All-in-One Pill For Heart and Stroke Problems

The first question that comes to my mind is how much this will cost. Yes, it combines the actions of 3 anti-hypertensives, aspirin (anti-blood clotter) and a cholesterol-lowering agent. This early, I can already imagine how the business minds of pharma people are grinding in coming up with a so-called competitive market pricing.

On the plus-side, its simplicity offers to answer the frustration of most sick patients when taking at least more than 5 pills in one sitting --- all for different ailments. Sick people are mostly depressed about their condition, and they become more depressed when they take their oh-so-many-pills per day. In terms of compliance, I think this 'polypill' will make many doctors happy with their patients. Imagine 1 pill doing the work of 5 different pills.

Another consideration is its size. How big will this 'polypill' will be?

Most of my old patients complain of having experienced difficulty in swallowing big tablets and capsules.

And how about the aspect of drug interactions? I think 3 anti-hypertensives (a beta-blocker, an ACE inhibitor, and a diuretic) might be too much for those who need only one anti-hypertensive agent to control their rising blood pressures.

Pills, whatever type they may be, offer instant solutions. They are reserved for those people who would always want the easy answer to solve their problems. Mostly, these are patients who are either in deep trouble and need help fast, or patients who abhor the hardships of dieting and engaging in too much physical activity.

For me, I still go and encourage my patients to heed lifestyle changes and stick instead to the long-term rewards and 'safer side effects' of diet and exercise.

Soy Diet May Protect Against Breast Cancer

For girls only: Have you been eating taho or any soy-rich diet since you were a kid? Yes? Then, here's some good news for you:



Included in the study were 1,600 women of Chinese, Japanese and Filipino descent who were living in the US West Coast and Hawaii, and with ages 20 to 55 years old.

The most significant finding is this --- "Soy intake during childhood, adolescence, and adult life was associated with decreased breast cancer risk, with the strongest, most consistent effect for childhood intake."

Occasionally, I think a merienda of tokwa at baboy may also be good.

You can read the study's abstract here.

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Related Link: TAHO! (September 2005)

Fat Talk and Prevention

In the future, when science has found a way either of blocking the DNA-PK gene's function or eliminating it altogether, people might not feel guilty anymore while eating loads and loads of sinful carbohydrates.



Elsewhere, while guesting in Jay Leno's Tonight show, President Barack Obama joked about trans fats when asked a question about it, but maintained that he supports putting more money for disease prevention. His wife, Michelle Obama, also seems supportive of going healthy during their Washington stay. In fact, she even intends to start up a vegetable garden right in the White House backyard. Yes. No kidding.

A move to remove or lessen the trans fat contents of food items in most restos and fastfood stores seems more likely that waiting for a medication that will counteract the effects of the DNA-PK gene above.

When Harvard nutritionist Dr. Walter Willett spoke recently in front of those in charge of putting trans fats in menu food items, many welcomed his new proposals on how to combat unhealthy eating habits.

Three years ago, when Willett first lectured this group about trans fats, labeling them as "nutritional poison," few of the attendees would have guessed that by 2009, legislation would go into effect in several cities to rid foods of the fats. Now he's thinking about suggesting a regulation mirroring a new law in the United Kingdom to mandate a dramatic salt reduction in all packaged and processed foods. And he's also suggesting a national tax of up to 18 percent on sodas and candy. ~ Boston Globe, 4 March 2009

In the Philippines, the move to remove trans fats in most food items is still missing. For one thing, most people here still do not know what trans fats are. Only a handful of health-conscious individuals care about the possible harm it can do on one's body.

It takes collective effort to prevent disease. It takes collective effort to initiate healthy lifestyles. It takes collective effort to promote disease prevention. But alas, collective effort is such a difficult concept to achieve.