According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration: - “FDA is issuing an advisory because of recently released data from controlled clinical trials showing that COX-2 selective agents (Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra) may be associated with an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke) especially when they are used for long periods of time or in very high risk settings (immediately after heart surgery).” Dec. 23, 2004

- “Also, as FDA announced earlier this week, preliminary results from a long-term clinical trial (up to three years) suggest that long-term use of a non-selective NSAID, naproxen (sold as Aleve, Naprosyn and other trade name and generic products), may be associated with an increased cardiovascular (CV) risk compared to placebo.” Dec. 23, 2004

The Results: - Vioxx was voluntarily pulled from market September 30, 2004.

- The FDA notified healthcare professionals to consider risk that cardiovascular events may be increased in patients receiving Celebrex.

- The FDA urged consumers buying over-the-counter medications such as Aleve, to strictly follow label directions.

- The FDA is analyzing all available information from recent studies to determine whether additional regulatory action is needed.

Ice Therapy: A Pain Relief Alternative In this day and age when taking a pill might seem like easiest solution, it’s not always best. Is there an alternative to medication for pain relief? Yes! One of oldest and safest methods of controlling pain and inflammation is ice therapy. Proven to be effective at reducing swelling, numbing pain and decreasing muscle spasms, ice therapy is an easy self-care technique. Compared to medications discussed, ice therapy has no side effects, including fear of heart complications.

The evolving field of psycho-neuroimmunology, or study of mind-body connection - often considered fringe beliefs - could help you keep your resolutions. This intriguing subject of scientific inquiry is still shrouded in mystery.

Just as an experiment, put aside your skepticism, pretend that these ideas could be explained by science, and consider how you could harness their power to promote your health.

Placebo Effect

When new medications are tested, one group gets new medication and another group gets *sugar pill* or placebo. Why do this? Study after study shows that if you think you’re taking real medicine, your body will respond as if it actually did get active ingredient, even if it’s a sugar pill. Somehow belief in power of medicine creates desired outcome of lowered blood pressure or heart rate or weight loss in about a third of people. Is this science? Yes. Is this mind-body medicine? Yes.

Let your beliefs help your body achieve your desired goals. If regular exercise is your goal, tell yourself, *I’m invigorated by my daily 20 minute walk.* The placebo effect suggests that your belief that you have more energy with regular exercise makes it so.

Nocebo Effect

In November 1998, a teacher noticed a *gasoline-like* smell in her classroom, and soon thereafter she had a headache, nausea and dizziness. Given concern about a toxic environmental substance, school was evacuated and closed for 5 days. Almost 200 students and teachers were seen in ER for similar symptoms. But no environmental cause was ever identified. One explanation is that belief that a toxic exposure occurred led to symptoms, or nocebo effect. This is flip side of placebo effect.

I reflected on this study as I was waiting with my son for his turn in dental chair. He repeated, *It’s going to hurt; it’s going to hurt.* I suggested to him that he might be better served by saying, *It’s going to be fine; it’s going to be fine.*

Has nocebo effect undermined your New Year’s resolutions in past? Barry saw this in action last March as he told himself,*I hate to exercise.* He made a commitment to daily walks in January and talked himself out of them before winter snow melted.