It never ceases to amaze me how governmental entities can make and then quickly reverse statements that have the potential to affect the lives and health of millions. This week the FDA quickly took back the statement made last month and said that Aleve was really no safer than any other NSAID (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Aleve (naproxen) is manufactured by Bayer. It’s competitors that were declared deadlier and than NOT any deadlier a couple weeks later include Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil & generic equivalents), Celebrex (made by Pfizer) and others. I can’t help but wonder what influence whose investments had in the process.
But my reason for this article has more to do with overall dangers and alternatives than the individual drugs.
Also in the statement was the acknowledgement that current labeling which warns of increased of heart attack and stroke after 10 days on the medication is inadequate and needs to be revised. At least one recently published study indicates danger (stroke or deadly heart attack) can occur in as little as 7 days. In fact, a closer look shows us that studies in late 1990’s estimated NSAIDs caused about 107,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths yearly in the US and the use of these drugs has increased exponentially since that time. Circulatory events (stoke or heart attack) and gastrointestinal bleeding are the most common causes of hospitalizations and death.
One problem I find with the medical approach is that they insist they must know why and how something happens and this tends to minimize its affect in the public’s eye. Here’s what I mean: understanding physiology on a holistic level, I can come up with a number of plausible reasons, but maybe not the exact mechanism for how these drugs can cause a heart attack. In the meantime, they wring their hands because they don’t know exactly how it happens. Human nature is such that we tend to ignore what we don’t understand or can’t explain. Thus, the doctor can’t explain the danger to the patient OR understand it exactly in his/her own mind and still writes the prescription. The patient, while being aware that all drugs carry risks, figures if the doctor has prescribed it, the benefit must outweigh the risk. Some of these patients are tripling the likelihood that they will die of a heart attack and they are completely unaware of it.
In the meantime, natural approaches, while they may not work as quickly, do work, are safer and actually have a byproduct of producing health! One could start with an alkaline, anti-inflammatory diet and the elimination of GMO foods and foods the person may be sensitive to. The addition of whole food anti-oxidants, specific enzymes like Bromelain (which is anti-inflammatory), specific herbs like turmeric, boswellia or others, live cultured vegetables and more can give the right balance for pain reduction. Add to that gentle exercise, weight reduction when appropriate and Acupuncture and/or Chiropractic care to help tune the body’s innate response, some detox if appropriate and other mechanism and you have a health creation plan rather than a symptom-based drug treatment.
This is generalized example of the kind of step-by-step approach and guidance you can get through health coaching and consulting with me. Such care is not medical advice or medical care and it doesn’t take the place of it. What it does do is give you the step-by-step guidance, knowledge and motivational tips that your doctor or other provider doesn’t have the structure to provide.
Please pass this on to anyone you know that might benefit from it.
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