Subject: Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)

I would like to thank those of you who expressed condolences on the recent passing of my mother. She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke while she was driving home from my house at 7:30 and passed away at 8:30. My mother's stroke and passing was an enormous shock to my family because she did not have any symptoms or risk factors for a stroke. Just the week before she had gone to her doctor for a checkup and received a clean bill of health. She did, however, develop a cold while she was visiting me and had taken Alka Seltzer Cold Plus for 3 days. Since her passing, we have learned that Alka Seltzer is one of the many cold medicines that contains Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) which can cause hemorrhagic stokes or cerebral bleeding even with the first use. I am forwarding a list of other medications that currently use PPA. These medicines are supposedly being recalled but my mother just purchased this medication less than two weeks ago. Pharmaceutical companies have known about this danger for years, we unfortunately, did not.

I urge you to review the list of medicines with PPA and avoid these medications.

All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are dangerous. You may want to try calling the 800 number listed on most drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND. Please read this CAREFULLY. Also, please pass this on to everyone you know. STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient. It has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not found in men, but the FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative medicine.

The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:

Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant
Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements
Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control
Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or or ange)
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent
Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine
BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder
BC Sinus Cold Powder
Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief
Day & Night Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules
Contac 12 Hour Caplets
Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus
Dexatrim Caffeine Free
Dexatrim Extended Duration
Dexatrim Gelcaps
Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free
Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets
Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels
Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir
Dimetapp Elixir
Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels
Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets
Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets
Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
Permathene Mega-16
Robitussin CF
Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion
Triaminic DM Cough Relief
Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
Triaminic Syrup ! ! Cold & amp;am p; Allergy
Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough

I just found out and called the 800# on the container for Triaminic and they informed me that they are voluntarily recalling the following medicines because of a certain ingredient that is causing strokes and seizures in children:

Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink) 3D Cold & Cough Berry 3D Cough Relief Yellow 3D Expectorant

They are asking you to call them at 800-548-3708 with the lot number on the box so they can send you postage for you to send it back to them, and they will also issue you a refund.

Benzene

Now this is very interesting! My car's manual says to roll down the windows to let out all the hot air before turning on the A/C. WHY?

No wonder more folks are dying from cancer than ever before. We wonder where this stuff comes from. but here is an example that explains a lot of the cancer-causing incidents.

Many people are in their cars the first thing in the morning, and the last thing at night, 7 days a week. As I read this, it makes me feel guilty and ill. Please pass this on to as many people as possible. Guess it's not too late to make some changes.

Car Air Conditioning - MUST READ!!!

Please do NOT turn on A/C as soon as you enter the car. Open the windows after you enter your car, and then turn ON the AC after a couple of minutes. Here's why: According to research, the car's dashboard, seats, a/c ducts, in fact ALL of the plastic objects in your vehicle, emit Benzene, a cancer-causing toxin. A BIG CARCINOGEN. Take the time to observe the smell of heated plastic in your car, when you open it, and BEFORE you start it up. In addition to causing cancer, Benzene poisons your bones, causes anemia and reduces white blood cells. Prolonged exposure will cause leukemia and increases the risk of some cancers. It can also cause miscarriages in pregnant women. Acceptable Benzene level indoors is: 50mg per sq.ft. A car parked indoors, with windows closed, will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. If parked outdoors, under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level. People who get into the car, keeping the windows closed, will inevitably inhale, in quick succession, excessive amounts of the BENZENE toxin. Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidneys and liver. What's worse, it is extremely difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff from your body.

So friends, please open the windows and door of your car - give it some time for the interior to air out and dispel the deadly stuff - before you enter the vehicle.

When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.' It is not the air conditioning in the car but the Benzene producing agents that cause cancer.

Recent cases of older citizens being tricked out of there personal information and money by phone scammers has become an increasing problem. Older citizens are being tricked everyday into giving out financial information and wiring money out of the US to claim nonexistent prizes by highly skilled con artist using deceit and sales pressure.

The Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov) encourages you to be skeptical when you hear any phone solicitation. Unlike most other crimes, telemarketing fraud requires one essential element: victim participation.

Tech Fact: For those of you that depend on your caller ID to let you see who is calling you're in for a real surprise, as caller ID spoofing is an easy way to fool you. What ID spoofing means is the number that shows up on your phone may not be the number that the caller is really calling from. The intent is to trick the victim and this sets the victim up for the sales pitch. Slick talking and a little sales pressure and presto your money is gone.

How did they get my number?

Scammers may get your number from a telephone directory, a mailing list, or what scammer calls a "sucker list." Sucker lists contain information about people who have responded to previous telemarketing solicita­tions, like their name, phone number, and how much money they spent. They are invaluable to scam artists, who believe that consumers who have been deceived once are vulnerable to additional scams.

Some of the Tip-Off pitches to a phone scam:

• You've been specially selected to hear this offer
• You've won big money in a foreign lottery
• You must send money right away
• You have to make up your mind right away

What to do? Practice saying "no thank you" and hanging up the phone. Don't be pressured to make an immediate decision. Remember that a free gift is free; you shouldn’t have to pay a penny to claim a prize. Check them out with the Better Business Bureau before you act and request all information in writing.

You can limit the number of telemarketing calls you receive by placing your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. You can register your phone number at www.DoNotCall.gov, or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register.

Spring time brings more than the rain and pretty flowers, home repairs and yard projects are on the to-do list of every household. Although some home improvement companies do good work, some do not. Crooks only want to take your money, not properly repair your home. Many of these crooks target older and low-income people. Most home improvement scams start with a telephone call or someone knocking at your door offering to "help" you with home repairs.

Last month on the Western side of our county a contractor knocked on an elderly ladies door and told her he had asphalt left over from a previous job and would repave her driveway for the bargain price of $400.00. He did a little work then presented her with a bill for $3,000 demanding she pay up as the work was completed and she agreed for him to do the work. The homeowner was in tears at this time and told him she would just have to call the Sheriff’s Office as she didn’t have that kind of money. Well that sent the crook into full retreat and he quickly left her and his so called work. The last thing the crook wanted was law enforcement to find out who he was and what he was up to.

Warning Signs:

• Someone contacts you first (comes to your home uninvited or contacts you by telephone);
• Tells you that you need to make repairs immediately
• Tells you that they are doing work in your neighborhood and claims they have "extra materials" left from another job
• Offers to use your home as a "display home" or offers a discounted price or "discounts" for referrals, but only if you buy today!

Tips to Avoid Scams:

• Check with your local or state consumer protection agency or Better Business Bureau to find out if any unresolved complaints have been filed against the company.
• Request copies of the contractor's insurance certificates to verify that he or she carries insurance that protects you from claims arising from property damage or job site injuries.
• Be wary of a contractor who asks for a full payment before the job has begun -- a payment schedule should be part of your written agreement - and may be tied to benchmarks such as completing various phases of the job.

The recent actions of a young lady pretending to be in distress cleared the way for a home burglary. Before I explain what happened to a good citizen trying to do the right thing, we need to grasp the reality that those individuals with drug problems do not play by the rules civil people do. The cycle of drug abuse goes like this: acquiring the drug, using the drug, find money for more drugs. Sadly this cycle is repeated again and again – simple as that.

A few weeks ago in Northern Jefferson County a knock at the front door started a series of events. A white female in her early 30’s told the homeowner she needed a ride to the closest store because the guys she was riding with were driving reckless and she made them stop the car and let her out. She convinced the homeowner to drive her to a nearby store. On the way she used her cell phone to call someone and during the conversation she said everything is ok. She was talking to her criminal friends giving them the green light to break in and steal from the homeowner giving her the ride. See, she did her homework while at the home asking how many people were home and if anyone was coming home soon. All this only took a few minutes but it doesn’t take long for a thief to break-in, steal some things and leave.

As the good citizen returned home they found their home broken into and valuables stolen. This is a good example of social engineering where the offender uses an emotional plea to cloud your rational thinking. If a stranger knocks on your door requesting a ride, have a plan of action ahead of time. Call local law enforcement on any suspicious person and let us check them out. Times are rapidly changing and for your safety you need to think ahead and have a plan before something happens not after.

"Keeping Neighborhoods and Communities Safe"