About that
Bowel movement
“Do not use a laxative that contains sodium phosphate, unless ordered by your doctor” is a warning from the University of California. A well-known brand is called “Fleet”. This oral or rectal laxative is often prescribed for certain bowel procedures such as colonoscopy. It works by drawing water into the bowel which softens the stool, making it easier to pass.
The Federal Drug Administration in the U.S. recently warned that this kind of laxative can cause kidney damage and other complications including death. Death has occurred from dehydration and /or electrolyte imbalance in the blood.
The message is clear that people should use these laxatives only when needed for bowel procedures and not for chronic constipation.
A high fiber diet along with increased water intake will cure most cases of constipation. The other natural remedy is Medi-C Plus that contains high concentration of vitamin C and lysine which does not harm the bowel. Taking two scoops at bedtime will usually result in a bowel movement in the AM following breakfast and hot drink. If it fails, gradually increase the dose.
Take a Look Before You Flush
Look in bowl after a bowel movement. A normal stool is brown, usually the shape of a banana, and soft. This means you’re eating the right amount of fiber. Stools are about 75 percent water. And fiber, by holding onto water, makes stools as soft as toothpaste.
Unintended Consequences
Heartburn Drugs
Heartburn drugs are primarily used to treat gastrointestinal reflux and peptic ulcer problems. They work by decreasing the production of gastric acid in the stomach. But there’s a problem. Stomach acid keeps bacterial infections under control.
One in five Canadians are taking heartburn drugs. One study showed that hospital patients on acid-controlling medication have a 25 percent greater risk of developing pneumonia. Looking at it another way, it’s estimated that one in 200 hospital patients on this medication will develop pneumonia. They are also at greater risk of hip fractures, heart problems and being infected with the dreaded intestinal germ, clostridium difficile.
It’s the old story of unintended consequences, of how treating one problem so often leads to another one. It’s also a tragic sign of the times that so many people require drugs to lower stomach acid. Studies show that 40 to 70 percent of hospital patients are taking heartburn drugs. Each year worldwide sales are 26 billion dollars!
Heartburn
Makes us human
Nietzsche, the German philosopher, wrote, “The belly is the main reason man does not mistake himself for a god.” Heartburn can remind us we are quite human. But if you make heartburn a daily habit by over indulgence, it becomes a dangerous pastime.
Eat the whole thing and the laws of physics apply. Large meals trigger gas and something has to give. The lower esophageal muscles cannot hold back gastric juices from the stomach causing inflammation of the esophagus.
The big mistake is not to change lifestyle. The next is to continually rely on medication to ease the discomfort. It’s like putting a blanket over a fire which later erupts with a vengeance.
Chronic inflammation can lead to “Barrett’s Disease”. The lining of the esophagus, normally a pink colour, changes to the colour of salmon. One in 300 cases develops into cancer. The diagnosis is made by passing a lighted instrument down the esophagus.
Being bad a little bit is human. But it’s always a dangerous practice to push your luck too far.
In case you need more advice on
Heartburn
Today, huge numbers of North Americans take heartburn drugs (PPIs) such as Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid for an upset stomach. They’re not hazardous for the short term such as a few days or weeks. But that’s when the good news ends. A study of 275,000 people was carried out by The Washington School of Medicine. Reported in the British Medical Journal, Open, it showed these drugs increased the risk of death a shocking 50 percent. They were also associated with an increased risk of kidney damage, bone fractures and dementia.
The message? All prescription synthetic drugs have unintended consequences because they’re not natural ones. And the longer they’re used the greater the risk.
So, remember you will usually get quick relief using PPIs. But don’t live dangerously by prolonging their use. Rather, determine why you’ve developed heartburn and improve your diet by not overeating or consuming garbage.
Good news for older people
An End to Colonoscopy
Here’s good news for many who dislike colonoscopies. A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association says that most people between the ages 76 to 85 can stop being screened for large bowel malignancies and those over 85 should stop.
This refers to those who have had regular colonoscopies without finding polyps or other abnormalities. The point is that with advancing age the risks of colonoscopy increase and the benefits decline.
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