Health Front: FDA Acetaminophen Warnings, Size Matters
By DR. JERRY DeCAPUA, TRT Contributing Writer
● The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns people with the flu or any condition of head or joint ache to not double up in taking acetaminophen. The FDA warns that there are limitations as to how your liver can process acetaminophen. They say that one should not take more than a single dose and not take more than one over-the-counter product at a time that contains acetaminophen. Don’t exceed the recommended dose on any product containing acetaminophen. The FDA is warning the public about the casual use of acetaminophen causing liver damage and destruction.
Acetaminophen is used in many commonly prescribed medications in combination with pain relievers such as codeine, oxycodone and hydrocodone. As of January 2011, FDA reported that overdoses from prescription medicines containing acetaminophen accounted for nearly half of all cases of liver injury in the U.S. Even if you still have a fever or pain, it’s important not to take more than what is directed on the prescription or package label. FDA officials note that the word acetaminophen is not always spelled out in full on the container’s prescription label. Abbreviations such as APAP, Acetamin, Acetam or Acetaminoph may be present instead. When buying over-the-counter products, make it a habit of telling the pharmacist what other medications you’re taking and asking if acetaminophen in addition is safe.
● Whole Foods CEO and self-professed libertarian-multimillionaire John Mackey has told the Wall Street Journal that “Obama Care” is fascism. Whole Foods Incorporated is a San Francisco based natural food store that is also popularly referred to as “Whole Paycheck Market” due to its overpriced products. The CEO is unhappy that his employees who make less than $11 an hour will be eligible for health coverage in 2014. Mr. Mackey apparently learned about fascism from TV and movies. He never met Mussolini, Hitler or Franco, but his management style has certain attributes that may indeed qualify him as knowledgeable in fascism or in the control of all means of production.
The Wall Street Journal identifies Whole Foods as having an extraordinary profit margin. Their shoppers like to think that they buy the very best of everything, including natural foods. Whole Foods Market appeals to a boutique oriented clientele, under the marketing guise of healthy niche. Mr. Mackey’s discontent with his employee’s future healthcare coverage seems to run contrary to the definition of whole health. Perhaps to him, whole health means whole paycheck, and your whole paycheck is his whole paycheck.
● Obese drivers are up to 80 percent more likely to die in a car crash than normal-weight drivers, a new study finds. “This study highlights yet another negative consequence of obesity,” said study author Thomas Rice, a research epidemiologist with the University of California, Berkeley. “Our findings suggest two things: first, that there is something about obese vehicle occupants that causes poorer outcomes. Obesity is an additional risk factor that inhibits survival and recovery in severe injury,” he said. “Second, research shows that the proper interaction between seat belts and the human body is inhibited in the obese.” The lap belt is prevented from engaging the pelvis due to body fat. The report was just published in Emergency Medical Journal.
Another study on obesity and driving comes from the University of West Virginia and data compiled from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The researchers found that as the level of obesity increased, so did the odds of dying in the crash. Compared to normal weight drivers, those at the lowest level of obesity were 21 percent more likely to die, those at the next level were 51 percent more likely to die and those who were most obese were 80 percent more likely to die. Overweight people should not confuse their extra carriage as protection, much like an airbag would be. The study also found that obese women had a greater risk of dying than obese men. In addition, underweight or very thin people were slightly more likely to die in a crash than average sized drivers. When it comes to surviving car crashes, size matters.