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

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

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

Food for Thought - Agony of Indigestion

Recently I suffered a bad case of indigestion. I never knew the symptom of this seemingly common ailment can be that agonizing.

My on-and-off heartburn started not long after I had some dental works. And it did not take long for my body giving out subtle signs that told me there was something wrong somewhere. At first, the churning in the stomach got ignored since it did not last. But as the days went by, the bothering feeling lingered and became unbearable. Making a long story short, I regret that I did not seek medical cares on my upsetting stomach sooner.

By not taking care of the queasy feeling on the onset, this common and preventable discomfort can harm the entire digestive system. It can even elevate blood pressures.

Now I know a simple personal habit like how we chew our foods can exert great influences, both good and bad, over our physical well-being. - Ayee

Rent-to-Own

Finally, one of the country’s largest banks is going to employ a tried marketing strategy on the homes it has foreclosed.

Under certain conditions, the Bank of America will lease the homes it owns back to their original owners. As noted in my previous blog, besides saving a bundle in maintenance on the foreclosed homes*, I think it is possible that the Bank will be able to unload those homes sooner at a better price. We all know a neighborhood full of residents is definitely more attractive than a desert one. And an occupied home is more inviting than a boarded-up one.

In the past when the market was glutted with unsold homes, developers would offer a rent-to-own packages to unload their excess inventory.

Let’s hope other banks will join BOA on this soon. - Ayee

*See "To Rent or Not to Rent," Thought of the Day, AC, July 26, 2011

Low Interest Rates

Bill Gross is right on the money.

Last night on PBS’s Nightly Business Report, the chief investment officer of the world’s largest bond fund said the government’s low interest is punishing the savers. It makes the seniors poorer.

And I think the current policy on interest rates also makes the government poorer. With less income, poorer seniors will definitely spend less and pay lesser income taxes. In addition, it is likely they will be entitled to more income-based government benefits.

It sure does not look like a win-win situation here. - Ayee