Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

World's Most Popular Painkiller Raises Heart Attack Risk

Excerpt from: NPR (click for full article)

 

The painkiller diclofenac isn't very popular in the U.S., but it's by far the most widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, in the world.

A slew of studies, though, show diclofenac — sold under the brand names Voltaren, Cambia, Cataflam and Zipsor — is just as likely to cause a heart attack as the discredited painkiller Vioxx (rofecoxib), which was pulled from the U.S. market in 2004.

But evidence of the drug's cardiovascular risk hasn't translated to a reduction in use, a paper in the journal PLOS Medicine found. Diclofenac far outsells ibuprofen, naproxen, and other NSAIDs in 15 countries around the world.

Down Syndrome and Heart Issues

Excerpt from: Bella Online (click for full article)

 

Because babies with Down syndrome have a much higher incidence of heart issues, most doctors sharing a diagnosis with new parents advise a comprehensive heart evaluation in their first few weeks of life. Some heart malformations that do occur can be heard or produce symptoms immediately. Many parents report that a newborn diagnosis of a heart problem eliminates the biggest concerns about their child having Down syndrome because it is such an immediate and overwhelming threat that their other worries are pushed aside. We have always been grateful for the great strides in surgical techniques and medical support that mean most children's heart issues can be resolved with a quicker recovery than seems possible to families.

A great benefit in having contact with other families whose newborns or young babies with Down syndrome have had successful heart surgeries is seeing photographs of them in later years on the playground or on sports teams, having fun with their families, and participating in mainstream school events. Not only do parents of newly diagnosed babies see that other children have grown up healthy and strong, but they have new images of the full potential of any baby with Down syndrome.