PN HEALTHY LIVING NEWS SPECIAL by Martin Flynn
TAMPONS IN YOUR SHOES HELP PAINFUL
FEET
A chiropodist has come up with a novel and cheap way of dealing with severe
pains in the soles of the feet experienced by many people with HIV.
A south London podiatrist recommends taping a tampon under the toes which
lessons pressure and improves balance.
Loss of body fat or the effects of peripheral neuropathy, both blamed on long-term
use of antiretrovirals, is often the cause of pain in the feet.
Loss of natural padding on the soles of the feet has led some to resort to
padded, moulded insoles, while others rely on vitamin B supplements and chiropody.
The jury is still out on the use of the supplement acetyl carnitine, with
one top London HIV doctor backing its use and another clinic denying its effectiveness.
So far the tampon solution has proved remarkably successful and we at PN hope
the podiatrist makes millions from his discovery.
WARNINGS ON REACTIONS BETWEEN ANTACIDS AND
HIV DRUGS
People on anti-HIV drugs who take over-the-counter treatments for heartburn,
ulcers or other stomach problems have been advised of possible drug interactions
with antiretrovirals.
A study presented at the recent Glasgow HIV conference suggested that antacids
raise stomach ph levels and may slow, or even block, antiretroviral absorption.
“This type of drug-drug interaction has the same potential to contribute
to treatment failure as lack of adherence to therapy,” said Professor
Ian Frank, of the University of Pennsylvania.
Controversy stills surrounds use of vitamin supplements,
a business which in Britain is worth over £300 million in annual sales
each year.
Proponents of vitamin use say that they can prevent or even cure illnesses,
but others say they can actually be dangerous in large doses.
“For most people, there’s absolutely no benefit in taking high
dose vitamin supplements,” said Catherine Collins, chief dietitian at
London’s St George’s Hospital: “At best they are a waste
of money and at worst they could seriously affect your health.”
The late double Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling, however, advocated taking
mega doses of vitamin C to ward off colds and flu.
People with depleted immune systems and weight loss are advised to take multi-vitamins
along with an adequate, balanced and varied diet. But, since vitamin C cannot
be stored in the body, excess can worsen diarrhoea.
Many with HIV swear extra fish oil protects against joint pains and osteoarthritis
whilst others use vitamin B to alleviate pains in the feet.
But now a study from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, strongly advises
against taking large doses of vitamin E because it can be a risk to life,
despite its promotion as protection against cardiovascular disease and cancer.
SHAG YOUR WAY TO BETTER HEALTH
As well as being a good form of exercise, sex increases the levels
of antibodies that boost the immune system and releases natural ‘feel-good’
chemicals in the brain.
Recent studies show that regular sex actually slows the ageing process and
certain hormones in semen have been shown to fight depression.
Regular sex also makes you less likely to catch colds and flu and is a good
form of pain relief. But any health benefits gained through sex could be offset
by contracting a sexually transmitted infection. So be sexy but remember,
be safe.
HOW FRIENDLY ARE FRIENDLY BACTERIA?
The annual probiotic market is worth an estimated £135 million in the
UK.
Since biblical times people have drunk sour milk to ward off gut problems.
And in recent years new products have hit the supermarket shelves and bombarded
us from our TV screens.
Dr Simon Cutting, of London’s Royal Holloway College, explains: “The
idea is, by constantly topping up the bacteria in your body you’re maintaining
well-being.”
Having a balance of ‘friendly bacteria’ is thought to stop harmful
bacteria taking a hold and causing disease. But trying to scientifically prove
the health effects of probiotics is extremely complex.
Professor Jeremy Miller, of the Royal Free and University College Medical
School, told BBC News: “Despite claims on the labels, some contain too
small a quantity of bacteria to be beneficial, some contain probiotic cultures
that do not survive the gastrointestinal passage, whilst others contain strains
of bacteria that are not shown to benefit health.”
