Diet and Heart Health

Happy New Year, everyone!

I came across a news article about diet and heart health and I thought that would be a great topic to start the new year. So many times we make resolutions that we're going to eat better or exercise more and we might do that for a while, but soon we fall back into old habits. Those old habits are hard to break!

The article I saw was about a study that dealt with the health benefits of consuming olive oil and vegetables. To read the whole article, here's the link: More evidence olive oil and veggies help the heart

I found a few more links with some great information on heart healthy diets that you might want to check out:

Heart Healthy Diet ( Cardiovascular Research Foundation)
This web site has the following sections: Mediterranean diet, low-fat diets, fat & cholesterol, Fruits & Vegetables, Fiber & Grains, Salt & Potassium, Alcohol

Heart Healthy Eating (National Women's Health Information Center)

Healthy Cooking Techniques (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that has no odor or color, but it is very dangerous. It can cause sudden illness and death. CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those made by cars and trucks, lanterns, stoves, gas ranges and heating systems. CO from these fumes can build up in places that don't have a good flow of fresh air. You can be poisoned by breathing them in.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. It is difficult to tell if someone has carbon monoxide poisoning since these symptoms can mimic other illnesses. Someone who is sleeping or is intoxicated can die from carbon monoxide poisoning before they exhibit symptoms. A carbon monoxide detector can warn you if you have high carbon monoxide levels in your home.

Too often during the winter months, you hear a tragic story of someone dying from carbon monoxide poisoning inside a home that could have been so easily avoided. Here are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that will help you avoid an unnecessary tragedy:

- Never use a gas range or oven for heating. Using a gas range or oven for heating can cause a build up of CO inside your home, cabin, or camper.
- Never use a charcoal grill or a barbecue grill indoors. Using a grill indoors will cause a build up of CO inside your home, cabin, or camper unless you use it inside a vented fireplace.
- Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal — red, gray, black, or white — gives off CO.
- Never use a portable gas camp stove indoors. Using a gas camp stove indoors can cause CO to build up inside your home, cabin, or camper.
- Never use a generator inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window, door, or vent.

The American College of Emergency Physicians offers the following general tips for preventing carbon monoxide poisoning:

- Gas appliances should be installed and maintained by a qualified professional.
- Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on each level of your home, preferably near bedrooms.
- Never leave a vehicle engine running in an enclosed garage.
- Portable flameless chemical heaters should never be used indoors. Although they don't have a flame, they can release carbon monoxide.
- Charcoal grills should never be used indoors.
- All gas appliances must be properly vented to prevent carbon monoxide buildup indoors.
- Make sure your fireplace flue is open when you have a fire, and get your chimney checked and cleaned annually.
(SOURCE: American College of Emergency Physicians, news release, Dec. 17, 2010)

Here are some links for more information on carbon monoxide poisoning:

Portable Generator Hazards (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Carbon Monoxide Hazards from Small Gasoline Powered Engines (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)

Quiet Killer Video (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas! I hope you have a fun and safe holiday. I want to thank all of my regular readers who keep coming back to check out my blog. I appreciate your support. Please let me know if there's a topic that you're interested in that I haven't covered because I want to provide information you can use.

Since it is the holiday season, I just wanted to share one link with you. Candles are very popular around the holidays (and all year long) so I found a link from the National Fire Protection Associating about candle safety. Check out this link: Candles (NFPA).

Driving While Drunk, Drugged or Distracted--Impaired Driving

This is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. I want to share some information and links, not only on drunk and drugged driving, but also driving while distracted, which is also a serious problem.

Here is some information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on impaired driving:

Impaired driving is dangerous and is the cause of more than half of all car crashes. It means operating a motor vehicle while

- Affected by alcohol
- Affected by illegal or legal drugs
- Too sleepy
- Distracted, such as using a cell phone or texting
- Having a medical condition which affects your driving

For your safety and the safety of others, do not drive while impaired. Have someone else drive you or take public transportation when you cannot drive. If you need to take a call or send a text message, pull over.

If you doubt that impaired driving is a problem, here are some statistics that illuminate how serious the problem really is:

Some statistics on distracted driving:
In 2008, almost 20 percent of all crashes in the year involved some type of distraction. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - NHTSA).

Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million were injured. (NHTSA)

The younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.

Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)

Some statistics on drugged/drunk driving:
In 2008, 11,773 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (32%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. (U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Of the 1,347 traffic fatalities among children ages 0 to 14 years in 2008, about one out of every six (16%) involved an alcohol-impaired driver. (U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Drugs other than alcohol (e.g., marijuana and cocaine) are involved in about 18% of motor vehicle driver deaths. These other drugs are often used in combination with alcohol. (U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

I found a great publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration with suggestions for party planning in order to have a safe holiday season. Check out this link: Party Planning Tips for an Alcohol-Safe and Drug-Free Holiday Season to Remember

Here are some links to some other useful web sites:

Distractions in Everyday Driving (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) – PDF

Impaired Driving (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Distracted Driving Facts and Statistics (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

ABCs of BAC: A Guide to Understanding Blood Alcohol Concentration and Alcohol Impairment (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - PDF

Drugged Driving (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Some Medications and Driving Don't Mix (Food and Drug Administration)

Things You May Have Missed

I just thought I'd repeat some links from the past few weeks in case you missed them or are new to the blog. These links provide some great information on a variety of topics. I'll start off with some that are perfect for the season.

WINTER/HOLIDAY-RELATED LINKS:

Stress, Depression and the Holidays: 10 Tips for Coping from the Mayo Clinic

Seasonal Affective Disorder from the American Academy of Family Physicians

12 Healthy Ways to Survive a Holiday Eating Frenzy from Better Health USA

Heating Safety (National Fire Protection Association) – PDF

INFECTION CONTROL:

Ounce of Prevention Keeps the Germs Away: Seven Keys to a Safer Healthier Home (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF

OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS:

Medicines in My Home: Information for Adults on Using Over-the-Counter Medicines Safely (Food and Drug Administration) – PDF

CHILDHOOD OBESITY/NUTRITION:

Helping Your Overweight Child Helping Your Overweight Child (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Recipe Search from Rachael Ray's Yum-O organization that contains great recipes for kids of all ages to make

Study: Most Young Children Consume Caffeine Each Day

In a study just published in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found that 75% of children surveyed consumed caffeine on a daily basis, and the more caffeine the children consumed, the less they slept.

Here are some of the findings:

Children between the ages of 8 and 12 took in an average of 109 milligrams of caffeine a day, the equivalent of 3 12-ounce cans of soda. While younger children consumed less caffeine, some as young as 5 had the equivalent of a can of soda a day.

"Contrary to popular belief, children were not more likely to wet the bed if they consumed caffeine, despite the fact that caffeine is a diuretic," study co-author Shelby Evans said in a journal news release.

"Parents should be aware of the potentially negative influence of caffeine on a child's sleep quality and daily functioning," study author Dr. William Warzak said in the news release.

He and his colleagues suggested that pediatricians could educate parents about the potentially harmful effects of caffeine in children and ask about patients' caffeine consumption.

If you want to read the whole article in the Journal of Pediatrics, here's the link: Caffeine Consumption in Young Children

Here's another link to check out: Caffeine and Your Child (Nemours Foundation)

Weight Control

In the last few weeks I've posted information on childhood obesity and healthy holiday eating. Since being overweight or obese is such a national problem (sixty-six percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese), I thought I'd post some helpful links on weight control, which will be helpful if you overindulge during the holidays!

Here is brief overview from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases:

Eating too much or not being physically active enough will make you overweight. To maintain your weight, the calories you eat must equal the energy you burn. To lose weight, you must use more calories than you eat. A weight-control strategy might include:

- Choosing low-fat, low-calorie foods
- Eating smaller portions
- Drinking water instead of sugary drinks
- Being physically active

If you are overweight or obese and want to lose weight, here are some helpful links you should check out:

Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight-Loss Program (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Weight Loss for Life (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

What It Takes to Lose Weight (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

It is so important to get kids to eat right at a young age. If they have a healthy outlook about food, then they will grow up knowing the importance of a balanced diet. One thing that will help them develop good eating habits is getting them involved in cooking at a young age. If they learn how to prepare healthy food early on, hopefully they will continue that all their lives. Rachael Ray's Yum-O organization has a great recipe search tool that you can use to find healthy recipes that are suitable for kids of all ages to make. You can limit your searches by selecting an age group and/or certain food categories. Here is the link for that: http://www.yum-o.org/recipe_search.php.

Dealing with Dry Skin in the Winter

Many people suffer from dry skin and the winter can make things worse with the cold outside and the dry air inside. Since I have issues with wintertime dry skin, I thought I'd post a couple links with tips for dealing with dry skin. The second link is especially useful for older people who have aging skin issues. Since we're all getting older, I think the tips will be helpful for everyone.

Dry Skin from the National Library of Medicine

Dermatologists' Top 10 Tips for Relieving Dry Skin: Changes in Skin Care Can Soothe Aging Skin from the American Academy of Dermatology

Getting Exercise During the Winter

Winter weather has arrived in many parts of the country so I thought I'd post some links with exercise tips during the winter months. There are tips for both outdoor and indoor exercises. Make sure you check with your health care provider before starting any exercise program.

Exercise and cold weather: Tips to stay safe outdoors from the Mayo Clinic

Exercising during winter--the key to staying fit from the High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal

Warm Up Your Winter with Exercise from the Christian Post

Patient Rights

As a patient, you have certain rights, whether you are a patient in a hospital or whether you're receiving home care. Some are guaranteed by federal law, such as the right to get a copy of your medical records, and the right to keep them private. I found some links to some very helpful information that you should definitely read before getting any kind of medical treatment. One of the links concerns rights for home care or hospice patients and another one provides information if you are on Medicare.

Patient Care Partnership: Understanding Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities (American Hospital Association) – PDF

Questions Are the Answer: Get More Involved with Your Health Care (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

What Are My Rights As a Patient? (National Association for Home Care & Hospice)

Your Medicare Rights and Protections (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - PDF

Holiday/Winter Safety Tips

I came across a news release from the American College of Orthopaedic Surgeons about holiday safety, especially when using a ladder to hang Christmas decorations. I thought I'd include that press release and then at the bottom of the post, I included two links for winter safety tips. One of them deals with heating safety and the other is from the American Academy of Pediatrics with safety tips for kids of all ages.

Here is the press release:

Orthopaedic surgeons encourage safety when cleaning for the winter and putting up holiday decorations.

OVERVIEW: Whether you are cleaning the garage or attic, clearing the gutters, or raking, it is time for the pre-winter cleanup. No matter the chore, these simple tasks can become a pain in the neck, quite literally. For some ambitious folks, these cleanup days also serve as an excellent time to put up holiday decorations before the first snowfall or family festivity. To make your seasonal cleanup less strenuous and to keep decorating stress-free, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) emphasizes proper safety when partaking in these activities.

STATISTICS (1-7):
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

There were more than 505,000 injuries from rake or ladder use in 2009.

According to a 2000-2003 study evaluating winter holiday falls from November 1 - January 31:

An estimated 17,465 persons were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments (EDs) for holiday decorating related falls.

Approximately 62 percent of those injured were aged 20 - 49 years;
approximately 43 percent of injuries were caused by falls from ladders; and
males were 40 percent more likely than females to be injured.

AAOS SAFETY TIPS:
Properly set up the ladder on a firm, level surface. When you are cleaning out the garage or closet, be careful pushing or pulling anything from shelves while standing on a ladder. You could lose your balance and fall off.

Watch for soft, muddy spots or uneven flooring, and never place a ladder on ground that is uneven.

Remember the 1-to-4 rule: the bottom of the ladder should be 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet that the ladder rises.

It’s very important to select the right ladder for the job. When working at low and medium heights, choose step stools or utility ladders.

Extension ladders are ideal for use outdoors to reach high places, as when hanging items from the rooftop.

Whether you are lifting a heavy laundry basket or a heavy box, remember to get close to the object, bend at the knees, and lift with your leg muscles. Do not bend at the waist.

Ask for help when lifting a heavy object. A bulky package, awkwardly lifted, can lead to a back injury. You might want to take a break from your chores, but never use a stepladder’s top or pail shelf as a seat. It is not designed to carry your weight.

Be careful when putting up holiday decorations, including lights and trees. Move materials with caution when on the ladder, and always position the ladder close to the work area, so you do not lose your balance and fall.

Be mindful of any rearranged furniture and new decorations and make sure others in the house are familiar with the changes as well. Consider installing night lights in an area that is rearranged to avoid nighttime confusion.

AAOS EXPERT ADVICE: “If you plan on putting up holiday decorations and lights, it’s important to do so with caution. With the constant ladder climbing and stretching, it’s easy to lose your balance or be careless for just a moment,” said orthopaedic surgeon Sherwin SW Ho, MD. “Be sure to take your time and avoid taking safety risks to get the job done at a quicker pace.”

Here are links to more safety information:

Heating Safety (National Fire Protection Association) - PDF

Winter Safety Tips (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Preventing the Spread of Germs: Good Hygiene

When you cough or sneeze, you send tiny germ-filled droplets into the air. Colds and flu usually spread that way. You can help stop the spread of germs by:

- Covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough
- Washing your hands often - always before you eat or prepare food, and after you use the bathroom or change a diaper
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth

Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of illnesses. Soap and water work well to kill germs. Wash for at least 15 seconds. Disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers also work well.

If you want more helpful tips on preventing the spread of germs or bacteria, check out these informative sites:

Ounce of Prevention Keeps the Germs Away: Seven Keys to a Safer Healthier Home (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF

Germs: Understand and Protect against Bacteria, Viruses and Infection (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Taking Over-the-Counter Medications Safely

You may have heard on the news about a new study that found that most of the popular over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold, pain-relieving, allergy and stomach drugs just don't explain dosing very well. Nor is there much consistency in product labeling. Parents have been admonished over the years to follow the directions carefully, but as the results of this study found, they still may be giving their children either too much or not enough of a medication simply because inconsistent labeling and inaccurate or unclear measuring devices. Adults may also be taking the wrong dose of medicines.

Here is a summary of the results of the study: Measuring devices were packaged with 148 of 200 products (74.0%). Within this subset of 148 products, inconsistencies between the medication's dosing directions and markings on the device were found in 146 cases (98.6%). These included missing markings (n = 36, 24.3%) and superfluous markings (n = 120, 81.1%). Across all products, 11 (5.5%) used atypical units of measurement (e.g., drams, cc) for doses listed. Milliliter, teaspoon, and tablespoon units were used for doses in 143 (71.5%), 155 (77.5%), and 37 (18.5%) products, respectively. A nonstandard abbreviation for milliliter (not mL) was used by 97 products. Of the products that included an abbreviation, 163 did not define at least 1 abbreviation.

In November 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released new voluntary guidelines to industry groups responsible for manufacturing, marketing, or distributing over-the-counter (OTC) liquid medications, particularly those intended for use by children. Since this recent study found that there are still problems, mandatory guidelines may be necessary.

Here is a summary of the FDA’s recommendations:

Food and Drug Administration Recommendations to Industry for Over-the-Counter Liquid Medications

Presence and Type of Measuring Device

- Measuring devices should be included for all over-the-counter liquid medications.

Within-Product Inconsistency Between Labeled Dosing Directions and Measuring Device

- Devices should be marked with calibrated units of measure that are the same as those specified in the labeled dosage directions.
- Abbreviations used on devices should be the same as those used in directions.
- Devices should not bear extraneous or unnecessary markings.
- Devices should not be significantly larger than the largest dose described.

Across-Product Variability

- Abbreviations should conform to international or national standards.
- Abbreviations should be defined on devices and/or label directions.
- Decimals and fractions should be used with care and conform to recommendations, including use of leading zeros before decimal points to avoid 10-fold errors and use of small font size for numerals in fractions (e.g., rather than 1/2).

Consumer Guidance on Appropriate Use

- Consumers should be encouraged to use measuring devices only with the products with which they are included.
- Consumers should be directed to consult a health care provider when a physician-recommended dose is not marked on the enclosed measuring device.
- Usability studies should be done to confirm understandability and accurate use.

Health literacy is also an issue. 1 in 3 U.S. adults and 1 in 4 U.S. parents have limited health literacy and an even larger number have low numeracy, thus making it difficult to decipher the instructions and markings on many medications. Supporting consumer comprehension by providing clear, consistent, and standardized information increases the likelihood that consumers can safely and effectively use over-the-counter medications.

If you want more information on over-the-counter medications and how to safely use them, check out the following links:

Getting the Most from Your OTC Medicine (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Medicines in My Home: Information for Adults on Using Over-the-Counter Medicines Safely (Food and Drug Administration) – PDF

Over-the-Counter Medicines: What's Right for You? (Food and Drug Administration)

Fighting Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity effects children and adolescents and is a very serious medical condition. When a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height, they are considered obese. Childhood obesity is especially serious because it can lead to many other health problems later in life, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

One of the best strategies at reducing childhood obesity is to improve the diet and exercise habits of the whole family. Here are some things you can do: Be Supportive, Encourage Healthy Eating Habits, Encourage Daily Physical Activity, Discourage Inactive Pastimes, Be a Positive Role Model

Obesity is diagnosed by calculating the body mass index (BMI), which uses height and weight measurements to estimate how much body fat a person has.

underweight: BMI below the 5th percentile
normal weight: BMI at the 5th and less than the 85th percentile
overweight: BMI at the 85th and below 95th percentiles
obese: BMI at or above 95th percentile

It’s important to provide nutritious food alternatives to children when they are young so they can learn about healthy foods at an early age.

Eating Tips: Healthy Snack Ideas

Your child might enjoy trying the following foods:

- Fresh fruit.
- Fruit canned in juice or light syrup.
- Small amounts of dried fruits, such as raisins, apple rings, or apricots.
- Fresh vegetables, such as baby carrots, cucumber, zucchini, or tomatoes.
- Low-sugar, whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk.

Television personality Rachael Ray started her own non-profit organization called Yum-o as a way to empower kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking.

Here’s a little bit about Yum-o:

Launched in 2006 by Rachael Ray, Yum-o!® is a nonprofit organization that empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking by teaching families to cook, feeding hungry kids and funding cooking education and scholarships.

Eating habits are formed at a young age and, if kids are given opportunities and knowledge, they will make better food choices. Yum-o! envisions a country where all kids experience the joys of cooking and eating nourishing food.

Visit Yum-o at http://www.yum-o.org/. The web site has all kinds of great stuff that will be a big help. There are pages on Kitchen how-to, recipes, games and more. Make sure you check it out!

Here are some other links to helpful information:

Overviews:
Helping Your Overweight Child Helping Your Overweight Child (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Overweight and Obesity (Kids Health from Nemours Foundation)

Other links:

Families Finding the Balance: A Parent Handbook (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) – PDF

Help Your Child Stay at a Healthy Weight (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)

Dietary Recommendations for Healthy Children (American Heart Association)

Holiday Stress and Depression

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Since the holidays are upon us and many people suffer from some sort of stress or depression during the holiday season, I thought I'd post some links for some helpful information and tips to deal with these issues.

Stress, Depression and the Holidays: 10 Tips for Coping

Holiday Depression and Stress

Holiday Depression and Stress (from MedicineNet)

Seasonal Affective Disorder

I found a great publication that the Department of Justice did for their employees and, even though the contact information is DOJ-related, the tips will be helpful for anyone:

Successfully Managing Your Holiday Stress!!!!!!

Healthy Holiday Eating Tips

Earlier this month I posted some links for healthy holiday eating tips. I thought I'd repeat those since Thanksgiving is upon us and Christmas will be here before you know it. Eating properly during the holiday season can be a real challenge so check out the following links for some great advice:

Healthy Holiday Eating (Family Guide)

Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

12 Healthy Ways to Survive a Holiday Eating Frenzy

Healthy Holiday Eating Tips and Recipes

Concussion/Head Injury

After watching a weekend of football and seeing many players suffering concussions, I thought I'd share some information about concussion and the problems they can cause. It amazes me that with all the recent efforts to prevent concussions in football, so many players still lead with their head when making a tackle. That's not using your head in the right way! Not just athletes suffer concussions so it's important to learn about them before they happen so you can recognize the symptoms and seek medical attention if necessary.

Here are the symptoms of concussion as provided by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons:

Prolonged headache
Vision disturbances
Dizziness
Nausea or vomiting
Impaired balance
Confusion
Memory loss
Ringing ears
Difficulty concentrating
Sensitivity to light
Loss of smell or taste

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons also has a list of the warning signs of serious brain injury:

Pain: Constant or recurring headache
Motor Dysfunction: Inability to control or coordinate motor functions, or disturbance with balance
Sensory: Changes in ability to hear, taste or see; dizziness; hypersensitivity to light or sound
Cognitive: Shortened attention span; easily distracted; overstimulated by environment; difficulty staying focused on a task, following directions or understanding information; feeling of disorientation and confusion and other neuropsychological deficiencies.
Speech: Difficulty finding the "right" word; difficulty expressing words or thoughts; dysarthric speech.

Here are a couple links to more detailed information on concussion and brain injury:

Concussion (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Heads Up: Preventing Brain Injuries (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Post-Concussion Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Protecting You and Your Kids from Dog Bite

I came across some health tips about preventing dog bites and I decided that would be a good topic to cover. I found some great web sites with some very helpful suggestions. I've seen people do some pretty dumb things to dogs so it's a good idea to check out these links to find out what not to do. Remember, if you torment or tease a dog, it will serve you right if it bites you!

Check out these links:

Dog Bite Prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Dog Bites: How to Teach Your Children to Be Safe from the American Academy of Family Physicians

Dogs and Preventing Dog Bites from the Nemours Foundation

Looking for a Qualified Surgeon?

For many things in our lives if we have to make an important decision, we have certain criteria that must me met.  If you need surgery, you most certainly need to have criteria in mind when selecting a qualified surgeon for your particular type of surgery.  How do you go about finding a qualified surgeon? If you or someone you know is considering elective surgery, you should be aware that there are some ways to objectively evaluate your surgeon. The American College of Surgeons—the largest international organization of surgeons in the world—recommends that you look for the following criteria: 1) board certification 2) hospital or ambulatory center accreditation and 3) Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons.

If you want to read more detailed information about board certification, hospital or ambulatory center accreditation, and fellowship information, here is the link to the American College of Surgeons web page:  http://www.facs.org/public_info/yourhealth/findadoc.html
 
They also have A Guide to Surgical Specialists that lists all the surgical specialties along with descriptions.  If you want to check to see if a surgeon is a member of the American College of Surgeons, check out the ACS Member Search page.  If you want to see if your surgeon is board certified, the American Board of Medical Specialties has a Is Your Doctor Certified? database.  You have to register to search the database but it is free and only takes a minute.

NIH Senior Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a great web site for seniors called NIH Senior Health that has all kinds of information specifically geared toward seniors.  You can search by health topic or browse through categories.  There is some great information there.

I picked out a couple topics that I thought might be of special interest:

Falls and Fractures

Arthritis Advice

Diabetes Information

Since November is National Diabetes Month, I thought I'd share some great links that I found.  The first three deal with various aspects of diabetes and the last two deal with nutritional information for diabetics.  The last link is a full color booklet with recipes for diabetics and their families.

Your Guide to Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2 (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Diabetes Overview (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Diabetes - Meal Planning (Patient Education Institute)

Tasty Recipes for People with Diabetes and Their Families (National Diabetes Education Program) - PDF

November is National Diabetes Month

I'm a little late with this, but I found some great information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about November being National Diabetes Month.  The CDC page has some useful information on diabetes, plus they link to other resources.  Since diabetes has become such a problem, you should definitely take the time to look over the information.  Here is the link:  http://www.cdc.gov/Features/LivingWithDiabetes

I'll post more information throughout the month.  You can also click the diabetes links to the right (in the subject index) to go to the information on diabetes that I've previously provided.

Healthy Holiday Eating Tips

With the holiday season fast approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to post some links to some helpful information on how to prepare healthier meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Eating properly during the holiday season can be a real challenge so check out the following links for some great advice:

Healthy Holiday Eating (Family Guide)

Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

12 Healthy Ways to Survive a Holiday Eating Frenzy

Healthy Holiday Eating Tips and Recipes

Diagnostic Tests

I thought since many people have to go through diagnostic testing for various health issues, I'd post some links to information on the different kinds of diagnostic tests and general information on tests.  The following links will provide you with some very helpful information.  One of the links has information that describes the amount of radiation exposure for each test.  I also included a link for a publication that parents should read if you have a child or grandchild who will be undergoing diagnostic testing.

Common Imaging Tests (Merck & Co., Inc.)


Diagnostic Imaging (National Institutes of Health)

Diagnostic Tests (National Institutes of Health)

X-rays, CT Scans and MRIs (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

Radiation Exposure in X-Ray Examinations (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

What Parents Should Know about Medical Radiation Safety (Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging)

MedlinePlus Magazine

I frequently provide links to information from MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine.  Not only do they have a great web site, but they have a great magazine that has articles on all kinds of health information.  Here's a little information about the magazine:

"Our purpose is to present you with the best in reliable, up-to-date health information. We bring you the latest breakthroughs from NIH-supported research. We feature people from all walks of life talking about how they've handled their health challenges.

"Sometimes it's the famous, like Lance Armstrong, Randy Jackson or Mary Tyler Moore. But mostly, it's regular people who have turned to NIH for care and want to share their stories. Often, too, NIH scientists will write about their efforts to cure disease. Lastly, the magazine's lively graphics, fun quizzes and practical tips have been designed with your daily health in mind. "

You can check out the magazine here:  MedlinePlus Magazine

Adding Monounsaturated Fats to Diet May Boost Heart Health

The Canadian Medical Association Journal just released a study on how adding monounsaturated fats to your diet can be helpful to your heart.  Here is a summary of the article:  "People with hyperlipidemia consuming a very low fat diet had increases in HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) when monounsaturated fatty acid foods were substituted for a portion of the carbohydrates in their diet. These favourable findings were observed in a small, closely monitored pilot randomized controlled trial, set up to measure the lipid metabolism of 24 patients with hyperlipidemia. The long-term feasibility of such strict diets and their effect on cardiovascular outcomes remain to be determined, say the authors."

If you want to read the whole article, go to the CMAJ article summary and on the right side of the page, you'll find a link to the full text PDF version of the whole article.

Some fun and informative links for kids of all ages

I found some great web sites that have games and interactive material on all kinds of great health information from protecting yourself from bullies, drug and alcohol information, fire safety and much more.  Check out these great web sites:

The Bully Roundup from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

MyPyramid Blast Off Game: From MyPyramid.gov: An interactive computer game where kids can reach Planet Power by fueling their rocket with food and physical activity. “Fuel” tanks for each food group help students keep track of how their choices fit into MyPyramid.

Discover the power of a healthy smile!

Sara's Quest  Sara's Quest has been developed for use in schools or in the home for children to learn about the effects of drugs on their brain and body.

To Tell the Tooth from the American Dental Association

USFA for Kids from the U.S. Fire Administration: Home fire safety, smoke alarms, escaping from a fire, games and much more.

Breast Cancer Information

I thought I'd do one more breast cancer-related post for the month of October.  I want to share a link with you if you are searching for quality health information.  The National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus database has a great breast cancer health topic page.  That page has links to information on all aspects of breast cancer, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, nutrition and much more.  Check it out for more information.

Links to Calculators, Quizzes and Questionnaires

I have some links to some great resources for all kinds of information.  These are calculators, quizzes and questionnaires for various health-related matters.

Alcohol Calories Calculator (if you drink alcohol, find out how many calories you're consuming)

Are YOU an Aggressive Driver? (from the AAA Foundation)

 Calculate Your Body Mass Index

Heart Disease Risk Questionnaire

Screening for Depression

And for a little fun, check out this site:

Test Your Sense of Pitch

Halloween Safety

Earlier this month I posted some great information on Halloween Safety. Since Halloween is only a week away, I thought I'd post the link to the previous information so you can check it out if you missed it. This way, you won't have to scroll down to find it. If you missed it the first time, here's the link: Halloween Safety

Collards and carrots may ward off breast cancer

Since it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I'm posting some breast cancer-related items throughout the month. I came across another article about breast cancer so I thought I'd share that with you. The article is about a study which found that collards and carrots may ward off breast cancer in black women. There were conflicting results from the study concerning white women. If you want to read the whole article, here is the link: Collards and carrots may ward off breast cancer. (This link will only be good for 90 days from the date of this post.)

Hormone Replacement Therapy

I came across an article about a newly published study with findings that show hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is even riskier than previously thought. The findings apply only to estrogen-plus-progestin, or combined hormone therapy, not estrogen-alone therapy. If you want to read the full story, here's the link: Study Shows HRT Even Riskier Than Thought (this link will only be good for 90 days from today.)

If you want more information on hormone replacement therapy, here are a couple links:

Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Menopausal Hormone Therapy Information (National Institutes of Health)
(provides links to other great resources on hormone therapy)

New American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR

You may have seen the news stories about the new American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Previously, the guidelines used the letters ABC (A=airway, B=breathing, C=compressions) as the steps involved with CPR. With the new guidelines, they changed things around to CAB, to stress that the compressions are most important in order to circulate the blood that still carries oxygen right after a person's heart stops. It's important to keep the oxygen flowing to the brain so that is why they are stressing the compressions first to get the blood flowing quicker.

I think everyone should take a basic life support class so they can learn proper CPR techniques. The American Heart Association has a web page where you can search for classes by entering your zip code. These classes include CPR, first aid, and other emergency cardiovascular care classes. Check it out here: ECC Class Connector.

If you want to learn more about the new guidelines, a good summary is available from the Executive Summary: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care

There is also a great section on first aid called First Aid: 2010 American Heart Association and American Red Cross Guidelines for First Aid

If you want to check out the complete guidelines, which are available for free online, check out the table of contents from Volume 122, Issue 18_suppl_3; November 2, 2010 issue of the journal Circulation.

FDA Warns About Unapproved Chelation Products

You may not be familiar with chelation therapy, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a warning for those who purchase chelation products over-the-counter. Chelation involves the use of certain chemicals to remove heavy metals from the body. In medicine, chelation has been used for the treatment of metal poisoning, among other conditions. All FDA-approved chelation therapy products require a prescription because they can only be used safely under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.

The FDA reports: On October 14, 2010, FDA warned eight companies that market over-the-counter chelation products that these are unapproved drugs and devices and that it is a violation of federal law to make false claims about the products. Chelation products, even when used under medical supervision, can cause serious harm, including dehydration, kidney failure, and death.

For more information on chelation therapy, check out these links:

FDA Warns Marketers of Unapproved ‘Chelation’ Drugs

Questions and Answers on Unapproved Chelation Products

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

I don't know about you, but I was glued to my television as I watched the Chilean mine rescue earlier this week. It is totally amazing that they could rescue all those miners buried a half a mile below the earth's surface and to have everything run so smoothly. That was indeed a miracle. During the coverage, I heard many doctors interviewed about what the miners will go through as they readjust to life on the surface. Their lives will never be the same again. Many mentioned the possibility of post-traumatic stress disorder, so I thought I'd post some information on that topic. The disorder can follow any traumatic event in one's life.

Here is some information from the National Institute of Mental Health:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a real illness. You can get PTSD after living through or seeing a traumatic event, such as war, a hurricane, rape, physical abuse or a bad accident. PTSD makes you feel stressed and afraid after the danger is over. It affects your life and the people around you.

PTSD can cause problems like:

- Flashbacks, or feeling like the event is happening again
- Trouble sleeping or nightmares
- Feeling alone
- Angry outbursts
- Feeling worried, guilty or sad

PTSD starts at different times for different people. Signs of PTSD may start soon after a frightening event and then continue. Other people develop new or more severe signs months or even years later. PTSD can happen to anyone, even children.

Medicines can help you feel less afraid and tense. It might take a few weeks for them to work. Talking to a specially trained doctor or counselor also helps many people with PTSD. This is called talk therapy.

If you want to read more about PTSD, here are some great links to check out:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (National Institute of Mental Health)

What Can I Do If I Think I Have PTSD? (National Center for PTSD)

Effects of Disasters: Risk and Resilience Factors (National Center for PTSD)

Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering from Disasters and Other Traumatic Events (American Psychological Association)

Halloween Safety

Although Halloween is still a few weeks away, I thought it would be a good time to share some information on Halloween safety. I found some great web sites with Halloween safety tips of all kinds that you should definitely check out before Halloween gets here.

Halloween Health and Safety Tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Halloween Safety Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Halloween Safety: Safety Alert from the Consumer Product Safety Commission

I found a great Halloween Safety Guide that covers all these aspects of Halloween safety: Safety Tips for Kids, Safety Tips for Adults, Halloween Party Safety, Costume Safety Tips, Trick or Treat Safety, Useful Safety Products, Halloween Driving Tips, Yard Haunt Safety, Halloween Pet Safety, Halloween Resources, Halloween Safety Home

Breast Cancer Screening

It is important to catch breast cancer at an early stage in order to increase the chances of successful treatment. Earlier this month I posted some information on mammograms so I thought that I would share some links to some other useful information on screening and testing. The American Association for Clinical Chemistry has a very informative page on the types of tests for breast cancer. The goals of breast cancer testing are to identify genetic risk in high risk patients, detect and diagnose breast cancer in its earliest stages, determine how far it has spread, evaluate the cancer’s characteristics in order to guide treatment, monitor the effectiveness of treatment, and monitor the woman over time to detect and address any cancer recurrences. Check out this link for more information: Breast Cancer: Testing.

Here are some other useful links for more information on various aspects of breast cancer risk and screening:

Breast Exam (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Understanding Breast Changes: A Health Guide for Women (National Cancer Institute)

Environmental Factors and Breast Cancer Risk (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) – PDF

Atlas of Human Body: Breast -- Disorders (American Medical Association)

Binge Drinking (CDC Study)

I came across a news story about a rather alarming study on binge drinking that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published. I will share the press release with you and then at the end, I provided some links to information on alcohol that will provide you with more detailed information on the effects of alcohol. If you ever wondered what is considered "a drink," check out the first link from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism that compares drink sizes for the various types of alcoholic beverages.

Here is the press release from the CDC:

1 in 4 High School Students and Young Adults Report Binge Drinking
60 percent of high school students who drink, binge drink

More than 1 in 4 high school students and adults ages 18 to 34 engaged in a dangerous behavior known as binge drinking during the past month, according to the findings from a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report shows that each year more than 33 million adults have reported binge drinking, defined as having four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men over a short period of time, usually a couple of hours. And the report said levels of binge drinking have not declined during the past 15 years.

The CDC report found men are more than twice as likely to binge drink than women (21 percent compared to 10 percent). It said binge drinking is more common among non-Hispanic whites (16 percent of whom binge drink) than among non-Hispanic blacks, (10 percent of whom binge drink).

"Binge drinking, increases many health risks, including fatal car crashes, contracting a sexually transmitted disease, dating violence, and drug overdoses," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. "Excessive alcohol use remains the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States and leads to a wide range of health and social problems."
In this report, CDC scientists analyzed data on self reports of binge drinking within the past 30 days for about 412,000 U.S. adults aged 18 years and older from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and for approximately 16,000 U.S. high school students from the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).

"Alarmingly, almost 1 in 3 adults and 2 in 3 high school students who drink alcohol also binge drink, which usually leads to intoxication," said Dr. Robert Brewer, M.D., M.P.H., alcohol program leader at CDC and one of the authors of the report. "Although most binge drinkers are not alcohol-dependent or alcoholics, they often engage in this high risk behavior without realizing the health and social problems of their drinking. States and communities need to consider further strategies to create an environment that discourages binge drinking."

Drinking too much, including binge drinking, causes more than 79,000 deaths in the United States each year. Binge drinkers also put themselves and others at risk of car crashes, violence, the risk of HIV transmission and sexually transmitted diseases, and unplanned pregnancy. Over time, drinking too much can lead to liver disease, certain cancers, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases. Binge drinking can also cause harm to a developing fetus, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, if a woman drinks while pregnant.

Binge drinking varies widely from state to state, with estimates of binge drinking for adults ranging from 6.8 percent in Tennessee to 23.9 percent in Wisconsin. It is most common in the Midwest, North Central Plains, lower New England, Delaware, Alaska, Nevada, and the District of Columbia.

For more information on binge drinking, visit www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns or www.cdc.gov/alcohol. Members of the public who are concerned about their own or someone else's binge drinking can call 1-800-662-HELP to receive assistance from the national Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service. For state-specific estimates of alcohol-related deaths and Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) by condition, visit the Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI) system at https://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/ardi/HomePage.aspx.

Links to further information on alcohol:

What's a Standard Drink? (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

Alcohol Poisoning (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Alcohol Use: If You Drink, Keep It Moderate (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Rethinking Drinking: Alcohol and Your Health (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

Child Nutrition

There have been a lot of news stories lately about nutrition and obesity. For those who have kids, or who are taking care of grandkids, it's important to get your children on the right track early when it comes to proper nutrition so they will grow up strong and healthy. I found some really great web sites on child nutrition that I want to share. My favorite is the one on how to please fussy eaters from the American Academy of Pediatrics. (That should have been around for my mom when I was little!)

Check out these links:

Nutrition for Kids: Guidelines for a Healthy Diet (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

MyPyramid Food Guide (National Women's Health Information Center)

Children's Snacks: 10 Tips for Healthier Snacking (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

How to Please Fussy Eaters (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Bronchitis

Since I haven’t covered too many lung-related topics, I thought I’d share some information I found from the NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages (bronchi) to your lungs. It causes a cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Coughing often brings up yellow or greenish mucus. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.

Acute bronchitis is often caused by the same viruses that cause colds. It usually starts as a sore throat, runny nose or sinus infection, then spreads to your airways. It can cause a lingering dry cough, but it usually goes away on its own.

Chronic bronchitis is one type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The inflamed bronchi produce a lot of mucus. This leads to cough and difficulty getting air in and out of the lungs. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause. Breathing in other fumes and dusts over a long period of time may also cause chronic bronchitis. Treatment will help your symptoms, but chronic bronchitis is a long-term condition that keeps coming back or never goes away completely.

Here’s some information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the causes and symptoms of bronchitis:

Causes of Bronchitis

Several types of viruses, most often:
- Respiratory syncytial (sin-SIH-shull) virus (RSV)
- Adenovirus
- Influenza
- Parainfluenza
Bacteria, in rare cases
Pollutants (airborne chemicals or irritants)

Signs and Symptoms of Bronchitis

Cough that produces mucus (may be without mucus the first few days)
Soreness in the chest
Fatigue
Mild headache
Mild body aches
Low-grade fever (less than 102°F)
Watery eyes
Sore throat

See a Healthcare Provider if You or Your Child has:

Temperature higher than 100.4° F
A fever and cough with thick or bloody mucus
A chronic heart or lung problem
Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
Symptoms that last more than 3 weeks
Repeated episodes of bronchitis/bronchiolitis
If your child is younger than three months of age and has a fever, it’s important to always call your healthcare provider right away.

Here are a few links to more information on bronchitis:

Bronchitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Bronchitis and Pneumonia (California Childcare Health Program)

Bronchitis, Acute Bronchitis (Children's Hospital Boston)

Mammograms

Since it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I will be posting information periodically on various aspects of breast cancer. Since early detection is important for a positive outcome, I am posting a couple links to information on mammograms. These links will provide information concerning recommendations for getting mammograms, the different types of mammograms and other very useful information.

Mammograms (National Cancer Institute)

Mammograms: Frequently Asked Questions (National Women's Health Information Center)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

During the month of October I will be featuring various information on breast cancer. Next to skin cancer, it is the second most common cancer among American women. There are many diffrent kinds of breast cancer and I will be spotlighting them during the month.

Here are the most common kinds of breast cancer:

Ductal carcinoma. The most common kind of breast cancer. It begins in the cells that line the milk ducts in the breast, also called the lining of the breast ducts.

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The abnormal cancer cells are only in the lining of the milk ducts, and have not spread to other tissues in the breast.
• Invasive ductal carcinoma. The abnormal cancer cells break through the ducts and spread into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.

Lobular carcinoma. In this kind of breast cancer, the cancer cells begin in the lobes, or lobules, of the breast. Lobules are the glands that make milk.

• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). The cancer cells are found only in the breast lobules. Lobular carcinoma in situ, or LCIS, does not spread to other tissues.
• Invasive lobular carcinoma. Cancer cells spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by. These invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.
  

Low Back Pain

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 80% of the population develops back problems at some time in their lives. Since many of us will cry out, "Oh my aching back!" at one time or another, I thought I'd provide some links to some helpful information on the prevention and treatment of low back pain.

Low Back Pain: Tips on Pain Relief and Prevention (American Academy of Family Physicians) - This is an excellent resource.

Low Back Pain Fact Sheet from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Back Exercises an interactive tutorial (Patient Education Institute)

Housework: Back Pain Prevention (American Chiropractic Association)

Infertility

Since infertility affects many couples (about 10% of couples according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), I thought I’d share some information and links that will explain infertility and the treatments available. Infertility means not being able to get pregnant after a year of trying. Contact your doctor if you think you may have an infertility problem. For men, a sperm test is often the first step in the diagnosis process. For women, your doctor will run tests to see if your ovaries are functioning properly.

For women, it is harder to get pregnant after the age of 30 so if you are over 30, you may not want to wait a full year to contact your doctor if you have not gotten pregnant after trying.

Most infertility cases (85 to 90 percent) can be treated conventionally with drug therapy or surgical repair of the reproductive organs. For the other cases, in vitro fertilization is available

For more in depth information on infertility, check out these links:

Infertility: An Overview (American Society for Reproductive Medicine)

Infertility (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Treating Infertility (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)

Lead Hazards and Poisoning

Even though the threat of lead poisoning has been greatly reduced since the banning of lead paint and gasoline, the threat still exists, especially for those who live in a home that was built before 1978. Children can eat the dust or chips from lead paint in an older home so it is important to make sure your home is safe if you live in an older home.

To reduce your child’s risk of lead exposure, get your child checked, get your home checked and fix any hazards that may be present.

A simple blood test can detect lead in the body, so talk to your pediatrician for advice on testing. Blood lead levels increase the fastest from 6-12 months and peak at 18-24 months. (From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA))

The EPA suggests these things for your home:

You can get your home checked in one of two ways, or both:

1. A paint inspection tells you the lead content of every different type of painted surface in your home. It won't tell you whether the paint is a hazard or how you should deal with it.

2. A risk assessment tells you if there are any sources of serious lead exposure (such as peeling paint and lead dust). It also tells you what actions to take to address these hazards.

Have qualified professionals do the work. There are standards in place for certifying lead-based paint professionals to ensure the work is done safely, reliably, and effectively. Contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) for a list of contacts in your area.

Trained professionals use a range of methods when checking your home, including:
1. Visual inspection of paint condition and location.
2. A portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine.
3. Lab tests of paint samples.
4. Surface dust tests.

Things you can do to protect your family:

If you suspect there are lead hazards in your home, you can take these steps:

1. If you rent, notify your landlord immediately if you see peeling or chipping paint.
2. Clean up pain chips immediately.
3. Clean window sills and frames, floors and other surfaces on a weekly basis (you can use an all-purpose cleaner or one made especially for lead)
4. Rinse mops and sponges after cleaning dirty or dusty areas
5. Wash your child’s hands frequently
6. Keep play areas clean
7. Keep children from chewing on paint near window sills and other painted surfaces.

You should permanently remove the lead hazards, but you should not do this yourself. You must hire a certified lead "abatement" contractor, who specializes in lead paint removal. They will know how to remove, seal or enclose the lead-based paint so it is no longer a hazard.

The EPA has some great publications on lead. For basic information, check out Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil, Basic Information . This publication provides comprehensive information on lead facts, health effects of lead and much more. It also has links to more information like Lead in Your Home: A Parent’s Guide, Finding a Qualified Lead Professional for Your Home, and more.

Here are some other links for more information:

Lead Poisoning (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Lead Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)

Lead Poisoning Prevention Tips (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that affects your vision. Cataracts are more common in older people. By the age of 80, about half of all people will either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. Cataracts cannot spread from one eye to another but some people will get cataracts in both eyes.

The lens of the eye lies behind the iris and the pupil. (For a great interactive diagram of the eye, check out this link from the National Eye Institute (http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/eyediagram/) . The lens is the part of the eye that focuses the light onto the retina in the back of the eye where the image is recorded. This is very similar to the way a camera lens works. The lens of the eye is made up mostly of water and protein. As we age, the protein thickens into clumps that can cloud parts of the lens. As the cataracts get larger, they get cloudier, making it harder to see.

Some ways to protect your vision:

Wear sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats when out in the sun since long exposure to bright sunlight is one of the risk factors. Smoking is also a risk factor so if you smoke, stop! (Smoking can lead to a host of other health problems, also.) Researchers also believe that a good diet can help prevent cataracts and they recommend eating such things as green leafy vegetables, fruit, and other foods containing antioxidants.

These are some of the common symptoms of cataracts:

Blurry vision
Colors that seem faded
Glare
Not being able to see well at night
Double vision
Frequent prescription changes in your eye wear

The National Eye Institute lists these tests for the diagnosis of cataracts:

Visual acuity test. This eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances.

Dilated eye exam. Drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. Your eye care professional uses a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems. After the exam, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.

Tonometry. An instrument measures the pressure inside the eye. Numbing drops may be applied to your eye for this test.

TREATMENT

Early cataracts can be treated with such things as anti-glare sunglasses, magnifying lenses, and new eyeglasses. If these things don't help, then surgery becomes the only other option. Surgery is usually only done when the cataracts get bad enough to interfere with normal daily activities like driving a car, reading or watching television. You need to talk to your eye care professional in order to make the appropriate decision.

For more comprehensive information on cataracts, check out these links:

Facts about Cataracts from the National Eye Institute

Facts & Myths about Cataracts from Prevent Blindness America

Cataract Surgery from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Cholesterol

Somehow with all the health observances the month I missed the fact that it is Cholesterol Education Month. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them. This can lead to heart disease, including heart attacks.

If you have trouble remembering which cholesterol is good (HDL) and which is bad (LDL), I'll share with you how I learned which was which. In HDL, I associated the "H" with "healthy" and in LDL, I associated the "L" with "lousy." That should help you to remember which is which.

Here are some tips from the FDA for things that you can do to lower your cholesterol:

- Cut back on foods with lots of fat such as fatty meats, fried foods, whole milk, fatty cheeses, butter, margarine, oils, lard, and creams.
- Cut back on food with lots of cholesterol, such as egg yolks and whole eggs.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Cut back on fatty snacks and desserts, such as candy, cookies, doughnuts, muffins, pastries and pies.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes most days.
- If you are overweight, try to lose weight. Try to lose weight by cutting back on the amount that you eat. Even a small amount of weight loss can help lower your bad cholesterol, and you will also help your health in other ways.
- Ask your doctor if you need to take medicine to help lower your cholesterol. Triglycerides are another form of fat in your blood. They can also raise your risk for heart disease. Levels that are borderline high (150-199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more) may need treatment.

I found some great links about cholesterol that I'd like to share. Keeping your cholesterol under control is very important, so check these out:

About Cholesterol (American Heart Association)

High Blood Cholesterol (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Managing Cholesterol (Interactive Tutorial) (Patient Education Institute)

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis makes your bones weak and brittle and this increases the risk of them breaking. Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but it is more common in older women. This means 44 million Americans are at risk. As many as one half of all women and a quarter of men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

Risk factors for osteoporosis include:

- Getting older
- Being small and thin
- Having a family history of osteoporosis
- Taking certain medicines
- Being a white or Asian woman
- Having osteopenia, which is low bone mass

Osteoporosis is a silent disease, meaning that most people don’t know they have it until they break a bone. You can protect your bones by eating a balanced diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D and by getting regular exercise. If your doctor feels you are at risk for osteoporosis, he or she may order a bone density test to see how dense your bones are and whether or not you have osteoporosis. It can also tell you what the chances are that you could break a bone. The results of the test can help your doctor decide what kind of prevention or treatment program you need.

TREATMENT:
There are a number of medications available for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. These include bisphosphonates; estrogen agonists/antagonists (also called selective estrogen receptor modulators or SERMS); parathyroid hormone; estrogen therapy; hormone therapy; and a recently approved RANK ligand (RANKL) inhibitor.

In men, reduced levels of testosterone may be linked to osteoporosis. Men who have abnormally low levels of testosterone may be prescribed testosterone replacement therapy to help slow bone loss.

Something to keep in mind: both excessive sodium and protein increase our need for calcium by excreting it in our urine, so it is important to take both in moderation in your diet.

Reducing the risk of falling:
You can significantly reduce your risk of falling by engaging in activities that help increase your balance, flexibility and strength.

Activities recommended by the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases - National Resource Center:

Walking
Strength training
Dancing
Tai chi
Stair climbing
Hiking
Bicycling
Swimming
Gardening

Here are a couple safety checklists, also from NIH:

Indoor safety checklist
- Use nightlights throughout your home.
- Keep all rooms free from clutter, especially the floors.
- Keep floor surfaces smooth but not slippery. When entering rooms, be aware of differences in floor levels and thresholds.
- Wear supportive, low-heeled shoes even at home. Avoid walking around in socks, stockings, or floppy slippers.
- Check that all carpets and area rugs have skid-proof backing or are tacked to the floor, including carpeting on stairs.
- Keep electrical cords and telephone lines out of walkways.
- Be sure that all stairways are well lit and that stairs have handrails on both sides. Consider placing fluorescent tape on the edges of top and bottom steps.
- Install grab bars on bathroom walls beside tubs, showers, and toilets. If you are unstable on your feet, consider using a plastic chair with a back and nonskid leg tips in the shower.
- Use a rubber bathmat in the shower or tub.
- Keep a flashlight with extra batteries beside your bed.
- Add ceiling fixtures to rooms lit only by lamps, or install lamps that can be turned on by a switch near the entrance to the room.
- Use at least 100-watt light bulbs in your home.

Outdoor safety checklist
- In bad weather, consider using a cane or walker for extra stability.
- In winter, wear warm boots with rubber soles for added traction.
- Look carefully at floor surfaces in public buildings. Many floors are made of highly polished marble or tile that can be very slippery. When floors have plastic or carpet runners in place, try to stay on them whenever possible.
- Use a shoulder bag, fanny pack, or backpack to leave hands free.
- Stop at curbs to check height before stepping up or down. Be cautious at curbs that have been cut away to allow access for bikes or wheelchairs. The incline may lead to a fall.


Links for more information on Osteoporosis:

Bone Health for Life: Easy-to-Read Information for Patients and Families from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Handout on Health: Osteoporosis from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Osteoporosis from the American College of Rheumatology

Ovarian Cancer Research

Since I have been posting occasional information in observance of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I thought I'd do one more post with some information on what's going on with research in ovarian cancer treatment.

Here are some links to information on ovarian cancer research:

Modified Chemotherapy Regimen Effective in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
Women with advanced ovarian cancer lived longer and without their tumors growing after receiving a modified regimen of a standard chemotherapy drug combination, Japanese researchers have reported. In a large phase III clinical trial, the researchers randomly assigned women to receive six cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel (Taxol) every 3 weeks (standard regimen) or six cycles of carboplatin every 3 weeks and a lower dose of paclitaxel (Taxol) once a week (dose-dense regimen). Women in the dose-dense group had a 29 percent reduction in the risk of progression and a 25 percent reduction in the risk of death after 3 years of follow-up. The results were published online September 18, 2009, in The Lancet.

Ovarian Epithelial Tumors Traced to Fallopian Tubes
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Mass., have found that the source of disease in many cases of the most aggressive form of ovarian cancer, serous carcinoma, may not be the ovary at all, but rather the fimbria of the fallopian tube. Dr. Keren Levanon reported these findings at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting on April 14, 2008.

Ultrasound Expertise Important in the Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer
Improving the quality of diagnostic ultrasound scans could significantly reduce unnecessary surgeries in women with suspected ovarian cancer who, in fact, have benign disease, according to a study by British researchers.

From the American Cancer Society: What’s new in ovarian cancer research and treatment?

Finding Health Information on the Internet

One of my first posts when I started this blog was about how to evaluate the quality of the health information you find online. In this day and age virtually anyone can post anything on the Internet so it's important that you evaluate the information you find. Since that original post was many months ago, I thought I'd revisit the subject.

My goal with this blog is to provide links to quality information on a wide range of subjects so you don't have to wonder about the quality of the information. Over the 22 years I was a medical librarian, I gained a lot of insight and knowledge about quality health information.

Do not use Google to search about your diagnosis! Google is a great search engine, but it does not distinguish between what is good information and what is garbage. Like I said, anyone can post anything so beware! Those of you who have been reading my blog from the beginning know that I provide a lot of links from MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine (National Institutes of Health). (I will provide links below for all web sites I mention.) MedlinePlus is probably the best place to start when you need to look up information. They have over 800 health topics with information from over 1,000 organizations, databases for drugs and supplements and much more. You can be confident that any information you find on MedlinePlus is quality information.

Other things to consider when evaluating a web site:

Who developed the web site? Is the author clearly identified? Are the credentials of the author listed? Since anyone can post information, it is vital that you check to make sure the person giving the information is qualified to give that information. If the site does not identify the author, then that information is suspect.

Does the page show when it was last updated? Are the links to other resources still active? Many people post information on the Internet having no intention of keeping it up-to-date. That's why it's important to check for a date to be sure the information is current.

Is contact information provided so that you can e-mail, call, or write the author? If there is no contact information, then it is difficult to ascertain the validity of the information and the authority of the author.

What is the purpose of the information? Assess the reason for the information provided. Are they trying to sell you something or persuade you to do something or is the information provided for informational purposes only? If the page is designed for commercial purposes only, then there may be conflict of interest with the information provided. It is best to stick with non-commercial sites.

Can the information be verified in other sources? If a web site is not well documented, it is especially important to verify the information in other sources. If you ever find a difference in the information, it is important you check with a health care provider for clarification.

Some great resources for health information:

MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine.

Top 100 List: Health Websites You Can Trust (from the Consumer and Patient Health Information Section of the Medical Library Association)

NOAH: New York Online Access to Health (organization composed of a number of New York City Libraries)