Latex foam mattress is made of the sap of rubber trees. If you suffer from back problems, sleep disorders, you toss and turn or you just want a fantastic night's sleep every night, a memory foam mattress or a latex foam mattress may be just what you need. Latex foam mattresses do have pressure equalization property that gives you a sleep without tossing and turning at night. With a latex mattress, you have the opportunity to experience a superior level of comfort that just cannot be reached with a conventianal inner spring mattress. All the big names such as Sealy, Serta, Royal Pedic and Simmons all have come out with their own line of latex mattresses.
Your sleep depends on the mattress you are sleeping on. When you select your ideal mattress, you will need to get up on the mattress sin the store and lay on it. Is it too soft? Too hard?
Buying a new sleep system can be a big investment with many advantages, so you should be alert and pay attention. Do not forget that there are a number of features in a bed mattress that you may want to consider.
You have to know the basics of a mattress before choosing the right one for your needs and requirements. Often, it can be smart to take the time necessary to compare brands, styles and function between several model choices before you can actually purchase your mattress.
Be sure that you like the feel of the mattress in the store. When you are looking for a bed mattress, be sure to test out the options. Don't be afraid to ask the salesperson questions, such as the different materials and the difference that could make for you. Remember, getting the right mattress is about your health. Do not fool around it.
Replacing Old Mattress, Adding Ventilation Reduces Mites
Reducing the level of dust mites in the bedroom can be achieved by replacing old mattresses and increasing a room's ventilation, according to a new study.
The study, which was based on data collected from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II, can be found in articles in press area of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) Web site, http://www.jacionline.org. The JACI is the peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).
In "Distribution and determinants of house dust mite allergen in Europe: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey II," Jan-Paul Zock, PhD, Municipal Institute of Medical Research, Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues looked to determine the distribution of two common house dust mites and what conditions would affect the level of those allergens in each home.
More than 3,500 samples of dust were taken from mattresses found in homes in 22 different study centers throughout Europe and analyzed for the different dust mite allergens. A bed in each home was stripped of linens and an 80cm x 125cm template was placed on the area of the bed where the participant usually slept, and that area was vacuumed to collect the dust samples.
Researchers found that Der 1 and Der 2 dust mite allergens were detectable in 68% and 53% of all samples, respectively, and that large differences in allergen levels occurred between study centers. Important risk factors for high allergen levels included an older mattress, a lower floor level of the bedroom, limited ventilation of bedroom and for one of the dust mites sampled, the level of dampness in the bedroom. Zock and colleagues concluded mite allergen exposure may be reduced by replacing the mattress regularly and increasing ventilation in the bedroom, particularly in winter.
Another study that resulted from the survey showed cat allergens may be present in homes that are cat-free.
Joachim Henrich, PhD, National Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, Germany, and colleagues' study, "Cat allergen level: Its determinants and relationship to specific IgE to cat across European Centers," measured the quantity of cat allergen in mattress dust, and then analyzed the relationship between cat ownership and the level of cat allergen found in the participants' homes. The study can be found in the articles in press area of the JACI Web site, http://www.jacionline.org.
Like the Zock study, dust was vacuumed from the mattresses, with 2,800 mattresses from homes 22 different communities sampled. Current cat owners' homes had substantially higher amounts of allergens than past cat owners and those who had never owned a cat.
While never having a cat in the home led to a lower concentration of cat allergen, it didn't protect against high cat allergen exposure in communities where cat ownership is common. The researchers concluded that people who do not own cats may still be exposed to high levels of cat allergen in the home because cat ownership is common in their community and they bring the allergen home on their clothes. Indoor smoking was also found to lead to higher level of cat allergens, possibly because cat allergens can bind to the smoking-related particulate matter, and consequently, allergen concentrations might be increased in settled dust.
The AAAAI is the largest professional medical specialty organization in the United States representing allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Allergy/immunology specialists are pediatric or internal medicine physicians who have elected an additional two years of training to become specialized in the treatment of asthma, allergy and immunologic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,000 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate to the public by providing educational information through its Web site at http://www.aaaai.org.
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Are hard mattresses wrong for back pain?
Back pain martyrs have suffered for years on hard beds, even planks of wood. They shouldn't have taken that lying down
Research has revealed that softer mattresses are better for millions of people in agony
HARD mattresses, which have for years been prescribed by doctors for patients suffering from back pain, could do far less good than softer beds, research has shown.
Traditional medical wisdom dictates that hard beds help to alleviate back pain, and 75 per cent of orthopaedic physicians still recommend a firm mattress.
But results of a study published in The Lancet today overturn such orthodoxies. Researchers in Spain found that patients who slept on a "medium-firm" mattress suffered less lower-back pain in bed and during the day than those on a "firm" mattress. The reason may be that softer mattresses put less pressure on the shoulders and hips and allow people to sleep more naturally.
The study is the first of its kind and is likely to persuade many doctors to change their advice to patients with back trouble completely.
Jenny McConnell, a back pain specialist at the University of Melbourne, said: "These findings come as a relief to clinicians who are not only struggling with the day-to-day management of patients with chronic low-back pain but are also constantly bombarded by the lack of efficacy of therapeutic interventions. Until now there has been little empirical evidence to support a clinician's recommendations."
Researchers in Spain recruited 313 volunteers who had suffered chronic lower-back pain for at least three months. The volunteers were randomly divided into two groups.
One group was given a new "firm" mattress with a rating of 2.3 out of ten on a European scale of mattress softness. The other group was given a "medium-firm" mattress, with a rating of 5.6.
Neither group was told which mattress they had received and the mattresses, which looked identical, were installed in the participants' homes in the same way by the same workers, who were not told which type they were delivering.
Existing mattress support bases were replaced with a firm base if the original base offered less than 50 per cent support for the mattress.
Patients were assessed at the start of the trial and again three months later, and were also asked to assess every day on a scale of one to ten the intensity of pain they experienced while lying in bed, the intensity of pain on rising, and the degree of disability suffered throughout the day.
At the end of the 90-day trial participants in both groups had experienced improvements in their back pain compared with when sleeping on their old mattresses, but there were more significant improvements among those on medium-firm beds.
The condition of those who suffered back pain while lying in bed improved by 70 per cent on firm mattresses and 80 per cent on medium-firm mattresses. The ability of the participant to move around easily during the day increased by 30 per cent for firm mattresses and 50 per cent for medium-firm mattresses.
Overall, patients who used medium-firm mattresses were twice as likely to report the easing of lower-back pain while lying in bed, and when getting out of bed. They were also less likely to need pain-killing drug treatment.
Dr Francisco Kovacs, of the Kovacs Foundation in Palma de Mallorca, who led the study, said that the results could change the way that treatment is given. "Our findings stress that recommendations for daily living, such as what kind of mattress to use, may have a relevant effect on the clinical course of low-back pain," he said.
"Although patients were unaware of the type of mattress they were receiving, they generally perceived correctly the firmness of their mattress. The general belief that 'harder means better' reduced the positive effect of the medium-firm mattress in the crude analysis, which in turn is consistent with the importance of psychosocial factors in chronic low-back pain."
Professor Maureen Simmonds, the head of rehabilitation sciences at the University of Southampton, said that the study was a useful addition to knowledge in the area. "In the past, back pain has often been misunderstood and mismanaged," she said.
"One of the difficulties with mattresses has been that people have been unable to choose which is best for their back before having to buy it. This at least gives some sort of advice to doctors based on research."
Dr McConnell said that the next step was to try to identify scientifically why slightly softer beds were better. "Perhaps less pressure on the shoulders and hips from the mattress of medium firmness could allow individuals to remain in the foetal position, which may in turn be better for their back symptoms on rising," she said.
"The underlying mechanisms for the improvement in symptoms of low-back pain with the mattress of medium firmness certainly provide many areas for future investigation."
Stress, Sickness and an Uncomfortable Mattress Keep Nearly 70 Percent of U.S. Women Up at Night
A new survey of women by the Better Sleep Council shows that it isn't just new moms who are sleep deprived. In fact, nearly 70 percent of all women in the U.S. report sleeping less than the recommended average of eight hours a night. Women ages 40-60 average a meager five hours of sleep per night, and divorced or separated women, African American and Hispanic women, and Northeasterners/West Coasters suffer the most from lack of sleep, the 2005 poll reports.
Sleepless nights have been linked to many health risks including obesity, heart disease and even car accidents. To address this distressing trend, the Better Sleep Council is teaming up with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health to help women improve the quantity and quality of sleep they get each night. Throughout May, which is not only Better Sleep Month but also includes National Women's Health Week (May 8-14), a special outreach campaign will be conducted to share tips for sleep improvement.
"Women's sleep patterns can be affected by their unique health issues as well as their struggle to balance family and work demands," said Amy Wolfson, Ph.D., sleep expert and author of The Woman's Book of Sleep: A Complete Resource Guide. "The Better Sleep Council survey shows more women are beginning to understand the connection between a lack of sleep and increased heath risks. But women need to be more vigilant and take concrete steps to improve their sleep to ensure maximum health benefits."
Quantity and Quality
The Better Sleep Council warns that although the quantity of sleep is paramount, the quality of sleep is crucial as well. With work- and family- related stress or ailments such as allergies or a common cold registering as among the top sleep deprivers, women often think there is little they can do to get better rest.
"While it's easy to blame external factors like stress and illness for our lack of sleep," says Dr. Wolfson, "it is important for women to realize there are things they can control to improve the quality of their sleep, like their sleep environment and a good mattress."
"Our poll revealed that an uncomfortable mattress contributes to poor sleep, and that's a factor you can control," said Nancy Shark, Executive Director of the Better Sleep Council. "You should be sleeping on a mattress that combines superior comfort with the right support. If you are waking up tired and stiff, it may be time to replace it."
Make a Good Night's Sleep a Priority
To help women Start Every Day with a Good Night's Sleep(TM), the Better Sleep Council and the National Sleep Foundation recommend these ten valuable sleep tips:
1. Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends.
2. Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine, such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.
3. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.
4. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.
5. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex. It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment.
6. Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.
7. Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime.
8. Avoid nicotine (e.g., cigarettes, tobacco products). Used close to bedtime, it can lead to poor sleep.
9. Avoid caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. It can keep you awake.
10. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime. It can lead to disrupted sleep later in the night.
For more information on how to wake feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep, visit http://www.bettersleep.org and http://www.sleepfoundation.org.
Survey findings are taken from a survey of 804 women, conducted by the polling company(TM), inc./ WomanTrend, during February 17-20, 2005. The margin of error is +/- 3.0%.
Ten ways to keep a healthy back, American Council on Exercise
We don't think very much about our backs - that is, until they start to hurt. And many of us are hurting as back pain is now one of the most common medical complaints in the U.S. The good news is that, in many cases, back pain can be prevented. Here are ACE's Top 10 ways to maintain a healthy back.
1 Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight tends to creep up slowly, so we may not be aware of how it affects us. But try carrying a 20-pound pack on your back all day and you'll have a better idea of how extra weight takes a toll on the whole body.
2 Strengthen the abdominal and back muscles. You've heard it before, but strengthening the abdominals really does help protect the back. In fact, a strong core-which includes all the muscles of the trunk-is important for avoiding injury, whether you're cleaning your house, playing tennis or sitting at a desk all day.
3 Lift items properly. Protect your back when lifting anything by standing close to the object with your feet apart to give you a stable base. Squat down while keeping the spine in proper alignment and contract your abdominals as you lift using your legs.
4 Strengthen the leg muscles. Along with the core muscles, the leg muscles play a vital role in helping you maintain good posture and body mechanics. And strong leg muscles can take much of the burden off the back when you're lifting heavy items (see above).
5 Stay flexible. Inflexibility in the form of tight hamstrings and a limited range of motion in the trunk can increase your risk of injury or make existing back pain worse. Some forms of exercise, such as yoga, Pilates and tai chi, may help relieve or prevent back pain by increasing flexibility and reducing tension. These exercises should not be done, however, if they are uncomfortable or place a strain on the back.
6 Maintain good posture. Correct posture and body mechanics play a vital role in preventing back pain because pressure on the discs and strain of the muscles, ligaments and back joints is aggravated by incorrect posture and body mechanics. When your posture is good and you move your body correctly, you reduce the strain on your back.
7 Buy a comfortable mattress. Most of us spend a good deal of time in bed, which is why a good mattress is such a wise investment. Do some research, test the mattress out at the store and ask for recommendations. Remember-what works for one person may not work for you so take the time to find the mattress that suits your needs.
8 Reduce stress. Stress increases tension in all your muscles including your back. Reduce or better manage your stress and you may literally feel as if the weight has been lifted from your shoulders.
9 Warm up before activity. Beginning any activity with cold muscles and joints puts you at risk for injury. Jumping right into intense activity increases your risk of injury, so take the time to get your muscles and joints warm and limber first.
10 Support the lower back when sitting. Use a rolled towel, small pillow or specially designed seat support available at medical supply stores. Remove the support every half hour for five minutes to give your lower back a change of position. After sitting for a prolonged period, straighten your back to an upright position and, if possible, stand and walk around to give your back a break.
About ACE
The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's Authority on Fitness, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction. As the nation's "workout watchdog," ACE sponsors university-based exercise science research and testing that targets fitness products and trends. ACE sets standards for fitness professionals and is the world's largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or log onto the ACE Web site at http://www.acefitness.org.
In winter beware of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
CONTACT:
Robert Bock or
Marianne Glass Duffy 301-496-5133
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (USA) (NICHD) Alerts Parents to Winter SIDS Risk
The cold winter months bring an increase in the number of infants who die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, one of the National Institutes of Health. During colder months, parents often place extra blankets or night clothes on infants, hoping to provide them with extra warmth. In fact, the extra material may actually increase infants' risk for SIDS.
"Parents and caregivers should be careful not to put too many layers of clothing or blankets on infants, as overheating increases the risk of SIDS," said Duane Alexander, M.D., Director of the NICHD. "Of course, parents and caregivers should always place infants to sleep on their backs - at nighttime and at naptime."
For almost a decade, the NICHD has led the Back to Sleep campaign, which recommends that, unless there's a medical reason not to, infants should be placed on their backs to sleep, on a firm mattress with no blankets or fluffy bedding under or over them. If a blanket is used, it should be placed no higher than a baby's chest and be tucked in under the crib mattress.
The baby's crib or sleep area should be free of pillows and stuffed toys, and the temperature in the baby's room should be kept at a level that feels comfortable for an adult. Since the NICHD campaign began, the overall rate of SIDS in the U.S. has declined by more than 50 percent.
Despite this progress, SIDS claims the lives of roughly 2,500 infants each year. SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant in the first year of life. The causes of SIDS are still unclear, and while it is not yet possible to predict which infants might fall victim to SIDS, it is possible to reduce factors known to increase SIDS risk:
Always place a baby to sleep on his or her back - even at naptime
Don't smoke around a baby
Don't smoke if you're pregnant
Place a baby on a firm mattress, such as in a safety-approved crib
Remove soft, fluffy bedding and stuffed toys from a baby's sleep areas
Keep blankets and other coverings away from a baby's nose and mouth
Don't put too many layers of clothing or blankets on a baby
Make sure everyone who cares for a baby knows that infants should be placed to sleep on their backs and the other ways to reduce SIDS risk
Among African Americans, the rate of SIDS has declined by almost 50 percent since the beginning of the Back to Sleep campaign. However, the SIDS rate among African American infants remains higher than that of white infants.
In fact, African American infants are twice as likely to die of SIDS as are white infants. To help eliminate the racial disparity in SIDS rates, the NICHD has forged a strategic alliance with several African American organizations.
This year, the NICHD has worked with the leadership and members of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Women in the NAACP, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., to conduct SIDS risk reduction training and outreach activities in communities across the country.
"We have made great progress over the last decade in cutting the SIDS rate for African American infants by almost 50 percent. But we need an even greater effort,' said Yvonne Maddox, Ph.D, Deputy Director of the NICHD, who is responsible for creating the alliance with the African American organizations.
"The winter SIDS alert serves to remind all of us, mothers, fathers, and caregivers, that we can reduce the risk of SIDS by placing infants on their backs to sleep and by not placing too many blankets on infants."
Based on the extensive body of research that has shown that placing infants to sleep on their backs reduces their risk of SIDS, the NICHD formed a coalition of national organizations to launch a public awareness campaign called Back to Sleep in 1994.
Along with the NICHD, the coalition consists of the Health Resources and Services Administration, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs, and First Candle/SIDS Alliance.
The NICHD distributes a variety of free Back to Sleep education materials for parents and health care providers, including brochures, crib reminder stickers, door hangers, and videos.
Most of these materials are available in English and Spanish. To obtain these free materials, other NICHD publications, as well as information about the Institute, visit the NICHD Web site, http://www.nichd.nih.gov or call the NICHD Information Resource Center, 1-800-370-2943; e-mail NICHDClearinghouse@mail.nih.gov.
The NICHD is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the biomedical research arm of the federal government. NIH is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation.
Parents' anti asthma efforts may miss the mark
Parents of children with asthma are making many efforts to clear their homes of substances that could trigger their child's symptoms, but the steps they take aren't always the ones that could do the most good, a new University of Michigan study finds. And many don't take other steps that are known to help.
In fact, only half of the 1,788 asthma-proofing steps taken by parents of 896 asthmatic children in the study were likely to work. The other half were unproven, unlikely to be helpful against the child's individual triggers, or, in a few cases, potentially harmful.
The study's authors say their findings indicate a tremendous need for doctors and other health care providers to educate parents about what might be triggering their child's asthma symptoms and attacks, and about the most effective steps they can take to reduce their child's exposure to those substances.
The research results, based on in-depth interviews, are published in the August issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology by a team from the U-M Health System, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, and the U-M School of Public Health.
Most often, parents reported taking steps to control their child's exposure to dust, dust mites and animals, and many said they were using special filters on ventilation systems and vacuum cleaners. All are generally recommended steps under national asthma guidelines, but many parents took steps that wouldn't necessarily work for their child while overlooking others that would.
For instance, parents reported buying a mattress cover for a child whose asthma is triggered by plant pollen, but not shutting windows to keep pollen out of the house.
Even worse, one-quarter of the parents reported that someone in the same household as the asthmatic child smoked, but didn't report that there had been any effort to address this issue. Tobacco smoke is a major trigger for asthma attacks, and contributes to the chronic airway inflammation that characterizes asthma, a breathing disorder that affects 6 million children nationwide.
"Eighty percent of parents in this study knew at least one specific factor that triggered their child's asthma symptoms, and 82 percent of those had devoted some effort to help their children avoid these triggers," says lead author and U-M pediatrician Michael Cabana, M.D., M.P.H, M.A. "But we also found that a lot of parents were pursuing strategies that haven't been endorsed by national guidelines or aren't likely to be helpful given their child's particular triggers."
His co-author, U-M pediatric pulmonologist Toby Lewis, M.D., M.P.H., notes that this discrepancy between what parents were doing and what experts recommend probably stems from a combination of factors.
"The first level of education for parents is to learn that much of asthma occurs as a reaction to triggers in the environment, and that everyone's triggers are different. One of the first steps in getting asthma under control is figuring out a child's triggers," says Lewis, an assistant professor of pediatrics in the U-M Medical School. This is often done by allergy tests and symptom tracking.
"Once you have a child's triggers figured out, then parents need education on what to do," says Lewis. "There's a lack of good information out there about what works, and even when we know what works, it can be hard to do -- such as reducing smoke in a child's environment or quitting smoking. Even when parents know in their head it's the right thing to do, translating that into change is hard. Parents may need a lot of support to be able to follow through on recommendations."
A third factor, Lewis continues, is the constant bombardment of commercial messages about products purported to help reduce asthma symptoms. "Parents hear 'Sprinkle this on your carpet' or 'Clean out your air ducts' or 'Buy this air ionizer' and parents who are desperate to help their kids can get misled into spending money on things of questionable value," she says. "The bottom line is, talk to your doctor before you spend a lot of money, and do the cheap, easy things first."
Asthma education appears to have some effect, the study shows. Parents who had received some asthma education or whose children had seen a doctor regularly were more likely to have taken steps to protect their children from asthma triggers -- though not always the most appropriate ones.
And the study proves that every parent deserves educational outreach, the authors say. There were no differences in rates of taking appropriate anti-asthma action among parents of different races, ethnicities or educational and socioeconomic backgrounds.
"It's impossible to predict which parents are more likely or less likely to take a preventive action, so physicians shouldn't pre-judge who they think will follow advice and who won't," says Cabana, an associate professor of general pediatrics at the U-M Medical School.
The results published today come from the baseline parent interviews of the U-M's Physician Asthma Care Education (PACE) project, which is designed to improve asthma education for physicians, and consequently the health of their young patients who have asthma. The PACE project is led by U-M School of Public Health Dean Noreen Clark, Ph.D., and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Clark is senior author on the new paper.
PACE is part of the U-M Asthma Research Collaborative, a multidisciplinary network of professionals from around the University of Michigan and across partner institutions who share an interest in asthma. Asthma research at the University of Michigan also includes the integration of social, behavioral, environmental, and clinical aspects of asthma and the evaluation of interventions in community and clinical settings
As they compiled the PACE parent interview results, the researchers noticed a mismatch between what parents said their children's asthma triggers were, and what the parents were doing in their homes to reduce the presence of triggering substances.
Only a handful of the actions they were taking were potentially harmful, such as the use of a humidifier in the room of a child whose triggers include house dust mites. (House dust mites thrive in humid environments, and using a dehumidifer is a more appropriate strategy.) But many other strategies described by parents weren't likely to be useful against a child's particular trigger -- or helpful for any child with asthma.
"Physicians need to help parents match the intervention to the trigger, and to talk about what's proven to work and what's less likely to work," says Cabana. "For those who publish national guidelines, it's important to distinguish strategies that are proven from those that are less-proven, or less likely to be useful." The last national guidelines on effective measures for reducing asthma triggers in a child's environment came out in 1997, and while the sections of the guidelines focusing on medicines were updated and clarified in 2002, there have not been major additions to the guidelines.
Recently, studies have shown that there's little or no evidence to support the use of air ionizers, acupuncture, homeopathy or manual therapy for asthma, and that more study is needed on psychotherapy-related measures, dietary supplements, breathing exercises and biofeedback.
Lewis recommends that families with one or more asthmatic children talk with their doctor about asthma-proofing their home and helping reduce exposure to triggers -- and that if major lifestyle changes are needed that they figure out ways to make those work for them.
For example, while a parent works to quit smoking, perhaps by tapering back on the number of cigarettes per day, they should make sure to smoke outside, not just in another room or the garage. And they should realize that it may take weeks for a child's lungs to adjust to the lack of smoke, but that eventually their symptoms will get better.
Gradual progress can also help a child who is allergic to dust mites, the tiny bugs that live in soft materials like bedding, mattresses, upholstery and stuffed animals. "There are so many places that dust mites can hide, it's often hard to know where to start," says Lewis. "A good first step is to work on areas of the house where the child spends the most time, which for many children is their bedroom. Children spend many hours a night snuggled in bed, so covering the pillow and mattress in allergen-proof covers, taking stuffed animals out of the bed, and washing bedding regularly in hot water can make a big difference."
If necessary, parents may want to seek advice from a specialized doctor such as an allergist or a pulmonologist. These specialists emphasize self-management of asthma and prevention of symptoms through the help of nurse managers who take time to explain trigger-reduction methods that are right for each patient.
Cabana and Lewis also recommend that parents consult information on asthma from the Asthma Initiative of Michigan (www.getasthmahelp.com), the American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org), the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (www.aafa.org), and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (http://www.aaaai.org).
"Parents are dedicated and eager to do something to help their kids," Cabana notes. "As physicians, we need to do a better job of providing information and balancing the messages they may hear elsewhere, so parents can do what's proven to prevent asthma symptoms and attacks."
Contact: Kara Gavin
kegavin@umich.edu
734-764-2220
University of Michigan Health System
Causes For Increased Incidence Of Asthma - Opinion |
posted by Elizabeth F Cole MD on 18 January 2007 at 7:21 pm |
Quick relief is one thing, finding the triggers of attacks is crucial.
What environmental sites provoke wheezing? Outdoors?, in bed with polyurethane space age matress cushioning and pillows?, clothing?, in new buildings?, in cars, industry? Or, as a pre-teener working his or her way up the drug ladder, sniffing airplane glue or toluene?. (Something which should be kept in mind regarding youthful patients within the "explosion" in new asthma in children, and requiring questioning their habits in re evoking asthma, and silently, brain damage, ..watch it !!!)
Recently contact dermatitis reccured from a polyurethane neck pillow, also under cotton mattress pad, at the same time, at the sites of elastics in socks. and wheezing when confined to bed with a cold, a heart arrythmia on getting into a bed full of modern comfort aids made of polyester urethane.
Research into spandex lycra literally knocked bedsocks off, pillow and polyurethane mattress pad out, and anyone wanting socks with elastic tops coated with Spandex, Elastane, Dorlastan and Linel or any other brand related can have them, but watch out for: wheezing, contact dermatitis, arrythmias, primary irritancy dermatitis and pulmonary irritancy. You can add toluene, airplane glues, auto finishes and paints, polyurethane upholstery or floor finishes and rugs, and so many other sites, including "sick buildings" with new rugs, furniture. The culprets are chemicals used clues: copolymers, chemical names are: Diisocyantes, very toxic, even in low doses especially to upper and lower respiratory tracts, not only as irritants but as some as allergens causing asthma. carcinogenicity is being worked on.
IN this new age, with larger percentages of our populations having more and more of these irritancy and allergic phenomenom, we had better look to modern chemicals, some with very surpising disadvantages we just cannot fault anything else. TAKE HISTORIES REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAlL EXPOSURES! !!!! |
How To Prevent Bedsores From Becoming Deadly
It's a good thing we toss and turn in bed. That movement continually redistributes the pressure between our bodies and the mattress. If illness or injury prevents you from moving around, pressure builds up on specific areas of the body. This can cause skin and other tissues to die, creating a bedsore. A few simple steps, however, can help prevent these painful, dangerous, and costly sores, reports the November 2006 issue of the Harvard Health Letter.
Bedsores, as with any other type of open wound, create a ready opportunity for infections that may spread to the surrounding skin, deeper tissue, bone, and the blood. They can also cause loss of fluid and protein, leaving patients dehydrated and malnourished. The cost of treating a bedsore is extremely high. According to one estimate, caring for a single, deep-tissue bedsore can cost upwards of $70,000.
Bedsores are the underlying cause of death of several thousand Americans each year. The good news is that the mortality figures have improved over the last 10 years because of improved prevention and treatment efforts. To treat a bedsore, keep it clean and covered. Dead tissue may need to be removed because it can interfere with the growth of healthy tissue. But it's much better to take steps to prevent the bedsores from occurring in the first place, because even if a bedsore heals, there is a good chance it will come back.
The Harvard Health Letter notes several ways to help prevent bedsores:
-- Use dynamic or static mattresses and added padding
-- Shift positions every so often
-- Increase protein intake
-- Moisturize skin.
Also in this issue:
-- Metformin for diabetes
-- Chili peppers: A health food
-- Obesity versus overweight
-- Early treatment for temporal arteritis
-- Exercise and cancer
-- A doctor discusses: Repairing sunburned skin; treating a growing heart
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