RSS Channels IndexProfNet Wire: Health & Medicine: Impact of Hurricane Katrina
ROUND-UP: IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA (continued)
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**1. V. ALEX KEHAYAN, ED.D., and JOSEPH C. NAPOLI, M.D., authors of "Resiliency in the Face of Disaster and Terrorism: 10 Things to Do to Survive": "Hurricane Katrina created physical and mental stress. Devastation causes greater injury to psychological functioning, including natural distress, grief and traumatic stress reactions. There is risk for people to become depressed and/or self-medicate with alcohol and/or drugs. People with preexisting mental illness may relapse, since they don't have usual medications and support systems. People may be more likely to develop Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder, because the prolonged chaos interferes with getting help for stress disorders."
**2. REBECCA RENGO-KOCHER, strategic planning chair of the MISSOURI PAIN INITIATIVE, psychotherapist specializing in pain management and author of “Beyond the Pain: A Get-Well Guidebook for Soothing Chronic Pain of the Body, Mind and Spirit�: “Hurricane victims may have unmedicated chronic pain or pain from hurricane-related injuries. This complicates an already stressful and horrific situation. The psychological and physical impact of unmanaged pain is magnified by stress. In the absence of immediate medical help, pain management techniques, such as positive thinking, relaxation and visualization, can help reduce pain’s impact, increase overall coping and create long-term benefits. People must be reminded that they can use self-help techniques in times of trauma.�
**3. CURT DECKER, executive director of the NATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS NETWORK: "Individuals with disabilities were among the hardest hit groups by Hurricane Katrina. Due to serious health conditions and lack of a contingency plan, many were not able to evacuate before the storm made landfall. Hurricane Katrina also left a large number of people with newly acquired physical and mental afflictions."
**4. FLYNN WARREN, clinical professor at the College of Pharmacy at the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA: “The health impact of waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases will be immense in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Wet homes will retain mold as a surface for disease growth.� Warren was a pharmacist and head of pharmacy services at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 1977 to 1985. He received a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the University of South Carolina in 1964 and a master of science degree in hospital pharmacy at UGA in 1970.
**5. JAMES ROSENZWEIG, M.D., director of disease management programs at the JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER, is available to speak about the effects that Hurricane Katrina is having on people with diabetes due to the lack of medical supplies, food, water and other important medications: "National estimates indicate that 7.8 percent of the population in Louisiana and 9.8 percent of the population in Mississippi has diabetes, and it is important for all of those people to have access to diabetes supplies and food in order to avoid complications."
**6. SHARON CROWELL-DAVIS, D.V.M., Ph.D., animal behavior specialist at the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA's College of Veterinary Medicine: "As a result of their experiences with a traumatic event like Hurricane Katrina, many dogs and cats will develop anxiety-based behavior disorders, such as fear of storms and fear of being separated from their human caregivers. These problems are often treatable behavior modification, environmental modification, sometimes medication from the pet’s veterinarian."
**7. BRUNILDA NAZARIO, M.D., medical editor of WEBMD, spent three days at shelters in the Atlanta area. From her personal experiences in the field, Nazario can discuss the range of health issues facing the evacuees, including the risks of waterborne diseases, dehydration, infectious diseases at shelters and how to safeguard yourself against these risks. She can also discuss ways for health professionals to get involved, as well as share stories from the field.
ROUND-UP: BIRD FLU (continued)
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**1. RALPH TRIPP, Ph.D., professor of infectious diseases in the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA's College of Veterinary Medicine: "Today, conditions are far more favorable to the spread of flu. With high population densities and ease of air travel around the world, a bird flu outbreak could spread to virtually every city in the world in a matter of a few days."
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LEADS
**1. HEALTH: AVOID BACK PAIN WHEN RAKING THIS FALL. RACHEL FRANLIN, DC, assistant professor at NORTHWESTERN HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY: "Raking may seem like a simple outdoor chore, but raking improperly could cause upper or lower back strain and neck and shoulder pain. If not properly warmed up, muscles can be injured by the twisting, turning, bending and reaching required while raking. Like any athletic endeavor, raking can cause injury if you don’t warm up or if you use improper body mechanics. While few people consider raking to be a hobby, it is an inevitable part of homeownership. When raking, legs, buttocks, stomach, arms, shoulders, neck and back all get a workout. And, like any exercise, raking requires stretching as a warm-up and the use of proper form.�
**2. HEALTH: FIVE FERTILITY FACTS. MARK P. LEONDIRES, medical director with REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATES OF CT and a leading reproductive endocrinologist, shares his "top five" list of requirements for pregnancy, and points out simple ways women can self-assess their level of function in those areas: " 1) The biological clock is real. 2) What's your cycle? 3) Check your tubes. 4) Timing is (almost) everything. Up to 20 percent of couples miscalculate the optimal time for conception. 5) Sometimes, it's a male thing. Up to 40 percent of fertility-challenged couples encounter a male factor."
**3. HEART DISEASE: NEW TREATMENT MAY REDUCE DAMAGE TO BLOOD VESSELS. JERRY NADLER, M.D., chief of the UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA HEALTH SYSTEM's Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, authored a study on the metabolic syndrome, a dangerous combination of pre-diabetes and heart-disease factors that affects up to 25 percent of the population. Nadler and other researchers studied biological pathways that affect inflammation in blood vessels that could lead to severe heart disease. Their findings, published in the Aug. 23 issue of the American Journal of Physiology â€" Endocrinology and Metabolism, includes promising results with lisofylline, a novel anti-inflammatory agent that blocked a detrimental genetic pathway and significantly reduced damage to blood vessels: "If the results can be translated to humans, agents that reduce chronic inflammation may help keep blood vessels free of atherosclerosis and reduce cardiovascular disease in people who have metabolic syndrome and possibly diabetes."
**4. PUBLIC HEALTH: PREGNANT TEENS OFTEN LACK PROPER RESOURCES, EDUCATION. LORETHA WEISINGER, doula at PROJECT HOPE-MARILLAC HOUSE, uses all of her experience, patience, compassion and humor to teach “her girls� about everything from the importance of breastfeeding and reading to their babies, to communicating effectively with health care professionals and finishing school: "Nearly one out of every 10 births in the United States is to a teenager, who often lacks the resources, education and support system necessary to provide a healthy future for her child." Weisinger, featured in the documentary "A Doula Story," can talk about how community-based doula programs can help pregnant teens, and can share her personal experiences in the Chicago program.
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