Asthma Steriods Cause Adrenal Gland Side Effects

Steroids are commonly prescribed for sufferers of asthma and allergies, but a study has now found that once these prescribed steroids are finished many patients could experience adrenal insufficiency, which can be dangerous, especially in the instance of a major stress (i.e. surgery, illness, injury).  Corticosteroids are purposed to mimic naturally adrenal gland produced cortisol and generally prescribed for a variety of reasons to reduce inflammation.  Inflammation counters are often necessary in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, allergies, psoriasis, lupus, blood cancers, and organ transplants.   When the adrenal insufficiency side effect occurs, a couple of vital hormones are not produced in sufficient amounts, including cortisol and aldosterone.  The cortisol is necessary in helping the body react to stress, to recover from infections, and to regulate both blood pressure and metabolism.  Aldosterone helps keep a balance of salt, potassium, and water in the body.  After stopping the man-made corticosteroids, it can take a while for the body to start producing these two hormones again in sufficient amounts, so medication is needed to combat this side effect. 

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Dilantin Lawsuits

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a condition many have likely not heard of, but if you suffer from temporal lobe seizures, grand mal seizures, and/or epilepsy, you may be taking the medication, Dilantin, as an anticonvulsant medication to manage such conditions.  Unfortunately, the very medication meant to help you with your medical problem can cause Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a condition that can be fatal.  Dilantin is the subject of some current lawsuits, but there are also other medications that can cause the condition that the public should be aware of, including antibiotics, other anticonvulsants, sedatives, and painkillers.  It is important to look at the packaging for your particular medication, always, to see whether this condition is a possible side effect.   

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Child Car Seat Napping Can Be Deadly

How many of you out there have hoped against all hope that your little one would take a nap once experiencing the lull of a car ride in the child car seat?  There is a great chance almost every parent can relate.  However, studies have found that this innocent act, as well as sleeping in baby swings, bouncers, strollers, and slings can have deadly consequences when the strapping systems are not used exactly as directed by the manufacturers.  For instance, if the lower seat buckles are not secured properly, the child can slip down into the seat while sleeping and the strap can strangle the child.  This has been known to occur in as little as four minutes to tragic consequences. 

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Memorial Day Weekend Safety

On Memorial Day weekend there are an estimated thirty-seven million people traveling and enjoying the long weekend that kicks off summertime.  With the extra traveling and celebrating, of course there are unfortunate accidents involving travel, boating, sun/weather, food, and fires.  While taking time to honor our country’s veterans who have sacrificed for all, fun can still be had as long as we all keep in mind some safety tips.

If you are traveling, be sure your vehicle is in good working order, that you drive defensively, that you wear your seat belt, that you do not engage in distracted driving, and that you never drive under the influence or when fatigued.  If some of your driving or riding is behind the wheel of a recreational boat, be sure to remember again to never drink and boat and always wear a life vest.  Also, be sure to be defensive and be on the lookout for skiers/boarders, jet skis, and swimmers.  Be particularly on the lookout for children out enjoying the weekend in the water and on the shore.  If you are one of the swimmers, be sure to swim in a group and follow the rules for whatever swimming area you are enjoying. 

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Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month for good reason.  The weather is warmer and the motorcycles are back out on the roads to enjoy the open road and pursue their motorcycle passion.  With more motorcycles out on the road, unfortunately, comes more accidents that yield injuries and fatalities.  Therefore, Motorcycle Safety Awareness month seeks to warn drivers to watch out for motorcycles and motorcycles to drive defensively and be on the constant lookout.  Right here in Nebraska, the interstate has signs alerting drivers to watch out for motorcycles.  Law enforcement is doing all they can to warn motorcyclists and their fellow drivers out on the roads to be alert and think safety first.   

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Harley Davidson Recall

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and beware motorcycle owners, as motorcycle giant Harley-Davidson  has issued a huge recall of 2014 and 2015 models of their bikes because of defective clutch master cylinders.  The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NTSA) says the models being recalled from the aforementioned years include the Road King, Road Glide, Electra Glide, Police Electra Glide, and the Ultra Limited, almost forty-six thousand bikes.  Already, there have been some injuries and accidents due to the defective clutches, as they can be stopped from generating the lift needed to disengage the clutch.  For those of you with bikes that have been out of use for a little while, the danger is greater that defect will be encountered. 

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Treadmill Accidents Can Be Deadly

News reports have broadcast the sad, untimely death of the husband of Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg, David Goldberg, in a Mexican hotel gym while the family vacationed.  It has come out that Mr. Goldberg died from an accident involving a treadmill in the gym, the most popular type of exercise equipment in the United States.  More than fifty million Americans utilize the exercise machine and tens of thousands of users are injured, in the United States alone, each and every year.  Some of these injuries, including Mr. Goldberg’s, become fatal. 

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Felt Cruiser Bike Recalls

May is National Bike Month and bicyclists out there loving the cruiser style bikes may be effected by the Felt Bicycles May 1, 2015 recall of their beach cruiser, Felt Deep Six and El Guapo, bikes.  These bikes are one-speed and have coaster brakes with Felt or the model names on the bike frames.  The defect with these cool cruisers involves the fact that crashes can occur when the brakes fail.  Twenty-six of such incidents had been report to Felt, prompting the recall. 

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Mucinex Recall

Hear ye, hear ye, Mucinex is the latest recall in the long line of product recalls we are alerting our readers to!  The makers of Mucinex recalled their liquid medications, including Mucinex Fast-Max Night Time Cold & Flu, Mucinex Fast-Max Cold & Sinus, Mucinex Fast-Max Severe Congestion & Cough, and Mucinex Fast-Max Cold, Flu & Sore Throat.  This time the recall is due to a problem with the labels, with the wrong ingredients listed in the drug facts on the backs of the packaging.  The wrong labels can keep consumers from understanding the risks and side effects associated with the ingredients, which could lead to health complications for some.  For instance, someone who has liver problems may not be aware that some of these products contain acetaminophen. 

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