In contrast to my earlier post, Measles vaccine is very effective and should be given to each and every child. Failure to vaccinate children is leading to to measles outbreaks which will increase in the future. Furthermore, the risk of contracting measles (with its attendant complications) far outweigh the risk of developing autism.

More people had measles infections in the first seven months of this year than during any comparable period since 1996, and public health officials blamed growing numbers of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children.

Many of these parents say they believe vaccines cause autism, even though multiple studies have found no reputable evidence to support such a claim.

Reference: New York Times, Center for Disease Control (CDC)

I recently saw a very interesting patient.

20 year old male college student (whom I will call Mr. X) with no known past medical history was referred to the medical clinic by his dentist for high blood pressure. During the office visit, Mr. X did not complain of any symptoms and said that he felt fine. On pressing a little further he said that at times he had headaches for which he takes over the counter painkillers.

Past medical history, family history and social history were unremarkable.

On examination his blood pressure was 180/116 in right arm and 175/110 in left arm. Heart rate was about 80. Rest of the physical exam was normal.

I tried to ask Mr. X if he was taking any drugs especially cocaine, marijuana or over the counter medications (besides painkillers - NSAIDS), but he denied.

Unable to explain the high blood pressure, I asked Mr. X to get some blood work done and asked him to come back in a week.

Next week Mr. X is back, asymptomatic with a high BP similar to the previous visit. His blood work is normal. Now I decide to start a million dollar work up to get to the root of his mysterious hypertension.

But then he tells me something interesting - cramps. He has been having mild cramps from weight lifting and exercising in the gym for about 3-4 weeks.

With a rush of adrenaline surging in me, I ask Mr. X “how many times do you work out in a week”

Mr. X - “Daily, I am trying to build some serious muscles”

Me - “I hope you are not taking steroids for body building”

Mr. X - “No, no, not at all. I know they are bad. I actually use this wonderful pre-workout supplement which I purchased from the internet. It does not have any steroids in it and works great”

Me - “And what is the supplement”

Mr X - “NO-xplode”

Case solved. Next week Mr. X’s blood pressure is 120/80.

(This is one of the many patients which I have seen and heard from colleagues, in which people get duped by fraudulent internet companies that sell FDA unapproved, non-tested diet supplements, body building supplements, herbal medicines and a whole lot of other stuff which can be extremely harmful. If you are taking any such supplement please consult your doctor).

Technorati Tags: Body building, Drugs, Hypertension, NO-xplode, Steroid, Supplement

Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Endometriosis: What You Should Know

Medicine Interactions with Grapefruit: What You Should Know

Rickets: What It Is and How It’s Treated

Pressure Ulcers

Technorati Tags: Heparin induced thrombocytopenia, Endometriosis, Grapefruit, Rickets, Pressure sores, Patient pages

TIme Health is carrying an interesting article on what a kid’s lunch box generally contains and what it should contain.

Parents assume the lunch they make is healthier than the one served at school, but the Canadian Institutes of Health Research found that the typical lunch box is a nutritional nightmare, filled with sugar, salt and saturated fat. Here’s how to do better.

Read the article and pack a healthy lunch box for your kids.

Technorati Tags: Lunch, Lunch Box, Healthy diet, Kids

Here is a list of FDA approved drugs which may help in smoking cessation. However, all these drugs should be taken only after consultation with your physician.

Bupropion SR (Wellbutrin SR, Zyban)

• Adv - Non-nicotine tablet; easy to use
• Disadv - May cause insomnia, dry mouth, headache, tremors, nausea, or anxiety

Nicotine gum

• Adv - Over-the-counter availability; flexible dosing; delivers nicotine faster than the patch
• Disadv - No food or drink 15 minutes before use; frequent dosing. May cause jaw pain, mouth soreness, dyspepsia, or hiccups

Nicotine inhaler

• Adv - Flexible dosing; mimics hand-to-mouth action of smoking; few side effects
• Disadv - Frequent dosing necessary. May cause mouth and throat irritation

Nicotine lozenge

• Adv - Over-the-counter availability; flexible dosing; delivers nicotine faster than the patch
• Disadv - Frequent dosing necessary; no food or drink 15 minutes before use. May cause mouth soreness or dyspepsia

Nicotine patch (transdermal)

• Adv - Over-the-counter availability; daily application; overnight use may reduce early morning cravings; few side effects
• Disadv - Less flexible dosing; slow delivery of nicotine. May cause skin irritation or sleep problems if worn at night

Nicotine nasal spray

• Adv - Flexible dosing; fastest delivery of nicotine; reduces cravings within a few minutes
• Disadv - Frequent dosing necessary. May cause nose and eye irritation or cough. Most addictive among other medications

Chantix (Varenicline tartarate)

• Adv - Studies show that it is more effective than Bupropion
• Disadv - May cause nausea and abnormal dreams. Limited experience with this recently approved drug

Reference - American Family Physician

Patient page - Tips to Help You Quit Smoking

Technorati Tags: Bupropion, Chantix, Drugs, Nicotine, Varenicline, Smoking