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Chronic Heartburn a Growing Problem in U.S.
Posted 5 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Jan. 5 – Heartburn and acid reflux strike many people as an annoying and painful but ultimately harmless problem – a result of overindulgence and gluttony that must be endured, much like a hangover after a night of drinking. But frequent bouts of heartburn and reflux constitute a real medical condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, and GERD is on the rise worldwide. "The overall prevalence is increasing over the past decades," said Dr. Ronnie Fass, a medical advisory board member for the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders who's also a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona and chief of gastroenterology at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. The increase has occurred "not only in the United States, but in Asian countries, where GERD was unheard of," Fass said. "But we are the trailblazers. We are leading ... Read more
'Hair Of The Dog' No Hangover Cure, Say Experts
Posted 30 Dec 2010 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Dec. 30 – During this season of good cheer and abundant holiday parties, hangovers are not uncommon. And while folk remedies abound, the only things that are truly helpful in curing the misery of a hangover the morning after are time and fluid replacement, experts say. Although the cause of a hangover – drinking too much alcohol – is obvious, the reason behind alcohol's ability to make you feel so rotten the day after isn't as clear. "Alcohol clearly causes hangovers, but why it causes hangovers isn't very well understood," said Dr. Andrew Yacht, director of the division of general medicine and vice chair of medicine for education at Maimonides Medical Center in New York City. "Part of the suspected cause is dehydration and an electrolyte and hormonal imbalance. Some of the symptoms may be caused by low blood sugar. Or, it may be that the direct toxic effects of alcohol are ... Read more
Related support groups: Hangover, Acute Alcohol Intoxication
Booze Tax Hikes May Reduce Alcohol-Related Problems
Posted 23 Sep 2010 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Sept. 23 – Boosting taxes on alcohol leads to lower rates of alcohol-related disease, injury, death and crime, researchers say. University of Florida investigators analyzed 50 published papers that estimated the health and social effects of alcohol taxes or prices. The study authors concluded that higher alcohol taxes have a greater impact than drinking prevention programs. The results of the meta-analysis suggest that doubling the average state tax on alcohol would result, on average, in a 35 percent reduction in alcohol-related deaths, an 11 percent reduction in traffic crash deaths, a 6 percent reduction in sexually transmitted diseases, a 2 percent reduction in violence and a 1.4 percent reduction in crime. The study findings were released online Sept. 23 in advance of publication in the November print issue of the American Journal of Public Health. The findings "clearly ... Read more
Related support groups: Alcohol Dependence, Alcoholism, Alcohol Withdrawal, Hangover, Alcoholic Liver Damage, Alcoholic Cirrhosis, Alcoholic Psychosis, Acute Alcohol Intoxication, Alcoholic Gastritis, Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy, Alcohol Hepatitis
Asparagus May Ease Hangover
Posted 12 Jan 2010 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Aug. 28 – To treat a hangover, drink lots of water, get plenty of rest – and eat your asparagus, researchers say. A new study shows that the amino acids and minerals in asparagus extract may ease hangovers and protect liver cells against the toxins in alcohol. Researchers at the Institute of Medical Science and Jeju National University in South Korea analyzed the effect of extracts of asparagus shoots and leaves on human and rat liver cells in the lab. "Cellular toxicities were significantly alleviated in response to treatment with the extracts of asparagus leaves and shoots," said lead researcher B.Y. Kim, in a news release from the Institute of Food Technologists. "These results provide evidence of how the biological functions of asparagus can help alleviate alcohol hangover and protect liver cells." The beneficial amino acids and minerals were found in higher concentrations ... Read more
For a Lighter Hangover, Avoid Darker Drinks
Posted 19 Dec 2009 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Dec. 18 – As the holidays approach, booze is a common indulgence – and nasty hangovers a common consequence. But if those who tend to overdo it stick to lighter-colored beverages, they might feel a little better the next day. New research reveals that darker liquors like bourbon contain more toxic properties that provoke more painful hangovers than lighter choices such as vodka. This is probably because the materials used in the alcohol fermenting process – grains and wood casks – produce small amounts of toxic byproducts, the researchers say. Known as "congeners," these complex organic molecules include acetone, fusel oil and tannins, and are present in much higher quantities among darker liquors than lighter ones. Bourbon has 37 times as many congeners as vodka, for example. "The most important thing for people to realize is that if you're feeling hungover, you're probably ... Read more
Related support groups: Hangover, Acute Alcohol Intoxication
Hangovers May Be Tougher for Migraine Sufferers
Posted 2 Dec 2009 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Oct. 19 – As if migraine sufferers didn't already have enough pain, new research has found that they may also be more prone to hangover headaches. U.S. researchers studied the effects of alcohol on a group of rats that experience recurrent migraines as well as a group of control rats that don't get the headaches. The study authors found that the rats with migraines experienced more pain four to six hours after ingesting alcohol than the control rats. "Our results suggest that dehydration or impurities in alcohol are not responsible for hangover headache," Michael Oshinsky, an assistant professor of neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, and a member of the Jefferson Headache Center team, said in a university news release. "Since these rats were sufficiently hydrated and the alcohol they received contained no impurities, the alcohol itself or a ... Read more