Bad Hair Day, Could it be Your Drugs? New Tool from RxISK.org to Explore Drug Side Effects on Hair

Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) December 17, 2012

CSI fans know that the most accurate way to identify the drugs a person takes is to analyze hair samples, says Dr. David Healy RxISk.org CEO. Hair accumulates drugs when people take them and laboratory hair sample tests are legally and scientifically recognized as admissible evidence in courts around the world. Long before drug effects on hair are widely known, hair stylists are likely to be the earliest observers. Truth be told, your hairdresser could tell you a lot about you and the drugs you take.

Dr. Dee Mangin, RxISK.orgs Chief Medical Officer explains, It makes sense that this accumulation has effects on the hair itself. In the sixties women and their hair stylists were the first to identify changes in hair consistency caused by the use of oral contraceptives: it was discovered that oral contraceptives caused womens hair to thin both during use and after. But its not just The Pill - a lot of commonly used drugs cause hair side effects including blood pressure medications, cholesterol drugs, and antidepressants. Some of the most commonly used drugs in Britain and North America have thinning effects on hair. But its not just hair thinning drugs can really cause problems with the way hair treatments like colours, extensions and waves take."

Kaye Briden, owner of Yazu Hair Lounge in New Zealand, has over 30 years experience in the industry and is part of the LOreal Ambassador Team. She says over the years, hair stylists have been aware that things like antidepressants can cause hair to dry out and thin to the point that it wont take extensions; chemotherapy causes hair to fall out and grow back a different color; and when a color doesnt take in a persons hair it is likely because of some medication he or she is taking. But up until now there has been no way to highlight or share this knowledge.

Dr. Dee Mangin, says, Men, women and their stylists know more about the effect of drugs on hair than anyone else. These effects can be devastating, but because there is no current way to share this information the link to treatment is often not made by patients and their doctors. Until we pool the collective wisdom men and women and their hairdressers have, and make it accessible, it will not be useful. This is what the RxISK Hair Zone is all about.

Kaye Briden agrees. Hair stylists are in the best position to understand what is happening to the hair and why, and to help clients with these effects. There is for example a yellowing of hair thats due to hormonal changes or treatment. We will often know from your hair that you are pregnant before you do.

Not all effects are negative says Mangin. A famous drug discovery in recent years, Latisse, was revealed when women noticed an involuntary thickening and elongation of their eyelashes while using an eye-drop.

The RxISK Hair Zone has been designed so people can look up and report specifically the effects of drugs on hair and the use of hair products and treatments.

RxISK your megaphone to help change drug safety

RxISK.org allows users to enter the name of a prescription drug and see the side effects that have been reported to the FDA since 2004, as well as to RxISK, for more than 35,000 drug names from 103 countries. The data is presented in tables, tag clouds, heat maps, and interactive graphs, showing whats happening with other people taking the same drug around the world.

Users can then select the effect(s) they are experiencing and click on Report a Drug Side Effect to complete a report. They get a personalized RxISK Report linking their symptoms and meds, which they can take to their doctor or pharmacist to facilitate a better treatment conversation This will also add their anonymized experience to the RxISK database so that others can benefit from this information.

About Data Based Medicine Americas Ltd.

RxISk.org is owned and operated by Data Based Medicine Americas Ltd. (DBM), based in Toronto, Canada. DBM's founders have international reputations in early drug-side-effect detection and risk mitigation, pharmacovigilance, and patient-centered care. Although drug side effects are known to be a leading cause of death and disability, less than 5% of serious drug side effects are reported. DBMs mission is to capture this missing data directly from patients through RxISK.orgs free drug side effect reporting tool and use this data to help make medicines safer for all of us.

Media contact

David Carmichael

david(dot)carmichael(at)RxISK(dot)org

+1 (647) 799-3792

BPH Drugs Can Harm Mens Health In Long Term So, By Choosing Dr. Allens Device, Medication and Its Side Effects Can Be Avoided, States Fine Treatment

London, UK (PRWEB) June 07, 2013

Fine Treatment recommends Dr. Allens Device for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as it helps to protect men from the problems caused by treating this condition with potentially harmful medications. Dr. Allens Device enables an effective natural therapy free from any side effects. Propecia sales down; lawsuits continue; media cover side effects article explains that hundreds of Propecia lawsuits [are] filed by men (and some spouses) who have suffered enduring erectile problems and related side effects since using the drug.

This new article by Steve Thomas, of June 03, 2013 says, before the loss of market exclusivity became an issue, Merck saw its Propecia sales stagnate at $ 447 million in 2010 and 2011 and then decline to $ 424 million in 2012. As the Propecia patent has approached its October 2013 sunset, one generic competitor already has been allowed into the market in January and another will get the green light in July. Propecia sales in the first quarter of 2013 were down 37% to $ 68 million compared to the same period in 2012.

In the early 1990s, finasteride, a 4-aza steroid compound and type 2 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, was shown to profoundly affect the size of the prostate gland in animals, by George et all, in the journal Proceeding of National Academy of Sciences U S A., 1991.

Later, Proscar (finasteride 5 mg) was approved by FDA in 1992 and is suggested for the treatment of bothersome symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (also referred to as BPH or an enlarged prostate). Furthermore, Propecia (finasteride 1 mg) was approved by FDA in 1997 for the use in males only and is indicated for the treatment of male pattern hair loss.

As prostate enlargement is viewed as a normal ageing-related condition, there is no urgency for a man to opt for a long-term intake of BPH drugs the moment he experiences the first symptoms of urinary dysfunction. Medications can now be replaced with the Thermobalancing therapy. Watch a video testimonial recorded by the Oxford Innovation Centre that demonstrates how to use Dr. Allen's Device and its benefits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5xidswhxJM.

Prostate enlargement is very common. Some men tolerate symptoms for years but a third of men will ultimately seek treatment, says Dr. Simon Allen. Dr. Allens therapeutic device increases blood circulation in the enlarged prostate naturally helping to cleanse the prostate gland and reduce its volume.

For details, visit Fine Treatment at http://finetreatment.com/bph-treatment-prostate-enlargement.

About Dr. Simon Allen and Fine Treatment:

Dr. Simon Allen is a highly experienced medical professional. His specialty is in the internal medicine. He has treated a wide range of chronic diseases, including patients after a heart attack, with kidneys problems, including kidney stones disease, prostate and spine conditions, as well as metabolic disorders. Fine Treatment exclusively offers Dr Allens devices for chronic prostatitis and BPH treatment, coronary heart disease, dissolving kidney stones, as well as back pain and sciatica relief.

Lower Blood Pressure In 4 Weeks Without Prescription Drugs: Dr Janet on Radio

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) April 20, 2013

Many of us do not know what our blood pressure reading is or how we can bring down our blood pressure to normal levels. Nutritionist and Award-Winning Author of "Cholesterol Down," Dr Janet Brill will guide listeners on what a normal blood pressure is and discuss the findings of her upcoming book "Blood Pressure Down: The 10-step program to lower your blood pressure in 4 weeks-without prescription drugs" in a series of radio shows starting with BlogTalkRadios Grilliant Ideas Radio Show w/ Grilliant's Foodie Friends on April 20th at 9:00 am EST.

High blood pressure can be lowered and prevented quickly and safelywithout the side effects of many blood pressure medications in ten simple and delicious steps through a unique plan that harnesses the power of the lifestyle changes, reveals the latest book by renowned dietitian Janet Brill PhD, RDN, LDN, CSSD.

Dr Janet, an expert in the field of health and cardiovascular disease prevention and lifestyle nutrition, will discuss the problems and solutions related to high blood pressure next with Cathy Blythe, Co-host, KFOR Morning Radio Show, Lincoln Nebraska, on Monday May 6th at 10:10am (Eastern time).

Dr Janet will also help listeners get valuable tips on how to lower blood pressure levels and maintain a healthy lifestyle on the Dr. Alvin Augustus Jones Radio Show, WJFK-AM-CBS Radio Sports Washington, D.C. WNEW-FM-News 99.1, WCBQ-WHNC-AM-The Paradise Network, Raleigh on May 7th at 11:15am (Eastern time).

About BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN

BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN: The 10-Step Plan to Lower Your Blood Pressure in 4 WeeksWithout Prescription Drugs (Three Rivers Press; May 7th, 2013) by Dr Janet, unveils ten, simple delicious steps to harness the power of the lifestyle changes, including elements of the DASH diet, proven to be the most effective medicine for hypertension: blood pressure power foods like bananas, yogurt, soy, and dark chocolate, as well as exercise and stress reduction.

To be published on May 7th, BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN will arrive just in time for National High Blood Pressure Education Month and is the perfect guide for anyone who has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, feels they may be at risk, or is simply looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The book can be pre-ordered now.

Speaking about the book, Jennifer H Mieres, MD, FACC, FASNC, FAHA, Professor of Cardiology & Population Health, Hofstra North Shore, LIJ School of Medicine, says, "A simple, holistic and achievable 10 step plan that is highly effective in reaching the ideal blood pressure in 4 weeks. Maintaining optimal blood pressure is critical in preventing heart disease and stroke."

Backed by solid research, Brill cuts through the medical jargon to explain how and why each step in her program works. The Blood Pressure Down plan is both thorough and accessible, including many convenient checklists, charts, meal plans, and over fifty delicious heart-healthy recipes that make incorporating each step into a heart-healthy lifestyle easy, practical, and never overwhelming.

Cardiovascular disease is Americas leading cause of death. Every thirty nine seconds, we lose another American to a fatal heart attack or stroke, and yet, despite the fact that the largest risk factor for cardiovascular deathhigh blood pressureis both reversible and preventable, seventy-eight million adult Americans continue to suffer from this life-threatening condition, and another two million will be diagnosed over the next year.

Perhaps even more alarming, fifty-six percent of those already diagnosed with this potentially fatal affliction still do not have their blood pressure under control, with many deterred by the frustrating side effects of medications.

The good news? Lifestyle changes can be just as effective as prescription drugs in reversing and preventing hypertension. In fact, the government-endorsed Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet was rated the #1 Best Diet Overall by the U.S. News & World Report.

About Dr Janet Brill

Janet Bond Brill (http://www.drjanet.com) is an award winning author, nutritionist and Go Red Spokesperson. She is a nationally recognized expert in the field of health, wellness and cardiovascular disease prevention and is frequently sought after by the media as a trusted source of nutrition and fitness information.

"There is no medicine more powerful or supplement more effective in promoting health and longevity than the combination of good nutrition with daily exercise," says Dr Janet, Nutrition & Fitness Expert, Writer, Speaker, Spokesperson, Consultant, Educator, Blogger, wife and mother of three.

Dr. Janet is the author of three books: