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Asymptomatic
Peripheral Artery
Disease Prevalence is
Rising |
News Release 11/04/07
"The prevalence of asymptomatic
peripheral artery disease (PAD)
is
steadily increasing among
American adults, researchers
reported at the American Heart
Association’s Scientific
Sessions 2007.
PAD occurs when fatty deposits
accumulate in the inner linings
of artery walls, restricting
blood flow and needed oxygen to
the legs, feet, arms and other
areas of the body. PAD
increases the risk of dying from
heart disease and stroke.
“We were interested in seeing if
the prevalence of peripheral
artery disease
in the general
U.S. population is increasing,
specifically among people who
don’t have known coronary artery
disease,” said Andrew D. Sumner,
M.D., lead author of the study
and a cardiologist and medical
director of the Heart Station
and Cardiac Prevention at Lehigh
Valley Hospital in Allentown,
Pa.
Researchers hypothesized that
the prevalence of asymptomatic
PAD is increasing and the
escalation is associated with a
rise in the prevalence of other
common cardiovascular risk
factors, including diabetes,
smoking, obesity and
hypertension.
Sumner and colleagues analyzed
data from three successive
National Health and Nutrition
Examination Surveys (NHANES),
conducted in two-year increments
between 1999 and 2004. They
identified PAD prevalence by
identifying people with an
ankle-brachial index of less
than 0.9.
“The ankle-brachial index
measures the ratio of the blood
pressure in the arms and legs,
and if it is less than 0.9,
people by definition have PAD,”
he said.
The researchers then examined
the prevalence of associated
cardiac risk factors of obesity,
diabetes, hypertension and
smoking in 5,376 participants,
age 40 and older, with no prior
history of cardiovascular
disease.
They found that PAD prevalence
among asymptomatic adults 40
years and older significantly
increased from 3.7 percent
in
the 1999-2000 survey to 4.2
percent in the 2001-02 survey
and 4.6 percent in the 2003-04
survey.
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“PAD prevalence was highest
among those age 70 and older,”
Sumner said. “But there also
was an increase in the
prevalence in each adult age
group, including 40 to 49, 50 to
69 and greater than 70 years.”
The authors said prevalence of
obesity, diabetes, hypertension
and smoking also increased over
these three surveys.
“PAD is affecting more people in
the United States
and will continue to do so
because the prevalence of this
problem increases as we get
older, and we have an aging
population,” Sumner said.
“And
this increase is associated with
an increase in common cardiac
risk factors.”
Consumers should be aware that
while they might not have
symptoms, they could have PAD
and should discuss risk factors
and the possibility of screening
with their doctors, Sumner said.
Doctors, on the other hand,
should note that PAD prevalence
is rising and that many of the
accompanying risk factors, such
as hypertension, can be treated.
“Doctors need to be looking for
PAD in asymptomatic patients,”
he said. “And we need to more
aggressively address the risk
factors associated with this
increase in prevalence.”
The next step, from a public
health perspective, is to
reassess the protocols and
systems that exist for
evaluating PAD in asymptomatic
people, he said."
Source: American Heart
Association
http://scientificsessions.american
heart.org/portal/scientific
sessions/ss/newsrelease
11.04.07A
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Seizure of More Than
$300,000 Worth of
Products by the FDA |
1/01/07
MedWatch - The FDA Safety
Information and Adverse Event
Reporting Program
"FDA notified healthcare
professionals of the seizure of
more than $300,000 worth of
products, including NC Solution,
an antifungal product, and other
drugs for human or animal use,
dietary supplements, and
ingredients to make those
products because some lacked FDA
approval and all were maintained
under grossly unsanitary
conditions by General
Therapeutics Corp., of St.
Louis, Mo. NC Solution is
considered a drug because it is
intended for use in the
diagnosis, cure, or treatment of
disease in people or animals and
is not generally recognized as
safe and effective for its
intended uses. The company does
not have FDA approval
for NC Solution.
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Consumers who have any products manufactured by General Therapeutics, including NC Solution, should consult their healthcare provider about discontinuing their use and report if they have experienced any adverse
events that they suspect are related to the use of these products.
Read the complete MedWatch 2007 Safety Summary including a link to the FDA Press Release regarding this issue at:"
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/
safety/2007/safety07.htm#NC
Source: Food and Drug
Administration
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"Superbug"
Bacteria in Schools
called MRSA |
October 23, 2007
"Reports about a deadly "superbug" bacteria in schools may have you worried. The bacteria, called MRSA, short for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, is resistant to many medications, making it difficult to treat. Student athletes and young students are among those at risk. You can help protect your children, your other loved ones and yourself by taking a few minutes to learn about MRSA and staph infections and the best ways to prevent their spread."
For the following information:
1. Introduction
2. Signs and Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Risk Factors
5. When to seek medical
advice
6. Screening and Diagnosis
7. Treatment
8. Prevention
http://www.mayoclinic.com
/health/mrsa/DS00735
Source: The Mayo Clinic
If You Smoke, You
Could Have COPD
And Not Know It |
Learn about the fourth leading
cause of death in the United
States:
Click Below to learn more about
this Disease:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/
Diseases/Copd/Copd_WhatIs.html
Source: National Heart
and Lung Institute of the NIH
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