Monday, April 16, 2012

Adverse Side Effects

Recently, from indigestion to high blood pressure and ulcer, I was from one prescription drug to another. So far, I suppose I should consider myself lucky that there are only a few adverse side-effects that made me a frequent visitor to the doctor’s offices, hospitals, laboratories, and pharmacies. Medicines are supposed to cure us. The information came with my prescriptions was not kidding.
The side effects from the ulcer meds were so unbearable. The antibiotics I took sure made me sicker than I really was. One of them caused my mouth becoming exceedingly thirsty throughout the night. And I am now combating the possibility of being dehydrated. Hopefully, with congees and soups, I will get myself back to normal soon.

Through all these challenges, I learned that we can report adverse side effects from prescription drugs to government agencies which monitor these sorts of things. Since I do not wish to have this awful side effects inflict on anybody, I will report my unpleasant and harmful experience to the right monitoring agencies*. - Ayee

*In USA, call MedWatch/FDA at 1-800-FDA(or332)1088.
In Canada, call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Fore!

Spring is here. So is the golfing fever in Augusta, Georgia. Today, all players at Masters Championship put their best shots on display. Their shots not only are accurate but are also very long. Once again they made this year’s Masters another memorable one with a double eagle by a South African player. Louis Oosthuizen lost the coveted green jacket to Bubba Watson, a self-taught American pro, and a leftie, but the precision shot he made today on the second hole earned himself a prominent place at Augusta National Golf Club’s history. The first double eagle happened a long time ago in 1935. These guys are sure good as their commercials said. This explains why the purses for the men’s professional tours are so generous.

And I am so glad that I got to watch this year’s Masters again on television. As long as the players of the game act gentlemanly on the course and do not swing their clubs against their competitors, I think I will always be a loyal fan to this frustrating but exhilarating game. - Ayee

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life*, David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, 2009

This is a story of one man’s journey to combat a dreadful disease.

While researching brain mapping at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, Dr. Servan-Schreiber (1961 - 2011), a psychiatrist, accidently discovered a malignant growth on his brain. After he undertook the conventional cancer therapies such as surgery, radiation and chemo treatments, the good doctor decided to look for cancer cures through alternative treatments. Based on his voluminous researches, the studious doctor found the cancer is caused by “the foods we eat, air we breathe and harmful chemicals we encountered.”* By changing his way of living according to what he had learned, he was able to keep his disease at bay for nearly 20 years.

And the most revealing thing the late doctor found in his battle with cancer was his discovery of the sense of self-awareness. I do not know if I got it right. In his war against cancer, the cofounder of the Alternative Medicines Center at the University of Pittsburgh also found that recovered cancer patients emerge from their disease with a new perspective in life. They become more spontaneous. - Ayee

Mega Lottery, A Vice or A Joy?

Now we all know there are three lucky winners for the last week’s Mega Lottery. Each of them will take home a whopping $216 million before uncle Sam’s take. Hopefully, the huge amount of money the new riches won can and will do a lot of good for themselves and their communities.

Too bad, my ticket was not one of these three winning tickets.

Am I disappointed? Of course, I am. Am I in despair because I lost my bet? I am certainly not. Even though, the mesmerizing thought on the possibility that I got an equal chance winning the jackpot had never escaped from me, I do not condone people who gambled their hard-earned cash away like there is no tomorrow. But in this mega draw, the dollar I spent for my ticket did fetch me great joy. Before the winning numbers were unveiled, I, like many others, had dreamed of the good deeds I could do with the money from the windfall. Those dreams of pies in the sky not only made my dreams sweeter but had also brought many smiles to my face. - Ayee