Archive for February 17th, 2012

This Week In Travel And Health

Friday, February 17th, 2012 by

I’m pretty sure that your bucket list – like mine – includes visiting Carnival in Rio at least once. Well, here’s your shot. It starts tomorrow (Saturday, the 18th) and continues through Fat Tuesday. You can party for 96 straight hours (if you’re tough enough), have the time of your life, eat chicken hearts and as much filet mignon as you want and enjoy the party of a lifetime. Of course, this is a blog about travel and health, so I feel obligated to encourage you to at least try to exercise some sense of moderation. Good luck.

The sports world has been dominated by “Linsanity” for the last two weeks. That’s the international phenomenon that is overnight superstar Jeremy Lin of the NBA’s New York Knicks. The Harvard-educated Taiwanese-American has dominated headlines for the last two weeks for his out-of-nowhere performance. And now travel agents in Taiwan have jumped on the bandwagon. CNN reports that Lion Tours is offering “Linsanity tours” to their customers in Taiwan – 10 or 11-day packages to visit the East Coast of the US, and tickets to a Knicks game in Madison Square Garden.

At the Wall Street Journal, renowned New York chef Michael White offers some tips about how best to deal with frequent trips to Asia.

At the New York Times, Jesse McKinley wonders whatever happened to flying first class?

As a follow up to our earlier post on making sure you get proper sleep when traveling the globe, read this older post at Health Conscious Travel on five foods to help you sleep.

And while most of America has enjoyed a very warm winter, And while most of America has enjoyed a very warm winter, you might feel like you need a shock of cold to make you feel like you’re moving through the normal cycle of the seasons. If you want to feel that old chill, Kathy Lally of the Washington Post suggests that you head to Moscow, Russia. After a balmy start to winter in Russia, things are back to frigid usual

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How Do You Sleep At Night?

Friday, February 17th, 2012 by

We love to travel, but travel is exhausting. The problem for many is that it’s just so difficult to sleep when they’re away from home. And that can make the thrill of visiting a new place a little less thrilling.

And, of course, when you’re crossing time zones, there’s the specter of jet lag.

The symptoms of being overtired on the road – body fatigue, headaches, inability to concentrate – are obvious. What might not be as obvious are strategies to get more rest while you’re traveling. Here are some ideas:

While on the plane:

  • Block out light. Use a sleep mask to block out light.
  • Reduce noise. Even if there isn’t a screaming baby sitting right behind you, there’s a lot of noise and conversation going on around you. Bring along earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.
  • Get comfortable. To do this, you’ll likely need some sleep aids such as a neck pillow and a blanket to remind you of home.

In your hotel:

  • Ignore the time zone you’re visiting. Whenever possible, try to go to sleep at the same time that you would if you were at home – or at least as close to that time as possible.
  • Get some exercise. Even a quick 20 minute workout during the day will make it easier for you to fall asleep at bedtime. It’s important that you get your exercise at least five hours before lights out; otherwise, you’ll be all amped up have a hard time finding Never-Never Land.
  • Bring your own pillow. One of the best sleep aids is the pillow you’re must comfortable with. Bringing it with you is a signal to your brain that it’s allowed to relax.
  • Create a good sleeping environment. Close the curtains, turn off dripping faucets, set the thermostat, turn off your phone and use a machine that creates white noise to help drown out unfamiliar noises in the night.
  • Have a bedtime routine. A lot of travelers suggest a relaxing soak in the tub or even just listening to some soothing music.

Doctors and researchers always tell us that adults need seven to eight hours of solid sleep each night (not that I know anybody who gets that). It’s hard to do that when you’re filling your travel schedule with business meetings or a late night dinner on the local cuisine. But hopefully these ideas will help you get a little more rest and relaxation and make traveling something you’re enjoying, rather than simply enduring.

Photo by Fellowship of the Rich.

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Posted in Balance and Wellness | 1 Comment »

The Franco Fen Phen

Friday, February 17th, 2012 by

Those of us who were practicing medicine back in the mid 1990’s recall the amazing “miracle pill”  Fen-Phen, a combination of two drugs called fenfluramine and phentermine, that resulted in rapid weight loss.  Its popularity was short lived, however, when it was discovered that the two medicines together could cause damage to heart valves and a serious lung condition called primary pulmonary hypertension.  The pills were pulled off the market by its manufacturer Wyeth Ayerst, eventually costing the pharmaceutical company over 21 billion dollars in legal settlements with those who claimed to have been damaged by Fen Phen.

In an odd case of “déjà-vu” French officials announced recently that Mediator, a drug licensed for use by diabetics that became widely used in France for over thirty years as a slimming aid, probably caused at least 1,300 deaths. The drug was originally developed to reduce lipids, but was found to be effective in helping diabetics maintain control of their blood sugar.  When it was also noted to suppress appetite, the drug ultimately gained approval in France to help diabetic patients who were obese lose weight.  Eventually, the drug became widely popular among non diabetic patients who just wanted to shed extra pounds.

In 2009, the drug was removed from the market by its French manufacturer Servier amidst allegations that were hauntingly similar to those against Fen Phen.  A number of users of Mediator had heart valve damage or developed primary pulmonary hypertension. 

The data, which was compiled by the French National Health System, was pulled primarily from the records of those who died from faulty heart valves among major users of the drug.  The statistics likely underestimate mortality rates, as they did not include users who may have died from primary pulmonary hypertension.

Mediator’s generic name is Benfluorex, and is an amphetamine derivative just like the two drugs that made up Fen-Phen. Despite the wide publicity surrounding the adverse effects of Fen-Phen, and suspicion for years that Mediator had identical problems, the medication was taken by over 5 million French between 1976 and 2009.  Investigations are underway and lawsuits have already been filed, citing negligence on the part of Servier and French regulatory agencies.

Travelers to other countries should be careful about taking drugs that have not been properly vetted.  Mediator was never approved for use in either the United States or the United Kingdom.

Photo by DES Diethylstilbestrol.

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Posted in Food and Diet | Comments »