A new study published in the May 2010 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine presents a startling and scary new conclusion: hospitalizations for accidental poisonings caused by prescription medications - opioids, sedatives and tranquilizers – increased by 65% between 1999 and 2006 and now account for more deaths in America than motor vehicle accidents, previously the leading cause of accidental death.  

According to the study’s lead author, Jeffrey H. Coben, MD, of the West Virginia University School of Medicine, deaths resulting from the abuse of prescription medications are reaching almost epidemic proportions.

Prescription pain medication is very much in the news today, and not for the right reasons. The shocking death of young actress Brittany Murphy was primarily attributed to pneumonia, but the coroner listed the secondary cause as her overuse of prescribed pain medications. The unfortunate fact is that thousands of people every year become addicted to pain medications that their physicians believe are beneficial.

As a result many patients look for alternative pain relief methods. Yoga, Ayurveda, and other alternative healing methods can all help, but did you know that there are certain foods that provide a natural measure of pain relief as well? Here are a few of them:

Do you find yourself having difficulty paying attention at work or managing to stay focused on the task at hand? Do you often forget to pay your bills or show up for important meetings or appointments? If this kind of thing happens to you a lot it may be more than disorganization or forgetfulness, you may instead be suffering from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

ADHD often begins in childhood; recent research suggests in fact that 8% of the world’s children are affected. Of these children 2/3 will still be disrupted well into their adult lives.

Drugs used to treat ADHD are controversial, and how effective they are versus the damage they may possibly cause is a topic for continual heated discussion. For this reason, more and more people are exploring the alternative treatments available. One place they are turning is to the ancient Indian practice of Ayurveda.

There is increasing concern about how much radiation cell phones emit and the damage that it may cause to those of us who can no longer remember what life was like without them. The research into the effects of that radiation is still ongoing, but recent studies have linked it to brain cancer, salivary gland tumors, migraines, vertigo, and behavioral problems.

The bad news is that some of the most popular smart phone models on the market are also those with the highest radiation emission levels, according to research put together by the Environmental Working Group. Motorola’s Droid, Blackberry Bold 9700, LG Chocolate Touch, and HTC Nexus One by Google, are among the flashy phones to avoid because all four “are pushing the edge of radiofrequency radiation safety limits set by the Federal Communications Commission,” according to EWG. The Blackberry Storm on the other hand (another big seller), has one of the lowest emission rates, as does the Sanyo Katana II and the Samsung Rugby.