What's "bumetanide?" That's what I asked, when I saw it was at the top of Google's most searched keywords list today. Google said it was seeing "volcanic" action on the word "bumetanide." Holy cow, what is going on that's so important to so many ? This is a really strange story. I don't know why I'm surprised.
First a definition: Bumetanide is a diuretic drug, commonly used to control fluids in the treatment of heart and kidney disease. It decreases the amount of water retained in the body by increasing urination, causing the kidneys to get rid of unneeded water and salt from the body.
So what's the big story? Hold onto your helmet! I found well over 300 news stories about New Orleans Saints veterans Deuce McAllister and Will Smith, both of whom are reported to have violated the NFL steroids policy. Now that's an ethics story in and of itself. But that's not this ethic story.
The football players tested positive for bumetanide, described by sports media as "a water pill" and "the weight-loss diuretic." Diuretics can be used as masking agents because they dilute the urine and result in lower levels of the banned substance being excreted from the body, reports the Associated Press, adding: "That can make it more difficult to detected banned substances."
No, that's not the important story about bumetanide. Not in my opinion. While I found some 318 news stories about (more) NFL players caught in what may be steroid use, I found only one news article about how the bumetanide drug may help change the lives of up to two billion people around the world.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT? FOOTBALL OR CURING TWO BILLION SETS OF EYES
For as many as two billion people world-wide who wear glasses for myopia, or short-sightedness, there may be a simple solution for correcting their vision and in severe cases preventing blindness. Myopia is the most common visual disorder and afflicts more than one in three adults globally. And as for kids, visual disorders (including myopia) are the fourth most common childhood disability and often has serious affects on academic achievement. So, let's choose, news media folks: football or curing myopia around the world.
A husband-and-wife research team in Melbourne, Australia, believe they have found the complex physiological mechanism causing myopia. The simple treatment to correct it? Neuroscientists Dr. Sheila Crewther and Professor David Crewther have discovered that the diuretic drug bumetanide may inhibit the development of myopia, as reported by Science Alert. Their discovery might not only lead to simple prescription eye drops to control myopia, but could also mitigate or prevent the onset of more complicated secondary conditions such as retinal detachment and glaucoma. Interestingly, among those where there is the highest prevalence of myopia are children who are under pressure to achieve academically.
I wonder how many sports writers are myopic?
Truthfully, I am no longer surprised -- or interested--in additional NFL players who are discovered to take steroids,beat their wives, abuse recreational drugs, drive their sports cars while drunk and carry unlicensed concealed weapons. I assume that almost all are guilty, if not directly then certainly indirectly. And that goes for the sports team owners and sports writers too.
GUESS THE WINNER -- MONEY OR LIVES
They have all conspired to allow such behavior. If the players' bosses, teammates, fans and sports reporters showed their disapproval, it would not happen. But these folks want the players to be aggressive and give them blood. You do know that the statistics on wife-beaters, show a big percentage also abuse their children. Why don't our sports writers show us that side of the gridiron heroes? You know they know. Oops! If they told the truth, they might be banned from the locker room. Well, then let the kids rot, huh? It's like our White House Political Reporters. Most didn't ask the hard questions of President Bush because he would ban them from the White House Press Conferences. You say my anger shows? You damn right! Victims are pushed aside, particularly when it might hurt everyone's bottom dollar. In America, if the choice is between money and lives, then money wins.
By Sharon McEachern
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