Health ShortsDecember 2006Smoking Speeds Aneurysm Growth
Cramming for Exams? Rest Is Best Most university students know what it’s like to “pull an all-nighter.” But is caffeine the best companion for exam preparation? Caffeine, though it increases general alertness, does not improve mental performance. Recent studies have confirmed that rest is a more reliable study partner. Sleep is necessary for memory consolidation; sleep deprivation can significantly impair performance either at work or on exams. According to Matthew P. Walker, “Adequate sleep before and after a training session [is] essential for learning, whether the task [is] tennis or algebra.” [SOURCE: Matthew P. Walker, “Sleep To Remember: The Brain Needs Sleep Before and After Learning New Things, Regardless of the Type of Memory,” American Scientist, July-August, 2006] Coffee: The Unfiltered Truth In the market for a new coffee pot? You may want to consider a drip model. Coffee contains antioxidants, many of which have significant health benefits. Other constituents, such as the lipids cafestol and kahweol, may not be so beneficial. These constituents, which have been shown to raise blood cholesterol, are present in high concentrations in boiled coffee but are mostly eliminated by coffee filters. [SOURCE: “Caffeine,” Biological Sciences Review, November, 2001] Will Caffeine Raise Your BP? Though caffeine consumption is known to raise blood pressure, it’s unclear whether it plays a role in the development of hypertension. Recent studies found no association between increased caffeine consumption (through coffee and tea) and the risk of hypertension in women. While no increased risk was detected in habitual drinkers of coffee and tea, a significant association was shown with consumption of cola beverages, including sugared and diet versions. [SOURCE: David Slawson, “Effect of Caffeine Intake on Risk of Hypertension,” American Family Physician, March 15, 2006] Caffeine–High or Low Octane? The average American consumes about 200 milligrams of caffeine (the equivalent of about two cups of coffee) a day from various sources–coffee, tea, cocoa, colas, energy drinks, chocolate and over-the-counter medications. Caffeine concentration varies, even between different strains of coffee bean. Arabica beans, grown mostly in Latin America, have about one percent caffeine; robusta beans, grown mainly in Africa and Indonesia, have about twice that much. Estimated caffeine content from various sources:
A Cup of Java for the Road? When you’ve had too much to drink after the office party, what you need is a sober driver or a taxi cab to get you home. A cup of coffee will make you more alert and may keep you from falling asleep at the wheel, but it will not improve your motor coordination nor your ability to drive a motor vehicle. [SOURCE: NDARC, “Caffeine Fact Sheet] Steroid Injection May Help Tennis Elbow Strenuous gripping plus repetitive wrist and forearm motions can result in sports injuries known as tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. In most cases, the best treatment is rest, ice and use of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen. When the pain lingers, a doctor may use a corticosteroid injection for quick, sustained relief. To reduce the risk of rupturing a tendon, injections are usually limited to two or three a year, given at least four months apart. [SOURCE: Deanna Sanchez-Yamamoto and Thomas M. Bush, “Corticosteroids Often Relieve Symptoms When Other Treatments Do Not–Injection Therapy for Bursitis and Tendinitis,” The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine, October 1, 2006] High-Dose Steroids Raise Stroke Risk A recent study of nearly 8,000 older adults in the Netherlands found that those taking high doses of corticosteroids such as prednisone for treatment of asthma, arthritis or other disorders had nearly a six-fold increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a rhythm disturbance of the heart. Atrial fibrillation in turn increases the risk of stroke and heart failure. [SOURCE: Deborah Kaplan, “High-Dose Corticosteroids May Increase Stroke Risk,” Patient Care for the Nurse Practitioner, July, 2006] Nation of Safe Drivers, Could Be Safer The United States is a relatively safe nation in which to drive with only one traffic fatality (drunk or sober) for every 50 million miles traveled. And alcohol-related fatalities are declining, representing about 39 percent of the total today compared to 60 percent in 1982. Yet at a blood alcohol content of .08, the legal limit in all states, a driver is 11 times more likely to have an accident than a person who has not been drinking. Of 18,000 traffic fatalities that occur each year, every single one could have been prevented. [SOURCE: David J. Hanson, Ph.D., “Drinking and Driving,” Sociology Department, State University of New York, 2005] Students Frequently Drink and Drive A survey of full-time college students revealed that 29 percent had driven an automobile after consuming alcohol and 10 percent had driven after having five or more drinks. About 23 percent said they had ridden with a driver who was either drunk or high. Those most likely to engage in unsafe drinking and driving practices were Euro-Americans from large schools in the South and North-Central United States. [SOURCE: “Drinking and Driving among College Students: The Influence of Alcohol-Control Policies,” Journal of American College Health, January-February, 2005] DUI Rehab Works Better than Jail When a person with a high blood alcohol content (BAC) is involved in an automobile collision, the public is understandably inclined to demand a long jail or prison sentence. Studies indicate, however, that the fear of jail or prison is more of a deterrent to light than heavy or problem drinkers. A meta-analysis of more than 200 studies concluded that DUI rehabilitation programs were more effective than traditional criminal justice approaches, resulting in a seven to nine percent reduction in repeat alcohol-related crashes. [SOURCE: Scott McDonald, et al, “Driving Behavior of Alcohol, Cannabis, and Cocaine Abuse Treatment Clients and Population Controls,” American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, May, 2004; David J. Hanson, Ph.D., “Drinking and Driving,” Sociology Department, State University of New York, 2005] Driving Under the Influence of Pot Use of marijuana prior to driving increases the risk of an accident, although apparently not as much as alcohol consumption. However, about 90 percent of subjects in one study said they were willing to drive after smoking marijuana. According to subjects, cannabis users were more aware of being high and, while driving, were more likely to try to compensate for their impairment. [SOURCE: Jason C. Laberge, et al, “Cannabis and Driving–Research Needs and Issues for Transportation Policy,” Journal of Drug Issues, Fall, 2004] New Idea for Treating Food Allergies A new approach for treating food allergies now being studied involves gradually re-introducing the problem food, starting with minute quantities. In one of these pilot studies, children allergic to peanuts were initially given the equivalent of 1/3000th of a peanut per day. By the end of six months most were able to eat a peanut a day with little or no reaction. It’s hoped that increasing tolerance to the problem food will help eliminate life-threatening emergencies. Doctors warn that this is not an approach to try at home. [Salynn Boyles, “Treating Allergies with Alergic Food,” WebMD Medical News, November 28, 2006] | ArchiveAugust 2008 |
The information on this site is intended to increase your awareness and understanding of specific health issues. It should not be used for diagnosis or as a substitute for health care by your physician. | |
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