What Should I Know About Supplements Before Taking Them?

Like many Americans, you may take dietary supplements in an effort to stay healthy. With so many dietary supplements available and so many claims made about their health benefits, how can you decide whether a supplement is safe or useful? This fact sheet provides a general overview of dietary supplements, discusses safety considerations, and suggests sources for additional information.

Key Points

• Dietary supplements contain  a variety of ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs or other botanicals. Research has confirmed health benefits of some dietary supplements but not others.
• To use dietary supplements safely, read and follow the label instructions, and recognize that “natural” does not always mean “safe.” Be aware that an herbal supplement may contain dozens of compounds and that all of its ingredients may not be known.
• Some dietary supplements may interact with medications or pose risks if you have medical problems or are going to have surgery. Most dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates dietary supplements, but the regulations for dietary supplements are different and less strict than those for prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
• Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

About Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements were defined in a law passed by Congress in 1994 called the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). According to DSHEA, a dietary supplement is a product that:

• Is intended to supplement the diet
• Contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and certain other substances) or their constituents
• Is intended to be taken by mouth, in forms such as tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid
• Is labeled as being a dietary supplement.

Herbal supplements are one type of dietary supplement. An herb is a plant or plant part (such as leaves, flowers, or seeds) that is used for its flavor, scent, and/or potential health-related properties. “Botanical” is often used as a synonym for “herb.” An herbal supplement may contain a single herb or mixtures of herbs. The law requires that all of the herbs be listed on the product label.

Research has shown that some uses of dietary supplements are beneficial to health. For example, scientists have found that folic acid (a vitamin) prevents certain birth defects. Other research on dietary supplements has failed to show benefit; for example, several major studies of the herbal supplement echinacea did not find evidence of benefit against the common cold.

Top

Dietary Supplement Use in the United States

According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included questions on Americans’ use of natural products (not including vitamins and minerals), 17.7 percent of American adults had used these types of products in the past 12 months. The most popular of these products used by adults in the past 30 days were fish oil/omega 3/DHA (37.4 percent), glucosamine (19.9 percent), echinacea (19.8 percent), flaxseed oil or pills (15.9 percent), and ginseng (14.1 percent). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data collected from 2003 to 2006 that covered all types of dietary supplements indicate that 53 percent of American adults took at least one dietary supplement, most commonly multivitamin/multimineral supplements (taken by 39 percent of all adults). Women were more likely than men to take dietary supplements.

Federal Regulation of Dietary Supplements

The Federal Government regulates dietary supplements through the FDA. The regulations for dietary supplements are not the same as those for prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

• Manufacturers of dietary supplements are responsible for ensuring that their products are safe and that the label information is truthful and not misleading. However, a manufacturer of a dietary supplement does not have to provide the FDA with data that demonstrate the safety of the product before it is marketed. In contrast, manufacturers of drugs have to provide the FDA with evidence that their products are both safe and effective before the drugs can be sold.
• Manufacturers may make three types of claims for their dietary supplements: health claims, structure/function claims, and nutrient content claims. Some of these claims describe the link between a food substance and a disease or health-related condition; the intended benefits of using the product; or the amount of a nutrient or dietary substance in a product. Different requirements apply to each type of claim. If a dietary supplement manufacturer makes a claim about a product’s effects, the manufacturer must have data to support the claim. Claims about how a supplement affects the structure or function of the body must be followed by the words “This statement has not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
• Manufacturers must follow “current good manufacturing practices” (cGMPs) for dietary supplements to ensure that these products are processed, labeled, and packaged consistently and meet quality standards.
• Once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA evaluates safety by doing research and keeping track of any side effects reported by consumers, health care providers, and supplement companies. If the FDA finds a product to be unsafe, it can take action against the manufacturer and/or distributor, and may issue a warning or require that the product be removed from the marketplace.

Also, once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA monitors product information, such as label claims and package inserts. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for regulating product advertising; it requires that all information be truthful and not misleading.

The Federal Government has taken legal action against dietary supplement promoters or Web sites that promote or sell dietary supplements because they have made false or deceptive statements about their products or because marketed products have proven to be unsafe. In 2010, an investigation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found instances in which written sales materials for herbal dietary supplements sold through online retailers included illegal claims that the products could treat, prevent, or cure diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or cardiovascular disease.

Safety Considerations of Dietary Supplements

If you are thinking about or are using a dietary supplement, here are some points to keep in mind.

• Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use, including dietary supplements. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care. (For tips about talking with your health care providers about complementary health approaches, see NCCAM’s Time to Talk campaign.) It is especially important to talk to your health care providers if you
  • Take any medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter). Some dietary supplements have been found to interact with medications. For example, the herbal supplement St. John’s wort interacts with many medications, making them less effective.
  • Are thinking about replacing your regular medication with one or more dietary supplements.
  • Expect to have surgery. Certain dietary supplements may increase the risk of bleeding or affect the response to anesthesia.
  • Are pregnant, nursing a baby, attempting to become pregnant, or considering giving a child a dietary supplement. Most dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children.
  • Have any medical conditions. Some dietary supplements may harm you if you have particular medical conditions. For example, by taking supplements that contain iron, people with hemochromatosis, a hereditary disease in which too much iron accumulates in the body, could further increase their iron levels and therefore their risk of complications such as liver disease.
• If you are taking a dietary supplement, follow the label instructions. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions, particularly about the best dosage for you to take. If you experience any side effects that concern you, stop taking the dietary supplement, and contact your health care provider. You may also want to contact the supplement manufacturer, and you can report your experience to the FDA’s MedWatch program. Consumer safety reports on dietary supplements are an important source of information for the FDA.
• Keep in mind that although many dietary supplements (and some prescription drugs) come from natural sources, “natural” does not always mean “safe.” For example, the herbs comfrey and kava can cause serious harm to the liver. Also, a manufacturer’s use of the term “standardized” (or “verified” or “certified”) does not necessarily guarantee product quality or consistency.

To continue reading this article visit: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm

All About the Mediterranean Diet

Mediterranean diet: A heart-healthy eating plan

The heart-healthy Mediterranean is a healthy eating plan based on typical foods and recipes of Mediterranean-style cooking. Here's how to adopt the Mediterranean diet.

If you're looking for a heart-healthy eating plan, the Mediterranean diet might be right for you. The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating — plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps even a glass of red wine — among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Most healthy diets include fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains, and limit unhealthy fats. While these parts of a healthy diet remain tried-and-true, subtle variations or differences in proportions of certain foods may make a difference in your risk of heart disease.

Benefits of the Mediterranean diet

Research has shown that the traditional Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart disease. In fact, an analysis of more than 1.5 million healthy adults demonstrated that following a Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of death from heart disease and cancer, as well as a reduced incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends the Mediterranean diet as an eating plan that can help promote health and prevent disease. And the Mediterranean diet is one your whole family can follow for good health.

Key components of the Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes:

• Eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts
• Replacing butter with healthy fats, such as olive oil
• Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
• Limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month
• Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week
• Drinking red wine in moderation (optional)

The diet also recognizes the importance of being physically active, and enjoying meals with family and friends.

To continue reading this article and learn more about the Mediterranean diet visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/mediterranean-diet/art-20047801

Possible Prenatal Link to Autism

A small study that examined brains from children who died found abnormal patterns of cell growth in autistic children. The research bolsters evidence that something before birth might cause autism, at least in some cases.

Clusters of disorganized brain cells were discovered in tissue samples from brain regions important for regulating social functioning, emotions and communication - which can all be troublesome for children with autism.

The abnormalities were found in 10 of 11 children with autism, but in only one of 11 children without the disease. The children's brains were donated to science after death; causes of death included drowning, accidents, asthma and heart problems.

The authors said the clusters, detected with sophisticated lab tests, are likely defects that occurred during the second or third trimesters of pregnancy.

"Because this points to the biological onset in prenatal life, it calls sharply into question other popular notions about autism," including the scientifically debunked theory that childhood vaccines might be involved, said lead author Eric Courchesne, an autism researcher at the University of California, San Diego.

Experts not involved in the latest study called the results preliminary and said larger studies are needed to determine if the unusual brain development found in the study causes problems, and if it is truly common in autism or even in people without the disorder. What causes the unusual structure isn't known, Courchesne said, adding, "It could be gene mutations and environmental factors together."

Scientists have been working for decades to find the cause of autism, and they increasingly believe its origins begin before birth. In addition to genetics, previous research suggests other factors might include infections during pregnancy, preterm birth and fathers' older age at conception.

To continue reading this article visit http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/03/27/autism-may-originate-during-pregnancy-study-says/

Health Myth Busted: Generic Medications are Truly Just as Effective as Brand Name!!

The U.S. health care system—and, in turn, American consumers—stand to save billions on prescription drugs just by switching from brand names to their generic counterparts. In 2012, generic medications saved the U.S. $217 billion, and this figure is steadily increasing. Many patients believe generics to be ineffective or even unsafe, despite the fact that 84 percent of prescriptions in 2012 were for generic medicines. Here are some common myths surrounding generics, and the truths you can trust.

Myth: The FDA allows the purity of generic drugs to vary greatly from the brand-name equivalent

You may have heard that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows generic medications to be anywhere from 80-125 percent as pure or effective as their branded versions. The truth is that for any particular active ingredient, whether brand-name or generic, the purity and potency required by the FDA is the same. Each batch of medication varies a small amount, whether brand-name or generic. A recent study on cardiovascular medications—which account for 35 percent of all drugs sold—found that the difference in bloodstream absorption between generics and name brands is about 3.5 percent, an amount not expected to have an impact on health.

Generic drugs must be identical in strength, dosage form and administration. They also must contain the same active ingredient, work the same way in the body and meet the same standards of strength, purity and quality as their brand-name counterparts. Simply put, the law states that drug companies cannot alter generics to an extent that would put your health at risk.

READ MORE: The best ways to find cheap prescriptions

Myth: Brand-name drugs cost more because they’re better

Consumers often perceive brand-name goods to be of higher quality than non-brand-name products, so it seems to follow that this would be true for medications as well. However, it’s important to understand that a generic medication is not cheaply made, and that the cost difference isn’t due to shortcuts by the manufacturer.

When a medication is first synthesized, it goes through a series of clinical trials, mandated by the FDA and overseen by third-party regulators. This can take a number of years and cost billions of dollars, all on the manufacturer’s dime. Further, if the drug fails any one of the trials’ goals, it will not be approved and the company’s money is lost.

For this reason, the owner of the drug’s patent is granted exclusivity to sell the approved product for three to seven years, depending on the compound. This helps the manufacturer to recoup the costs of clinical trials and marketing of the original drug under a brand name. After that period is up, other companies can manufacture the same compound and sell it as a generic. This is often done in the same factory and by the same company making the brand-name version.

To continue reading this article visit http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/03/26/health-myth-generic-medications-are-ineffective/

Medical Marijuana and MS

Some forms of medical marijuana may help alleviate certain symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new guidelines published in the journal Neurology.

Complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, such as medical marijuana, are popular among patients with MS, who often seek them out to help alleviate symptoms or pain associated with their disease. However, few guidelines exist to help patients determine the effectiveness of these therapies, according to study author Dr. Pushpa Narayanaswami.

“We wanted to review the literature well and see where we went with it, to guide patients and physicians as well,” Narayanaswami, an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, told FoxNews.com. “There’s nothing out there that looks at all of these to see how effective and safe they are.”

The researchers examined a wide array of CAM therapies, drawing from a list created by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a subsidy of the National Institutes of Health. In addition to medical marijuana, the researchers also studied other remedies including ginkgo biloba, magnetic therapy, bee sting therapy, omega-3 fatty acids and reflexology.

In a review of 2,608 studies, the researchers were able to assess which forms of CAM therapies had sufficient evidence to indicate that they may be effective for patients with MS. Overall, researchers discovered that certain forms of medical marijuana – a spray form and a pill form – appeared to have the most evidence indicating they may be helpful in patients with MS.

“What we learned are these specific forms of medical marijuana can ease patients’ symptoms – specific symptoms of spasticity, or muscle stiffness … and helped with frequent urination,” Narayanaswami said.

While medical marijuana provided relief for some symptoms, it did not alleviate other effects of MS, including tremors or urinary incontinence. Medical marijuana also carried some negative side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, being off balance and cognitive problems in some people, researchers noted.

While spray forms of medical marijuana are only available in Europe and Canada, some pill forms of medical marijuana have been approved in the U.S. to treat nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.

To continue reading visit: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/03/25/medical-marijuana-may-alleviate-some-symptoms-multiple-sclerosis/

Sick Patients May Face Higher Prescription Copays Under ObamaCare

MIAMI — Breast cancer survivor Ginny Mason was thrilled to get health coverage under the Affordable Care Act despite her pre-existing condition. But when she realized her arthritis medication fell under a particularly costly tier of her plan, she was forced to switch to another brand.

Under the plan, her Celebrex would have cost $648 a month until she met her $1,500 prescription deductible, followed by an $85 monthly co-pay.

Mason is one of the many Americans with serious illnesses — including cancer, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis — who are indeed finding relatively low monthly premiums under President Barack Obama's law. But some have been shocked at how much their prescriptions are costing as insurers are sorting drug prices into a complex tier system and in some cases charging co-insurance rates as high as 50 percent. That can leave patients on the hook for thousands.

"I was grateful for the Affordable Care Act because it didn't turn me down but ... it's like where's the affordable on this one," said Mason, a 61-year-old from West Lafayette, Indiana who currently pays an $800 monthly premium.

Before the federal health law took effect, Mason paid slightly more for her monthly premium on a plan that didn't cover her arthritis or pain medications and some routine doctor's visits.

Avalere Health, a market research and consulting firm, estimates some consumers will pay half the cost of their specialty drugs under health overhaul-related plans, while customers in the private market typically pay no more than a third. Patient advocates worry that insurers may be trying to discourage chronically ill patients from enrolling by putting high cost drugs onto specialty tiers.

Brian Rosen, senior vice president for public policy for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, said the group studied premiums and benefits for patients with blood cancer in seven states, including Florida, California, Texas and New York. They found 50 percent co-insurance rates for specialty drugs on several plans in Florida and Texas, while the highest co-insurance rates on California plans were 30 percent and in New York, co-pays were typically $70.

Under the law, insurers can't charge an individual more than $6,350 in out-of pocket costs a year and no more than $12,700 for a family policy. But patients advocates warn those with serious illnesses could pay their entire out-of-pocket cap before their insurance kicks in any money.

"The challenge is for the sickest patients, the ones that need access to these specialty drugs, the costs are going to come in most cases from that out of pocket cap ... they are likely to hit that $6,350 ceiling and in some cases quickly," said Rosen.

To continue reading this article visit  http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/2cc98c1f602345cea481557e557992a5/US--Health-Overhaul-Prescription-Costs/#.UzBFmqhdUj8

Preventing Heart Disease With Chocolate--Is It Possible?

If you are anything like me...and many other Americans you LOVE chocolate. This video below discusses beneficial properties of flavanoids in chocolate. There is a new  study being conducted looking at preventing heart attacks with "chocolate pills." What do you think?

Everything You Wanted to Know About NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Examples

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) you can buy without a prescription (not a complete list)

Generic Name	Brand Name
ibuprofen	Advil, Motrin
naproxen	Aleve

Aspirin is another example of an NSAID that you can buy without a prescription. But aspirin works differently from these other NSAIDs. See the topic Aspirin for more information.

Prescription NSAIDs (not a complete list)

Generic Name	Brand Name
celecoxib	Celebrex
diclofenac	Voltaren
ibuprofen
ketoprofen
naproxen	Anaprox
piroxicam	Feldene
sulindac	Clinoril

Voltaren is available in a pill and also in a gel that can be rubbed on the skin over a painful area.

If your doctor prescribed NSAIDs, take them exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you have any problems with your medicine. Always read and follow all instructions on the label.

How It Works

NSAIDs reduce inflammation and relieve fever and pain by blocking enzymes and proteins made by the body. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen block a protein (called prostaglandin) that makes heavy menstrual bleeding worse. Aspirin does not block this protein.

Why It Is Used

NSAIDs relieve pain and fever. They also reduce swelling and inflammation caused by an injury or a disease such as arthritis.

Some NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, help ease cramping and reduce blood loss from heavy menstrual bleeding.

How Well It Works

NSAIDs work well to relieve pain, decrease fever, and reduce swelling and inflammation caused by an injury or disease.1 Some NSAIDs help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding.2, 3 NSAIDs can help relieve the pain of kidney stones.4

Side Effects

All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.

Here are some important things to think about:

• Usually the benefits of the medicine are more important than any minor side effects.
• Side effects may go away after you take the medicine for a while.
• If side effects still bother you and you wonder if you should keep taking the medicine, call your doctor. He or she may be able to lower your dose or change your medicine. Do not suddenly quit taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Continue reading at: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs-nsaids

Prescription Drug Imports from India--Possibly Unsafe

Some U.S. doctors are becoming concerned about the quality of generic drugs supplied by Indian manufacturers following a flurry of recalls and import bans by the Food and Drug Administration.

India supplies about 40 percent of generic and over-the-counter drugs used in the United States, making it the second-biggest supplier after Canada.

In recent months, the FDA, citing quality control problems ranging from data manipulation to sanitation, has banned the importation of products from Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, Wockhardt Ltd and, most recently, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

"I'm just beginning to realize the gravity of the problem," said Dr. Steven Nissen, head of cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic. "It's terrible and it is starting to get a lot of traction among physicians."

Indian drugmakers are by no means the only companies to recall products or be warned by the FDA about manufacturing problems. For instance, quality control failures at Johnson & Johnson forced the company to recall dozens of products over the past five years, ranging from artificial hips to children's Tylenol.

And last year, Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim said it would shut down its U.S. contract manufacturing unit, Ben Venue Laboratories, after it was cited for repeated manufacturing violations that led to shortages of the cancer drug Doxil.

To continue reading this article visit: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/03/18/unease-grows-among-us-doctors-over-indian-drug-quality/

Resistant Head Lice

Most head lice found in North America now carry a gene mutation that makes them resistant to standard over-the-counter treatments, a new study cautions.

Head lice infestation is a major public-health issue, the researchers said, with roughly 10 percent of all American school-aged children missing school due to the intense itching and secondary infections that signal exposure.

The problem: Years of relentless exposure to a single treatment option has given rise to a surviving head lice population that is armed with what geneticists call "knockdown resistance," in the form of the TI genetic mutation.

This gives most of today's head lice an ability to withstand exposure to the main -- and previously effective -- ingredients found in most nonprescription head lice drugs: "pyrethroid" compounds such as permethrin.

"This isn't really controversial," said study co-author John Clark, a professor of environmental toxicology and chemistry at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. "This is a problem we've been showing in development over a period of about 20 years. But our new work now shows that head lice are now almost 100 percent [knockdown resistant]. That means there's an awful lot of resistant insects out there in the U.S. and elsewhere."

Clark and his colleagues discussed their findings in the March issue of the Journal of Medical Entomology.

In the early 1990s, over-the-counter permethrin-based formulations entered widespread use, Clark said. Designed to kill lice by essentially short-circuiting their nervous system, such drugs became the standard of care.

But the seeds of permethrin's future failure were planted decades earlier, in the immediate post-WWII period, he said, when much of the population was first exposed to the pesticide DDT in an effort to reign in body lice infestations.

Head lice got caught up in the process, giving rise to a surviving population that silently, but increasingly, began to carry the protective TI mutation decades before the introduction of permethrin products, according to the study.

With that in mind, investigators set out to assess the current resistance status of North American head lice by conducting a genetic analysis of lice samples collected from 32 mostly urban locations across the United States and Canada.

To continue reading this article visit http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20140314/head-lice-growing-resistant-to-standard-meds

FDA Defends Newly Approved Narcotic Zohydro

The debate over a powerful new painkiller ratcheted up Thursday as the head of the Food and Drug Administration defended the drug's approval and a West Virginia Senator responded with a bill to force it off the market.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg told Senate lawmakers that the recently-launched Zohydro fills an "important and unique niche" for treating chronic pain. Her agency has been under fire for clearing the drug since December, amid concerns from lawmakers, addiction specialists and others that the drug will exacerbate the national epidemic of prescription drug abuse.

Zohydro is the first single-ingredient hydrocodone drug ever cleared for U.S. patients. Each extended-release pill contains up to five times more of the narcotic than previously available combination pills, such as Vicodin. Pharmacies began dispensing the drug earlier this week.

Hours after Hamburg's appearance on Capitol Hill, Senator Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., introduced a bill that would force the FDA to withdraw the drug and prohibit the approval of any similar medications that don't have tamper-resistant design features.

"I have tried reasoning with the FDA, and I've repeatedly requested the agency change its course on this dangerous drug," Manchin said in a statement. "Because of this painkiller's high potential for misuse and abuse, Zohydro poses a severely dangerous threat to our communities in West Virginia and across our country."

Representative Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives.

In a statement late Thursday, Hamburg said the FDA has not had a chance to review the legislation.

To continue reading this article visit: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/03/14/fda-chief-defends-controversial-zohydra-painkiller-as-criticism-intensifies/

Project DAWN

I am a pharmacist that lives in Ohio, so the passing of Project DAWN Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) is close to me. I see the positives and negatives of a narcotic antidote being readily available to the public. Read the article below and tell me what you think...

"COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. John Kasich has signed a bill into law allowing friends or family members of addicts to administer a drug overdose antidote without the fear of prosecution.

The legislation is aimed at reducing the state's record-high number of fatal overdoses from heroin and painkillers - which is now the leading cause of accidental death in Ohio, surpassing car crashes.

The bill signed Tuesday allows licensed prescribers to provide the drug naloxone to an addict's friends or family members.

People administering the drug would be immune from prosecution as long as they call 911 immediately before or after giving the antidote.

It also must be obtained through proper channels. In addition, the bill would make it easier for police and emergency responders to administer the drug."

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/health/heroin/2014/03/11/ohio-law-increases-access-to-overdose-antidote-naloxone/6297325/

Is 10,000 steps/day enough?

If you buy a smart pedometer or fitness tracker like a Fitbit, chances are the device will encourage you to take 10,000 steps a day. But do you really have to walk this much to be healthy?

Experts say that while 10,000 steps a day is a good number to reach, any amount of activity beyond what you're currently doing will likely benefit your health.

The origins of the 10,000-steps recommendation aren't exactly scientific. Pedometers sold in Japan in the 1960s were marketed under the name "manpo-kei," which translates to "10,000 steps meter," said Catrine Tudor-Locke, director of the Walking Behavior Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La. The idea resonated with people, and gained popularity with Japanese walking groups, Tudor-Locke said. [The Best Pedometers of 2014]

Studies conducted since then suggest that people who increased their walking to 10,000 steps daily experience health benefits.

One study found that women who increased their step count to nearly 10,000 steps a day reduced their blood pressure after 24 weeks. Another study of overweight women found that walking 10,000 steps a day improved their glucose levels.

Walking 10,000 steps a day is not an official recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead, the agency recommends adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as brisk walking. To meet the CDC's recommendation, you need to walk about 7,000 to 8,000 steps a day, Tudor-Locke said.

If you normally walk about 5,000 steps a day, getting in an extra 30-minute, brisk walk into your day would take you to about 8,000 steps, Tudor-Locke said. The average U.S. adult walks about 5,900 steps daily, she said.

Still, there's no reason to stop at 8,000 steps if you can do more, Tudor-Locke told Live Science. "We do know that more is better."

The Mayo Clinic recommends that people using pedometers first set short-term goals, such as taking an extra 1,000 steps daily for one week, and then build up to a long-term goal such as 10,000 steps.

To continue reading this article visit http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/03/11/truth-about-10000-steps-day/