What You Should Know About Mixing Medications and Diet...

I had a call the other day from a potential client in a serious situation. He was young and had been diagnosed with CAD (Coronary Artery Disease), suffering from extremely high blood pressure and cholesterol, his doctor had put him on a medication that was suppose to lower and control these symptoms, and he had been on this medication for over 2 years.

During this time, this 24 year old man had developed a blockage in his hand that had become inflamed and eventually ruptured, causing the possibility of amputation. The situation was brought under control using anti-inflammatory means, but he remained on his cholesterol medication without adjustment even after this incident. About 6 months later, this young man was suffering from another blockage, but this time, it was in a critical area that couldn't be treated without specialization and the local doctors did not have the experience to treat him. These doctors told him that there was no one in the 4 state area that could serve him, he was desperate and afraid, and turned to me for help.

When he first called, I asked him some questions to help me understand his situation.

How old are you? (25)

Do you suffer from High blood pressure or high cholesterol? (yes)

Does your family have a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes or insulin resistance? (yes)

Does you family have a history of bowel problems, colon cancer or colon polyps? (yes, my twin brother)

What is your Ethnic Origin? (English)

Are you physically active? (yes, when I can be)

Has your doctor put you on any medication (yes, and he named it)

At the time that you were put on this medication, did your doctor recommend a glycemic, low fat, low sodium diet? (no)

What kinds of foods have you been eating while on this medication? (regular foods, meat, vegetables, potatoes, you know, stuff in restaurants and stuff that is easy to fix at home)

With the condition that you currently have, do you suffer from loss of vision or blurred vision? (yes)

Are you suffering from Migraine headaches? (yes, constantly)

Are you suffering from the loss of motor skills, have difficulty walking, chewing, swallowing, lifting? (yes)

Are these symptoms constant, or do they come and go? (Constant)

Is this blockage behind your right eye? (yes)

What has your doctor recommended? (they have recommended that I be treated elsewhere, because they do not have a specialist here)

Have they recommended a place you should go or a specialist that you should see? (no, they can't even tell me what kind of doctor I should get)

My recommendations were for him to seek help immediately, within the next week.

I suggested that his doctors give him a letter of recommendation to see a Cerebral Neuro-Vascular Surgeon. He and his friends got on the Internet and found some specialists that could fit him in in the next few days. My fear was that the situation had gone on to long, and that he was in imminent danger. I told him that when he returned from his surgery, that he should call to make an appointment with me so that we could get his blood pressure and cholesterol under control, so this would not happen again.

He asked me why this had happened in the first place, he had taken his medications like they had been prescribed. I explained that when medications are used in the body, they have to not only act, but they are also acted upon.

When you use medications designed to reduce something in the body, you shouldn't add things that would cause the medications to have to compete or work harder to accomplish the goal. A cholesterol medication to control the fat in your blood, and then eat fat, or things that create fat. A diabetic medication to control blood sugar, and then eat sugar or carbs that convert to sugars. A medication used for the treatment of gout, then eat things that are high in acid or create acid. These kinds of things can make the medications ineffective, and a waste of time and money.

He said that he had been on this medication for two years, and that the cholesterol numbers had never been affected by the medication. I told him that there is a way to lower his cholesterol effectively, using a restrictive diet, exercise, and a few supplements along with his prescription, and that as soon as he returned with relative health, we would start him on his program.

For most people, when they become ill, they go to their doctors in search of a quick fix, a pill or a shot that will make things better instantly, that doesn't require any effort or discomfort on their part. The sad truth of the matter is that "possession" requires "responsibility", and "responsibility" requires "action".

D.S. Epperson is the top formulator for Home Blend Gourmet / South Pacific Health, a leader in the functional food industry in the U.S. With 20 years of experience in Nutritional Biochemistry, she has written reference books on botanicals and manufacturing of medicines from botanicals, and published articles on health, fitness and foods. She has formulated over 240 formulas and inventions for health, the environment and agricultural uses, and continues to research and study microbial advantages in nutraceuticals and functional foods. For more information or to view the articles that she has written: http://www.sugarblend.com

---

New Surgical Treatment Options for Hernias

Hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide. In fact, there are over 600,000 hernia repair surgeries performed each year in the U.S. alone. A hernia is a weakness... Read More

Pediatric Emergency Contact Notifications Made Easier

For the head of the trauma department at one of America's top pediatric facilities, Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital, having to notifying parents that their children have been the victims of trauma or identify... Read More

Cetyl Myristoleate for Arthrtis: Science or Speculation

There are a lot of fabulous stories about Cetyl Myristoleate (also known as CMO or CM) floating across the Internet. Mine is one of them. There have been a number of articles published... Read More

Lipitor Side Effects

Lipitor is a drug intended to help lower cholesterol. The generic name for this brand-name medication is atorvastatin.What are the side effects of Lipitor (atorvastatin) cholesterol medication?Lipitor has been an effective treatment for... Read More

Joint Pain Relief

If you joints are constantly killing you, here are three suggestions:1. Traumeel is a product that has been used for years in Germany to relieve pain. I have not been overly impressed with... Read More

Army Report Validates Prediction of Vaccine-Induced Epidemic

"The more we do to you, the less you seem to believe we are doing it." - Joseph MengeleThe Army is still in denial but now admits the epidemic of Gulf War Syndrome... Read More

Zyprexa - History of the Drug

Since the beginning of mankind, mental illness has played a role in our society. Victims of such illnesses have been outcast, stereotyped and often ridiculed. However, over time, medical and psychiatric science advanced... Read More

Flatfeet in Children: When Are They A Problem?

There are high arch feet and low arch feet and many different foot types in between. Many individuals have flatfeet, but do not have foot problems. All of us are born with flatfeet... Read More

The Truth about C Reactive Protein and Cholesterol Lowering Drugs

You might disagree, but hear me out on this...The drug companies know what they want you to think. They want you to think that the only reliable predictor for heart disease is an... Read More

Where to Find Maryland Drug Rehab Centers?

Everything can be found on the Internet. At various sites there's a comprehensive list of all Maryland drug rehab centers along with contact information and short advertising articles. There are lots of various... Read More

First Step To Addiction Recovery

The first step to over comming any addiction is to detoxify the body of the addictive substance. Whether it's herion, crack, or meth detoxifcation of the liver is essential to addiction recovery. There... Read More

Prescription Drug Side Effects: Treating From The Outside Or The Inside?

Throughout time there have always been two opposing points of view as to how to maintain good health, or how to regain it after having lost it. This conflict has continued since ancient... Read More

Ephedra Product Ban

Ephedra is a naturally occuring herbal dietary supplement that has been marketed as a weight loss drug. The principal active ingredient is an amphetamine-like compound. Because it has been marketed as an herbal... Read More

Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawyer Says: Get Help

SJS is an allergic reaction to certain medications that can result in death. It has been linked to pain killers, antibiotics, barbiturates, anti-convulsants, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, arthritis medications, and sulfa antibiotics such as... Read More

Are Drug Companies Destroying The U.S. Health Care System?

The U.S. government's annual bill for healthcare spending ? $3,925 per person ? significantly exceeds that of all other nations. Despite this, our current health care system is increasingly failing both patients and... Read More

Emollients and Lubricant Drugstore Laxatives

Stool Softener Laxatives - EmollientsStool softeners and emollients work by absorbing water into the fecal matter. This makes the fecal matter softer so it can pass easier through your colon and out the... Read More

Treating Neuromas - Ten Tips

A neuroma is an inflamed nerve. In the foot, the most common place for a neuroma is between the third and fourth toes. The main nerve to your foot originates in the spine... Read More

NIH Official Altered Drug Study

NIH Official Altered Drug StudyDr. Edmund Tramont, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Division of AIDS, altered the conclusions from a safety report on pregnant women taking the drug... Read More

Why Our Healthcare System Isnt Healthy

Most people are well aware that an estimated 45 million Americans currently do not have healthcare, but is the crisis simply the lack of health insurance or even the cost of health insurance?... Read More

The Unique Benefits of Medical Adjustable Beds

With more medical advantages, an adjustable bed finds more functions in a hospital or a nursing home. It provides relief to people who are bed-ridden or those who have to stay in bed... Read More

Stop Taking Blood Pressure Medications with Your Doctors Approval

I have been swallowing three varieties of blood pressure pills for 10 years. In another month, I expect to be off of them entirely. And that's with my doctor's approval.Some months ago, I... Read More

Lunesta Withdrawal

Lunesta is a newly released sleeping pill. Marketed as a revolutionary sleep aid, Lunesta is the only medication approved by the FDA for long term treatment of insomnia symptoms. Although Lunesta is a... Read More

Check Out The Wonders Of Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is the essential oil comes from the Australian plant Melaleuca alternifolia. This species is unique to Australia and native to Northern New South Wales. This tree has very strong therapeutic... Read More

Could This Be Arthritis In My Hands

Hi Rusty. A few days ago, I slightly injured a finger on my hand. Now my hand is swelling with severe joint pain in the fingers. At first I thought this was a... Read More

Rheumatoid Arthritis : the time bomb

The beginning is very much hard to spot as we migh just wake up in the morning and feel that the fingers on our hand do not function as they should. A little... Read More

A Closer Look at Neck Pain Relief

Neck pain afflicts many people at some point in their life - two-thirds of American adults report having experienced at least one incidence of neck pain in their lives. You can strain your... Read More

Lumbar Puncture: This (Really) Is Spinal Tap

I couldn't resist the title's corny riff on the name of the rock band and their movie, but the kind of spinal tap featured in this article was a spinal tap before Spinal... Read More

A Fresh Start Plan for People With Neck Pain!

"If you have to deal with chronic neck pain, it can be a real struggle. I know? because I've had to do it myself," states Dr. Nathan Wei, a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical... Read More

Cetyl Myristoleate Seperating Fact From Fiction

I am a strong believer in Cetyl Myristoleate for the treatment of arthritis. For the last three years I have been researching and writing about Cetyl Myristoleate. I am constantly searching for new... Read More