PROFNET WIRE: HEALTH & LIVING: Safety of Cold Medicine for Kids
Oct. 5, 2007
_______ROUNDUP
Safety of Cold Medicine for Kids (17 experts)
_____LEADS
1. Health: Safe Candy-Consumption Tips When Trick-or-Treating2. Health: State of the Health Care Industry3. Health: Innovative Alternative to Relieve Chronic Knee Pain4. Health: Holiday Heart Health5. Health: Earwax and Hearing Aids Don't Mix6. Health: Avoiding Cold and Flu7. Relationships: Singles Around the Holidays
**1. HEALTH: SAFE CANDY-CONSUMPTION TIPS WHEN TRICK-OR-TREATING. YOUNG-JIN SUE, M.D., expert in emergency medicine at the CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT MONTEFIORE in New York, can talk about various safe candy-consumption tips when trick-or-treating for Halloween: "Some strategies I've used include: flattening jelly beans into low-risk patties and cutting up gummy bears into smaller pieces, or crumbling sour candies into small pebble-size crumbs. Safe eating habits should be stressed. Always eat while sitting still. Chew single pieces carefully -- don't stuff the mouth to overflowing. Portion control is key -- avoid gorging on the tasty Halloween 'take.'"
**2. HEALTH: STATE OF THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY: NEW COST ENVIRONMENT/HOSPITAL CLAIMS. GREG LARCHER, director and actuary of AON GLOBAL RISK CONSULTING and author of the Aon Corporation 2007 Hospital Professional Liability and Physician Liability Benchmark Analysis: "Hospital claims are at their lowest levels in nearly a decade and, for the third straight year, there has been no increase in the frequency of claims. I expect many hospitals to realize lower liability expense in 2008 as they adjust to the new cost environment." Larcher can discuss the state of the health care industry, as well as the patient-safety initiatives that are linked to reductions in obstetrics and emergency department claims.
**3. HEALTH: INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVE TO RELIEVE CHRONIC KNEE PAIN. KEITH BEREND, M.D., founding physician of NEW ALBANY SURGICAL HOSPITAL in Ohio: "Chronic knee pain is becoming a more common complaint among today's active, but aging, baby boomer population, preventing them from taking part in the activities they love, such as gardening, sports and travel. The Oxford partial knee system is an innovative surgery where only the damaged material from the knee joint is replaced. The result is a reduction in pain, the preservation of healthy bone and a more rapid recovery process." New York metro-area reporters are invited to view an Oxford partial knee-replacement surgery conducted live via satellite at an upcoming Biomet Oxford partial knee surgeon's training session, to be held Oct. 5 in New York City. The Oxford procedure requires a special training and certification. Berend, one of the first surgeons in the country to be trained on the procedure, will perform the live surgery during the training session.
**4. HEALTH: HOLIDAY HEART HEALTH. SANDRA MARIN, M.P.H., is a registered dietitian and is available to provide holiday health action plans to help Americans incorporate heart-healthy foods into their favorite seasonal meals, offer simple winter-weather workout tips and discuss what natural cholesterol-lowering options are available when diet and exercise aren't enough: "As the holiday and cold weather seasons approach, Americans may begin to drink more alcoholic beverages, get less exercise and eat richer, less heart-healthy foods, which may all negatively impact the heart." Marin can also discuss the results of a recent New England Journal of Medicine study that showed a proactive approach to one's heart health could significantly reduce the risk of heart disease-related deaths.
**5. HEALTH: EARWAX AND HEARING AIDS DON'T MIX. MICHAEL ELLIS, M.D., a practicing, board-certified otolaryngologist and a clinical professor of otolaryngology at the LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY Medical School: "Earwax buildup is the cause of an estimated 60 to 80 percent of hearing aid repairs, which can impact a person socially and financially and, possibly, compromise the safety of those men and women who rely on aids to hear properly. Earwax is a perfectly normal occurrence in ear canals. It is produced in the external portion of the canal, and it consists of a variety of substances, including sweat and oil from cerumen glands in the ear canal and skin that naturally exfoliates from the ear canal. Unfortunately, when someone inserts a hearing aid in the ear canal, this prevents the wax from exiting the canal naturally, and this 'perfectly normal occurrence' can produce problems in hearing aids and sometimes cause earwax blockages. It is important for those who wear hearing aids to keep their ears clean in order to promote the optimal usage of their hearing devices, especially if their ears produce excessive amounts of earwax. And, while it is important for those with chronic earwax to have a blockage removed by a physician, there is a new, safe, preventative product available in the U.S. that provides a safe method to keep earwax buildup at bay." Ellis is available to discuss the dos and don'ts of regular ear cleaning to ensure optimum ear health, as well as the negative effects associated with earwax blockages.
**6. HEALTH: AVOIDING COLD AND FLU. PAPATYA TANKUT, R.Ph., vice president of pharmacy professional services at CVS/PHARMACY, is an expert on cold and flu: "The best way to avoid getting the flu is to get vaccinated each year. It's also important to prevent the spread of germs through frequent hand washing, disinfecting surfaces, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick. If you do get sick, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the best medication to manage your symptoms." Recent reports suggest that only a fraction of people who need flu shots are getting them. The Centers for Disease Control recommends a yearly flu vaccination, especially for people ages 50 and older and people with chronic diseases. CVS/pharmacy is helping to provide access to flu shots by offering vaccinations in over 4,000 stores. Tankut can offer tips on how best to manage cold and flu symptoms, on buying over-the-counter cold and flu medicine, and preventing drug interactions, as well as comment on the benefits of getting a flu vaccination.
**7. RELATIONSHIPS: SINGLES AROUND THE HOLIDAYS. IAN KERNER, Ph.D., FAACS, is a relationship expert and published author known as "The Sex-Doctor to Generations X & Y": "The holidays are a stressful time that can be particularly hard for singles. Some common pitfalls include dealing with meddling relatives and co-workers, surviving a holiday breakup and managing first dates/new romance at such a busy time of year. Still, singles can keep their spirits up by programming quality time with friends and family, treating themselves to an indulgent gift or simply enjoying the spirit of the season."
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