HEALTH/FITNESS

Northeast Ohio Health and Medical Consumer News

MetroHealth to study lead exposure's link to menopause

by Angela Townsend

Tuesday October 14, 2008, 12:51 AM

Because of Cleveland's aging housing stock and history of industry, researchers at MetroHealth Medical Center decided to focus on the city's residents for an early-phase study to see whether prolonged lead exposure leads to premature menopause.

People are typically at risk of lead exposure when paint or other materials containing lead cracks and chips over time or during home renovations, getting into the air or dirt. But lead also can get into a person's bloodstream through some imported foods and constant exposure to other products containing lead.

For children who are especially at risk from living in older homes with lead paint, research already has shown a strong correlation between elevated levels of lead in the bloodstream and IQ loss, learning disabilities and neurobehavioral impairments.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Survey shows people don't pick up on Alzheimer's signs

by Brie Zeltner/Plain Dealer Reporter

Monday October 13, 2008, 5:04 PM

Family usually knows best if a loved one's memory lapses are a normal part of aging or unusual enough to warrant a trip to the doctor.

But many people have a hard time picking out the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and very often will not follow through with a trip to the doctor when they do realize there's a problem, a new survey shows.

About 1,000 people over age 55 -- 170 of them in Cleveland -- filled out an online survey this summer, answering questions about Alzheimer's disease. The survey, sponsored by drug companies Pfizer and Eisai, was commissioned by Alzheimer's Screening Discussion Group, a group of experts in the disease and senior health.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

New study finds glucosamine and chondroitin don't slow cartilage loss

by Brie Zeltner

Monday October 13, 2008, 1:38 PM

Two of the most popular supplements thought to help with the pain and joint damage associated with osteoarthritis have lost some more of their luster after another study concluded they don't work any better than a sugar pill at halting the destruction of cartilage.

Glucosamine and chondroitin, natural substances found in cartilage and usually sold together, were tested in a two-year study paid for by the National Institutes of Health, a follow-up to a 2006 study of 1,600 people that examined the supplements' performance in fighting the pain of arthritis.

The 2006 study, called the glucosamine/chondroitin arthritis intervention trial, or GAIT, was the largest controlled clinical trial of the effectiveness of the two dietary supplements. It compared each supplement on its own and the two combined together against the pain-fighting abilities of a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for osteoarthritis, Celebrex.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Preventive surgery for breast, ovarian cancer?

by Chris Seper

Monday October 13, 2008, 2:03 AM

Many women who discover they have the genetic mutations known as BRCA1 or BRCA2 consider preventative surgery to avoid breast or ovarian cancer.

Last week, Dr. Georgia Wiesner of University Hospitals Case Medical Center discussed how these genetic mutations are passed on, and how to determine whether it's wise to test for BRCA1 and BRCA2.

In today's Health Tips, Wiesner says preventive surgery is worth considering for those with genetic mutations favoring breast or ovarian cancer. But she also says chemopreventive drugs are another option to address breast cancer.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Pediatricians double daily dosage guideline of vitamin D

by From staff and wire reports

Monday October 13, 2008, 12:00 AM

Most parents would love to see their child happy to drink milk, but experts say it will be hard to get children to drink the new recommended amount without supplements.

The nation's leading pediatricians group says that millions of children will need daily supplements to get enough vitamin D - double the current recommended amount.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, citing mounting evidence that the sunshine vitamin may help prevent serious disease, is recommending 400 units to babies and children alike.

Dr. Nora Singer, a pediatric rheumatologist at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland, said the new guideline is the most cost-effective way to address the problem of widespread deficiency in the vitamin, which is found in fortified milk, breast milk and infant formula.

Singer will make sure all of her patients get 400 units daily, she said. Many patients she screened for vitamin D levels during flare-ups of unrelated disease were deficient, she said.

Baby formula is already supplemented with the vitamin, so infants getting enough formula usually don't need more. The academy recommends breast-feeding for at least the first year of life. But if the mother is low in vitamin D, her breast milk can be deficient.

Most commercially available milk is fortified with vitamin D, but many children and teens don't drink enough - four cups daily is needed - to meet the new requirement, said Dr. Frank Greer, the report's co-author.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Cuyahoga County's adult guardianship program faces cutbacks

by Molly Kavanaugh

Sunday October 12, 2008, 2:15 PM

Lisa DeJong/The Plain DealerSarah Beech had no money when she died, but Adult Guardianship Services made sure she had a funeral. Barbara Matlak, left, volunteer manager of the program, got companies to donate a casket and vault for the 89-year-old woman, who has had a guardian through the program for four years. Debbie Sassano, right, with Hospice of the Western Reserve, and Beech's guardian, Lisa Spatny, not shown, attended the funeral earlier this month.

Sarah Beech was 85, poor and alone when Spatny became her guardian through the nonprofit Adult Guardianship Services program. Beech had a plot at Riverside Cemetery, purchased years ago when her boyfriend died. She wanted to be buried at Riverside and did not want to be cremated, a service the county will perform for free.

When Beech died a few weeks ago, Spatny contacted her program manager, Barbara Matlak, for help. Matlak arranged to have an entire funeral paid for through donations.

But that kind of care, for people with memory impairment and without family, might face cutbacks.

The nonprofit program, which celebrates its 20th anniversary next year, faces a burgeoning caseload and, probably, less funding, Director Linda Proffitt said.

Last year the agency assigned volunteer guardians to almost 600 people; five years ago the caseload was 400. Proffitt has added staff and volunteers but not nearly enough to keep up with the demand.

The increase in need is due to longer life expectancy and a larger elderly population. The organization also expanded its mission in 1999 to include people under 60 who are alone and incompetent, often because of mental illness or chronic substance abuse. These men and women, some as young as 18, usually have more-complex problems and require a guardian longer.

Post a comment | View comments (1)

Medical radio: Johns Hopkins Medicine News Roundup

by Chris Seper

Friday October 10, 2008, 3:33 PM

This week's Johns Hopkins Medicine News Roundup is up, discussing the latest in medical research and treatment.

Listen to the report below and check in to the Medical Radio section on the right-hand side that offers the Hopkins News Roundup and other medical broadcasts.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Health Tip of the Week: Diabetes advice for men

by Diane Suchetka/Plain Dealer Reporter

Friday October 10, 2008, 12:03 PM

You can get free help from the Men's Health Section of American Diabetes Association via its Modern Man's Guide to Living Well With Diabetes (pdf).

Post a comment | View comments (0)