/oss/taxonomy/term/1759/all en /oss/article/health/magnesium <p> </p> <p><u>Causes</u></p> <p>There are basically two ways to develop low magnesium levels. Like potassium, magnesium is excreted in the urine, so diuretics, which often cause hypokalemia (low potassium), also generally cause hypomagnesemia (low magnesium). In fact hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia often go together. Patients who abuse alcohol are often hypomagnesemic as well because alcohol can cause a temporary dysfunction in the renal tubules causing magnesium to be excreted in the urine.</p> Thu, 11 Apr 2019 15:26:48 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 7716 at /oss /oss/article/health-quackery/can-you-cough-away-heart-attack <hr /> <p class="note"><strong>Take-home message:</strong><br /> -A variety of internet posts and e-mail chains have said that when you have symptoms of a heart attack, you should cough vigorously to essentially perform CPR on yourself.<br /> -This idea makes no sense because CPR should only be performed on an unconscious person with no pulse. If you are conscious and can cough, you should not perform CPR.</p> Tue, 21 Aug 2018 16:19:34 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 7315 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-food-health-quirky-science-supplements/miracle-bites-dust <p>It's frustrating, but most scientific studies end with the line, "more research is needed." But not always. We have one of these rare cases in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine about the use of niacin to improve cholesterol profile. Niacin is familiar to many as the B vitamin that prevents pellagra but when it is used to decrease LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) and increase HDL (the "good" cholesterol) it is given in far higher doses than the amount that prevents pellagra. At a dose of 1000 mg a day, niacin is a drug.</p> Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:35:11 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2169 at /oss