RobThatsMe
Well-known member
Hi Everyone,
A friend posted this infomation on the WEbMD heart disease site, and I thought I would share it with everyone here. It has some interesting information.
Rob
Dangers of supplements......
by Cardiostar (WebMD), on 3/22/2002 5:42:44 AM
Hi:
Scannin' the Chicago Sun-Times
Page 35
Mix of heart drugs, supplements poses risk
March 21, 2002
By Brad Evenson
Nearly 75 percent of heart patients use some kind of alternative medicine and a third of those choose products that can cause FATAL interactions with their cardiac drugs, according to a new survey.
Dietary supplements made up of such innocuous ingredients as garlic, fish oil and ginseng can cause internal bleeding and surgical complications if combined with some medications.
The survey was to be presented Wednesday at an American College of Cardiology meeting in Atlanta.
The statistics have prompted researchers to begin a wider investigation including questions about intake of such beverages as red wine and green tea, which can interfere with blood clotting.
----?"Heart patients seem to be turning to alternative therapies even more than the general population, even while they stick to mainstream drugs too," said Eva Kline-Rogers, the University of Michigan nurse practitioner who coordinated the study of 145 patients.
----?On their own, many dietary supplements such as fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, are considered to be part of a healthy diet.
The problem is that many can also thin the blood, so the blood becomes dangerously short of proteins that cause clotting.
Research shows this can cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, and may prevent healing after surgery.
Similarly, many of the most common prescriptions for heart patients, aspirin, Coumadin® (warfarin) and Plavix® (clopidogrel), are used to thin the blood and prevent clots from forming in blood vessels, which reduces the risk of a subsequent heart attack or stroke.
Millions take such drugs every day and must be monitored to ensure their dosage does not make their blood too thin.
When patients combine drugs that prevent clotting with foods that also prevent clotting, the consequences can be LETHAL.
----?Doctors suspect the new findings may explain some previously MYSTERIOUS deaths of heart patients.
"We need to encourage patients to be CAUTIOUS, LEARN the RISKS, and SHARE information with their health care providers," Kline-Rogers said.
Heart drugs are not the only ones that interact with herbs, vitamins and other products.
For example, some AIDS drugs do not work properly in combination with St. John's wort, a natural anti-depressant.
Tom Van Horne, a Dallas cardiologist, said the survey findings may explain some mysterious cases he has treated.
"We had one lady taking a low dose of Coumadin® who had a DISASTROUS bleed," he said.
"When she died, we pored over our records to see what could have caused it.
But looking back, I know she was a real health-food enthusiast. That could have caused it."
- National Post
___
___
___
Always talk to your doctor (not someone on a message board or in a chat room) before taking any supplements and please tell your present doctor(s) and any future ones what you are taking besides prescription drugs.
Many thanks for reading this message. Have a good upcoming weekend.
Take care
CardioStar*
A friend posted this infomation on the WEbMD heart disease site, and I thought I would share it with everyone here. It has some interesting information.
Rob
Dangers of supplements......
by Cardiostar (WebMD), on 3/22/2002 5:42:44 AM
Hi:
Scannin' the Chicago Sun-Times
Page 35
Mix of heart drugs, supplements poses risk
March 21, 2002
By Brad Evenson
Nearly 75 percent of heart patients use some kind of alternative medicine and a third of those choose products that can cause FATAL interactions with their cardiac drugs, according to a new survey.
Dietary supplements made up of such innocuous ingredients as garlic, fish oil and ginseng can cause internal bleeding and surgical complications if combined with some medications.
The survey was to be presented Wednesday at an American College of Cardiology meeting in Atlanta.
The statistics have prompted researchers to begin a wider investigation including questions about intake of such beverages as red wine and green tea, which can interfere with blood clotting.
----?"Heart patients seem to be turning to alternative therapies even more than the general population, even while they stick to mainstream drugs too," said Eva Kline-Rogers, the University of Michigan nurse practitioner who coordinated the study of 145 patients.
----?On their own, many dietary supplements such as fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, are considered to be part of a healthy diet.
The problem is that many can also thin the blood, so the blood becomes dangerously short of proteins that cause clotting.
Research shows this can cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, and may prevent healing after surgery.
Similarly, many of the most common prescriptions for heart patients, aspirin, Coumadin® (warfarin) and Plavix® (clopidogrel), are used to thin the blood and prevent clots from forming in blood vessels, which reduces the risk of a subsequent heart attack or stroke.
Millions take such drugs every day and must be monitored to ensure their dosage does not make their blood too thin.
When patients combine drugs that prevent clotting with foods that also prevent clotting, the consequences can be LETHAL.
----?Doctors suspect the new findings may explain some previously MYSTERIOUS deaths of heart patients.
"We need to encourage patients to be CAUTIOUS, LEARN the RISKS, and SHARE information with their health care providers," Kline-Rogers said.
Heart drugs are not the only ones that interact with herbs, vitamins and other products.
For example, some AIDS drugs do not work properly in combination with St. John's wort, a natural anti-depressant.
Tom Van Horne, a Dallas cardiologist, said the survey findings may explain some mysterious cases he has treated.
"We had one lady taking a low dose of Coumadin® who had a DISASTROUS bleed," he said.
"When she died, we pored over our records to see what could have caused it.
But looking back, I know she was a real health-food enthusiast. That could have caused it."
- National Post
___
___
___
Always talk to your doctor (not someone on a message board or in a chat room) before taking any supplements and please tell your present doctor(s) and any future ones what you are taking besides prescription drugs.
Many thanks for reading this message. Have a good upcoming weekend.
Take care
CardioStar*
