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Weight Loss May Aid in Bad Breath - Monday, April 12, 2010

Now there's another good reason to go on that diet after the holidays. Researchers have published a study that finds a direct link between obesity and bad breath: the more overweight you are, the more likely your breath will smell unpleasant to those around you.

The research, led by breath expert Prof. Mel Rosenberg from the Department of Human Microbiology and The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, was reported in the Journal of Dental Research. The study also reported, for the first time, scientific evidence that links bad breath to alcohol consumption.

The Study

The study was done in Israel and included a sample of 88 adults of varying weights and heights. While at a clinic for a regular check-up, they were asked by graduate student Tsachi Knaan, a co-author in the study, whether he could test the odor of their breath and ask questions about their daily habits.

Prof. Rosenberg, Knaan and Prof. Danny Cohen concluded from the data that overweight patients were more likely to have foul-smelling breath. "This finding should hold for the general public," says Prof. Rosenberg. "But we don't have any scientific evidence as to why this is the case. That will be the next step."

He surmises that the connection between obesity and bad breath could be caused by several factors. Obese people may have a diet that promotes the condition of dry mouth. Prof. Rosenberg also suggests that people who are obese may be less in tune with taking care of their mouths and bodies. "We have certainly opened a window of questions here," says Prof. Rosenberg.

History of Bad Breath

While widespread obesity is a modern invention, bad breath is not. The phenomenon goes back thousands of years.

Says Prof. Rosenberg, "I have read reports of bad breath in ancient Egypt. In ancient Rome there was a man named Cosmos who sold breath-freshening agents. Bad breath is frequently mentioned in Jewish scripture - The Talmud - stating that if you were a 'Cohen' (a priest) you couldn't perform holy duties on the Temple if your breath was bad."

"If you were a newlywed groom, you could annul a marriage if on your wedding night you discovered that your wife had bad breath. In ancient times, we learn, bad breath was considered a 'no-no,' as bad as having leprosy."

Self-Examination Is Not Really Possible

The problem remains today. Bad breath - and the fear that you might have it - plagues millions of people because it isn't easy for one to check one's own breath. Indeed, nine people in the study were unaware of their bad breath.

Says Prof. Rosenberg, who co-edits the Journal of Breath Research, "I can't go out into the world and smell everybody's breath, and quite frankly I've already smelled many thousands of cases. My goal now is to give people a list of the potential factors that could lead to this condition, so they can treat themselves." Obesity is now added to the list, which includes dry mouth, poor dental hygiene, and possibly even the morning cup of coffee.

"You should tell people in your family if they have bad breath," says Prof. Rosenberg. "It is curable in almost all instances, and it can be a sign of disease." So, people just might appreciate hearing this difficult truth in the long-run.

Teen Track Star Dies from Sports Cream Overuse - Thursday, April 1, 2010

A New York medical examiner has blamed using too much over-the-counter muscle cream on a 17-year-old track star's death. Arielle Newman, a cross country runner from Staten Island, died after her body absorbed toxic levels of methyl salicylate, the anti-inflammatory found in sports creams such as Bengay or Icy Hot These creams are used to soothe muscle aches and stiffness.

A spokesperson for the medical examiner who performed the teen's autopsy said the teen used "topical medication" to excess. The young athlete's death is the first reported death in New York from using a sports cream. Methyl salicylate poisoning is highly unusual, and deaths from high levels of it are rare. The medical examiner said the girl either used the cream way too often, slathered her body with it, or used a normal amount and her body absorbed an abnormally high amount of methyl salicylate.

Dangerous Diabetes Drugs - Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Avandia and Actos, both drugs for the treatment of type 2 Diabetes, have been found to increase the risk of heart failure; way back in 2007, the FDA required the drugs carry a black box warning, which is the strongest warning the Food and Drug Administration can issue to a drug manufacturer. Avandia is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and Actos is made by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.

The American Diabetes Association will soon publish a study performed by Harvard researchers that focused on 26,375 diabetic patients who took Avandia from 2000 to 2006. This group was compared to another group who took Actos during the same time period. Researchers were looking for a link between the drugs and the occurrence of myocardial infarction (heart attack). This study found that patients taking Avandia were twice as likely to suffer cardiac problems as those taking Actos.

While Glaxo has conducted its own study and the Mayo Clinic did similarly, with differing results, the basic idea is the same: the public must know that these drugs can be dangerous, especially if you have mild heart disease or any kidney problems.

At the time of this writing, approximately 13,000 people have filed personal injury lawsuits against Glaxo after taking Avandia and suffering some form of cardiac distress.

If you have been harmed or if you have lost a loved one due to a defective drug, you should contact a product liability attorney in your area today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.

Zicam Maker Issued Warning - Tuesday, August 25, 2009

On Tuesday, June 16, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a letter to the manufacturer of Zicam, Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., due to reports that Zicam nasal sprays, gels, and swabs are causing users of these over-the-counter homeopathic decongestant products to lose their sense of smell (anosmia). At the time of this writing, there have been over 130 reports (at the time of this writing) of Zicam users losing their sense of smell.

If you live in Virginia or northeast North Carolina and have suffered the adverse effects of Zicam, experienced pharmaceutical injury attorneys will be able to tell you whether or not you have a valid legal claim. They can help you recover monetary compensation for your suffering; please contact a defective drug attorney in your area to schedule a confidential, free consultation as soon as possible as there are time limits (statutes of limitation) on defective drug cases.

While having no sense of smell may not seem like a serious medical condition, it actually is. If you are not able to smell, then you would not smell a gas leak or something burning in your home. Also, since the sense of smell is directly tied to the sense of taste, you would not be able to taste your favorite foods. You may be able to detect spiciness or saltiness, but you would not be able to discern flavors, and everything would taste rather bland.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by Zicam products, please contact a personal injury attorney in your area today to schedule a no-cost, confidential consultation.

New Risks of Mad Cow Disease From Farmed Fish - Monday, June 29, 2009

The results of a new study that were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease suggest there is a chance humans could contract mad cow disease from eating certain types of fish. The three scientists that performed the study say that there is a chance farmed fish could carry and transmit mad cow disease to humans.

When farming fish, the animals are often fed various different foods like bone meal and other foods with cow meat. The study looked at the chances of fish being able to carry Creutzfeld Jakob disease, the human form of mad cow disease. Mad cow disease is a fatal brain disease in cows, and scientists believe it can cause Creutzfeld Jakob disease in humans.

According to the scientists who performed the study, Creutzfeld Jakob disease can incubate within the body for decades before being diagnosed. This long incubation period makes it difficult to know exactly how someone contracted the dangerous brain disease.

The scientists are also calling for the government to ban feeding fish bone meal or cow byproducts because of the chance of fish transmitting disease to humans. Although the scientists have not definitively proved that fish can transmit the disease to humans, they do say there is a chance that it could happen.

If you or a loved one has become seriously ill from eating any kind of food, you may be able to recover compensation for the injuries suffered. Please contact an experienced defective product attorney in your area today to schedule you case evaluation.

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