting enough in water in until the solution becomes saturated. This solution is called brine and is also referred to as "sole" (so-lay). The crystal salt is available in two forms for your convenience. The larger blocks can be dissolved in water for baths.
• 
  
• To use the Himalayan Bath Salt you can follow these steps:

• Loosely fill a closable glass container (Mason jar) with several crystal salt stones. Add natural spring water or purified water, completely filling the container

• After approximately 24 hours, look to see if the salt crystals have completely dissolved. If so, add a few more crystals. When the water can no longer dissolve any more salt, the salt crystals will sit at the bottom of the jar without dissolving. At this point the solution will have become saturated at 26%, and is ready for use.

• The glass can be refilled again and again with water and salt, continuing this process. This brine solution may be stored for years in a closed glass container without changing or decomposing.

• There are many ways to directly experience the natural benefits of brine including bathing in the brine solution.
• While you will certainly find many other beneficial uses for sole (brine) made from Himalayan Crystal Salt, here are some common uses:
• 
  

• Try a brine face wash, or the Himalayan Crystal Salt mixed with fragrance free, natural soap as a face or body scrub.

• Soothe your feet with a brine foot soak.

• Nasal Wash: Try a nasal wash with a few grains of crystal salt in ¼ cup of warm water.

• Rub brine directly on your skin and let dry.

• Throat: Gargle with warm brine solution, but don't swallow.

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

•