Friday February 10, 2012
A class of popular heartburn drugs might lead to severe diarrhea, according to the FDA.
Clostridium difficile (C. diff to its friends) is a bacteria that causes really severe diarrhea (among other things). We sometimes get exposed to it, but the good bacteria in our guts often called the healthy flora (a really cool term if you ask me) competes with C. diff and keeps it under control.
Most of the time, C. diff is unleashed by antibiotic use. The antibiotics kill most bacteria, including the stuff we want to keep. Without competition, C. diff is allowed to flourish and cause a serious infection.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI's) are the type of heartburn drug associated with a greater chance of C. diff infection. PPI's are those drugs that stop heartburn before it starts by decreasing stomach acids rather than trying to neutralize acid like other heartburn medications do.
Nobody quite knows why PPI's lead to more C. diff infections. But the evidence suggesting a link is growing.
For now, the FDA is recommending caution especially in those folks who use proton pump inhibitors a lot.
Wednesday February 8, 2012
Using mobile apps to save lives seems a bit lofty sometimes. The apps aren't always the panacea their marketing folks claim they are, but every once in a while an idea comes along that really makes sense.
Flashy signs are definitely better than hiding an AED in the closet
(c) Tim Boyle/Getty Images
MyHeartMap is that kind of idea. Using a social network connected by apps for multiple smart phone platforms, MyHeartMap is mapping AED's for use in emergencies. There's no way to really know where all AED's are located right now -- nobody has an easily updated registry that we could tap into in an emergency.
This idea is different. The AED's in this registry aren't submitted by the owners; they're submitted by the public. What if we had an AED registry that could be accessed on your smart phone when an emergency occurs? You could click on a single button that says "Find Nearest AED" and have your smart phone give you directions to the nearest known AED complete with a picture of it so you can find it easier.
I've been collecting photos of AEDs for years here at About.com. My goal is to show how different AED placards and colors can be around the country and around the world. Something like this would be one way to help fight those discrepencies.
Right now this whole idea is in the research phase. Indeed, there isn't an app...yet. University of Pennsylvannia is conducting a challenge to find as many AED's as possible in Philadelphia County. Participants find AED's and snap a picture, then send it to UPenn. Whoever finds the most AED's (team or individual) gets $10,000.
Ten grand! I think I need to go to Philly.
The contest is already underway. For more information, go to www.MyHeartMap.org.
Want to see pictures of AED's so you know what to expect? Visit the AED Picture Gallery. You can also share an AED picture of your own.
Wednesday February 1, 2012
A study published in the journal Microbiology is touting the antimicrobial properties of manuka honey. Honey has long been known to be an antiseptic agent but this particular study looked at honey's ability to fight strep infections, a hardy adversary for sure.
Manuka honey is made from bees that get their nectar from the manuka tree. Is it any different than other types of honey? I don't know, but I doubt it's significantly different.
Does this mean you should slather honey all over your next cut? Well, maybe. Ancient cultures did it. I would do it if I got a cut out in the wilderness -- assuming I packed honey. Of course, it makes total sense to pack honey if you go hiking into the woods, considering you can eat it if you get hungry or use it to protect you from infection if you get hurt.
I'm a science guy and I truly believe we should be testing our theories. On the other hand, there's nothing I like to see more than science supporting a practice that ancient healers figured out long before they had the ability to do double-blind trials.
Monday January 30, 2012
A fourth grade student in Utah showed how important it is to keep a cool head and respond appropriately in an emergency. The Daily Herald reported that Carter Helt is a hero after performing the Heimlich maneuver on his best friend, Gary Anderson.
Gary was choking on a jawbreaker he received as a reward for being a good student. Carter saw his friend choking and spun him around. Carter wrapped his arms around Gary and pushed up on his friend's diaphragm, twice. On the second push, the jawbreaker popped out.
Besides showing how competent a 10 year old can be, this story illustrates another important point: people don't do the "universal choking sign" as advertised by first aid organizations everywhere.
If you've ever taken a CPR class, you learned the Heimlich maneuver (also known as abdominal thrusts) as a way to treat someone with a foreign object stuck in the airway. One of the things you were likely taught -- especially if your class included a video portion -- was that choking victims will give the universal choking sign (both hands to the throat).
I say there's no such thing.
One of my daughters choked on a piece of food at dinner one night. She was about 7 or 8 years old. When she couldn't breathe she got scared and started hopping up and down. Her face turned blue nearly immediately. Before I could react she dislodged it on her own. The whole thing lasted only a few seconds, but it was really frightening.
In this story, Gary reacted the same way to having a jawbreaker in his throat. He started banging on the table and his face turned colors. It's a good thing Carter was there.
Think your kid is too young to learn CPR? I doubt it. All it takes is to keep your head and react like Carter. Any age can save a life. He's a perfect role model for kids and adults alike. Great job Carter!
