If you are taking febuxostat for high uric acid, then read this………

The US FDA has mandated that the gout drug febuxostat carry a boxed warning to alert doctors and patients to the increased risk for cardiovascular death with the drug. The warning also states that the drug use should be limited to patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate allopurinol.

The warning follows results from a post-marketing randomized trial comparing febuxostat with allopurinol in some 6000 patients with gout and CV disease: there were 15 CV deaths for every 1000 patients treated with febuxostat for 1 year, versus 11 for every 1000 treated with allopurinol.

For all-cause mortality, the numbers were 26 deaths per 1000 treated with febuxostat, versus 22 per 1000 with allopurinol.

Clinicians should advise patients to seek medical attention right away if they experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat while taking the drug. (NEJM Journal watch).

I hope you do not text while driving, if you read this……

Teenagers who reach for objects, such as food or makeup, while driving increase their risk of crashing nearly seven times, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health. Their study, which appears in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, also found that manually dialing, texting or browsing the web on a phone while driving doubled a teen’s crash risk.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disabilities among drivers aged 15 to 20 years, according to the

In addition to documenting a driver’s dialing, texting, browsing or reaching for a phone, researchers assessed numerous “secondary tasks,” including dancing to music, attending to personal hygiene, and eating or drinking. The study found that the greatest crash risk came from visual distractions related to using cell phones and reaching for objects.

Are you a Kettlebells fan: Read this……………..

improve fitness?

Weights (which range from 8 to 105 pounds) are featured in exercise classes, gyms, and fitness equipment stores, and they work several muscle groups at a time.

Holding a lot of weight by a handle engages your arm, leg, shoulder, back, and abdominal muscles. The pull on your muscles helps to strengthen them. The pull on your bones helps stimulate new bone cell growth.

Using kettlebells can improve your posture. “With the weight in front of you, your back muscles have to straighten up more to counteract the force of the kettlebell pulling you forward

Swinging a kettlebell also challenges your balance and helps to improve it.

Kettlebell risks

Dropping the weight on your foot

Lifting too much too soon or lifting a kettlebell the wrong way can lead to muscle strains, rotator cuff tears, and falls.

In osteoporosis or its precursor state osteopenia, lifting a heavy kettlebell may increase your risk for fractures

Use the appropriate weight and learn the proper form from an expert first.

Typical beginner kettlebell exercises include:

The farmer’s walk. Pick up one kettlebell on each side, pinch your shoulders down and back, and walk a distance of 20 feet (across a gym) four times.

The suitcase carry: Pick up a kettlebell with one hand (like you’re carrying a suitcase) and walk a distance of 20 feet (across a gym) four times. Don’t lean to the side. Repeat the exercise while carrying the kettlebell on the other side.

The goblet carry: Pick up the kettlebell with two hands and hold it in front of you as if you’re taking a sip from it. Then walk 20 feet back and forth a few times. That works your arm muscles, shoulders, biceps, and upper back muscles.

The kettlebell swing: Hold a kettlebell with both hands, arms extended down in front of you, so the kettlebell hangs between your legs. Lean forward, shift your weight onto your heels, and swing the kettlebell back between your legs. Then stand up as you swing the kettlebell forward to chest height. Repeat 10 times. (Harvard).