World Kidney Day brings attention to an often overlooked, underappreciated organ

ORIGINAL STORY OVER AT MY EXAMINER.COM PAGE

March 11 is World Kidney Day. Health organizations around the world are promoting the proper care and use of kidneys. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs in the lower back of the abdomen. Most people know that the kidney produce urine by clearing toxins from the blood. What most people do not know is that the kidneys also perform functions in the circulatory (blood) and endocrine (hormone) system.

These beans are kidney-shaped

A gland called the adrenal gland sits atop each kidney. The hormones that the adrenal glands produce aid in blood pressure, electrolyte balance, and even fat metabolism, among other things. Without adrenal glands, the entire body would be in trouble. And, when there is trouble, it is the adrenal glands that produce adrenaline, the super-human hormone credited with saving many lives.

Adrenaline junkies may suffer a whole other kind of kidney damage

Kidneys also produce a hormone called erythropoietin. It tells the bone marrow to begin the production of red blood cells. The kidneys also help in retaining the water-soluble vitamins, keeping them at a healthy level. So they don't just filter out toxins in urine.

That's why we don't inject urine, Dr. Buttar.

The kidneys have very delicate blood vessels throughout. These blood vessels can be affected by high blood pressure and diabetes. So, while most people focus on their heart health when thinking of obesity, care to the kidneys of an overweight or obese person must also be emphasized.

• Drink enough water. (Over-hydrating has its own risks.)
• Keep your blood glucose (sugar) levels normal.
• Exercise to keep your blood pressure normal.
• Follow the directions of your health care provider if you do have diabetes, high blood pressure, or any other condition dangerous to your kidneys.

Most cocaine has additional hidden dangers

At least you'll be okay if you snort the worm

(ORIGINAL ARTICLE) - As if it wasn't bad enough that millions of Americans are addicted to cocaine, now there is an additional hidden danger in each line of "blow". It seems that those drug cartels in South America and Mexico have been slacking in their quality control because up to 30% of all cocaine being confiscated at the US-Mexico border is tainted with Levamisole. What ever happened to plain-old baking soda?
Levamisole is an antibiotic used to treat infections with helminths (parasitic worms). Given in proper doses and under the supervision of a health care provider, Levamisole is not that bad. It gets rid of worms quite effectively, even if the result is a disturbing surprise in your toilet. But what about snorted Levamisole?
There is a reason why people snort cocaine. Snorting is the best way to get the drug into the blood stream short of injecting it. People who snort cocaine reach their high in about 14 minutes. The problem - beside the obvious fact that cocaine will wreak havoc on the brain, heart, lungs, and all sorts of blood vessels - is that anything in the cocaine is also going to come along for the ride. Levamisole in large doses straight to the blood circulation is not a good thing. Just ask DJ AM...

Chances are he didn't have intestinal worms

That's right, DJ AM cannot be reached because he died of a cocaine overdose. According to the New York City Medical Examiner, his system was loaded with, among other things, Levamisole. Not only that, but Levamisole in the blood stream has been associated with agranulocytosis in other cocaine users. Association is not causation, but people who otherwise overdosed with Levamisole have also developed the blood disease.
If you or anyone you know (i.e. "a friend") has a drug addiction, there are plenty of resources here in Baltimore to help you kick the habit. Too costly to get treated? How much does cocaine cost? Too embarrassing? It is more embarrassing to die of a drug overdose and then have the medical examiner say that there was enough anti-worm medication in your system to take out an army of worms...

My God... he snorted coke!

No, Levamisole does not work on the worm in tequila (or mescal).

Texas girl recovers from rabies, a very rare occurrence

"Go ahead, pet me!"

(FULL ARTICLE HERE) The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting a case of rabies in a 17 year-old girl from Texas who recovered from the disease without the need for intensive care. The girl had been exposed to bats two months before the onset of neurological symptoms of "severe frontal headache, photophobia (fear of light), emesis (vomiting), neck pain, dizziness, and paresthesia (tingling) of face and forearms." Lab and imaging findings showed some sort of infection of her central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Once lab findings came back indicating that she had been exposed to the rabies virus, she was given treatment specific for rabies. Her health improved, and she went home.

Rabies is a viral disease of the nervous system in mammals. Though you may think of "Cujo" when you think of rabies, very few cases of dogs with rabies are reported in the United States. Rabies in dogs is more a problem in developing nations. In the United States, most cases of rabies are associated with bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Though there are intensive campaigns to vaccinate wild animals, there are still some cases where these animals come in contact with people.

It is very important that you seek medical advice if you come into contact with a wild animal such as a bat. The girl in the MMWR report did not feel that she was bitten in any way, but the bats in a cave she was exploring did fly into her while she was there. If the vaccine and immune-globulin is given before the onset of symptoms, full-blown rabies can be avoided. If not, death is all but certain. The Texas case is only the seventh documented case of someone ever surviving a symptomatic rabies infection. The other six required intensive medical care and have long-lasting neurological problems.

Pew survey finds 1 in 5 children lacking good access to dental health

FULL ARTICLE OVER AT MY EXAMINER.COM PAGE

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Desiree Jennings caught faking her so-called vaccine-induced neurological problems

FULL STORY OVER ON MY EXAMINER.COM PAGE

Sunday Commentary: Why I wouldn't make it as a pastor, preacher, priest, rabbi, imam...

One of the big tenants of most major and minor religions is some sort of commandment to "Love thy neighbor". (I can only write as being a Christian, so I'll keep this commentary along those lines.) When Jesus was asked by his disciples who their "neighbor" was, He explained to them, through the parable of the Good Samaritan, that anyone in need is their neighbor. Anyone at all.
I believe that I wouldn't make it as a pastor in a church because it would be perfectly okay with me if someone in the congregation wasn't able to make it in on a Sunday because he or she was helping at the local homeless shelter. I'd be okay if they were rebuilding a house of someone who lost it to an earthquake. And I would actually encourage members of the congregation to donate to charities the money they would otherwise give to the church.
Unfortunately, so many churches are being run like businesses, with boards of directors, treasures, and the like. With my policies in place, where I would accept the congregation donating time and resources to helping their neighbors, I'd be out of a job pretty soon. Heck, if it were up to me, I'd have my sermons be available at podcasts and on YouTube so they could listen to them on their way to work after a weekend filled with volunteer work.
Yes, it is important to gather together with other people of the same faith. Yes, it is important to hear the "expert opinion" of what the Bible has to say on issues of the day. Being the social animals that we are, we like to be in groups of like-minded people. There is nothing wrong with that.
However, we bring bigger, better glory to God when we help our neighbor. To live to bring others out of the darkness and in from the cold must be an enormous way to be true to our faith(s)... more than gathering to spread gossip or have a good fun.
Then again, that's just me... And this was not a sermon; it was just a thought.

The Government will save us from bioterror... No, no... Fast food?

The quarter-pounder, Prince George's Style

ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

Concerns over the slide of the United States into a "nanny state" have increased during the current administration, and they have become even more evident with a recent bill introduced in the Maryland State Legislature. The bill, sponsored by State Senator David Harrington (D-Prince George's County) and supported by community activists in PG County, aims to curb the number of fast-food restaurants in PG County.

Supporters of the bill state that there is an "epidemic" of obesity and coronary artery disease, and that the epidemic is being fueled by the availability of cheap fast-food in poorer neighborhoods. Without outwardly saying it, the contention is that people cannot make a decision on their own and that the State needs to help them choose the right foods. They contend that fast-food is readily available and cheap, but it is of poor quality and very high in fat.

Mom doesn't choose whether or not
the kids get pizza, the Nanny State does

The government (at all levels) has leaned on the General Welfare clause of the United States Constitution to impose on the people living in the country all sorts of interesting laws. Some laws make sense; second-hand smoke is dangerous to people who are not making a choice to smoke. Others are making the State (the government) seem more and more like a nanny to the public, where the State and only the State know what is right to consume.

My parents don't listen to reason,
but they'll listen to the Government

Rather than educating the consumer (the public), someone in Annapolis (or Baltimore) will have the power to determine what consumers will have access to. This makes sense when there is a clear and present danger to Public Health (like when toys from China have lead or other heavy metals in them). But does it make sense in this debate? Does the Senator believe that people in his constituency will not understand if he or any other knowledgeable person tells them that deep-fried food is bad for them in the absence of vegetables, fruits, fiber, and exercise?

Don't expect this to be the end of this issue... The restaurant associations, employee unions, voters, and politicians will all have something to say.

Reducing salt is a good idea, but it does not necessarily mean reducing heart disease

Salt is necessary for life, and drinks, and strokes

ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

A new effort is underway, first in New York City and now in Baltimore, to reduce the intake of salt through prepared foods. In Baltimore, the Baltimore City Health Department has issued a report that attributes increased salt intake to cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the report encourages the residents of Baltimore to reduce their intake of salt. According to the report, there are about 2,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease in Baltimore each year.

According to the National Institutes of Health, "A diet high in sodium (salt) increases the risk of heart disease-related mortality in overweight individuals". The study compared the intake of sodium in overweight individuals. The more they consumed salt, the more likely they were to die from heart-related ailments. Notice, however, that these were overweight individuals to begin with. Their odds of heart disease and death were already stacked against them.

Sodium kills by raising blood pressure. High blood pressure leads to busted blood vessels, including those in the brain, causing stroke. People with already bad arteries should not be increasing their blood pressure any further. Reducing salt intake is not a bad idea, but reducing all other risk factors as well is also good.

In the United States, African Americans are more likely to have heart disease, and they are more likely to die from it. There are several theorized and proven reasons for this disparity, including lifestyle, diet, and cultural differences between different groups in the United States. For any group, reducing the intake of saturated fats and increasing exercise is not a bad idea.

Reducing salt intake works IF AND ONLY IF you also reduce your waistline. You can completely avoid salt and still die of heart disease if your diet is poor and your exercise is non-existent. Salt is necessary for life because it helps keep the water balance in the body. However, just like with other nutrients necessary for life, too much sodium can be bad.

Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cusegoyle/ / CC BY 2.0