Saturday, July 31, 2010
Diagnostic Tests
During my many years as a medical librarian, I was frequently asked for information on a particular diagnostic test. There are so many of them that it's hard to know what all of them are about. MedlinePlus has a health topic page with a list of diagnostic tests that have links to those particular tests. It's a great page to add to your favorites folder. Here is the link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diagnostictests.html.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Hypothyroidism
Since I know many folks with hypothyroidism, I thought I'd post some information about the disease from the National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service:
Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s needs. Without enough thyroid hormone, many of the body’s functions slow down. About 5 percent of the U.S. population has hypothyroidism. 1 Women are much more likely than men to develop hypothyroidism.
The thyroid gland makes two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Thyroid hormones affect metabolism, brain development, breathing, heart and nervous system functions, body temperature, muscle strength, skin dryness, menstrual cycles, weight, and cholesterol levels. A third hormone produced by specialized cells in the thyroid gland, calcitonin, affects calcium levels in the blood and the buildup of calcium in the bones. Calcitonin is not considered a thyroid hormone per se.
Thyroid hormone production is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is made by the pituitary gland. Located in the brain, the pituitary gland is the “master gland” of the endocrine system.
Hypothyroidism has many symptoms that can vary from person to person. Some common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
fatigue
weight gain
puffy face
cold intolerance
joint and muscle pain
constipation
dry, thinning hair
decreased sweating
heavy or irregular menstrual periods and impaired fertility
depression
slowed heart rate
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?
Many symptoms of hypothyroidism can occur in other diseases, so hypothyroidism usually cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms alone. Health care providers take a medical history and perform a thorough physical examination. Providers may then use several tests to confirm a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and find its cause.
Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test
The ultrasensitive TSH test is usually the first test a doctor performs. This test is the most accurate measure of thyroid activity available.
The TSH test is based on the way TSH and thyroid hormone work together. The pituitary gland boosts TSH production when the thyroid is not making enough thyroid hormone; the thyroid normally responds to TSH by making more hormone. Then, when the body has enough thyroid hormone circulating in the blood, TSH output drops. In people who produce too little thyroid hormone, the pituitary makes TSH continuously, trying to get the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormone.
Generally, a TSH reading above normal means a person has hypothyroidism and a reading below normal means a person has hyperthyroidism.
Other Tests
Health care providers may conduct additional tests to help confirm the diagnosis or determine the cause of hypothyroidism.
The T4 test measures the actual amount of circulating thyroid hormone in the blood. In hypothyroidism, the level of T4 in the blood is lower than normal.
The thyroid autoantibody test looks for the presence of thyroid autoantibodies. Most people with Hashimoto’s disease have these antibodies, but people whose hypothyroidism is caused by other conditions do not.
How is Hypothyroidism treated?
Hypothyroidism is treated with synthetic thyroxine, which is identical to the T4 made by the thyroid. The exact dose will depend on the patient’s age and weight, the severity of the hypothyroidism, the presence of other health problems, and whether the person is taking other drugs that might interfere with how well the body uses thyroid hormone.
Health care providers test TSH levels about 6 to 8 weeks after a patient begins taking thyroid hormone and make any necessary adjustments to the dose. Each time the dose is adjusted, the blood is tested again. Once a stable dose is reached, blood tests are normally repeated in 6 months and then once a year after that.
Hypothyroidism can almost always be completely controlled with synthetic thyroxine, as long as the recommended dose is taken every day as instructed.
For more information, contact the following organizations:
American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
1650 Diagonal Road
Alexandria, VA 22314–2857
Phone: 703–836–4444
Internet: www.entnet.org
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
245 Riverside Avenue, Suite 200
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: 904–353–7878
Fax: 904–353–8185
Email: info@aace.com
Internet: www.aace.com
American Thyroid Association
6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 550
Falls Church, VA 22041
Phone: 1–800–THYROID (849–7643) or 703–998–8890
Fax: 703–998–8893
Email: admin@thyroid.org
Internet: www.thyroid.org
The Endocrine Society
8401 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 900
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Phone: 1–888–363–6274 or 301–941–0200
Fax: 301–941–0259
Email: societyservices@endo-society.org
Internet: www.endo-society.org
The Hormone Foundation
8401 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 900
Chevy Chase, MD 20815–5817
Phone: 1–800–HORMONE (467–6663)
Fax: 301–941–0259
Email: hormone@endo-society.org
Internet: www.hormone.org
Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s needs. Without enough thyroid hormone, many of the body’s functions slow down. About 5 percent of the U.S. population has hypothyroidism. 1 Women are much more likely than men to develop hypothyroidism.
The thyroid gland makes two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Thyroid hormones affect metabolism, brain development, breathing, heart and nervous system functions, body temperature, muscle strength, skin dryness, menstrual cycles, weight, and cholesterol levels. A third hormone produced by specialized cells in the thyroid gland, calcitonin, affects calcium levels in the blood and the buildup of calcium in the bones. Calcitonin is not considered a thyroid hormone per se.
Thyroid hormone production is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is made by the pituitary gland. Located in the brain, the pituitary gland is the “master gland” of the endocrine system.
Hypothyroidism has many symptoms that can vary from person to person. Some common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
fatigue
weight gain
puffy face
cold intolerance
joint and muscle pain
constipation
dry, thinning hair
decreased sweating
heavy or irregular menstrual periods and impaired fertility
depression
slowed heart rate
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?
Many symptoms of hypothyroidism can occur in other diseases, so hypothyroidism usually cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms alone. Health care providers take a medical history and perform a thorough physical examination. Providers may then use several tests to confirm a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and find its cause.
Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test
The ultrasensitive TSH test is usually the first test a doctor performs. This test is the most accurate measure of thyroid activity available.
The TSH test is based on the way TSH and thyroid hormone work together. The pituitary gland boosts TSH production when the thyroid is not making enough thyroid hormone; the thyroid normally responds to TSH by making more hormone. Then, when the body has enough thyroid hormone circulating in the blood, TSH output drops. In people who produce too little thyroid hormone, the pituitary makes TSH continuously, trying to get the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormone.
Generally, a TSH reading above normal means a person has hypothyroidism and a reading below normal means a person has hyperthyroidism.
Other Tests
Health care providers may conduct additional tests to help confirm the diagnosis or determine the cause of hypothyroidism.
The T4 test measures the actual amount of circulating thyroid hormone in the blood. In hypothyroidism, the level of T4 in the blood is lower than normal.
The thyroid autoantibody test looks for the presence of thyroid autoantibodies. Most people with Hashimoto’s disease have these antibodies, but people whose hypothyroidism is caused by other conditions do not.
How is Hypothyroidism treated?
Hypothyroidism is treated with synthetic thyroxine, which is identical to the T4 made by the thyroid. The exact dose will depend on the patient’s age and weight, the severity of the hypothyroidism, the presence of other health problems, and whether the person is taking other drugs that might interfere with how well the body uses thyroid hormone.
Health care providers test TSH levels about 6 to 8 weeks after a patient begins taking thyroid hormone and make any necessary adjustments to the dose. Each time the dose is adjusted, the blood is tested again. Once a stable dose is reached, blood tests are normally repeated in 6 months and then once a year after that.
Hypothyroidism can almost always be completely controlled with synthetic thyroxine, as long as the recommended dose is taken every day as instructed.
For more information, contact the following organizations:
American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
1650 Diagonal Road
Alexandria, VA 22314–2857
Phone: 703–836–4444
Internet: www.entnet.org
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
245 Riverside Avenue, Suite 200
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: 904–353–7878
Fax: 904–353–8185
Email: info@aace.com
Internet: www.aace.com
American Thyroid Association
6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 550
Falls Church, VA 22041
Phone: 1–800–THYROID (849–7643) or 703–998–8890
Fax: 703–998–8893
Email: admin@thyroid.org
Internet: www.thyroid.org
The Endocrine Society
8401 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 900
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Phone: 1–888–363–6274 or 301–941–0200
Fax: 301–941–0259
Email: societyservices@endo-society.org
Internet: www.endo-society.org
The Hormone Foundation
8401 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 900
Chevy Chase, MD 20815–5817
Phone: 1–800–HORMONE (467–6663)
Fax: 301–941–0259
Email: hormone@endo-society.org
Internet: www.hormone.org
Monday, July 26, 2010
Underage Drinking
Underage drinking is a serious problem in this country. Parents need to take an active role in educating their children about the dangers of alcohol use/abuse.
Alcohol consumption and dangerous patterns of drinking are widespread among adolescents and lead to many adverse consequences for underage drinkers and others.
Underage Drinking is Widespread: There are an estimated 10.8 million underage drinkers in the U.S.
Alcohol is the Drug of Choice Among Adolescents: Three-fourths of 12th graders, more than two-thirds of 10th graders, and about two in five 8th graders have consumed alcohol (more than a few sips) in their lifetime. Forty-five percent of 12th graders; 34 percent of 10th graders; and 17 percent of 8th graders reported using alcohol in the past month – more than cigarettes and marijuana combined.
Many Adolescents Engage in Binge Drinking: Twenty-nine percent of 12th graders, 22 percent of 10th graders, and 11 percent of 8th graders have engaged in binge drinking. In this study, binge drinking was defined as consuming 5 or more drinks on a single occasion.
Binge Drinking Increases Dramatically During Adolescence:
I found some sobering statistics on adolescent alcohol use from the Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:
Statistical Snapshot of Underage Drinking :
Alcohol consumption and dangerous patterns of drinking are widespread among adolescents and lead to many adverse consequences for underage drinkers and others.
Underage Drinking is Widespread: There are an estimated 10.8 million underage drinkers in the U.S.
Alcohol is the Drug of Choice Among Adolescents: Three-fourths of 12th graders, more than two-thirds of 10th graders, and about two in five 8th graders have consumed alcohol (more than a few sips) in their lifetime. Forty-five percent of 12th graders; 34 percent of 10th graders; and 17 percent of 8th graders reported using alcohol in the past month – more than cigarettes and marijuana combined.
Many Adolescents Engage in Binge Drinking: Twenty-nine percent of 12th graders, 22 percent of 10th graders, and 11 percent of 8th graders have engaged in binge drinking. In this study, binge drinking was defined as consuming 5 or more drinks on a single occasion.
Binge Drinking Increases Dramatically During Adolescence:
From age 13 to age 21, the percentage of young people who report past month binge drinking increases from about 1 percent to 50 percent.'
Adolescents Drink Less Frequently than Adults but More Per Occasion:
On average, underage drinkers consume about 5 drinks nearly 6 times a month, while adults 26 and older have between 2 and 3 drinks about 9 times per month.
Adolescents Often Get Alcohol From Adults: Underage youth report that alcohol is easy to obtain:
- In a recent survey, more than 40 percent of underage drinkers (persons aged 12 to 20 who drank in the past 30 days) reported obtaining alcohol at no cost from adults 21 or older.
- The same survey also found that more than 6 percent of underage drinkers were given alcohol by their parents in the past month.
- The same survey also found that, the younger the underage drinker, the more likely he or she is to get alcohol from a parent, guardian, or other family member. For example, more than 30 percent of 12 to 14 year old drinkers get alcohol from these familial sources, compared to about 12 percent of drinkers age 18 to 20.
Fatal Injuries and Lifelong Dependence are Common Consequences of Underage Drinking: Injury is the leading cause of death among young people in the U.S. and alcohol is the leading contributor to injury deaths. In the U.S., an estimated 5,000 individuals under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking.
These include:
Motor Vehicle Crashes: About 1,900 deaths
Homicides: About 1,600 deaths
Suicides: About 300 deaths
Alcohol Dependence: Early alcohol use, independent of other risk factors, strongly predicts the development of alcohol dependence. Of all people who ever meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence in their lifetime, nearly half do so by age 21 and two-thirds by age 25.
Numerous Risks are Associated with Underage Binge Drinking: Among high school students in the U.S., those who binge drink frequently are at higher risk for the following outcomes than are students who abstain from drinking:
- Risky Sexual Behavior
- Assaults
- Sexual Assaults
- Injuries
- Academic Problems
- Legal Problems
However, no causal connections have been established between all of these outcomes and binge drinking.
Underage Drinking is Common in the Military: According to the most recent (2005) Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel, 62.3 percent of underage military members drink at least once a year. The same survey found that 21 percent of active duty military personnel age 20 and younger reported heavy alcohol use -- defined as drinking five or more drinks per typical drinking occasion -- within the past 30 days. A similar proportion of college students report binge drinking, as noted in the Statistical Snapshot of College Drinking.
If you want the above statistics in PDF version, here is the link: Statistical Snapshot of Underage Drinking
Here are a couple great resources from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:
Cool Spot: Info on Alcohol and Resisting Peer Pressure
Make a Difference: Talk to Your Child about Alcohol
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning.
Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts in childhood. In the United States, more than 22 million people are known to have asthma. Nearly 6 million of these people are children. (from NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Asthma can’t be cured but there are many effective treatments available to help control the disease. There are two types of medicines for asthma: those that provide long-term relief from symptoms and those that provide quick relief if you have an asthma attack. Your initial treatment will depend on how severe your asthma is—intermittent, mild, moderate, or severe.
If you have asthma, it is important to be aware of things that make your symptoms worse, such as dust, pollen, and cigarette smoke.
For more information on asthma, check out What Is Asthma? from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Here are some other useful resources for asthma information:
Asthma Facts Asthma Facts from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
Asthma from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Asthma from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts in childhood. In the United States, more than 22 million people are known to have asthma. Nearly 6 million of these people are children. (from NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Asthma can’t be cured but there are many effective treatments available to help control the disease. There are two types of medicines for asthma: those that provide long-term relief from symptoms and those that provide quick relief if you have an asthma attack. Your initial treatment will depend on how severe your asthma is—intermittent, mild, moderate, or severe.
If you have asthma, it is important to be aware of things that make your symptoms worse, such as dust, pollen, and cigarette smoke.
For more information on asthma, check out What Is Asthma? from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Here are some other useful resources for asthma information:
Asthma Facts Asthma Facts from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
Asthma from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Asthma from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Saturday, July 24, 2010
clinicaltrials.gov
I just wanted to tell you about a helpful web site called clinicaltrials.gov. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Library of Medicine (NLM), has developed clinicaltrials.gov in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as a result of the FDA Modernization Act, which was passed into law in November 1997.
The site is a database of over 93,000 clinical trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, other federal agencies, and private industry. There are studies from all 50 states and over 170 countries. It offers up-to-date information for locating federally and privately supported clinical trials on various diseases and conditions.
If you, or someone you know, has a disease or condition, you might want to check out clinicaltrials.gov to see if you qualify for a clinical trial. Each trial has inclusion and exclusion criteria, e.g., many trials only accept patients who have gone through conventional treatments that were not successful.
In the advanced search form, you can enter specific search parameters such as state, study type, age of patient, etc. It's a very useful site, especially if you've exhausted all other treatment options.
The site is a database of over 93,000 clinical trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, other federal agencies, and private industry. There are studies from all 50 states and over 170 countries. It offers up-to-date information for locating federally and privately supported clinical trials on various diseases and conditions.
If you, or someone you know, has a disease or condition, you might want to check out clinicaltrials.gov to see if you qualify for a clinical trial. Each trial has inclusion and exclusion criteria, e.g., many trials only accept patients who have gone through conventional treatments that were not successful.
In the advanced search form, you can enter specific search parameters such as state, study type, age of patient, etc. It's a very useful site, especially if you've exhausted all other treatment options.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Bereavement
The death of a loved one is a very traumatic experience. You may experience grief as a mental, physical, social or emotional reaction. You may feel angry, guilty, anxious, sad, or a number of other emotions. You may have trouble sleeping or lose your appetite.
Some people recover relatively quickly, but others may take a long time to recover. It may be harder to get over a sudden death than one that is expected due to illness. Friends, family and faith may be sources of support. Grief counseling or grief therapy is also helpful to some people.
The National Cancer Institute has some great information on Bereavement, Mourning, and Grief.
If you have a loved one who is terminally ill (or know someone who does), the American Hospice Foundation has an excellent page on Anticipatory Grief Symptoms: What's the Big Deal?
MedlinePlus has a health topic on bereavement that links to all kinds of information on all aspects of grief, including grieving the loss of a child and teen suicide.
Some people recover relatively quickly, but others may take a long time to recover. It may be harder to get over a sudden death than one that is expected due to illness. Friends, family and faith may be sources of support. Grief counseling or grief therapy is also helpful to some people.
The National Cancer Institute has some great information on Bereavement, Mourning, and Grief.
If you have a loved one who is terminally ill (or know someone who does), the American Hospice Foundation has an excellent page on Anticipatory Grief Symptoms: What's the Big Deal?
MedlinePlus has a health topic on bereavement that links to all kinds of information on all aspects of grief, including grieving the loss of a child and teen suicide.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention
Loud noises are everyone--from blaring MP3 players, to jet planes to the Vuvuzelas at the World Cup Soccer tournament! Did any of you watch the World Cup? Those Vuvuzelas were really annoying and I can imagine they were really loud there on the field. I found this great paragraph that describes them:
Vuvuzelas have been compared to a heard of stampeding elephants, the drone of a thousand bees, or the sound of a goat being dragged to slaughter—and they are the latest craze at the World Cup. On the NIOSH Science Blog, we discuss the potential for hearing problems at World Cup matches and other recreational activities where loud noise is present.
Also on the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) web site is a really fun noise meter that has the decibel levels of some very common things. It's amazing how loud some of them are! Check it out here: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/abouthlp/noisemeter_flash/soundMeter_flash.html
NIOSH also has some great hearing loss prevention information that everyone should check out since loud noises are everywhere. Here is their web site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/default.html
Vuvuzelas have been compared to a heard of stampeding elephants, the drone of a thousand bees, or the sound of a goat being dragged to slaughter—and they are the latest craze at the World Cup. On the NIOSH Science Blog, we discuss the potential for hearing problems at World Cup matches and other recreational activities where loud noise is present.
Also on the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) web site is a really fun noise meter that has the decibel levels of some very common things. It's amazing how loud some of them are! Check it out here: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/abouthlp/noisemeter_flash/soundMeter_flash.html
NIOSH also has some great hearing loss prevention information that everyone should check out since loud noises are everywhere. Here is their web site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/default.html
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Child Safety
I realized that I haven't posted much on child safety issues, so I found some great links to very useful information for parents, grandparents and other guardians of our precious little ones.
I found a great brochure from the American Academy of Pediatrics on shopping cart safety. I can't count the number of times I've seen parents who put their small children in shopping carts in a really unsafe manner. It scares me when I see things like that. If you must take your child into the store, check out this brochure: Shopping Cart Safety
With all the new toys coming out and all the hype some of them get, it's important to know what toys are safe for what age group. Here are a couple pamphlets from the Consumer Product Safety Commission on age-appropriate toys:
Which Toy for Which Child (0-5)
Which Toy for Which Child (6-12)
The FBI has a very helpful publication: A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety, that has helpful tips on how to keep your child safe while they are surfing the Internet.
I found a great brochure from the American Academy of Pediatrics on shopping cart safety. I can't count the number of times I've seen parents who put their small children in shopping carts in a really unsafe manner. It scares me when I see things like that. If you must take your child into the store, check out this brochure: Shopping Cart Safety
With all the new toys coming out and all the hype some of them get, it's important to know what toys are safe for what age group. Here are a couple pamphlets from the Consumer Product Safety Commission on age-appropriate toys:
Which Toy for Which Child (0-5)
Which Toy for Which Child (6-12)
The FBI has a very helpful publication: A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety, that has helpful tips on how to keep your child safe while they are surfing the Internet.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Quit Smoking!
Before I get to my main message, I want to mention a news story I just read that talks about a stall in the decline of U.S. teen smoking, which means that the goal of reducing rate to 16 percent by 2010 won't be met, CDC says. The rate is currently around 20%. Here is the news story if you want to read it: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_100850.html
If you smoke or someone you love smokes, you might want to think about these health benefits if you stop smoking:
(from the U.S. Surgeon General)
The following are the benefits of quitting smoking that follow are in accordance to the timeline before which the smoker has quit smoking like:
After 20 minutes - Smoking causes increase in blood pressure. This high blood pressure is very harmful as it increases the danger of heart attack. But as soon as we quit smoking the risk minimizes and blood pressure rate becomes normal.
After 8 hours - Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood are greatly reduced; oxygen levels in the blood return to normal. The chances of a heart attack start to fall.
After 10 hours - Carbon monoxide (CO) level becomes half after 10 hours of quitting smoking. Carbon monoxide is one of the major pollutants that produce bad effects on cognitive skills and health. It also affects the oxygen, which is one of the most vital substances, which are necessary for survival. When the carbon monoxide level is high, it decreases intake of blood from lungs, which can lead to many serious problems. We increase our energy levels by smoothing the passage of oxygen as we restrict the carbon monoxide level by quitting smoking.
After 24 hours - If you successfully completed 24 hours, it is a marvelous starting, for the chain smokers that provides them strong bearing power, less level of tiredness after exercise and quick recovery.
After 48 Hours - When move to 48 hours from one whole day, it gives us a totally new experience as nicotine is removed from their body, which earlier has resulted in bad side effects by causing stomachache, vomiting and it also develops the probability of hypothermia.
After 72 hours - Bronchial tubes begin to relax; energy levels increase. Breathing becomes easier.
After 2-22 weeks - After 2 to 22 weeks of quitting smoking you will get rid of bad circulation and also of numerous other disorders like slow cold feet, skin healing, peripheral vascular disease (PVT), and Raynaud’s disease.
After 1 year - After you quit smoking for 1 year, you will reduce the risk of heart attack to half. According to the studies conducted in U.K, smoking results in around 20,000 deaths due to heart diseases.
After 10 years - After reducing the danger of heart attack our good habit of quitting smoking results in minimizing the danger of lung cancer to half.
After 15 years - After 15 years person who once was chain smoker leads a healthy life as a normal man who has never smoked. At last the good habit has repaid back
If you smoke or someone you love smokes, you might want to think about these health benefits if you stop smoking:
(from the U.S. Surgeon General)
The following are the benefits of quitting smoking that follow are in accordance to the timeline before which the smoker has quit smoking like:
After 20 minutes - Smoking causes increase in blood pressure. This high blood pressure is very harmful as it increases the danger of heart attack. But as soon as we quit smoking the risk minimizes and blood pressure rate becomes normal.
After 8 hours - Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood are greatly reduced; oxygen levels in the blood return to normal. The chances of a heart attack start to fall.
After 10 hours - Carbon monoxide (CO) level becomes half after 10 hours of quitting smoking. Carbon monoxide is one of the major pollutants that produce bad effects on cognitive skills and health. It also affects the oxygen, which is one of the most vital substances, which are necessary for survival. When the carbon monoxide level is high, it decreases intake of blood from lungs, which can lead to many serious problems. We increase our energy levels by smoothing the passage of oxygen as we restrict the carbon monoxide level by quitting smoking.
After 24 hours - If you successfully completed 24 hours, it is a marvelous starting, for the chain smokers that provides them strong bearing power, less level of tiredness after exercise and quick recovery.
After 48 Hours - When move to 48 hours from one whole day, it gives us a totally new experience as nicotine is removed from their body, which earlier has resulted in bad side effects by causing stomachache, vomiting and it also develops the probability of hypothermia.
After 72 hours - Bronchial tubes begin to relax; energy levels increase. Breathing becomes easier.
After 2-22 weeks - After 2 to 22 weeks of quitting smoking you will get rid of bad circulation and also of numerous other disorders like slow cold feet, skin healing, peripheral vascular disease (PVT), and Raynaud’s disease.
After 1 year - After you quit smoking for 1 year, you will reduce the risk of heart attack to half. According to the studies conducted in U.K, smoking results in around 20,000 deaths due to heart diseases.
After 10 years - After reducing the danger of heart attack our good habit of quitting smoking results in minimizing the danger of lung cancer to half.
After 15 years - After 15 years person who once was chain smoker leads a healthy life as a normal man who has never smoked. At last the good habit has repaid back
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Selecting a Practitioner
I'm sure many of you at one time or another have tried an alternative therapy for a medical problem. Since there are many fraudulent claims out there and the Internet makes it easy to spread them, it is important that you find a practitioner that is qualified and knows what they are doing. The National Institutes of Health Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has a very helpful web page on how to select a complementary and alternative medicine practitioner. Here's the link to some great things to think about: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/decisions/practitioner.htm.
If you are interested in any form of alternative medicine, you should definitely visit the main Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine web site at: http://nccam.nih.gov. They have an A-Z index with just about every topic imaginable so make sure you check out any claims before trying any therapy.
If you are interested in any form of alternative medicine, you should definitely visit the main Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine web site at: http://nccam.nih.gov. They have an A-Z index with just about every topic imaginable so make sure you check out any claims before trying any therapy.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a serious problem that affects millions of people. Very often in the news you hear about someone who was killed in a domestic dispute.
Here are some facts you may not be aware of:
- One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. (1)
- An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. (2)
- 85% of domestic violence victims are women. (3)
- Historically, females have been most often victimized by someone they knew. (4)
- Females who are 20-24 years of age are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence. (5)
- Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police. (6)
1 Tjaden, Patricia & Thoennes, Nancy. National Institute of Justice and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, “Extent, Nature and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey,” (2000).
2 Costs of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States. 2003. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centers for Injury Prevention and Control. Atlanta, GA.
3 Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003.
4 U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Criminal Victimization, 2005,” September 2006.
5 U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Intimate Partner Violence in the United States,” December 2006.
6 Frieze, I.H., Browne, A. (1989) Violence in Marriage. In L.E. Ohlin & M. H. Tonry (eds.) Family Violence. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
The American Bar Association has an excellent resource, Domestic Violence Safety Plan, that has some helpful tips about things to do to keep yourself and your kids safe if you are the victim of domestic violence. If you know someone who is dealing with domestic violence, you might want to share this resource with them.
If you do know a victim of violence, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has an excellent pamphlet called Supporting the Survivor
Here are some facts you may not be aware of:
- One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. (1)
- An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. (2)
- 85% of domestic violence victims are women. (3)
- Historically, females have been most often victimized by someone they knew. (4)
- Females who are 20-24 years of age are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence. (5)
- Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police. (6)
1 Tjaden, Patricia & Thoennes, Nancy. National Institute of Justice and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, “Extent, Nature and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey,” (2000).
2 Costs of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States. 2003. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centers for Injury Prevention and Control. Atlanta, GA.
3 Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003.
4 U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Criminal Victimization, 2005,” September 2006.
5 U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Intimate Partner Violence in the United States,” December 2006.
6 Frieze, I.H., Browne, A. (1989) Violence in Marriage. In L.E. Ohlin & M. H. Tonry (eds.) Family Violence. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
The American Bar Association has an excellent resource, Domestic Violence Safety Plan, that has some helpful tips about things to do to keep yourself and your kids safe if you are the victim of domestic violence. If you know someone who is dealing with domestic violence, you might want to share this resource with them.
If you do know a victim of violence, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has an excellent pamphlet called Supporting the Survivor
How to Ride Out Dangerous Heat Waves
Since a lot of us are suffering through this nasty heat wave, I thought I'd share a great article I found on MedlinePlus. Dr. Larry Mellick of the emergency department at MCGHealth, an academic medical center of the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta offers some great tips on how to stay cool during this dangerously hot weather. Here is the link to the article: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_100704.html
Be careful out there, everyone!
Be careful out there, everyone!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Get Screened!
Hi everyone. I came across some information that I thought would be useful for everyone. No matter how old or young you are, there are certain health screenings that you should get at certain times. With so many things to remember, it is easy to overlook something important.
I found some great information on healthfinder.gov on health screenings that includes PDFs of checklists for men and women, and also separate ones for men and women over the age of 50. I glanced over one of the documents and it looks like it will be very handy to use to keep track of all the screenings you should have. Here is the link: http://healthfinder.gov/prevention/PrintTopic.aspx?topicID=20
I found some great information on healthfinder.gov on health screenings that includes PDFs of checklists for men and women, and also separate ones for men and women over the age of 50. I glanced over one of the documents and it looks like it will be very handy to use to keep track of all the screenings you should have. Here is the link: http://healthfinder.gov/prevention/PrintTopic.aspx?topicID=20
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Advance Directives
I know many people don’t want to think about their life coming to an end, but there are many things that you should think about in case you are too ill or hurt to express your wishes. Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to convey your decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. They provide a way for you to communicate your wishes to family, friends and health care professionals, and to avoid confusion later on.
A living will tells how you feel about care intended to sustain life. You can accept or refuse some or all medical care. There are many issues to address, including
- The use of dialysis and breathing machines
- If you want to be resuscitated if breathing or heartbeat stops
- Tube feeding
- Organ or tissue donation
A durable power of attorney for health care is a document that names your health care proxy. Your proxy is someone you trust to make health decisions if you are unable to do so.
For more detailed information on advanced directives, check out the pamphlet End of Life Decisions: Advance Directives from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
To download state-specific advanced directives, visit http://www.caringinfo.org/stateaddownload, also from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
For more ethical and legal information, check out Ethical and Legal Issues from the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging.
A living will tells how you feel about care intended to sustain life. You can accept or refuse some or all medical care. There are many issues to address, including
- The use of dialysis and breathing machines
- If you want to be resuscitated if breathing or heartbeat stops
- Tube feeding
- Organ or tissue donation
A durable power of attorney for health care is a document that names your health care proxy. Your proxy is someone you trust to make health decisions if you are unable to do so.
For more detailed information on advanced directives, check out the pamphlet End of Life Decisions: Advance Directives from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
To download state-specific advanced directives, visit http://www.caringinfo.org/stateaddownload, also from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
For more ethical and legal information, check out Ethical and Legal Issues from the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Bicycle Safety
I'm trying to cover some topics that are timely for this time of year and when I saw something on bicycle safety, I thought that would be a great topic for this time of year since the kids are out of school and riding bikes all over the place.
I want to urge parents, grandparents, and guardians of our young folks, to please teach your kids proper bicycle safety (and learn it yourself since I've seen some adults riding recklessly). There is a fortunate young man in my hometown who was not injured because I was looking out for him. I saw him flying down the sidewalk on his bike as I was getting ready to make a right turn. Since I could see he wasn't watching for traffic, I stopped right as I started to make the turn, and sure enough, he went flying across the street in front of me. It was only when he was about 3/4 of the way across the street that he decided to look for traffic. I'm one of the few drivers in Cumberland who actually pays attention to things around them so I was able to stop, but if it would have been one of the crazy drivers, that young man could have been seriously injured. So please, make sure you learn bike safety and pass it on to all the children in your life.
Before starting out, make sure the bicycle is in proper working order--check the brakes, check the tires, make sure nothing is loose. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET! Follow all traffic laws. Bicycles are to follow the same traffic laws as motorists. This means that you don't ride your bike on the sidewalk, you don't ride your bike the wrong way on a one way street, and that you use proper hand signals when making turns or stopping.
Here a few more helpful tips from healthfinder.gov:
Always wear a bike helmet! Get your family in the "helmet habit" – wear helmets every time and everywhere you ride bikes. A bike helmet is the best way to prevent injury or death from a bike accident.
Bike helmets only protect you if you wear them the right way. Every time you put your helmet on, make sure that:
- The helmet is flat on the top of your head
- The helmet is covering the top of your forehead
- The strap is buckled snugly under your chin
Learn how to fit a bike helmet
Check regularly to make sure your child's helmet still fits.
Make sure people can see you easily. Wear bright colors or glow–in–the–dark clothes, even during the day. Make sure something on your clothes or bike reflects light, like reflective tape.
Drivers have a hard time seeing bike riders at night. Plan ahead so your bike rides are over before it gets dark.
Follow the "rules of the road".
- Look both ways before entering the street.
- Ride in the same direction as the cars.
- Stop at all stop signs and intersections.
- Use hand signals to show others what you plan to do next.
- For a left turn, look behind you, hold your left arm straight out to the side, and turn carefully.
- For a right turn, hold your left arm out and up in an "L" shape.
- To signal that you are stopping, hold your left arm out and down in an upside–down "L" shape.
Many states/counties require helmet use when riding bikes, so check out this site to see about laws in your area: http://www.helmets.org/mandator.htm.
STAY SAFE!
I want to urge parents, grandparents, and guardians of our young folks, to please teach your kids proper bicycle safety (and learn it yourself since I've seen some adults riding recklessly). There is a fortunate young man in my hometown who was not injured because I was looking out for him. I saw him flying down the sidewalk on his bike as I was getting ready to make a right turn. Since I could see he wasn't watching for traffic, I stopped right as I started to make the turn, and sure enough, he went flying across the street in front of me. It was only when he was about 3/4 of the way across the street that he decided to look for traffic. I'm one of the few drivers in Cumberland who actually pays attention to things around them so I was able to stop, but if it would have been one of the crazy drivers, that young man could have been seriously injured. So please, make sure you learn bike safety and pass it on to all the children in your life.
Before starting out, make sure the bicycle is in proper working order--check the brakes, check the tires, make sure nothing is loose. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET! Follow all traffic laws. Bicycles are to follow the same traffic laws as motorists. This means that you don't ride your bike on the sidewalk, you don't ride your bike the wrong way on a one way street, and that you use proper hand signals when making turns or stopping.
Here a few more helpful tips from healthfinder.gov:
Always wear a bike helmet! Get your family in the "helmet habit" – wear helmets every time and everywhere you ride bikes. A bike helmet is the best way to prevent injury or death from a bike accident.
Bike helmets only protect you if you wear them the right way. Every time you put your helmet on, make sure that:
- The helmet is flat on the top of your head
- The helmet is covering the top of your forehead
- The strap is buckled snugly under your chin
Learn how to fit a bike helmet
Check regularly to make sure your child's helmet still fits.
Make sure people can see you easily. Wear bright colors or glow–in–the–dark clothes, even during the day. Make sure something on your clothes or bike reflects light, like reflective tape.
Drivers have a hard time seeing bike riders at night. Plan ahead so your bike rides are over before it gets dark.
Follow the "rules of the road".
- Look both ways before entering the street.
- Ride in the same direction as the cars.
- Stop at all stop signs and intersections.
- Use hand signals to show others what you plan to do next.
- For a left turn, look behind you, hold your left arm straight out to the side, and turn carefully.
- For a right turn, hold your left arm out and up in an "L" shape.
- To signal that you are stopping, hold your left arm out and down in an upside–down "L" shape.
Many states/counties require helmet use when riding bikes, so check out this site to see about laws in your area: http://www.helmets.org/mandator.htm.
STAY SAFE!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Too much fructose could raise your blood pressure
OK, this is for all you soda (and other sweet beverage) drinkers out there--and that includes me. There have been studies done that have shown that drinking too many sweet beverages can raise your blood pressure. As a medical librarian, I've come across articles about sugar and blood pressure before, but I just saw this news item on MedlinePlus. If you want to read the whole article, here's the link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_100643.html.
If you like to read research articles, I found an article in the Journal of Pediatrics that talks about the effect of sweetened beverages on adolescents. Here's the link to the full text of that article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2727470/?tool=pubmed.
My blood pressure has been a little high lately so I think I will take heed of this research and cut back on my sugar intake. When you're out shopping for beverages, be sure to check the labels because you'd be amazed by the amount of sugar in some of those drinks.
If you like to read research articles, I found an article in the Journal of Pediatrics that talks about the effect of sweetened beverages on adolescents. Here's the link to the full text of that article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2727470/?tool=pubmed.
My blood pressure has been a little high lately so I think I will take heed of this research and cut back on my sugar intake. When you're out shopping for beverages, be sure to check the labels because you'd be amazed by the amount of sugar in some of those drinks.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Lyme Disease/Tick Bites
Since summer is in full swing and people are out enjoying the great outdoors, I thought I'd share some information on Lyme disease, a very common tickborne disease.
There are a number of tickborne diseases but I am going to cover Lyme disease in this post, since it is the most familiar and one that can be difficult to diagnosis since the symptoms are similar to other illnesses.
Lyme disease is spread through the bite of the deer tick. Both nymphs (immature ticks) and adult deer ticks can spread the disease. The deer population has been increasing in the Northeast United States and more housing developments in rural parts of the country where deer ticks are common, have lead to the spread of Lyme disease.
Symptoms:
The first symptom of Lyme disease is usually Erythema migrans, a rash that starts as a small red spot at the site of the tick bite. The spot then grows bigger over a period of days or weeks and eventually forms a circle or oval.
As the disease spreads, the rash can spread to other parts of the body.
Other symptoms of Lyme disease include:
Other symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Body aches
- Tiredness
If the disease is not treated with antibiotics, arthritis may develop in the joint, most commonly the knee.
Lyme disease can also affect the nervous system. Here are some symptoms of the neurological effects:
- Stiff neck and severe headache (meningitis)
- Temporary paralysis of your facial muscles (Bell’s palsy)
- Numbness, pain, or weakness in your limbs
- Poor muscle movement
Lyme disease can also cause more subtle changes such as :
- Memory loss
- Difficulty with concentration
- Change in mood or sleep habits
If you think you may have Lyme disease, tell your health care provider so they can make a definitive diagnosis.
Antibiotics are used to effectively treat Lyme disease.
For more information on Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases, including detailed information on diagnosis and treatment, check out the booklet Tickborne Diseases from the National Institute on Allergy and Infectious diseases.
Here are some helpful tips to avoid tick bites:
- Use a chemical repellent with DEET, permethrin or picaridin
- Wear light-colored protective clothing
- Tuck pant legs into socks
- Avoid tick-infested areas
- Check yourself, your children and your pets daily for ticks and carefully remove any ticks you find
There are a number of tickborne diseases but I am going to cover Lyme disease in this post, since it is the most familiar and one that can be difficult to diagnosis since the symptoms are similar to other illnesses.
Lyme disease is spread through the bite of the deer tick. Both nymphs (immature ticks) and adult deer ticks can spread the disease. The deer population has been increasing in the Northeast United States and more housing developments in rural parts of the country where deer ticks are common, have lead to the spread of Lyme disease.
Symptoms:
The first symptom of Lyme disease is usually Erythema migrans, a rash that starts as a small red spot at the site of the tick bite. The spot then grows bigger over a period of days or weeks and eventually forms a circle or oval.
As the disease spreads, the rash can spread to other parts of the body.
Other symptoms of Lyme disease include:
Other symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Body aches
- Tiredness
If the disease is not treated with antibiotics, arthritis may develop in the joint, most commonly the knee.
Lyme disease can also affect the nervous system. Here are some symptoms of the neurological effects:
- Stiff neck and severe headache (meningitis)
- Temporary paralysis of your facial muscles (Bell’s palsy)
- Numbness, pain, or weakness in your limbs
- Poor muscle movement
Lyme disease can also cause more subtle changes such as :
- Memory loss
- Difficulty with concentration
- Change in mood or sleep habits
If you think you may have Lyme disease, tell your health care provider so they can make a definitive diagnosis.
Antibiotics are used to effectively treat Lyme disease.
For more information on Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases, including detailed information on diagnosis and treatment, check out the booklet Tickborne Diseases from the National Institute on Allergy and Infectious diseases.
Here are some helpful tips to avoid tick bites:
- Use a chemical repellent with DEET, permethrin or picaridin
- Wear light-colored protective clothing
- Tuck pant legs into socks
- Avoid tick-infested areas
- Check yourself, your children and your pets daily for ticks and carefully remove any ticks you find
Expert sees big mental health effects from BP spill
I came across an interesting, but disturbing article today. "The mental health impacts of the BP oil spill will dwarf those encountered after the last major oil spill off U.S. shores, a sociologist who studied the Exxon Valdez spill told Florida volunteers on Tuesday." With so many people being affected by the spill, it's no wonder that the mental health impact will be huge. If you want to read the whole article, here's the link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_100537.html
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