Category: Health News

Violent Behavior and Prescription Medication

October 27, 2012

Anti-depressant medications, like Prozac have been associated with increased risk for violent and/or homicidal behavior, according to a study published in the 2010 Public Library of Science Journal (PLOS).

Top 10 Medications That  May Cause Violent Behavior

  1. Vernicline (Chantix) an anti-smoking medication is 18 times more likely to be linked with violence compared to other drugs.
  2. Fluoxetine (Prozac) an antidepressant that is 10.9 times more likely to be linked with violence in cmparison with other medications.
  3. Paroxetine (Paxil) an SSRI antidepressant 10.3 times more likely to be linked to violence compared with other drugs.
  4. Amphetamines are 9/6 times more likely to be linked to violence.
  5. Mefoquine (Lariam) used to treat malaria, has been reported to induce bizarre behavior.  Lariam is 9.5 times more likely to be lined with violence than other medications.
  6. Atomoxetine (Strattera) used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is 9 times more likely to be linked with violence.
  7. Triazolam (Halcion) used to treat insomnia is 8.7 times more likely to be linked with violence than other drugs.
  8. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) an antidepressant that is 8.4 times more likely to be linked with violence than other medications.
  9. Venlafaxine (Effexor) is an antidepressant used to treat anxiety.  It is 8 times more likely to cause violent behavior than other medications.
  10. Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) is an antidepressant that is 7.9 times more likely to cause violence than other drugs.

Canadian Judge Sentences Teenager In Prozac Homicide Case. This story was published in the November 2011 Huffington Post, about the role of Prozac causing violent behavior.

Click the link to read more about Psychiatric Drug Facts, at Dr. Peter Breggin’s website.   An article by Dr. Joseph Mercola, about Prozac, antidepressants,  and their role in violent behavior.  Time Magazine, Top Ten Legal Drugs Linked To Violence.

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Copyright 2012 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training

Health Care To Die For: More Isn’t Better

October 7, 2012

“Unnecessary Care: Are Doctors In Denial, and Is Profit Driven Health Care To Blame?“, is the title of a feature article in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) published on 10/2/12. The article is about a newly launched movement by medical doctors challenging the basic assumption in U.S. healthcare, that more is better.

Muscle Beach: Then and Now

September 30, 2012

There really is a place called Muscle Beach.  Now located in Venice, California, Muscle Beach dates back to the 1930s.  At the original site, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) installed exercise equipment south of Santa Monica Pier, in Santa Monica.

Muscle Beach, Santa Monica  1948

Muscle Beach became world famous for barbell, weight lifting, and body building. Acrobats, and body builders, worked out for free.

With rising obesity rates, municipalities are bringing a new version of Muscle Beach to a city near you.  Playgrounds for adults are popping up in Miami, San Antonio, Los Angeles, and Washington State.

New York City recently opened Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx, a place where anyone can get fit for free.  The city plans to bring 24 new adult playgrounds within the next 18 months.

Read more about adult playgrounds in the New York Times 6/29/12 article, “Mom, Dad, This Playground’s For You”.

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Copyright 2012 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training

Kucinich Calls Out Monsanto: GMO Labeling

September 29, 2012

Ohio Democrat, Congressman, Dennis Kucinich, stated that 90 percent of Americans want GMO labeling, and have a right to know if their food is genetically engineered.  Kucinich is the sponsor of HR 5353, a legislation that will provide for a national food labeling law.

“Monsanto has been a prime mover in the influence and corruption of the political process of how food is grown, tested, and labeled,” says Congressman Kucinich.

“In 1992 the Food and Drug Administration decided that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are the functional equivalent of conventional foods.  They arrived at this decision without testing GMOs for allergenicity, toxicity, antibiotic resistance and functional characteristics.  As a result hundreds of millions of acres of GMO crops were planted in America without the knowledge or consent of the American People: no safety testing and no long term health studies.“

For more information on genetically engineered food, visit Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s website.

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Copyright 2012 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training

Study: By 2030 Most Americans Fatter and Sicker

September 28, 2012

A recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Trust For America’s Health reveals an upward trend in obesity in the United States.

By 2030, thirteen states could have an adult obesity rate above 60 percent, and 39 states could have obesity rates above 50 percent.

Obesity related diseases will increase, along with health care costs, as obesity rates climb.  The report, F As In Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2012, shows two futures for America’s health.  A grim outlook based on current statistics, and a brighter future if measures are taken to reduce the alarming rate of obesity.

More on the subject from Reuters Health News, The Facts Behind America’s Obesity Epidemic, and Fat and Getting Fatter: U.S. Obesity Rates To Soar By 2030.

While obesity is a national problem, rates are highest in the south and midwest.  By today’s forecast, the state of Mississippi will lead the nation in obesity rates, since it is now the fattest state in the country.

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Copyright 2012 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training

Car Dependency Is A Health Risk

September 19, 2012

A car gets you where you’re going, gives you freedom to move about, almost everyone owns one, and if they don’t, they can always rent one.  America is a nation dependent on 4 wheels.

With the exception of cities like Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and San Francisco, public transportation in most American cities is inadequate. Automobiles are a necessity in many towns and cities.

Lack of sidewalks, urban sprawl, and unreliable mass transit, make it necessary to use a car.  Americans have become lazy, habitual car-drivers. It’s easy to hop into the car, and take it around-the-corner errand-hopping.

Car dependency is now under scrutiny.   An awaking is dawning about the downside to driving.   In many ways, it’s a health risk.

Physical inactivity, overweight and obesity, death and injury from crashes, cardio-respiratory disease from air pollution, noise, commuter stress, and social isolation are the negatives associated with driving a car.

Car dependency makes it harder to get the recommended 150 minutes weekly of exercise.  Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, and some forms of cancer.

For more about the subject of cars and public health, read  “Are Cars The New Tobacco?” from The Journal of Public Health, and  “Car-Driven Society Poses Health Risk To America’s Health,” from Reuters Health News.

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Copyright 2012 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training