 USING FOODS INSTEAD OF DRUGS FOR HEALTH |
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Risk of Fractures in Elderly Patients Taking Warfarin (Coumadin) "Background: Vitamin K 'produces an effect in the body] that activates clotting factors and bone proteins. Vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin 'coumadin] inhibit this process. Our goal was to quantify the association between warfarin and osteoporotic fractures in patients with 'irregular heartbeat.]" Editor's note: Patients with irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrilation,) are often given warfarin instead of aspirin* or alternative medicine. In this study, 7587 patients who were not prescribed warfarin were compared with 4461 patients who were given the drug. "Conclusion: Long-term use of warfarin was associated with osteoporotic fractures, at least in those with atrial fibrilation." *Aspirin has been found to be somewhat less effective against irregular heartbeat while causing fewer side effects. Needless to say, alternative medicine is often dismissed out of hand. From: Archives of Internal Medicine (pub. by the A.M.A..) vol. 166, 2006. By: Drs. Gage, Birman-Deych, Binder, et al., Div's. of Gen. Med. Sciences, and Geriatric and Nutritional Science, Wash. U. School of Med., St. Louis, MO. SEARCH BY SUBJECT - TABLE OF CONTENTS THIS MONTH'S HEALTH BULLETIN NEWS
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