Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Weight-Loss Medications, Counterfeit Drug Risks, and Mental Effort in Self-Care

Transcript

Weight-Loss Medications, Counterfeit Drug Risks, and Mental Effort in Self-Care · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Good morning, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
• 0:03
  Chow.
• 0:04
  I'm your host, Dr.
• 0:06
  Chi-Ming Chow, and today we have a packed episode with some critical topics to discuss.
• 0:11
  Let's dive right in.
• 0:15
  Our first story today revolves around a growing concern in the medical community regarding fake
• 0:20
  weight-loss injections.
• 0:22
  Pharmacists are warning people not to buy these counterfeit jabs online, especially as a
• 0:27
  shortage of the popular drug Ozempic is expected to stretch into next year.
• 0:33
  The National Pharmacy Association, which represents five thousand independent community
• 0:39
  pharmacies across the United Kingdom, has suggested there could be a possible "explosion
• 0:44
  in the unlicensed sale of medication online" due to this shortage.
• 0:48
  Weight-loss injections have gained popularity, partly due to celebrity endorsements and
• 0:53
  compelling before-and-after pictures circulating online.
• 0:57
  However, fake versions of these medications can be extremely dangerous.
• 1:03
  Ozempic, a brand of semaglutide, is primarily used to help people with type 2 diabetes
• 1:09
  regulate their blood sugar levels.
• 1:11
  Despite this, it is increasingly being prescribed off-label for weight loss in some
• 1:17
  countries.
• 1:18
  The surge in demand for Ozempic has led to a shortage, which in turn has fueled the rise of
• 1:23
  counterfeit jabs.
• 1:26
  In the United Kingdom, Ozempic is available through the National Health Service to help
• 1:30
  manage type 2 diabetes.
• 1:32
  Its ability to suppress appetite has led to its off-label use for weight loss, contributing to
• 1:37
  the current shortage and the increase in counterfeit versions.
• 1:41
  Another brand of semaglutide, Wegovy, is specifically licensed for weight management and
• 1:46
  is also available on the National Health Service.
• 1:50
  Nick Kaye, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, expressed his concerns, stating,
• 1:55
  "Pharmacists remain deeply concerned that the current medicine shortages crisis could lead to
• 2:01
  an explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online.
• 2:05
  Stocks of Ozempic are very depleted in community pharmacies across the United Kingdom,
• 2:10
  and it is important that these remain prioritized for those in the most clinical
• 2:15
  need."
• 2:16
  The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency reported last year that a
• 2:21
  very small number of people had been hospitalized, some suffering from hypoglycaemic
• 2:25
  shock and coma, after using potentially fake pens.
• 2:29
  In January, the Department of Health and Social Care advised healthcare providers not to
• 2:34
  prescribe these drugs off-label for weight loss and emphasized that existing stock must be
• 2:40
  reserved for patients with type 2 diabetes.
• 2:44
  The Department highlighted that the supply issues were primarily caused by increased
• 2:49
  demand and off-label use.
• 2:52
  Mr.
• 2:52
  Kaye also suggested that people can check if an online provider is registered by the General
• 2:57
  Pharmaceutical Council or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland to ensure they are
• 3:02
  purchasing from a legitimate source.
• 3:04
  A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care added, "We strongly advise the
• 3:10
  public not to buy regulated medicines from unauthorized online retailers or beauty salons
• 3:16
  as they could be dangerous." The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will
• 3:22
  continue to take action against those unlawfully trading in medicines.
• 3:26
  The government is also working to tackle the obesity crisis by shifting the focus from
• 3:31
  treatment to prevention.
• 3:33
  This is a crucial issue that underscores the importance of obtaining medications from
• 3:37
  reputable and regulated sources.
• 3:40
  Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new medication, especially
• 3:45
  those that are being used off-label.
• 3:48
  Our next story delves into a fascinating and somewhat surprising area: the mental strain
• 3:53
  that can come from intense thinking.
• 3:55
  According to a recent article from CNN, a new study has found that thinking hard can actually
• 4:00
  be painful for many people.
• 4:02
  The study was led by Erik Bijleveld, an associate professor at the Behavioural Science
• 4:07
  Institute at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
• 4:12
  Bijleveld and his team discovered that people often find mental effort to be unpleasant,
• 4:17
  regardless of the task at hand.
• 4:20
  Despite enjoying the rewards associated with mental tasks, participants reported feelings of
• 4:25
  annoyance, irritation, frustration, and stress when engaging in mentally demanding activities.
• 4:32
  Interestingly, the study found that some people would even prefer physical pain over mental
• 4:38
  strain.
• 4:38
  In a 2020 study, participants were asked to choose between performing a difficult memory
• 4:44
  task or experiencing searing pain from a heat device held against their skin.
• 4:50
  Remarkably, 28 percent of the participants chose physical pain over mental effort, even
• 4:56
  when the pain was most intense.
• 4:59
  The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 170 studies from 2019 to 2020, involving more
• 5:06
  than 4,500 people from 29 countries.
• 5:09
  The participants, who included amateur athletes, college students, and healthcare and
• 5:14
  military employees, performed one or more of 358 cognitive tasks.
• 5:19
  Despite the variety of tasks, the negative feelings associated with mental effort were
• 5:25
  consistent across the board.
• 5:27
  Bijleveld explained that even tasks that are typically considered enjoyable, like playing a
• 5:33
  virtual reality game or practicing golf swings, were not immune to the negative effects of
• 5:39
  mental effort.
• 5:41
  The greater the mental effort required, the more unpleasant the experience was for the
• 5:45
  participants.
• 5:47
  However, the study also revealed that people can find value in mental challenges after they
• 5:53
  have completed them.
• 5:55
  This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as the 'Ikea effect,' suggests that people appreciate
• 6:01
  the results of their mental or physical efforts more because of the difficulty involved in
• 6:06
  achieving them.
• 6:08
  The study highlights the need for employers, teachers, and others who require people to
• 6:13
  exert themselves mentally to support and reward them for their efforts.
• 6:18
  Small gestures, such as a compliment or a short walk to get a coffee, can significantly reduce
• 6:23
  feelings of burnout and make mental effort more enjoyable.
• 6:28
  For individuals, taking regular breaks, choosing healthy self-care options, and
• 6:33
  practicing gratitude and compassion can help make mental effort less taxing.
• 6:39
  Experts suggest that physical activities like walking or exercising, as well as practices
• 6:44
  like meditation, can be particularly beneficial in refreshing the brain.
• 6:50
  In conclusion, while thinking hard can be exhausting and even painful, there are ways to
• 6:54
  mitigate these effects.
• 6:56
  By recognizing the value of mental effort and taking steps to support both ourselves and
• 7:01
  others, we can make the process more manageable and rewarding.
• 7:06
  That wraps up today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
• 7:09
  Chow.
• 7:10
  Thank you for joining us.
• 7:11
  Remember to take care of your mental health and give yourself a break when needed.
• 7:16
  Until next time, stay healthy and stay informed.