Remember when people (and their doctors) used to worry that coffee would harm their hearts, give them ulcers, and make them overly nervous?

In excess, coffee, and more particularly, caffeine, can cause problems. But the fretting about two or three cups a day, or even more, is fading as study results suggestive of health benefits from coffee keep on coming in. Coffee drinking is associated with a lower risk of depression among women, a lower risk of lethal prostate cancer among men, and a lower risk of stroke among men and women. Earlier research also shows possible (it’s not a done deal) protective effects against everything from Parkinson’s disease to diabetes to some types of cancer.

Coffee contains literally a thousand different substances, and some of the lesser lights are thought to be responsible for healthful effects in other parts of the body. Some studies show caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee as having the same effect, which suggests that something else in coffee is involved.

It gets complicated, though. Caffeine and some of these other substances in coffee seem to have their good and bad sides, and coffee’s overall effect may depend on how much they cancel each other out.

Caffeine: Good for the brain, bad for other parts?

Caffeine is the most commonly consumed psychoactive drug in the world, and some of its behavioral effects (such as arousal) may resemble those produced by cocaine, amphetamines, and other stimulants. Coffee consumption accounts for about 75% of the adult intake of caffeine in the United States, although that might be changing among younger adults with the growing popularity of energy drinks.

The caffeine content of coffee varies greatly, depending on the beans, how they’re roasted, and other factors, but the average for an 8-ounce cup is about 100 milligrams (mg). Tea has about half as much caffeine as coffee. Decaffeinated coffee has some caffeine, but the 2 to 4 mg in an 8-ounce cup is a smidgen compared with the caffeinated version. The lethal dose of caffeine is about 10 grams, which is equivalent to the amount of caffeine in 100 cups of coffee.

Caffeine gets absorbed in the stomach and small intestine and then distributed throughout the body, including the brain. The amount circulating in the blood peaks 30 to 45 minutes after it’s ingested and only small amounts are around eight to 10 hours later. In between, the amount circulating declines as caffeine gets metabolized in the liver.

Caffeine probably has multiple targets in the brain, but the main one seems to be adenosine receptors. Adenosine is a brain chemical that dampens brain activity. By hogging adenosine’s receptors, caffeine sets off a chain of events that affects the activity of dopamine, another important brain chemical, and the areas of the brain involved in arousal, pleasure, and thinking. A part of the brain affected by Parkinson’s disease, called the striatum, has many adenosine receptors; by docking on them, caffeine seems to have some protective effects.

Outside the brain, caffeine can be a performance enhancer, boosting the strength of muscle contraction and offsetting some of the physiological and psychological effects of physical exertion. But, especially in the short term, it also has negative effects, which include raising blood pressure, making arteries stiffer, and increasing levels of homocysteine, insulin, and possibly cholesterol.

It’s that time of year again.  Everywhere you go, there is someone sneezing or coughing.  Yes, you guessed it, cold and flu season is here.  Cold and flu season usually runs from fall to spring of the next year.

When you start feeling achy, coughing and/or sneezing, you might not know whether it is a cold or you have the start of the flu.  It is really important to know the difference between cold and flu symptoms. A cold is a milder respiratory illness than the flu. While cold symptoms can make you feel bad for a few days, flu symptoms can make you feel quite ill for a few days to weeks. The flu can also result in serious health problems such as pneumonia and hospitalizations.

Cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat, which usually goes away after a day or two. Nasal symptoms, runny nose, and congestion follow, along with a cough by the fourth and fifth days. Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible. Children are more likely to have a fever with a cold.

Cold symptoms usually last for about a week. During the first three days that you have cold symptoms, you are contagious. Stay home and get some much-needed rest.  If cold symptoms do not seem to be improving after a week, you may have a bacterial infection, which means you may need antibiotics. Sometimes you may mistake cold symptoms for hay fever or a sinus infection.  If your cold symtoms begin quickly and are improving after a week, then it is usually a cold, not allergy.  If your cold syptoms don’t seem to be getting better after a week, check with you doctor to see if you have developed allergies.

Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Symptoms of flu include sore throat, fever, headache,muscle aches and soreness, congestion, and cough. Swine flu in particular is also associated with vomiting and diarrhea.

Most flu symptoms gradually improve over two to five days, but it’s not uncommon to feel run down for a week or more. A common complication of the flu is pneumonia, particularly in the young, elderly, or people with lung or heart problems. If you notice shortness of breath, you should let your doctor know. Another common sign of pneumonia is fever that comes back after having been gone for a day or two.

Just like cold viruses, flu viruses enter your body through the mucous membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. Every time you touch your hand to one of these areas, you could be infecting yourself with a virus, which makes it very important to keep your hands germ-free with frequent washing to prevent both flu and cold symptoms.

There are some precautions that you can take to help prevent you from developing a cold or flu.  The most important prevention measure for preventing colds is frequent hand washing. Hand washing by rubbing the hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds helps to slough germs off the skin.

Dedricks Pharmacy and Gifts

GRATIITUDE…..Is a feeling , an expression, a small meaningful act that becomes a growing force, a movement, an unstoppable energy. It is remembering our…. blessings,friendships,hope,family,friends,neighbors and community. 

                During the many years (over 40) that Dedricks Pharmacy and Gifts has been doing business in the community, one thing has been a constant:  our valued customers. Through prosperous times and some difficult, you have continued to shop and support our locally owned independent Pharmacy and Gift Shop. Our business is built on servicing you, the clients. We think we have a decidedly distinct shopping environment,  exceptional service, unique products and a personal flair that helps to separate us from the chain pharmacies.

Many families have been our clients for years and we are seeing new generations of these same families come through our doors. For all the customers who we count as good friends, and have now become part of the “Dedricks Family”, you are the true measure of Thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving we send you our heartfelt gratitude for all the blessings you have bestowed upon our staff. We continue to strive to meet all of your expectations. Enjoy the moments and memories with your family and friends.

                   Happy Thanksgiving