AboutSudesh Samuel Expertise I take questions relating to online healthcare news, community support, web research, medical travel and medical tourism, as well as online options for becoming more informed about medical conditions, drugs and treatments.
Experience I have researched and surfed the web extensively for high quality, reputed and up-to-date sources of healthcare information. I am a licenced and practicing pharmacist specialising in the provision of healthcare communications material and drug information. I have run a drug information service at a national, tertiary, teaching hospital where my duties included managing several pharmacists in the development of continual education, providing drug information throughout the hospital and analyzing new and existing drugs for inclusion into the hospital formulary. I have been involved in several healthcare committees including patient safety, adverse drug reaction monitoring, antibiotic guidelines as well as a pharmacy and therapeutics committee. I was an on-call pharmacist with the national drug and poisons information centre. My research focus has been on medication review and I have presented findings on a renal medication review service and also published a review article on halting the allergic march in the World Allergy Organization Journal.
Organizations Institute for Medication Management - http://www.medicationreview.net
Publications World Allergy Organization Journal, Vision Reborn, Medical Grapevine, National University Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Newsletter, National University Hospital Adverse Drug Reaction Newsletter, National Healthcare Group Adverse Drug Reaction Newsletter, suite101
Education/Credentials Master of Health Service Management, Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy with Honours
Question are there any vitamins or supplements that would keep a bone from mending. my husband has had 3 surgeries on his arm and the last one included bone marrow from his own hip and it has been 3 months now and the xrays still show a crack. he takes supplements, vitamins, etc. and exercises
Answer Hi Susan, your husband's body may heal slower according to variables like age, immune function, levels of activity, diet, lifestyle, medications, and exercise. As for supplements or vitamins, it depends on what these contain. Certain vitamin, mineral or elemental deficiencies can also contribute to slowed bone healing. It is for instance important for him to be getting enough calcium. Most supplements are anabolic, that is they tend to build up the body however others are catabolic, increasing the rate of breakdown in favour of energy production. Specific medications and other various ingredients including dietary habits can reduce the rate of bone healing. Among medications, common anti-inflammatory painkillers may retard the rate of healing and union of fractures despite their usefulness in reducing pain. Other potential medication causes of delayed healing include chemotherapy and steroidal preparations. Smokers may also take longer to heal as breakdown products of cigarette smoke can damage bone cells and interrupt healing. In terms of diet, excessive caffeine, sugar and salt can all reduce the rate of bone healing. Depending on his age, condition and medical supervision, specific osteoporosis medications may be useful in encouraging a quicker healing of the fractured bone. A good balance of anabolic dietary ingredients, sleep and appropriate exercise may help him to recover faster. Best wishes.
