LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Fitness |
by Rick Moore |
Hot Feet and Aching Heads
I hate to be one to nag, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Now, you know how hot it was at the beach this past July 4th. The sand was so hot that Nick had blisters on both feet from not wearing shoes. Yet I still see guys and gals trudging on the hot sand with their dogs in tow. Aw, c'mon, now. That sand had to be just as hot on 4 paws as it was on two feet. So here I go again. Please, folks, reconsider bringing your pet to the beach when it's 90 and above. Even 85 degrees is hot. Maybe the park police should issue a citation to people who are oblivious to the fact that their pets could be in heat distress. Yes, I feel that strongly. And so should you, too. All this is enough to give you a headache and thus the topic for this column...Extra Strength Tylenol. Tylenol is as American as mom, apple pie, and Chevrolet. But we've found out some disturbing news about a trusted pain-killing friend. In a clinical study, the highest recommended dose of Extra Strength Tylenol sharply increased liver enzymes in healthy adults, an early sign of possible organ damage. The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association is the first one of it's kind to spot hints of trouble in healthy people taking the pain reliever as directed. This alarming study shows that taking the amount on the package can be a problem for some people. Tylenol is the leading brand of acetaminophen, which is found in more than 200 types of pain relievers and cold remedies. An estimated 100 million Americans take acetaminophen safely each year. The over-the-counter drug is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States, and some researchers have called for increased regulation to prevent overdoses. In England, concerns about suicide through acetaminophen overdose led to restrictions on how many pills could be sold at one time. The maximum dose for Extra Strength Tylenol is 4 grams daily; or two 500 milligram pills every six hours. The study was done and paid for by Purdue Pharma, which was developing a pill that combined acetaminophen and an opioid. Purdue suspended testing because of the drug's effects on liver enzymesnot good news. A company spokesperson could not be reached for comment. Medical Consumer Healthcare, the unit of Johnson & Johnson that markets Tylenol, said the latest study ran counter to previous research sponsored by the company that showed no meaningful elevations in liver enzymes. You be the judge. Speaking of drug companies, they are poised to see a 2 billion bonanza this year, thanks to the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefitand US taxpayersaccording to the industry. The windfall is a by-product of shifting 6.4 million older Americans from Medicaid to the Medicare prescription benefit this year. Under Medicaid, drug companies are required to charge the government their lowest price; the new Medicare law, which went into effect January 1, has no restriction. Gosh, now it seems the government is now paying 20-30 percent more for most prescriptions under the new Medicare rules. Seems our Congressmen have sold out the elderly and it looks like the drug companies are the ones who are making out in this new deal. And so it goes. See y'all at the beachwear your shoes on the hot sand and save your feet! Rick Moore is a personal trainer certified by the American Fitness Professionals & Associates. Visit him at www.ricksfitness.net. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 16, No. 9 July 14, 2006 |