A recent medical study revealed that compression stockings worn for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis don’t work. Deep vein thrombosis in the legs leads to clots that dislodge and find their way to the lung resulting in pulmonary embolism and possible death. For years, hospitalized patients who are confined to bed for any length of time have been required to wear the compression stockings to prevent leg clots. Now we learn they are ineffective and all this prevention has been for nothing. Another standard medical practice has been sent to the graveyard. The graveyard is becoming filled with many medical procedures and treatments once regarded as the gold standard.

This week the news contained a warning about the common pain killer acetaminophen. This is the main ingredient in the popular drug Tylenol. This over-the-counter drug is the most common cause of liver failure in the United States and is especially bad if combined with alcohol. It accounts for over 30% of the cases of liver failure in the US. A few years ago seven people in the Chicago area died from Tylenol that had been laced with cyanide. This crime was never solved but led to all medications being made tamper proof with bottles that could only be opened by a gorilla, a professional football player with an ax or a baby. The pills are now coated so that they are impenetrable until reaching the caustic acids of the stomach. As it turns out, Tylenol is a pretty effective killer without the cyanide.

Also, this week we found out that Colas are bad for our muscles. The consumption of large quantities of cola can produce a low blood potassium level and produce muscle pains and even paralysis. The couple of cases that were reported involved folks who had consumed about 5 liters of the stuff a day. All I can say is that if they drank that much they deserve to die.

There is nothing safe for us anymore and we don’t know who to believe about medical issues. I’m even afraid of the water. The water in Waco is so bad I get sick just smelling the stuff. One of my great pleasures in life is to have a small glass of Dr. Pepper on the porch from time to time. If I have to give this up, life will be pretty miserable. I have been thinking that my muscle pains were due to age, now it may turn out to be the Dr. Pepper and I can’t even take Tylenol to help. This is worse news than the economy. The next thing I will probably hear is that the government will be putting an extra tax on Dr. Pepper, like cigarettes, because the doctors think it’s bad for you.