Most Americans with a sore throat are prescribed antibiotics even though just a fraction stand to benefit from them, a new study shows.

Researchers said only about 10 percent of adults with sore throats have strep throat, which is caused by bacteria that could be killed by antibiotics.

Almost all other sore throats are caused by viruses. In those cases, “an antibiotic is not going to help you and it has a very real chance of hurting you,” Dr. Jeffrey Linder, who worked on the study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said.

Although serious side effects are rare, he said antibiotics can cause diarrhea or yeast infections and interact with other medicines. Overuse of the drugs also makes bacteria resistant to them – which means future infections could be harder to treat.

For their study, Linder and his colleague Dr. Michael Barnett analyzed data on 8,200 U.S. primary care and emergency room visits for sore throats between 1997 and 2010.

They found doctors prescribed an antibiotic at 60 percent of those visits, with no change in that rate during the study period, according to findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

What did change is that a greater proportion of prescriptions were for new, expensive antibiotics in recent years – even though penicillin works just fine against strep throat, Linder told Reuters Health.

His team’s findings were presented Thursday at IDWeek 2013 in San Francisco.

The researchers noted that they didn’t have data on each patient’s diagnosis, so they couldn’t know exactly when antibiotics were appropriate.

Linder said ideally, doctors should use a few key symptoms to figure out which patients should be tested for strep throat. Patients are more likely to have strep if they have a fever, swollen lymph nodes, white spots on the tonsils or swollen tonsils and no cough.

But the test is often used “pretty indiscriminately,” or people are given antibiotics without even being tested for strep, Linder said.

Dr. Ralph Gonzales, who has studied antibiotic prescribing at the University of California, San Francisco, said the results weren’t all bad news, necessarily.

The proportion of people visiting their primary care doctor for a sore throat – rather than any other complaint – dropped from almost 8 percent to about 4 percent during the study period, he noted.

He said fewer total visits for sore throats means fewer antibiotics are being prescribed – even if most people with achy throats still get the drugs.

“At least from a public health perspective, we’re having a lower impact on resistance,” Gonzales, who wasn’t involved in the new research, told Reuters Health.

Dr. Paul Little, a professor of primary care research at the University of Southampton in the UK, said people can avoid getting unneeded antibiotics by not going to the doctor for a run-of-the-mill sore throat.

“The truth is, nasty things are really pretty uncommon,” Little, who also didn’t participate in the study, told Reuters Health. “What you need to do is manage your symptoms,” he said, such as with over-the-counter pain relievers and plenty of fluids.

“The vast, vast majority of these are going to get better on their own,” Linder agreed.

Still, Little said, “If you’re worried about it and you’re very unwell … then I think it is worth it to see a doctor and have a (strep) test.”

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The decades-long “war on drugs” has failed to curb the $350-billion a year global trade in illicit drugs, says a new study by researchers in British Columbia and California.

Using statistics gathered by law enforcement and health authorities in the United States, Europe and Australia over a nearly 20-year period, the team from the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy tracked and compared the rate of drug seizures to indicators of availability for cocaine, opiates and cannabis.

Those numbers show that while the number of drug seizures has increased, the price of cocaine, cannabis and opiates like heroin has dropped.

At the same time, the purity and potency of those drugs has increased, said the study published in the latest issue of the British Medical Journal “Open.”

“These findings suggest that expanding efforts at controlling the global illegal drug market through law enforcement are failing,” said the report that involved the University of British Columbia, the B.C. Centre for Excellence on HIV/AIDS and the Institute of the Americas at the University of California.

Based on statistics gathered by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, they found that the price of heroin in the U.S. dropped 81 per cent from 1990 to 2007, while the purity of cocaine seized by police increased by 60 per cent.

For cocaine, the price — adjusted for inflation and purity — dropped 80 per cent, and the purity increased by 11 per cent. For marijuana, price decreased 86 per cent and purity jumped by 161 per cent.

“The bottom line is that organized crime’s efforts to succeed in these markets has flourished, and the criminal justice system’s efforts to contain these markets has really been quite remarkably unsuccessful,” Dr. Evan Wood, one of the report’s authors and the Canada Research Chair in Inner City Medicine at UBC, said Monday.

Similar trends were noted in Europe and Australia.

Over the same period, the amount of drugs seized by law enforcement increased drastically, both in drug-producing countries like Afghanistan and Thailand and in western nations.

“By every metric, the war on drugs has failed,” said Wood, adding that some estimates suggest more than $1 trillion has been spent over the past 40 years on that war in North America alone.

The authors said they hope the study prompts authorities to re-examine drug control strategies that focus on supply reduction, over prevention and treatment.

Werner Antweiler, a professor of economics at the Sauder School of Business at UBC, has studied the illicit drug economy and said the study results are no surprise.

“The drug problem has not become less, but more,” Antweiler said.

As was the case with the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s and 30s, the illicit drug trade is so profitable and criminals will find a way to meet a continuing demand. The suppression of supply has only a temporary, local effect on the trade, he said.

“The problem is, ultimately, a demand-side issue,” Antweiler said. “What we need to do is treat it as a medical problem, and not a problem of controlling the production and distribution.”

Wood said there have been some encouraging changes in the United States and Europe.

“In Canada, with our federal government it oftentimes feels like things are going in the opposite direction but I think there’s just a growing recognition that we need to begin exploring alternatives and greater openness to do so,” he said.
Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/war-on-drugs-is-failing-report-concludes-illegal-narcotics-now-cheaper-more-potent-1.1477609#ixzz2gdpSwLTt

The type of pillow that you get should be specific to the sides in which you sleep.

So, if you’re a side sleeper you’re going to need a thicker, more firm pillow to keep proper head and neck alignment, verses a back sleeper or even a stomach sleeper where a lot of stomach sleepers may not even require a pillow to sleep.

The reason that people get allergic to down pillows is not because of the feathers. It’s because the feathers haven’t been cleaned properly and so there’s a lots of bacteria, dust mites, things like that in there.

So synthetic down won’t have any of that, so oftentimes, and it feels just the same. I often recommend synthetic down pillows.

And then, what you’d want in that case, it’d be like that good fluffy down feeling, is to have a higher fill in the pillow.

You can have 300, 400, 500 fill count in a pillow, and so what I recommend to people who are side sleepers is to have five or even 600 fill count, so it will keep your head up because the distance between your ear and your shoulder is what you’re trying to accommodate for and still give you that fluffy down feeling.

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Why beer is good for your health A beer is created from just four basic ingredients: water, barley, hops and yeast. The result of these ingredients dancing together is alcohol and CO2. That’s a combo that goes down easy, and there are so many ways to blend the brew that you’re sure to find ale, stout, lager or amber that is just right for you.

The dirty deets

Your doc may have told you that drinking alcohol in moderation is good for your health, but usually wine gets all the cred for the antioxidant benefits. Truth be told, beer and wine contain the same amount of antioxidants. There are some other things you should know:

The protein and B-vitamin content of beer is higher than wine. Yeah, going for a brewski after a rousing game of touch football with your work team will help you replenish your protein better than a glass of chardonnay. But here’s a buzzkill: Even though beer is a good source of B vitamins, the alcohol in it mostly cancels out those benefits.

Beer offers anywhere from 95 to 360 calories in a 12-ounce serving, with the average bottle of beer in the 150-calorie range. A five-ounce glass of wine will run you about 120 calories. Sometimes the light beer is a better calorie choice than the wine. Since the FDA doesn’t require calories to be on the label, do the homework and math on your favorite beer to know where it should be in your beverage lineup, because those calories do find a way to linger. (Call it a beer belly, call it a muffin top; you just don’t want to find one circlin’ your middle.)

One to two beers a day is good for your bones. Brew contains silicon, which is in very few foods and is linked to bone strength and health. Now that’s something to consider before going for your next bone-density scan.

Think light in color equals light in calories? Not always the case. “Light” actually refers to the percent of alcohol and calories. Higher-alcohol beers have more calories, so if you’re watching your weight, a Guinness is actually about the same as a Bud.

How to chow down

You get up to one (femmes) or two (dudes) alcoholic beverages a day, according to the Centers for Disease Control. When it comes to suds, that means a 12-ounce bottle or a draught with an inch of head. More than that can tip the health benefits into the health damaging category.

You want a well-chilled pint glass. Keep it in the freezer for at least a couple of hours so it’s all white and frosty and smoky when you pull it out. Tilt the glass and pour a stream of refreshment down the side, standing the glass upright as you get to the end of the pour. This allows for the perfect amount of fluffy bubbles at the top.

Beer is a great liquid ingredient to add to your soups, marinades and culinary whole-grain masterpieces and can replace broth, stock or plain water. It adds delicate flavor and aroma. The alcohol will cook off, so no need to worry about getting your buddies drunk off your eats.

If there is leftover beer from your beer-can chicken, beer bread or beer-battered jalapenos, dump it over your head. Seriously, beer is great for restoring life and shine to your hair by nourishing and smoothing strands.

In the know

If you had begrudgingly written off beer, put it back on your roster. Strategically place it into your beverage batting order when you’re at a game or looking for refreshment that pairs well with friends and fun. Don’t overdo it, though. Too much of this good thing will take you out of your own starting lineup.

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Hormone therapy may help some women manage hot flashes during menopause. But it should not be used to prevent conditions like heart disease and dementia, a new study confirms.

After analyzing data from about 30,000 women, researchers found the risk of serious health problems increased while women were taking hormones – as past studies have also shown – and then fell once they went off the pills.

“The findings suggest that hormone therapy is a reasonable option for short-term treatment of menopausal symptoms in early menopause but should not be used for long-term chronic disease prevention,” Dr. JoAnn Manson, the study’s lead author from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, told Reuters Health.

The new report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looks at women who were part of the original Women’s Health Initiative studies.

Those studies were large, randomized trials of hormone therapy that were stopped early when it became clear that women taking estrogen alone or a combination of estrogen and progesterone had higher rates of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, strokes and other health problems.

For the new study, Manson and her colleagues analyzed data recorded during the trials and for six to eight years after women stopped taking the hormones.

Overall, 27,347 U.S. women between the ages of 50 and 79 were included in the trials. Women were randomly picked to receive hormone therapy – either estrogen and progesterone or estrogen alone – or a placebo.

The trials lasted six to seven years before they were stopped beginning in 2002. Women were then followed until 2010.

During the trial, the risks of taking estrogen plus progesterone outweighed the benefits, the researchers write. But many of those risks fell during follow up.

For example, they found hormone use could account for six additional cases of heart disease per 10,000 women each year during the trial. That dropped to two extra heart disease cases per 10,000 women every year after women stopped taking hormones.

Women who were assigned to estrogen plus progesterone continued to have an increased risk of breast cancer after stopping hormone therapy, however.

Among women who took estrogen alone – who had all previously had their uterus removed – the risks and benefits were more balanced from the beginning.

During the trial, estrogen alone was tied to about 11 extra strokes per 10,000 women per year. That risk also fell once women stopped taking estrogen.

However, women who only took estrogen were less likely to develop breast cancer over the entire study period than those in the placebo group.

Considering all the evidence, the researchers write that estrogen plus progesterone or estrogen alone should not be used to prevent chronic disease.

That advice jibes with the government-backed U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s recommendation against taking hormone therapy for the prevention of chronic disease

The researchers add, however, that hormone therapy is a “reasonable option for the management of moderate to severe menopausal symptoms among generally healthy women during early menopause.”

Manson said probably fewer than one in 100 younger women taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms over five years would develop a health problem as a result.

“For some women who are experiencing the symptoms of menopause, the quality-of-life benefits may outweigh the risks,” Dr. Betsy Nabel, president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, wrote in an email to Reuters Health.

“Ultimately, every woman should discuss their individual risk profile and the best way to manage their symptoms with their care provider to decide what the best choice is for them,” Nabel, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new study, said.

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 Can relaxation, a good night’s sleep or happiness come from a lightly carbonated, berry-flavored beverage?

Amid booming sales of energy drinks spiked with caffeine and other stimulating ingredients, some people are heading to the soda aisle for drinks that promise the opposite effect. With names like Neuro Bliss, Marley’s Mellow Mood (as in Bob), and Just Chill, the products aren’t marketed as medicine, but as a way to relax without turning to more traditional, if sometimes imperfect, measures like taking prescription drugs or having a few beers.

Consumers are warming up to drinks that could fill the chasm between taking medication for anxiety or sleep problems and doing nothing, says Paul Nadel, president of Neuro Drinks, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based company that sells a line of six drinks including Neuro Bliss, Neuro Sleep and Neuro Sonic, an energy drink. He says the “overmedicated culture we live in” has primed consumers for the concept of a relaxation drink.

Small studies show that some of the ingredients in relaxation drinks, like melatonin, valerian root and L-theanine, appear to help fight sleeplessness or to create a sensation of relaxation in isolated situations.

Still, clinicians recommend turning to drugs or supplements as a last resort for sleep and anxiety problems after trying daily exercise, a consistent wake-up time, turning off electronics and darkening rooms in the evening, therapy or other measures.

The ingredients appear reasonably safe for most adults, but users should check with a doctor or research how they might mix with other medications or pre-existing illnesses, says Catherine Ulbricht, co-founder of Natural Standard Research Collaboration, a Somerville, Mass., group that evaluates natural therapies.

She notes that this class of beverages with multiple active ingredients hasn’t been well-studied: “I don’t mean to sound scary, but it’s not water.”

Often the drinks are marketed as dietary supplements, a classification under Food and Drug Administration standards that means at least one ingredient isn’t considered conventional food. The FDA doesn’t review the efficacy, safety or quantity of active ingredients in dietary supplements.

The relaxation drinks come as traditional soda sales continue on an almost decadelong decline and more companies are introducing drinks tailored to niche audiences.

More consumers say they want a drink that feels healthier than soda—hence the raft of new, lower-calorie beverages. Some have only natural ingredients, while other so-called “functional” products claim some benefit like energy, sleep or cold-fighting properties.

Big beverage companies are pitching coconut water, energy drinks and fruit smoothies, but so far haven’t dipped their toe into the relaxation business.

It’s not clear the relaxation drink concept will stick. In 2012 relaxation drinks (which includes sleep drinks) accounted for about $32 million in U.S. wholesale sales, a slight increase from previous years, but a tiny amount compared with the $6 billion generated by U.S. energy drinks the same year, says Gary Hemphill, managing director of research for Beverage Marketing Corp. “Some people say, ‘If I want to relax I’m going to have a martini,” Mr. Hemphill says.

Read More at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304373104579109283589583074.html