Warning: FDA Says Heartburn Meds Can Increase Your Fracture Risk

So a new "review of studies" has been released by the FDA and it finally reports 'breaking news' on some of the negative side effects I've been talking to patients about for the last 3-5 years! It seems every day there's one new medication in the spotlight receiving its own 'black box' label, or at least increasing the size of their already-lengthy list of additional unintentional side effects.

What's interesting to me, is that most people taking antacids are actually doing the exact OPPOSITE of what would be best for them. That's right. Most people taking antacids are actually acid-depleted. They are making too LITTLE acid and that lack of acid in the stomach is allowing the food to putrify and essentially rot. This rotting food is not pleasant and off-gases quite a bit, which forces air - and usually stomach acid - into the esophagus, giving the individual the sensation of 'heartburn.'

This is self-induced heartburn, though. In taking an acidic supplement, most people would then have enough stomach acid to properly break down the food that is entering the stomach, thereby avoiding the heartburn!

So, onto the FDA's 'scoop:'

The FDA has mandated that proton pump inhibitor heartburn medications must carry a label warning of increased fracture risk. This group of drugs include Prevacid, Prilosec, and Nexium.

The FDA suggests those taking these drugs should consult with their doctors, and those using such drugs over-the-counter limit their use to no more than three 14-day periods a year.

According to the FDA website:

"... [The decision is] based on the Agency's review of several epidemiological studies that reported an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist and spine in patients using proton pump inhibitors."

If you or someone you know is taking the damaging medications and would like help in getting off of them, please give our office a call. We'd love to help you, just as we have helped so many others!

In Health,
Dr. Scott
www.hilltopwellness.com

Pfizer to pay $2.3 billion settlement

Well, this little headline was sort of swept under the radar...at least away from most major news media. A few smaller papers caught wind of it.

So, if you haven't heard, please let me be the one to spill the beans: Pfizer, one of the largest (correction - THE largest) drug company in the world has been found guilty of illegal prescription drug promotions - they "wined and dined medical doctors and sent them on exotic trips to induce them to prescribe its drugs, including the impotence treatment Viagra and cholesterol medicine Lipitor." (for notes on Lipitor, please take a look at one of our previous posts here - you will want to get off cholesterol drugs as soon as possible after reading it).

There's a blog about it here, on the News & Observer website...I can't seem to find a link to one of the published stories (most require a subscription). I'll keep looking, though.
** UPDATE - I found a great article in our very own Columbus Dispatch, viewable here!

So, I guess a lesson to take home from this is this: if you decide it is absolutely NECESSARY to take a prescription drug, ask the doctor to show you paperwork that the drug is FDA approved for the intention it is to be used. If everything is as it should be, the request should not be a problem to fulfill.

Don't be a sheep, blindly following anyone in a white coat - educate yourself on the drugs you and your family are taking...it could save your life.

In Health,
Dr. Scott

www.hilltopwellness.com

Big Pharma and the FDA: Banning Vitamin B!

Yep, that's right...the FDA has officially banned companies selling from selling a vitamin - a form of vitamin B6 called pyridoxamine, to be precise. The original article can be read here, on the website of the American Association for Health Freedom. And, as per usual, Dr. Mercola has some interesting commentary on the issue, it's a little wordy, but push through it (use my email address if it asks for one: hilltopchiro AT gmail.com) - you'll be glad you did. I'm just getting sick of drug companies getting (biasically) everything they want in the United States...

I'm curious to know what on Earth is going to happen with this health care reform. Congress is apparently in quite the pile of poop on trying to get their budget in order - apparently they may cut chiropractic out of the medicaid budget for next year.

That would stink. It' too bad most people on medicaid don't even know chiropractic care is a covered benefit to which they have access. I just recently began seeing medicaid patients and I've found they need chiropractic as much as anyone else...and maybe even more!

I could go on and on, but I'll stop there...if you have a minute, please call your congressperson and let him/her know that you would hate to see medicaid's chiropractic benefits cut next week.

Thank you,
Dr. Scott Gosselin
www.hilltopwellness.com

How Safe is the Pill?

What percentage of American females would you guess have used a form of oral contraceptive? 30%? Way too low. 55%? Still not even close. According to the American College of cardiology, the answer is about 80%. It's a wonder that more people don't ask 'How Safe is the Pill?' before taking it. It seems nowadays the pill is taken for granted, in my opinion.

There are stacks of research out there touting the dangers of the pill, and the multiple effects on those who take it. Ranging from increased chances of blood clots to cancers to sexual dysfunction, the pill's whole purpose is to mess with a woman's hormone levels and basically change the chemistry of her being...is it any surprise that it will cause a problem?

Take a look at Dr. Mercola's article 'How Safe is the Pill?' (if it prompts you to register before you can see the website, feel free to use my email address 'hilltopchiro AT gmail.com ) and then do a little research yourself - do a quick google search of "side effects of the pill" or "oral contraceptive side effects." I got about 12 million links to peruse on my first search - take special note of which sites support the use of the pill - it's interesting to see who sponsor's those websites (hint: although sometimes a drug company will sponsor the website, it's more often a less-obvious campaign - for example, drug companies will be the primary contributor to a company called Women's Health First, which strongly encourages use of the pill, but on the exterior, looks like an independent organization promoting the safety and efficacy of the pill...just an example).

Leave your comments and questions - I'd love to hear them.

In Health,
Dr. Scott
www.hilltopwellness.com

Brave Med Students Buck the Establishment

whoa Whoa WHOA! It's about time we had some people in the medical community with some common sense and ethics about Big Pharma! If you have no idea what I'm talking about, take a look at this short article, hot off the press: Brave Med Students Buck the Establishment.

Way to take a stand. I think it's interesting that this was initiated by students, which probably means they haven't had time to become jaded by the current systems we have allowed.

Enjoy the read and the hope for the future that comes with it!

In Health,
Dr. Scott
www.hilltopwellness.com

News Flash: Acid Reflux Caused by Too Little Acid, Not Too Much...

I don't think I will ever forget the reaction on a patient's face when I first mentioned this information about a year and a half ago. After I told her 95% of heartburn is caused by hypochloridia (too little stomach acid), the lady said, "If that's true then why would my [medical] doctor give me this antacid?" My answer was simple, "Probably because of one of two reasons; 1) he never studied nutrition, or 2) he was getting too nice a kickback from Big Pharma." In retrospect, I guess the most likely answer would have been both 1 and 2.

In Ohio, I'm not licensed to give recommendations to alter prescriptions (thankfully), but it is very common to be able to stop taking antacids after adding some natural acidifiers to the diet. At Hilltop Wellness & Chiropractic, we carry excellent sources of probiotics and betaine hydrochloride (which I take). If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to call the office and set up an appointment to discuss this, or anything else that may be of interest to you.

In the meantime, take a look at this short video and feel free to leave your comments or feedback on the blog.

In Health,
Dr. Scott
www.hilltopwellness.com

A New Low in Drug Research: 21 Fabricated Studies

A New Low in Drug Research: 21 Fabricated Studies - Wall Street Journal March 11, 2009

There is just so much of this sort of information in the news lately I can't imagine anyone feeling safe taking their prescription drugs anymore. I'm nervous and I don't take any drugs! Researchers are finding more and more evidence that eating certain foods and PREVENTING the diseases these drugs are produced for is a FAR better way to maintain health and wellness for yourself.

You didn't read it first here, but you've read it AGAIN here: preventative healthcare TRUMPS crisis medical intervention EVERY TIME! Feel free to give us a call and ask what we can do for you to help you meet your health-goals - it would be our pleasure to serve you.

-Dr. Scott