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Contents Page 1 |
Low dose AspirinWith chronic (regular) use, very little aspirin is needed to alter prostaglandin levels. It is true that energy expenditure studies have used full-strength aspirin, but I think it is unwise to take a full-strength aspirin three times a day. Chronic use of high dose aspirin causes too many side effects (3). I take one 81 mg enteric-coated aspirin with breakfast. Unlike aspirin, the side effects of ephedrine subside with regular use (1, 2). Of course, taking huge doses of ANY drug for recreational purposes is a dangerous endeavor but, when used sensibly, ephedrine (ma huang) has an impressive safety record dating back thousands of years. On the other hand, regular use of aspirin is known to increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke (3). In addition, people with abdominal obesity are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke (4). Sleep apnea and snoring, which is common among the obese, is associated with an increased risk of stroke (5). Low potassium levels (common among dieters) also increase ones risk of having a stroke. In fact, it has been shown that a high intake of potassium can reduce the risk of stroke by 40 percent (6). Wow! Tragically, rather than confuse the issue with facts, grandstanding politicians and the media blame ephedrine and the FDA imposes drastic limitations on the amount of potassium allowed in supplements. |
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>Note: Technically, noradrenaline released from the sympathetic nerve endings is referred to as a neurotransmitter; however, circulating noradrenaline is referred to as a hormone.
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Organize and EducateMy thinking is that obese people need to organize and educate the public. All diet and exercise schemes have a near 100% long-term failure rate because obesity is a disease that requires life-long drug treatment. If we could raise the public awareness of the facts about obesity we could create a climate where regulatory attacks on obesity medications (tryptophan, fenfluramine, ephedrine, etc.) would be met with the same public outrage that an attempt to ban insulin would produce. This is not as far-fetched as it may sound: diabetics release an insufficient amount of the hormone insulin; obese people release an insufficient amount of the hormone noradrenaline. In either case, if left untreated, the disease kills people. In both cases, the treatments have side effects but the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. Obesity medications, however, are held to a ridiculously high safety standard because of the archaic belief that we don't "need" them. For how long will we allow ourselves to be victimized by this ignorance? As I have posted previously, virtually all obesity medications (even prescription ones) have thermogenic properties. Obese people are rarely told about this, but it is a fact. Misinformation about obesity is nearly omnipresent. The only thing I trust are peer-reviewed, full-text medical articles where the "Materials and Methods" are clearly stated so the results can be objectively evaluated. The truth is out there, but with the current situation it is rarely found by anyone who does not know where to search for it. Eventually, the facts about obesity will be common knowledge and public perception (and our laws) will be transformed. In the meantime, perhaps we can speed the process up a bit. Anyone can buy a medical dictionary, learn the facts about obesity, and counter misinformation at every opportunity. Go for it!
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1.) Dulloo, AG "Ephedrine, xanthines and prostaglandin-inhibitors: actions and interactions in the stimulation of thermogenesis." Int J Obes (1993 Feb) Vol 17, No Suppl 1, Pg S35-40, PMID: 0008384178. 2.) Astrup, A. and Toubro, S. "Thermogenic, metabolic, and cardiovascular responses to ephedrine and caffeine in man." Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1993 Feb; 17 Suppl 1:S41-3, PMID: 0008384179. 3.) Steering Committee Of The Physicians' Health Study Research Group "Final report on the aspirin component of the ongoing physicians health study." N Engl J Med (1989 Jul 20) Vol 321, No 3, Pg 129-35, PMID: 0002664509. 4.) Bray, GA and Gray, DS "Obesity. Part I--Pathogenesis." West J Med (1988 Oct) Vol 149, No 4, Pg 429-41, PMID: 0003067447. 5.) Palomaki, H; Partinen, M; Erkinjuntti, T; and Kaste, M "Snoring, sleep apnea syndrome, and stroke." Neurology (1992 Jul) Vol 42, No 7 Suppl 6, Pg 75-81; discussion 82, PMID: 0001630643. 6.) Khaw, KT and Barrett-Connor, E. "Dietary potassium and stroke-associated mortality. A 12-year prospective population study." N Engl J Med (1987 Jan 29) Vol 316, No 5, Pg 235-40, PMID: 0003796701. |
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