March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asks us to observe Brain Injury Awareness Month by protecting senior citizens from brain injuries. Millions of Americans are caregivers for parents, grandparents or other elders, but did you know that falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI). People aged 75 and over have the greatest rate of hospitalization and death due to TBI.

Here are some tips for preventing TBI due to falls in the elderly:

1. Make the environment safe:remove small throw rugs and other obstacles. Install grab bars and railings. Improve lighting and make sure the person has stable shoes.
2. Encourage exercise: strength and flexibility throughout life will help prevent injuries.
3. Have a vision check: new glasses may be needed or eye diseases may be discovered.
4. Review all medications (prescription, supplements and over-the-counter) with a doctor or pharmacist to identify any thing that might lead to dizziness and falls.
   

There are almost 6 million people in the US living with long term disabilities due to TBI. The costs to the nation are over $48 billion annually.

Thank you bookish in north park for use of photo of Elderly Man.

Labels: elderly, falls, prevention, TBI

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National Folic Acid Awareness Week: Yo Tomo Acido Folico. Y Tu?

The National Council on Folic Acid celebrates National Folic Acid Awareness Week from January 7-13. One thing they stress this year is that Latina women are consuming the least amount of folic acid and, as a result, more latino babies are being born with neural tube defects like spina bifida.

What is folic acid and how can you take more? Folic acid is Vitamin B-9 and green, leafy vegetables, asparagus, lentils and kidney beans are all high in this mighty nutrient. It is a cofactor in cell division - which is why it is so vital during pregnancy when the baby is forming. Most enriched grain and flour products in this country are supplemented with B vitamins. Women of child-bearing age should take a multi-vitamin with folate to prevent birth defects should they become pregnant. Just think about eating a low nutrient diet of junk food or fast food when a baby is forming inside of you. If you want to give that baby every chance to be the strongest, healthiest, most beautiful and intelligent baby it can be - eat healthy and take your vitamins.

Despite the fact that folic acid is widely available and easy to consume, it is estimated that only one third of women of child bearing age in the US are actually taking the recommended daily dose of 400 mcg a day. So do yourself and your loved ones a favor - take folic acid!

Folic acid also plays a role in: preventing cancer, protecting against dementia and stroke.

Thank you chuki for use of photo Mis amores 14.

Labels: b vitamins, folic acid, healthy diet, prevention

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Childhood Injury Prevention Week: September 1-7

Let's all work together to keep our children safe! The As Safe As Possible Campaign wants us all to know:

• 20.6 million kids are injured each year
• that's 56, 000 kids a day!
• 22, 000 children die each year due to injuries
• 60, 000 are permanently disabled
• 90% of these injuries to young children occur at home!
• 10,600,000 doctor's visits each year are for young children's injuries
• 8,700,000 ED visits are for young children's injuries
• Cost to the US health system each year? $347 Billion!

Take a MINUTE to take stock of your home and prevent injuries:

• Poisonings: Lock all items out of your child's reach. Use child resistant containers
• Drownings: Never leave children unattended near pools, toilets, bathtubs, showers, hot tubs, animal troughs, outside pails, diaper pails
• Fires and Burns: Keep children away from stoves and fireplaces. Lock up lighters and matches. Keep smoke detectors and fire extinguishers functioning. Check water temperature for baths
• Choking: Keep the house free of small objects which are a choking threat (including pennies)
• Falls: Secure windows, doors. Remove tripping hazards and keep paths well lit. Bathroom surfaces should be non-slip
• Electrical: Cover outlets and keep plugs locked. Secure cords to prevent tripping.
• Suffocation/Strangulation: Keep all plastic wraps and garbage bags out of reach. Keep wires, cords and strings out of reach.
  

Labels: childhood, injury, prevention

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Watch Your Eyes!

August is Eye Injury Prevention Month as well as Children's Eye Health and Safety Month.
Prevent Blindness America has a great website with UV Learning Center chock full of helpful hints on ways to protect ourselves and our children from an everyday exposure that can lead to blindness later in life - the sun. We all should wear sunglasses - even kids, but make sure to buy impact resistant lenses that block UV-A and UV-B rays. Wearing a hat with a brim can cut exposure to ultraviolet rays (UV) by 50%.

UV exposure may lead to eye problems over time:

• cataracts
• macular degeneration
• pterygium
• corneal sunburn

Thousands of children under age 5 injure their eyes each year - causing permanent visual damages and even blindness. Common causes? Misuse of toys, falls, misuse of everyday items like forks and knives, contact with household chemicals. Little ones need close supervision and protection from hazards. They are learning about their world by exploring. It is up to the adults in their lives to anticipate things that could harm them!

Prevent Sports Injuries to eyes with proper eye protection. In the US alone, 40,000 suffer eye injuries each year while playing sports. Most of this can be prevented with proper eye gear. Sports-related eye injuries occur most frequently with baseball, basketball and racquet sports. Regular glasses do not provide protection. Today, sports goggles (lensed polycarbonate protectors) are fashion statements. No matter what your age or your game, look good but watch those eyes!

Thank you zanzibar for use of Hello Kitty!

Labels: eyes, kids, prevention, protection, safety

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Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Prevent Sexual Violence

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is observed in April to highlight sexual violence as a major public health problem and increase public understanding about it. The effort can help us support rape and sexual assault survivors and victims as well as their families.

One of the most vividly brutal rapes I have ever seen portrayed on TV was The Sopranos, Employee of the Month (Episode 30, Season 3), when Dr. Jennifer Melfi is raped in the stairwell of her office garage after work. Forget House, Scrubs and definitely Grey's Anatomy, The Sopranos is my favorite medical show. Medical problems are the undercurrent of almost every episode. Dr. Melfi is given sensitive care in the Emergency Department, and is able to identify her attacker, but justice is denied her when evidence is mishandled. Recuperating from her injuries and psychological scars, tensions erupt between her and her husband. She dreams that her mob boss patient, Tony Soprano, is a vicious Rottweiler dog and part of her longs to ask him to mete revenge where the legal system failed her. Like the majority of women, I myself have been a target of attempted sexual assault three times. The first time I successfully fought off my attacker on sheer adrenaline. I had scratches on my neck, reported it to the police and they laughed at me. The second time, my would be attacker chased me in a truck and I went into a grocery store. The third time, my car broke down at night and a crazed man banged on my windows screaming he wanted to "help" me. I waited, terrorized, until a tow truck came to my rescue.

Sexual violence is an international problem, but in the US:

• one in every six women is a victim of sexual assault as are one in 33 men
  
• 44% of rape victims are minors, under the age of 18
• 15% are under age 12
• 29% are age 12-17
  
• 80% of rape victims are under age 30
• 34% are American Indian/Alaskan
• 18% are Black
• 17% are White
• 25% are Mixed Race
• 93% of juvenile victims KNOW their attackers
  

The high risk years are ages 12-34. Risk peaks in late teens. Girls 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual violence. The good news is that, in the US, rape and sexual assault has fallen by 69%. The bad news is that it is suspected that 60% of sexual assaults are not reported.

For other coverage of The Sopranos medical issues, read my post The Barbarian Invasions & National Cancer Control Month.

Thank you AlexPears for use of the photo.

Labels: Dr. Melfi, prevention, rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, Sopranos

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