Teething can be a tough time for kids and parents. But the FDA is warning against using one product in particular to cut down on teething pain.
The warning is against using certain over-the-counter teething gels and liquids. That's because they contain an ingredient that can be dangerous for children.
Having a teething child can be very frustrating. You know they are in pain and you want to do what you can to help them out. Sometimes that means reaching for teething pain remedies you can get over the counter. These liquids and gels work because they contain the numbing ingredient benzocaine. According to the FDA, common ones include Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel and Orabase.
The problem is that this ingredient, benzocaine, although it's very effective at numbing the gums, it can also lead to a rare and potentially fatal condition called "Methemoglobinemia." Again, this is a rare side effect of the benzocaine, but when it happens, it cuts down on the amount of oxygen a baby's blood supply can carry. That can cause serious problems. Since 2006, when the FDA first issued this warning, they have gotten reports of 29 cases of this problem caused by the benzocaine in these numbing agents. 15 of those happened in children less than 2 years old. This newest warning is that the FDA recommends that parents and caregivers not use these products for children younger than 2. Instead they recommend the good old fashioned refrigerated teething rings or gum rubbing with a finger to help handle that inevitable teething pain.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Late Shift & Your Health
If you are a late night worker, listen up. You might need to keep a closer eye on your health.
It's because new information is showing that late shift work could up your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
In this new study, researchers found it's not so much where you work, but more "when" you work that could be taking its toll on your health.
This study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that the risk of having one or two problems in particular, heart attacks or strokes, went up in those working irregular shifts. In other words, working anything other than normal daytime regular hours caused these problems with your health. Of the two, it mostly increased your chances of having a heart attack. This was true for any type of shift work, daytime, nighttime and in between. But it was even worse for those working night shifts.
Although they haven't quite figured out what is causing this, experts think it might have to do with shift workers getting less sleep, less physical activity and having worse eating habits. But it could also be due to the way shift work disrupts your circadian rhythm. This can have an affect on the body's heart rate and blood pressure which can then lead to an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.
So if you do work shift work, the best thing you can do for yourself if realize it might be raising your risk of health problems. It's even more important for shift workers to manage their blood pressure, cholesterol and overall health by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, especially when you're staring down those donuts at 2 a.m.
It's because new information is showing that late shift work could up your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
In this new study, researchers found it's not so much where you work, but more "when" you work that could be taking its toll on your health.
This study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that the risk of having one or two problems in particular, heart attacks or strokes, went up in those working irregular shifts. In other words, working anything other than normal daytime regular hours caused these problems with your health. Of the two, it mostly increased your chances of having a heart attack. This was true for any type of shift work, daytime, nighttime and in between. But it was even worse for those working night shifts.
Although they haven't quite figured out what is causing this, experts think it might have to do with shift workers getting less sleep, less physical activity and having worse eating habits. But it could also be due to the way shift work disrupts your circadian rhythm. This can have an affect on the body's heart rate and blood pressure which can then lead to an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.
So if you do work shift work, the best thing you can do for yourself if realize it might be raising your risk of health problems. It's even more important for shift workers to manage their blood pressure, cholesterol and overall health by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, especially when you're staring down those donuts at 2 a.m.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
TV & Computer Screens & Depression
You might want to think twice about falling asleep watching TV, at least if you want to avoid depression.
It looks like that late night watching may be impacting our brains in more ways than one. And it might be increasing your chances of developing depression.
That's the conclusion from neuroscientists at Ohio State Medical Center. They say that an increase in the number of people with depression over the last 50 years coincides with an increase in our exposure to late night artificial light, like that given off by a TV or a computer screen late at night. Studying how hamsters adapted to late night lighting, these researchers found they developed a hamster's equivalent of depression, similar to the ways humans would. And this happened after only a few weeks with that dim light at night. But they also found changes to the actual structure of their brains from the depression and its similar to what they have seen before in humans suffering from the same thing.
They feel that night time light, from a TV or computer, is what is causing these changes and part of the reason behind an increase in depression nationwide.
The good news is that this is reversible. Once the late night dim lights were taken away, the hamsters went back to normal after only a few weeks. So for us humans, the message here is that if you are a late night computer person or a TV watcher, especially as you fall asleep, you might need to give yourself a break for a couple of weeks every now and then to keep depression at bay.
It looks like that late night watching may be impacting our brains in more ways than one. And it might be increasing your chances of developing depression.
That's the conclusion from neuroscientists at Ohio State Medical Center. They say that an increase in the number of people with depression over the last 50 years coincides with an increase in our exposure to late night artificial light, like that given off by a TV or a computer screen late at night. Studying how hamsters adapted to late night lighting, these researchers found they developed a hamster's equivalent of depression, similar to the ways humans would. And this happened after only a few weeks with that dim light at night. But they also found changes to the actual structure of their brains from the depression and its similar to what they have seen before in humans suffering from the same thing.
They feel that night time light, from a TV or computer, is what is causing these changes and part of the reason behind an increase in depression nationwide.
The good news is that this is reversible. Once the late night dim lights were taken away, the hamsters went back to normal after only a few weeks. So for us humans, the message here is that if you are a late night computer person or a TV watcher, especially as you fall asleep, you might need to give yourself a break for a couple of weeks every now and then to keep depression at bay.
Inactivity Could Kill You
Want to save your own life? Then maybe you need to move around more during the day.
The reason it might save your life is because of inactivity. Our lack of movement during the day is as dangerous to our health as smoking.
That's the latest conclusion from researchers looking to see how much our lifestyle is affecting our health. In a new report, just published in the Journal Lancet, these researchers have estimated that about 1 out of every 3 or us aren't doing enough physical activity during the day. That's probably not a big surprise to most of us. But that lack of activity is causing 5.3 million deaths each year. That's right up there with the number of deaths we see from things like heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. And to put it in a different light, these researchers say that's the same number of deaths that smoking causes.
In a different study researchers also found that as many as 1 in 3 adults worldwide aren't getting enough physical activity. Those numbers are even higher here in the U.S., with almost half of us not getting enough exercise.
So, what does this mean for you and your family? It mostly means that we all need to get up and move more. One current recommendation is 150 minutes of moderate exercise, like brisk walking, every week. If you spread that out to 5 days, that's 30 minutes per day. Put aside time to do this, it could be one of the best things you do for your health and for your life.
The reason it might save your life is because of inactivity. Our lack of movement during the day is as dangerous to our health as smoking.
That's the latest conclusion from researchers looking to see how much our lifestyle is affecting our health. In a new report, just published in the Journal Lancet, these researchers have estimated that about 1 out of every 3 or us aren't doing enough physical activity during the day. That's probably not a big surprise to most of us. But that lack of activity is causing 5.3 million deaths each year. That's right up there with the number of deaths we see from things like heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. And to put it in a different light, these researchers say that's the same number of deaths that smoking causes.
In a different study researchers also found that as many as 1 in 3 adults worldwide aren't getting enough physical activity. Those numbers are even higher here in the U.S., with almost half of us not getting enough exercise.
So, what does this mean for you and your family? It mostly means that we all need to get up and move more. One current recommendation is 150 minutes of moderate exercise, like brisk walking, every week. If you spread that out to 5 days, that's 30 minutes per day. Put aside time to do this, it could be one of the best things you do for your health and for your life.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
How We Walk & Dementia
Could the way a person walks be a clue to the start of dementia?
It looks like the way someone walks, or more precisely changes in how they walk, may be an early sign of Alzheimer's Disease. And since finding Alzheimer's early on can mean starting treatment earlier, that treatment might be more successful.
A new study just presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference has found that certain subtle changes in how someone walks gave researchers clues about who might be developing early dementia.
Here's how that connection works. The brain controls how we walk by communicating among different areas. If that communication gets interfered with, then someone might start to have very small changes in the way they walk. And one reason it might get interfered with is because of Alzheimer's.
In a recent study out of the Mayo Clinic, researchers found that certain types of changes were more likely to mean early Alzheimer's. Those who started walking with a lower cadence and velocity along with a decrease in the length of the stride also ended up having more dementia.
The good news is that this is a very inexpensive test that can be done outside the clinical environment. If you notice a loved one slowing down and taking smaller walking strides over what they normally used to do, you might want to bring it up to the doctor to see if more robust testing is needed.
It looks like the way someone walks, or more precisely changes in how they walk, may be an early sign of Alzheimer's Disease. And since finding Alzheimer's early on can mean starting treatment earlier, that treatment might be more successful.
A new study just presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference has found that certain subtle changes in how someone walks gave researchers clues about who might be developing early dementia.
Here's how that connection works. The brain controls how we walk by communicating among different areas. If that communication gets interfered with, then someone might start to have very small changes in the way they walk. And one reason it might get interfered with is because of Alzheimer's.
In a recent study out of the Mayo Clinic, researchers found that certain types of changes were more likely to mean early Alzheimer's. Those who started walking with a lower cadence and velocity along with a decrease in the length of the stride also ended up having more dementia.
The good news is that this is a very inexpensive test that can be done outside the clinical environment. If you notice a loved one slowing down and taking smaller walking strides over what they normally used to do, you might want to bring it up to the doctor to see if more robust testing is needed.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
New Diet Drug
The FDA has approved a new diet drug. But how effective and, more importantly, how safe is it?
The drug is now called qsymia; formerly qnexa.
Qsymia was approved because it did prove to be effective at helping overweight or obeses study participants lose up to 10% of their body weight. And along with diet and exercise, the manufacturers of this medicine say it could go a long way toward alleviating health problems associated with obesity, like diabetes and high blood pressure.
But this medicine, like all medicines, has side effects. It was initially disapproved back in 2010 because of heart and psychiatric side effects. At that time, the FDA thought those side effects were bad enough to not approve the drug. But now the FDA has approved qsymia for obese or overweight people with a body mass index, BMI, over 27 who also suffer from weight related health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. In this case, the FDA has most likely felt the benefits of losing weight using qsymia outweighed the potential dangerous side effects.
The key here is to use the medicine in conjunction with diet and exercise. It's not a magic pill by any stretch of the imagination. For many using this pill, they might need to be on it long term since coming off of it could mean putting the weight right back on. And it's not expected to be covered by most insurance companies, at least not yet.
The drug is now called qsymia; formerly qnexa.
Qsymia was approved because it did prove to be effective at helping overweight or obeses study participants lose up to 10% of their body weight. And along with diet and exercise, the manufacturers of this medicine say it could go a long way toward alleviating health problems associated with obesity, like diabetes and high blood pressure.
But this medicine, like all medicines, has side effects. It was initially disapproved back in 2010 because of heart and psychiatric side effects. At that time, the FDA thought those side effects were bad enough to not approve the drug. But now the FDA has approved qsymia for obese or overweight people with a body mass index, BMI, over 27 who also suffer from weight related health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. In this case, the FDA has most likely felt the benefits of losing weight using qsymia outweighed the potential dangerous side effects.
The key here is to use the medicine in conjunction with diet and exercise. It's not a magic pill by any stretch of the imagination. For many using this pill, they might need to be on it long term since coming off of it could mean putting the weight right back on. And it's not expected to be covered by most insurance companies, at least not yet.
Lose Weight, Keep A Diary
Do you want to lose a pound or two? Keeping a diary might help.
We're particularly talking about keeping a food diary, a food journal. That might be one key to losing a few pounds.
Losing weight is something most of us want to do at some time or another. But often that can be easier said than done. Part of the reason might be that we aren't ever really sure how much we are eating. And that's where a food journal comes into play.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle looked at how successful different self monitoring techniques were at helping overweight or obese volunteers lose weight.
They found that by keeping a food journal, eating out less and not skipping meals during the day helped the most. Those eating out even once per week didn't lose as much weight. That may be because we tend to eat more and higher calorie meals when we eat out. Those skipping meals are probably also more likely to grab high calorie snacks during the day.
But one of the more successful techniques used to lose weight in this study was using a food journal. Since we often don't accurately remember what we ate during the day the food journal will help keep us honest. That means writing down everything you eat, meals and snacks. And it doesn't matter where you write it down. Use a smart phone app, a piece of paper or even a small note pad. What matters is keeping track of what you eat during the day. You'll be surprised at how all the little things you eat add up to a lot of calories and those extra pounds none of us want.
We're particularly talking about keeping a food diary, a food journal. That might be one key to losing a few pounds.
Losing weight is something most of us want to do at some time or another. But often that can be easier said than done. Part of the reason might be that we aren't ever really sure how much we are eating. And that's where a food journal comes into play.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle looked at how successful different self monitoring techniques were at helping overweight or obese volunteers lose weight.
They found that by keeping a food journal, eating out less and not skipping meals during the day helped the most. Those eating out even once per week didn't lose as much weight. That may be because we tend to eat more and higher calorie meals when we eat out. Those skipping meals are probably also more likely to grab high calorie snacks during the day.
But one of the more successful techniques used to lose weight in this study was using a food journal. Since we often don't accurately remember what we ate during the day the food journal will help keep us honest. That means writing down everything you eat, meals and snacks. And it doesn't matter where you write it down. Use a smart phone app, a piece of paper or even a small note pad. What matters is keeping track of what you eat during the day. You'll be surprised at how all the little things you eat add up to a lot of calories and those extra pounds none of us want.
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