March 2011
Volume 4, Issue 3
Latest News Briefs
According to a report in the British Medical Journal on Quality and Safety…
Latest News Briefs
As many as 75 percent of hospital tests are not followed up and this failure can have serious
consequences for patients, including delayed or missed diagnoses and even death. Researchers analyzed
According to a report in the British Medical Journal on Quality and Safety…
12 international studies and found that between 20 percent and 61 percent of inpatient test results, and
As many as 75 percent of hospital tests are not followed up and this failure can have serious
between 1 percent and 75 percent of tests on emergency care patients, were not followed up after
consequences for patients, including delayed or missed diagnoses and even death. Researchers analyzed
patients were discharged. Follow-up was least likely for critical test results and results for patients
12 international studies and found that between 20 percent and 61 percent of inpatient test results, and
moving between health care settings, such as from inpatient to outpatient care or to general practice.
between 1 percent and 75 percent of tests on emergency care patients, were not followed up after
Rates of missed results were equally high for paper-based record systems, fully electronic systems and
patients were discharged. Follow-up was least likely for critical test results and results for patients
those that used a combination of paper and electronic records.
moving between health care settings, such as from inpatient to outpatient care or to general practice.
Rates of missed results were equally high for paper-based record systems, fully electronic systems and
those that used a combination of paper and electronic records.
According to a report in Medscape Medical News…
According to a report in Medscape Medical News…
Diet Soda May Heighten Risk
for Vascular Events
Diet Soda May Heighten Risk
for Vascular Events
A new study suggests that the popular drinks may increase the risk for stroke, heart attack, and even
vascular death. “People who had diet soda every day experienced a 61% higher risk of vascular events
than those who reported drinking no soda,” lead investigator Hanna Gardner, ScD, an epidemiologist
A new study suggests that the popular drinks may increase the risk for stroke, heart attack, and even
from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida, told reporters attending a news
vascular death. “People who had diet soda every day experienced a 61% higher risk of vascular events
conference at the International Stroke Conference. As reported in Medscape Medical News, previous
than those who reported drinking no soda,” lead investigator Hanna Gardner, ScD, an epidemiologist
studies have suggested a link between diet soda consumption and the risk of metabolic syndrome and
from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida, told reporters attending a news
diabetes. But this is the first time diet drinks have been associated with vascular events. The
conference at the International Stroke Conference. As reported in Medscape Medical News, previous
investigators acknowledge that additional studies are needed. The potential mechanism for the
studies have suggested a link between diet soda consumption and the risk of metabolic syndrome and
association between diet soda and vascular events remains unknown.
diabetes. But this is the first time diet drinks have been associated with vascular events. The
investigators acknowledge that additional studies are needed. The potential mechanism for the
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ConnectCare3.
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association
dietAll
soda
and
vascular events remains unknown.
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Energy Drinks Pose Serious
Health Risks for Young People
According to Medscape Medical News, energy drinks are regularly consumed by 30-50% of
children, adolescents and young adults. Energy drinks are categorized as nutritional
supplements. They avoid the limit of 71 mg of caffeine per 12 ounces that the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration has set for soda, as well as the safety testing and labeling that is required of
pharmaceuticals. As a consequence, energy drinks can contain as much as 75 to 400 mg caffeine
per container. Youth-aimed advertising and a tendency for risky behavior help compound the
potential for caffeine overdose in young people. Populations at highest risk for adverse health
effects from energy drink consumption include children, adolescents, and young adults with
cardiac conditions, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, and diabetes.
Zinc Within 24 Hours of Symptoms
Onset May Be Helpful for Common Cold
According to Medscape Medical News, when taken within 24 hours of onset of symptoms, zinc
reduces the duration and severity of the common cold in healthy people. It is still difficult to
make a general recommendation because we do not know very much about the optimum dose,
formulation or length of treatment.
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Over-the-Counter is Not
“All You Can Eat”
The Food and Drug Administration actually trusts us to read the labels on drugs sold over the
counter. Big mistake! People often assume that because a drug is available without a
prescription, it’s not dangerous. Painkillers are the most problematic; taking too much Advil
can cause acute kidney failure. The maximum dose is 1,200 milligrams. Too much Tylenol can
affect your liver, so never take more than 4,000 milligrams in a 24-hour period.
Heartburn Cures…
Don’t Overdo It!
Proton-pump inhibitors (PPI’s), which reduce the release of gastric acid, are the third bestselling
class of medication in the United States. These include: Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium and others.
“These are generally safe and effective,” says David Stanley, R.Ph. in California, “but they are
probably over-prescribed. And now that Prilosec is available over the counter, it’s quickly
becoming overused by a public convinced that it must have the latest and greatest drug.”
The fact is, Prilosec or Prevacid could be the wrong choice to treat your heartburn if your
symptoms appear only occasionally. “The main problem with long-term use of proton-pump
inhibitors use is acid rebound when you stop,” Stanley says. “People end up never being able to
quit them, because every time they try, they get an acid wave in their stomach. And they think
the meds are harmless anyway.” They aren’t. There’s a correlation between long-term PPI use
and bone fractures, possibly due to decreased calcium absorption, as well as an increased
chance of a nasty infection by clostridium difficile, a diarrhea-causing bacterium that can lead
to colitis. The drugs are best for chronic heartburn, ulcers, or gastrointestinal bleeding. Almost
everyone else can get by just fine on Pepcid or even basic Tums.
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147 W. Airport Rd., Lititz, PA 17543 (877) 223-2350
Pollutants are Everywhere!
More than 80,000 different chemicals are now used in manufacturing agricultural and consumer products
to combat pests and infection, add convenience, save money, and increase productivity. We are exposed
to environmental pollutants in many different ways. These chemicals can leak into the land, water, and air
of our outside environment. They get into our bodies through the food we eat, the water we drink, the air
we breathe, and in cleaning and personal care products we use.
Some of the most widely-used weed killers can “turn on” the production of estrogen or disrupt
normal hormone balance.
Washing or peeling fruit and vegetables removes some, but not all pesticides. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program found as many as 13 different pesticides on
one pint of well-washed non-organic blueberries.
Many beef and dairy cattle farms inject extra hormones into their animals to increase meat and
milk production and save money, yet the safety of these hormones for consumers is still
controversial.
Preventive antibiotics are given to food animals to help them avoid infection. These antibiotics
can lead to more antibiotic-resistant infections in people.
Select Food Carefully
Organic products can be expensive. If you can only afford to buy a few, choose organic versions of
products that, when grown conventionally, contain the highest levels of pesticides.
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147 W. Airport Rd., Lititz, PA 17543 (877) 223-2350