300 Prescribed Medicines Can Damage the Lungs
This warning was issued at the first World Congress on Lung Health and
Respiratory Diseases in Florence, Italy, where 15,000 specialists from 84
countries gathered during the week of Sept. 3-9, 2000. Their official
statement was clear, "There are hundreds of medicines routinely prescribed
for a variety of disorders, including high blood pressure, allergies,
rheumatism, certain cancers or even common non-respiratory inflammations,
that can cause all kinds of lung diseases." These diseases are classified
as accidents that are induced in a patient by a physician's prescribed
treatment. These diseases may develop in a very short time. They are
mostly unpredictable and some are irreversible, leaving lifelong damage.
Judging by the 4,200 bibliographical references collected by a team at the
University Medical Center in Dijon, France, there are no less than 50
different lung diseases and syndromes (ranging from simple coughs and
breathlessness to pleurisies and even acute respiratory failures) that
seem to be either caused or aggravated by medicines. Also, each year there
are no less than 20 to 30 new therapeutic substances being added to the
list of suspect products.
The Dijon, France, team goes on to say, "The information provided with the
packaging hardly ever warns patients that the medicine could potentially
cause a lung disorder and, there are very few doctors who give this matter
due consideration when they prescribe a treatment."
According to the specialists attending the World Congress in Florence, -
with an early withdrawal of the medicine, about 70% of cases would
increase the patient's chances of avoiding a damaging disease or
condition.
Medicinal herbs and some supplements have even been blamed for serious
lung problems. There are also some therapeutic treatments that appear on
this list, such as blood transfusion, laparoscopy, acupuncture, the
insertion of catheters and various body punctures.
Professor Camus of the University Medical Center explained at the World
Congress in Florence, "These accidents could largely be avoided, or at
least reduced, but only if certain conditions are satisfied. First, the
practitioner who has been consulted (whatever his specialty) must be aware
of what has happened. Second, the patient has to consult as soon as he
notices the slightest abnormal or lasting pulmonary symptom. Third, and
last, the patient must immediately stop taking the suspect product, which
is absolutely essential if lasting harm is to be kept to a minimum."
A Dijon, France, team has put together a unique, regularly updated
Internet site which makes all this information available to patients and
practitioners free of charge. Every month this Web site is visited by
6,000 to 7,000 visitors, half of which are from the United States.
A Dijon, France, team put together this unique, regularly updated
Internet site which makes all this information available to patients and
practitioners free of charge. Every month this Web site is visited by
6,000 to 7,000 visitors, half of which are from the United States. Click
here for the list of these 300-plus drugs, medicines, herbs and other
substances at
pneumotox.com.
If you think your lungs have been damaged by some of the above substances
it would be wise to try to regain as much of what you lost as possible.
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