Viagra and Your Eyesight

Here is another good reason not to take Viagra. Why are some drugs "good" and some drugs "bad". Because the bible tells us so? I think not. Why, it is the all-knowing, all-wise FDA. Hale Ceasar, (and cover your ass).

Nonarteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Developing Soon After Use of Sildenafil (Viagra): A Report of Seven New Cases. Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology. 25(1):9-13, March 2005.Pomeranz, Howard D. MD, PhD; Bhavsar, Abdhish R. MD

Abstract: Seven patients, aged between 50 and 69 years, had typical features of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) within 36 hours after ingestion of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) for erectile dysfunction. Six patients had vision loss within 24 hours after use of the agent. Final visual acuity in the affected eye ranged from 20/20 to light perception. Both eyes were affected in one individual. All affected individuals had pre-existing hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, or hyperlipidemia. Seven similar cases have been previously reported. Sildenafil may provoke NAION in individuals with an arteriosclerotic risk profile.

(C) 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

http://www.jneuro-ophthalmology.com/pt/re/jneuroophth/abstract.00041327-200503000-00003.htm;jsessionid=CLGVIG1qyc6gNemnkKySTV5ESUeQ9PIeyM12ZDpNE8i5b6waMqM9!-777534296!-949856032!9001!-1?index=1&results=1&count=10&searchid=1&nav=search

Children's Cancer and Pesticides

This is nothing new. It is just news to most of us because we are told about this by the media. Barry Commoner and Rachel Carson wrote about it some fifty years ago. We are poisoning ourselves with an exotic assortment of manmade, unnatural chemicals that should never come near a human body let alone a child's. Children develop cancer much faster than adults. They have fewer defenses. We lament the kidnapping a murder of a child because it is vivid and dramatic. The causative chain of events between household and industrial pesticides is more subtle, takes a long time to prove, and so does not engage our emotions as much. It should. Cancer is now becoming the second cause of death in young children!!! Wake up America. It happened to the Romans. Are we destined for the same end?

If you have children, you must read this article. Become aware of how you can inadvertantly introduce pesticides into your home and your kid's system. You can go a long way toward protecting them from this unnecessary evil by just taking some precautions when you use these deadly chemicals.

http://www.rachel.org/bulletin/index.cfm?issue_ID=530

KEEPING YOURS EYES HEALTHY

This is from Chris Gupta's internet site:

An article in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) November 2, 1994, sings the praises of spinach. People who ate Popeye's favorite daily suffered only one-tenth as much age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as those who seldom ate spinach. And for patients with the condition, eating spinach prevented worsening.

Research has now confirmed that three to four portions of spinach weekly can reverse at least early AMD. "Dr. Richer, chief of the optometry section at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs in North Chicago, recently tested 14 patients who were showing the first signs of AMD. After just 12 weeks of eating three to four portions of spinach a week, those in the study showed 60% to 80% improvement in their AMD tests. Among the eight who had either a hole or a distortion in their vision, for seven the problem either improved or disappeared completely."

From: Avoiding Visual Degeneration

CLINICAL EVIDENCE FOR NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS

Here is some good, solid evidence that natural products rule. From: Dr. Michael T. Murray's Natural Facts Newsletter:

Top ten clinical research studies with natural products in 2004.

The Top Ten Studies in 2004

1) Echinacea does work if you use an effective product
2) U.S. Government study acknowledges health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
3) Omega-3 index emerges as the most significant marker for heart disease
4) Black cohosh extract exerts anticancer effects against breast cancer cell
5) Combination of Glucosamine and MSM superior to either alone in treating osteoarthritis

6) Antioxidant supplementation reduces risk for Alzheimer’s disease
7) Long-term study shows CLA effective as weight loss aid
8) Even brief exposure to statin drugs lower CoQ10 levels
9) Lutein improves vision in patients with age-related macular degeneration
10)Ginkgo biloba extract continues to show benefits in elderly subjects

FOR FULL ARTICLE SEE:

http://www.vitaminexpress.com/drmurray/drmurraynewsletter2004_02_16.htm

We hope this is just the start of something big.