The World According to Glissando

Tag: health

  • Pain

    Pharmaceutical prescription pain treatments have not evolved for over 20 years for moderate to severe types of pain, with opioids the major prescribed medicine. In the United States, a new FDA approved drug , suzetrigine, trade named “Journavx”, by Vertex Pharmaceuticals has the promise of providing major pain relief without the addictive nature of opioids. This is a significant advance in pain relief medicine and potentially signals a huge cultural change for the better.

    “Journavx” works by blocking nerve pain signals throughout the body, whereas, opioids work by dulling the sensation of pain within the brain. The societal reverberation is significant, as the new drug is said not to be addictive, which would eliminate the need for addictive opioids. Time will tell just how effective “Journavx” really is in reducing moderate to major pain, and while it seems to be non-addictive, we will see whether this is the case over the long term. However, this breakthrough holds the promise of being the safer, new answer to pain relief.     

  • Red

    The FDA has just banned the food additive Red Dye 3, a widely used food enhancement made from petroleum to make food and beverages, plus drugs, look a bright cherry red. Please note it is made from petroleum and you’re ingesting it. Approximately 30 years ago a link between Red Dye 3 and cancer was discovered. It’s taken 30 long years for it to finally be banned.

    As we move into an era of less government regulation, or so it seems, this is a concern. No company that I am aware of has voluntarily stopped using this food enhancement product over the last 30 years. Why? Money. Change can be costly in business, like everything else in life potentially is. Business does not want to add expense to their bottom line, even for a changeover that is a short term prospect, even if it makes a product safer for people.

    A couple of things come to mind regarding this issue. One: people who work for the food industry at all levels also consume this petroleum product. Does this not concern you? Two: this begs the question, how can we trust business in a less regulated world? Business rarely takes the high road when it might cut into revenue and profit. Lead and asbestos, long since banned, immediately come to mind, and both are still occasionally found in products to this day.         

    So, this is something to think about. You might say it’s food for thought, but without any artificial enhancements.