From the desk of Kris Belfry Enerkinetics Natural Health Care 2684 Los Palmas Crt. Mississauga, On L5N 2G7 (416) 627 3455 "If someone wishes for good health, one must first ask oneself if he is ready to do away with the reasons for his illness. Only then is it possible to help him" ~ Hippocrates Attention Pain Sufferers The 5 Most Dangerous Painkillers! Advil-Aleve-Bayer-Celebrex-DemerolMotrin-Naproxen-Oxycontin- PercocetToradol-Tylenol-Ultram-Vicodin-Voltaren... Some, a few or maybe all of these drugs can be found in your medicine cabinet. But are they really safe? Typically when we think of dangerous drugs we instantly think about the street drugs like cocaine, heroin or some form of one of these drugs. But what about your pain medications? The prescription drug industry is a 300 billion dollar per year industry and in some cases they do offer some benefits. But did you know, that pain medications and adverse reaction to drugs is the 5th leading cause of death in North American behind only Cancer, Heart Disease, Stroke and Respiratory Disease? In some reports it is actually listed as the 3rd
leading cause of death behind the big two Cancer and Heart Disease. So what does that mean to you? Just consider, you have a higher risk of dying from pain pills in your own bathroom cabinet then from Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease which combined kill over 200 000 annually in North America. So here is a list of the "5 Most Dangerous Pain Medications" that may be in your medicine cabinet NOW! #5 Salicylates (Aspirin) These drugs are commonly known as Aspirin and Acetylsalicylic Acids which are commonly used without prescription to regularly treat various body pains and headaches. In many instances it is used clinically by doctors and functions as an analgesic (pain reliever), an antipyretic (lowers fevers) and an anticoagulant (reduce blood clotting). Aspirin is the most commonly purchased and used pain medication, yet it is actually quite dangerous. Research shows that both higher doses or prolonged low doses usage can double your likelihood of erosion of the gastric mucosa (stomach lining) resulting in ulceration and stomach bleeding that are both serious and fatal. There is also a link between aspirin consumption in children with Reye's Syndrome a potentially fatal disease that seriously affects internal organs especially the brain and liver, as well as lower than normal blood sugar levels. One of the most commonly overlooked problems with overuse of this drug is, drug induced nutritional deficiencies. Meaning Aspirin is an antinutrient. It has been prescribed and marketed for daily use to prevent heart attacks but aspirin depletes the body of folic acid, iron, potassium, sodium and vitamin C. A body depleted in folic acid can cause anemia, headaches, fatigue, hair loss, insomnia, diarrhea and elevated levels of homocysteine which in itself is a significant risk factor for heart disease.
My desire is to increase the awareness in people about some of the dangers of these medications such as aspirin. Studies do show that the side effects of aspirin are so severe that they can increase the risk of death in people who take it regularly. Take this as a warning that this and other drugs should not be taken lightly. #4 Acetaminophen This dangerous drug is commonly known as Tylenol and is doctors' number one choice when it comes to pain relief. Just how dangerous is Tylenol? It is the number one cause of kidney damage in North America. It is also the most common cause of acute liver failure accounting for 39% of all cases. Acetaminophen causes three times as many liver failures than ALL drugs combined, even at doses that are within the recommended range. Every year, well over 50 000 people will end up in the emergency room due to an overdose of acetaminophen and creates the highest calls to Poison Control Centers. Fasting and alcohol consumption while using acetaminophen greatly increases the risk of liver injury. #3 Opiate-based Medications Some of the common examples of opiate-based medications are known as oxycodone (oxycontin), vicodin, codeine, percocet, morphine, dilaudid and hydrocodone. If you have ever had surgery, suffered a bodily injury, had a major accident, have chronic pain or been hospitalized it is highly likely you were given an opiate medication. The highest risk for these painkillers are it's addictive properties. They carry one of the highest risks for prescription drug addiction. Chronic use leads to intolerance which leads to abusing more of the drug, resulting in dependency and finally addiction. Over the last decade data shows that the number of prescriptions for the strongest of opiates has increased
fourfold, with only limited evidence of their long-term effectiveness or risks. The dangers of these drugs is that they have now become a very common street drug, as trade for these drugs have risen steadily. Currently in North America there is a growing deadly epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse. Nearly three out of four prescription drug overdoses are caused by opiates. This rise is a 300% increase since 1999 and resulted in almost 20 000 overdose deaths, which is more than cocaine and heroin combined. In North America, misuse and abuse is responsible for over 500 000 emergency visits per year, double the rate 5 years earlier. #2 NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) The most common forms of NSAIDs are Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Ibuprofen and Naproxen. If you have ever suffered from acute and chronic pains like back pain, neck pain, headaches or arthritis, chances are you have taken one of the many over-the-counter NSAIDs. These are commonly the most used medications with many North Americans eat these drugs like candy, yet many know little about their dangers. These incredibly dangerous medications can double your risk of a heart attack or stroke when used regularly. These risks are even greater for those with preexisting heart disease. Research shows that these drugs may increase blood pressure and contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) that reduces blood flow to heart and brain. Roughly 18 000 North Americans die yearly due to NSAIDs related complications. Another serious complication with NSAIDs use is kidney disease. Sudden kidney failure and chronic kidney disease most often develops in those that take high doses of NSAIDs typically for chronic pain. Some of the more common risks of NSAIDs are ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. Stomach ulcer develop
and further erode into the blood vessel in the stomach or intestine, leading to gastrointestinal bleeding. #1 Cox-2 Inhibitors The most common form of a Cox-2 Inhibitor is celebrex. This drug is a prescription medication that is used to alleviate pain symptoms in those suffering from various arthritic conditions such as, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile RA. Are you looking to triple your risk of a heart attack? Well, pick up your prescription of Celebrex. While completing a study on the drug's potential as an anti-cancer drug, the National Cancer Institute discovered that those taking 400mg doses had a 250% greater risk of death from a heart attack and stroke. Those taking 800mg doses has a 340% times the risk. Actually, even the American Heart Association warns those with or at risk of heart disease refrain from the use of Celebrex unless other medications fail. It is also been known to cause a severe anaphylactic reaction which could cause death. This is only a tiny fraction of the information that is out there concerning the serious risks of taking both prescription and over-the-counter medications. So I only have one questions! Are you willing to continue to increase your risks of these "doctor recommended" drugs given to you? If you are not, I know a simple, safe, non-invasive, yet effective alternative to treating pain a number of other ailments. It's called Enerkinetics! If you haven't tried it, or if it's been awhile and you need a tune-up, GIVE ME A CALL! 416 627 3455 If you haven't read this, I have put together the steps and process of a treatment! Check it out... The Steps of Enerkinetics
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