Diet High in Fiber Might Lengthen Your Life

A study was released in the Feb. 14 online edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine that found that eating lots of whole grains reduced risk of dying from any cause. There are many health benefits to eating fiber, including reducing the risk of heart disease and some cancers. To read the whole news story, visit http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_108805.html (this link is only active for 60 days from today).

Here are some foods that are high in fiber:

Beans, artichokes, sweet potatoes, berries, prunes, spinach
Bran muffins, Oatmeal, Bran or multiple-grain cereals, (cooked or dry), Brown rice, Popcorn, 100% whole-wheat bread

You should add fiber to your diet slowly. Increasing dietary fiber too quickly can lead to gas, bloating and cramps.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends increasing the amount of whole grains in your diet. The guidelines are a great resource to help you find foods that are good for you and they will help you figure out how much of each type of food you need in your diet.

Here are some tips from the guidelines:

- Reduce intake of solid fats (major sources of saturated and trans fatty acids).
- Replace solid fats with oils (major sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids) when possible.
- Reduce intake of added sugars.
- Reduce intake of refined grains and replace some refined grains with whole grains.
- Reduce intake of sodium (major component of salt).
- If consumed, limit alcohol intake to moderate levels.
- Increase intake of vegetables and fruits.
- Increase intake of whole grains.
- Increase intake of milk and milk products and replace whole milk and full-fat milk products with fat-free or low-fat choices to reduce solid fat intake. Increase seafood intake by replacing some meat or poultry with seafood

Here are some other great links to check out:

Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Fiber: Start Roughing It! (Harvard School of Public Health)

Why Is It Important to Eat Grains, Especially Whole Grains? (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)

Child Nutrition

From time to time I post information on child nutrition since I think it's really important to get kids off to a strong start with healthy eating patterns. There is such an epidemic of obesity in this country that I feel it's important to share useful information for parents so they can make sure their kids are eating healthy foods.

I found a great chart in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans that lists the calorie requirements by age group. This will help parents figure out exactly how many calories their child needs.

Ages 2 to 3: Girls and boys
Calories: 1,000 to 1,400, depending on growth and activity level

Ages 4 to 8: Girls
Calories : 1,200 to 1,800, depending on growth and activity level

Ages 4 to 8: Boys
Calories: 1,400 to 2,000, depending on growth and activity level

Ages 9 to 13: Girls
Calories: 1,600 to 2,200, depending on growth and activity level

Ages 9 to 13: Boys
Calories: 1,800 to 2,600, depending on growth and activity level

Ages 14 to 18: Girls
Calories: 1,800 to 2,400, depending on growth and activity level

Ages 14 to 18: Boys
Calories: 2,200 to 3,200, depending on growth and activity level

To find out the exact calorie breakdown for each activity level, check out the full text for Dietary Guidelines for Americans

For kids over the age of two, 50-60% of their diet should come from carbohydrates (from the healthy sources of carbs.)

Examples of Healthy Sources of Carbohydrates:

whole-grain cereals
brown rice
whole-grain breads
fruits
vegetables
low-fat dairy

Limit caffeine intake. Kids who consume one or more 12-ounce (355-milliliter) sweetened soft drink per day are 60% more likely to be obese. Soda has a lot of caffeine and a lot of empty calories with no nutritional value.

In both kids and adults, too much caffeine can cause:

jitteriness and nervousness
upset stomach
headaches
difficulty concentrating
difficulty sleeping
increased heart rate
increased blood pressure

To help your kids get a healthy respect for food at an early age, it's important that they become involved in preparing healthy foods. Rachael Ray's Yum-O organization's web site has a great recipe finder where you can search for recipes using a number of criteria such as food type, age group, and much more. She offers some great recipes that kids can make with the help of a grownup. Check out the recipe finder at http://www.yum-o.org/recipe_search.php.

Heart Health: Watch Your Cholesterol

Since February is National Heart Month, I will be posting heart-related posts occasionally throughout the month. Today’s topic is cholesterol since that is one of the most important things that we need to watch in our diets in order to prevent heart disease.

There are two types of cholesterol: LDL, which is the bad kind of cholesterol, and HDL, which is the good kind. (To help you remember the difference, think of the first letters of each: L=lousy and H=healthy.) Cholesterol comes from two different sources: your body and the food that you eat. Your liver and other cells in your body make up about 75 percent of the cholesterol and foods make up the other 25 percent. (American Heart Association).

According to the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines: “In all adults aged 20 years or older, a fasting lipoprotein profile (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride) should be obtained once every 5 years.

Here are the classifications of HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol:

LDL Cholesterol
<100>190 Very high

Total Cholesterol
<200>240 High

HDL Cholesterol
<40>60 High

(The last value in each category should be "greater than or equal to"--I could not get that symbol formatted--sorry about that.)

The above figures are from Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III)

Here are some tips from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for lowering 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.
Cholesterol (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Some other nutrition tips for lowering cholesterol:

- Choose leaner cuts of beef and pork
- Eat fish at least twice a week
- Use low-fat cheeses and other dairy products
- Eat more fiber and whole grains (whole grain pasta is a lot tastier than regular)

For more tips on lowering cholesterol through nutrition, visit the American Heart Association’s web page Cooking for Lower Cholesterol

Other great web sites:

Cholesterol: Top 5 Foods to Lower Your Numbers (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Heart-Healthy Home Cooking: African American Style (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) – PDF

Tips for Eating Out (American Heart Association)

February is National Heart Month

February is National Heart Month and throughout the month I will be posting information on various aspects of cardiovascular health. To start things off, I thought I'd share a few great web sites where you can find detailed information on cardiovascular health.

Heart Disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

High Blood Pressure: Things You Can Do to Help Lower Yours (American Academy of Family Physicians)

High Blood Pressure (NIH, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

About Cholesterol (American Heart Association)

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

Have fun in the snow, but be safe--Winter Safety Tips

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) just issued a press release that has some great winter safety tips. With all the snowy and icy weather that is affecting a huge chunk of the country, I thought I'd share some safety tips with you. These tips come straight from the press release. A link to the full release is at the bottom of the list, as well as links to some other great winter safety information.

SLEDDING SAFETY TIPS:

- Don't sled near or on public streets. Sled only in designated and approved areas where there are no obstacles in the sledding path.
- Sit in a forward-facing position and steer using your feet or the rope steering handles.
- Children should wear a helmet while sledding and should always be supervised by parents or other adults.
- Carry a cell phone in case there is an emergency.

WINTER SAFETY TIPS FROM THE AAOS:

- Check snow and ice conditions before heading out to take part in outdoor activities. Pay attention to news warnings about storms and severe drops in temperature.
- Don't drink or smoke before going outside in the cold. Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine increase the risk of cold injury to the skin.
- If you get wet, get inside as quickly as possible and remove your wet clothes.
- Don't forget about frostbite, and check yourself every half-hour for signs. Go inside if your toes, fingers, ears or other parts of your body become numb.

SHOVELING/SNOWBLOWING SAFETY TIPS:

- Clear snow early and often. Begin when a light covering of snow is on the ground to avoid trying to clear packed, heavy snow.
- Use a shovel that is comfortable for your height and strength. Do not use a shovel that is too heavy or too long for you. Consider buying a shovel that is specially designed to prevent too much stooping. Space your hands on the tool grip to increase your leverage.
- Push the snow instead of lifting it, as much as you can. If you must lift, take small amounts of snow, and lift it with your legs: Squat with your legs apart, knees bent and back straight. Lift by straightening your legs, without bending at the waist. Then walk to where you want to dump the snow; holding a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched puts too much weight on your spine.
- Do not throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side. This requires a twisting motion that stresses your back.
- Never stick your hands or feet in the snow blower! If snow becomes impacted, stop the engine and wait at least five seconds. Use a solid object to clear wet snow or debris from the chute.
- Beware of the recoil of the motor and blades after the machine has been turned off.

Above information taken from: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Press Release, February 1, 2011

For more information from the AAOS:

Sledding Safety

Winter Sports Safety

Prevent Snow Shoveling and Snow Blowing Injuries

Texting While Driving

The ABC program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition just featured a family from Texas who lost a daughter in a one-car accident that was caused by texting while driving. Alex Brown was a beautiful young teenager who made a foolish choice that proved to be fatal. She was on her way to school one day and she was texting as she drove down a rural road. She wound up going off the road and her truck flipped when she hit a ditch. Sadly, she was not wearing a seat belt and she was thrown from the vehicle.

After watching that program, I decided to post some information on texting while driving. All age groups are guilty of all kinds of distracted driving. However, 16 percent of all drivers under the age of 20 who were involved in fatal accidents were reportedly distracted while driving. (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration--NHTSA)

Of those drivers reportedly distracted during a fatal crash, the 30-to-39-year-old drivers were the group with the greatest proportion distracted by cell phones. Cell phone distraction was reported for 24 percent of the 30-to-39-year-old distracted drivers in fatal crashes. (FARS)

Here are some other statistics:

- 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA).

- In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in crashes involving driver distraction (16% of total fatalities). (Fatality Analysis Reporting System--FARS)

- Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashes, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). (NHTSA)

State Farm sponsored a study last year that found that fewer teenagers think they will be have an accident or be killed while texting versus drinking while driving. The poll was conducted by Harris Interactive and the findings are in conflict with actual academic research.

Whereas 55 percent of teens ages 14-17, who either have their license or intend to get a license, believe that drinking and driving can be fatal, only 36 percent believe that they can be killed in an accident if they regularly text while driving. The survey also showed that 63 percent of the teens strongly agree that they could get into an accident while texting, as opposed to 78 percent who strongly agree that they can get into an accident if they drove after drinking.

An interesting finding in the survey was that teens who admitted to texting while driving were less likely to think they could get into an accident than teens who have never texted while driving (52 percent of those who text and 78 percent of those who have never texted.) For the complete report, visit http://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/State-Farm-Teens-Texting-2010-09-20.pdf.

Since there is a disconnect between what teens think and what reality is, it is important for parents to talk to their children about the risks involved with texting while driving. Parents need to set rules for their children when they are driving a vehicle.

The National Safety Council suggests these rules:

- When you're on the road, you have to stay off the phone. That means no texting, no checking for messages, no reading emails and no talking.

- Only use a cell phone when the car is safely parked.

- If you find it hard to resist the urge to check the phone, try putting the cell phone in the glove compartment.

LEGISLATION:

30 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam ban text messaging for all drivers. Twelve of these laws were enacted in 2010 alone.

8 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving.

Note:

Primary law prohibits ALL types of drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. A primary law means that an officer can ticket the driver for the offense without any other traffic offense taking place.

Secondary law bans text messaging for ALL types of drivers. A secondary law means an officer can only give you a ticket if you have been pulled over for another driving violation.

For a complete list of states and their laws regarding cell phones/texting, visit http://www.distraction.gov/state-laws/index.html

Statistics from the NHTSA available at http://www.distraction.gov/stats-and-facts/index.html

Cancer Screening

Cancer screening can help detect the presence of cancer before any symptoms appear, thus making it easier to treat. There are certain kinds of screening for the various types of cancer. Screening methods include physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging procedures, and genetic tests. These guidelines reflect recent changes made by the government but not every organization agrees on what age to start screening. Talk to your health care provider for more information. Below is information on the most common types of screening.

Breast Cancer:

Mammograms: Women ages 50 to 74 should have a mammogram every 2 years. Women between 40 and 50 years should talk with their doctor about when to start getting mammograms. A mammogram is an x-ray of the chest and can detect many tumors that are too small to feel. (The American Cancer Society still recommends starting mammograms at the age of 40 (American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer)

Clinical Breast Exam: Women should do breast self-examinations on a regular basis, but it is also very important to have a clinical breast exam done by a doctor or other health professional. Clinical breast exam (CBE) should be done about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.

Cervical Cancer

Pap Test: A Pap test is a procedure to collect cells from the surface of the cervix and vagina. This screening is done every 1 to 3 years in women age 21 and over. If you are over 65, check with your health care professional to see if a pap test is still needed.

Here is what the American Cancer Society recommends:

Beginning at age 30, women who have had 3 normal Pap test results in a row may get screened every 2 to 3 years. Women older than 30 may also get screened every 3 years with either the conventional or liquid-based Pap test, plus the human papilloma virus (HPV) test.

Women 70 years of age or older who have had 3 or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap test results in the last 10 years may choose to stop having Pap tests.

Women who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) may also choose to stop having Pap tests, unless the surgery was done as a treatment for cervical cancer or pre-cancer.

Women who have had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix should continue to have Pap tests.

Some women -- because of their history -- may need to have a different screening schedule for cervical cancer.

Colorectal Cancer

Screening for colon cancer should begin at the age of 50, unless your doctor recommends earlier testing. The frequency of the tests may vary depending on certain risk factors. Both men and women should have one or more of the following tests:

A stool test, also called a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) - every year. FOBT is done in the
privacy of your home.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy - every 5 years. This takes place at a doctor’s office or other medical setting. If any unusual growths are found, they can usually be removed at the time. Some people will need a follow-up colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy - every 10 years. This test takes place at a doctor’s office or other medical setting under light sedation. If any unusual growths are found, they can be removed at the
time.

Lung Cancer:

There are two screening methods for lung cancer but they have not yet shown that they decrease the risk of dying from lung cancer.

Chest x-ray: A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest.

Sputum cytology: Sputum cytology is a procedure in which a sample of sputum (mucus that is brought up from the lungs by coughing) is viewed under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

Prostate Cancer:

Prostate screening for most men should begin at the age of 50. For those at higher risk, your doctor may suggest starting screening earlier.

Digital rectal examination (DRE): For this test, the doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum. This allows the doctor to feel the back portion of the prostate for size and any irregular or abnormally firm areas.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test: PSA is a substance produced by cells from the prostate gland and released into the blood. The PSA test measures the PSA level in the blood. A small amount of blood is drawn from the arm. The doctor checks the blood to see if the PSA level is normal. The higher the PSA, the more likely there is a problem. However, many factors can contribute to a high PSA level, such as an enlarged prostate, a prostate infection, and certain medical procedures.

The DRE and PSA test cannot tell if you have cancer; they can only suggest the need for further tests.

From the American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society recommends that men make an informed decision with their doctor about whether to be tested for prostate cancer. Research has not yet proven that the potential benefits of testing outweigh the harms of testing and treatment. The American Cancer Society believes that men should not be tested without learning about what we know and don’t know about the risks and possible benefits of testing and treatment.

Testicular Cancer:

Testicular Self-examination: For men over the age of 14, a monthly self-exam of the testicles is an effective way of becoming familiar with this area of the body and thus enabling the detection of testicular cancer at an early -- and very curable -- stage. Why do you need to do it monthly? Because the point of the self exam is not to find something wrong today. The point is to learn what everything feels like when things are normal, and to check back every month to make sure that nothing has changed. If something HAS changed, you will know it and you can do something about it. (from the Testicular Cancer Resource Center)

Here are some suggestions from the American Cancer Society for reducing your risk of developing cancer:

Stay away from tobacco.
Stay at a healthy weight.
Get moving with regular physical activity.
Eat healthy with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Limit how much alcohol you drink (if you drink at all).
Protect your skin.
Know yourself, your family history, and your risks.
Have regular check-ups and cancer screening tests.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but high levels of pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure may also increase the risk of the disease.

Prevention:
Tobacco smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes) is the most important risk factor for lung cancer. Cigarettes, cigars, and pipe smoking all increase your risk for lung cancer. Being exposed to secondhand smoke is also a risk factor. (Lung Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute) Secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes from someone’s cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Secondhand smoke contains the same cancer-causing agents that come from smoking the actual tobacco, although in lesser amounts. What this means is that the best way to prevent lung cancer is to quit smoking or avoid situations where you breathe in secondhand smoke.

Screening:
There are two tests that are commonly used to screen for lung cancer. A chest x-ray will show the organs and bones inside the chest and indicate if there is any problem in the lungs. Sputum cytology is when sputum (or mucus) is brought up from the lungs by coughing and is then studied under a microscope to search for cancer cells.

A new test that is being studied through clinical trials is the spiral CT scan. This procedure makes a series of very detailed pictures of areas inside the body using an x-ray machine that scans the body in a spiral path. The pictures are made by a computer linked to the x-ray machine.

Symptoms:
Here are some symptoms of lung cancer:
Fatigue
Cough
Shortness of breath
Chest pain, if a tumor invades a structure within the chest or involves the lining of the lung
Loss of appetite
Coughing up phlegm or mucus
Coughing up blood

Diagnosis:
Besides the various screening methods, there are other tests that are available to confirm a diagnosis of lung cancer. These include MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), needle aspiration/biopsy, bronchoscopy and others. (See Lung Cancer Diagnosis from the American Society of Clinical Oncology for more diagnostic methods)

Types of Lung Cancer:
There are many different types of lung cancer, but two major types: small cell and non-small cell. Non-small cell is the most common type of lung cancer.

Treatment Options:
Treatment of lung cancer will vary depending on the type of cancer and the stage of the cancer (how far it has spread in the body). Options include surgery, radiation treatment, chemotherapy and combination therapy. For more details on treatment options see Lung Cancer Treatment from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

For more information on lung cancer, check out these links:

Lung Cancer (American Society of Clinical Oncology)

Lung Cancer (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Lung (Small Cell) Cancer Overview (American Cancer Society)

Lung (Non-small Cell) Cancer Overview (American Cancer Society)

Osteoporosis: Prevention through Nutrition

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to weaken and thus more likely to break. Osteoporosis is most common in older women, with as many of 50 percent of women age 50 or older suffering a broken bone due to the disease. Men can also develop osteoporosis. About a quarter of men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to the disease.

Since osteoporosis causes bones to weaken, it is important to strengthen your bones from an early age. It is important to get enough calcium and Vitamin D. You must also get regular exercise and avoid smoking. These measures will help keep your bones strong.

The Institute of Medicine just published updated guidelines in November, 2010 for Calcium and Vitamin D intake. They published a brief report that has a detailed table of the dietary reference intakes that contains the estimated average requirement and recommended daily allowances that is broken down by age groups. Check out this publication at Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D.

The best way to get calcium is through a diet that contains many calcium-rich foods. Some foods that are a good source of calcium are milk, sardines, fortified oatmeal, cheddar cheese, orange juice, tofu, and yogurt.

Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. If you don’t get enough vitamin D, then your body will not absorb enough calcium. When your body doesn't receive enough calcium, then your body will use the calcium reserves in your bones and that is what causes them to weaken. There are three ways to get vitamin D: exposure to sunlight (which forms vitamin D in your body), from your diet and through taking supplements. Experts recommend a daily intake of vitamin D between 400 and 600 IU (International Units). Some vitamin D-rich foods include egg yolks, fortified milk, saltwater fish, and liver. Vitamin D can also be obtained through supplements.

For more information on calcium and vitamin D, check out these links:

Calcium and Vitamin D: Important at Every Age (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Calcium Supplements: What to Look for (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

General osteoporosis information:

Osteoporosis (American College of Rheumatology)

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

MedlinePlus Magazine

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) publishes a quarterly consumer magazine called NIH MedlinePlus Magazine. It contains features on all kinds of practical health information. The Winter 2011 issue is available now. Here are the features in this issue (each feature is then divided into sections):

Feature: Quit Smoking: Here's How

Feature: Osteoporosis (there's a great interview with Cloris Leachman in this section)

Special Section: Sickle Cell Disease

Feature: Flu Shot

You can also check out past issues at the MedlinePlus Magazine web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/index.html. The magazine is also available in a print edition free of charge. There's a "subscribe" link at the bottom of the page for that.

Back Pain

I figured since so many people suffer from one kind of back pain or another, I'd post some links to some quality information on back pain--overviews, treatment, and prevention.

Low Back Pain Fact Sheet (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

What Is Back Pain? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Low Back Pain (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) this site has some great illustrations

Back Pain (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Back Exercises Interactive Tutorial (Patient Education Institute)

Back Pain Prevention (North American Spine Society)

Prevent Back Pain (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)

Low Back Pain Exercise Guide (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
This guide can help you better understand your exercise and activity program, which should be supervised by your therapist and orthopaedic surgeon.

Acetaminophen Safety

I just came across a news release from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about combination prescription products that contain acetaminophen. The FDA is going to limit the amount of acetaminophen in prescriptions because of concern about liver toxicity if the prescription drugs are combined with other medications containing acetaminophen.

“There is no immediate danger to patients who take these combination pain medications and they should continue to take them as directed by their health care provider,” said Sandra Kweder, M.D., deputy director of the Office of New Drugs in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). "The risk of liver injury primarily occurs when patients take multiple products containing acetaminophen at one time and exceed the current maximum dose of 4,000 milligrams within a 24-hour period.” If you want to read the complete news release, here is the link: FDA limits acetaminophen in prescription combination products

Acetaminophen is found in many products including Tylenol, Midol, Pamprin, Sinutab, Theraflu Sore Throat, and many more. MedlinePlus has a page with information on acetaminophen, along with a list of brand names and combination drugs with acetaminophen. Here is the link for that: Acetaminophen

Winter Safety

Winter is here and the weather has been pretty nasty in many parts of the country. With winter, come many health and safety challenges. These challenges include:

Cold related health problems, including frostbite and hypothermia
Household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning from space heaters and fireplaces
Unsafe driving conditions from icy roads
Power failures
Floods after snow and ice melt

I’ve seen on the news a number of times where people get trapped in their cars for long periods of time when heavy snow or a blizzard hits. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has some great tips to follow in case you get stuck. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, you should print out these tips and keep them in your car:

- Pull off the highway. Turn on hazard lights and hang a distress flag from the radio antenna or window.

- Remain in your vehicle where rescuers are most likely to find you. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you know you can take shelter. Be careful; distances are distorted by blowing snow. A building may seem close, but be too far to walk to in deep snow.

- Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm. When the engine is running, open an upwind window slightly for ventilation. This will protect you from possible carbon monoxide poisoning. Periodically clear snow from the exhaust pipe.

- Exercise to maintain body heat, but avoid overexertion. In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers, and floor mats for insulation. Huddle with passengers and use your coat for a blanket.

- Take turns sleeping. One person should be awake at all times to look for res-cue crews.

- Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.

- Be careful not to waste battery power. Balance electrical energy needs - the use of lights, heat, and radio - with supply.

- Turn on the inside light at night so work crews or rescuers can see you.

- If stranded in a remote area, stomp large block letters in an open area spelling out HELP or SOS and line with rocks or tree limbs to attract the attention of rescue personnel who may be surveying the area by airplane.

- Leave the car and proceed on foot - if necessary - once the blizzard passes

Source: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/winter.shtm

(Check out the above link for more information on winter storms and extreme cold.)

When nasty winter weather arrives, you often hear all kinds of terms like sleet, freezing rain, snow showers, and snow squalls. Well, what do all those terms actually mean? For a great explanation of all kinds of winter weather terms, along with some great graphics, check out this link from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Severe Weather Primer: Questions and Answers about Winter Weather

Here’s a great winter weather tip from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Did you know that alcoholic or caffeinated beverages cause your body to lose heat more rapidly? To help maintain your body temperature in cold weather, drink warm, sweet beverages and broth, and eat a well-balanced diet.

For more great information from the CDC on winter weather, check out this link: Winter Weather

Another great resource from the CDC in a PDF is Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety

HYPOTHERMIA

I wanted to provide a little information on hypothermia, since it is a potentially fatal condition that can happen in the winter. Hypothermia is an abnormally low body temperature. In cold weather, your body loses heat faster than it makes it, so it is important to be properly prepared when going out in the winter.

A person who is experiencing hypothermia may not realize it since it happens gradually and can cause confusion, sleepiness, and clumsiness. Anyone who spends much time outdoors in the winter can get hypothermia. You can also get it if you get wet when it’s cold or if you are in cold water too long.

When your body becomes too cold and hypothermia sets in (body temperature below 95) your heart, nervous system and other organs cannot work properly. If left untreated, it will lead to death.

Here are some symptoms of hypothermia:

- Shivering
- Clumsiness or lack of coordination
- Slurred speech or mumbling
- Stumbling
- Confusion or difficulty thinking
- Poor decision making, such as trying to remove warm clothes
- Drowsiness or very low energy
- Apathy, or lack of concern about one's condition
- Progressive loss of consciousness
- Weak pulse
- Shallow breathing

TREATMENT:

Here are some tips from the CDC for the treatment of hypothermia:

If you notice signs of hypothermia, take the person's temperature. If it is below 95°, the situation is an emergency—get medical attention immediately.

If medical care is not available, begin warming the person, as follows:

- Get the victim into a warm room or shelter.

- If the victim has on any wet clothing, remove it.

- Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available. Or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.

- Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, but do NOT give alcoholic beverages.

- Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.

- After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck.

- Get medical attention as soon as possible.

For more information, check out this link: Winter Weather FAQ (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

January is Thyroid Awareness Month

January is Thyroid Awareness Month and since thyroid diseases are fairly common, I thought I'd post some information for you.

Below are the descriptions of the symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism from the American Thyroid Association:

Symptoms of hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. Symptoms may include any of the following: feeling run down, slow, depressed, sluggish, cold, tired, having dry skin and hair, constipation, muscle cramps, or weight gain. Women may have a heavier menstrual flow. Some patients have a swelling in the front of the neck due to thyroid enlargement (a goiter).

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism refers to any condition in which the body has too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms may include weight loss, nervousness, irritability, increased perspiration, a racing heart, hand tremors, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, increased bowel movements, fine brittle hair, and muscular weakness—especially in the upper arms and thighs. In Graves’ disease, a bulging of one or both eyes may occur.

For more information on thyroid disease visit the American Thyroid Association FAQ web page at http://www.thyroid.org/patients/faqs.html

TESTS FOR THYROID DISEASE:

There are many kinds of tests that may be used to diagnose thyroid disease. Check out these links for more information on the specific tests:

Thyroid Diseases Tests (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)

Thyroid Function Tests (American Thyroid Association)

TREATMENT OF THYROID DISEASE:

Treatment options for thyroid disease include medications and surgery. To learn about these treatments, check out these links:

Thyroid Hormone Treatment (American Thyroid Association)

Thyroid Medications (Food and Drug Administration)

Thyroid Surgery (American Thyroid Association)

Proper Antibiotic Use

One of the most widely used classes of drugs is antibiotics, used to treat many kinds of infections. However, antibiotics are often taken in an unsafe manner, thus causing all kinds of problems. Antibiotics are intended to treat bacterial infections such as strep throat or urinary tract infections, yet many people take them for the common cold or flu, which are caused by viruses.

Here is a list of what is a bacterial infection and what is a viral infection:

Bacterial Infections:

Some ear infections
Severe sinus infections
Strep throat
Urinary tract infections
Many wound and skin infections

Viral Infections:

Most ear infections
Colds
Influenza (flu)
Most coughs
Most sore throats
Bronchitis
Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis)

Improper use of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistance, which means that an antibiotic becomes less effective against infections.

Here are some things that you should NOT do:

Take antibiotics for viral infections (listed above)
Take someone else's prescription
Stop taking medicine before the specified time

Here are some things you should DO:

Follow the label directions carefully
Take ALL your medicine for the specified time, even if you start feeling better

For more in-depth information, here are some great links:

Antibiotics: When They Can and Can't Help (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Antimicrobial (Drug) Resistance (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Antibiotic Resistance (Food and Drug Administration)

Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Danger of Antibiotic Overuse (Nemours Foundation)