Briefly 5-6
You could trust Dr. Mom
JACKSONVILLE
,
FL
- Mom knew. Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource notes how to avoid “catching” a cold and to relieve symptoms: It’s a virus, not the temperature, that causes colds. When temperatures dip, most people spend more time indoors, and may have prolonged contact with others who may be sick. You “catch” cold by having hand-to-hand contact with someone with a cold or using shared objects such as doorknobs, computer keyboards, or telephones. Once you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after exposure, you can acquire a cold. The lesson: wash your hands often and thoroughly, especially if you have been around someone who has a cold. Chicken soup and other fluids can improve symptoms. Drinking plenty of liquids - water, juice, clear broth, or chicken soup helps loosen mucus that can cause congestion and helps prevent dehydration. Warm liquids can help ease a sore throat.
HUNT VALLEY, MD - Nearly 40% of workers feel fatigue, a problem that costs billions of dollars in lost productivity, states a study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Led by Dr. Judith A. Ricci, of Caremark, researchers analyzed data from a
U.S.
study of the relationship between health and productivity at work. Of nearly 29,000 employed adults interviewed, 38% said they had experienced "low levels of energy, poor sleep, or a feeling of fatigue" in the past two weeks. With adjustment for other factors, fatigue was more common in women than men, in workers less than 50, and in white workers versus African-Americans. Those with "high-control" jobs - relatively well-paid jobs with decision-making responsibility - also reported higher rates of fatigue. The study looked at not only absenteeism but also "presenteeism" - at work but performing at less than full capacity for health reasons. Fatigue reduced work performance mainly by interfering with concentration and increasing the time needed to accomplish tasks.
ST. LOUIS
- A surge of baby-boomers entering their 60s means more drivers who may have cognitive impairments linked to aging. Scientists at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center of Washington University School of Medicine and elsewhere developed a three-hour workshop that trains healthcare providers to identify potentially unsafe drivers with dementia and to encourage retirement from driving. "We don't want to give the message that older drivers are always unsafe, because that's just not the case," says Dr. Thomas Meuser, research associate professor of neurology. "There are health-related changes tied to aging, including Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, that impair medical fitness to drive." In an issue of Gerontologist, he and colleagues noted effects of their workshop after presentations to health professionals in seven
Missouri
locations, including rural cities with large elderly populations. "We found a significant change in the willingness of participants to ask their patients questions about driving and to document findings and concerns in the medical record," he says.
BOSTON
- Plain old soap and water is still a good way to clean your hands, reports the Harvard Health Letter. In studies, washing hands with soap and water for 15 seconds cuts bacterial counts about 90%. Even people who are conscientious about washing their hands often make the mistake of not drying them properly. Wet hands are more likely to spread germs than dry ones. Almost half of the hand soaps sold have an antibacterial additive. Studies suggest antibacterial soaps available don’t add much to hand hygiene. The big advantage of these cleansers is you don’t need water or a towel; you can use them anywhere. To be effective, alcohol rubs need to come into contact with all surfaces of your hands.
ANN
ARBOR
,
MI
- About 9,700
U.S.
women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year. It may seem a small number, but another 1.2 million women will develop pre-cancerous dysplasia. If left untreated, that becomes cervical cancer. “Because of Pap smears, a huge number of women are no longer dying of cervical cancer, but this is a disease that can be almost entirely prevented,” says Dr. Carolyn Johnston, clinical associate professor of obstetrics/gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School. Besides early detection, a new vaccine could help prevent cervical cancer. U-M experts report a common misconceptions: Cervical cancer can’t be prevented. Truth: Infection with the human papillomavirus, or HPV, is an absolute requirement for cervical cancer. This is transmitted sexually, but most worrisome types of infection can be prevented with a new vaccine. Myth 2: I’m too young to worry about cervical cancer. Truth: The average age of patients is 48. While it’s not common, women can be diagnosed in their 20s. Myth 3: I don’t have intercourse, so I don’t need the HPV vaccine. Truth: HPV can be passed from one partner to another through intercourse, plus orally and touching.
ATLANTA
- The Associated Press reported
U.S.
costs for arthritis and related conditions rose to $128 billion in 2003/ The tab will rise as people age and get heavier, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated. That data included $80.8 billion in direct costs, such as medical fees, and $47 billion in indirect costs, such as lost wages, CDC added. The total was up 48% from 1997’s $86.2 billion, largely because surveys identified 9,000,000 more cases of arthritis or related woes, CDC said. It figured 46.1 million people were treated for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003, and 29.5 million lost earnings. CDC sees 8,000,000 more people will suffer arthritis 2005-2015, and recommended lowering costs with wider use of self-management, which teaches patients to manage pain and continue working.
California
had the largest costs from arthritis at $12.1 billion, followed by $8.7 billion in
New York
and
Texas
, and $7.6 billion in
Florida
.
BOSTON
- The Wall Street Journal reported a Harvard study found a powerful link between poor gum health and pancreatic cancer. In a study of 51,000 male doctors, men with a history of gum woes were at 64% higher risk for pancreatic cancer versus those with healthy mouths. Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare, but the gum disease risk means 36 more cases of pancreatic cancer per 100,000 people. Gum disease is linked with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and pregnancy problems. A person with gum disease has a mouth full of Porphyromonas gingivalis and other bacteria found in plaque, the sticky film on teeth. These bacteria can invade other parts of the body, including cells in coronary arteries. Why is gum disease linked with pancreatic cancer? It may be chronic infection in the gums triggers inflammation over the body, which can fuel cancer. Or it may be oral bacteria trigger a process that results in high levels of nitrosamines, cancer-causing compounds in tobacco smoke. "People think of gum disease in their mouth," says Dominique Michaud, study lead author and assistant professor at the Harvard School of Public Health. "When it’s severe, it's probably in the entire body." Brushing and flossing can help prevent gum disease but about 33% of the population may have a genetic predisposition.
WASHINGTON
- Service-disabled veterans are self-employed at a rate much lower than the whole veteran population, found a study by the Office of Advocacy (OA) of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The discrepancy is 25-50%. “This report provides policymakers with information that will better our understanding of veterans’ entrepreneurship,” said Thomas M. Sullivan, OA chief counsel. Written by Open Blue Solutions, with OA funding, Self-Employment in the Veteran and Service-Disabled Veteran Population states most of the lower self-employment rate reflects disabilities that hinder the ability to work. The authors used data covering 1985-2005 derived from three sections of the Current Population Survey done for the U.S. Census Bureau’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The datasets allowed them to track employment of service-disabled veterans over time. OA is the source for small business statistics and funds research into small business issues. To read the report, visit www.sba.gov/advo.
