Newzity

Looks like Singulair. The FDA is investigating the link between Singulair and suicide.

Singulair, developed and marketed by Merck, is normally prescribed to asthma patient. But recent reports claim that Singulair does more than just cure asthma: it alters mood and behavior resulting in suicidal thoughts and suicide. Merck has dealt with the problem by adding a few side effects to the fine print: tremor, anxiousness, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Merck says it is concerned about these adverse effects. It is conducting a re-evaluation study for Singulair. FDA will take as long as nine months before enough data is available and firm conclusion can be reached. In the mean time, it says there is no need to stop taking the drug.

Just last year, millions took Singulair and it brought $4.3 billion for Merck. So I guess it will take a bit more than a few suicidal thoughts to sway Merck to consider pulling it off the market.

Apparently not for eleven year old Madeline. She died this Ester Sunday from curable diabetes. She did not get any medical treatment since her parents refused to see a doctor and choose prayer instead.

Madeline was the youngest of four kids in the family and a bright student who was removed from public school this semester for home schooling. Police said she had a treatable form of diabetes and she was sick for a month with various symptoms. However, the parents did not seek any medical help. Last time Madeline visited a doctor when she was three and went there for some shots. The girl’s aunt called the police and told:

“My sister-in-law, she’s very religious, she believes in faith instead of doctors … and she explained to us that she believes her daughter’s in a coma now and she’s relying on faith.”

When asked where the ambulance should be sent, she said

“Please, I mean, she’s refusing. She’s going to fight it. … We’ve been trying to get her to take her to the hospital for a week, a few days now.”

She finally gave the address. Also, some other people called for help from the house. Unfortunately, within less than an hour after authorities took her to hospital she died.

Madeline’s parents say they believe in Bible and healing should come from god, but they are not fanatics. They believe they did not do anything wrong, and they did what was best for their daughter. As of now, no formal charges are filed.

So what do you think? I say trust in god, but take your medicine.

Maybe because he cannot remember any of his problems. New research finds that people who are big in the middle in their middle age would have big problem with their memory when they grow old.

Connection between Alzheimer’s disease and obesity is known for a while. But this study shows that people of all weight groups with a big belly in their 40s have a higher chance of getting Alzheimer’s in their 70s. Irrespective of their overall weight, people with potbelly are more likely to develop memory loss, confusion, and other signs of senility as they grow older. The tummy fat is the worst kind since it is close to many major organs. It is already a contributing factor in other illnesses such as stoke, heart problems, and diabetes. How do you tell your tummy is going to be a trouble later? The study used something called sagittal abdominal diameter or SAD (how appropriate!): it measures how high your tummy is when you lie down. A SAD above 10in is really bad.

So what is the good news? Well, first of all tummy fat is the easiest to get rid of. And not all fat can case this problem. For example, the fat in thighs has no connection to risk of Alzheimer’s. And it is not that bad if we can forget all our problems, right?

At least ten years. Viagra is still going strong since its introduction a decade ago in March 1998.

Originally Viagra was supposed to treat heart conditions and lower blood pressure. It misfired and failed miserably, but had a noticeable side effect and the blue pill of wonder was born. Though it failed to treat heart condition, it has done wonders for the egos of 35 million men and gave its manufacturer Pfizer a strong and lasting growth and big windfall in profit. It is the first oral treatment that helped men to keep their women happy. Before Viagra the only oral treatment available to men was to stop talking, but it was not very effective in making women happy. Though over the past ten years Viagra has changed a lot and made ED a household word, some still wonder if this is really the pill of happiness: it seems Viagra cannot solve all relationship problems and bring personal happiness, not to mention the unwanted addiction among young men who do not need it at all. Of all its side effects the most annoying is the growth of spam it has created, and that affects all of us.

There is of course the talk of elusive pink pill. But that does not get women really excited: they still want emotional connection. Women are so shallow at times and so hard to please.