Are You More Likely to Get a Flu Shot Because of Peer Pressure?
If you think the answer to this is no, (or if you think this is the silliest idea you've ever heard), you might be wrong. Research shows that college students are much more likely to get a flu shot based on the way their social network perceives vaccines. If family and friends were of the opinion that vaccines are safe students were more likely to get a flu shot than if those closest to them were of the opinion that vaccines are harmful or not beneficial. Sadly, only ten percent of approximately 1,000 college students surveyed were vaccinated for H1N1, despite research showing that this age group is particularly susceptible to complications from H1N1 infection.
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In Office Procedure Could Stop Snoring
A common surgery for sleep apnea, sinus issues, and snoring is a turbinate reduction. The turbinates are a network of bones, blood vessels and other tissue which work to humidify the air we breathe. Now a doctor in California says he can perform a turbinate reduction in his office and it only takes about 11-20 minutes. The patient is given a local anesthetic for pain. This doctor's method uses a technology called radiofrequency.
While there are claims that this cures snoring I would caution that enlarged turbinates are not the only cause of snoring, especially if you are overweight. For more tips on curing snoring read:
Readers Respond: How They Stopped Snoring
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The Importance of Selective Hearing
Both of my kids have a history of fluid in the ear. In my son's case, the fluid causes significant hearing loss. So, since lately, the volume on the TV is out of control and I have to call him five times before he acknowledges me, I was convinced his ears were full of fluid again. I made an appointment with our ENT who got him right in but I was shocked and a little annoyed when he said my son's ears were just fine, even after a hearing test with the audiologist.
The symptoms of hearing loss in my son continue, but why? This morning I came across a study on auditory selective attention, what most of us call "selective hearing". Scientists believe that by discovering how humans are able to tune out certain sounds and focus on others they can literally change the world, creating devices that are essentially controlled by thought, a technology they call auditory brain-computer interface (BCI).
Currently the mechanisms behind selective hearing are not well understood, but scientists know that selective hearing is necessary for us to function on a daily basis. What really caught my attention, in regard to my son, is that some individuals suffer from a condition called Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). People with Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) do not register as having hearing loss when they are tested by audiologists, but they cannot hear in the presence of background noise. Essentially, they are unable to focus on the most important sound and tune out the others; they lack the ability to hear selectively. So could this be what is causing my son to act as though he has hearing loss? Perhaps he simply cannot focus on the sound of my voice while tuning out the television, his little sister's babbling, or the dogs barking outside. It certainly would explain a lot.
For more information about the work of scientists on auditory selective attention you can read a summary of their work in Newswise.
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Microphone for Cochlear Implants Could Change Lives
An engineer at the University of Utah has developed a tiny microphone prototype that can be implanted inside of the middle ear of people with cochlear implants. This is big news since microphones that currently have to be worn on the outside of the head can be embarrassing and prevent activities that require the use of a helmet, as well as swimming and other water activities. The current prototype must be reduced in size and then undergo FDA trials before it will be available so it's still a few years off, but it's definitely something for the some 220,000 deaf people who have already received cochlear implants to hope for.
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Taking Control of Spring Allergies
If you're one of the many Americans who suffer from spring allergies, or hay fever, the changing seasons may be miserable. There are steps you can take to reduce or get rid of your symptoms. First of all, it's important to determine that you do, in fact, have allergies and not a cold. According to a study I read last year over 50 percent of Americans misdiagnose themselves when it comes to allergies, they either think their cold is allergies or their allergies are a cold. Plus, when you get diagnosed you can find out exactly what is causing your symptoms and avoid the trigger altogether (or as much as possible). Here are some other tips for spring allergies.
- don't go outside in the morning when pollen counts are higher
- since pollen can settle on your clothing when you are outside change your clothing when you come back inside
- keep your car windows rolled up and the windows of your home closed
- using a neti pot or saline rinse can help remove pollen that your may have inhaled
If you've already taken these measures and are still suffering you can take an antihistamine. Antihistamines are readily available over-the-counter and include Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. You can also control congestion by using pseudoephedrine. You may also consider immunotherapy or allergy shots. For more information on allergies you may wish to read:
- Diagnosing and Treating Seasonal Allergies
What Causes Hay Fever - Coping With Nasal Allergies
- How to Use a Neti Pot
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A Different Kind of Pain Medication After Sinus Surgery
It is really common to have a bloody nose for about 24 hours after sinus surgery. For this reason, ENT docs generally tell their patients to stay away from aspirin and ibuprofen, but a new study shows that a similar medication, ketorolac (Tordol) is safe. Smaller studies have indicated that ketorolac may increase the risk of bleeding after surgery but some doctors question the way these studies were conducted. Now a large scale study has shown that there is not an increased risk of bleeding in patients who receive ketorolac after sinus surgery. This is good news if narcotic pain medications don't agree with you. The results of this study appear online in the International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology.
Why Living In Pain Will Eventually Kill You
There are shocking statistics regarding the number of Americans who suffer from chronic pain, in thousands of years science hasn't come up with a really great way to treat chronic pain. Migraines, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, sinusitis and other conditions are major culprits affecting (according to most studies) about one in three adults. Pain is the number one reason that people call in sick to work, yet many doctors are either reluctant or inadequately trained to treat it. What you might not realize is that living a life full of pain will shave years off your lifespan.
The pathway in the brain that registers pain has a cascading effect, triggering multiple neurotransmitters and hormones. This pathway is complex, which is one of the reasons that experts have not found the key to treating chronic pain. One of the key hormones in this process is cortisol, you may know it as the stress hormone or the "fight or flight" hormone. Once cortisol is released many changes in our bodies occur; our heart beats faster, our blood pressure goes up, many internal organs slow down as blood is shunted to skeletal muscles, our pupils dilate, even our immune system is suppressed. When released in infrequent bursts cortisol functions as a self preservative so to speak, (it gives us what we need to run away or fight back), when released constantly over long periods of time it can have detrimental effects on our health including heart problems and high blood pressure, even a reduced ability to heal. Researchers have even been able to predict which heart patients will live the longest by measuring their cortisol levels. Patient's with less cortisol live longer.
So why are doctors afraid to treat pain? Well, abuse is the first factor that usually comes to mind but the truth is that very few patients using narcotics to legitimately treat a painful condition actually become addicted. The other reason is that there are so many undesirable side effects with narcotics, and unless you find the root cause of a person's pain it's like using a band aid on an amputated arm - it just doesn't work long term; all good reasons to seek the correct treatment. You never know, all those migraines might be the result of a very treatable sinus problem. If you can't find the cause of your pain, cortisol is just one factor proving that it is perfectly reasonable to insist that your doctor treat it anyway.
What are the Complications of Sinus Surgery?
Sinus surgeries seem more and more common to me lately. In fact 3 of the 4 members of my immediate family have had it and numerous friends and colleagues. The benefits of sinus surgeries, (surgeries such as nasal septal repair, submucousal resections, ethomoidectomies, polypectomies and more), can be numerous, especially for those suffering frequent sinus infections or severe congestion and sleep apnea, but what are the risks?
The good news is that complications from sinus surgery are rare, but all surgery has risks. Besides the usual (pain, complications of general anesthesia...) these are the possible complications of nasal sinus surgery:
- hemorrhage - a fair amount of bleeding is actually normal after sinus surgery but in rare cases it becomes too much
- infection - can usually be cured with the proper antibiotics
- numbness in the face - this is almost always temporary
- cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea - a rare complications in which brain and spinal fluid leak and run out the nose
- damage to the eye and surrounding tissue or even the brain (obviously rare)
- loss of smell or taste
- voice changes - I don't know that I personally consider this a complication. The sinuses contribute to voice resonance and some people may have a "less nasally" voice after the procedure.
So is it worth it? There's no right answer to this question but I can tell you that in my family's case we've had none of the above listed complications and all 3 family members felt tons better after their surgery. For more information try reading some of the following articles:
Study Reports on Benefits of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Tips on Surviving Sinus Surgery
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Why are My Ears Ringing?
Ear ringing, is more accurately called tinnitus. Most of us experience ear ringing, while researching this topic I came across a forum that discussed the "ear ringing superstition". Well, let me assure you, your ears aren't ringing because someone is gossiping about you, nor are you about to experience great misfortune. Tinnitus has many causes including:
- exposure to loud noises (attending a rock concert for example)
- hearing loss
- medications
- high blood pressure
- head injuries
These are some of the most common causes of tinnitus. For more information on ear ringing and an in depth list of causes you can read:
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Flu Updates
Researchers in Madison, WI were able to genetically alter the virus H5NI, or bird flu, making it much more transmissible among humans. According to experts this research will allow them to study potential strategies for disease control and to be more prepared in the event of an outbreak, but the government is concerned. In order to prevent this research from being used against the U.S. by bio terrorist groups The U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) prohibited two journals, Nature and Science from publishing certain aspects of the research. Personally, I can't help but wonder if the risk of this research is worth the benefit. I mean, essentially, we've just created a weapon that could be used against us. Why? To attempt to prevent a pandemic that may or may not ever even happen. I mean, what are the chances that this virus will naturally mutate in the same way that these scientists have altered it? What do you think?
In other "flu news", while reviewing data from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic research identified school closures as one of the best ways to stop the spread of a pandemic. "Our study demonstrates that school-age children were important drivers of pH1N1 transmission in 2009," says David Earn, lead author of the study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. It should be noted that this data was only taken from one part of the world, Canada.
For more information about these studies read:
U.S. Advisers Explain Request to Censor Bird Flu Research
School Closures Slowed Spread of 2009 H1N1 Pandemic
For more information about the flu read:
All About the Seasonal Flu Shot
New Research Shows Benefits to Pregnant Women Who Receive the Flu Shot
Teaching Your Children Proper Hygiene Can Halt the Spread of the Flu
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