Ramanisblog

Tag: Parkinson’s disease

  • Dieting,Low Calories,Longevity,Health.My Experience.

    A diet rich in soy and whey protein, found in ...
    A diet rich in soy and whey protein, found in products such as soy milk and low-fat yogurt, has been shown to reduce breast cancer incidence in rats. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     

    Latest Studies by Nature have shown that Dieting and Low Calorie intake does not extend Longevity nor are they a factor in improving general Health.

     

    Recent tests conducted on Monkeys have revealed this fact , indicating while there might be resistance to some diseases like cancer by following CR  and in some cases even this feature was missing.

     

    I may also add that despite increased talk of general improvement  to Health by Exercises and Walking(generally an hour a day), I am yet to find a solid case that these things have helped in improving general Health.

     

    Many a Doctor seem to be suggesting  the ‘Walk’ as a general prescription.

     

    Let me quote an example.

     

    About a couple of years back, I was becoming breathless after a walk of about ten to fifteen minutes.

     

    I had a Master check up in Manipal Hospital,Bangalore.

     

    There was an increase in LDL

     

    (I had a heart attack about seven years earlier and had a check up at Vijaya Hospital,Chennai and was prescribed cholesterol  controlling drug/s. I was using them for about two years and after another routine check up I found there was again an increase,hence I dropped these medication)

     

    The Doctor at Manipal discussed the condition with me and advised me not to stop the drugs prescribed and continue with additional drugs:he also told me to take a Walk ‘ for at least an hour a Day.

     

    My discussion with the Doctor went some thing like this.

    ‘Doctor, do you remember why I came to consult you?

     

    ‘Yes, You have a Heart problem‘

     

    ‘Sorry, I came because  I had difficulty to in walking for more than fifteen minutes at a stretch- that I have a heart problem was diagnosed  by you. If I could not walk for fifteen minutes how can I walk for an hour?

     

    ‘You got me wrong, You walk for till you become breathless, take rest and then walk and repeat the process.The body will tell you when to stop’

    ‘My body has already told me  to stop after fifteen minutes.Do you think it has to remind me till I drop?

    He laughed.

     

    I continued.

    ‘ As to the drugs, my levels have increased despite taking these Drug, so..”

    The Doctor was about to disrupt me. I continued.

     

    ‘ Wait, I am aware what you are about to say-that my diet has changed and I have stress. unfortunately I continue eating the same Thayir Saatham , Paruppu and Traditional South Indian Food and as to Stress  , when compared to my earlier days I have less stress , sot  there seems to be no logic in the recommendation , though it may be medical y correct for you. The long and short of it is that this Machine is getting old and it is showing up.better leave it to its ways than to tinker and invite trouble’

     

    He replied’ Uncle, I wish I had patients like you, I have my father, who is 75 and he keeps on fussing about his heart.

    ” If he has a  son who is a Doctor, he is likely to be so ‘

     

    He advised me to take care and I am continuing with out drugs or Walks(that is as a regimen ‘if I have to go out on an errand , I Will.

     

    (As to the question why I went to a Doctor if my views are like these, well, it was because my children can afford costly Medicare and they get upset if I do not go)

     

    Coming to the Topic on hand, it is my view that all forced behaviour like walking exercises do not increase your longevity nor do they prevent diseases.

     

    Leave the Machine be and avoid vices.

     

    Take moderate food ,and walk when you feel.

    Story:

    Longevity differences aside, the two studies found remarkably similar health benefits of CR monkeys. Both found that monkeys on CR diets were less likely to develop tumors, showed reduced evidence of cardiovascular disease, and had better blood sugar control. Both studies have also found evidence that calorie restriction slows brain aging. The Wisconsin researchers found that age-related brain atrophy is lessened in CR monkeys, while the NIA group previously published that a CR regimen helps prevent symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in macaques.

    “I love fact that in a lot of ways what we say really is the same,” said Ricki Colman, first author on the Wisconsin group’s 2009 paper. Colman pointed out that although CR-promoted longevity may get the most attention, possible health benefits are more important. “The point is not to live forever, but live a healthier life,” he said. “That’s what most people are after.”

    In the NIA project, however, the researches divided the monkeys into “young-onset” CR macaques, who started caloric restriction between 1 and 14 years old, and “old-onset” CR monkeys, who started CR between 16 and 23 years of age, and found that health benefits depended on the sex and age of CR enrollment. Old-onset male monkeys had lower triglycerides and cholesterol, while young-onset CR monkeys did not show these benefits. When the NIA team looked at cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease together, they found no differences between old-onset monkeys and controls; only young-onset CR monkeys seemed to benefit, falling ill later in their lives.

    For now, both primate studies will continue, and researchers at NIA and the University of Wisconsin are beginning to collaborate to understand which variables, like diet composition and genetics, are most important in determining CR’s health effects.

    Much aging research has “ignored health and focused on longevity,” said Steven Austad of the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, who wrote the Nature commentary on the study but was not involved in the research. The NIA “monkeys got less diabetes and cancer, yet didn’t translate this didn’t translate to longer life,” he said, suggesting that these two effects can—and should—be separated.

    http://the-scientist.com/2012/08/29/dieting-monkeys-dont-live-longer/

     

     

    Related articles

  • Our Brains also Have Recycle Bins

     

     

    Scientists have found that our brains have a system to clean itself.

     

    To me it is called Sleep,Time and Death.

    Quote:

    Research from the University of Rochester Medical Center, though, has now shown that—in mice, at least—the brain has its own flushing mechanism, a bit like a toilet. It quite literally pumps fluid along the outside of blood vessels to wash crap away.

    To work that out, the team of researchers monitored fluid flow in the brain using radioactive tracers. They observed that mouse brains have extracellular space through which cerebrospinal fluid flows to wash waste away. The team also showed that mice brains without such space cleared waste—including amyloid proteins which are linked to Alzheimer’s—70 percent more slowly than normal mice. The results are published in Science.

    While the finding in itself is interesting, perhaps more exciting is what the future holds for this kind of research. In theory, it should be possible to amp up the amount of flushing the brain does—which could in turn help scientists purge the junk that contributes to diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. [Science via Wired]

    http://gizmodo.com/5935260/how-your-brain-cleans-itself

    Related articles

     

  • Coffee-Boon or Bane?

     

    Contradicting information on the usefulness of Coffee to Health.

    As a habit it is difficult to shake off.

    Let us enjoy Coffee in moderation,two cups a day.

    Scientific studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and an array of medical conditions. Findings have been contradictory as to whether coffee has any specific health benefits, and results are similarly conflicting regarding the potentially harmful effects of coffee consumption.[9] Variations in findings, however, can be at least partially resolved by considering the method of preparation. Coffee prepared using paper filters removes oily components called diterpenes that are present in unfiltered coffee. Two types of diterpenes are present in coffee: kahweol and cafestol, both of which have been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease via elevation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in blood.[89] Metal filters, on the other hand, do not remove the oily components of coffee.[10]

    In addition to differences in methods of preparation, conflicting data regarding serving size could partially explain differences between beneficial/harmful effects of coffee consumption.

    Coffee consumption has been shown to have minimal or no impact, positive or negative, on cancer development;[90] however, researchers involved in an ongoing 22-year study by theHarvard School of Public Health state that “the overall balance of risks and benefits [of coffee consumption] are on the side of benefits.”[90] Other studies suggest coffee consumption reduces the risk of being affected by Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, cirrhosis of the liver,[91] and gout. A longitudinal study in 2009 showed that those who consumed a moderate amount of coffee or tea (3–5 cups per day) at midlife were less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in late-life compared with those who drank little coffee or avoided it altogether.[92] It increases the risk of acid reflux and associated diseases.[93] Most of coffee’s beneficial effects against type 2 diabetes are not due to its caffeine content, as the positive effects of consumption are greater in those who drink decaffeinated coffee.[94] The presence ofantioxidants in coffee has been shown to prevent free radicals from causing cell damage.[95] A recent study showed that roast coffee, high in lipophilic antioxidants and chlorogenic acid lactones, protected primary neuronal cell cultures against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death.[96]

    In a healthy liver, caffeine is mostly broken down by the hepatic microsomal enzymatic system. The resulting metabolites are mostlyparaxanthines—theobromine and theophylline—and a small amount of unchanged caffeine is excreted by urine. Therefore, the metabolism of caffeine depends on the state of this enzymatic system of the liver. Elderly individuals with a depleted enzymatic system do not tolerate coffee with caffeine. They are recommended to take decaffeinated coffee, and this only if their stomach is healthy, because both decaffeinated coffee and coffee with caffeine cause heartburn. Moderate amounts of coffee (50–100 mg of caffeine or 5–10 g of coffee powder a day) are well tolerated by most elderly people. Excessive amounts of coffee, however, can, in many individuals, cause very unpleasant, exceptionally even life-threatening adverse effects.[97]. The benefits of coffee on abnormal liver biochemistry, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma have been reported, but there is a lack of satisfactory explanation. The benefits of coffee on abnormal liver biochemistry, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma have been reported, but there is a lack of satisfactory explanation. A possible opposite, if not antagonistic, role of coffee and Mediterranean Diet with regard to overweightness and insulin resistance is envisaged in the natural history of NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic-Fatty-Liver-Disease) .[98] Coffee consumption can lead to iron deficiency anemia in mothers and infants.[99] Coffee also interferes with the absorption of supplemental iron.[100] Interference with iron absorption is due to the polyphenols present in coffee. Four major classes were identified: flavan-3-ols (monomers and procyanidins), hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols and anthocyanidins.[101] Although the inhibition of iron absorption can cause an iron deficiency, iron is considered a carcinogen in relation to the liver. Polyphenols contained in coffee are therefore associated with decreasing the risk of liver cancer development.[102]

    American scientist Yaser Dorri has suggested that the smell of coffee can restore appetite and refresh olfactory receptors. He suggests that people can regain their appetite after cooking by smelling coffee beans, and that this method can also be used for research animals.[103]

    Over 1,000 chemicals have been reported in roasted coffee; more than half of those tested (19/28) are rodent carcinogens.[104] Coffee’s negative health effects are often blamed on its caffeine content. Instant coffee has a much greater amount of acrylamide than brewed coffee.[105] Research suggests that drinking caffeinated coffee can cause a temporary increase in the stiffening of arterial walls.[106]Caffeinated coffee is not recommended for everybody. It may aggravate preexisting conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, migraines, arrhythmias, and cause sleep disturbances.[107]

    Coffee is no longer thought to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease.[108] One study suggests that it may have a mixed effect on short-term memory, by improving it when the information to be recalled is related to the current train of thought but making it more difficult to recall unrelated information.[109] Caffeine has been associated with its ability to act as an antidepressant. A review by de Paulis and Martin indicated a link between a decrease in suicide rates and coffee consumption, and suggested that the action of caffeine in blocking the inhibitory effects of adenosine on dopamine nerves in the brain reduced feelings of depression.[110] A 1992 study concluded that about 10% of people with a moderate daily intake (235 mg per day) experienced increased depression and anxiety when caffeine was withdrawn,[111] but a 2002 review of the literature criticised its methodology and concluded that “[t]he effects of caffeine withdrawal are still controversial.”[112]About 15% of the U.S. general population report having stopped drinking coffee altogether, citing concern about health and unpleasant side effects of caffeine.[113]

    Caffeine and headaches

    There is some controversy over whether the caffeine in coffee causes headaches or helps relieve headaches. In a 2000 controlled study by the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, revealed that adults who took ibuprofen, an over the counter pain killer, combined with caffeine or one cup of coffee had increased effectiveness against tension headaches. The study did not recommend that the caffeine and ibuprofen combination was effective against migraine headaches. A Johns Hopkins controlled study has linked drinking coffee with addictive withdrawal headaches, even with those who drink coffee in moderation. A 2009 Norwegian University of Science and Technology controlled study claims that heavy coffee drinkers, four cups a day, are more likely to suffer occasional headaches than persons who have low coffee or caffeine consumption.[114]

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee

    Heart Disease and Stroke

    Coffee may counter several risk factors for heart attack and stroke.

    First, there’s the potential effect on type 2 diabetes risk. Type 2 diabetes makes heart disease and stroke more likely.

    Besides that, coffee has been linked to lower risks for heart rhythm disturbances (another heart attack and stroke risk factor) in men and women, and lower risk for strokes in women.

    In a study of about 130,000 Kaiser Permanente health plan members, people who reported drinking 1-3 cups of coffee per day were 20% less likely to be hospitalized for abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) than nondrinkers, regardless of other risk factors.

    And, for women, coffee may mean a lower risk of stroke.

    In 2009, a study of 83,700 nurses enrolled in the long-term Nurses’ Health Study showed a 20% lower risk of stroke in those who reported drinking two or more cups of coffee daily, compared to women who drank less coffee or none at all. That pattern held regardless of whether the women had high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and type 2 diabetes.

    Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases

    “For Parkinson’s disease, the data have always been very consistent: higher consumption of coffee is associated with decreased risk of Parkinson’s,” Hu tells WebMD. That seems to be due to caffeine, though exactly how that works isn’t clear, Hu notes.

    Coffee has also been linked to lower risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. A 2009 study from Finland and Sweden showed that, out of 1,400 people followed for about 20 years, those who reported drinking 3-5 cups of coffee daily were 65% less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, compared with nondrinkers or occasional coffee drinkers.

    Cancer

    The evidence of a cancer protection effect of coffee is weaker than that for type 2 diabetes. But “for liver cancer, I think that the data are very consistent,” Hu says.

    “All of the studies have shown that high coffee consumption is associated with decreased risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer,” he says. That’s a “very interesting finding,” Hu says, but again, it’s not clear how it might work.

    Again, this research shows a possible association, but like most studies on coffee and health, does not show cause and effect.

    Pregnancy

    In August 2010, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) stated that moderate caffeine drinking – less than 200 mg per day, or about the amount in 12 ounces of coffee – doesn’t appear to have any major effects on causing miscarriage, premature delivery, or fetal growth.

    But the effects of larger caffeine doses are unknown, and other research shows that pregnant women who drink many cups of coffee daily may be at greater risk for miscarriage than non-drinkers or moderate drinkers. Again, it’s not clear whether the coffee was responsible for that.

    Calories, Heartburn, and Urine

    You won’t break your calorie budget on coffee — until you start adding the trimmings.

    According to the web site myfoodapedia.gov — part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion — a 6-ounce cup of black coffee contains just 7 calories. Add some half & half and you’ll get 46 calories. If you favor a liquid nondairy creamer, that will set you back 48 calories. A teaspoon of sugar will add about 23 calories.

    Drink a lot of coffee and you may head to the bathroom more often. Caffeine is a mild diuretic – that is, it makes you urinate more than you would without it. Decaffeinated coffee has about the same effect on urine production as water.

    Both regular and decaffeinated coffee contain acids that can make heartburn worse.

    http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/coffee-new-health-food

    Related:

    A study by psychologists at Bristol University found drinking caffeinated coffee boosts a woman’s performance in stressful situations but has the opposite effect on men.

    They become less confident and take longer to complete tasks once they have downed several cups of coffee.

    The findings, published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, suggest the beverage may have radically different effects on the sexes in high-pressure situations.

    Some of the potential health benefits include protection against diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, liver damage and even gout.

    Caffeine in coffee is a known stimulant which works on the brain and can combat drowsiness and fatigue.

    But researchers wanted to examine what coffee does to the body when it is already under stress, especially when large quantities are consumed in high-pressure meetings

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8296548/Coffee-helps-working-women-but-holds-back-men.html

  • Fever,Causes and Cure.

    Open bottles of Extra Strength Tylenol and Ext...
    Image via Wikipedia

     

    Fever is not a disease; it is a symptom of a disease.

    Bear with it for a couple of hours; if the temperature is hovering around 102 F, apply cold press on the forehead, have clothes removed and lie in a ventilated room.

    Then you can visit your Doctor,discuss with him including your diet habits and take mild medicines if necessary.

    Never agree for a heavy Antibiotics course unless it is very essential.

    Have tests done to determine causes.

    Check for urine infection as well.

    Never indulge in self medication or by the over the counter(OTC) drugs.

    You can make the diagnosis of fever by taking your temperature with a thermometer. In an adult, the thermometer is placed in the mouth or rectum (use a rectal thermometer).

    Feeling of motion when your body is still. Feeling lightheaded or that you are about to faint. Balance problems, such as being unsteady on your feet or feeling as if you might fall. Feelings of anxiety or panic.

    In general, a fever can be treated with any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent — called NSAIDS — such as ibuprofen (Motrin) or withacetaminophen (Tylenol). Both medications help control pain and fever. Alternating doses of each will also work and prevent accidental overdose. At times, a combination of both acetaminophen and ibuprofen will be needed to stop the fever.

    Aspirin is not the first choice for fever reduction. It may be toxic in large doses in adults or cause Reye syndrome in children.

    • Ibuprofen comes in 200-mg tablets purchased over the counter at a drug store. You may take one to two tablets every four hours to decrease your temperature. Use the lowest possible dose.
      • Side effects of ibuprofen include nausea and vomiting, which may be prevented if the medication is taken with food. Rare side effects include diarrhea,constipation, heartburn, and stomach pain. People with stomach ulcers or kidney disease, pregnant women, and those with an aspirin allergy should avoid ibuprofen.
      • Common brand names of ibuprofen include Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin. Read the product label for specific ingredients described as ibuprofen.
      • Acetaminophen also prevents a fever from occurring. It comes in 325 mg tablets or 500 mg tablets over the counter. Again, one to two tablets every four hours should be used to eliminate a fever.
        • Side effects are rare, but some people are allergic to the medication. Extremely large doses (overdose) may cause liver failure. Therefore, people with liver disease and chronic alcohol users should avoid this medication.
        • Common brand names of acetaminophen are Aspirin Free Anacin, Feverall, Genapap, Panadol, Tempra, and Tylenol. Read the product label for specific ingredients described as acetaminophen.
      • A fever can cause you to become very dehydrated. Drink lots of fluids. Attempts to cool the skin may only make you more uncomfortable. This may also cause shivering, which will actually increase your body temperature if the fever is being caused by an infection. Further therapy depends on the cause of the fever and the accompanying symptoms. Basic cold symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter medications.
      • If the fever is caused by exposure to hot weather or overexertion, the technique is different from treating any other fever. Neither acetaminophen nor ibuprofen will be effective. The person needs to be cooled immediately. If the person is confused or unconsciousness, seek emergency medical help immediately. While waiting for help, remove the person from the hot environment and remove his or her clothes. The body should be cooled with a wet sponge, and a fan should be directed over the person.

    The treatment of a fever depends on its cause. In most cases, except hyperthermia, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be given to lower the temperature. Fluids may be given by mouth or intravenously to prevent dehydration, if necessary.

    • Viral illnesses usually resolve on their own. Medications to help with specific symptoms can be given. These may include medications to lower fever, help with congestion, soothe a sore throat, or control a runny nose. Viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea may require intravenous fluids and medications to slow down the diarrhea and stop nausea. A few viral illnesses can be treated with antiviral drugs. Herpes and the influenza virus are examples. If the person is able to drink fluids and the symptoms are mild, he or she will be able to go home.
    • Bacterial illnesses require a specific antibiotic that depends on the type of bacteria found or where it is located in the body. The physician will determine whether the person is admitted to the hospital or sent home. This decision is based on the illness and the person’s other medical conditions.
    • Most fungal infections can be treated with an antifungal medication.
    • Drug-induced fever is eliminated when the medication is stopped.
    • A blood clot requires admission to the hospital and blood thinners.
    • Any person with an illness that inhibits the immune system will be evaluated closely and usually admitted to the hospital.
    • Environmental heat exposure requires aggressive cooling in the emergency room. The person’s clothes will be removed, a cooling fan and cool mist will be used, and his or her vital signs will be monitored closely. Hyperthermic people will be admitted to the hospital.
    • Related:

    It has become second nature for most of us to self medicate our headaches, joint pain, and athletic injuries with over-the-counter pain medications. Many of us may have even been directed to do so by a physician. But how safe are over-the-counter painkillers?

    It’s easy to forget that just because we can buy painkillers like Aspirin, Tylenol (acetaminophen), and Motrin (ibuprofen) over-the-counter, that they can still be dangerous. For the most part, these drugs are safe to use as directed. But many of us feel if a little is good, more must be better… and that’s where the trouble begins.

    From LA Times — The ubiquitous but little-understood painkillers:

    Used correctly, over-the-counter analgesics can help with acute aches and pains. Even more enticing, growing evidence suggests that some of them might also help fight Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, as well as heart attacks and some cancers.

    But there are real risks. It’s easy to overdose, with dangers that include stomach upset, organ failure, strokes, even death. And the safe upper limits may vary from one person to the next, depending on body size, genes and prior health conditions.

    When it comes to over-the-counter painkillers, acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) is one of the most problematic, since only a very small amount over the recommended dose can have serious complications. And complicating the issue even more, Acetaminophen is in many over-the-counter cold medicines as well.

    What about Motrin and Advil (ibuprofen — also known as NSAIDs)? Are they the safer choice? Not necessarily, especially with long-term use. This is from a 2005 article in Science Daily:

    Everyday more than 30 million people take over-the-counter and prescription NSAIDs for pain relief, headaches and arthritis. Currently, there are about 20 NSAIDs available by prescription only. Many, including ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin and ketoprofen are available over the counter.* Although NSAIDs and aspirin provide great benefit in terms of pain relief and cardioprotective effects, there is an increased risk of gastrointestinal complications ranging from stomach pain to ulcers. Moreover, these drugs are responsible for severe and potentially deadly gastrointestinal problems. Each year, the side effects of long-term NSAID use cause nearly 103,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths. More people die each year from NSAIDs-related complications than from AIDS and cervical cancer in the United States.

    I learned this the hard way (a few years ago) when my mother was hospitalized (and nearly died) from complications due to long term use of ibuprofen.

    Did you know that there are athletes that routinely take ibuprofen to prevent pain and injury? It turns out that this could be doing more harm than good. From an article in the LA Times — Over-the-counter painkillers can add to the pain:

    After the race, runners who had taken ibuprofen showed signs of mild kidney impairment as well as mild endotoxemia, a potentially dangerous condition in which bacterial toxins present in the large intestine get into the bloodstream, Nieman and colleagues reported in 2006 in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.

    The drug also failed to help performance or recovery, the researchers reported in that paper and others. Both groups of runners reported equivalent amounts of pain during the race. Their times were the same. And afterward, their muscles were equally sore.

    Most ironic, runners on ibuprofen actually had 50% more inflammation in their bodies after the race, even though athletes often choose to take the drug to fight inflammation.

    http://www.blogher.com/how-dangerous-are-overthecounter-painkillers-are-you-risk

     

  • Parkinson’s cure Medicines makes one Psychotic/Gay Sex Addict.

    Illustration of Parkinson's disease
    Image via Wikipedia

    Parkinson’s is one of the diseases for which Science has no real answer.

    There is no case where such disease has been cured as in cancer.

    As of now medicines that are available do not cure but definitely have serious side effects as in this case.

    Pharma companies do not reveal details of Clinical trials where side effects are indicated.( please read my Blogs under Health).

    Best preventive measures Healthy Food, adequate rest, least consumption of tobacco/liquor and avoidance of the habit of popping pills for slightest health problems.

    Story:

    A MARRIED dad is suing the makers of a drug he took for Parkinson’s disease, claiming it turned him into a psychotic gay sex addict.

    Didier Jambart, 51, says the drastic side-effects also saw him start cross-dressing and get hooked on internet gambling.

    He is demanding £400,000 damages from pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Requip, and his consultant.

    Revealing his torment, the ex-bank worker and town councillor blames the drug for his three suicide attempts.

    Soon after being prescribed the pills in 2003 his behaviour changed. But he said: “Then my neurologist increased the dose and I completely lost the plot. I stole bank cards from friends and used them to gamble. I also sold my children’s toys and I borrowed money. In total I lost between £60,000 to £90,000 online.”

    Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/02/02/married-man-sues-pharmaceutical-giant-over-claims-parkinson-s-disease-treatment-tablet-turned-him-into-a-psychotic-gay-sex-addict-115875-22892203/#ixzz1CmIAWIFa
    Related:

    Parkinson’s..

    Symptoms

    The disorder may affect one or both sides of the body. How much function is lost can vary.

    Symptoms may be mild at first. For instance, the patient may have a mild tremor or a slight feeling that one leg or foot is stiff and dragging.

    Symptoms include:

    • Movement problems
      • Difficulty starting or continuing movement, such as starting to walk or getting out of a chair
      • Loss of small or fine hand movements; writing may become small and difficult to read; eating becomes difficult
      • Slowed movements
      • Stooped position

       

    • Rigid or stiff muscles, often beginning in the legs
    • Shaking, tremors
      • Tremors usually occur in the limbs at rest, or when the arm or leg is held out
      • Tremors go away during movement
      • Over time, tremor can be seen in the head, lips, tongue, and feet
      • May be worse when tired, excited, or stressed
      • Finger-thumb rubbing (pill-rolling tremor) may be present

       

    • Slowed, quieter speech and monotone voice

    Other symptoms:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001762

    Genes play a bigger role in Parkinson’s disease than previously thought, according to the largest genetic study yet.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12338325