Category Archives: Diseases

New National Website Reaches Out To Millions Who Took Defective Acne Treatment Accutane

Since 1982, 5 million Americans and 8 million persons in other countries were prescribed Accutane to fight severe acne. In doing so, they were exposed to a defective drug that’s caused serious intestinal injuries requiring surgery – even colon removal. Now Accutane is off the market in America, and Americans have a fighting chance to recover their medical and other expenses via Accutane lawsuits which already are prevailing in courts.

To launch the process, new legal website Accutane-Lawsuit-Lawyer.com is reaching out to Accutane victims needing representation for Accutane lawsuits in all 50 states. Such suits already have made news this year with jury verdicts favoring plaintiffs, including an Alabama man who received over $25 million for his Accutane-caused inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which led removal of his colon.

Even Hollywood has entered the picture, via a recent Accutane lawsuit launched by actor James Marshall, star of TV’s Twin Peaks and the Oscar-nominated film A Few Good Men. After taking Accutane, Marshall, like many others, suffered an IBD and eventually had to have his colon removed. This severely impacted not only his health, but also his once-promising acting career.

The defective drug’s side effects even were referenced on a recent episode of the hit Fox TV series Glee.

Why has this happened? Indeed, why was it allowed to happen?

“Juries are finding that Swiss-based Roche Pharmaceuticals, creator of Accutane, knew that its product was unsafe but kept selling it anyway,” said a spokesperson for Accutane-Lawsuit-Lawyer.com. “Roche was making up to $1.2 billion per year in profits from Accutane. For Roche, eventual lawsuits were a trade off, and the human suffering was collateral damage.”

Juries are now holding that Roche did not adequately warn potential Accutane users of the drug’s serious side effects dangers. Thus, jury awards totaling more than $56 million already have been awarded in just a handful of Accutane lawsuits.

The Food and Drug Administration provides proof for such lawsuits. Though the FDA first approved Accutane’s use in 1982, the federal agency now calls Accutane’s active ingredient, Isotretinoin, “a potentially dangerous prescription medicine.” The FDA eventually required special warnings with Accutane.

Also in agreement is a Harvard University researcher who’s called Accutane “one of the most dangerous products on the market today.”

The FDA even has linked Accutane to such harmful side effects as severe depression, suicidal impulses and, for women who took Accutane during pregnancy, birth defects in babies. But for many sufferers, the problems involve an IBD such as Crohn’s Disease or ulcerative colitis. Each is a lifelong, incurable and debilitating digestive disorder – not to mention a costly one in terms of medical bills, lost salary and pain and suffering.

To recover such costs via an individual lawsuit – not a class-action suit — Accutane-Lawsuit-Lawyer.com says it can provide victims with an experienced Accutane defective drug lawyer in all 50 states of America. Many such suits may be handled in out-of-court settlements without a jury trial.

The legal website also has produced a special video for persons suffering acne to see. It demonstrates how-to tips on covering up acne with makeup, and advises against treating it with defective drug Accutane. The video can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuptUKD_MGg

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Global Health Progress Stresses Importance of Product Development Partnerships

Helen Coster’s recent commentary in her new Forbes blog Good Work addresses the issue of how product development partnerships (PDPs) can develop and improve treatments for neglected diseases like malaria, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease.

Coster notes, “These diseases affect the world’s poorest people, and they often get ignored by pharmaceutical companies for a simple economic reason: there is no way that considerable investment in research will be recouped in drug sales.”

Coster’s entry highlights the work of some of the best-known PDPs, such as the Drugs for Neglected Disease Initiative, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria. Coster also highlighted the significant funding of PDPs by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In closing, Coster invites her readers to discuss the PDP approach to eradicating neglected diseases and what role, if any, the pharmaceutical industry, philanthropists and other global organizations should play in the fight.

Global Health Progress also believes that public-private product development partnerships are invaluable in expanding the capacity of research and development (R&D) on innovative drugs and vaccines for neglected diseases. These partnerships help by harnessing the technical expertise and resources of the private sector with the approach of universities, research institutes and other public organizations.

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Top Government Hospital for Stem Cell Treatments and Research Located in Beijing Launches English Website

The Stem Cell Transplantation Department at the General Hospital of Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces has launched an English version of its website www.sinostemcells.com for its ever-growing international patients seeking Stem cell treatments. The new user-friendly site reflects the department’s vision of readily available, authentic, and relevant information and aims to supply its online visitors with up-to-date information on the department’s current stem cell therapies and research programs.

The Stem Cell Transplantation Department Director Dr. Yihua An, PhD, says “Access to relevant, quality information is becoming more important for international patients, their physicians, and families. We have met the ever-increasing need for English language updates on our current research direction and practices and have developed a modern English website especially designed for a Western audience.”

The department is located at the General Hospital of Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces in Beijing – a top Level 3A military institution that integrates healthcare services, scientific research, and medical education.

The Stem cell department is active in the field of stem cell treatments and research. The department primary focus is on Stem cell treatment for Spinal Cord Injury and Brain Injury apart from central nervous system -related diseases like Cerebral palsy and Stroke.

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Recent African Leaders Malaria Alliance Meeting Highlights Importance of Partnerships to Ensure Continued Progress on Malaria Vaccine

During the recent African Union summit, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) gathered to discuss how to combat the threat of malaria in the continent. Inspired by this meeting, Madiké Seye, Vice-President for Africa – GlaxoSmithKline wrote a guest article on the Independent’s website calling for “new tools, such as a malaria vaccine, which could complement existing interventions.”

Seye wrote, “Vaccines and immunization services have been critical to improving Africa’s health over the last several decades. Anyone whose child has suffered f r o m malaria – and there are only few of us who have not directly been affected by the disease – can imagine what a malaria vaccine would mean.”

F r o m there, Seye highlighted the importance of partnerships between African leaders, policymakers, international groups and the pharmaceutical industry. These collaborations are required in order to move forward with making the dream of a malaria vaccine a reality, whether that’s through improving drug prices or investing in technology to fully develop the vaccine. Seye noted that the vaccine is already in the final phases of development and trial results have consistently shown an “acceptable safety profile.”

Global Health Progress supports the role of these public and private partnerships and the participation of the pharmaceutical industry, particularly when it comes to addressing issues involving drug prices, access to medicines, and the continued efforts to create innovative new drugs and vaccines. GHP believes research and development are especially critical components of improving health care and combating epidemics of neglected tropical diseases, such as malaria, in developing countries.

GHP echoes Seye’s call for countries, multilaterals, NGOs, the pharmaceutical industry and scientists to continue to work together to, “make sure Africa is ready for a vaccine. One day there may be the means to save many more lives and change the equation in the fight against malaria for good.”

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Global Health Progress Epitomizes Clinton, Gates’ Call for ‘Efficiency Savings’ In Regards to HIV/AIDS Prevention Treatments, Services

During a recent international conference in Vienna for 20,000 AIDS scientists, health workers and activists, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Microsoft founder Bill Gates urged AIDS activists to try to generate the most value possible out of funds set aside for HIV/AIDS prevention services and treatments, including securing access to drugs. Reuters Health and Science Correspondent Kate Kelland highlighted the leaders’ remarks in a recent article:

“The world is awash in troubles. It is easy to rail at a government and say … give us more money. But we also have to change the way we do what we do,” Clinton told the conference. “If we’re going to make this case, they (donor governments) have to believe that we are doing our job faster, better and cheaper. Then we have the moral standing to go ask people to give us more money.” Gates, a philanthropist whose Gates Foundation spends a large portion of its $34 billion fund on fighting AIDS, said efficiency was vital to be able to scale up access to AIDS drugs for the 15 million people who need them, “We can’t keep spending AIDS resources in exactly the same way we do today,” he said. “As we … advocate for more funding, we also need to make sure we’re getting the most benefit from each dollar of AIDS funding and every ounce of effort.”

In keeping with this message, Global Health Progress’ recent 3rd Annual African Health Delegation let African officials share experiences, expertise and insights about how they efficiently employ available resources when battling diseases in Africa. These conferences are just one way GHP helps advocacy groups meet Clinton and Gates’ plea for activists to employ “efficiency saving” tactics when delivering treatments and securing access to drugs for countries “hardest hit and at highest risk” by HIV/AIDs and other diseases.

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Global Health Progress Highlights ViiV Healthcare’s Announcement of New Initiatives

Global Health Progress highlights ViiV Healthcare’s announcement of a new series of initiatives, including improving access to medicines, to support people living with HIV/AIDS in the poorest and most vulnerable countries.

To address the evolving treatment needs in these countries, ViiV Healthcare will now allow people living with HIV/AIDS to access the whole portfolio of ViiV Healthcare antiretroviral medicines, produced by generic companies. Additionally, ViiV Healthcare is implementing the groundbreaking step of making all patents available to generic manufacturers in these countries for all future pipeline developments, such as the novel integrase inhibitor jointly under development Shionogi – ViiVHealthcare, LLC.

ViiV Healthcare is also expanding the number of countries eligible for this expanded access to medicines to include all least developed countries, all low income countries and all of sub-Saharan Africa – that is 80% of all people currently living with HIV. “At ViiV Healthcare we wanted to go one step further in addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis and supporting access for people living with HIV in the worst affected countries. As a company totally focused and dedicated to tackling this epidemic we are passionately committed to thinking and acting differently and taking new steps to expand access,” said Dr Dominique Limet, CEO of ViiV Healthcare, “At present the numbers of people in the least developed countries moving onto second line therapy is very low compared to the developed world. However as more people have access to treatment, there is an increased need for second and third line treatment options once initial treatment failure occurs.”

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Global Health Progress Releases New Report that Features Innovative Solutions to Improve Access to Healthcare in India

Global Health Progress’ recently released report, Innovative Solutions to Improving Health in India, summarizes how the organization is committed to building sustainable, innovative solutions to secure access to healthcare for all Indian communities.

The report notes that access to healthcare remains problematic in parts of India, especially in rural areas. For instance, forty percent of the country’s primary healthcare centers are understaffed and fewer than one in five have a telephone connection. Nearly one million Indians die every year due to inadequate healthcare facilities and lack of access to healthcare. Without qualified health care professionals and fully equipped health facilities, programs to assist patients with medicines (both patented and unpatented) are of little use.

Additionally, chronic diseases are on the rise in India and infectious diseases continue to afflict Indian patients. India has the highest prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in the world, 60 percent of the world’s heart disease, and malaria has staged a comeback after its near eradication in the 1960s. An estimated 40.9 million Indian patients suffer from diabetes, the highest number in the world, and 30 million people are infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).

Global Health Progress recognizes this serious situation and calls on joint action among local leaders and diverse global stakeholders to implement sustainable, innovative solutions. Fortunately, Indian communities have successful and long-standing collaborations with biopharmaceutical companies and other international partners.

The full report, which features examples of India’s successful and long-standing collaborations with international partners, is available here:
http://globalhealthprogress.org/mediacenter/index.php/global-health-progress-report…

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Lloydspharmacy Reveals Five Star Holidaymakers Think They Are Too Posh To Die

According to new research* by Lloydspharmacy’s Online Travel Clinic, five star holidaymakers are needlessly risking their lives when visiting malaria hotspots in Africa, Asia and South America.

It is estimated that over 13.5 million** British travellers have stayed in four and five star resorts in malarial countries with over a quarter not protecting themselves against local diseases. In fact over three million Brits did not bother to check to see if the country they were visiting had a malaria risk.

Worryingly 32% of all Brits believe they are less at risk of catching malaria if they stay at a luxury resort. The Lloydspharmacy research also found that only 30% of people who visit malarial countries take anti-malarial medication for the duration of their trip. A substantial proportion also discontinued anti-malarial medication prematurely when they returned home. Recently Cheryl Cole contracted malaria following a trip to Tanzania – although she was reported to have taken anti-malarials during her trip, it is not known whether she continued taking these upon her return.

According to the NHS website approximately 1,500 travellers return to the UK with malaria every year. In 2008, there were 1,370 cases of malaria reported and six deaths in the UK.

“Mosquitoes have no qualms about checking into luxury resorts”, said Clare Kerr, Lloydspharmacy’s Head of Travel Health. “The belief that staying in five star accommodation somehow provides immunity against diseases like malaria is very dangerous.

“Most UK travellers who catch malaria either do not take any anti-malarial treatments or do not get the right pills for the part of the world they’re visiting. It is important to get health advice before going to an area where there is a risk of malaria or other diseases such as diphtheria, typhoid and hepatitis.”

Lloydspharmacy’s Online Travel Clinic aims to make it as convenient as possible for travellers to obtain the malaria pills they need. After a consultation, Lloydspharmacy’s online doctors can provide a private prescription and arrange delivery of the medicines by post.

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Unitaids Pool for HIV/AIDS Pharmaceutical Patents Appears Flawed

Recently the International Policy Network (IPN), a nongovernmental educational organization focused on highlighting the role of free society institutions in social and economic development, released a report discussing Unitaid’s proposed pharmaceutical patent pool. Written by Alec van Gelder and Philip Stevens, this report examines the implications of creating a pharmaceutical patent pool for anti-retroviral medicines (ARVs) in order to improve treatments for HIV/AIDs.

The report examines the potential problems associated with this move, which would allow researchers to experiment on patented ARVs in order to create more effective “fixed dose combination” drugs (FDC) for subpopulations in Africa. Unitaid would distribute these new drugs on a non-profit basis, where royalties as determined by patent pool administrators would be paid to patent holders. The authors of the article point to several issues that could arise with this type of patent pool, including:

• Distribution barriers in Africa, where poor healthcare infrastructure and a shortage of trained personnel exists. These barriers could hinder the new
medications from reaching those that really need it.
• Uncertain need for a patent pool type of arrangement, when many companies already allow researchers to investigate patented material. The authors write, “Many companies have established programmes which give academic researchers free access to vast proprietary compound libraries.”
• Unclear incentive for patent holders to give up intellectual property rights to drugs, knowing that the royalties they could receive would be significantly less than what they are receiving now from the patent.

Stevens and van Gelder conclude that this type of patent pool needs a better focus before they would be able to garner support for it within the industry. If the patent pool was to become compulsory, “R&D, licensing production to existing and new FDCs along with access to medicines would be undermined and potentially crowded out of the marketplace altogether by an unwieldy and unworkable bureaucracy.” They add that this would be counter-productive to Unitaid’s efforts, and could slow access to medicines in the countries that most need them.

To learn more about Unitaid’s pool for pharmaceutical patents read the full article here.

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ClearMed Offers 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Hemroid treatment ClearMed has always come with a 60-day, money-back guarantee. With the recent No. 1 ranking by Consumer Health Reports for the third year in a row, the developers of ClearMed decided it was time to remind customers – both existing and potential – of its No Risk Guarantee program. Those who are not completely satisfied with the hemroids relief of ClearMed can simply return the unused portion for a full refund.

“ClearMed is a product that I am very proud of, and feel excited to share with hemroids sufferers around the world,” says Lawrence E. Kreger, medical researcher for ClearMed.

Simply put, hemroids are veins in the anus or lower rectum that have become swollen because too much pressure has been placed on them, sometimes by straining during bowel movements, other times by sitting for too long. Symptoms include bleeding, anal itching and pain. Worldwide, more than 40 percent of people over the age of 50 suffer from hemroids. In the United States alone, about four percent of pregnant women find they need hemroid treatment. About 20 percent of those suffering from hemroids end up seeking relief through surgery, with the rest using an internal or external hemroid treatment.

ClearMed is an all-natural, time-release capsule that provides hemroids relief by shrinking and soothing the swollen veins. Unlike other treatments, ClearMed both repairs the tissues damaged by straining and provides soothing and healing agents throughout the day, to ease the discomfort of hemroids.

For mild hemroids, the cost of ClearMed starts at $39.95 for a one-week hemroid treatment cycle. Two weeks of hemroid treatment cost $59.85, saving the user $20. Those suffering from moderate to severe hemroids should consider purchasing the Extra Strength ClearMed package, which includes two weeks of hemroid treatment plus a hemroidal ointment to topically soothe itching, dryness, and burning. This hemroid treatment package costs $89.95.

Those who have found hemroids relief often continue with a hemroid treatment maintenance program. ClearMed offers a package that includes eight bottles of Extra Strength ClearMed plus two tubes of hemroidal ointment, for $159.

To order ClearMed, call 727-328-0859, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, or go to hemorrhoidtreatmentonline.com. All products are shipped discreetly within 24 hours through United States Postal Service Priority Shipping. Next-day Express Shipping is also an option.

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Hemroids Medication ClearMed Named Editors’ Choice For 2009

The votes are in and Consumer Health Reports has named ClearMed as the being the top pick for hemroids relief medication for 2009. A number of factors are considered by the organization during the process of picking a recommended product in any category, making the nod from Consumer Health Reports especially meaningful for any manufacturer or pharmaceutical company. The editorial team starts by collecting all of the products available to consumers in a particular category. In the case of hemroids treatment, this involved over 100 of the best known medications, including top selling national brand name products like Zenmed Zero and Avatrol. After comprehensive testing, consumer feedback is also solicited in the form of surveys. Products are then ranked according to key categories: safety, effectiveness, reorder rates, customer service, quality and value.

According to the editors of Consumer Health Reports, ClearMed came out on top when it came to testing and scored a tough to beat 95.9% approval rating on surveys returned by 285 customers who’d used the product. In naming ClearMed as their top pick for 2009, the editors sent a strong message that there is no medication more effective at providing hemroids relief, whether online or in your local drug store. Also noted in the review was the reasonable price of $39.95 for a treatment cycle of ClearMed, which was singled out as being “…a good value for the money when you consider that hemroids typically clear up within a week.” The fact that the producer of ClearMed also backs the product with a 60 day money-back guarantee says a lot about the confidence it has in the product.

While hemorrhoids are unpleasant and hemroids treatments often messy and ineffective, Consumer Health Reports was very positive about what consumers should expect from ClearMed, including a personal endorsement from the organization’s chief editor:

“ClearMed is clearly helping folks with their bout with hemorrhoids. We received the positive feedback from survey reports as well as actual customers from forums that claim their hemorrhoids cleared up within 1 week. Even our very own editor swears by this product.”

Established in 1999 by two medical researchers, the hemorrhoid treatment medication ClearMed is produced in an FDA-certified laboratory. Combining prescription strength ingredients that research has proven to reduce inflammation while soothing tissue, ClearMed has been named the top pick by Consumer Health Reports for three years running, is recommended by Doctors and over 200 Proctologists for hemorrhoids relief and has no known side effects. Available without a prescription for $39.95, ClearMed offers discreet, next day delivery with a 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee.

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Hemorrhoids Sufferers Rank ClearMed No. 1 Treatment for Third Year in a Row

Consumer Health Reports recently released its annual study and survey of treatments for hemorrhoids, and for the third consecutive year ClearMed has come out on top. Consumer Health Reports included more than 100 hemorrhoid treatment brands in the study, evaluating them on quality, value, reorder rates, safety and customer service. It then asked those suffering from internal, external and bleeding hemorrhoids to rate the top five – Avatrol, ClearMed, Preparation H, Venapro and Zenmed – using the same criteria. The result: More than 95 percent of participants picked ClearMed as their top hemorrhoid treatment.

More than 40 percent of people in the world over the age of 50 suffer from hemorrhoids, with four percent of all pregnant women developing the disease in the United States alone. Hemorrhoids are veins in the lower rectum or anus that have become swollen because of increased pressure, often from straining during bowel movements or sitting for long periods of time. Symptoms include anal itching, pain and bleeding.

Only about 20 percent of those suffering from internal, external and bleeding hemorrhoids require surgery, the rest find that a hemorrhoid treatment will help ease pain and swelling.

ClearMed is an all-natural hemorrhoid treatment in a time-release capsule that provides relief by shrinking and soothing hemorrhoids. Unlike other treatments for hemorrhoids, ClearMed’s finely milled ingredients work first on the internal issues, repairing tissues that have been damaged by straining. Throughout the day, soothing and healing agents are released to help ease the discomfort of bleeding hemorrhoids and non-bleeding hemorrhoids. There are no reported side effects with ClearMed, even when used for long-term maintenance.

“ClearMed is a product that I am very proud of, and feel excited to share with hemorrhoid sufferers around the world,” says Lawrence E. Kreger, medical researcher for ClearMed.

ClearMed developers are so confident in their hemorrhoid treatment, they guarantee results in five to seven days. If customers are not completely satisfied, ClearMed will return their money through its 60-Day No Risk Guarantee program.

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Hemorrhoids Have Met Their Match With ClearMed

Mankind has struggled to deal with the unpleasantness of hemorrhoids since the dawn of time. From the folk remedies dating back thousands of years to the national brands carried in drugs stores and supermarkets today, hemorrhoid treatment has become a big business. Unfortunately, with hundreds of medications to choose from and conditions ranging from mild irritation up to the potentially dangerous condition of bleeding hemorrhoids, consumers have been left wondering what medications actually work and which amount to a waste of money.

Doctors and proctologists treat patients who suffer from hemorrhoids all the time and they frequently recommend ClearMed, a nonprescription medication that’s proven to quickly reduce swelling and irritation, greatly speeding the recovery process while providing relief to sufferers. The editors of Consumer Health Reports, an organization that evaluates various medications in an effort to rank the top picks in various categories (based on criteria such as value, safety, quality and effectiveness), put over 100 of the top selling hemorrhoid treatment medications under the microscope and awarded ClearMed their top pick for hemorrhoid treatment for 2009.

What does it take to earn the top spot when competing against more than 100 of the top selling hemorrhoid relief products, including the best-selling national brand names? Consumer Health Reports conducted extensive testing on all the subject products, then asked customers who’d actually used the various medications to complete surveys to help validate their findings and flesh out what their user experience was like (including variables like customer service and overall satisfaction). As it had in the previous two years, ClearMed came out on top in testing, and it was also the clear favorite of customers, with an unheard of 95.9% approval rating on the 285 customer surveys that were returned. Some customers even noted that ClearMed had been able to heal their bleeding hemorrhoids, while others pointed out that the $39.95 price for a treatment cycle (backed by a 60 day money back guarantee) was extremely competitive. Based on these findings and the test results, Consumer Health Reports named ClearMed its Top Pick for Hemorrhoid Treatment for 2009, a feat the product has now accomplished for three years running.

ClearMed was founded in 1999 by a pair of medical researchers. The company operates an FDA-certified laboratory and offers a 60 day, 100% money back guarantee on ClearMed . The product is recommended by doctors, proctologists hemorrhoid treatment and has helped over 150,000 customers to date. ClearMed has earned top honors from Consumer Health Reports for the past three years, with the organization noting that it was even reported by customers to be effective in treating bleeding hemorrhoids.

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Storm Warning For Hay Fever Sufferers

Hay fever sufferers could be about to experience the “perfect storm” in 2010, thanks to the gathering forces of Mother Nature, a leading UK pharmacy has warned.

The unusual combination of birch pollen levels peaking again this year, as part of a biannual cycle coinciding with a late spring, could cause mayhem for those with hay fever, according to The Co-operative Pharmacy.

Lisa McCreesh, Clinical Governance Pharmacist, at The Co-operative Pharmacy, says:“We are urging people to make sure they get effective treatment if they are suffering from common hay fever symptoms including a blocked or runny nose, sneezing and headache, as these could easily be confused with colds at this time of year.

“Most people associate hay fever with the summer months of May and June when grass pollen levels are high. But hay fever is also caused by being allergic to high levels of birch tree pollen in the atmosphere and other types of pollen including weeds and flowers.

“There are number of simple ways to manage hay fever – managing allergic triggers, suppressing the symptoms, or altering the way your immune system responds to the pollen spores. Avoiding pollen allergens can be difficult though, as the tiny spores are windborne and travel for miles on air currents.

“Keeping windows closed can help, particularly in the early mornings when pollen is being released, and in the evening, when the air cools and pollen begins to fall to the ground, as can wearing wraparound sunglasses.

“A range of medication is available for hay fever sufferers including syrups – commonly used for children – tablets and nasal sprays which can help you breathe more easily and unblock your nose. Eye drops can also help to relieve itchy or watery eyes and certain eye drops should be used at least a couple of weeks before symptoms actually start, to minimise discomfort.

“There are a number of treatments available without a prescription and your local pharmacy will be able to advise you on an appropriate remedy,” adds Lisa.

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Head Injuries, Boxing Linked To Parkinson’s Disease

People who have suffered head injuries are four times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease (also known as “PD”) than those who have never had head trauma, according to Mayo Clinic researchers. This finding might have far-ranging implications for sports such as boxing and football.

Head Injuries, Boxing Linked To Parkinson's Disease

The Mayo Clinic research team focused on boxing as they sifted for clues. They knew that boxers who have repeated head injuries often get Parkinson’s-like symptoms. The most famous connection is professional boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who now suffers from advanced Parkinson’s disease.

“Parkinson’s is devastating,” says Kay Mixson Jenkins, author of the new children’s book Who Is Pee Dee? “The good news is that because of research like this, people might be able better protect themselves from the devastating, chronic disease.”

Ms. Jenkins was diagnosed with PD when she was just thirty-four. She decided to write her book to help her children understand the disease. The story follows a young boy named Colt as he tries to deal with his mother’s chronic illness.

Parkinson’s disease affects up to 1.5 million people in the US. The illness typically develops in later life and often impairs motor skills, speech and other functions.

While the causes of PD are still unidentified, many researchers believe that head traumas can raise the chances of getting the disease and suggest avoiding such injuries by:

• Wearing a helmet when biking, riding a motorcycle, or playing sports like football, ice hockey, skiing or snowboarding.
• Wearing a seatbelt while in a car.
• Buckling your child into a safety seat.
• Preventing falls.

“Boxing and football remain dangerous sports that can have serious effects on the health of their players,” says Ms. Jenkins. “The government must enact safety regulations for these sports in order to protect athletes from injuries and traumas.”

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Regular Exposure To Agricultural Pesticides Might Increase The Risk Of Parkinson’s Disease

Regular exposure to agricultural pesticides might increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a study published in Archives of Neurology. More exposure to pesticides means a higher chance of the neurological illness, research reports.

“While the causes of PD are still not clear,” says Kay Mixson Jenkins, author of the new children’s book Who Is Pee Dee?, “hardcore chemicals used for treating crops can’t be that good for people in any event.”

Ms. Jenkins was diagnosed with Parkinson’s when she was just thirty-four. She decided to write her book to help her children understand this devastating disease. The story follows a young boy named Colt as he tries to deal with his mother’s chronic illness.

Based on National Parkinson Foundation estimations, almost 1.5 million Americans currently have PD. It’s the second-largest neurological disorder (after Alzheimer’s) in the United States.

The illness typically develops later in life and often impairs motor skills, speech and other functions.

Many scientists and researchers believe that environmental factors can be linked to the illness:

• Aberdeen University Medical School found that people exposed to high levels of pesticides were forty-one percent more likely to develop the condition compared to people who had never been exposed; those exposed to low levels were thirteen percent more likely.

• Environmental Health News reports that the rates of Parkinson’s disease appear higher among farmers and rural residents.

• A Danish cohort study found an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease in agricultural workers.

• Emory University reported growing evidence suggesting that exposure to pesticides increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

• Researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center found that people with Parkinson’s disease have significantly higher blood levels of a particular pesticide than healthy people.

“I hope studies and facts like these will help bring the government’s attention to the environmental problems our society faces today,” says Ms. Jenkins. “If we can simply protect our environment and be greener, who knows? Maybe the number of Parkinson’s cases will go down.”

In addition to writing Who Is Pee Dee?, Ms. Jenkins is a leader in a nationwide effort to raise awareness about PD. As the founder of Parkinson’s in the Park, an affiliated chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation, Ms. Jenkins has created an outreach program that encourages families and friends to participate in the treatment of PD patients.

Kay Mixson Jenkins is also the Georgia state co-coordinator for the Parkinson’s Action Network, leads the Effingham County Parkinson’s support group and was selected as a Parkinson’s patient advocate for UCB, Inc.

Who Is Pee Dee? Explaining Parkinson’s Disease to a Child by Kay Mixson Jenkins is available on Amazon.com.

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Researchers Say Exercises Can Reduce Parkinson’s Effects

Scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh and University of Southern California discovered that exercise can slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease (known as “PD”).

The studies suggest that regular physical activity can help to reduce damage to neurons in the brain that causes Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers Say Exercises Can Reduce Parkinson's Effects

“Parkinson’s disease is an illness that affects muscle movement,” says Kay Mixson Jenkins, author of the new children’s book Who Is Pee Dee? “Anything that can help to maintain normal muscle tone and flexibility is extremely important.”

Ms. Jenkins was diagnosed with PD when she was just thirty-four. She decided to write her book to help her children understand the disease. The story follows a young boy named Colt as he tries to deal with his mother’s chronic illness.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly 1.5 million Americans; approximately 50,000 are diagnosed with the disease every year.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Exercise has important benefits for everyone regardless of age or physical condition… When your condition threatens to immobilize you, exercise keeps you moving… To retain your mobility and function, use it or lose it.”

Exercises cannot stop Parkinson’s disease progression, but based on the study, regular physical activity can help PD patients to:

• minimize further cell damage.
• decrease loss of cognitive skills.
• increase muscle control and build muscle strength.
• improve balance and coordination.
• reduce depression.

“Unfortunately, there is no cure yet for Parkinson’s disease,” says Ms. Jenkins. “I believe that exercise can help to delay the progression of Parkinson’s and improve emotional well-being, which is very important for PD patients.”

Kay Mixson Jenkins is the Georgia state co-coordinator for the Parkinson’s Action Network, leads the Effingham County Parkinson’s support group and was selected as a Parkinson’s patient advocate for UCB, Inc.

Who Is Pee Dee? Explaining Parkinson’s Disease to a Child by Kay Mixson Jenkins is available on Amazon.com.

For more information, contact the author directly via kmj@ParkinsonsInThePark.org.

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Lloydspharmacy Unveil New Health Web Tool

Lloydspharmacy has launched a new web tool which allows people to work out how many of their work colleagues is carrying a sexually transmitted disease, drinks too much alcohol or is depressed.

The ‘Chances Are…’ Health Calculator, developed by community pharmacy chain Lloydspharmacy, is designed to stimulate debate and make health risks more relevant by applying nationally representative data to the workplace.

“People have become rather de-sensitised to national statistics,” said Andy Murdock, Governance and Pharmacy Relations Director of Lloydspharmacy. “When you hear that 15 per cent of the population is in danger of developing diabetes, it’s a bit meaningless, but when you discover, for example, in an office of 50 people, eight will be pre-diabetic and 10 of the men will experience some form of erectile dysfunction after turning 40, you’re more likely to sit up and take notice.

“That’s why we have launched this online tool. We hope it will be used in workplaces up and down the country, get people talking and encourage them to think about their own risk factors and what they can do to reduce their chances of developing lifestyle related diseases.”

The calculator asks visitors to provide information about the type of workplace they are employed in, along with the gender split and age profile of their workmates. It then raids its database to calculate how many colleagues have Chlamydia, how many men are likely to develop erectile dysfunction, how many are likely to suffer a stroke, how many have raised cholesterol, how many are hazardous drinkers and much more.

In many cases information is provided about the condition or the issue and guidance is provided about what can be done to reduce risk factors.

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Purify Your Body’s Detox Foot Pads Are Packed With Powerful Ingredients That WORK!

Purify Your Body’s detox foot pads produce more negative ions and infrared light than ANY other pad and are the only pads with NO starch fillers. All ingredients are designed to work together to draw out and absorb harmful toxins.

Remember that as adults we have between 400 to 800 man-made chemicals in our bodies. Detoxifying is an acceptable and necessary part of living a healthy life in today’s world. Purify Your Body’s detox foot pads are one of the most effective and easiest forms of natural detoxification.

What poisons are you carrying around in your body? More importantly, how do you get rid of them? While eastern medicine has known and embraced the virtues of natural detoxing for many years, western nations are only just catching on. Yet it’s a natural, obvious, and effective health treatment which can cure fluid retention, food intolerances, gas or diarrhea, colds and infections, exhaustion, skin rashes, headaches or dizziness, insomnia, and a host of other problems.

As adults, we have around 400 to 800 man-made chemicals circulating in our bodies. Normal healthy body elimination processes do not remove all these chemicals. Food, drinks, polluted air, medications, stress, metabolism, disease, products applied to skin, synthetics, home and workplace chemicals contribute to the body’s toxin load which accumulates daily and builds up over the years.

Introducing the amazing detox foot pad. The detox foot pad warms and opens the pores of the skin to draw out and absorb accumulated wastes via the skin under osmotic pressure from the blood and lymph systems. The all-natural dry ingredients in the detox foot pads adhere to the soles of the feet like a big band aid overnight, when the body detoxifies. Depending on the individual, the detox may take two or three weeks to two or three months, or longer in the case of more severe disease or toxic build up.

Potent all-natural ingredients work together to draw out the toxic build-up in your feet, and in other parts of the body.

Toxins accumulate in the extremities. For hundreds of years Eastern medical studies have held the view that toxins progress towards the lower extremities in the body during the day. Assisted by gravity they accumulate from the tips of the toes to the ankles. Eastern medicine also understands that toxin accumulation leads to many degenerative diseases. For example, painful rheumatism and arthritis are caused by acidic toxin fluid gathered in the joints. There is another Asian expression that says aging comes from the foot.

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Lloydspharmacy Wishes Customers A Flu-Less Christmas

Lloydspharmacy has announced that it has cut the price of its winter flu vaccinations by more than half price to encourage more people to protect themselves against the virus.

Recent research carried out by Lloydspharmacy found that take up for the vaccine has fallen this year. This could be due to a misguided belief that the swine flu jab will protect against winter flu**. However, price may also be a factor as people cut back during the recession. At £5, the Lloydspharmacy winter flu vaccine is now the cheapest on the high street compared to Asda and Tesco which are both priced at £8.00.

Chris Frost, pharmacist and director at Lloydspharmacy, said: “Winter flu can be debilitating and in some cases lead to very serious health issues. By making the vaccines available in our pharmacies across the country we’ve already improved access. Now they’re even more affordable we hope to have removed another barrier to people protecting themselves. The last thing anyone wants is to have flu over Christmas.”

Seasonal flu is responsible for the deaths of about 8,000 people in the UK a year and tends to affect the more vulnerable or elderly people. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control forecast that the swine flu and seasonal flu strains could each claim 40,000 lives across Europe this winter.

People over the age of 65 qualify for a free NHS seasonal flu vaccination as do people with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Others are able to get themselves protected on the high street. Lloydspharmacy offers a seasonal flu vaccination service in 260 of its pharmacies.

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