Global Health Tribune - April 2011 issue

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U s Postage

PaIdWest Palm Bch, Fl

PermIt No. 1340

FLORIDA HEALTH NEWSP.O. Box 213424

Royal Palm Beach, FL 33421

APRIL ISSUE • 2011 www.floridahealthnews-online.com

S e r v i n g P a l m B e a c h G a r d e n s , R o y a l P a l m B e a c h , We l l i n g t o n , B e l l e G l a d e , L a k e Wo r t h , L a n t a n a , B o y n t o n a n d B o c a R a t o n

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CT screening reduces lung-cancer deaths inheavy smokers PAGE 8

Dark Chocolate May HarborBenefits for the Heart.

PAGE 5

Tips for Keeping YoungAthletes Safe. PAGE 12

Ozone layer faces recordloss over Arctic

Britain's Prince Harry, left, tries out an immersion suit, during training for the Walking with the Wounded expedition, on theisland of Spitsbergen, situated between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole, on March, 2011. PAGE 2

Ozone layer faces record lossover Arctic..................................2Your foot… the body’s mostused part?..................................3Breast Cancer Awareness and the Special Population .......4Dark Chocolate May Harbor Benefits for the Heart .................5Health risks of radiation depend on dose, duration ..........6Sex can be heart attack trigger for couch potatoes .........7CT screening reduces lung-cancer deaths in heavy smokers .....................................8Royal Palm Art & Music Festival .....................................10Diabetes Mellitus a silent malady .....................................11Tips for Keeping Young Athletes Safe ............................12Exercise Is Key for People With Arthritis: Expert ...............13Freezing Wrinkles a PossibleAlternative to Botox..................14Medical Marijuana Might Slow Thinking Among MSPatients ....................................15

FlORIDAHEAlTHNEWS-ONlINE.COM2 APRIl ISSUE • 2011

CONTRIBUTING ARTICLESU.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

ARA Content, Hispanic PR Wire, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,METRO Editorial Services, Family Features,

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PUBLIC RELATIONSPhone: (561) 267-5232

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GRAPHIC DESIGNSergio Aguilar (561) 797-2325

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Florida Health News is a newspaper published every month in Palm Beach county and surrounding areas. Copyright 2010, all rights reserved by SEA Publications, Inc. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisherreserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher does not accept responsibility for advertisement error beyond the cost of the advertisement itself. All submitted materials are subject to editing.

Please recycle this newspaper.

Japanese fishermen with regulations about nuclear plant crisis

Water samples taken

from concrete pits

outside the reactors

at the Fukushima

Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

showed radiation 5 million times

the legal limits – down from a

reading of 7.5 million, according

to an official with the Tokyo Elec-

tric Power Company, which runs

the plant. Groundwater outside re-

actor No. 6 was similarly affected.

The levels dropped steeply just

several dozen meters out, but still

remained several hundred thou-

sand times above legal limits.

Radioactive iodine-131 is at the

center of health experts’ concerns.

The element iodine, in its non-ra-

dioactive isotopic form, is an es-

sential part of thyroid regulation in

the human body. Chronic expo-

sure to its radioactive form, such

as iodine-129 or iodine-131, can,

according to the Environmental

Protection Agency, cause thyroid

problems such as nodules or can-

cer. Iodine-131 loses half its radi-

ation every eight days and is fur-

ther diluted by active ocean waters.

Still – it’s making its way into

seafood at levels exceeding those

the Japanese government have

deemed safe for consumption.

These new Japanese governmental

standards - which will now allow

up to 2,000 becquerels (a unit of

radioactivity equal to one nuclear

transformation or decay per sec-

ond) per kilogram of fish, of io-

dine-131 – will rely upon enforce-

ment at the town level, rather than

the prefecture, according to

Edano. He announced that if the

radiation level of an area’s fish,

milk or vegetables remains below

the legal limits for three consecu-

tive weeks, the ban on sales and

distribution will be lifted – though

radiation checks may continue

even after this time has elapsed.

The people of Japan – and even

the United States – put tremen-

dous faith in the standards set by

the Japanese government, a senti-

ment expressed repeatedly by the

vendors at a recent seafood show

in Boston. Ippei Nakao of Medal-

lion Foods Inc., manning a booth

at the event said, "Consumers be-

lieve Japanese food is safe because

Japanese standards are very strict."

His co-exhibitor Terry Hasegawa

of True World Foods – a major im-

porter of wholesale seafood – con-

curs. "Everything we're getting

from Japan is being inspected by

the Japanese government and the

health department and also the

USDC and the FDA are working

very closely to inspect our fish. I'm

standing here all day long and not

many people are asking questions

about radiation in the fish. I don't

think people are worried too much."

Additionally, the deep-water fish –

like tuna and halibut - that generally

make it to U.S. restaurants are far

enough offshore that contamina-

tion is not yet thought to be a risk.

Even if that level of scrutiny was

proven insufficient, supply chain

expert and CEO of Demand Fore-

sight Gene Tanski says that post-

Gulf oil spill scrutiny of seafood,

both imported and domestic,

would disallow tainted Japanese

seafood to reach American tables.

Not only do the high-end chefs

and purveyors dishing it out to

consumers have a reputation to at

stake – the fish just simply would-

n’t make it past the testing phase.

Tanski says, “"If you think about

Japanese imports from a safety

point of view, given the fact that

there was this bright spotlight of

concern because of nuclear radia-

tion, the FDA is going to be very

concerned that the food coming in is

safe. That's not to say that fish with

slight radiation won't come in, but

chances are that they'll put it aside

and say, 'Hey – not this crate.'"

He also notes that while the risk at

this point - at least to Americans -

is minimal, the economic impact

on Japan could be quite severe.

Tanksi says, "Japan exports two

to two and a half billion dollars

worth of seafood to the U.S. every

year. Twenty percent of that comes

from the affected area. The risk

may not increase, but the prices

are certainly likely to."

The batch of radioactive eels that

triggered the new set of strictures

was subsequently destroyed, but

they've certainly put a new ap-

petite for awareness on the menu.

After a haul turned up last Friday off thecoast of Ibaraki Prefecture, with levels ofradioactivity double the current standardsset for vegetables, Japanese Chief CabinetSecretary Yukio Edano announced that thenation’s authorities would begin regulatingthe radiation levels in seafood.

Ozone layer faces recordloss over ArcticThe depletion of theozone layer shieldingEarth from damagingultraviolet rays hasreached anunprecedented lowover the Arctic thisspring because ofharmful chemicalsand a cold winter,the U.N. weatheragency said.

The Earth's fragile ozone

layer in the Arctic region

has suffered a loss of

about 40 percent from

the start of winter until late March,

exceeding the previous seasonal

loss of about 30 percent, the World

Meteorological Organization said.

The Geneva-based agency blamed

the loss on a buildup of ozone-eat-

ing chemicals once widely used

as coolants and fire retardants in a

variety of appliances and on very

cold temperatures in the stratos-

phere, the second major layer of

the Earth's atmosphere, just above

the troposphere.

Arctic ozone conditions vary more

than the seasonal ozone "hole" that

forms high in the stratosphere near

the South Pole each winter and

spring, and the temperatures are al-

ways warmer than over Antarctica.

Because of changing weather and

temperatures some Arctic winters

experience almost no ozone loss

while others with exceptionally cold

stratospheric conditions can occa-

sionally lead to substantial ozone

depletion, U.N. scientists say.

This year the Arctic winter was

warmer than average at ground

level, but colder in the stratosphere

than normal Arctic winters. U.N.

officials say the latest losses

— unprecedented, but not entirely

unexpected — were detected in

observations from the ground and

from balloons and satellites over

the Arctic.

Atmospheric scientists who are

concerned about global warming

focus on the Arctic because that is

a region where the effects are ex-

pected to be felt first.

Ozone scientists have said that sig-

nificant Arctic ozone depletion is

possible in the case of a cold and

stable Arctic stratospheric winter.

Ozone losses occur over the polar

regions when temperatures drop

below -78 degrees Celsius (-108

Fahrenheit), when clouds form in

the stratosphere.

Average temperatures in January

range from about -40 to 0 C (-40 to

32 F), while average temperatures

in July range from about -10 to 10

C (14 to 50 F).

"The Arctic stratosphere contin-

ues to be vulnerable to ozone de-

struction caused by ozone-deplet-

ing substances linked to human

activities," said WMO secretary-

general Michel Jarraud. "The de-

gree of ozone loss experienced in

any particular winter depends on

the meteorological conditions."

The loss comes despite the U.N.

ozone treaty, known as the 1987

Montreal Protocol, which has re-

sulted in cutbacks in ozone-dam-

aging chemicals, such as chloro-

fluorocarbons, halons and other,

that were used in the making of re-

frigerators, air conditioners, fire

extinguishers and even hairspray.

The 196-nation ozone treaty en-

courages industries to use re-

placement chemicals less dama-

ging to ozone, the atmospheric

layer that helps protect against the

sun's most harmful rays.

But because these compounds have

long atmospheric lifetimes, it takes

decades for their concentrations to

subside to pre-1980 levels as was

agreed in the Montreal Protocol.

U.N. officials project the ozone

layer outside the polar regions will

recover to pre-1980 levels some-

time between 2030 and 2040.

Britain's Prince Harry tries out an immersion suit, during training for theWalking with the Wounded expedition, on the island of Spitsbergen,situated between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole, March 2011.

FlORIDAHEAlTHNEWS-ONlINE.COM APRIl ISSUE • 2011 3

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“My feet are killing me''

may very well be one of the

most common health com-

plaints heard each day.

But, who really does anything

about it? Very few people heed the

advice of their feet and continue to

stand, walk and work through

pain.

Feet are the most used and abused

parts of the human body. Accord-

ing to a study conducted by the

Pennsylvania College of Podiatric

Medicine, the average American

walks 115,000 miles in a lifetime.

That is the equivalent of more than

four times around the world. Each

step exacerbats minor abnormali-

ties in foot structures or shoes that

don't fit right, or both, resulting in

pain. It has been estimated that 87

percent of Americans suffer from

some form of a foot problem.

Even though these problems are

not life threatening, they do in-

hibit the ability to fully partake in

daily activities and most definitely

take the joy out of many life-en-

hancing activities, while making

others impossible.

The recent surges in the body

weights in Americans and the sub-

sequent craze that has millions of

American feet jogging, running,

dancing and jumping have greatly

increased the ranks of podiatric

and orthopedic patients. In addi-

tion, medical problems like dia-

betes, obesity and circulation

problems predispose patients to

foot problems that require profes-

sional attention.

Before seeking professional atten-

tion for those foot pains many peo-

ple try to manage their foot prob-

lems on their own usually wasting

money on over-the-counter fixes.

Many times self treatment can

make the problems much worse.

Fortunately, many foot ailments

are avoidable. Shoe gear should

fit well and feet should be washed

daily with soap and water. Shoes

and socks should be changed daily.

Some of the most common foot

complaints are corns and calluses.

These are located over high pres-

sure areas on the foot and are lay-

ers of dead skin cells. They are

the result of repeated friction or

pressure against parts of the foot

and actually represent the body's

attempt to protect sensitive tissue.

On the top of toes corns can form

where the toe rubs against the

shoes. Hard corns are usually

found on the tops of toes, where

skin rubs against the shoe. Some-

times a corn will form on the ball

of the foot beneath a callus, re-

sulting in a sharp localized pain

with each step. Corns are cone-

shaped, with the tip pointing into

the foot. When a shoe exerts pres-

sure against the corn, the tip of the

cone can hit sensitive underlying

tissue, causing pain.

Self-treatment can be risky, since

the chemicals used to soften corns

also damage healthy tissue. Fol-

low the directions carefully and

limit self-treatment to five appli-

cations. People with poor circula-

tion, such as diabetics, should seek

professional help. Removal of

corns with a razor blade should

never be attempted. Hard corns

are best prevented by protecting

any rubbed area with a pressure re-

lieving non-medicated corn pad or

horseshoe-shaped piece of mole-

skin or foam rubber and by not

wearing the shoes that are the cul-

prits.

Soft corns, which are rubbery,

form between toes where the

bones of one toe exert pressure

against the bones of its neighbor.

To help prevent their formation,

use lamb's wool or cotton between

toes that rub together. Once estab-

lished, these corns are best treated

professionally.

Callouses form over a flat surface

and have no tip. They usually ap-

pear on the weight-bearing parts of

the foot like the ball or heel. Each

step presses the callus against un-

derlying tissue and may cause

aching, burning or tenderness.

Callouses may result from the fric-

tion of loose-fitting shoes or the

pressure of shoes that are too tight.

Women who wear high-heeled

shoes are especially vulnerable to

calluses.

People with high arches are also

vulnerable since the heel and ball

of the foot bear all the weight.

Arch supports may help to relieve

the pressure and cause the callous

to disappear slowly. Cushioned in-

nersoles may also help.

Callouses can be gradually elimi-

nated by rubbing the callused area

with a pumice stone after soaking

or bathing has softened the dead

skin. Then apply a moisturizing

lotion. Do not try to remove too

much of the callus at once. Dia-

betics should see a professional

rather than attempt self-treatment.

Bunions appear as swollen and in-

flamed protrusions on the side of

the foot at the joint of the big toe.

A similar swelling can occur at the

outside of the foot, where it's

called a bunionette. Dynamic

forces during the gait cycle cause

imbalances at the joints and over

time deformities such as bunions

do occur. Bunions are most often

irritated by the persistent wearing

of shoes that are too tight and

short. Not surprisingly, bunions

are four times more common

among women, many of whom

wear high-heeled and pointed

shoes that cause undo pressure on

the big toe.

Bunions cannot be self-treated and

only surgery can correct the prob-

lem. However, considerable relief

may be obtained through conser-

vative measures. These include

devices in the shoes that change

the foot's dynamic forces and by

wearing shields to protect the

bunion from friction against the

shoe.

Hammer toes are deformities of

the toes where the joints bend

causing pressure points. Ham-

mertoe deformities can affect all

the toes but the most common toe

affected is the second toe, which

on most people is longer than the

big toe.

Blisters commonly appear where a

shoe rubs against skin that is un-

protected by a corn or callus. Ease

the friction with moleskin

padding, wear socks and change

shoes. Don't pop blisters, since

they may then become infected. If

a blister breaks on its own, apply

an antiseptic and keep the area

covered with a sterile bandage.

Remove the bandage at night to

promote healing.

Your feet have a long way to go,

take care of them.

4 APRIl ISSUE • 2011 FlORIDAHEAlTHNEWS-ONlINE.COM

Ely Aguilar

Call me for your residential / commercial cleaning service needs

• Good References • Free Estimates

Cell: (561) 797-8152

Honestly and professionally giving you the best

cleaning services that you never had before.

3:30p.m.) at the Twin Palms Cen-

ter, 306 NW 35th St., Boca Ra-

ton, Florida 33431.

The Boca Raton Regional Hospi-

tal lynn Women's Health & Well-

ness Institute “MammoVan”

screening consists simply of a low

dose X-ray of the breast. It is per-

formed on women that are asymp-

tomatic on an annual basis to de-

tect early breast cancers that are

clinically unsuspected.

This has been proven to decrease

breast cancer deaths by over 40%.

If you have no insurance, the

Komen Grant is available. To ap-

ply call Merari Rodriquez at 561-

955-4294. No prescription is

needed for screening mammo-

grams (over the age of 40). Bring

prior images to expedite your re-

sults. Insurance covers 100% for

one mammogram per year. Ap-

pointments must be made by call-

ing 561-955-4700 (options 1 & 2).

At Twin Palms Center we are con-

cerned that new breast cancer sta-

tistics show an increase in the

number of women diagnosed each

It is no secret that early detec-

tion of breast cancer is very

important. While mammogra-

phy seems to the most popular

method for early detection, not all

cancers are found through mam-

mography. In many cases a com-

plete examination is necessary

which includes a combination of

mammography, annual physical

examination and monthly breast

self-examination.

In fact, our American Cancer So-

ciety Guidelines recommend

screening mammograms, and

physical breast examination each

year beginning at age 40, espe-

cially if there is a family history of

breast cancer which is sometimes

associated with an increased risk

of developing breast cancer.

In our efforts to increase breast

self-awareness for our special

needs population, and their care

takers, Twin Palms Center, (a non-

profit, 501(c) 3 organization that

provides a unique day program for

adults with disabilities) is hosting

the “MammoVan” on Thursday,

April 21, 2011 from (7:30a.m.–

year, raising from around 45,500

to 47,700, increasing the lifetime

risk to one in eight. What is en-

couraging is that while breast can-

cer incidences are on the rise, the

survival rate continues to improve.

These improvements are direct re-

sults of early diagnosis and treat-

ment. It therefore remains crucial

that women continue to participate

in screenings, as early diagnosis

will increase the chances of long-

term survival. Please join us on

our wellness effort on Thursday,

April 21, 2011. “Don’t let the van

leave you.”

TO MAKE YOUR APPOINT-

MENT PLEASE CALL

561.955.4700 (OPTIONS 1 & 2)

For direction to Twin Palms

Center contact:

Wendy Friswell, Director

Twin Palms Center for the Dis-

abled

Address 306 NW 35th Street

Boca Raton, FL 33431

Phone: 561-391-4878

[email protected]

Breast Cancer Awarenessand the Special Population

Interest in Toys May PredictSuccess of Autism Home TherapyTots who playedthe least seemed tobenefit most fromparent-guidedautism program,study found.

The level of interest tod-

dlers with early signs of

autism show in toys may

predict how well they will re-

spond to a parent-guided treat-

ment program, a new study sug-

gests.

The study included 51 boys and

11 girls younger than age 2 who

met the criteria for autism dis-

orders. The children were ran-

domly assigned to receive ei-

ther standard treatment (the

control group) or enrolled in the

Hanen's More Than Words pro-

gram, which is designed to pro-

mote communication, language

development and social skills.

In the program, parents learn

ways to help their toddlers com-

municate, such as encouraging

eye contact and saying simple

sentences from the child's per-

spective.

Overall, the communication

skills of the children in the pro-

gram showed no improvement

compared to those in the control

group.

However, the program did ap-

pear to benefit a subset of chil-

dren. Among toddlers who

played with fewer toys when

they were assessed at the start of

the study, those enrolled in the

program showed more improve-

ment than those in the control

group. Specifically, they had more

instances of making eye contact,

pointing or reaching for items of

interest, and showing or giving a

toy to a researcher, according to

the report.

This effect lasted for at least four

months after the program ended,

the researchers noted.

The study, funded by the Marino

Autism Research Institute and the

advocacy organization Autism

Speaks, was published online in

the Journal of Child Psychology

and Psychiatry.

"This report adds to our emerging

knowledge about which interven-

tions work for which kids. It will

help match children with the right

intervention and not waste time

enrolling them in treatments that

are not well-suited for them," co-

author Wendy Stone, director of

the Autism Center at the Univer-

sity of Washington, said in a uni-

versity news release.

Weaker Bones, Cellphone Use Linked in Small StudyResearch in 24 menfound less mineralcontent, density inhips, but more studyneeded, experts say.

Asmall study out of Ar-

gentina suggests that cell-

phone users might be at

heightened risk for a weakening

of bone in the hip area. Re-

searchers measured bone mineral

content and bone mineral density

in the left and right hips of 24 men

who carried their cellphones in a

belt pouch on their right hip for at

least one year and 24 men who

did not use cellphones. Mineral

content and density are standard

markers of bone strength.

The two groups of men had simi-

lar average hip bone mineral con-

tent/density measurements, but the

men who carried cellphones on

their right hip had lower mineral

content in the right femoral neck,

the area near the top of the thigh

bone, the team reported.

Cellphone users also had reduced

mineral content and density at the

right trochanter, an area at the out-

side top of the thigh bone. Among

cellphone users, the difference be-

tween the right and left trochanter

was significantly associated with

the total estimated hours carrying a

cellphone on the right hip, said the

researchers.

The findings appear in the issue of

the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.

"The different patterns of right-

left asymmetry in femoral bone

material found in mobile cell-

phone users and nonusers are

consistent with a nonthermal ef-

fect of electromagnetic radiofre-

quency waves not previously de-

scribed," wrote study author Dr.

Fernando D. Sravi, of the Na-

tional University of Cuyo, Men-

doza, Argentina.


The South Florida Bone Marrow StemCell Transplant Institute under themedical direction of Dr. Dipnarine

Maharaj provides treatment forpatients using chemotherapy and

autologous stem cell transplant.

THE SOUTH FLORIDA BONE MARROW STEM CELL TRANSPLANT INSTITUTE10301 Hagen Ranch Road, Suite 600, Boynton Beach, Florida, 33437.

Please call 561-752-5522 to make an appointment. Visit www.bmscti.org for more information.

SOUTH FLORIDABONE MARROW STEM CELLTRANSPLANT INSTITUTE AT BETHESDA HEALTH CITY

Have you or a loved one been recently diagnosed with ahematological cancer such as leukemia, Non-Hodgkin’slymphoma, or multiple myeloma? Do you know that thechances of developing a hospital-acquired infection are higherin patients diagnosed with a hematological malignancy? Do you know that there is a completely outpatient treatmentcenter for patients with these kinds malignancies in the Stateof Florida fully operational in this location since 2001?

Dark Chocolate May HarborBenefits for the HeartDespite possibleupside, cocoa carriesrisks and won'tovercome bad healthhabits, expert says.

If you can handle the fat and

calories, there may be a health

benefit to enjoying dark

chocolate on occasion. New

research suggests that the cocoa

ingredient may lower blood pres-

sure and cholesterol levels while

preventing diabetes and improv-

ing the health of blood vessels.

So why not chow down on a candy

bar or two every day? Here's the

rub: Scientists aren't sure whether

the downsides of cocoa consump-

tion -- such as potential obesity --

could outweigh the benefits.

The research relied on mostly

sugar-free dark chocolate, not the

kind of chocolate normally found

on the candy shelves. Participants

who ate the chocolate, which con-

tained cocoa rich in substances

known as polyphenolic flavonoids,

did better in several areas, includ-

ing blood pressure. levels of bad

cholesterol went down in those

younger than 50, and levels of

good cholesterol went up.

The findings, which came from an

analysis of data from 21 high-

quality studies that included a to-

tal of 2,575 participants, were

scheduled for presentation at an

American Heart Association con-

ference in Atlanta. Experts note

that research presented at meet-

ings should be considered prelim-

inary because it has not been sub-

jected to the rigorous scrutiny

given to research published in

medical journals.

It remains unclear, the researchers

said, as to just why chocolate ap-

pears to have the effect that they

found. It's also not known how

much people would need to eat to

get the benefits.

Then there's the cocoa itself, an-

other possible complication.

"The research looks at the benefits

of cocoa and used a very specifi-

cally prepared cocoa," said lona

Sandon, assistant professor of clin-

ical nutrition at the University of

Texas Southwestern Medical Cen-

ter at Dallas. "Cocoa is an ingre-

dient of chocolate. How the cocoa

is processed makes a difference in

whether or not the chocolate drink

or bar it is contained in will have

health benefits."

"In other words, not all chocolate

or cocoa is created equal," she

said.

Though chocolate in moderation

may be fine for many people, San-

don said, there are better and

healthier ways to boost heart

health.

"Weight loss is king when it comes

to preventing high blood pressure

and improving insulin resistance,"

she said. "I do not see cocoa hav-

ing the power to overcome poor

health habits."

However, she said, there are ways

to add cocoa to the diet that may

keep fat and calories under control

-- such as drinking hot cocoa with

skim milk, adding dark cocoa

powder to the top of a cappuccino

and using cocoa powder in

recipes.

Zachary Thomas Bishop

has earned the rank of

Eagle Scout. An Eagle

Court of Honor ceremony will

be held on Friday April 8, 2011,

at Trinity United Methodist

Church in Palm Beach Gar-

dens, where Zachary will be

presented with the award.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank

a Scout can attain.

Zachary, age 15, is a member of

Boy Scout Troop 132 in Palm

Beach Gardens, and becomes

the Troops’ 152nd Eagle pro-

duced since 1970. Zachary has

earned 36 Merit Badges and

has hiked over 100 miles in

New Mexico and Virginia.

Zachary has received letters of

recognition from President

Obama, Vice President Biden,

Presidents George W. Bush and

H.W. Bush, Congressman Tom

Rooney, Congressman Alan

West, Representative Pat Roo-

ney and Mike Rowe of Dirty

Jobs (a former Eagle Scout).

Zachary’s Eagle Scout project

consisted of constructing an

oyster reef. He planned and co-

ordinated a group of volunteer

Scouts, friends and parents to

bag oyster materials creating

over 250 individual reef pods

that were placed off the Town

of lantana in the lake Worth

lagoon. The reef is already

working as evidenced by new

oysters that have attached to the

reef pods. Each oyster can pu-

rify up to 50 gallons of water

per day.

Zachary is a Freshman at W.T.

Dwyer High School, He is on

the swim team and plays tuba

in the Dwyer Marching Band.

He is the son of Dr. Jeffrey

Bishop of Royal Palm Beach

and Julie Bishop of Jupiter.

Bishop receives Eagle Scout Award

Mr. Bill Daniel (Troop Leader #132) and Eagle Scout Zachary Bishop.


Health risks of radiationdepend on dose, durationConcern is mounting aboutpotential health risks ofradiation from the cripplednuclear reactors in Japan.

How much radiation you get de-

pends on the dose, duration and

method of exposure. Some types

of radioactive particles are more

dangerous or longer lasting than others.

Some basics:

Q. How are people exposed toradiation?A. Radioactive particles in fallout can be in-

haled into the lungs, fall on the skin or be in-

gested through contaminated food or water.

The level can vary greatly even between

short distances, said Dr. Fred Mettler, a Uni-

versity of New Mexico radiologist who led

an international study of health effects after

the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

"You can come around a corner and the dose

rate can be very high, and you get back be-

hind a column and the dose rate is much

lower," depending on what type of particles

are in the fallout, whether you're standing

under a roof where they've accumulated or

shielded you from them, etc., he said.

Q. How does radiation harm?A. In the short term, radiation damages rap-

idly dividing cells — hair, the stomach lin-

ing, bone marrow. That can cause nausea,

vomiting, fatigue, loss of infection-fighting

blood cells and clotting problems. Children

are most at risk because they have so many

rapidly dividing cells.

One type of radiation, radioactive iodine, is

taken up by the thyroid gland and can lead

to thyroid cancer if pills are not taken right

away to prevent this uptake. long term, ra-

diation can damage DNA and raise the risk

of many types of cancer years down the

road.

Q. How much radiation is unsafe?A. Most people get around three-tenths of a

rem (a measurement unit of dose) each year

from radiation in the environment, mostly

from radon gas in the soil. The U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission says doses of less

than 10 rems over a long time period are not

a health concern.

Q. When does it threaten health?A. Symptoms of radiation sickness — nau-

sea, vomiting and hair loss — can occur at

exposures of 50 to 100 rems, according to

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Death within two months becomes a possi-

ble risk at around 400 rems; within two

weeks at 1,000 rems, the EPA says.

Q. What about medical radiation?A. A chest X-ray delivers about one-tenth of

a rem of radiation; a CT scan of the ab-

domen and pelvis is 1.4 rems. A person's

dose accumulates over time, which is why

medical experts say we should avoid un-

necessary tests that involve radiation.

Q. What's the antidote once thereis radioactive fallout?A. Potassium iodide pills can block uptake

of radioactive iodine and protect the thyroid

gland, but they must be used quickly. "Ide-

ally, you'd give it before they're exposed or

at the time" of exposure, Mettler said. "Af-

ter 12 hours, it's hardly useful" unless ex-

posure is continuing.

Q. If fallout is occurring, shouldpeople flee or stay?A. Each situation is different and can

change rapidly. Japanese officials urged tens

of thousands of people to evacuate from a

12-mile zone, but now have told many more

in a broader region, about 20 miles from the

troubled plant, to seal themselves indoors.

Q. Is this like Chernobyl?A. No. That Russian plant had no contain-

ment vessel around its reactor, so when an

explosion occurred, large chunks of ra-

dioactive fuel from the core spewed out.

That fuel contained cesium, a longer-lasting

and more hazardous radioactive material

than the shorter-lived radioactive iodine that

has mostly been released in Japan. Still,

there have been reports of some cesium re-

lease in Japan, prompting worries that a

meltdown may be occurring.

Is It a Cold? Or an Allergy?C

olds and allergies can cause similar

symptoms, and finding out which

condition you have is the first step in

getting relief, according to the American

College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunol-

ogy (ACAAI).

Colds are caused by one of more than 200

viruses that get transmitted from person to

person. Allergies, which are not contagious,

are caused by allergens, such as pollen, that

prompt the immune system to overreact.

In spring, high levels of tree and grass pol-

lens cause sneezing and other cold-like

symptoms for the estimated 60 million

Americans with allergic rhinitis, more com-

monly known as hay fever.

There are a number of ways to distinguish

between spring allergies and a cold, says

the ACAAI. Colds generally evolve, start-

ing with a stuffy nose, throat irritation and

low-grade fever, followed by sneezing and

a runny nose with thickening mucus that

often turns yellow or green. Common al-

lergy symptoms include sneezing, itchy

eyes and nose, but the mucus is typically

clear.

While colds usually last a week or two, al-

lergy symptoms persist and can even get

worse with continued exposure to the aller-

gen causing your symptoms. Spring aller-

gies can last six weeks or more. Aches and

fever most likely indicate a cold, while itchy

eyes are strong evidence of allergies.

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ALL FOR ONEHome Health Care, Inc.

“Helping Hands for Your Wellness”

w w w . A l l F o r O n e H H C . c o m

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Phone: (561) 433-5677Fax: (561) 433-8191

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Phone: (772) 403-2563Fax: (772) 403-2564

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

Phone: (863) 393-0004Fax: (863) 393-0600

CORPORATE OFFICE

2326 S. Congress Ave. Suite 2-E West Palm Beach, FL 33406Phone: (561) 433-5677 • Fax: (561) 433-8191

We are a team of healthcare professionals who make your own home an alternative to hospital or nursing home stays. But, moreover, All For One focuses on your health

and your ability to live at home safe, happy and independent.

Our team of highly qualified healthcare professionals we can send to your home includes:• Skilled Nursing • Physical Therapy • Home Health Aides• Occupational Therapy • Speech Therapy • Medical Social Work

"If you were to follow 10,000 peo-

ple for a year and if they all de-

cided to increase their physical ac-

tivity by an hour a week, you could

expect to see two to three more

heart attacks," Dahabreh said.

That risk is offset for most people

by the benefits of exercise. The

more frequently people exercise,

in general, the less risk they have

of exercise or sex triggering a

heart attack.

Most of the patients in the studies

were in their late 50s and early

60s, but the findings are a cau-

tionary tale for people in any age

group who are slowing down.

Exercise might even be consid-

ered cross-training for sex, said

Mercedes Carnethon, a heart dis-

ease researcher at Northwestern

University's Feinberg School of

Medicine, who wasn't involved in

the research.

"Engaging in regular physical ac-

tivity is a requirement for main-

taining a long, safe, healthy sex

life," Carnethon said.

"If this isn't more motivation for

people to maintain some degree

of physical activity, I'm not sure

what is," Carnethon said. "Get out

and walk. Do something."

CHICAGO – Sex andexercise can triggerheart attacks in olderpeople who don't getmuch of either, a newanalysis finds.

The risk is low, but it's a

good reminder that

slackers should change

their exercise habits

gradually, especially in middle

age.

People who exercise regularly

have a much smaller risk of having

a heart attack immediately after

sexual or physical activity, said

lead author Dr. Issa Dahabreh of

Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

"It would be really bad if someone

thought our paper means people

should not exercise," Dahabreh

said. "If anything, it's the oppo-

site."

The analysis, appearing in Jour-

nal of the American Medical As-

sociation, combined results from

14 studies involving more than

6,000 patients.

The studies involved only people

who'd had heart attacks or had

died suddenly from a heart prob-

lem. The studies looked at what

the people were doing during the

hour or two before their heart at-

tacks and compared that to the

same people's activity on normal

days with no major heart prob-

lems.

That study design is used to try to

answer the question, "Why did the

heart attack occur now?"

Physical activity and sex increased

the risk of heart attack by a factor

of about three, according to the

analysis of the pooled results. Ex-

ercise increased the risk of sud-

den cardiac death by nearly five

times. The researchers didn't find

a triggering relationship between

sex and sudden cardiac death, that

is, a sudden death from a heart

problem.

The risk for any one person is ex-

tremely low.

Sex can be heart attacktrigger for couch potatoes I

n a small preliminary study,

the ancient art of yoga ap-

peared to halve the number of

episodes of a potentially danger-

ous irregular heartbeat known as

atrial fibrillation.

Three sessions of yoga a week

also improved quality of life,

lowering levels of the anxiety

and depression which often

plagues patients with this condi-

tion, according to research to be

presented at the annual meeting

of the American College of Car-

diology in New Orleans.

"These are exciting results," said

Dr. Raul Mitrani, director of the

cardiac rhythm device clinic at

the University of Miami Miller

School of Medicine. Although it

didn't cure atrial fibrillation, he

added, it did seem to cut the

number of "a-fib" episodes.

Prior research had shown other

heart benefits of yoga, such as

lower blood pressure and cho-

lesterol and more elastic arter-

ies, but this is the first study

looking specifically at atrial fib-

rillation, said the authors, from

Mid-America Cardiology at the

University of Kansas Hospital.

Atrial fibrillation, which affects

millions of older Americans, is

an irregular heartbeat that greatly

raises odds for clotting and

stroke. Treatments tend to be ei-

ther invasive surgery (to try to

eliminate the abnormality at its

origin) or medications that carry

side effects. Some lifestyle tac-

tics are also helpful, Mitrani

said, such as moderating alcohol

and caffeine to reduce triggers.

In the new trial, 49 patients be-

tween the ages of 25 and 70 who

had atrial fibrillation partici-

pated in a supervised yoga pro-

gram, conducted 45 minutes a

week, three times a week for

three months. Sessions involved

breathing exercises, various po-

sitions (asanas), meditation and

relaxation. The participants were

also given an educational DVD

and encouraged to practice daily

at home.

"Advanced yogis for a long time

have disproven the idea that

heart rate that automatically de-

termined by physiological need,"

noted Dr. Scott Shurmur, director

of preventive cardiology at the

University of Nebraska Medical

Center in Omaha. "We know that

meditation, yoga etc, really do

provide some conscious altering

of the sympathetic and parasym-

pathetic nervous systems. This

is the first time I've seen results

on atrial fibrillation and its tan-

gible evidence."

Yoga May Also Calm aDangerous Irregular Heartbeat


CT screening reduces lung-cancerdeaths in heavy smokers

By Jim Dryden

(PhysOrg.com)

The study involved more

than 53,000 people in the

United States, including

more than 3,800 partici-

pants at the Washington University

School of Medicine and Barnes-

Jewish Hospital.

David S. Gierada, MD, professor

of radiology at the Mallinckrodt

Institute of Radiology, directed the

study at the Washington Univer-

sity site. He says it already was

known that low-dose CT could de-

tect abnormalities in the lung at

much earlier stages than a stan-

dard X-ray, but until now, it was-

n’t known whether using the more

sensitive screening technique

could help prevent lung cancer

deaths. This study, he says, an-

swered that question.

“The patients who were random-

ized to be screened with the low-

radiation dose CT had 20 percent

fewer deaths than the group ran-

domly selected to receive chest X-

rays,“ Gierada says.

lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer

killer in the United States, claim-

ing more lives than the next three

most deadly cancers combined.

This year, more than 220,000 peo-

ple in the United States will be di-

agnosed with lung cancer, and

more than 157,000 will die from

the disease.

Smokers in the study had used ci-

garettes for at least 30 “pack

years.” That is, they smoked an

average of at least one pack per

day for 30 years. They were be-

tween 55 and 74 years old when

they were enrolled in the study.

Subjects received screening exams

for three consecutive years during

the study.

“It was well-known before the trial

even started that CT scans could

detect tumors when they were

much smaller than can be detected

by chest X-ray,” Gierada says. “But

what wasn’t known with certainty

was whether detecting cancers at

that small size would translate into

a reduced number of deaths.”

Studying heavy smokers, the NationalCancer Institute’s 33-center National LungScreening Trial found that significantlyfewer who were screened with low-dose CTscans died from lung cancer than heavysmokers screened with standard chest X-rays.

He says one potential drawback to

using low-dose CT scans involve

false positives.

The scans detect a number of ab-

normalities in the lung that are not

cancerous, and when that happens,

more extensive follow-up testing

is required, which can be expen-

sive, cause anxiety and may, in

some cases, even lead to surgical

interventions for abnormalities

that turn out not to be malignant.

But Gierada says in spite of those

potential drawbacks, the study

clearly demonstrates that low-dose

CT screening can reduce the risk

of lung-cancer deaths.

“I think the results are pretty

clear,” he says.

Provided by Washington University School

of Medicine in St. Louis

Most Breast Tumors Have UniqueGenetic 'Fingerprint,' Study FindsHelps explain whyit's difficult topredict outcomes,find new treatments,researchers say

Researchers who sequenced

the entire genomes of tu-

mors from 50 breast cancer

patients identified more than 1,700

mutations, most of which were

unique to individual patients.

The findings help explain why it's

difficult to predict breast cancer

patient outcomes and to find new

treatments, said the researchers at

Washington University in St.

louis and the Siteman Cancer

Center.

After sequencing the tumor

genomes, the researchers com-

pared the sequences to the

matched DNA of the same pa-

tients' healthy cells, which allowed

them to find the mutations. They

also sequenced the 10 trillion

chemical bases of DNA more than

30 times to ensure the data was

accurate.

All the patients in the study had

estrogen-receptor-positive breast

cancer, in which cancer cells have

receptors that bind to estrogen and

help the tumors grow. The study

will be presented Saturday at the

American Association for Cancer

Research (AACR) annual meeting

in Orlando, Fla.

Some genetic mutations that are

rare in breast cancer are common

in other cancers and there may be

drugs available to treat them, lead

investigator Dr. Matthew Ellis, a

professor of medicine at Washing-

ton University School of Medicine

in St. louis, said in an AACR

news release.

However, treatment is only possi-

ble when the cancer's genetics are

known beforehand. The ideal goal

is to be able to design treatments

by sequencing the tumor genome

when a patient's cancer is first di-

agnosed, Ellis said.

He and the other researchers found

two common mutations previously

found in breast cancer patients, as

well as three new ones that oc-

cured in an average of one in 10

women. However, "to get through

this experiment and find only three

additional gene mutations at the

10 percent recurrence level was a

bit of a shock," he said.

In addition, the researchers found

21 other mutations that appeared

at much lower rates in several pa-

tients. Even though these muta-

tions were relatively rare, Ellis

emphasized the finding's value.

"Breast cancer is so common that

mutations that recur at a 5 percent

frequency level still involve many

thousands of women," he said.

"We get good therapeutic ideas

from the genomic information," he

added. "The near term goal is to

use information on whole genome

sequencing to guide a personalized

approach to the patient's treatment."

Because the study is being pre-

sented at a medical meeting, the

findings should be considered pre-

liminary until published in a peer-

reviewed journal.

Does Stress Reduction BenefitCancer Patients' Health?Researchers explorewhetherpsychologicalservices thwartchromosomalchanges.

Reducing cancer patients'

stress may benefit their

health, a new study

finds. Researchers investigated

whether chronic stress associ-

ated with cancer diagnosis ac-

celerated shortening of telom-

eres. These structures on the

ends of chromosomes protect

the chromosome from deterio-

rating, breaking apart or joining

with other chromosomes,

which can lead to mutations.

The investigators also wanted

to see if counseling sessions de-

signed to lower stress and im-

prove quality of life affected

telomere length.

Biological samples were col-

lected from both groups at the

start of the study and again af-

ter four months. The findings are

to be presented Saturday at the an-

nual meeting of the American As-

sociation for Cancer Research

(AACR) in Orlando, Fla.

"Improved quality of life and re-

duced stress response was associ-

ated with changes in telomere

length," Dr. Edward Nelson, divi-

sion chief of hematology/oncol-

ogy at the University of California,

Irvine, said in an AACR news re-

lease.

Still, "there is no doubt that offer-

ing psychological services has the

potential to improve quality of life

and outcomes of patients. After

all, making patients feel better

should be an outcome that a cancer

team should want to have, but

whether we can draw conclusions

or make recommendations about

the capacity of a behavioral inter-

vention to modulate telomere

length remains an open question,"

Nelson said.

Experts note that research pre-

sented at meetings has not been

subject to the rigorous review that

precedes publication in a medical

journal.

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Royal Palm Art & MusicFestivalT

his three day event took

place from March 25th

through March 27th 2011.

The festival included activities

such as street painting a tradition

that dates back to 16th century.

The festival transformed Royal

Palm Beach into the largest artist's

canvas of the Western Communi-

ties with several creative works of

arts emerging.

Other activities included kayak

races, bounce houses and carnival

rides. Various food vendors and

area businesses participated in this

festival.

Carly Grant and Holly Gordon of South Florida Radiation Oncology.

Leidy Cuartas, Eva Quiroz, Stephanie Gil and Katherine Valencia.Scott and Mary Armand.

David Lepore painting The Joker with chalk. The Festival included several activities for kids and adults.

Staci Mishkin and Erika Mejia.

Various area businesses and food vendors participated in Royal Palm Art& Music Festival.

Randall Laurich of The WellnessExperience.

Lori Hanson and Heather Meares.


Palm Beach Primary care aSSOciaTeS, iNc.

3347 State Road 7 Suite 200 Wellington, FL 33449

Tel: (561) 795-9087 • Fax: (561) 753-8730

1200 South Main Street Suite 101 Belle Glade FL 33430

Tel: (561) 996-7742 • Fax: (561) 753-8730

State of the Art Office Building with Imaging Center, Sleep Lab Coming Up

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

MEDICARE, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, HEALTH CARE DISTRICT AND MOST MAJOR INSURANCES ACCEPTED

SPECIALIZING IN:• Diagnosis of Complex Illnesses

• Cholesterol Management • Diabetes • Cardiac Care • EKG/24 Hour Heart

Monitoring/Spirometry • Hypertension • Geriatric Concerns • Osteoporosis

9 AM - 5 PM MONDAY - FRIDAYSAME DAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

24 HOUR SERVICE AVAILABLE

On Staff: At Palms West Hospital,Wellington Regional Medical Center

Forest Hill Blvd.

Lake Worth Rd.

State

Roa

d 7 (4

41)

Florid

a’s Tu

rnpk

e

Southern Blvd.

The Mall at Wellington

Green

PALM BEACH PRIMARY CARE

ASSOCIATES

N

Shekhar V. Sharma, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

Diabetes Mellitus a silent malady

Diabetes Mellitus can be

defined as a disease

where an individual’s

overnight fasting blood

sugar is more than 125 mg.

Impaired blood sugar is defined as

blood sugar levels between 110

mg. and 125 mg. A diabetic can

only be diagnosed by the checking

of blood sugars. Diabetes Mellitus

is definitely a silent disease that

can hurt an individual without

their knowledge. In fact, one

could be totally unaware that one

has it most of the time. It is a

condition that could become

worse if left undiagnosed,

untreated, and mishandled. How

does one get Diabetes Mellitus?

One of the reasons is impairment

of insulin secretion from a group

of cells in the pancreas called the

‘islets of langerhans’.

One of the most common

symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus

is polyuria which means frequent

urination on a daily basis. Other

symptoms are excessive hunger

called polyphagia and excessive

thirst polydypsia when one

drinks a lot of water.

Failure to diagnose Diabetes

Mellitus can be due to various

reasons such as: individuals not

seeking medical attention, or the

physician not doing a simple

blood sugar level. Persons with

diabetes usually present

themselves to a physician feeling

good, with no symptoms.

Sometimes the individual may

say that they have blurry vision,

numbness of the extremity, and

feeling weak and fatigued.

Studies have shown that

complications of Diabetes

Mellitus, especially

microvascular disease (which

means blood vessel disease) has

a direct correlation with control

of one’s blood sugar.

Cardiovascular disease also

remains a leading cause of death

in Diabetes Mellitus Type II

individuals. Other risk factors

like hypertension, (which means

blood pressure) high cholesterol,

and obesity in Diabetes Mellitus

should be taken into

consideration in coordination

with good control of one’s blood

sugar.

Individuals with impaired fasting

blood sugar are at high risk for

the development of diabetes and

arterial disease. Approximately

one third of patients with

impaired blood sugar develop

full blown Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes Mellitus also runs in

families and family history is an

important indicator of this

disease. Complications of

Diabetes Mellitus are strokes,

heart attacks, kidney disease,

peripheral arterial disease,

especially of the lower

extremities and retinopathy of

the eyes which can lead to

blindness if left untreated.

Treatment for Diabetes Mellitus

is first of all DIET CONTROl -

controlling what you eat.

This way you can not only lose

weight but you can also control

your diabetes. Eating the right

foods and avoiding foods such as

high carbohydrate/starch, diet

and sweets with a high sugar

content is important. Reduction

of saturated fat intake and the

addition of high fiber in one’s

diet have become critically

important. Exercise has been

shown to be beneficial in the

prevention of the onset of

Diabetes Mellitus Type II. The

added benefits of exercise is

lowering of one’s blood pressure,

improving cardiac performance

and raising the good cholesterol

called HDl in the blood. If blood

sugars are still high despite diet

and exercise, I would

recommend a continuation of a

diet and exercise program along

with pharmaco therapy. There

are various ways of treating

Diabetes Mellitus with either

tablets or with insulin and blood

sugars can definitely be

contained.

We all need to be aware that

there is so much more to this

disease that is not understood by

the lay person. This is where the

physician who is well versed and

experienced in the disease steps

in and this can be beneficial to

any individual with Diabetes

Mellitus.

Dr. Sharma is Board Certified

in Internal Medicine and has

been in practice for 19 years in

the Western communities. His

office is located at 3347 State

Rd. 7 (2 miles south of the

Wellington Green Mall in the

Palomino Park Center) Suite

200, Wellington, Florida.

Please contact his office at

561-795-9087 for an

appointment.

Dr. Sharma's office in Belle Glade is at 1200 South Main Street,

Suite 100 (opposite the Old Glades GeneralHospital). Dr. Sharma will be seeing patients

at this location along with his nurse practitioner Grace VanDyk.

He is currently accepting New Patients

and the office accepts most insurances

Please call 561-996-7742for an appointment.


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7:00 PM*

MAR. 24

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Tips for KeepingYoung Athletes SafeDoctor's OK recommendedbefore kids start playingsports, expert says.

It's important to keep injury prevention

in mind as children begin spring sports

activities, says Dr. Steven Greer, of the

MCGHealth Sports Medicine Center in

Augusta, Ga.

He offers these tips for parents and children.

All children should undergo a physical ex-

amination before they participate in sports

programs. If they've been inactive for an ex-

tended period of time, they should begin

increasing their activity level several weeks

before they start team practices or game

play.

Hydration is crucial. Children should drink

16 ounces of water or a sports drink one to

two hours before play, another 7 to 10

ounces about 10 to 20 minutes before play,

and 6 to 8 ounces every 20 or 30 minutes

during play, Greer advises.

Before a practice or game, children should

warm up with light exercise for 5 to 10 min-

utes and then stretch. They should hold

stretches for at least 20 seconds and prefer-

ably 30 seconds.

Baseball, tennis, volleyball and certain other

sports often require repetitive movements

that can strain or tear muscles and tendons.

Exercises that specifically target these areas

can help reduce the risk of injury, Greer

says.

Appropriate, properly fitted safety gear is

necessary. Children who play sports that re-

quire a lot of running need well-cushioned

shoes that aid balance. A specialty fitness

store can help.

Young athletes should eat breakfast every

day and not skip meals. But eating too soon

before a workout or game can cause diges-

tive discomfort. Meals are best eaten about

three to four hours before exercise, while

small snacks, such as a banana, can be con-

sumed an hour to two before exercise, ac-

cording to Greer.

Pediatrics Group Offers Guidelines toKeep Young Campers Safe, Healthy

Involve kids in campselection, get med check-ups and discusshomesickness beforehand.

Updated guidelines to keep children

happy, safe and healthy when they

go to camp were released this week

by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

When deciding on a camp, parents should

consider their child's interests, skills and

overall well-being, to ensure their child can

effectively participate at a particular camp.

Parents also need to medically and men-

tally prepare their child for camp, and team

with their pediatrician and camp health

providers and administrators on a pre-camp

health evaluation of their child, the state-

ment recommends.

Homesickness is a common problem for

children at camp. Here are some tips to help

parents and children:

Involve children in choosing and preparing

for camps.

Have a positive attitude about the upcoming

camp experience and openly discuss home-

sickness.

Arrange for children to have practice trips or

sleepovers away from home with friends

or relatives.

Don't make pre-arranged pick-up plans.

These can cause children to question their

independence.

The statement also lists specific health poli-

cies and procedures that should be followed

by camp administrators. For example,

camps with emergency medical devices

such as automated external defibrillators,

epi-pens or inhalers should keep those de-

vices in easily accessible locations and en-

sure that medical staff are properly trained

in their use.

Camps should have an emergency manage-

ment plan for dealing with outbreaks of in-

fectious diseases and should promote good

hygiene/hand-washing habits among campers,

the statement said.

Camp food should follow federal guidelines

for school nutrition and food should never be

used as a reward or withheld as punishment.

Camps should schedule at least 30 minutes

of physical activity per day for children.

The policy statement, reviewed and sup-

ported by the American Camp Association,

appears in the issue of the journal Pedi-

atrics.


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Exercise Is Key for People With Arthritis: ExpertToo much sittingaround can worsenthe condition.

Exercise is a good way for

people with arthritis to con-

trol pain and improve phys-

ical function, says an expert.

"People who have arthritis are of-

ten scared to exercise because they

think they will hurt themselves,

but the condition will only get

worse if people don't get moving,"

Valerie Walkowiak, medical inte-

gration coordinator at the loyola

Center for Fitness in Maywood,

Ill., said in a news release.

"The best way to start is to talk to

your doctor about exercising and

then work with a therapist or per-

and decrease the risk of other dis-

eases.

About 50 million adults in the

United States have arthritis, ac-

cording to the U.S. Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention.

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent

form. It occurs when cartilage dete-

riorates, leaving nearby joints with

no cushion between bones. Many

people also suffer from rheumatoid

arthritis, which occurs when in-

flammation in the joint causes it to

lose shape and alignment.

The best type of exercise program

can depend which form of arthritis

a person has, but some workouts

benefit all patients.

All arthritis sufferers can benefit

from stretching to increase range

of motion around an affected joint,

Walkowiak said. "The type of

stretching one should do depends

on which joint is affected."

Arthritis sufferers may also want

to try light weights a few times a

week to build muscle strength and

low-impact aerobic exercise such

as walking.

"Start slow, with 10 to 15 minutes

of aerobic exercise every other

day, to see how it impacts your

body," Walkowiak said. "As your

body adapts to the new routine,

gradually increase duration to 30

to 45 minutes."

Other good exercises can include

water aerobics, stationary cycling,

gardening, swimming, yoga and

Tai-Chi.

sonal trainer to establish guide-

lines. Be proactive, and take it one

step at a time," she advised.

Exercise offers a number of bene-

fits for people with arthritis, in-

cluding: increasing muscle

strength and endurance to improve

joint stability; preserving and

restoring joint motion and flexi-

bility; and boosting aerobic con-

ditioning to improve mental health

other room, a new study finds.

The nicotine is from cigarette

smoke particles that impregnate

the parents' skin, clothes and hair,

which is known as "thirdhand

smoke," the Spanish researchers

explained.

The investigators analyzed hair

samples from 252 babies younger

than 18 months and interviewed

their parents about their smoking

habits. Seventy-three percent of

the parents said they smoked or

allowed smoking in their homes,

and 83 percent of the babies' hair

samples showed high levels of

nicotine.

The study also found that cigarette

smoke toxins are still present in

homes even when parents try to

take action to protect their chil-

dren's health, such as smoking by

a window, ventilating bedrooms

after smoking, or smoking when

the baby is in a different room or

not in the house.

"Passive smoking is the leading

preventable cause of childhood

death in developed countries,"

lead author Guadalupe Ortega said

in a Plataforma SINC news re-

lease.

The study is published in the jour-

nal BMC Public Health.

Spanish study foundnicotine levels ininfants' hair 3 timeshigher than thosewho slept elsewhere.

levels of nicotine in the hair

of infants who sleep in the

same room with parents

who smoke are three times higher

than in babies who sleep in an-

Babies Who Sleep in Smokers' Rooms Face 'Thirdhand' Smoke


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Freezing Wrinkles a PossibleAlternative to BotoxExperimentaltechnology uses cold,not neurotoxin,researchers say.

Anew technology that tem-

porarily zaps away fore-

head wrinkles by freezing

the nerves shows promise in early

clinical trials, researchers say.

The technique, if eventually ap-

proved by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration, could provide an

alternative to Botox and Dysport.

Both are injectable forms of Botu-

linum toxin type A, a neurotoxin

that, when injected in small quan-

tities, temporarily paralyzes facial

muscles, thereby reducing wrin-

kles.

"It's a toxin-free alternative to

treating unwanted lines and wrin-

kles, similar to what is being done

with Botox and Dysport," said

study co-author Francis Palmer,

director of facial plastic surgery

at the University of Southern Cal-

ifornia School of Medicine in los

Angeles. "From the early clinical

trials, this procedure -- which its

maker calls cryoneuromodulation

-- appears to have the same clini-

cal efficacy and safety comparable

to the existing techniques."

Palmer is also consulting medical

director of MyoScience, Inc., the

Redwood City, Calif.-based com-

pany developing the "cryotech-

nology."

The results of the clinical trials

were to be presented Friday at an

American Society for laser Med-

icine and Surgery (ASlMS) con-

ference in Grapevine, Texas.

To do the procedure, physicians

use small needles -- "cryoprobes"

-- to deliver cold to nerves run-

ning through the forehead, specif-

ically the temporal branch of the

frontal nerve, Palmer said. The

cold freezes the nerve, which in-

terrupts the nerve signal and re-

laxes the muscle that causes verti-

cal and horizontal forehead lines.

Although the nerve quickly returns

to normal body temperature, the

cold temporarily "injures" the

nerve, allowing the signal to re-

main interrupted for some period

of time after the patient leaves the

office.

The technique does not perma-

nently damage the nerve, Palmer

said.

Researchers said they are still re-

fining the technique and could not

say how long the effect lasts, but it

seems to be comparable to Botox,

which works for about three to

four months, Palmer said.

Physicians would need training to

identify the nerve that should be

targeted, he added.

The 15-minute treatment is done

using local anesthesia, according

to the researchers. The current

study only looks at forehead wrin-

kles; future research will study the

procedure elsewhere on the face,

Palmer said.

For the study, researchers tried the

technique on 31 people, all of

whom had fewer wrinkles after

two to eight injections. The most

common side effects were

headaches and skin redness. The

level of discomfort was compara-

ble to that from Botox or fillers,

Palmer said.

But unlike Botox, which takes a

few days to kick in, the effects of

the cryotechnology are seen im-

mediately, the researchers say.

Because this study was presented

at a medical meeting, the data and

conclusions should be viewed as

preliminary until published in a

peer-reviewed journal.

Palmer said he didn't see the new

technology as a replacement for

Botox, but instead as an alternative

for people who don't want an in-

jection of a neurotoxin.

The company will eventually seek

FDA approval as a medical de-

vice. Palmer said the company

might first seek approval in Eu-

rope.

Dr. Brian Zelickson, an associate

professor of dermatology at the

University of Minnesota in Min-

neapolis, said the technique

sounds promising, but needs more

research to determine how long

results last and to make sure no

lasting nerve or muscle injury oc-

curs that could cause permanent

changes in sensation.

He agreed that the toxin-free cos-

metic procedure might win some

followers.

"Botox and Dysport are very easy,

very quick, the patient satisfaction

profile is great and there are very

few side effects," said Zelickson,

incoming president of ASlMS.

"It's a high bar to leap over, but

there are some people that don't

like the concept of injecting Botu-

linum toxin into their bodies.

If there were a procedure that

could be done, that doesn't inject

any chemical into the system and

could yield the same results for

the same duration, there is a mar-

ket for that."

According to the American Soci-

ety for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery,

Botox and Dysport injections top

their list of nonsurgical proce-

dures.


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Medical Marijuana Might SlowThinking Among MS PatientsStudy suggests sideeffects couldsometimes outweighbenefits of painrelief.

As the debate over med-

ical marijuana use con-

tinues, a new study

among multiple sclero-

sis patients -- who often use the

drug to relieve pain and muscle

spasticity -- adds to the argument

that smoking pot clouds thinking

skills.

Canadian researchers studied two

groups of 25 people between the

ages of 18 and 65 with MS, an au-

toimmune disease that attacks the

central nervous system and can

lead to paralysis, cognitive prob-

lems, incontinence and a host of

other sensory and functional

deficits. One group used mari-

juana heavily, while the other

group reported no marijuana use

for many years.

Patients using pot performed sig-

nificantly worse on cognitive tests

measuring attention, thinking

speed, executive function and vi-

sual perception of spatial relation-

ships between objects, the study

authors said. Users were also twice

as likely to be classified as glob-

ally cognitively impaired, meaning

they failed at least two of 11 vari-

ous assessments.

The study is published in the issue

of Neurology.

"We published a paper a few years

back that said cannabis use in MS

patients might be linked to delays

in processing speed, but it was a

very small sample," said study au-

thor Dr. Anthony Feinstein, a pro-

fessor of psychiatry at the Univer-

sity of Toronto. "This confirms our

earlier impressions that cannabis

could, in fact, have some cognitive

side effects . . . but I'm surprised at

the breadth. We were thinking we

would probably replicate our earlier

findings, but it went beyond that."

Data suggests that between 36 per-

cent and 43 percent of MS patients

have smoked pot at some time, ac-

cording to the study, and "a sub-

stantial minority" find cannabis re-

lieves pain, insomnia, spasticity,

tremors, bladder problems and

emotional distress.

Between 40 percent and 60 per-

cent of MS patients are cognitively

impaired to begin with, Feinstein

added, but study participants using

marijuana scored about one-third

lower on a sensitive test of infor-

mation-processing speed than non-

users.

A total of 72 percent of users re-

ported smoking pot daily, while

24 percent reported weekly use.

The average duration of marijuana

use was 26 years, the study said.

"I would stop and think very care-

fully about cannabis use . . . it con-

cerns me that there's a movement

that cannabis can be used as a be-

nign drug," Feinstein said. "So I

would want to look at cannabis

very closely before using it. The

database is still small . . . there are

so many unanswered questions."

Feinstein noted that the study

could not conclude that pot use

causes clouded thinking, only that

the two were linked. He also could

not determine whether the slow-

downs in thinking among pot-us-

ing MS patients was any worse

than might be observed among

users without MS.

Nicholas laRocca, vice president

of healthcare delivery and policy

research for the National Multiple

Sclerosis Society, said the study

is "sort of a wake-up call about

the potential effects of long-term

and heavy use of marijuana in peo-

ple who have MS."

While the research could not be

randomized because scientists can-

not assign participants to ingest a

potentially harmful drug, he said,

the authors carefully matched the

user and control groups and the

cognitive evaluations done on both.

Clouded thinking "is a potentially

very devastating side effect,"

laRocca said. "It's a high price to

pay for whatever relief is being

provided. The important thing

about the study is it gives people

pretty solid information about the

risks they may be taking."

"Many people find the side effects

of a given drug are worse than the

symptoms," he added. "I think

we're looking at a very familiar

dilemma."

laughter and music not

only lift the mood, they

might also drop blood

pressure among middle-aged

adults, a new study suggests.

Japanese researchers divided 79

adults, aged 40 to 74, into three

groups, studying the effects of

one-hour music sessions every

two weeks on one group, laugh-

ter sessions on another group,

and no intervention for the re-

maining participants (the con-

trol group).

Blood pressure readings taken

immediately after the sessions

were 6 mm Hg lower in the mu-

sic group and 7 mm Hg lower

among the laughter participants

compared to measurements

taken just prior to the sessions,

the study authors said.

Improvements in blood pres-

sure were still seen three

months later, according to the

results.

No change in blood pressure

was recorded among partici-

pants who received neither in-

tervention.

"The [participants'] cortisol

level, a stress marker, decreased

just after the intervention ses-

sions," said lead author Eri

Eguchi, a public health re-

searcher at Osaka University's

Graduate School of Medicine

in Japan. "We think this is one

of the explanations for the phys-

iological processes."

The results of Eguchi's study

were scheduled for presentation

Friday at an American Heart As-

sociation conference in Atlanta.

The study does not show a direct

cause and effect, merely an as-

sociation. Also, experts say that

research presented at meetings is

considered preliminary because

it has not been subject to the ri-

gorous scrutiny required for pu-

blication in a medical journal.

For three months, music thera-

pists guided 32 participants in

listening to, singing and stretch-

ing with music. They were also

encouraged to listen to music at

home.

laughter sessions were led by

trained laughter yogis, with 30

participants performing laugh-

ter yoga -- a combination of

breathing exercises and laughter

stimulated through playful eye

contact -- and listening to

Rakugo, Japanese sit-down

comedy.

"We think yoga breathing may

play some role for lowering

blood pressure," Eguchi said,

noting that his team will exam-

ine the link in upcoming re-

search.

High blood pressure, or hyper-

tension, is linked to serious

health problems.

Laughter, Music May LowerBlood Pressure, Study SaysBut experts disagree on whether thefindings are meaningful.

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Documents

Global Health Tribune - April 2011 issue