|
Soft Drink
Consumption Associated
With Increased Metabolic
Risk |
July 25, 2007
Metabolic syndrome
is defined as the
presence of three or
more of following
risk factors: excess
waist circumference,
high blood pressure,
elevated
triglycerides, low
high-density
lipoprotein
(HDL)-cholesterol
levels, and high
fasting glucose
levels.
Drinking more than
one soft drink daily
is associated with a
higher risk of
developing adverse
metabolic traits, as
well as developing
the metabolic
syndrome, a new
study has shown.
Interestingly, it
doesn't matter if
the soda consumed is
the diet variety,
those with zero
calories, as
investigators showed
these also increased
the burden of
metabolic risk in
middle-aged adults.
"That
was
one
of
the
more
striking
aspects
of
this
study,"
lead
investigator
Dr.
Ramachandran
Vasan
(Boston
University
School
of
Medicine,
MA)
said
"It
actually
doesn't
matter
if
the
soft
drink
is
regular
or
diet.
There
was
an
association
of
increased
risk
of
developing
the
metabolic
syndrome
with
both
types
of
drinks."
The
investigators,
led
by
Dr
Ravi
Dhingra
(Harvard
Medical
School,
Boston,
MA),
related
the
incidence
of
metabolic
syndrome
and
its
components
to
soft-drink
consumption
in
more
than
6000
individuals
participating
in
the
Framingham
Heart
Study.
Information
on
daily
consumption
of
soft
drinks
was
collected
via
a
physician-administered
questionnaire,
with
information
on
the
type
of
soft
drink
—
diet
or
regular
—
collected
in
later
questionnaires.
"Individuals
who
drink
soda
tend
to
have
a
greater
intake
of
calories,
they
consume
more
saturated
and
trans
fats,
they
consume
less
fiber
and
dairy
products
and
have
a
more
sedentary
lifestyle,"
he
said.
"We
adjusted
for
a
number
of
these
variables,
but
even
after
the
adjustment,
there
was
a
significant
association
that
was
evident.
It
makes
the
case
that
maybe
you
can't
fully
adjust
for
lifestyle
factors,
and
it
might
be a
lifestyle/dietary
background
thing
driving
this."
Source:
www.theheart.org
Deep
vein
thrombosis
(throm-BO-sis)
is a
blood
clot
that
forms
in a
vein
deep
in
the
body.
Most
deep
vein
clots
occur
in
the
lower
leg
or
thigh.
They
also
can
occur
in
other
parts
of
the
body.
If a clot in a vein breaks off
and travels through your
bloodstream, it can lodge in
your lung. This is
called
pulmonary
embolism
(PUL-mo-ner-e
EM-bo-lizm), which is a very
serious condition that can cause
death.
Blood
clots
in
the
thigh
are
usually
more
likely
to
break
off
and
cause
pulmonary
embolism.
|
A
blood clot also can occur in
veins that are close to the
surface of the skin. This type
of blood clot is called
superficial venous thrombosis or
phlebitis (fle-BI-tis). Blood
clots in superficial veins are
not dangerous because they can’t
travel to the lungs.
Other Names for D.V.T.
1. Blood
Clot in the Legs
2. Deep Vein Thrombosis
3. Venous Thrombosis
Who is at Risk?
Many factors increase the risk:
1. Having an inherited
blood
clotting disorder.
2. Having slowed blood
flow
from injury, surgery or
immobilization in a deep
vein.
3. Having cancer or
undergoing
treatment for it.
4. Having other medical
conditions, such as varicose
veins.
5. Sitting for a long
period of
time, such as a long car ride
or sitting on a plane.
6. Pregnancy, especially 6
weeks after giving birth.
7. Being over 60, although
DVT
can occur at any time.
8. Taking birth control
pills or
taking postmenopausal
hormonal therapy.
9.
Having a central venous
catheter, which accounts for
almost 1 in 10 cases.
Your risk for deep vein clots
increases if you have several
risk factors at the same time.
What are the
signs and symptoms?
It is important to see a doctor
right away if you have symptoms
of deep vein thrombosis or
pulmonary embolism. Deep vein
thrombosis can cause very
serious complications if not
treated.
Only about half of the people
with deep vein thrombosis have
symptoms. The symptoms may
include:
1. Swollen area of the
leg.
2. Pain or tenderness in
the leg,
which is usually only in 1 leg
and may be felt only when
standing or walking.
3. Increased warmth or
tenderness in the leg which
is swollen or in pain.
Deep Vein Thrombosis may lead
to Pulmonary Embolism. See
the link below for the full
article on DVT.
Source: National Institues
of Health.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/
dci/Diseases/Dvt/DVT_All.html
|
What is an Emergency Medical
Condition? |
An
attempt
is made
by the
statute
to
provide
a
definition,
but as
usually
happens,
the
legal
definition
leaves
much to
be
desired.
The
determination
is
ultimately
a
medical
one
rather
than a
legal
one.
That is
not to
say that
it is
sheltered
from
review.
As is
the case
with any
medical
decision,
it must
often be
made
quickly,
with
such
information
as is
available,
and is
subject
to
critical
retrospective
review
by
physicians
testifying
as
expert
witnesses
in the
alien
setting
of the
courtroom,
in the
event of
litigation.
|
The
definition provided under the EMTALA
statute is:
"A medical condition manifesting
itself by acute symptoms of
sufficient severity (including
severe pain) such that the
absence of immediate medical
attention could reasonably be
expected to result in
placing the health of the
individual (or, with respect to
a pregnant woman, the health of
the woman or her unborn child)
in serious jeopardy
Source:
The
Federal
Act:
The
Emergency
Medical
Treatment
and
Active
Labor
Act.
For more
on this
federal
act, see
the
link:
http://www.emtala.com/faq.htm
|
The CHAMP Act Passed
by the House |
August 1, 2007
"The
American
Medical
Association
applauds
the
members
of the
U.S.
House of
Representatives
who
voted to
pass
legislation
that
preserves
access
to
health
care for
children
and
seniors.
The
House
rose to
the
challenge
of
making
sure
that two
critical
health
care
issues
were
addressed
before
the
August
recess,
and
while
there is
more
work to
be done,
now
millions
of
low-income
children
and
seniors
can know
that the
House is
committed
to
ensuring
that
they
continue
to have
access
to
health
care.
The CHAMP Act
will ensure that
two of our most
vulnerable
populations can
get in and see
the doctor by
renewing the
federal health
care coverage
program for poor
children and
stopping steep
Medicare cuts to
physicians
caring for
seniors. A full
60 percent of
physicians tell
the AMA that
next year's
harsh 10 percent
payment cut will
force them to
limit the number
of new Medicare
patients they
can treat. By
increasing the
tobacco tax and
eliminating
overpayments to
insurance
companies
offering private
Medicare plans,
Congress has
found two
appropriate ways
to pay for these
important
national health
care priorities.
"As soon as the
Senate passes
legislation to
renew children's
health care
coverage,
America's
doctors urge
Congress to
expedite the
conference
process.
Congress must
finalize the
legislation
before SCHIP
expires on
September 30.
Working
together, we are
confident that
members of
Congress, from
both chambers
and both sides
of the aisle,
can find common
ground so that
children and
seniors will
continue to have
access to needed
health care
services."
Source:
The American
Medical
Association
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category
/17885.html
|
