South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Vinegar, hot water alleviate Portuguese man-of-war stings
Q: Years ago, my 3-yearold tripped and fell on a man-of-war jellyfish at the beach. She was writhing in pain. I immediately tried a paste of meat tenderizer, but it did not help.
I took her to the nearest hospital. In the emergency room, they put her into a hot-water bath, and before I knew it, she was happy as a lark, pain-free and playing in the water. A: Although Portuguese men-of-war look like jellyfish, they are technically classified as Physalia. Their stings cause intense pain and can lead to systemic effects, including headache, abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. Researchers tested first-aid protocols and discovered that rinsing the site with undiluted vinegar
(5% acetic acid) was helpful (Toxins, May 2017). Alcohol, urine, baking soda and shaving cream, which have all been used as home remedies, appear to be counterproductive. Hot water, on the other hand, helps relieve the pain because heat inactivates key venom compounds (Toxins, April 2016). The water should not be so hot that it would lead to a burn.
Q: You’ve written about the dangers of Lp(a). Doctors should absolutely test for this cardiac risk factor. Patients should insist on it.
My husband was a thin runner with low lipids and triglycerides; yet, he had a heart attack. We learned that his Lp(a) level was high. Three different cardiologists said that wasn’t important. One even said statins lower it. My husband consulted a fourth cardiologist, took niacin and lowered his level. Lp(a) are sticky lipids, so when there is turbulence in your arteries, they glue things together and cause blood clots that can block arteries. A:
There is strong evidence that Lp(a), which is also referred to as lipoprotein(a), can increase the risk for heart attacks and strokes (Biomedicines, July 2021). In addition, high levels of Lp(a) are linked to aortic valve calcification (European Heart Journal, July 23, 2022). The cardiologist who suggested that statins lower Lp(a) was mistaken. In fact, statins raise this risk factor for heart disease (European Heart Journal, Jan. 1, 2020). This may explain why some people who eat right, exercise and even take statins could still have heart attacks.
Q: I’m a believer in the efficacy of saffron. About three years ago, I read your article about it a few months before my checkup with my ophthalmologist. She saw some worrisome “lines” in my retina that could be a precursor to age-related macular degeneration. I added AREDS and saffron to my regimen. Last year, at my annual eye exam, I told my doctor what I had been taking. I don’t know the name of the imaging process, but the white line that was evident the year before had faded drastically. She couldn’t explain it but said the supplements aren’t hurting me. I’ve had no negative reactions from either saffron or AREDS vitamins. A:
AMD or age-related macular degeneration results in a loss of focus in the middle of the field of vision. The vitamins you mention were tested and found effective in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study. There is growing interest in saffron (Crocus sativus) to treat neurodegenerative diseases including AMD (Journal of Anatomy, July 2, 2022). This ancient spice is attracting attention from researchers, but we need large clinical trials before most eye doctors will recommend it.