How Sweet It Isn't: It's Diabetes Awareness Month

What will cause 35 million heart attacks, 13 million strokes, 6 million episodes of kidney failure, 8 million instances of blindness or eye surgery, 2 million amputations, and 62 million deaths in the next 30 years?*

Diabetes.

In observance of American Diabetes Month, Healthline wants you to know that diabetes is something you can live without. Diabetes is a group of diseases that wreaks havoc on virtually every important body system. It develops when the body mistakenly attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin (type 1 diabetes), or when the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce it (type 2 diabetes). Without insulin, glucose is shut out of cells, leaving them lifeless.

There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes, but people who develop type 2 diabetes can make life-saving, lifestyle changes--eating a healthy diet, exercising, losing weight if overweight, controlling high blood pressure, managing high cholesterol, taking insulin or oral medications as directed.

Complications of Diabetes

• Heart disease and stroke
• High blood pressure
• Amputations
• Dental disease
• Complications of pregnancy
• Coma
  
  

By the way, 6.2 million people don’t know they have diabetes.

*Source: American Diabetes Association

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Home on the Range of Motion: It's National Physical Therapy Month

People often first learn about physical therapists from their doctors after they have experienced an injury such as a bone fracture, or after a surgical procedure--say after a rotator cuff repair--that dampens their ability to function like they used to. They help people by restoring mobility, improving function, reducing pain, and preventing disabilities. They can manipulate your body to perform better through therapeutic bone and joint manipulation, introduce you to assisted devices that help you adapt, and offer up self-help activities to do at home

But did you also know that they can provide preventive care?

In observance of National Physical Therapy Month Healthline would like you to know that you can learn a lot from your physical therapist about keeping healthy, fit and pain free.

The American Physical Therapy Association offers preventive exercises for “blackberry thumb,” a painful repetitive strain condition experienced by over-enthusiastic, hand-held users that causes hand swelling, throbbing and tendonitis.

And you can also reduce bicycling-related pain such as anterior front knee pain, neck pain, and back pain through proper bike fit and exercises to help both the occasional weekend cyclist and road warriors.

Who knew?

Tags: Physical Therapy, Cycling, Blackberry Thumb, Repetitive Stress Injury, Healthline, American Physical Therapy Association

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Get Wicked Safe this Halloween

Most Americans with children participate in Halloween celebrations. For the most part, the worst thing that happens is a few tummy-aches and few grey hairs. Still, Halloween can offer up some menacing goblins if you aren’t careful. For Halloween Safety Month children and adults might want to heed to some healthful trick-or-treat advice.

Here are some tips from the National Safety Council and the Prevent Blindness Association:

• Select fire retardant costumes with some reflective tape
• Use a flashlight and only enter areas that are well-lighted
• Forgo the spear and swords and any other sharp objects
• Choose masks that provide clear vision, don’t endanger the eyes and allow for good ventilation, or better yet use makeup
• Test make-up before applying and use non-toxic hypo-allergenic cosmetics to avoid allergic reactions
• Supervise kids under 12 and send kids off with ID in case they get lost or hurt
• Create a planned route on sidewalks and foot paths
• Instruct kids not to dart out between cars and to walk against the traffic
• Set a curfew
• Tell kids not to eat any treats until you have check the goods first
• Throw out any unwrapped candy
• Buy a new toothbrush to encourage healthy tooth care
• Keep pathways to your home obstacle and fire hazard free
• Remove choking hazards (brush up on the Heimlich maneuver in case choking occurs)
• Serve and drink only pasteurized apple cider to avoid salmonella poisoning
• Don’t use decorative contact lenses
• Explain the difference between a prank and vandalism
• If your child has diabetes, follow these guidelines from the American Diabetes Association
  

Just in case, here is what you should have on hand in your first aid kit.

Happy Halloween!

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Do You Practice Safe Rx?: It's "Talk about Prescriptions Month"

Prescription medicines have been a lifesaver for many people, people with type 1 diabetes (and some with type 2 diabetes too) can't live without insulin, lithium has transformed the treatment of certain mental illnesses, and warfarin has blood clots running for cover. As the aging population grows, there will likely be more people popping pills and slugging syrups in the years to come.

For the most part, the 82% of the population who takes at least one prescription, over-the-counter or dietary supplement (30% take five or more)* will take them without incident.

Or will they?

In a recent two-year study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association* about 700,000 people taking medications in the comfort of their own home, ended up finding their way through the doors of an emergency room. Adverse drug events (ADE) as they are called can be anything from allergic reactions, unintentional overdoses, and other reactions. And its not just the new kids on the pharmacists' shelf.

"Sixteen of the 18 drugs that most commonly caused ADEs have been in clinical use for more than 20 years," the authors write.

The National Council on Patient Information and Education, the sponsors of “Talk About Prescriptions” Month, wants people taking prescriptions to practice safe, appropriate use of these medicines.

So if you, or someone you are caring for, are taking medications, here are some tips for mindful medication use:

• Make a list of all prescription, over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements you are taking and their dosages (that means everything)
• Notify every healthcare provider and pharmacist of all your current medications
• When receiving a new medication, ask questions about what the drug is used for, how and when to take it, and for how long, and what to do if you miss a dose
• Ask about possible side effects and what foods, drinks, other medicines or activities to avoid while taking it
• Try to fill your prescriptions at the same pharmacy if possible so they know all the meds you are taking and can flag any problems
• Check the prescriptions' name and dose against the label on the bottle and review use and potential side effects with the pharmacist
• Ask for written information about the medication
• Make a pledge to yourself to talk about your prescriptions even when time is limitied

TAGS: Prescription Medication, Adverse Drug Event, Medication, Allergic Reactions, Prescriptions, Healthline, Drugs

* Large Number of Adverse Drug Events Occur Outside the Hospital and Lead To Emergency Department Visits; Budnitz et.al.; JAMA; 2006; 296:1858-1866.

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Safe and Sound Sleep for Babies: Hold the Pollution

Everything is in place. The painted clouds on the ceiling are dry, the car seat is belted tight, the crib has passed all safety regulations, and you are ready to come home with a new baby. Everyone is happy to be home safe and sound. Then suddenly you go into check the baby and all is quiet, too quiet.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is responsible for more infant deaths in the US than any other cause of death in children in the first year of life. It is a phenomenon of unknown cause and with few known risk factors.

In the 1990s the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its first recommendation to reduce the risk of SIDS. The AAP policy statement on reducing the risk of SIDS recommends that all healthy infants be placed on their backs during sleep.

In observance of Sudden Infant Death Awareness Month Healthline offers these tips based on the recommendations of the AAP, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the First Candle/SIDS Alliance. These groups all contributed to the Back to Sleep Campaign to help inform all infant caregivers about the importance of back sleeping. Since the launch of this educational program the rates of SIDS have declined by more than 50 percent.

Tips to Reduce the Risk of SIDS

• Always place a baby to sleep on his or her back at night and during naptime (make sure the baby gets some tummy time when your baby is awake though)
• Place baby on a safety-approved firm crib mattress covered with a fitted sheet
• Keep blankets and other coverings away from a baby's nose and mouth
• Don’t use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, or pillow-like bumpers
• Remove soft toys and other objects from sleep areas
• Keep sleeping areas at a comfortable temperature to avoid many layers of clothing or heavy blankets (with the cold winter months upon us, there is an increase in the number of infants who die from SIDS because parents often place extra blankets or night clothes on infants)
• Keep baby’s environment smoke free (and pollution free?*)

*In the August 2006 issue of the AAP journal Pediatrics the study Air Pollution and Infant Death in Southern California, 1989–2000 adds to the growing body of evidence implicating air pollution in infant death from respiratory causes and sudden infant death syndrome. The authors found that risk of dying as a result of sudden infant death syndrome increased 15% to 19% per 1-part per hundred million increase in average nitrogen dioxide levels 2 months before death.

TAGS: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; SIDS; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness

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This Weeks' Best of Health Matters

Hope you are enjoying reading the Health Observances blog. Since this blog is part of the Health Matters HealthBlog Network I thought you might want to know that we have added two new blogs this week. Freedom from Smoking with expert Lowell Kleinman, MD and Straight Talk from the ER with expert Robert L. Norris, MD.

Drop in and say hello. Should be some interesting discussions going there.

We also thought it would be nice to take notice of some interesting blog posts across the network. Here are some notable discussions from this past week.

Infertility Stress Reduction Tips
If you, or someone you know, has struggled with infertility you know what a stressful time that can be. Visit The ART of Conception where expert Carl “Rusty” Herbert MD offers some tips for getting through these rough patches …read more.

What Should Cancer Patients and Family Do About the Flu Vaccine?
Vaccinations can be a lifesaver. Most vaccines contain inactive viruses, but others contain a small amount of a live virus. Tune into Cyndy King’s Cancer Treatment and Survivorship blog to learn what people undergoing cancer treatment that can compromise their immunity should do…read more.

Throw a Stronger Punch (or Push a Car or Stroller)
People don’t always realize how many times a day they are hurting their backs. Read on to learn more about what Dr. Jolie Bookspan of the Fitness Fixer blog says is one of the most common misconceptions in fitness…read more.

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Not Your Mothers' Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the oldest documented afflictions known to womankind; from those living in ancient times, to women living in the modern world, and every culture in between. We went from no treatment at all for the disease in Egyptian times, to removing the entire breast and part of the muscle wall (mastectomy), to breast conserving treatments (lumpectomy) offered today. Improvements in diagnostic tools (mammography, digital mammography), although not perfect, are finding breast cancers earlier and earlier when treatment is likely to produce a cure. Breast cancer surgery is becoming more precise and less disfiguring. And chemotherapy and other novel medications such as aromatase inhibitors that nab estrogen that can fuel certain breast cancers in postmenopausal women, are reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence. A better understanding of the genetics of breast cancer too has led to tests for genes that may signal a higher risk for the disease.

But while this is not your mothers' breast cancer, and we have made much progress, there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined. We may not have control over who gets the disease, but we do have control over who gets screened.

Nudge a friend today.

Current recommendations for the screening of breast cancer are as followings:

Women at Average Risk: Women in their 20s and 30s should receive a clinical breast examination (CBE) performed by a qualified medical professional as part of a periodic health examination at least every three years. Women may also choose to perform breast self-examination (BSE), which may help find larger breast tumors. Report any new breast symptoms to a health professional. In addition to CBE and BSE, women 40 and over should receive an annual mammogram at a certified mammography facility.

Women at Increased Risk: Women at increased risk of breast cancer (family history of breast cancer, or a previous diagnosis of breast cancer) might benefit from additional screening, such as earlier initiation of screening, shorter screening intervals, or the addition of ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Para informacion en espanol: Y-ME al 1-800-986-9505.

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States of Mind

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler. Most of us will glide through these season changes, hunker down with a cup of hot cocoa and begin making lists for holiday shopping. Still, this can be a tough time of year for some people. Feelings of isolation, the stress of family gatherings, or the lack of social activities, the state of the world, the weight of the world, all can bring on or exacerbate a poor mental state. If you, or someone you know, are not enjoying things you usually enjoy, or have feeling of helplessness or hopelessness, uncontrolled anxiety, recurrent obtrusive thoughts or irritability, it might be time to get screened for depression, anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder.

National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2006. The sponsor of NDSD Screening for Mental Health is offering free in person mental health screening in various locations in the US. There is also an opportunity to take a screening test online in the privacy of your own home. This will help you or a loved one make the best decision you can make to feel better, finding help.

TAGS: Depression; Anxiety; Depression Screening; Depression Screening Day; Depression Test

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The Best of the Medical Blogosphere

Some early adopters of the medical blogosphere have started a weekly collection of blog posts called "Grand Rounds," which is an aggregation of interesting blog posts from other medical bloggers. I wanted to give a note of thanks to the host of this week's Grand Rounds for including the editors' post "The Silent Killer is Making Some Noise" in his review of the best of the medical blogosphere this past week.

To read this weeks’ favorite posts click here.
To learn more about Grand Rounds click here.

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