CHILDREN’S ISSUES – Page 6

SPORTS AND CONCUSSION – “THE DING” increased risk – WHAT TO DO NEXT

Belūr SPORTS OFFICIALS AND COACHES WORRY ABOUT THE PLAYER THAT GETS HIT, DAZED, AND WANTS TO KEEP PLAYING. WHAT TO DO?

MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (mtbi) OR "CONCUSSION" IS A TRAUMATIC INJURY THAT CAUSES AN ALTERATION (CHANGE) IN MENTAL STATUS – WITH OR WITHOUT A LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESSS.

http://thebandchoice.com/woburn-sculpture-gallery/ HALLMARKS FOR CONCUSSION ARE: AMNESIA (CAN'T REMEMBER) AND CONFUSION.

THE SPORT OF GREATEST CONCERN IS FOOTBALL – ABOUT 19 % OF H.S. PLAYERS GET DINGED.

SEIZURES ARE ESTIMATED AT 12 % OF ALL CONCUSSIONS BUT DO NOT NECESSARILY MEAN IT IS A WORSE LONG TERM PROBLEM.

WHAT TO DO.

DIFFERENT NEUROLOGICAL SPECIALISTS HAVE CREATED CRITERIA FOR THE APPROACH.

AAN GUIDELINES SAY:

GRADE ONE INVOLVES NO L.O.C. OR THE CLASSIC DING.

GRADE TWO INVOLVES NO LOC, TRANSIENT CONFUSION, BUT SYMPTOMS OVER 15 MINS.

GRADE THREE INVOLVES ANY LOC.

GRADE ONE MUST BE WITHOUT SYMPTOMS COMPLETELY AND REFRAIN FROM ACTIVITY FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES AFTER SYMPTOMS CLEAR.

GRADE TWO MUST STOP ACTIVITY AND BE SYMPTOM FREE FOR 1 WEEK BEFORE RETURNING TO ACTIVITY.

GRADE THREE MUST STOP ACTIVITY AND BE SYMPTOM FREE FOR 2-4 WEEKS BEFORE RETURNING TO REGULAR ACTIVITY.

THERE IS DEBATE AMONG THE NEUROSURGEONS, NEUROLOGISTS, AND SPORTS MEDICINE SPECIALISTS AS TO WHEN CATSCANS ARE DONE, AND WHEN HOSPITALIZATION IS DONE.

THE "BIG REASON" FOR CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT AT LEAST 28 PERSONS HAVE DIED DUE TO "SECOND-IMPACT SYNDROME." THIS IS WHEN A PLAYER GOES BACK TOO SOON, OR THE EVALUATION ON THE FIELD IS NOT DONE, THE PLAYER GETS "HIT" AGAIN AND CAN DIE. THIS IS DUE TO A RAPID SWELLING OF AN ALREADY INJURED BRAIN. A VERY MEDICALLY STRANGE BUT LIFE-THREATENING PHENOMENON. IT WAS DESCRIBED INITIALLY IN 1973 AFTER TWO ATHLETES DIED AFTER "MINOR" DINGS AND REINSTITUED PLAYING.

SERIAL CONCUSSIONS THAT FOLLOW ONE ANOTHER, MANDATE CLOSE SCRUTINY AS THE RISK INCREASES.

EVEN QUARTERBACK STEVE YOUNG OF THE SF 49ERS AND THE HOCKEY PRO LAFONTAINE PREMATURELY ENDED THEIR CAREERS OVER THIS SERIOUS ISSUE OF MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

WHEN IN DOUBT, SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE FOR YOUR ACTIVE SPORTS PLAYER OR ANYONE GETTING "DINGED" IN THE HEAD. THE RISK IS ENORMOUS YET MANAGEABLE.

ALL PROTOCOLS AND RECOMMENDATIONS MANDATE THE PATIENT IS ASYMPTOMATIC AND HAS RETURNED COMPLETELY TO NORMAL MENTAL (COGNITIVE) CAPACITY AND BEHAVIOR.

***

(adapted concepts from e.m.)

smokers CALL 911 * LIFE-SAVING DISTANCE ADDED TO SMOKERS BAN BUBBLE – SOME SMOKE IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER SMOKE IN COEUR D ALENE AND THE IDAHO LEGISLATORS AND LOBBYISTS

AS CASTMD.COM HAS OPINED PRIOR ON THE ONGOING LUNG ASSAULT FROM THE AGENTS OF FIELD BURNING IN NORTHERN IDAHO AND OTHER CLOSE AREAS, NOW THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ADDING "LIFE-SAVING" DISTANCE TO THE CIGARETTE SMOKERS BANNED AREAS.

I BELIEVE, IDAHO STATE LAW STATES THAT SMOKING IS ALLOWED ONLY BEYOND 20 FEET FROM A PUBLIC DOORWAY OR ENTRANCE. THE KOOTENAI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CHANGED IT TO 20 FEET FROM ANY BUILDING.

ONE OF THE LOCAL PAPERS QUOTED A COMMISSIONER SAYING, "IT'S AN EMPLOYEEE, RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUE."

WHAT IS THIS? THE COMMISSIONERS CONTINUE TO ALLOW FIELD BURNING SO PATIENTS, EVEN WITH SEVERE LUNG DISEASE AND HEART DISEASE AND KIDS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS, ASTHMA, AND ALLERGIES – CAN BREATHE POLLUTED AIR IN THE BEAUTIFUL SUMMER AND FALL MONTHS.

IN THE LOCAL PAPER, THE STORY CONTINUED THAT SOMEONE EVEN STATED IT [THE SMOKE] "PERMEATES THE BUILDING." AMAZING TO SAY THE LEAST……

RISE UP FOLKS…DO THE FIELD BURNING AND THE FOREST FIRES BOTHER YOU? CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF TONS OF PARTICULATES CREATED AND THAT YOU MUST INHALE WITH THOSE PROBLEMS. (SEE PREVIOUS BLOGS FROM WWW.CASTMD.COM)

SO, IT IS NOT A MYTH. IT IS TRUE.

IN IDAHO'S LEGISLATORS AND LOBBYISTS, SOME SMOKE IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER TYPES. SIMPLY AMAZING !

OSTEOPOROSIS AND TREATMENT SIDE-EFFECTS * Jaw Osteonecrosis

THE GOOGLE SEARCH FOR FOSAMAX AND OTHERS BRINGS FORWARD MANY PAID ADVERTISING LAW FIRMS REGARDING LAWSUIT INVITATION AND CONSULTATION REGARDING THIS CONCERN.

WWW.CASTMD.COM LOOKED TO SEE IF THIS IS A PROBABILITY OR POSSIBILITY FOR LITIGATION AND JURY AWARD. WHAT DOES SOME OF THE LITERATURE SAY?

MANY COMMENTS ARE BEING MADE OF THE RISK OF TAKING OSTEOPOROSIS MEDICATION FOR PREVENTING BONE LOSS, AND REBUILDING BONE. MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THE CONTROVERSY IS RELATED TO JAW BONE LOSS, OSTEONECROSIS OF THE JAW. THE CONTROVERSY ALSO RELATES TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE MEDICINES CALLED "BIPHOSPHONATES" SUCH AS FOSAMAX, AREDIA, AND ZOMETA, AND POSSIBLY OTHERS.

OSTEONECROSIS OF THE JAW IS A DEVASTATING CONDITION. THE BONE LOOKS AND ACTS INFECTED. MOST CASES COME FROM THE ILL EFFECTS OF INFECTION DUE TO DENTAL PROBLEMS OR DENTAL SURGERIES. MANY CASES, IF NOT ALMOST ALL, COME FROM THE USE OF INTRAVENOUS USE OF THE MEDICINES, WITH CASES OF METASTATIC BONE CANCER.

MERCK PUBLISHED THEIR CONTROLLED TRIALS OF OVER 17,000 PATIENTS, WITH 10 YEARS' DATA USING FOSAMAX, SHOWING NO REPORTS OF ONJ. IN POST-MARKETING USE, MERCK ESTIMATES BY MARCH 31, 2006 THE CUMMULATIVE RISK FROM ALL SOURCES OF CAUSE WAS ESTIMATED AT LESS THAN 1/100,000 PATIENT-TREATMENT YEARS.

CURRENTLY, THE NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION SEES THE RISK AS RARE IN PERSONS TAKING ANY ORAL FORM OF THE MEDICINE FOR OSTEOPOROSIS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO STATES THAT IT BELIEVES THAT THE RISK OF FRACTURES AND BONE LOSS IS MUCH GREATER TO MOST PATIENTS THAN ANY RISK OF DEVELOPING THE ONJ PROBLEM DUE TO THE MEDICINES FOR OSTEOPOROSIS.

PLEASE, IF YOU ARE ON A MEDICINE FOR REDUCTION OF OSTEOPOROSIS RISK, A BIPHOSPHONATE, TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AND STAY INFORMED. HOPEFULLY THIS HAS ASSISTED YOU IN YOUR DECISION TO BE AND STAY HEALTHY.

THE PRESTIGIOUS NEW ENGLAND JNL OF MED WILL SPEAK TO THE ISSUE THIS NEXT WEEK, I AM ANTICIPATING.

HEADACHE – MIGRAINE HELP YOUR DOCTOR HELP YOURSELF

MANY PATIENTS HAVE HEADACHES. SOME PATIENTS HAVE MIGRAINE HEADACHE. THERE ARE CONSENSUS INTERNATIONAL CRITERIA FOR MIGRAINE HEADACHE. THEY ARE:

RECURRENT, EPISODIC, LENGTH 4 TO 72 HOURS, QUALITY OF UNILATERAL OR THROBBING OR MOTION WORSENING OR MODERATE TO SEVERE RATING – MATCHED WITH NAUSEA, VOMITING, LIGHT-SENSITIVITY OR SOUND SENSITIVITY.

WORRISOME TYPES OF SYMPTOMS TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR ARE:

SYSTEMIC DISEASES SUCH AS DIABETES, NEUROLOGIC CONCERNS, SUDDEN ONSET, ONSET OVER 50 YEARS OLD OR UNDER 5 YEARS, PATTERN OF HEADACHE CHANGES.

OTHER THOUGHTS TO REVIEW BEFORE TALKING WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR HEADACHE ARE THE FOLLOWING:

FIRST, WORST, FREQUENCY, DIFFERENCE, IMPROVED BY, WORSENED BY, ONSET, RADIATION, QUALITY OF PAIN, PAST MEDICAL HISTORY, CURRENT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, OTC DRUGS, HERBALS, AND WHOLISTIC MEDS, ALONG WITH ANY INJURY OR TRAUMA BOTH RECENT OR IN THE PAST.

NEW MEDICINES EXIST FOR MIGRAINE HEADACHES BOTH FOR TREATMENT AND PREVENTION. TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS AND A PLAN OF ACTION.

BE HEADACHE FREE

COCAINE “ENERGY DRINK” IS CAFFEINE BASED – ALOT ! OVERDOSE potential ?

THE LASTEST CRAZE OF ENERGY DRINKS IS THIS PRODUCT BY REDUX BEVERAGES FROM LAS VEGAS. IT IS NOT COCAINE. IT IS CAFFEINE BASED. EACH UNIT HAS ABOUT 280 MG OF CAFFEINE. THE AVERAGE COFFEE CUP HAS ABOUT 80 MG.

THE QUESTION IS: IS IT UNETHICAL ADVERTISING TO HIGHLIGHT AND ENTICE THE "ABUSE" OF OVERUSE, OVERDOSE, AND GETTING HIGH WITH SUCH PRODUCTS?

CAFFEINE OVERDOSE IS A SERIOUS MATTER. MANY TIMES THE KIDS THAT RELY ON THE "HIGH" MAY ALSO BE ABUSING OTHER AGENTS OF TOXICITY.

SHOULD WE ADVERTISE THE "HIGH" OF SNIFFING PAINT, PAINT IS A LEGAL PRODUCT ?

SHOULD WE ADVERTISE THE "HIGH" OF HUFFING COMPUTER AIR, AIR IS A LEGAL PRODUCT?

SHOULD WE ADVERTISE THE "HIGH" OF ALCOHOL, ALCOHOL IS A LEGAL PRODUCT?

THE ANSWER IS THAT THIS PRODUCT AND OTHERS, I BELIEVE, HIGHLIGHT ABUSE AND OVERUSE.

TELLING A PARENT THAT THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER HAS DIED IN THE ER OR WAS D.O.A. IS A REAL EXPERIENCE THAT SOME OF US HAVE HAD TO BARE…

THE ANSWER IS: YES, IT IS UNETHICAL ADVERTISING AND MARKETING. THE COMPANIES SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE "ENTICING" APPROACH.

DEATH BY CAFFEINE IS NOT ANY MORE CALMING THAN DEATH BY OTHER OVERDOSE MEANS. PARENTS BEWARE.

(adapted: aceommroupdt)

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AND ADVERTISING FOR ILLNESS

WITH THE RECENT EXPLOSION IN MASS MARKETING AND ADVERTISING FOR PHARMACEUTICAL MEDICINES AND ILLNESS, DO YOU THINK IT IS MORALLY AND ETHICALLY CORRECT?

WITH WWW.CASTMD.COM SHOWING THE RECENT EXPLOSION OF ONE EXAMPLE OF ILLNESS MADE PROFIT, MAYBE THE "OLD" DAYS OF PHARMA ADVERTISING SHOULD BE RETURNED. THAT IS – WHEN LIMITED ADS COULD BE RUN.

THUS THE QUESTION: SHOULD WE AS CONSUMERS BE BOMBARDED WITH ILLNESS ADS AND DRUG THERAPIES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HELP? IT DOES CREATE HIGHER COSTS FOR THE MEDICINES THAT MANY PATIENTS NEED.

SOCIALIZED MEDICINE LIKE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE TO LIMIT ACCESS AND COSTS WITH SUCH BACK ROOM ADS GOING ON TO RUN UP COSTS AND USAGE.

VOTE IN THE CURRENT READER POLL IF YOU WISH.

DIARRHEA -TOXIC EPIDEMIC STRAIN – infection – diarrhea – ANTIBIOTIC OVERUSE ABUSE: DO YOU REALLY NEED THAT ANTIBIOTIC…DO YOU REALLY WANT IT ?

CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE IS THE MOST COMMON IDENTIFIABLE REASON THAT PERSONS GET ANTIBIOTIC ASSOCIATED DIARRHEA (CDAD). THIS IS A GRAM POSITIVE ANAEROBIC BACILLUS.

THIS EMERGENCE OF A HIGHER TOXIC, MORE RESISTANT STRAIN (B1/NAP1) IS THOUGHT TO BE DUE TO THE WIDESPREAD USE OF FLOUROQUINOLONES, POTENT ANTIBIOTICS USED FOR LESS SERIOUS INFECTIONS AND EVEN VIRAL INFECTIONS, WHEN PATIENTS DO NOT REALLY NEED ANY ANTIBIOTIC. USE OF TIER TWO AND THREE CEPHALOSPORINS, AMPICILLIN, CLINDAMYCIN OR THE FLUROQUINOLONES HAVE LED THE PROBLEM OF CDAD.

JUST LIKE WITH METH OR OTHER "DOA" SKIN POPPING – MRSA (METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPH A. INFECTIONS) CONTINUES TO PLAGUE THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE COMMUNITY AT ALL LEVELS.

SO HOW HAS THIS PROBLEM OF SEVERE DIARRHEA CHANGED?

IN THE PAST, JUST STOPPING THE ANTIBIOTIC WOULD STOP THE DIARRHEA IN A FEW DAYS. OVER THE PAST YEARS, WE HAD TO START TREATING THE INFECTIOUS DIARRHEA WITH ANOTHER ANTIBIOTIC TO KILL THE C. DIFF. BUG FROM THE BOWEL.

NOW, THE ROUTINE ANTIBIOTIC OF METRONIDAZOLE IS LIMITED IN ITS EFFECTIVENESS, THUS MAKING THE DOCTOR GO TO THE LAST RESORT ANTIBIOTIC OF VANCOMYCIN, A VERY STRONG, EXPENSIVE, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LAST RESORT.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO THE PATIENT? INITIALLY, BAD DIARRHEA. IF IT WORSENS, EVEN FULMINANT C. DIFF. ASSOCIATED DIARRHEA CAN BECOME TOXIC TO THE COLON, CAUSE SHOCK, AND EVEN COLON RUPTURE. AT THIS STAGE MORTALITY APPROACHES 50% OF PATIENTS.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) ARE EVEN RECOMMENDING THE VANCOMYCIN AS A FIRST LINE MED FOR SOME HOSPITALS FOR CERTAIN BACTERIA. NO ROOM TO WIGGLE HERE…

ABOUT 1/3 OF PATIENTS WITH ONE OCCURRENCE GET ADDITIONAL REOCCURENCES, THUS ACCELERATING THE PROBLEM OF LIMITED OR NO THERAPY LEFT IN THE DOCTOR'S MEDICAL BAG.

THUS THE STORY…TOO MUCH USE OF ALL ANTIBIOTICS HAS LED US DOWN THIS DANGEROUS PATH FOR PATIENTS. RECENTLY, A REPORT SUGGESTED WAITING A DAY OR TWO ON ALL ANTIBIOTICS FOR CHILDREN'S "RED EAR" POSSIBLE INFECTIONS. MANY ARE VIRAL.

ALL IN ALL, CAUTIOUS AND JUDICIOUS USE OF ALL ANTIBIOTICS IS A MUST. PATIENTS MUST ASSIST THEIR PHYSICIAN ON THE DECISION TO MAYBE CAUTIOUSLY WAIT…VERSUS THE DOCTOR VISIT MANTRA REQUESTING: "I WANT AN ANTIBIOTIC."

BREAST SILICONE IMPLANTS released by FDA — DID WE LEARN ENOUGH OR STILL LEARNING

OVER 14 YEARS THE SILICONE IMPLANT STORY HAS BEEN ON HOLD. BUT THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE LOBBIED TO REGAIN THE STRONG APPROVAL. DESPITE THE NEW IMPLANTS UNDER A GUIDELINE OF FURTHER STUDY, THE IMPLANTS CAN BE USED. ACTUALLY, THEY HAVE BEEN USED OVER THIS PERIOD FOR CANCER OR TRAUMA INJURIES FOR RECONSTRUCTION ALL ALONG.

THE GROWTH IS EXPECTED TO BE A DOUBLE DIGIT NUMBER FROM NOW ON, UNDER TEN PERCENT A YEAR OVER THE PAST YEARS. THE MARKET IS HUGE – GREATER THAN ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR.

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE'S REPORT REACHED A "NO CONVINCING EVIDENCE" SUMMATION OF THE PROBLEM OF LEAKAGE, RUPTURE, OR DISINTEGRATION CAUSING AN INCREASE OF OTHER DISEASES SUCH AS LUPUS, IMMUNOLOGICAL DISORDERS, OR CANCERS.

IN ONE STUDY HOWEVER, OF NEARLY 1000 WOMEN, ABOUT ONE-THIRD HAD TO HAVE REPLACEMENT OR REMOVAL OF THE "DEVICE." OF OVER 300 WOMEN, HAVING MRI STUDIES, SHOWED 69 PERCENT WITH LEAKAGE AT ONE POINT.

OVER 260,000 WOMEN HAD BREAST IMPLANTS LAST YEAR WITH THE SALINE-FILLED DEVICES, NOT THE SILICONE TYPE. NEW RULES ONLY ALLOW WOMEN OVER AGE 22 YEARS OR THOSE NEEDING BREAST RECONSTRUCTION TO USE THE DEVICES.

SILICONE DEVICES HAVE BEEN USED FOR ABOUT THREE DECADES NOW. THE "HOLD" WAS AFTER MANY WOMEN HAD LEAKAGE, DEFORMITY, PAIN, AND ILLNESS WHEN THE DEVICES FAILED.

MANY WOMEN HAVE CONTRACTURE, FALLING, SCAR TISSUE, AND DEFORMITY.

ONE COMPANY IS REPLACING RUPTURED DEVICES AND PAYING FOR THE SURGERY AND NEW DEVICES. HEALTH INSURERS DO NOT ROUTINELY COVER SUCH DEVICES OR SCANS TO CHECK FOR LEAKS, RUPTURES, OR OTHER PROBLEMS.

SO – WHERE ARE YOU ON THE SUBJECT…..TIME TO READ THE "SEQUOIA SEED."

(some portions adapted from SeaTim-FDA contributions)

METH BODY PACKIN’ ELMO EXTREME – BUSTED IN COLORADO

One of the best stories for the holiday season, is the recent bust of the California to Colorado methamphetamine bust.

It was reported by the DEA in Colorado, the drug ring was using the Sesame Street character "Elmo" for the meth "mule."

None other than "Tickle Me Elmo Extreme" was apprehended with the pre-street loot !

Just like meth, able to cause the toxic agitation, convulsions, repetitive movements – the Elmo Extreme character laughs, rolls, and hits the ground uncontrollably…or until it shuts off.

Unfortunately, the infamous "war on drugs" has not shut off the resources, money, or mules for meth, cocaine, crack, crank, weed, or other drugs of abuse – especially at the southern US border. With the Afghanistan poppy crop at one of its highest production years, the disconnect of drug curtailment and drug support continues within our own government. And that is a "mind stretch."