Medsafe warns consumers not to take Miracle Mineral Solution and how to report an adverse reaction

Have a good read and take care when playing around with any "miracle cures".  Accurate reporting of any adverse reactions to any procedure is essential if we are to know its real safety.  Less than 10% of adverse events ever get recorded.  We must do better than that to ensure we know what is both safe and effective.

Press release follows:

Medsafe warns consumers not to take Miracle Mineral Solution

Medsafe has been alerted to the Miracle Mineral Solution products (also known as "Miracle Mineral Supplement" - MMSI and MMSII) in the past and has communicated with the company to require them to cease making claims that their products are an effective treatment for several serious diseases. Copies of our correspondence with the company are available on the MMS website. Medsafe will be contacting the distributor of these products to advise them to stop selling these products as medicines.

The Food Standards Authority in the UK warned the British public against the use of Miracle Mineral Solution on 29 September 2010. This follows similar warnings from the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and Health Canada in Canada about the use of these products.

These products, when used as directed, produce an industrial bleach that can cause serious harm to health. The products instruct consumers to mix the 28% sodium chlorite solution with an acid such as citric acid. This mixture produces chlorine dioxide, a potent bleach used for stripping textiles and industrial water treatment. High oral doses of this bleach, such as those recommended in the labelling, can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and symptoms of severe dehydration.

MMS is distributed on Internet sites and online auctions by multiple independent distributors. Internet claims for these products include the treatment of multiple unrelated diseases, including HIV, hepatitis, acne, cancer and other conditions.

In New Zealand, MMS is sold as a mineral supplement and has not been assessed for quality, safety and effectiveness and granted approval for sale as a medicine.

Medsafe is currently investigating other options available to them with respect to MMS and supports the recommendations made by authorities in the UK, US and Canada that consumers who have MMS should stop using it immediately and throw it away.

Consumers who have experienced any negative effects from MMS should consult with a healthcare professional as soon as possible. Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of this product to the New Zealand Pharmacovigilance Centre for Adverse Reaction Monitoring (CARM) at the University of Otago - carmnz@otago.ac.nz

 About this website 

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Brain damage during heart surgery may be widespread

"Sadly I left Government service after discovering that during the heart surgery that I had developed brain lesions (lack of blood or oxygen during surgery).

I was being regularly tested for 8 years before my psychologist suggested a brain scan and it was then discovered I had the brain lesions.

I had been suffering from short term memory loss, anxiety attacks, and inability to multitask."

(name withheld)

_________________________
Gary:
During heart surgery the brain may be damaged by stroke caused by blood clots.

"In summary, the problem has been reduced to a rather simple one. Stroke, produced mostly by arterial source emboli, is the cause of heart surgery–induced cognitive failure. The clinical syndromes fall on a continuum. A few strokes (<3%) are gross and singular, producing an obvious deficit (eg, hemiplegia), but most are multiple. When the embolic burden is high (&10%), an acute encephalopathy ensues. When the burden is lower, no deficit is noted in the acute period, but if the cerebral reserve is low (ie, there is an inevident premorbid brain disease such as hypertensive cerebrovasculopathy), then the patient suffers a nonprogressive cognitive deficit (&8%). In the subgroup of patients in whom the premorbid disease is an inherently progressive disorder (eg, presymptomatic Alzheimer disease that is made manifest by the stress of cardiac surgery), the patient later undergoes a progressive cognitive decline (dementia). This continuum hypothesis explains the disparate results of many studies, because very much like the aphorism of the wise men and the elephant, each investigator was examining a separate part of the problem, but none could see the problem as a whole. All we have to do to deal with the problem of cognitive failure in cardiac surgery survivors is to reduce the burden of cerebral ischemia in those who are selected to undergo the procedure. OPCAB does not address the major issue, arterial source emboli, and thus, not surprisingly, does not address the problem. By selecting patients more carefully with preoperative cognitive and brain imaging methods and then by minimizing intraoperative cerebral emboli using methods that require less manipulation of the heart and aorta, the neurocardiologists of the future might finally save the mind of the cardiac surgery survivor."
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/113/24/2784.long 

How common is heart surgery-related cognitive decline?

Official figures are about 8% but be aware that less than 10% of adverse events ever get reported.  Here in New Zealand, cases that I have had involvement with over the last 30 years have never been successfully reported.  My impression is that cognitive decline that is uncomfortably associated with heart surgery is more common than it is not.

Why is it so difficult to report a case of cognitive decline?

I have tried and failed miserably.  For several reasons:

• Because cognitive function was not measured before the surgery, we can not prove that there was any decline after the surgery!  Measuring cognitive function is simple and cheap, by the way and employed in contact sports like rugby.  So why not surgery?
• The initial decline may be put down to post surgery depression, or a temporary reaction to the anaesthetic. By the time a family or individual is convinced something is amiss, several months may have passed and proving a link with the surgery is as good as impossible.
• The surgeon may resist any suggestion that the operation was anything less than brilliant and may even accuse the patient or the family of being ungrateful!  (Yes - really!).
• Following on from the last point, the smart surgeon may avoid recording any exchanges on paper and/or in emails, thus ensuring an absent, or incomplete paper trail for future reference. (Yes - this does happen).
• The GP is reluctant to get involved.  
• It is as good as impossible to have an adverse reaction reported without the support of the patient's doctor.

 

Can anything be done to improve cognition?

Yes, definitely and the sooner one starts the better.  Even if years have slipped by it is still a case of better late than never.  There are various herbal formulas such as bacopa, vitamins and minerals and nutrients such as omega 3 oil and ubiquinol that may improve cognitive function. To be effective it is best to employ the services of a qualified natural health practitioner with access to accurate nutrient testing.

Many heart medications may expedite cognitive decline

Yes, folks, blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drugs are among the chief culprits for rapid decline into dementia!

There are usually safe and effective healthy alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs - alternatives that nourish and vitalise the body, rather than poinsoning it into submission.

But it is not just a matter of suddenly stopping one's heart drugs - no way should you do that!  The process of weaning one off heart drugs is a slow and careful process, best done with the cooperation of your doctor with regular testing to monitor progress.  Rest assured that it can be done!

About this website 

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Can statin cholesterol-lowering drugs cause localised motor neuropathy?

The drug referred to is of the "statin" class

"Dear gary the Guru,
Was wanting a bit of background re: Statins and muscle weakness. My mother-in-law was extremely active until about Christmas, since when she has struggled on but can feel herself getting weak. 

Her quads strength, hamstring strength, and soleus / gastrocs strength are all pretty good, but iliacus and psoas are lousy.She's been on Lipitor for 2 years. 

Does it build up to a crescendo in its effects, and could it imitate an extremely localised motor neuropathy to the femoral nerve roots alone? Really odd. All the lower lumbar and sacral myotomes are essentially normal, except for T12-L1-2 levels which contribute to femoral n."

(Name withheld)

The following are excerpts from an article by Dr Dach:

"Contrary to current dogma, higher cholesterol levels in the elderly are not a heath risk.  Studies show that higher cholesterol in the elderly is associated with increased survival, while lower total serum cholesterol values in the elderly are a robust predictor of increased mortality. "

.........

"...the absolute mortality benefit in the best case scenario, in secondary prevention trials, is only 0.5% – 0.6% per year.  This benefit is underwhelming, and actually quite shocking that it is such a minimal benefit when the drug company marketing would suggest much larger benefits."

"So in conclusion, Statin drugs do have a mortality benefit, however, this is restricted to men with known heart disease amounting to about 0.5% per year reduction in mortality compared to a placebo.  This benefit is so miniscule that one wonders why statin drugs are recommended at all, considering their severe adverse side effects with memory loss, neuropathy, muscle pain and weakness.  For women, the elderly, and all men without underlying heart disease, Dr Sinatra reminds us that statin drugs are unnecessary and potentially harmful."

Full article here: http://jeffreydachmd.com/statin-drugs-revisited/

________________________

Gary:

I have seen an identical case of loss of hip flexor function in an elderly woman.  The only obvious cause for this unusual condition was damage to muscles and nerves from the statin drugs she had been prescribed for "high" cholesterol.  

Loss of hip flexor use is partially disabling and makes an elderly woman at greater risk of fracture from stumbling and falling (hip fracture is a leading cause of death in elderly women).

If you have been advised to take cholesterol lowering drugs, think twice.  If you have been on these drugs (statins), consider the safe and natural alternatives.

Severe side effects include: 

Memory loss, neuropathy, muscle pain and weakness.  In my experience, these terrible side effects are not uncommon.  Remember that less than 10% of adverse reactions ever get reported.  Some cynics believe it is closer to 1%.  Whatever the official figure, the true rate is at least ten times that!

Statin side effects are more common in people who are active (The higher the level of activity, the higher the need for co-enzyme Q-10).  Statins interfere with Q-10 and mitochondrial function.  People on statins and those with a low intake of dietary co-enzyme Q-10 will have low Q-10 stores and damaged mitochondria

A low fat cholesterol-lowering diet - a diet that is consequently low in Q-10 rich foods like red meat and eggs.

What do you do for your Mother-in-Law?

Intervening is often not easy because you may be perceived to be interfering with the intimate doctor-patient relationship that may have been operating comfortably for many years.  Besides, "Doctor knows best about these matters".  Besides, many people are terrified about anyone other than the doctor interfering with their medications in case they drop dead from a heart attack (Although there is some evidence that the best way to prevent a heart attack is to get into nutritional balancing, lifestyle changes and dispense permanently with the drugs!).

Having said this, here is what I would do:

• Ask her doctor to file an adverse drug reaction report with the Center for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM).  Good luck with this one:  I have never known of a Dr ever filing a report, even in obvious cases of harm.  I wonder why?
• Get a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis done and then commence a nutritional balancing programme.
• Report the muscle damage to her doctor and seek convincing reasons why she should continue to take the drug (Remind yourself and the doctor that the weight of research evidence that there is no benefit, beyond minuscule, if that, for elderly women).
• Regardless of any of the above, she would benefit from a daily supplement containing co-enzyme Q-10.  This may stop some of the ongoing damage being done to the mitochondria by the statin and possibly reverse some of the harm.  If she stops taking the drug, continue the Q-10 on a twice daily basis for several months.

About this website 

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Is the Seasonal Flu vaccine actually causing a flu epidemic?

Winter is almost upon us, with the media full of all kinds of news and stories about the deadly flu, all carefully designed to encourage citizens do their patriotic duty and get their flu jab.

Record numbers of people have already lined up for their shots and it would appear that they have got it just in time: The flu season has arrived very early - Its here!  Yes - very early indeed!

Is it just by coincidence that reports of the flu appear to be on the increase, just within weeks of the New Zealand flu vaccine programme beginning? 

Over the last few days I have had the following:

• One client cancel an appointment after contracting the flu after having had the flu jab just two weeks earlier.
• I spoke to a young man who was suffering the flu along with the rest of his young family.  His wife, a school teacher, had received the flu jab about 2 weeks earlier.

These two cases certainly sound like the flu, they could well be some other illness and they could be the only ones in New Zealand; but who knows!  For me, the red flag has been raised.  Is the seasonal flu causing ill health?

You will gather that I am a skeptic of the seasonal flu vaccine.  I am a skeptic because this is a vaccination programme that has not been properly researched and evaluated.  It is a programme that is based on poor research.  In fact, the best evaluation of the seasonal flu vaccine, published late last year, is scathing of it as a public health scheme.

Read all about it here for yourself, including a highly amusing pair of videos that show Piers Morgan with the flu just a week or so after being jabbed by Dr Oz:

http://blog.garymoller.com/2013/02/the-flu-shot-dr-oz-is-getting-his-are.html

Is the Seasonal Flu vaccine actually causing a flu epidemic?

I don't know, but the red flags are raised when I hear of people and their families getting the flu within two weeks of one, or all, being vaccinated against the flu.

The flu vaccine is not a totally benign product and there have been problems with batches in the past.  Last year the seasonal flu vaccine was withdrawn from use with children after a spate incidents:

http://www.hangthebankers.com/flu-vaccination-under-5yo-suspended-in-australia-following-convulsions-and-coma-in-children/

"Seasonal flu vaccinations across Australia for children under five have been suspended after 23 children in Western Australia were admitted to hospital with convulsions following their injections.

One child, aged 1, remains in a coma in a Perth hospital."

Please bear in mind that very few adverse reactions to medicines ever get reported (only 1-10%).  Whatever the figure might be officially, it is incorrect: Multiply the official figure by 100 and you are nearer the real rate of adverse events.

More about this vaccine problem from last year and you will note the actual cause is not identified:

http://www.immune.org.nz/sites/default/files/resources/Petousis-Harris,%20PHAAconference,0612.pdf

Here's more about this matter of the flu vaccine with some sensible advice about how to prepare you and your family for the flu season:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/12/alert--seizures-now-reported-in-kids-receiving-flu-vaccine.aspx

Although the actual cause of the problem of febrile convulsions was not determined in the Australian case, we have been advised that the problem has been fixed and it is again safe to vaccinate our children.  This is an astonishing statement because how can anybody fix a problem if one does not know precisely what the cause of the problem was in the first place - Astonishing!  Do they think we are stupid?  If it was a bad batch, what was "bad" about that batch and how can this be avoided for sure in future?  We have been given nothing better than bland assurances.  That is not good enough when it comes to protecting our children.

While vaccines may be a wonderful tool, I worry that it is being overused to the detriment of nurturing our first and most powerful line of defense - a healthy, strong immune system.  Indiscriminate use of vaccines may be weakening our immune systems, inadvertently causing the very epidemics they set out to prevent.  Once damaged by the indiscriminate use of vaccines, it may be that we are creating whole generations that are dependent on vaccine boosters for the duration of their lives.  What a scary thought!

Have a read of the articles here about the whooping cough vaccine to get the debate going.  Scary stuff!

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/disease/whooping-cough

How to report a suspected adverse reaction to a vaccination

If you suspect you, or a loved one, has suffered from an adverse reaction to a vaccine, or medicine, you will be doing all of us a favour by filing a report with CARM.

"The Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM) in Dunedin is New Zealand's national monitoring centre for adverse reactions. It collects and evaluates spontaneous reports of adverse reactions to medicines, vaccines, herbal products and dietary supplements from health professionals in New Zealand."  While it refers to "health professionals" you can file a report as a patient, otherwise the odds are it will never get onto an official database.  

Please also tell me.  I am very interested to hear your story, thanks.

More reading here:

The Shocking Lack of Evidence Supporting Flu Vaccines

Posted on: 

Thursday, December 29th 2011 at 11:15 am

Written By: 

Sayer Ji, Founder

With the flu season ramping up, many are looking to vaccination as a "preventive" approach. Those who abstain are often accused of being uneducated, or worse, socially irresponsible.  Nothing could be further from the truth.
As it presently stands, it is not sound medical science, but primarily economic and political motivation which generates the immense pressure behind mass participation in the annual ritual of flu vaccination.
It is a heavily guarded secret within the medical establishment (especially within the corridors of the CDC) that the Cochrane Database Review (CDR), considered by many within the evidence-based medical model to be the gold standard for assessing the effectiveness of common medical interventions, does not lend unequivocal scientific support to the belief and/or propaganda that flu vaccines are safe and effective.

Full article and references: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/shocking-lack-evidence-supporting-flu-vaccines

Research articles about the issue of vaccinations and immunity

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/search/gmi/vaccine%20immunity

Please post your reactions and comments below.  Thanks.

About this website 

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Feedback from the runner with the ankle pain

Here is some feedback from a runner with the ankle pain.

“I'm great... I've been back runnning for about 7 weeks...

“When you told me to start back , you will probably remember I still had the throbbing scenario - after that the ankle was giving me pain in the first few weeks of running. I've crept up slowly in kms and have had to go at a slower pace than I want ... but it's now not throbbing at all and only the very rare day do I feel familiar scary pains here and there.in the ankle... if that happens I get as much rest before the next session or swap sessions around.

So to answer your question yes your intervention did work for me, I was going backwards for many months (9 in total ) with the rehab exercises which I reckon were aggravating it more.

Before I ate healthily but now am using protein (just after a session which I never did before), calcium, minerals and flax will keep going and will keep the joint powder going for a good while yet.

Yes looked at the blog, and that is a great article, I hope it helps others make the right decision, all you need is a perceptive experienced advisor.You are the only person that I saw that wanted the entire background to my running habits and history.... and thank you ! “
___________________________

Gary Moller comments:
This very fit woman has made a remarkable return to running training. What she shows is the value of looking at the total person, including her health and exercise history, training programme, diet, physique and biomechanics - and let's not underplay the role of her determination to get back into running!

When attempting to understand how such injuries develop in the first place, it is essential to understand the constant balancing act that is going on inside the body between anabolism and catabolism. If an athlete is in a state of chronic catabolism, there is no way that any kind of medical treatment is going to "cure" her.

Although this dedicated runner has made a quick and remarkable recovery, healing and repair should be regarded as a slow and gradual process, taking several months, if not years to fully run their course. Too much therapy is on the basis of a 1/2 dozen visits and, if there is no cure, then more drastic action is recommended like surgery, or cortisone. Of course, these don't work and can leave the athlete with much worse problems over the longterm.

Central to modifying her training and diet and her doing some special exercises, is the moto "Body, heal thyself". This is a phrase all health professionals should constantly mutter away to themselves as a constant reminder that they never heal or cure - it is the patient's body that does that!
______________________________________

If you have a chronic injury or illness that you are getting nowhere with fast, and if you are in Wellington, I run a private clinic in the central city. Get hold of me to arrange a consultation - I really do enjoy the challenge of working with people like you!

Failure by doctors to acknowledge adverse drug side effects is a widespread problem

"It has been shown that doctors rarely bother to warn patients about common side effects of medications. And they frequently fail to recognize obvious medication reactions. For example, in a study in which patients with obvious adverse reactions from statin drugs were sent to doctors for evaluations, more than 75 percent of the doctors failed to identify the side effects as related to the statins. Instead, they blamed the symptoms on patients' age or over concern, or simply ignored the question and changed the subject."
Jay S Cohen (MD)
_________________________________
Gary:
Nowadays, it is standard practice, when a person writes to me seeking advice about, say, leg cramps, I will question them about prescription medicines. More often than not, it turns out that they have been placed on some kind of medication, such as an anti-depressant or cholesterol lowering drug.

Often, the grounds for prescribing the drug in the first place are dubious and should only be the measure of last resort - not first resort!

My usual advice is to request they return to their doctor and request a review of their medication.  I do so with some reluctance because, as Dr Cohen explains in his article above, there is a prevailing denial of medication side effects amongst the medical fraternity and the patient concerned is more likely than not to exit the consultation no better off and sometimes with an additional prescription to boot!

I find this situation quite frustrating at times.  I am not "anti doctor" but I must admit my exasperation does sometimes get the better of me.  We are dealing with people's lives after all.  Their health and safety is paramount.

"FIRST DO NO HARM"

Primum non nocere is a Latin phrase that means "First, do no harm". The phrase is sometimes recorded as primum nil nocere.[1]

Nonmaleficence, which derives from the maxim, is one of the principal precepts of medical ethics that all medical students are taught in medical school and is a fundamental principle for emergency medical services around the world. Another way to state it is that "given an existing problem, it may be better not to do something, or even to do nothing, than to risk causing more harm than good." It reminds the physician and other health care providers that they must consider the possible harm that any intervention might do. It is invoked when debating the use of an intervention that carries an obvious risk of harm but a less certain chance of benefit. Since at least 1860, the phrase has been for physicians a hallowed expression of hope, intention, humility, and recognition that human acts with good intentions may have unwanted consequences.

Wikidedia

_______________________________________

About this website

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation.  Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.  Please give me your support by subscribing to my free email updates. Please shop at my Online Store. Please encourage your family and friends to do the same. While we may not always be able to compete with the big operators on price, we aim to more than compensate through personal service!

Your email address:

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Seasonal Flu Vaccine causes febrile convulsions in children

Its that time of year folks, when you and your child are being urged into getting a seasonal Flu jab.

Apart from being unnecessary for the vast majority of people (In my opinion, the flu jab should be reserved for those with significant preexisting health conditions), there are health risks, especially for young children.  The principal adverse reaction in children is febrile convulsions as reported by the US Food and Drug Administration.  Please go here for their report on the issue of febrile convulsions and the flu vaccine.

Given that only about 1% of all adverse reactions to medical treatments ever end up on official records we can only assume that the problem of febrile convulsions after receiving a flu jab is worse than reported.  Over the last few years I have been contacted by a number of desperate parents of children who were suffering convulsions that appeared to first arise after vaccination.  As far as I know, none of these would ever have ended up being reported to our Ministry of Health as an adverse reaction to a vaccination.

Because there is often a delay of several days to weeks between the medical treatment and the adverse event, it is next to impossible to reliably prove there is a link.  If a link is claimed by an aggrieved parent, this will more than likely be dismissed, in the first instance, by the administering medical agency and then vigorously challenged by the manufacturer, if the claim managed to advance any further.  Nobody, other than the parent, has any interest at all in seeing such "complaints" go any where other than into the filing cabinet.  So, while official statistics tell us that there is not a safety problem, talk on the streets tells us there is.

Before you get your child vaccinated:

• Only have the vaccinations that you consider absolutely necessary at the time in your child's development and avoid the rest (this includes flu, herpes).
• Put off the vaccines until your child is older and the brain and other organs, such as the adrenals and liver, well on the way to maturity and better able to handle stress.
• Do not vaccinate at times of immune weakness, such as when ill, teething or transitioning from breast milk to solids.
• Ensure your child has high vitamin D (A light sun tan on the body and a vitamin D supplement during winter).  Vitamin D is essential for a robust immune system.
• Ensure the diet is rich in fresh vegetables, eggs, unprocessed fats and high in protein. Avoid instant noodles, pasta, white bread, soy milk, rice milk, fruit juice or fat reduced milk or yogurt.  Avoid all margarines, including those that have heart health claims.

If you are breast feeding a child:  Ensure you are on a nutrient rich diet that includes plenty of fat and protein.  An added bonus is your breast fed child will much sleep longer between feeds (A low protein, low fat diet, on the other hand, means the baby is receiving mostly sugar milk that sates the appetite for no more than an hour).

If a child has febrile convulsions: In addition to medical treatment, ensure the child has a rich intake of magnesium and other minerals and vitamins, including the B group and non-acidic vitamin C (Magnesium deficiency is associated with epilepsy and convulsions).  Most children are magnesium deficient.  It is advisable to consult a natural health practitioner who can advise what are the best supplementary sources of these vitamins and minerals for a child.

In conclusion: A child's first and best defense against any kind of infection is a strong immune system.  A child with a strong immune system may still go down with the flu; but will shake it off with relative ease and have immunity to that strain for life.

_______________________________________

About this website

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation.  Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.  Please give me your support by subscribing to my free email updates. Please shop at my Online Store. Please encourage your family and friends to do the same. While we may not always be able to compete with the big operators on price, we aim to more than compensate through personal service!

Your email address:

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Do you have a question?  Email Gary: gary@myotec.co.nz. Include any relevant background information to your question.  Please be patient and be aware that I may not be able to answer every inquiry in detail, depending on workloads (My paying clients take precedence!). I will either reply by email or, most likely, by way of an article (Personal identifying details will be removed before publication).

Is your asthma corticosteriod medication destroying your joints?

Corticosteroids and avascular necrosis
Web site: May 2009
Prescriber Update 2009;30(2):14

CARM has received a number of reports of avascular necrosis (AVN) in association with corticosteroid use. The reports describe the involvement of major joints such as hips, knees and ankles, often with bilateral involvement.

International reports have also included other joints, including the shoulder and wrists. AVN usually causes significant chronic pain and reduced mobility, with some patients requiring joint replacements.

The pathogenesis of AVN is not yet fully understood, but may involve steroid induced osteoblast apoptosis.

The CARM reports involve patients who were prescribed corticosteroids for asthma, immunosuppression in transplant recipients, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, and cerebral oedema. International reports of AVN have included an association with the use of pulse steroid therapy in multiple sclerosis.

AVN usually occurs with high doses of corticosteroids over a period of a few weeks to several years. Other known risk factors for AVN\ include: alcoholism, infections, hyperbaric events, storage disorders, marrow infiltrating diseases, coagulation defects, sickle cell anaemia and some autoimmune diseases.

As some patients who develop AVN remain asymptomatic, the severity of symptoms cannot be taken as a guide to the severity or stage of AVN.

As the clinical outcome is dependent on the stage at which diagnosis of AVN is made, prescribers should be alert to symptoms of joint pain in patients using corticosteroids and are advised to investigate these symptoms early. In the presence of a confirmed diagnosis of AVN, stopping or interrupting corticosteroid treatment should be considered. Prescribers should also consider investigating for further conditions associated with AVN such as, myeloproliferative diseases, coagulation disorders, and autoimmune conditions.

Reference

1. Assouline-Dayan Y. Chang C. Greenspan A. Schoenfeld Y. Gershwin ME. (2002), Pathogenesis and natural history of osteonecrosis. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, 32(2): 94 – 124.
_____________________________________
Gary comments:
Avascular joint necrosis is nasty stuff and it is happening in sufficient numbers to prompt Medsafe to issue a warning to medical practitioners.

Having had a child on asthma medication, which included longterm use of low dose corticosteroids, this report hits close to home. I have known for about 20 years that longterm use of these asthma medications causes a number of unwanted side effects, including adrenal burnout and soft bones and joints. It was therefore my mission, as her father, to have her safely off these drugs as early as possible in her life and this was achieved through modifying her breathing.

I am aware of men and women on asthma medication requiring joint replacement surgery before age 50. When one looks at the proliferation of knee and hip replacement surgery in New Zewaland and the parallel increase in the use of corticosteroids for the control of asthma, one must wonder about the possibility of there being a link. I think there is. There sure is a link between the use of powerful corticosteroids, like Predinisone, and the early onset of osteoporosis and joint degeneration as reported here.

Don't worry too much about the medical jargon used in the Medsafe report above: What this Medafe report to medical practitioners is saying: There is an association between corticosteroid use and joint disintegration.

Now that Medsafe has warned your doctor of yet another health risk associated with corticosteroid drug use, will you ever be told and offered safer alternatives?

The Medsafe advice to consider stopping administration of these drugs if joint degeneration is noted is not in the patient's best interests. By the time any joint pain is reported, the damage is well and truly on its way and probably irreversible by then!

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"The Statin Damage Crisis" by Dr Duane Graveline

Dr Graveline's third book on statins called "The Statin Damage Crisis" will be available in March.

Originally planned as a new edition to "Statin Drugs Side Effects," it will instead be released as a stand alone title so that the highly relevant material in "SDSE" will still be available.

Dr Graveline wrote the following introduction to this latest title:

Early on my NASA doctors told me my amnesia response to statins was nothing but a coincidence but I persevered to write my first book, "Lipitor, Thief of Memory" and now find that over 1,000 cases of amnesia and memory loss have been reported to the FDA, just from Lipitor alone.

Then I learned of statin damage to nerves and muscles and profound behavioral and personality changes, demanding I write a second book, "Statin Drugs Side Effects." Even this broadly encompassing book was insufficient to describe what I have learned more recently of the truly dark side of statins - their ability to alter the very fabric of our makeup.

I had long wondered why muscle and nerve damage seemed permanent and even progressive like my own ALS-like condition. Now I have found that the ultimate effect of statins on CoQ10 and dolichols is to damage the DNA of the mitochondrial life - force within our cells - mitochondrial mutation masquerading as premature old age.

Duane Graveline MD MPH
Former USAF Flight Surgeon, Former NASA Astronaut, Retired Family Doctor

Visit the books page

______________________________________

Gary comments:

Statins do not improve health nor do they extend life. They can cause irreparable harm.

Despite all the evidence to the contrary, doctors continue to dish these dangerous drugs out like lollies, all the while claiming they are "healthy". Yeah right!

Please follow the trail of my many articles about these scandalous drugs by clicking on the Key Words below this article.

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I stopped taking Fosamax immediately after reading your article about biphosphonates

"I had been taking Fosamax for 11 months before reading your article. I decided to stop taking them immediately. I saw my doctor but she said she knew nothing of any bad side effect and wanted me to continue taking them. I refused and went back to taking Etidronate for two weeks and Calcium for two and a half months. Is this safer for me ? I had been on that for several years before changing to Fosamax last Sept. I am 72 in a couple of days time. Take no other medication and feel I am reasonably fit . I walk four kilometres most days .I am not overweight at all. My only problem really is back pain. I had x-rays in Jan and the results where deteriation of the spine. I find vacuuming and gardening a problem but as we have a large garden and grow lots of veg etc I still need to be able to do my share. Also I love doing it.

I do value your opinion and look forward to hearing any ideas you may have to help me."

__________________________

Gary replies:

Editronate is the same class of medicine as Fosamax - a bisphosphonate. I have yet to hear a single compelling reason why a person should be taking these. Unless, of course, they have very special reasons for needing to suppress bone turnover, such as bone cancer.

Even at 72 your bones are living organs that are in a constant process of renewal. The best approach to maintaining their health by far is to nourish them with good food and to sitmulate them through exercise to be supple and strong.

There are a number of things you can do regardless of age to improve bone health:

• Lift about 2kg from ground level above your head and down several times daily.
• Get a referral to the ACC sponsored Tai Chi community exercise programme
• Walk, garden, dance.
• My book on back pain has many exercises in it that would be beneficial for you.
• Get a little protein into your body 3-4 times a day. If necessary, you can take a whey protein supplement.
• Ensure you take a mineral supplement that supplies calcium and other bone mineral nutrients in the form that is found in the body (This excludes most calcium supplements). Take small doses frequently and void the big-hit supplements. Active 4.3 will do the job nicely.
• Ensure that you have a rich daily intake of all of the fat soluble vitamins - A, D, E and K. A blood test of vitamin D can be ordered through your Dr; but bear in mind that a notice has been circulated to doctors earlier this year requesting that they refrain from ordering this test unless absolutely necessary due to cost. Insist on the test then send me the results and I will assist with its interpretation. This will help with determining how much supplementary vitamin D you need.
• You may need to take some supplements for all of the fat soluble vitamins other than vitamin K. The best source of vitamin K is spinach, silver beet, Brussel sprouts, taro leaves and brocoli cooked in fat like coconut oil, lard or clarified butter or ordinary butter (The fat dissolves the vtiamin K).

This exercise and nutrition advice does not in any way interfere with current medication.

You still need to discuss your medication needs with an informed and caring health professional. If your doctor knows nothing of the side effects of these drugs you are taking, then it may be time to change to a doctor who is better informed. I am about to write my take on why official statistics of adverse reactions to many medication seem incredibly rare, while being a common occurence to people like me who are working at the coal face. Keep a watch out for it.

Please let me know how you get on.

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NZ Government issues safety warning to doctors about quinolone antibiotics risk of tendon damage

Tendon disorders with quinolones antibiotics

"Prescribers are reminded of the risk of tendon disorders, such as tendonitis, tendon rupture and tendinopathy, associated with the use of quinolones antibiotics. The onset of these adverse effects can occur as early as the first few hours after the initial dose and as late as six months after treatment.

Image: Do you know what that doctor's brew is going to do to you?

It is important that patients are asked to inform their prescriber immediately if they experience symptoms suggestive of tendon disorders, such as oedema, erythema, and sharp pain, particularly with walking and palpation.

Of the 104 cases of tendon disorders reported to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM) to date, 69% involved quinolones, mainly ciprofloxacin, norfl oxacin and enoxacin. Similar figures have been seen in Australia with 75% of reported tendon disorders involving quinolones.

Prescribers should be cautious when prescribing quinolones to patients already receiving steroid therapy, those with renal insufficiency or who are elderly as these risk factors increase the likelihood of quinolone-associated tendon disorders.

It is also recommended that the history of patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of tendon damage be checked for current or previous use of quinolones.

Emerging reports suggest that the newer generation quinolones such as levofloxacin also carry a risk of tendon disorders."

Source: Med Safe New Zealand report Nov 07

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Gary Moller comments:
What this dry exercise in the art of understatement does not tell us is that the majority of adverse reactions are never reported - just a few percent by my own experience. So there will be hundreds, if not thousands of New Zealanders who are suffering terribly from these drugs.

This report does not tell us that the reported tendon damage is the most obvious manifestation of damage to ALL of a victim's body collagen. Please refer to my earlier articles by clicking on the "labels" at the bottom of this article. Here is one you must read.

What this report does not tell us is that there is no treatment for this damage other than more drugs to dull the pain and depression.

If Med Safe is really concerned for public safety, its report would be instructing doctors to stop prescribing these drugs.

If doctors are truly health professionals, they would not need any such instructions from Med Safe. The evidence is there that these drugs can do irreparable harm and there should be no further prescribing. After all, there are plenty of alternatives, including prescribing nothing in many cases of infection.

Please forward this article to your friends and family so that they are forewarned prior to their next visit to the doctor.

Anti-Cholesterol Drugs that are currently in litigation for adverse side effects

Baycol
Baychol is a statin anti-cholesterol drug which was recalled because muscle damage releases muscle debris into the bloodstream which then clogs up the kidneys and causes renal failure.

Lipitor
Lawsuits were filed in New York claiming that Lipitor (atorvastatin) causes memory loss, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue and muscle damage. Lipitor's labelling warns patients to tell their doctor if they suffer any symptoms of muscle pain or weakness.

More Lipitor litigation against Pfizer was filed on September 28, 2005 in Boston by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro claiming Pfizer deceived consumers about the benefits of Lipitor through deceptive marketing and advertising activities. Billions of Lipitor profits come from patients who do not benefit from the drug.

According to the complaint, Pfizer launched a massive campaign to convince the public that Lipitor is a beneficial treatment for nearly everyone with elevated cholesterol, even though no studies have shown it to be effective for women and those over 65 years of age who do not already have heart disease or diabetes.

Crestor
Crestor (rosuvastatin) is a statin anti-cholesterol drug similar to the recalled drug Baycol. Compared to other statins, Crestor has the greatest kidney toxicity, causing muscle breakdown products to clog the kidneys. During clinical trials, patients taking the 80 mg dose of Crestor began to show clogging of the kidneys with the muscle debris. Because of this finding, the 80 mg dosage was discontinued.
Source: http://www.drdach.com/
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Gary Moller comments:
It is standard that everybody who is identified as having raised cholesterol and/or had a "turn" with their heart, is placed on a cholesterol-lowering drug. I have written several articles about this here. The trend to progressively lower the bar for medicating cholesterol is almost at the point where just about the majority of older New Zealanders should be on these powerful drugs! Ridiculous and dangerous if you want my opinion.

Cholesterol is essential for life and anything that interferes with its uptake and the way it is used within the body will cause ill health - eventually. I have seen enough cases of ill health that appear to be related to the use of cholesterol lowering medication to be convinced that a person is better off not taking these except in the worst cases and even then, only temporarily.

The better approach to managing cholesterol is to use diet and exercise to maintain healthy levels and ratios of cholesterol and to also have a diet that is rich in anti-oxidants, like natural vitamin E and vitamin C to maintain healthy arteries and to prevent circulating fats from going rancid. Rest assured that there are effective natural therapies as alternatives to these medications that can cause so much ill health.

Myopathy known to occur with statins

"While the statins are effective in providing protection from coronary and cardiovascular events, they are known to cause myopathy (usually dose-related) and, rarely, rhabdomyolysis. A clinical diagnosis of myopathy is made when there is muscle pain or weakness accompanied by a creatine kinase (CK) level more than ten times the upper limit of normal. Rhabdomyolysis is a severe form of myopathy with muscle breakdown leading to myoglobinuria, which may result in renal failure and death.

The Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM) has received eight recent reports (including two fatalities) of rhabdomyolysis occurring in patients taking between 20mg and 80mg of a statin daily."
___________________________________
Gary Moller comments:
This medsafe NZ report raises a number of interesting issues:

Officially myopathy and rhabdomyolysis are "rare" with rates of from 0.03% to 1%. Such rates depend on not just the Dr detecting the condition; but reporting it in such a way that it is recorded in offical databases. In m y experience, this hardly ever happens and only in the most serious cases leading to severe disability or death - assuming the disability or death were directly attributed to the culprit medication.

Co-morbidities and other medications complicate the detective work. So, for example; while the patient might have died from heart failure, the medication might have damaged the heart muscle. Or, as a result of the severe muscle weakness caused by the statin, the patient might have slipped, broken a hip and subsequently died from the complications of a blood clot. The official cause of death would not be the statin.

If these medicines have such nasty side effects, it begs the question: "Why do these things continue to be prescribed?" Especially when there are such effective non-medical alternatives that have absolutely no side effects other than looking and feeling great.

"Because they reduce heart disease risk and because the side effects are very rare", you might say.

"Rare?" At a recent presentation to more than 50 "Oldies" I was cornered afterwards by two women who had been prescribed statins. Both had suffered severe muscular pain and weakness and one had visible severe muscle wasting of her thighs and was having trouble walking. I was horrified at the damage.

Assuming that about 10 of the total audience were on statins, is this occurence "RARE"?

Gastric Bypass Horrors

Hi Gary,

Well after 16 weeks my XXXX still has problems from his gastric bypass! The stomach still hasn't healed and his body is rejecting the naso-esophageal feeding tube. He's vomiting most nights and looks like shit!

But he has lost 80kg (or more) from the virtual starvation regime he has been on, so guess that's what they're going to do? He's been told that in the long run it was a success (well.. he has lost the weight...) so now they're going to reverse the procedure. That means another complicated operation and so naturally he's very depressed and more than a little afraid.

He still has a now somewhat deflated spare tire hanging around his waist so will probably need further "body sculpture" surgery to fix that.

He would have achieved the same result if he had not had the surgery and simply drunk the milkshakes he's been squirting up his nose and left it at that.

We are actually concerned about his chances of suviving another operation in his current condition.

Isn't medical science great!

Cheers,

Anonymous
____________________________
Gary Moller comments:
Well, it seems that the pre-holiday hype by the weight-loss surgeons worked and they had at least one taker looking for a "new me" for the New Year.

In my last occupation I got to see a regular procession of failures of routine surgery. For these people that "one in ten thousand" failure rate was 100%. Here in NZ the victim ends up carrying the can. It is very difficult and very costly to sue and the assistance from Accident Compensation is measley to the point of being a miserable insult.

In this case, it would appear there is leakage occuring at one of the points where the stomach and intestine have been severed and joined. The tube is feeding a liquid meal (A poor version of my Super Smoothie) into the gut past the point of leakage. The operation has been a failure and the plan to surgically reverse the procedure is fraught with risk. This poor man is already in a malnourished and weakened state and his friends have every right to fear for his survival.
 
This botched operation has probably cost well over $30k and rising by the day. The reversal will be another $20k. If only there was public funding for a team approach for closely supervised lifestyle, diet and exercise weight loss programmes, similar to what we see on TV reality programmes.

We hear littel about these failures - about 3,000 dead per year in NZ.

In this case, the poor recipient will eventually be chalked up as a success, although with complications. After all - he lost weight didn't he? Let's hope the success is not because he makes a good looking corpse in a regular-size coffin!

Warning about serious side effects of Warfarin

The US label for warfarin has been strengthened to include a black-box warning about the risk for major or fatal bleeding.SIDE EFFECTS: The two most serious side effects are bleeding and necrosis (gangrene) of the skin. Bleeding can occur in any organ or tissue. Bleeding around the brain can cause severe headache and paralysis. Bleeding in the joints can cause joint pain and swelling. Bleeding in the stomach or intestines can cause weakness, fainting spells, black tarry stools, vomiting of blood, or coffee ground material. Bleeding in the kidneys can cause back pain and blood in urine. Other side effects include purple, painful toes, rash, hair loss, bloating, diarrhea, and jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin). Signs of overdose include bleeding gums, bruising, nosebleeds, heavy menstrual bleeding, and prolonged bleeding from cuts.
_____________________________________
Gary Moller comments:
I have referred to this widely prescribed cardio medication in the past as "rat poison" and we are now seeing plenty of evidence why it should never be given to humans.

Only a fraction of the complications resulting from prescription medications ever get to be reported, so when the authorities start requesting special warnings be placed on the packaging of a pharmaceutical, we should take heed. The problem/threat is probably much larger than it appears.

Most complications are so subtle and take so long to manifest that the association may never be noticed, let alone proven. While the big side effects may be fatal, it is the subtle ones that are the most prevalent and often they go un-noticed and are never recorded. If you take careful note of the list of complications above from taking Warfarin (especially the section that I have highlighted for you), you will not be surprised to learn what I am about to tell you:

The osteoporosis drug, Fosamax is associated with "Fossy Jaw" or death of the bone of the jaw, a horrific disease for which there is no effective treatment. Well, it may not be just Fosamax: I can tell you that Warfarin may be producing similar cases of bone death, possibly the result of chronic micro-bleeding into the bone. I am aware of one case where this appears to be happening with the result that this unfortunate person is steadily losing his jaw bones; but these matters are difficult to prove, as I mentioned earlier. What is most astonishing about this horrific case is he is still being prescribed the Warfarin! This stuff is what horror movies are made out of.

If you want effective alternatives to rat poison to reduce cardiovascular risk, try a daily Kiwi Fruit, fish oil, vitamin E, the B Group of vitamins, magnesium, vitamin C, plus your usual fruit and veges.

Oh! I almost forgot - and exercise.

Death By Medicine

Gary, Your quote,"The treatment was a success but the patient died" brings to mind my friend Tess who this applies to partly!
Her obitury would read "The treatment was NEVER a success AND the patient died.

From a 59 year old lady who was active, riding a bicycle, making beautiful craft work soft toys. designing and doing tapestries and knitting she over 5 years became a sad, depressed lady with overwhelming bad health.
She had gall bladder disease but the medical report was misplaced and after 6 mths of recurring attacks it was finally removed via key hole surgery. During that time, her attacks of disabling pain were managed with pethidine injections, which a Dr told me she became addicted to.
From then on things went wrong. Her legs became ulcerated and swollen as did face and neck. they said she had Cushings syndrome. she couldn't walk and became diabetic requiring daily insulin injections and finally died.
The treatment didn't seem to help so they just kept on adding to it.
During the last months of her life she was having 11 different medications daily (22tablets total)
and 10units of insulin daily.
Officially she died from Cushings.
________________________________
Gary Moller comments:
I am sorry to hear of your friend's passing and can understand your concern with the treatment she received.

While she officially died of Cushings, every indication is that she really died from the consequences of medical bungling, the complications from surgery gone wrong and over medication.

Cushing's syndrome occurs when the body's tissues are exposed to excessive levels of cortisol for long periods of time. Many people suffer the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome because they take glucocorticoid hormones such as prednisone which she was taking large doses of over a protracted period of time.

Pancreatitis, leading to diabetes is a complication of keyhole surgery to remove the gall bladder. Such surgery should only be attempted by a specialist in the procedure.

The 12 medications that she was on is a nightmare of potential interactions and adverse reactions (I have seen the list).

Here in NZ it has been claimed that medical error, including adverse reactions to drugs, claims over 3,000 lives per year making this the 3rd leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. That the very distant 4th placeholder (Road smashes) gets so much attention while medical error receives so little, is a mystery to me and bordering on being downright scandalous.

With the ageing population and the increasing medicalisation of the healthy, I predict it will not be long before medical error becomes the leading cause of preventable death in the developed world.

Death by falling over

"Gary,
I am very sad to say, my wifes dad passed away on sunday. He was 84, but as a young man was an excellent athlete, a natural swimmer, track athlete and even played rugby for XYZ Province while the allblacks were on tour (away) one time.
3 years ago he could give me a good game of tennis.
Less than a year ago, he was knocked over by a dog and his hip broke.
He seems to have fallen into the category of people dying after a hip breakage, he died in his sleep in a home in XYZ Town.
What is the link between breaking a hip and a rapid demise in health resulting in death?
Anon"
__________________________
Gary Moller comments:
First of all my condolences are extended to the family. Knowing Anon reasonably well, I strongly advise that he gets some tennis coaching right away.

Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and the most common cause of non-fatal injuries and and hospital admissions for trauma. The cause of death is usually a blood clot in the lungs or elsewhere interrupting critical circulation. This is due to the frail state of the person, the immediate tissue trauma of the injury and the formation of blood clots at the injury site and from the immobilisation. Even if they recover from the fracture and are discharged, their even frailer state and the disability from the injury may be so great that their health never recovers and decline can be rapid, usually from pre-existing comorbidities, such as dementia. Getting a dose of the flu may be all that it takes to kill the debilitated person. Anon's family tragedy is being repeated several times daily.

I gained some further details from Anon and learned that his father in law had been on some kind of anti-depressant for many years, as well as medication for blood pressure. It is significant that he had recently gone into a managed care facility. Prior to his fall he had had a number of "turns" which could have been mild strokes. This came as no surprise. Unfortunately, for him and his family, the causes for his demise may have been put in place many years ago when that first pill was prescribed. Here is my speculation about what could have been going on:

• One of the most accurate indicators of decline in health and independence is balance. Medications that are prescribed to alter mood and to control blood pressure may expedite the decline in balance and hasten dulling of the mental faculties. Refer to my article here that expands on this.
• I will add that blood pressure medication does not cure blood pressure problems; it merely hides or suppresses the condition - the wolf remains at the door and the problem becomes more and more difficult to manage as time passes. The same can be said in many cases of prescribing mood altering drugs.
• Blood pressure medication can cause "brain fog". I recall one insurance study several years ago that found that elderly drivers on blood pressure medication had a nine-fold increase in motor vehicle insurance claims as compared to their non-medicated peers.
• Many of these medications can affect nutrition by causing unpleasant side-effects like cotton mouth and poor digestion. Up to 90% of some groups of elderly may suffer malnutrition. Read Should they Eat Cake?. Weak muscles, dementia/brain fog, osteoporosis and poor balance are killers when combined.
• Medications that are being prescribed wholesale to osteoporotic patients nowadays may be causing disastrous problems down the line by hindering bone healing post fracture. Read this Blog
  
• The "turns" that Anon described might have been the inevitable result of progressive cardiovascular disease, including excessively high blood pressure as medication becomes increasingly ineffective. Balance is usually seriously affected by these mini-strokes.
• From personal observation, the very act of institutionalisation may bring about a rapid loss of independence and decline in health status. My article "Should they Eat Cake?" touches on this.
• The survival of the debilitated old person, as per above, is under serious threat from a fall and prospects of making a good recovery are not good.

What can be done to prevent this sort of tragedy happening? The good news is that much can be done, including:

• Blood pressure pills or not, implement agressive lifestyle and diet changes to address the underlying factors that cause blood pressure and otehr cardiovascular ailments. Go here for more information
  and go here
• For mood and behavioural problems, seek drugs-free treatments, including exercise, nutrition and counselling.
• If on medications, question the need and ask your Dr to help devise a plan to either reduce the dose, or preferably to get off them completely. Ask about drug-free alternatives and do not hesitate to seek second and third opinions.
• Exercise vigorously 3-4 times a week. This can be walking and doing resistance exercise like gardening. The Myotec Pocket Gym is designed for safe use by the elderly to keep muscles and bones strong.
• Get outdoors daily to get sunlight on the body. Vitamin D from sunlight + exercise + good nutrition = strong bones and many, many other health benefits.
• If the day is sunless, then get a little Vitamin D (sometimes called cholecalcitrol) from a supplement like cod liver oil or Nutrimon (a low cost chewable multivit for kids; but fine for adults)
• Get multivitamins, including the B Group and Vit C; multi minerals, especially calcium and magnesium; and omega3 oils into the daily diet right away and keep these in place during old age. I am running a special this month on the Red Seal Effergize multivitamin tablets.
• Practice balancing skills now and into old age. This can be as simple as practicing balancing on either foot each day. This is also a good test to see if a new medication is affecting balance. (If balance deteriorates, go back to your Dr immediately and ask for a review). If you get really good at balancing on one leg, then try doing it with your eyes closed.
• Keep agile: Take up tap dancing, martial arts and walk rutted and rooty trails at every opportunity. Ride a bike. Play tennis (get some professional coaching regardless of age and ability).
• Design your house to be "fall friendly". Live in a single level swelling with no hard wood, tile or concrete floors. Fit natural wool carpets with thick underlays. Use non slip surfaces in showers, on steps and paths and light them well. Fit hand rails in bathrooms. Have a proper step ladder for getting up to high cupboards and for changing light bulbs.

If an elderly person is injured from a fall:

• Insist on getting the best treatment by experienced doctors and do not tolerate any delays.
• Make sure hospitalised person has a Guardian Angel appointed to look over them (more about this in a later article).
• Insist on minimal medication and take the opportunity of hospital monitoring to safely get off any unnecessary drugs that were prescribed in the past.
• Insist on high standards of personal hygiene by everyone, including the cleaning of Dr's stethoscopes between patients. Refer to my article about hospital infections.
• Get them onto a Super Smoothie and extra vitamins and minerals as well as Omega3 oil like flaxseed oil quickly. (Discuss the Omega3 oil with the Drs first if the patient is on anticoagulants, because these oils have similar properties and the medication might need to be adjusted). You can either make up the Smoothie at home and bring into hospital, or make it by the bedside with a small blender. The fresher the better. The hospital food will only serve to add to an already malnourished state and healing will be seriously compromised.

Finally, ACC have a number of excellent injury prevention resources to prevent falls. Go here for them.