Here are some interesting facts found while looking for something else.
1. Elderly falls: Every year, about 1 out of every 3 people over age 65 will fall at least once. A new study of 301 people over age 70 shows that prevention strategies can help. Half of the participants were taught exercises to improve their balance and to strengthen the arm and leg muscles that are used to get up and down from chairs, bathtubs and the toilet. Grab bars, nonskid mats and raised toilet seats were provided as well. People who were taking sedatives or other medications that affected their balance had their prescriptions adjusted, if needed. In the following year, 35 percent of these people still had a fall. However, this was lower than the 47 percent fall rate experienced by the other participants, who did not receive any preventative training.2. Hearing aid batteries: The tiny button batteries used in hearing aids may pose a threat to elderly people with limited manual dexterity or reduced mental function. Many elderly people are confused about the workings and positioning of the new, small, in-the-ear hearing aids. In medical literature, three cases in which elderly people mistook a button battery for their hearing aid and inserted the battery into the ear. Because batteries can leak an extremely corrosive solution, this can be a medical emergency. In all three cases, the victims were confused and did not realize what was causing their ear discomfort. Two or more weeks went by before the cause was discovered.
3. Heart attack: Coronary artery disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans. Heart attacks account for about one-third of these coronary artery disease deaths. However, new treatments, such as clot-dissolving drugs and beta-blocking drugs, have reduced the overall death rate. This was found in a recent survey of more than 110,000 heart attack patients treated in Ontario, Canada, from 1981 to 1991. During that decade, there was an overall 27 percent reduction in deaths among hospitalized heart attack patients. Improvements for women and elderly patients were even greater.
4. Back pain: Back pain may be an early symptom of heart disease in men under age 50, according to a recent study from Finland. Heart disease deaths were studied during a 13-year period in 8,816 men and women age 30 to 66, who were healthy at the start of the study. Men from age 30 to 49 who reported having back pain at the start of the study were four times more likely to die of heart attack disease than men who had no back pain. This relationship was not seen in women or in men over age 50. Back pain is sometimes caused by poor blood flow in the lower back area. Increasing blockages in the arteries may be the cause of poor blood flow not only in this area, but also in vessels that supply blood to the heart.
5. Iron poisoning: Did you know that iron is the most common cause of poisoning deaths in children younger than age 6? Part of the problem is that most iron pills look like little red candies. Also, parents think of iron as a dietary supplement, like a vitamin. Since it is sold without a prescription, they may not realize it can be dangerous. In fact, taking just ten 300-milligram tablets of ferrous sulfate (a common iron supplement) can kill a toddler. The American Association of Poison Control Centers recommends that iron be made a prescription drug. Until that happens, parents should keep iron supplements out of sight, out of children's reach and tightly closed with a child-resistant cap.
6. Hand washing: Infections can easily be transmitted from one patient to many others via the hands of health-care workers. To prevent this, doctors, nurses and other care-givers should wash their hands before and between all patient contacts. However, recent studies show that health-care workers often fail to do this, even in emergency rooms and intensive care units where patients are severely ill. According to the report in the medical journal, Lancet, patients should protect themselves by asking doctors and nurses to wash their hands, if this has not been done in their presence.
7. Latex allergies: Anyone who has ever developed a skin irritation after using natural rubber latex gloves should mention this to the doctor before undergoing medical or dental treatment. Allergic reactions to latex in surgical gloves and medical equipment can cause serious problems in sensitive people. In a new study, these researchers found that some national brands of surgical examination gloves have low allergen levels, but private labels were more likely to have high allergen levels. Some hospitals are aware of this problem and are switching to safer brands.