Galveston Bay Personal Injury Lawyer - Miscellaneous

Increased Warnings for Tylenol

Ashley Davis — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:59:31 GMT

According to a U.S report, Johnson and Johnson are increasing the warnings on their product Tylenol to reduce the risk of liver injury. Tylenol contains Acetaminophen which is used to reduce pain and fever is said to have a connection to people with liver injuries. The report from the FDA recommends eliminating Acetaminophen from over-the-counter combination products, such as Tylenol cold.

Since the late 1990’s. liver injury has been a known risk of acetaminophen, but efforts to educate consumers and revise prescribing information have been unsuccessful. From 1990 to 2001, Acetaminophen has been linked to 458 deaths and 26,000 hospitalizations. The drug is a leading cause of acute liver failure among consumers who abuse it.

The FDA’s center for drug evaluation and research recommend lowering immediate-release tablet strength to no more than 325 milligrams from the current 500 milligrams and reducing the single adult dose 650 milligrams, from 1,000 milligrams. They also urged decreasing the maximum daily dose of all acetaminophen to 3,250 milligrams from 4,000 milligrams.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ashley Davis

NOAA Predicts a Less Active 2009 Hurricane Season

Scott Kappes — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:00:22 GMT

With hurricane season fast approaching the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have released their annual hurricane season forecast and things look a little better than last year.

Last year there were 16 named storms, while this year NOAA is predicting only 14 named storms. Of the suspected 14 named storms NOAA is estimating that as many as 7 could become hurricanes, meaning having sustained winds of 76 mph or more. Of these suspected hurricanes NOAA is predicting that somewhere between 1 and 3 will become major hurricanes, or have sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.

Last year there were 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes so even if the high end predictions of this year’s forecast are accurate it looks to be a less active season than a year ago.

The administration gave a this hurricane season 50% chance or being “near-normal” and an equal 50% probability of being “below normal.” All of us located in coastal areas and are keeping our fingers crossed that NOAA’s estimated 25% chance of an “above-normal” season drops even lower as the season progresses.

If you have not yet done so this is the time prepare for the hurricane season and do everything that you can to ensure that your family and property remain safe in the unfortunate event that a hurricane strikes your area. I can tell you from first-hand experience in dealing with the damage left behind from Hurricane Ike, you can never be too prepared for hurricane.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Accutane Scare

Ashley Davis — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:19:47 GMT

Do you know all of the risks associated with Accutane? Accutane, a popular severe acne medicine has been recalled due to its link to IBD (irritable bowel disease) and Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease that causes a wide range of symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, or weight loss. Symptoms may also include skin rashes, arthritis, and inflammation. Unfortunately there are no known cures at this point for the disease, just treatment options such as restricting and controlling the symptoms.

Other symptoms associated with the use of Accutane includes:

Psychiatric disorders
Birth defects
Fetal deaths
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Ulcerative Colitis
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Multiple Sclerosis
Diabetes
Hepatitis
Hepatotoxicity
Liver Damage
Kidney Damage
Birth Defects
Lupus

Know the risks associated with the use of Accutane to protect you from harm.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ashley Davis

Protesters Descend on City Hall in Response to Death

Scott Kappes — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:41:02 GMT

The La Marque police station and city hall became gathering grounds for about 60 police brutality and anti-taser protesters Thursday afternoon. The protesters were speaking out against the use of tasers following the death of a local man who was “tasered” by police last Sunday.

Jamaal Valentine died Sunday night after the incident in which three La Marque police officers tried to arrest him after people reporting him walking down the middle of main street and rolling in the grass on the side of the road. One of those eye witnesses said that he called police asking for medical help for Valentine who claimed he thought he was having a heart attack.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, but many suspect that the use of the taser may have directly contributed to Valentine’s passing.

The protest was organized by local business owner and former Galveston county Sheriff’s deputy Glen Wilson, who owns a barber shop across the street from La Marque police station. The group, lead by Wilson, is demanding that the incident be investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Mayor Geraldine Sam and Councilman Keith Bell addressed the crowd at city hall asking for patience and support of police officers during the ongoing investigation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Do You Have IBD?

Ashley Davis — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:42:00 GMT

Do you have IBD? IBD stands for Inflammatory bowel disease, and it is a group of inflammatory conditions of the large intestine and small intestine. The two major types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Some symptoms of IBD include:

Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Hematochezia (bright red blood in stools)
Weight loss
Arthritis
Pyoderma gangrenosum
Primary sclerosing cholangitis

A diagnosis of IBD usually comes after a colonoscopy, and treatment may include a immunosuppression to control the symptoms.

Although IBD can be a very uncomfortable and limit the quality of life, it is very rarely fatal.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ashley Davis

Energy Drinks and Exercise Don't Mix

Ashley Davis — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:06:31 GMT

Although energy drinks can give you that extra boost when having a sluggish day, experts caution against consuming them before workouts. The extreme amount of caffeine in the drinks combined with raising your blood pressure and heart rate can potentially cause some serious health problems.

An energy drink can range from about 80 milligrams of caffeine- the equivalent of an average brewed coffee- up to 250 milligrams per serving. Consuming high amounts of caffeine can lead to dehydration, which is something you want to try and avoid during a workout. The dehydration occurs because caffeine is a diuretic, which causes your body to loose fluid. When you add this to an already sweaty athlete, the effects can be very dangerous. Cramps, elevated body temperature, and even seizures or abnormal heart rates can occur.

If you cant bare to give up your energy drinks before your workouts, just make sure to consume plenty of water in order to avoid becoming dehydrated!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ashley Davis

Did You Know?

Ashley Davis — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:10:53 GMT

In March of 2007, The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) asks Novartis Pharmaceuticals to stop the sale of the irritable bowel syndrome drug Zelnorm. It is now known that Zelnorm increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular side effects.

In a study of over 18.000 patients in over 29 clinical studies, patients were said to have had over eight times more of a chance to have a stroke or heart attack compared to those who are not on the drug.

The FDA approved Zelnorm in 2002 for the short-term treatment of women who were suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal discomfort, and constipation as well as bloating.

The new patient information advises patients who get new or increased stomach pain or blood in their stools to stop taking Zelnorm right away and to immediately contact their doctor to determine if they may have a serious problem. In addition, the new labeling advises patients to stop taking Zelnorm and to call a doctor right away if they experience diarrhea that leads to lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ashley Davis

Wear Sunscreen!!

Ashley Davis — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:38:36 GMT

Now that summer is just around the corner it is important to be prepared as you put on your swimsuits and lounge in the sun all day. For a little reminder I wanted to go over some of the consequences associated with sunburn and not wearing your sunscreen. Did you know that one blistering sunburn can double your likelihood of developing cancer?? In addition, chronic sun exposure will cause premature wrinkling and aging of your skin.

Skin cancer from sun exposure in a very serious health problem in the US and it is affecting millions every year. One out of 87 people will develop malignant melanoma (the most serious type of skin cancer) and 7,300 of them will die each year.

Another effect of sunburn is suppression of the immune system. When the skin becomes burned the distribution of white blood cells in your body can be adversely affected. When the function of the white blood cells is compromised they are unable to fight off infections as readily. After each sunburn this suppression can last up to 24 hours, howeverm in the case of repeated sunburns the suppression can become permanent!

So avoid all of these dangerous effects by wearing sunscreen while enjoying your summer!!!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ashley Davis

Healthy Eating?

Ashley Davis — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:16:01 GMT

You think that you are eating healthy, but what if you found out that despite your hard efforts that you were doing the opposite? Here are 10 things that might seem okay to eat but are actually high in caloric or fat content:

1.Rice Cakes- This kind of simple carb will stimulate unwanted fat storage and slow down your bodies fat-burning capabilities.

2.Fruit Juice- Usually very high in sugar and can sometimes even equal the same amount as a soda!

3.Flavored Oatmeal- Very high in sugar. (Cut down on the packets or use unflavored)

4.Alcohol- Very high in calories

5.Salad Dressing- Can be very high in fat (choose low fat)

6.Muffins- can be very calorie dense

7.Breaded Chicken of Fish- Loaded with unwanted fat

8.Frozen Yogurt- contains carbohydrates that are converted to fat

9.Deli Meats- high in fat and sodium

10.Regular Sodas- Loaded with sugar

This list has definitely got me thinking more about what I am eating!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ashley Davis

Kolcraft Recalls

Ashley Davis — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:11:48 GMT

On September 27, 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) called for an immediate recall of all Kolcraft infant play yards following the death of a 10-month-old child. The CPSC received the report that this young boy was strangled due to a restraint strap on his changing table that was hanging down to where he was located. Due to this strap, there is a strangulation hazard for the children at play. 12 different Kolcraft play yards were included in this recall.

The play yards were came in a variety of colors and patterns and were sold at retail stores nationwide from January 2001 through September 2007. Consumers should immediately stop using the changing tables and contact Kolcraft at (888) 655-8484 or www.kolcraft.com for a free repair kit.

Make sure that your child does not fall victim to this faulty equipment.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ashley Davis