Ulcer
Show 1400: Exposing Blind Spots: Unmasking the M…
This week, our guest calls attention to beliefs and practices in medicine that are based on dogma rather than data. Why don’t doctors or researchers question these blind spots? You’ll hear about s…
Can You Prevent Colorectal Cancer With Aspirin?
For years, doctors have been debating the pros and cons of aspirin. They have long known that this old drug can cause serious gastrointestinal irritation. But epidemiologists have also noted that regu…
Is Vazalore Safer for the Stomach Than Regular A…
Aspirin can be hard on the digestive tract. Like other NSAIDs such as diclofenac, ibuprofen or naproxen, it may cause indigestion, ulceration, bleeding ulcers or even perforation of the lining of the …
How Do You Weigh the Benefits and Risks of Aspir…
Aspirin has been around for over 100 years. Moreover, it is one of the most versatile drugs in the pharmacy. This tablet relieves pain, lowers fever and reduces inflammation. In addition, it has anti-…
Show 1179: What Should You Do About Digestive Di…
Have you ever had horrible heartburn or a really bad bellyache? Most of us have experienced digestive distress at one time or another. When do you need to seek medical attention for your problem? What…
Big Pharma’s Secret Strategy to Fool You
The pharmaceutical industry is incredibly lucrative. You know that. What you may not realize is that Big Pharma is far more profitable than other large companies that don’t sell drugs (JAMA, March 3…
Bleeding Ulcers from Aspirin Can Be Life Threate…
We are big fans of aspirin. We think it is a drug that doesn’t get the respect it deserves, partly because it is available without a prescription and partly because it is so inexpensive. That said, …
Are Drug Companies Making a Killing on Convenien…
Americans love convenience. That’s why we use drive-through windows at banks, fast food restaurants and even pharmacies. We’re even willing to pay a little more for fast food. People who want to s…
Aspirin and Ulcers: A Potentially Deadly Reactio…
We like aspirin. It’s inexpensive and as effective as any other OTC pain reliever on the market. Millions take it or another NSAID (ibuprofen or naproxen) every day. They swallow such pills to ease …
The Dangers of Diclofenac and Other NSAID Pain R…
Doctors love NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). That’s largely because they don’t have a lot of other tools in the toolkit when it comes to treating pain and inflammation. Opioids have…
How Can You Ease Arthritis Pain Safely?
People with chronic pain such as the joint pain of severe osteoarthritis are often faced with terrible trade-offs. To get relief from the inflammation and discomfort, they may have to rely on medicati…
Licorice Side Effects Can Be Scary If Not Life T…
Most people think of licorice (liquorice in Europe) as yummy candy. We happen to be licorice lovers ourselves. Natural black licorice from the Netherlands is one of our favorite sweet treats. But we a…
Do Acid-Suppressing Drugs Cause Cancer?
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most popular drugs in the pharmacy. Physicians prescribe them to 15 million people every year for ulcers, acid reflux, heartburn and Barrett's esophagus. Th…
Does Cytotec Ease Acid Reflux?
Proton pump inhibitors such as esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec) or pantoprazole (Protonix) have become such staples of treating heartburn and digestive distress th…
Is Your OTC Pain Reliever Deadly?
Is death an acceptable side effect for over-the-counter medicines? Most people assume that non-prescription drugs are super safe, although nearly everyone knows that prescription medications frequentl…
Older Acid Suppressors Work Better for Hospitali…
Two different categories of medication are commonly used to protect the gastrointestinal tract from damage. One type, called H2 blockers, consists of drugs like Tagamet or Zantac. The other type, call…
Too Much Licorice Could Be Deadly
I am a licorice lover, I admit it. Black Australian Licorice from Kookaburra is quite good but I am especially fond of Gustaf's Dutch Licorice CATS. There's something about the texture and the taste t…
Aspirin Benefits vs Risks
A British meta-analysis of aspirin users suggests that this common preventive medicine may carry significant risks along with modest benefit. Investigators analyzed nine randomized, placebo-controlled…
Aspirin the Miracle Drug Deserves Respect
Imagine a new drug that could reduce the likelihood of developing several life-threatening kinds of cancer. As a bonus, the same medication might dramatically lower the risk of having a heart attack. …
H. Pylori as Cause for Stomach Ulcers
Q. I suffered for years with stomach ulcers. On three occasions I had to be hospitalized because they turned into bleeding ulcers. Once I was diagnosed with a Helicobacter pylori infection, I was trea…
Infectious Ulcers Win Nobel Prize
For decades medical students were taught a simple rule: "no acid, no ulcer." It was an article of faith that stress and an executive life style contributed to acid-induced stomach ulcers. Millions of …