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STATINS

Just say "no" to grapefruit juice

Advise your patients who take the statins simvastatin (Zocor) or atorvastatin (Lipitor) to lower their cholesterol level that they should stay away from grapefruit juice. Why? A chemical in grapefruit juice has been found to interfere with the liver's ability to metabolize the drugs, which can lead to dangerously high blood levels of the statins. This can increase the risk of muscle toxicity, including the life-threatening condition rhabdomyolysis.

 

ACCUTANE

Heading off birth defects

The Food and Drug Administration has tightened controls on the acne treatment isotretinoin (Accutane) in an effort to further reduce the risk of birth defects from the drug. New regulations require the drug's manufacturers to keep track of all health care providers who prescribe it, all pharmacies that dispense it, and all patients who take it. Health care providers and pharmacies must also inform patients of the risk of adverse events, obtain informed consent from patients, and get proof of a negative pregnancy test from female patients with childbearing potential.

 

SMOKING

More reason to kick the habit

Still trying to convince your patients that smoking's bad for them? Here's more ammunition to add to your argument.

 

Researchers from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, N.Y., report that people with a family history of pancreatic cancer should be advised against smoking tobacco. According to their study published in Cancer, smoking may put people with an inherited predisposition at risk for pancreatic carcinoma; it may even promote the disease in these people.

 

Two other studies suggest that smoking may increase the risk of developing colorectal polyps. Researchers in Pennsylvania and New York concluded that smokers are significantly more likely to have polyps and to have more and larger polyps than nonsmokers.

 

DIABETES

Danger: The body at risk

How many of your patients with diabetes are obese? According to the latest study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's probably more than half. As you know, being obese (defined as a body mass index of 30 or more) puts these patients at higher risk of heart disease and vision damage.

 

What's more, your patients may be ignoring recommendations for controlling their blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, recent reports show. Again, this puts your patients with diabetes at extremely high risk for heart disease and stroke.

 

Although you can't force your patients with diabetes to be more conscientious about their health, you can continue to reinforce the message that controlling their weight and keeping close tabs on their blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels are important to their future quality of life. LPN

 

EXERCISE

Get a move on!!

It's no secret that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Researchers at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., agree: People in their 50s and 60s should be more physically active, especially if they already have health problems, they say. In their recent study, walking, gardening, and dancing a few times a week were all shown to be beneficial.

 

Another study-this one from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-suggested that aerobic and strength training improve overall fitness and quality of life in women age 60 to 80 with coronary artery disease. After an 8-week exercise program, the women in the study could walk farther, had greater leg strength, and experienced better quality of life.

  
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DID YOU KNOW?

Limiting vitamin E. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University warn that people should limit their intake of vitamin E supplements to 200 international units (133 mg) or less a day. Higher doses may be associated with a higher risk of death.