Anti-inflammatory drugs often are misused
Tension headaches will afflict probably everyone at one time or another. Add to that the fact that 100 million folks in the U.S. deal with chronic pain, and it’s hardly surprising that 30 billion doses of prescription and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and celecoxib, are consumed annually in the U.S. Only 70 million are for prescription NSAIDs; the rest are self-prescribed and taken however you determine.
Little wonder a new study out of Boston University School of Medicine found that many adult ibuprofen users make health-threatening mistakes when taking those meds. Fifteen percent took more than the maximum recommended dose in a one-week period. Overdoses also occurred from: (1) taking too much daily; (2) taking two different NSAIDs at the same time; or (3) failing to wait long enough between doses.
The bottom line: Never use an NSAID for pain for more than 10 days without talking with a doctor. And drink at least 8 ounces of water per pill. Misuse increases the inherent risks of NSAIDs, which include gastrointestinal distress, internal bleeding and ulcers, as well as an increased chance of high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke.
So for acute pain, follow NSAID use instructions carefully. For chronic pain, work with your doctor to develop a pain-management program, including physical and cognitive therapy, meditation and the safe use of pain-relieving technology and medications, both OTC and Rx.
Vaccination schedules for adults updated
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has announced changes to the administration of the herpes zoster (shingles) and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines for adults.
The schedule has been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of NurseMidwives.
The shingles vaccine: If you are 50 plus, get two doses of the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) two to six months apart, even if you’ve had shingles or got the live zoster vaccine (Zostavax). But you should wait at least two months after receiving Zostavax to get Shingrix. And if you are 60 plus, you can get either vaccine, but Shingrix is preferred.
The MMR: If you were born in 1957 or earlier, you should get one dose of the vaccine if you have had fewer than two doses of mumps-containing vaccine and are at increased risk during a mumps outbreak. If you get two doses of the MMR vaccine, you’re about nine times less likely to get mumps than unvaccinated people who have the same exposure to mumps virus.
Q: Sometimes my husband says, “Let’s go eat some oysters and then come back home for a roll in the hay.” I know he thinks oysters are an aphrodisiac, but really? I love oysters, but I’ve never felt a romantic boost from them. Is there such a thing as an aphrodisiac?
Kirsten G., Delray Beach, Florida
A: Yes, no and yes, sort of. Yes: The only aphrodisiac to stand the test of time is a glass of inhibition-blasting wine. Some say the ancient Persians believed honey wine promoted fertility and desire, so newlyweds were encouraged to drink honey wine daily for the first month of marriage ... hence, “honeymoon.” But let’s not forget the oft-quoted line from “Macbeth”: “It provokes the desire, but it taketh away the performance.”
But by far the best aphrodisiac is enthusiasm about shared intimacy with your partner. And if your husband becomes more enthusiastic after eating oysters, who cares if it is simply an act of unconscious self-stimulation or for a scientific reason? (Oysters do contain specific amino acids and serotonin, which are essential for the brain’s pleasure response, but not enough to really matter.)
No: Lots of substances are sold as sexual stimulants (yohimbine, Spanish fly, mad honey and Bufo toad), but according to a 2015 study, their dubious benefits are overshadowed by their risks. And if you or your partner has arousal problems, studies show that there is no evidence that “natural” foods, herbs or supplements will do the trick in a major way that benefits a loving encounter.
Yes, sort of: Remember, placebos (sugar pills — or anything else you believe in that’s without actual medical effects) work about 30 percent of the time. So believing can be enough to rev you up. But why are oysters considered a sexual stimulant in many cultures? Most probably because of their resemblance to female genitalia. Our suggestion: The Aztec word for “avocado” is “ahuacatl,” which also means “testicle,” so have an avocado salad with your wine and oysters, and you two will be off to a good start.