gethealthy

Have you heard of Clostridium difficile?  If not, you may want to read up on it.  This serious and life threatening bacteria is becoming increasingly  more common in American hospitals than was previously thought.

Clostridium difficile Infection of (CDI) can cause diarrhea and many other more serious intestinal conditions.  It is estimated that it may be affecting 13 out of every 1,000 hospital patients in America. The rate of infection for this condition is 6.5 to 20 times greater than was previously thought.  This should alert healthcare workers about the importance of better hygiene and to use more caution when issuing antibiotics.

It is estimated that 7,200 hospital patients in America have CDI every day.  This rate will only increase as the population continues to age and become weaker.  CDI can be quite dangerous; in some people they may only have diarrhea but some may experience bowel perforation that requires surgery, shock, or even death.

Federal authorities are touting the safety of infant formulas that have been found to have trace amounts of melamine in it.  Despite statements that there were trace amounts of this chemical found in baby formula the FDA stands by its statement that the levels are safe.

However, last month they stated that they were unaware of a safe limit for infants to be exposed to malamine.  A top official was even quoted as saying it would be a “dangerous overreaction” to stop feeding infants this formula who depend on it.

Dr. Stephen Sundlor, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition stated that the levels they found were very very low and that parents should not be worried about changing the diet of their infants, but should continue to feed them the same product, as it is in the best interest of the babies.

Fox News recently ran a story about a Phoenix, AZ woman.  Doctors thought she had a tumor near her brain stem, turns out….it was a worm.

Rosemary Alvarez began feeling strange and rather ill, experiencing numbness in her arm and blurred vision.  At one point it was so bad, she could barely get out of bed.  Twice, she visited the ER and had catscans done, but they appeared to be clear.

Then on the first day of school, she felt particularly ill and was taken via ambulance to the ER.  When she arrived they performed a MRI, which at first seemed clear as well.   However, on closer inspection, doctor’s found something a bit disturbing.  They saw what appeared to be a  cancerous tumor deep in her brainstem.

Soon, Rosemarie was being prepped and wheeled in for surgery.  Doctors performing the surgery were expecting to remove a tumor, when they found a worm.  Yes, a worm. They were able to remove the worm and don’t feel that Mrs. Alvarez will suffer any long-term health issues because of it.

But, where or how would she get a worm in her brain?  Apparently this species of worm is often found in undercooked pork.  More than likely, Mrs. Alvarez was dining out and came in contact with someone else infested by the worm.  This person, may not have washed their hands properly before serving food and passed the worm on to others.

Apparently there have been multiple reports of worm infestation in Pheonix, AZ.  In the past few months, the same doctor who removed Rosemary’s worm, has removed 5 others.

A new study released information that those who live with smokers are more likely to live in a home with unhealthy foods.  About 17% of children who live in smoking homes do not get enough healthy food and about 26% of adults had an unhealthy diet when living with a smoker.

Researchers from the NY University School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital center have concluded that when living in a smoking household; children and adults are more likely to be underfed than those who do not live with a smoker.  The results of this study were published in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine in the November 3rd edition.This experiment examined 8,817 homes.  Those who lived in the home were either smoking adults living with children ages 17 or under or non-smoking adults who lived with smoking adults.  Each home was analyzed for a 3 year period from 1999 - 2000.  These home were found to have less food available for those in the home than homes of non-smokers.

This means that each home lacked access to enough food in a socially acceptable way year round.  This was measured using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Security Survey Module, which is a scale that measures how often a home cannot supply children with food that they desire, how many meals are skipped by the children, and how man of them go to bed hungry.
The study concluded that 23% of the households analyzed that had children had at least one smoking adult, and it revealed a higher percentage of smokers in the low-income ranges at 32%.

If you are a smoker, today is the day to quit!

Today is the Great American Smokeout, launched in 1977 by the American Cancer Society.  Occurring on the 3rd Thursday in November, this day was designed to give those wanting to put down the pack some support.

On this day each year, smokers attempt what may seem to them as impossible - quit.  The challenge is to give up smoking for at least 24 hours in an attempt to quit for good.

The concept of quitting nationwide came 22 years following the U.S. Surgeon General’s report that presented a link between tobacco use and lung cancer, low birth weight, and heart disease.  Originally thought up by Lynn Smith, an editor from MN and former smoker.  He wrote articles in the 70s urging others to stop smoking.  He also organized a local event labeled, “D-Day,” or “Don’t Smoke Day” in 1976.  A year later the California section of the American Cancer Society organized The Great American Smokeout.
 In subsequent years, the Smokeout has encouraged millions of Americans to set aside their packs and cartons, if only for one, brief breathable day.  By the 4th year about 16.5 million people were participating, leading to about a million people quitting for good.

With plastic surgery being all the rage these days, it may lead you to think you need some improvements yourself.  However, I bet the content of this post may shock some of you.  It amazing what you can have surgery for these days.

Apparently the new “in” plastic surgery is to have labia reductions.  Teenage girls and even women have been noted on websites like Scarleteen.com and Makemeheal.com complaining about their labia and conveying their desire to have surgery on them.  On Scarleteen.com you can see posting from teens who complain about their labia being too long or that they hang low, while on MakeMeHeal.com they are asking women to submit photos of their lady parts to determine if they should have them altered.

This is the odd new world of female genital cosmetic surgery, fueled by insecurity issues and a growing Western market for procedures such as: labiaplasty, clitoral un-hooding, G-spot augmentation,  and hymen reconstruction (revirginization).

The New View Campaign, a grass-roots organization, staged its first protest on Monday outside of New York City’s Manhattan Center for Vaginal Surgery. Two dozen women, from young to old, handed out cards and presented posters with the message “No Two Alike,” alongside 2 other members who wore giant cloth vulva costumes.

New View, established in 2000, as a response to the release of Viagra is trying to combat what it terms as “the medicalization of sex.”  They apose the idea that there is a physical right or wrong when it comes to sexual matters.  The groups leader, Leonore Tiefer, a sexologist and psychologist at NY University is combating the idea that there is a certain way that a woman’s gentials should look and defending those who do not want to have surgery.

Currently the number of women actually having the surgery is still very small,  about 1,000 women in America each year and 800 in U.K.  However, the numbers are growing, increasing by 20% from 2005 to 2006 in the US and in the UK they doubled from 2002 to 2007.  These procedures can cost about $5,000.  For the first time, US medical textbooks to be published in 2009, will have an entire chapter devoted to female genital plastic surgery.

Dr. Susan Kolb, a plastic surgeon in Atlanta says that for many patients it offers them control over their sexuality.  She states that many consider it a healing procedure because excessivly long labia can lead to pain during sex and exercise and is sometimes covered by insurance.

However critics state that the surgeries can be more dangerous than the advertising lets on.  The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a warning last year that women undergoing these procedures may experience side effects such as: scarring, chronic pain, and reduced sexual pleasure.  A similar statement was also released by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologiest.

It may be time to learn to cook healthy food without the frozen meals.  If you buy Lean Cuisine BEWARE!  There are 3 entrees that have been recalled.

The company that makes Lean Cuisine, Nestle Prepared Food Co. has announced a recall on 3 of its Lean Cuisine Entrees. The recall was issued on: Pesto Chicken with Bow Tie Pasta, Chicken Mediterranean, and Chicken Tuscan made from August 18 - October 27th.  The recall is being issued due to the fact that the entrees may contain small pieces of blue plastic.

If you would like more information on the recall, please contact the Nestle Consumer Service Center Hot-Line at (800) 227-6188.

Well I’ve just been informed that a city in my home state has received the poorest health ranking in the US.  Huntington, WV now has the title as the fattest and unhealthiest city in America.  So, what does this mean?  Apparently not a lot.  Even the mayor of Huntington is a bit out of shape, at 5′9″ and 233 lbs.  He explains that here in WV it is not a big topic, we’re more focused on our dwindling economy than on our health as a city or state.

Maybe it’s time to take notice of the health of your city and state now!  Here are some interesting and slightly disturbing health facts about Huntington and the surrounding areas.

• Nearly 1/2 the adults in a 5 county radius to Huntington are obese
• Leads the nation in diabetes and heart disease
• Is in the top percentage for elderly that are missing all of their teeth

Many feel that culture and history are partly to blame.    Huntington and the surrounding areas have long been a blue-collar, white-skinned communities, predominantly made up of Irish, German, and English decent.  The traditional diet in this area is filled with fried foods, salt, gravy, and fattier meat.  However, in 1950 this was not a big concern because many people performed manual labor and burnt off the calorie dense foods.    But as the economy and jobs changed the diet didn’t.

Unfortunatley, an alarming trend has developed, where people in their 30’s are experiencing heart attacks and were requiring open heart surgery.

Some more facts:

• 31% of residents do not exercise
• 22% have heart disease
• 13% have diabetes
• Smoking rates are also high

While the unemployment rate here is 5%, better than the US average of 6.1%, most of the jobs are low paying and offer no health insurance.  Poverty is also high at 19%, which is above the nation’s average.  Here, it is not uncommon to find someone living in houses or trailers in varying degrees of disrepair.

The economy definately plays its part in this ranking.  The economy in the state of WV is very low with little opportunities.  Residents of Huntington and many other towns are often without affordable access to healthy foods.  It seems as though fast food and other unhealthy choices are more abundant and more affordable.  Huntington itself is filled with doughnut shops, pizza parlors, hot dog places, and many other fast food choices.    For the Huntinton area alone, the Yellowpages lists more than 200 pizza parlors, but the entire state of WV only has 149 health clubs or gyms listed.

Were you aware that one of the most common birth defects is a heart defect and it is the leading cause of birth-related deaths.   In America approximately 35,000 infants or 1 out of every 125 are born every year with a heart defect.  One of the most common heart defects is a valve defect; either the valve is narrow, blocked, or does not close in a normal fashion making it difficult for blood to flow smoothly though it.  Sometimes these valves cannot be fixed via surgery and must be replaced by either using new ones from human or animal sources or by making one from an artificial material.

These replacements can be a lifesaver, however the valves do not grow or develop with the children, which requires the receiver to be subject to multiple surgeries to remove old smaller valves and replace them with larger ones.

This may soon come to an end as German scientist predict within the next 7 years they can produce a new heart valve for children born with valve defects that would grow with the child.  It would be produced by utilizing stem cells collected during birth, taken from the child’s own umbilical cord blood.

Facing what now seems like an inevitable recession, American’s budgets are being stretched more than ever, medical costs being no exception.   Many Americans, who at one time didn’t have to worry about how to pay for health insurance are now finding it to be a larger chunk of their income than it once was.

Families USA released a report recently that states that healthcare premiums in the United States are raising at a faster rate than income.  Since 2000, the average cost for family insurance has increased 78% and went from $6,672 to $12,078 in 2007.  However, income has only increased by 15% over the 7 year period according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  This of course means that many people who could afford health insurance at one time are now no longer able to afford it.  Currently, there are 45 million people in America who are uninsured simply because they cannot afford it.

With the price of other regular costs such as gas and food rising, healthcare is being cast aside because cost must be cut somewhere.  This may mean missing a much needed examination or test, not filling a prescription, or rationing dosages of prescribed medications, or even not going to the doctor at all.  In a recent poll conducted by the Kaiser Foundation, about 50% of those who responded admitted to avoiding a necessary health care treatment due to the costs involved.
It seems American companies are continuing to pass extra healthcare costs to the employee. It  also seems as though American workers are facing a triple whammy.  As healthcare premiums rise, business’ are passing more costs onto the employee, and because there is an increase in the cost to the employer they are holding back on wage increases.