JustCare

Tag: GERD

  • Ingestible sensors could help treat digestive diseases

    Ingestible sensors could help treat digestive diseases

    Sensors appear to be the “it” new technology for monitoring people’s health. And, not only can you find ones that attach to a bed or an abdomen, you can find ingestible sensors. Casey Ross reports for Stat News on the latest ingestible sensors, which attach to a person’s digestive tract to identify and treat a range of conditions, from indigestion and colon cancer to Crohn’s disease.

    The tech entrepreneurs developing these ingestible sensors have all sorts of health goals. One team wants to collect data about people’s mechanical and electrical changes when they eat. Based on this data, they plan to advise patients on what to eat.

    The sensors could track exactly what you’re eating and your daily calorie intake. The data could be processed and sent to your health care providers and to you. Your mobile phone could give you all the details. You could avoid trips to the doctor and hospital.

    Around 70 million Americans have digestive diseases any given year, including GERD, ulcerative colitis, gallstones and irritable bowel syndrome. Their health outcomes could improve dramatically, And, the sensors could save the health care system billions of dollars.

    Most intriguingly, some sensors are 3D-printable. One such sensor being developed can take the temperature of a pig’s gut and relay the temperature as it changes over the course of several weeks.

    Sensors have been around a long time. As early as the 1980’s, sensors in pills were able to take photos of the digestive system. But, the data collected was not immediately accessible. Now, the data collected can be transmitted immediately through a wireless signal.

    Today’s sensors are quite sophisticated. One electronic sensor being developed uses “genetically engineered” bacteria. Small molecules in the body can pass through the sensor’s skin. And, the sensor collects data on how much light the bacteria produces. It may ultimately be able to replace an endoscopy, detecting bleeding in the gut. It could identify gastric ulcers and other diseases. It may indicate cancer. Inflammation sensors may be able to detect irritable bowel syndrome and other bowel diseases.

    The goal now is to shrink the size of these ingestible sensors down from 1.5 inches. They should be easier to swallow and inexpensive to manufacture.

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  • Seven questions for women to ask about meds

    Seven questions for women to ask about meds

    Each year, an estimated 4 million Americans rush to the doctor or the ER in response to an adverse reaction to a prescription drug. So while medications can save or improve your life, they also cause side effects and need to be taken judiciously.

    Women should weigh the risks and benefits of each drug.

    1. What is the lowest effective dose?
    2. Can this cause dependency or a rebound effect?
    3. What is the shortest amount of time I need to be on this drug and do I have to wean myself off of it?
    4. What are the potential side effects, such as weight gain, low libido, liver or kidney problems?
    5. What if I’m planning to get pregnant or have an unplanned pregnancy?
    6. Will alcohol or other meds exaggerate or block this med’s effect?
    7. Should I make lifestyle changes or consider alternative therapies?

    When a medicine is needed, the benefits are obvious and can even be life-saving. With every medicine comes side effects, however. Here are some particular side effects associated with drugs commonly used by women.

    Birth Control/Oral Contraceptives: Pills, patch, ring, injection: Ask about weight gain, moodiness, breast tenderness, swelling, dizziness and the risk of blood clots. Birth control can alleviate PMS symptoms, prevent acne, and reduce cramping and menstrual pain. Newer methods use 3rd and 4th generation hormones, which can have a slightly higher risk of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Ask about the symptoms.

    Sleep Aids: Drugs in this category can cause drowsiness in the morning, difficulty waking up, mental impairment, headache, dizziness and nausea. There is often a rebound effect, meaning the symptoms can worsen when you stop the medicine. You may need to stop this drug in increments; many people find it difficult to return to a normal sleep pattern.

    GERD/Indigestion/Acid Reflux Drugs: Many of the drugs in this category block the ab-
    sorption of vitamins and calcium. There is often a rebound effect, meaning the symptoms can worsen when you stop the medicine. Ask about anemia, bone density and if vitamin supplements are needed.

    Antidepressants/Anti-anxiety Medication: It’s best to work closely with a psychiatrist and include talk therapy. Ask about weight gain, tremors, constipation, sweating and low libido. Stopping these meds can prove difficult and should be conducted under a doctor’s care.

    ADHD Drugs: Stimulants are commonly used to address ADHD. These can trigger cardiovascular issues, appetite loss, restlessness and aggression. Studies indicate that stimulant use in adolescents, whose brains are still developing, might affect their prefrontal cortex and brain plasticity (ability to switch between functions).

    This post originally appeared on the Medshadow Foundation site. For more information from the Medshadow Foundation, click here.

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  • Do Prilosec and other PPIs increase people’s risk of dementia?

    Do Prilosec and other PPIs increase people’s risk of dementia?

    Millions of people take proton pump inhibitor drugs (PPIs) such as omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), and lansoprazole (Prevacid) for heartburn or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). This week, news outlets reported a link between these drugs, which many people stay on for years or even decades, and the risk of dementia.

    Researchers in Germany examined an insurance claims database that included over 73,000 people, 75 and older, and free of dementia at the study’s start. They found that over seven years those who took PPIs had a 44% increased probability of receiving a diagnosis of dementia.

    Since this finding comes from an observational study, and not a clinical trial, the researchers can’t say whether the drugs actually cause dementia, although they discuss some plausible reasons why they may.

    Nothing is known about long-term side effects of drugs when they are approved by the FDA. (See this Just Care post about FDA-approved cancer drugs that don’t work.) So, observational studies are an important way to gather this information.

    This is the second study indicating that PPIs may contribute to dementia risk. More evidence needs to accumulate though, such as showing that those who take higher doses have a higher probability of dementia, before a more definitive causal link can be established.

    For those interested in a more in-depth discussion of the findings, click here.

    To learn about ways to avoid heartburn or GERD without drugs, see this Just Care post.

    To understand the signs of dementia, see this Just Care post. To learn about safety at home for people with dementia, see this Just Care post. And, for some tips on the benefits of early diagnosis of dementia, click here.