We break down the hidden side effects of three common pain meds.
It’s time to reevaluate how we deal with pain. Pain meds, even the ones that are easily available or ones we think of as safe, can have unintended consequences that take a toll on your body.”We think they’re safe because they’re available over-the-counter, and we consume them like they’re candy,” says Gary Kaplan, DO, author of Total Recovery: A Revolutionary New Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Pain and Depression. “But we need to be much more thoughtful in how we handle our aches and pains.”
Before you reach into the medicine cabinet, consider these lesser-known side effects of pain pills.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen (the ingredient found in Tylenol) seems to have the fewest drawbacks, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfectly safe. “It’s OK as long as you do not exceed the recommended dose,” says Dr. Kaplan. “When you exceed the recommended dose, the real risk becomes liver toxicity and damage to the liver.” He stresses that this is why you cannot drink alcohol when taking acetaminophen.
In addition to risks of liver toxicity, new research suggests that acetaminophen blunts not only your pain but also your emotions. In a study from Ohio State University, those who took acetaminophen did not experience the same emotional highs or lows as people taking a placebo.
Pregnant women should also be wary of acetaminophen. “What we thought were OK medications for pregnant women to be taking probably were not,” says Dr. Kaplan.
He explains that boys exposed to acetaminophen in the womb are at higher risk for undescended testes, leading to a higher risk for low sperm count and, potentially, in the long term, testicular cancer. The highest risk for this is during the second trimester of pregnancy, and it can occur with even low, intermittent use.
NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs are easily available over-the-counter, but they come with a long list of health concerns. “These medications that we’ve been told are completely safe, and we take them without a second thought, are, in fact, not completely safe and need to be used with great discretion,” says Dr. Kaplan. “They need to be taken only when needed.”
“The thing that everyone thinks about is the risk for gastric ulcers and bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract,” says Dr. Kaplan. “But the bigger risk is that, with regular use of these medications, we see small intestine ulcers that occur in upwards of 80 percent of people taking these medications regularly. This is going to cause a massive disruption of the gut flora.”
Dr. Kaplan points out that more and more research is coming out showing the impact of the gut on the brain. “So a healthy gut is absolutely essential to having a healthy brain,” he says. “If we’re taking medications that are causing ulcerations in the small intestine, completely screwing up our gut flora and completely screwing up our ability to absorb proper nutrients, when all is said and done, these are not good medications to be taking on a regular basis.”
Heart disease is another health concern associated with NSAIDs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that NSAIDs can increase the risk for heart attack or stroke, even in otherwise healthy individuals.
Dr. Kaplan says that using these medications less than three times per week is probably safe, but more than that and you are taking a real risk.
And if you have a heart condition and are taking meds for that condition, definitely consult with your doctor about the potential for drug-drug interactions. For instance, Dr. Kaplan explains that if you’re taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack and then take ibuprofen for pain, the ibuprofen will negate the aspirin.
NSAIDs may also interact with antidepressants, increasing the risk of bleeding in the brain, or hemorrhaging, Korean researchers found.
Other risks of taking NSAIDs include increased sun sensitivity and potential kidney damage.
NSAIDs also have risks for pregnant women and babies during all three trimesters, says Dr. Kaplan. Taken during the first trimester, NSAIDs increase the risk for miscarriage. During the second trimester, NSAIDs can have similar effects on baby boys as acetaminophen. And during the third trimester, taking NSAIDs can lead to congenital heart issues in the newborn.
Opioids
The health impacts of prescription opioids are more well known, yet there are people who do take them regularly. “There is a time and a place for opioid medications, but it needs to be very limited and very thoughtful,” says Dr. Kaplan. “There are those with chronic pain on opioid medications, but this is really an admission of failure on our part in our ability to solve the problem because the opioids don’t fix the underlying problem, they just cover up the pain.”
Problems with opioids include constipation, low testosterone, and, since opioids are addictive, withdrawal. During pregnancy, they increase the risk for neurotube defects by about 2.2 times and can lead to withdrawal symptoms in the baby as well as preterm birth.
Looking for Alternatives
“Before we pop a pill, we need to stop and think about what may be causing the pain and what we can do to relieve the pain,” says Dr. Kaplan. Rather than covering up the pain, therapies that include icing, stretching, heat, acupuncture, massage, and physical therapy, eating curcumin-rich turmeric, and taking glucosamine sulfate can help resolve the issue.
“We want to look at how we can fix the problems that have health effects not only at the joint but throughout the entire body,” he adds.
Attention yogis! You may think that the airport is the last place you could find a moment of tranquility, but in an effort to make airline traveling a less stressful experience for its customers, a handful of airports are trying to change that perception.
In 2012, San Francisco International Airport made history by being the first to create a dedicated space for the practice of yoga and self-reflection. Since then, a growing number of other airports have caught on to this trend, and we really hope to see it continue!
Air travel today has become more stressful than ever before. 9-11 changed everything, making long lines and multiple security checkpoints the new norm. If you add in the exhaustive media coverage of each air tragedy, canceled flights, long layovers, and the constant and inescapable background noise at every airport, you may find yourself in the midst of a perfect storm of stress and anxiety which can take a toll on your mental and physical well-being. With minimal overhead, airport yoga rooms offer an opportunity for passengers to focus on their health & well-being, a welcome change from the customary options of restaurants, bars, and shopping venues that bombard travelers as soon as they walk through the doors.
3 Great Reasons to Visit an Airport Yoga Room:
You’ll feel happier. A yoga room provides a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of traveling, keeping the mind calm, and helping to reduce stress and anxiety levels.
You’ll feel healthier. Being able to stretch your body before, after, or in-between flights will help you stay limber and increase circulation. (Circulation tends to slow down during air travel, and can cause lower leg swelling, general discomfort, and even more serious issues like blood clotting.)
You’ll feel wiser. Having the option to practice your regular yoga routine will keep you focused on your health and well-being, instead of the less healthy pastimes like the airport bar or convenience restaurant.
Here is a list of airports that currently have a yoga and/or meditation room available to their ticketed passengers:
Is It Safe to Keep Taking Your Pain Reliever?
/in Treatments/by Kaplan CenterWhy No Pain Pill Is Totally Safe
By Julia Westbrook
We break down the hidden side effects of three common pain meds.
It’s time to reevaluate how we deal with pain. Pain meds, even the ones that are easily available or ones we think of as safe, can have unintended consequences that take a toll on your body.”We think they’re safe because they’re available over-the-counter, and we consume them like they’re candy,” says Gary Kaplan, DO, author of Total Recovery: A Revolutionary New Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Pain and Depression. “But we need to be much more thoughtful in how we handle our aches and pains.”
Before you reach into the medicine cabinet, consider these lesser-known side effects of pain pills.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen (the ingredient found in Tylenol) seems to have the fewest drawbacks, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfectly safe. “It’s OK as long as you do not exceed the recommended dose,” says Dr. Kaplan. “When you exceed the recommended dose, the real risk becomes liver toxicity and damage to the liver.” He stresses that this is why you cannot drink alcohol when taking acetaminophen.
In addition to risks of liver toxicity, new research suggests that acetaminophen blunts not only your pain but also your emotions. In a study from Ohio State University, those who took acetaminophen did not experience the same emotional highs or lows as people taking a placebo.
Pregnant women should also be wary of acetaminophen. “What we thought were OK medications for pregnant women to be taking probably were not,” says Dr. Kaplan.
He explains that boys exposed to acetaminophen in the womb are at higher risk for undescended testes, leading to a higher risk for low sperm count and, potentially, in the long term, testicular cancer. The highest risk for this is during the second trimester of pregnancy, and it can occur with even low, intermittent use.
NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs are easily available over-the-counter, but they come with a long list of health concerns. “These medications that we’ve been told are completely safe, and we take them without a second thought, are, in fact, not completely safe and need to be used with great discretion,” says Dr. Kaplan. “They need to be taken only when needed.”
“The thing that everyone thinks about is the risk for gastric ulcers and bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract,” says Dr. Kaplan. “But the bigger risk is that, with regular use of these medications, we see small intestine ulcers that occur in upwards of 80 percent of people taking these medications regularly. This is going to cause a massive disruption of the gut flora.”
Dr. Kaplan points out that more and more research is coming out showing the impact of the gut on the brain. “So a healthy gut is absolutely essential to having a healthy brain,” he says. “If we’re taking medications that are causing ulcerations in the small intestine, completely screwing up our gut flora and completely screwing up our ability to absorb proper nutrients, when all is said and done, these are not good medications to be taking on a regular basis.”
Heart disease is another health concern associated with NSAIDs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that NSAIDs can increase the risk for heart attack or stroke, even in otherwise healthy individuals.
Dr. Kaplan says that using these medications less than three times per week is probably safe, but more than that and you are taking a real risk.
And if you have a heart condition and are taking meds for that condition, definitely consult with your doctor about the potential for drug-drug interactions. For instance, Dr. Kaplan explains that if you’re taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack and then take ibuprofen for pain, the ibuprofen will negate the aspirin.
NSAIDs may also interact with antidepressants, increasing the risk of bleeding in the brain, or hemorrhaging, Korean researchers found.
Other risks of taking NSAIDs include increased sun sensitivity and potential kidney damage.
NSAIDs also have risks for pregnant women and babies during all three trimesters, says Dr. Kaplan. Taken during the first trimester, NSAIDs increase the risk for miscarriage. During the second trimester, NSAIDs can have similar effects on baby boys as acetaminophen. And during the third trimester, taking NSAIDs can lead to congenital heart issues in the newborn.
Opioids
The health impacts of prescription opioids are more well known, yet there are people who do take them regularly. “There is a time and a place for opioid medications, but it needs to be very limited and very thoughtful,” says Dr. Kaplan. “There are those with chronic pain on opioid medications, but this is really an admission of failure on our part in our ability to solve the problem because the opioids don’t fix the underlying problem, they just cover up the pain.”
Problems with opioids include constipation, low testosterone, and, since opioids are addictive, withdrawal. During pregnancy, they increase the risk for neurotube defects by about 2.2 times and can lead to withdrawal symptoms in the baby as well as preterm birth.
Looking for Alternatives
“Before we pop a pill, we need to stop and think about what may be causing the pain and what we can do to relieve the pain,” says Dr. Kaplan. Rather than covering up the pain, therapies that include icing, stretching, heat, acupuncture, massage, and physical therapy, eating curcumin-rich turmeric, and taking glucosamine sulfate can help resolve the issue.
“We want to look at how we can fix the problems that have health effects not only at the joint but throughout the entire body,” he adds.
As first seen on RodaleNews.com.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome aka Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
/in Featured Press/by Website AdministratorYoga Rooms Offer Respite at Busy Airports
/in Lifestyle/by Kaplan CenterAttention yogis! You may think that the airport is the last place you could find a moment of tranquility, but in an effort to make airline traveling a less stressful experience for its customers, a handful of airports are trying to change that perception.
In 2012, San Francisco International Airport made history by being the first to create a dedicated space for the practice of yoga and self-reflection. Since then, a growing number of other airports have caught on to this trend, and we really hope to see it continue!
Air travel today has become more stressful than ever before. 9-11 changed everything, making long lines and multiple security checkpoints the new norm. If you add in the exhaustive media coverage of each air tragedy, canceled flights, long layovers, and the constant and inescapable background noise at every airport, you may find yourself in the midst of a perfect storm of stress and anxiety which can take a toll on your mental and physical well-being. With minimal overhead, airport yoga rooms offer an opportunity for passengers to focus on their health & well-being, a welcome change from the customary options of restaurants, bars, and shopping venues that bombard travelers as soon as they walk through the doors.
3 Great Reasons to Visit an Airport Yoga Room:
Here is a list of airports that currently have a yoga and/or meditation room available to their ticketed passengers:
Burlington International Airport
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Helsinki Airport
San Francisco International Airport
Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Heathrow Airport
Chicago Midway International Airport
San Diego International Airport