Aspirin may reduce effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays
Q: I was raised in Florida and discovered as a teenager that when I had a headache and took aspirin, I didn’t burn. Otherwise, my skin could blister in 20 minutes at midday.
I am now retired, and I take a baby aspirin daily on my doctor’s advice. I don’t burn, though I am careful to avoid the sun in the middle of the day. Sunscreens with
SPF irritate my skin, so I don’t use them but don’t seem to need them.
A: Your experience has scientific support. There is evidence that aspirin can reduce the damaging effect of the sun’s ultraviolet rays (Journal of Investigative Dermatology, January 2021). There is also some research suggesting that people who take aspirin may be less likely to develop skin cancer (Oncology Letters, March 2015).
It still makes sense to use sunscreen and avoid the midday sun. Anyone who plans to take aspirin regularly should discuss the pros and cons with their health care provider.
Q: I have osteoporosis, so I am reluctant to take PPIs, like Prilosec or Nexium. However, I have suffered from heartburn for years. Sometimes I think I am having a heart attack because the pain is so severe.
I have tried antacids and acid blockers like Pepcid. They haven’t worked well. Do you have any natural approaches that might ease my discomfort?
A: The association between proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and weakened bones has been contentious. A review of the medical literature concludes that this is a potential relationship between PPI use and fractures (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, May 5, 2019).
You might ask your doctor to test you for celiac disease. This condition can contribute to osteoporosis as well as digestive difficulties.
Are you taking any medicines that might make you more susceptible to reflux? Some sleeping pills (zolpidem) or anti-anxiety agents (alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam) may aggravate this condition.
A low-carbohydrate diet may be helpful for controlling your indigestion (Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, November 2016).
Chewing gum, sipping tea or incorporating ginger in a meal or after-meal drink are other approaches that may help ease heartburn. Some people find that yellow mustard, almonds or even apple cider vinegar can alleviate their symptoms.
Sometimes a heart attack can masquerade as indigestion. Sudden onset of severe chest pain requires emergency evaluation.
Q: I’ve spent several hundred hours researching herbs for COVID-19. Most important of these is Andrographis paniculata, an herb used for hundreds of years in ayurvedic medicine for a number of ailments. It is used in India for flu and colds. It is also being used in Thailand for COVID19 treatment. What do you think?
A: According to the journal HerbalGram (February-April 2021), the government of Thailand approved a pilot study of Andrographis in December 2020 to treat SARSCoV-2. It will be given to patients within three days of symptom onset to treat mild COVID-19 infections. Until there is a randomized controlled trial, however, we would not recommend relying upon any herbal approach to treat this potentially deadly disease.