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A class of prescription antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has been linked to upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. If the SSRIs are taken with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), the risk is even greater.

SSRIs --- including Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft --- are the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications. Previous studies have linked the medications to GI bleeding, while others studies contradict that finding. In the most recent study, researchers at the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Healthcare Products compared over 1,000 patients with GI bleeding to 10,000 patients without it. A greater percentage of people with GI bleeding were taking SSRIs (5.3%) compared to those without bleeding (3%) --- indicating a 60% increase in risk.

Experts are disagreeing on the significance of the findings. One thing physicians agree on, however, is that the risk associated with discontinuing the medication are far greater than the risk of GI bleeding. Don't stop taking antidepressants without a physician's recommendation. If you're taking an SSRI and also taking an NSAID, discuss the associated risks with your physician.

antidepressant, NSAID, Prozac, SSRI

After all but taking down the tomato industry with their recent recall, the FDA has yet to find the culprit of the current salmonella outbreak. Now they're turning their attention to foods like hot peppers and cilantro, noting that it might not be tomatoes themselves, but a food that is commonly eaten with tomatoes.

With the number of people who have fallen ill quickly approaching 1,000, it's clear that an answer needs to be found soon. The FDA has been focusing on tomatoes coming from Mexico, but they've yet to pinpoint a source.

For more on this outbreak, and for information on what specific foods to avoid, visit the FDA's website.

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food safety, salmonella, tomatoes

Most of us have one major problem with exercise: Finding time for it. I know the feeling--between working 8-10 hours a day, spending time with family and trying to run a household, it's difficult, sometimes impossible, to find time to head to the gym. My job is no help--being a writer doesn't exactly burn too many calories.

But they key is trying to find way to work exercise into your everyday life. Weight Loss Journal recently revealed 8 ways to exercise throughout the day, including:

Sucking in your stomach --- it really does help to tone your tummy, and it makes you look slimmer instantly.

Fidgeting. It helps you burn calories throughout the day.

Taking the stairs at work.

Using a desk exercise machine. You can work away while silently pedalling under your desk. Neat, huh?
Read the rest of the tips here, and when you're done, tell us what you do to work in the workouts.

desk, exercise, office, work

Mio has understandably not been very shy about showing off its new Knight Rider-themed GPS unit, but the company has now finally gotten its official business out of the way and provided all the details on the device's US launch. In case you somehow managed to miss it, the device itself is basically a mid-range Moov in disguise, with some red LEDs and, most importantly, William Daniels' instantly recognizable voice helping to make you feel just a little bit more like Michael Knight as you traverse the U.S. and Canada with the aid of the pre-loaded maps. As we had heard, however, you'll still have to wait until a bit later in this quarter to get your hands on one, when it'll set you back a reasonable $270.

GPS, knight rider, mio

Over-the-counter (OTC) meds are usually packaged and sealed for our protection. In fact, sometimes opening a bottle of aspirin sometimes feels like you're trying to break in to Fort Knox. But the special packaging isn't only to make it difficult to get into, it's to make it tamper resistant. So, if your OTC meds have been messed with, it will be evident to your eye. If the plastic seal is punctured, missing, or the printed words don't line up --- bring that medication right back to the store you bought it from and report the problem. Other things to look out for:

Is the cotton insert torn, pulled, sticky, or stained? If it appears to have been reinserted, don't take any chances.
Check the bottom of the container for punctures or other signs of tampering.

Make sure none of the capsules are broken, cracked, or appear differently than the others in the package.
Looking for signs of tampering should be your first step before ever taking an OTC medication. Also, be sure to read the fine print to verify that the OTC med won't negatively interact with any prescription medications. If you have any questions, ask the pharmacist. They're happy to help out with the non-prescription medications as well!
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medication, otc drugs, pharmaceutical

Step aside rose-colored glasses, you've got some competition. These blue-tinted sunglasses supposedly help you lose weight. If you wear them while eating, the glasses give your food an unappetizing shade of blue. Just like paint colors in a room can affect mood, certain colors supposedly stimulate appetite and blue is the low-man on the totem pole when it comes to appetizing colors. (I always knew I didn't like the blue M&Ms... I wonder if that's why.)

In my humble opinion, I can't imagine that these would take the place of good, old-fashioned will power. After all, if you want to eat that slice of cake really badly you can just slip the glasses off. And no sunglasses in the world can block the aroma of a juicy burger. For weight loss tips that really work, check out AOL Body.
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blue sunglasses, color psychology, weight loss

If anything, Minox does a decent job of aping its big name counterparts in looks and feature set --- if only it wasn't on average a couple years late to the party. The Minox DC-8011 seems to be a perfectly passable budget compact, with an 8 megapixel CCD, 2.7-inch LCD and electric image stabilization. It even measures in at under an inch thick and offers 4x optical zoom, but that's about as exciting as things get here --- which is to say, not very exctign. No word on price or availability, but we're not really sure that's much of a loss.

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compact, dc-8011, minox

One of the few dozen active-duty astronauts in the US space program? Inquire within about Seiko's Spring Drive Spacewalk watch, custom-designed for game god and soon-to-be ISS resident Richard Garriott. Not a member of NASA? Who cares, just how many watches do you own that could withstand direct exposure to the heatless vacuum that is space (should you ever find yourself in it)? Exactly. Only a hundred are being made though, so be ready to spring when Seiko tags this series with a price and puts it on sale.
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Winter may be winding to a close, but dry skin is far from a thing of the past. But, like with most body issues, what you eat can make a big difference. If you are having trouble with dry skin, Fitsugar recommends you load up on these foods:

• Omega-3s, found in fish, avocado and flaxseed
• Foods with Zinc
• Foods rich in sulphur, like eggs and garlic.
• And, of course, water.

Other suggestions? Use a humidifier, turn down the heat in your house, bathe as seldom as you comfortably can and invest in a rich moisturizing cream. Also, avoid diuretics like caffeine and alcohol --- they'll dry out your skin.

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dry skin, DrySkin, omega-3s, skin, sulphur, water, zinc

When I was about 35 pounds heavier, I used to think about my body all the time. I was constantly fretting over the parts I didn't like, wondering how I was going to change, stressing over food and agonizing over clothes. I was all-consumed. I spent so much time thinking about my body, that I kind of lost track of the more important things in life. I certainly must have been far less productive and thoughtful to others than I am now as well.

Throughout my fitness journey, which truly began when I started teaching group fitness classes at 15 years old....I have had many great and not-so-great moments with my body. I even enjoyed a few great years in my teens as a bulimic. Whoopee! (That was really the low point.) Having said that. Along the way, I've learned to enjoy a variety of challenging exercises and balance my fitness. I also learned to appreciate and enjoy produce more than Cheetos. I got a grip on eating right and now I never fret at all over what I put in my mouth. I simply make great choices most of the time.

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benefits, body, bulemic, decision, depression, disorder