GUEST POST from Don – Health & Safety (Again)

HEALTH AND SAFETY (Again):

FRID (FALL RISK INCREASING DRUGS)

Fall risk among older (and younger) adults can increase if the person is prescribed certain medications.  They include:  
Opioids (painkillers)
Benzodiazepines (tranquilizers and sleep aids)
Gabapentinoids (like gabapentin, often prescribed for nerve pain)
Antidepressants

The risk of fall with these has been shown to be more than 3.6 times higher than normal for any age.  To be clearer, here’s a quote from WebMD:  “Falls are the most common cause of injuries among older adults. Up to 35% experience a significant fall every year.”  So, if 35% experience a significant fall, adding one or more FRIDs increases that.  Those who would experience a fall per year are now likely to have 3 or 4 falls in the same year.  That increases ER visits, recuperation, and risk of death.

One older gentleman liked to walk his dog, but found he was falling about once a month while doing so.  Then he spoke with his doctor and asked if one of his medications could be at fault.  The doctor de-prescribed one of them and the gentleman didn’t have a single fall in the next 12 months.

You don’t have to be over 65 to experience a problem with falls.  Certain medications could be the cause OR could be increasing the likelihood.  Falls is one of the major causes of injury and death at all ages.

So, if someone you know is experiencing falls you should talk to them about this risk possibility.

SILICA GEL

This is that interesting packet you find inside your bottle of aspirin, the box of shoes, inside that purse you just bought, etc.  Why did that product come with that packet of inedible material?  The simple answer is, to reduce the risk of moisture damage to the product.  

There is, however, a more nuanced answer:  Because it was shipped by sea and there can be high humidity at sea.  In other words, because it isn’t made in the USA.  THAT’S WHY!!!  They don’t want your electronic device from India to develop rust on the way.  They don’t want your Italian leather boots to be damaged during shipping.  They don’t want your Chinese aspirin to become rancid.

If we stopped buying foreign STUFF we wouldn’t need to throw away so much of this dangerous product.  It is dangerous, too!  If your dog gets into the trash and eats some he could be injured, he or she can experience nose, throat, esophagus, and stomach discomfort.  If a rat at the dump eats some that had spaghetti sauce spilled on it, that rat could experience physical harm.  It doesn’t help our environment (and probably causes Global Warming, too!  Because why not!)  Blame the next hurricane on silica gel, I guess, because you bought foreign made stuff and threw away a packet of it.

SUGAR

Related to this, of course, is how global warming is fueling your addiction to sugar.  (Crazy me, I thought it was the same thing that fueled sugar addictions in the 1700’s).  Grist had an article just about this:  
“How climate change is fueling your sugar addiction.”  Isn’t science so smart!!!!
I don’t think I need to add any thoughts on this.

EATING TOO MUCH PROTEIN

We are being warned about too much protein in our diets (like that is a common problem?)

There are knowable results of overindulging in animal proteins.
Weight Gain
Bad Breath
Indigestion
Dehydration

But the fact is that, no matter what you find to overindulge in, you will experience some of these side effects.

All excess calories, no matter their source, are converted by your body into FAT.  Sugar, carbs, oils, or proteins…

When your body burns fat the knowable result is bad breath.  Those losing weight with Wegovy-type drugs are finding that to be a problem.  The reason is simple, as your body burns fats most of the waste products come out your lungs.

Indigestion is caused by over-eating.  It could be spaghetti, fried potatoes, or sausage.  Doesn’t matter.  Some people experience nausea, others diarrhea or bloating.  It has far less to do with what you eat than that you over-ate.

Dehydration is the only issue that relates SPECIFICALLY to overeating protein.  In the process of breaking down proteins (even plant-based proteins) your body expends vast amounts of water.  (You take more trips to the bathroom).  It is difficult to replace those liquids fast enough.  In the meantime, your body can only absorb a limited amount of protein per day.  Feel free to indulge on occasion, but be watchful if you are finding yourself lacking energy or cognitive abilities (there are many other symptoms).

Diabetics have other problems.  They shouldn’t over-indulge in anything ever.

MEDICAID

Finally, don’t take every health headline at “face value.”  ProPublica had this one:  “Georgia’s Medicaid Work Requirement Program Spent Twice as Much on Administrative Costs as on Health Care, GAO Says”
by Margaret Coker, The Current Co-published with The Current Sept. 24, 2025

It is true, but it is false.  Here’s where the headline failed to report the truth, a quote from inside the article:  “Most of the tax dollars used to launch and implement the nation’s only Medicaid work requirement program have gone toward paying administrative costs rather than covering health care for Georgians…”

So, if you read this sentence properly you can see that setting up this program entailed a lot of ONE-TIME administrative costs.  The program just started.  Next year (and the years following) no one should expect that the administrative costs will be as high.  The programs will be in place.  Thus, be vigilant, but it is logical to allow the program time to work better after “initial set-up.”  (I know my computer and phone do.) 

Copyright 2025 Donald Whelpley

[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
ALSO, Don is always open to offer his thoughts on various topics. If you have a specific request, you can let him know in a comment; he reads – and replies to – them all. ~ Sherry]

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