Antidepressants might ease the blues but a recent study indicates that they might also cause more wrinkles.

Apparently a study on identical twins, conducted by researchers at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center, found that the use of antidepressants can contribute to faster aging.

Of course, the reasons that people are on the antidepressants in the first place are also probably contributing to the faster aging as well.

But because antidepressants function as muscle relaxants, their continued use might well lead to decreased facial muscle tone, resulting in a face that sags.

Read the full study here…

(image from sxc.hu)

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recover Month and in recognition of this, the bloggers at b5Media’s Health and Wellness Channel have put together their interpretation of the 12 Steps, looking at each step not just from it’s orginal intent but also in relation to their own blog topic. The result is an interesting and informative group of posting that provides ‘food for thought’ in own lives.

We’ve all heard of the 12 Step Program, but most of us won’t be able to recite what each step was. That’s because we are lucky enough not to need to. But for thousands of people around the world, the 12 steps is their world.

Mark over at A Dozen Steps lists the 12 Steps  that he believes are designed to bring the person who practices them to a spiritual awakening and a psychic change sufficient enough to bring about a radical change in thinking.

Angelique from Breaking the Mirror starts off with Step 1 and finds that this step could just as easily apply to many addictions and disorders.

Alicia from Mental Health Notes addresses Step 2, asking Can A Power Greater Than Yourself Restore You To Sanity’?

Karen from Pink Ribbon Review looks at Step 3 as it relates to her and her life as a breast cancer survivor.

Kelly from Grounded Fitness tackles Step 4, saying she believes everyone can benefit from doing a little honest soul searching.

Kendra from A Hearty Life dicusses Step 5, saying we need to stop hiding behind our own excuses, problems and shortcomings and take responsibility for our own actions.

Grace from Kids Health Notes contemplates Step 6, saying that while “defect of character” seems little to do with nurturing healthy children, in reality our weaknesses have a lot to do with keeping our children healthy and productive.

At Diabetes Notes, Kendra moves on to Step 7, saying humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.

Breaking the Mirror, looks at Step 8, saying if she was to make a list, she would probably start with herself, to be perfectly honest. Then, she’d move on to her immediate family, and from there, branch out to friends.

Alicia from Mental Health Notes further explores the twelve steps, this time looking at Step 9, asking ‘Should You Make Amends With Those You’ve Wronged?

Kristina from AutismVox focuses on Step 10, find that the call to self-scrutiny and to reexamination of oneself has always been important to her as an aid in figuring out how to help her son Charlie who is autistic.

Grace from Kids Health Notes looks into Step 11, saying she believes words can either bring life or death, curse or blessing, and that when we speak, or pray, specific words then something tangible takes place: Hope.

And for Step 12, the final step, Breaking the Mirror addresses ways that anyone can carry the message about their addiction or illness.

Ready for yet another possible medicinal use for marijuana? How about fighting MRSA, the staph infection resistant to most antibiotics.

Indeed, researchers in Italy and the UK tested five of marijuana’s major chemicals (called cannabinoids) on different strains of MRSA, and all five proved to be germ destroyers in lab tests. In addition, some synthetic cannabinoids showed that same capability. Interesting.

So why does marijuana work when traditional antibiotics don’t? Because the cannabinoids kill bacteria in a different way, and they are possibly able to bypass that bacterial resistance.

And what about marijuana’s trademark “high”? So far it’s been found that at least two of the cannabinoids don’t possess mood-altering effects. A drawback for some of you, but a benefit for most, wink-wink.

Can’t wait to see what becomes of this finding…

Looks like that little blue pill is moving out the bedroom and into the sports arena.

Many athletes believe that taking Viagra will help improve their performance in the field. And preliminary studies, showing a 40% performance improvement for cyclists taking Viagra, support this believe.

But experts aren’t convinced. They argue that even though Viagra works on the nitric oxide in the body and causes blood vessels to expand resulting in increased heart function and more oxygen in the lungs, it’s not a guarantee that it will improve an athlete’s performance.

In fact some doctors suggest that it’s actually Viagra’s more well-known effects on men’s sex lives that might be the reason for an athlete’s improved performance on the field. Here’s what Dr. Gerard Varlotta, director of sports rehabilitation at New York University’s Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, has to say …

“If athletes are euphoric after sex after taking Viagra, they may be euphoric about their athletic endeavors,” Varlotta said. “That may make them a better athlete.”

Meanwhile, the World Anti-Doping Agency ain’t happy. They are currently studying Viagra’s effects in athletes. If they decide that it is a performance inducing drug, they may look at banning Viagra. And that would be a performance in itself.

(source)

Image details: Frog served by picapp.com

Okay, this is one of those stories that sounds funny at first, but when you dig into the meat of it, it is soooo not funny. At all.

If you’re in the New York City area and you’re feeling a little frisky, please do not try your hand at ingesting toad venom - a supposed aphrodisiac. This kind of sexual adventure actually killed a 35-year-old man recently, and as I see it, death is not at all worth a few moments in the sack. Agreed?

This toad venom, sold illegally under the names Piedra, Love Stone, Jamaican Stone, Black Stone and Chinese Rock is being sold at sex shops and neighborhood stores. And oh, by the way, it is totally banned by the Food and Drug Administration. Good plan.

True, the fella mentioned above ingested the venom, rather than applying it to his skin (as is the “right” way to use it), but nontheless, authorities say there is no safe way to use this poison. In fact, it contains chemicals that can disrupt heart rhythms. And that’s not cool.

So once again, I say: Watch out. Keep away from the toads. And all will be well.

Make this a sexy Saturday, y’all. Naturally.

Read the whole scoop here.

If you think drugs are scary now, take a look at what was on offer in the 1800’s and 1900’s…

Source: Dr. Bonkers presents
The Nearly Genuine and Truly Marvelous
Psychoneuropharmacological Mental Medicine Show

Image details: Thinkstock Single Images served by picapp.com

Well now, here’s something you don’t see every day: an article stating the names of meds that doctors wouldn’t take. Yikes. These must be really nasty then, eh?

Well, we make no claims as such, but there surely is fair enough warning against them that we thought we’d pass ‘em along to you. For the hows and whys, read the entire article. But for now, here’s a quick look.

1. Advair (for asthma)

2. Avandia (for diabetes)

3. Celebrex (for arthritis / pain releif)

4. Ketek (antibiotic)

5. Prilosec (for heartburn)

6. Nexium (for heartburn)

7. Visine Original (for eyes)

8. Pseudoephedrine (decongestant)

Yikes! I see a couple on this list that I have taken or used before, how about you? If so, be sure to talk to your doctor to see if a switch may be in order.

Perhaps there’s something to be said for natural health now, isn’t there?

Check out these pictures over at Life in the Fast Lane.

You will not believe your eyes.

My first thought when I saw them was ‘they can’t be for real’ but apparently they are…

My second thought - how in the world would they ever find clothes that fit…

My third thought - why in the world would they do this to themselves…

Luckily,there is a new movie, Bigger Stronger Faster, due to be release at the end of the month that might be able to explain why some guys (and girls) have the need to turn their bodies into muscle bound caricatures. Made by the producers of Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, this movie, according to a Variety magazine review, offers an in-depth yet personal look at the use of steriods among athletes obsessed with body image and winning at all costs.

Bigger Stronger Faster trailer…

Further reading about bodybuilding and steroids:

The Truth About Professional Body Builders

5 Reasons Not to Take Anabolic Steroids.

The ‘little blue pill’ turns 10 this month. In fact, it was on this day in 1998 that Viagra was approved for use in erectile dysfunction by the Food and Drug Administration, making it the first anti-impotence pill to be approved for use in the United States.

So to mark it’s birthday I thought I’d dig out 10 interesting Viagra related articles from the past ten years.

1999 Flaccid Flowers Bloom on Viagra (Wired) writes

“An Israeli scientist has found a way to defer the droop in daisies and firm up flaccid freesia. He feeds them Viagra.”

2000 Drug firm is creating fast-acting, inhaled Viagra (The Independent) finds

“The maker of the anti-impotence drug Viagra has started work on an inhalable version that should hit the spot - so to speak - much faster than the pill form”.

2001 Secret to firefly light? Natural Viagra reports

“Scientists have identified the elusive chemical that fireflies use to turn their flashing bellies on and off, the same one that helps regulate heartbeats, aids memory and triggers erections in humans.”

2002 Viagra touted as lifeline to wild animals (CNN.com) writes

“The average man probably does not consider saving wildlife when popping a dose of Viagra, but two scientits suggest that the tiny pill could save tens of thousands of animals.”

2003 Everest mountaineers test Viagra on lungs (Telegraph) report

“Mountaineers on an anniversary Everest expedition are taking the impotence drug Viagra, which scientists believe will relieve high-altitude lung problems and avoid dangerous strain on their hearts.”

2004 Viarga could reduce men’s fertility (New Scientist) writes that

“…the anti-impotence drug not only speeds sperm up…but it also caused the vital reaction needed to penetrate an egg to occur prematurely.”

2005 Viagra vision link raise red flag (CNN.com) finds that

“U.S. health officials are investigating reports that some men who use Viagra and other impotence drugs are getting a rare form of blindness.”

2006 Viagra May Worsen Sleep Apnea (CBS News) reports

“new study shows that the erectile dysfunction drug may worsen sleep apnea, making it more difficult for men to get the oxygen their bodies need during sleep and increasing the risk of complications.”

2007 Viagra reduces hamster ‘jet lag’ (New Scientist) thinks that

“The ‘little blue pill’ given to treat impotence might also help people overcome jet lag fatigue.”

2008 A Dose of Desire (Washington Post) states that

“The Race is on to creat ‘pink Viagra’ but some women aren’t in the mood for it.”

Turns out there’s much more to that ‘liitle blue pill’ then everyone initially thought…

Remember this line ‘Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?’

Well, it turns out the mirror is now on the web and while it doesn’t offer an answer to the above rhyme, it can show you a glimpse of the future.

Good Morning America correspondent Andrea Canning recently checked out this new technology from two different companies.

Accenture Technology Labs is making a ‘persuasive mirror’ (not yet on the market) that is designed to show you exactly what bad habits - smoking, overeating, alcohol, sunbathing - can do to your face over a period of 6 months.

AgeMe.com by Aprilage Development takes this even further, providing an image of your face over the years rather than just months.

Fascinating stuff.

But will it really change a person’s habits?

What do you think?

Are you brave enough to give it a go?

If so, here’s a web version of AgeMe.com software to try out.

Let us know how you get on…