Ask Dr. H: Storing pills on microwave not a hot idea

Question: I've been putting my medication on top of my microwave oven for many years. It's convenient and I never forget them. Does the microwave have any effect on my medication?

Answer: It might, only from the standpoint that medications have a recommended storage temperature, and heat from an oven of any type could cause pill degradation. The closer you place the pills toward the rear fan, the more heat they'll receive. And obviously, a minute or two of use to reheat leftovers won't generate as much heat as cooking a turkey or casserole.

Several readers have also asked me if I thought microwaves are safe to use long-term. Microwaves do not leave any residual radiation behind, since microwave energy is converted to heat energy as soon as it's absorbed by food. When you open the microwave door, the magnetron that produces microwaves ceases immediately. It's like a light bulb in that the filament stops glowing when the switch is turned off.

By the way, microwaves are far less powerful than X-ray radiation. A properly closed microwave door does not leak radiation; home microwave detectors are available to test your microwave if you're in doubt (although their sensitivity is fair at best). Your local FDA office or state health department may be able to arrange more accurate testing. Radiation exposure from microwaves should not occur unless there's a leak from a damaged door.

The biggest danger I see with microwave ovens is the risk of burns from steam, boiling water, and splattering of very hot foods. Of course, traditional ovens and stovetops cause their share of burns, too.

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Q: I've been taking a daily gingko biloba supplement for the last five years to help with my memory and to prevent Alzheimer's disease. But I just heard on the news that a large study found that gingko doesn't work. I think that it does help me remember things better, but should I stop taking gingko in light of this new study?

A: Unfortunately, it seems that taking gingko biloba to help with memory, cognitive decline, and the prevention of Alzheimer's disease is a wasted effort. While some folks do feel that it does help, the perceived benefit is likely from hope and optimism rather than gingko.

The largest (3,069 people) and longest (6 years) independent study ever conducted to assess gingko's ability to prevent memory loss has just released its findings that gingko does not delay or prevent dementia or Alzheimer's disease (Dec. 30, 2009, Journal of the American Medical Association).

For the trial, researchers from five academic medical centers in the United States recruited 3,069 community volunteers 75 and older. Most were cognitively normal, but 482 had mild cognitive impairment. Roughly half were given two doses of 120 milligrams of ginkgo biloba extract daily, while the other half were provided with placebo pills. Neither the participants nor the doctors knew who was receiving which pills. They were followed for roughly six years and assessed every six months for dementia. During the study period, 523 cases of dementia were diagnosed. Of those, 246, or 16.1 percent, were in placebo users, and 277, or 17.9 percent, were in people taking ginkgo biloba.

Although previous studies of ginkgo biloba have produced mixed results, a 2007 review of 35 clinical trials also found "inconsistent and unconvincing" evidence that ginkgo had significant benefits for people with dementia or cognitive impairment.

While nothing can totally prevent Alzheimer's disease, a study supporting the mind-body connection published in the Jan. 17, 2006, issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine found that among the 1,740 well-educated, dementia-free, mostly white participants (age 65 and older), those who exercised three or more times a week had a 38 percent lower incidence of dementia.