Health Tips: Heart, alcohol, cleaning

By LIDIA WASOWICZ GIVE YOUR HEART A BREAK TODAYMost adults follow at least one of three ways heart specialists recommend for keeping the old ticker healthy -- but only a handful engage in all three. The American Heart Association says cardiovascular disease can be kept at bay by:-- avoiding tobacco,-- exercising regularly,-- watching one's weight.While 93 percent of those surveyed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality were taking at least one of those preventive steps, only 18 percent took them all. The survey showed:-- more than half engaged in moderate to vigorous activity thrice weekly,-- more than three-quarters did not smoke,-- more than a third had a Body Mass Index, a weight-to-height measure that correlates to body fat, of under 25 -- below the level considered overweight or obese.Only 42 percent practiced two of these behaviors, and 6.5 percent practiced none at all. Of those who had been told by their doctor to kick the smoking habit because they had signs of heart disease, fewer than one in four did.EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL, ASPIRIN ON BLEEDINGThe first study of its kind suggests use of aspirin or alcohol does not appear to increase the risk of bleeding in patients with a traumatic brain injury. Some 1.5 million Americans suffer such injuries every year, 60,000 of them with fatal results. The study authors at Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York say more than half of such patients are brought to the hospital intoxicated, and many others take blood-thinners, such as aspirin, to manage their cardiovascular disease. Traumatic brain injury can result from a blow to the brain or head trauma, including:-- bleeding,-- swelling,-- decreased oxygen,-- increased pressure on the brain.Up to 80 percent of deaths in brain-injured patients results from bleeding in the brain, officially dubbed intracranial hemorrhage, which also can cause debilitating brain damage. Such damage affects some 5.3 million Americans. Influences over the outcome include:-- age,-- level of consciousness when admitted to the hospital,-- severity of the injury.TREATMENT SPELLS PAIN RELIEFA non-invasive procedure may spell relief for the estimated 1 million men and women who suffer an excruciatingly painful disorder called trigeminal neuralgia. Also known as tic douloureux, the condition can be treated with stereotactic radiosurgery, researchers told a meeting of neurological surgeons in Washington. Typically, the intense, stabbing pain:-- involves the lower face and jaw,-- may affect the nose and eye area,-- is limited to one side of the face.The condition arises when the trigeminal nerve, which conveys sensations from the face, is irritated or damaged, causing it to misfire and produce pain. Scientists list risk factors as:-- advanced age,-- hypertension,-- multiple sclerosis,-- female gender.Open surgery is considered the most effective treatment. In a 10-year study of 120 patients, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, analyzed the effectiveness of the less invasive linear accelerator radiosurgery, which delivers a concentrated dose of ionizing radiation to the target area to interrupt transmission of pain signals to the brain. The team, led by Dr. Zachary Smith, concluded the procedure was safe, effective and less risky than open surgery. However, too large a dose might lead to numbness, they said.SPRING CLEANING MAY HARM HEALTHIf you are planning on doing some spring cleaning in your house and yard, better brush up on your knowledge of how to use and store cleaners and pesticides. Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis warn when ill-handled, some of these compounds can turn deadly. Here are some tips they offer for staying safe:-- read all safety instructions,-- do not use bottles missing original labels,-- avoid areas where pesticides and herbicides were recently applied,-- lock up potentially hazardous substances, such as toilet-bowl cleaners, rust removers, chrome polishers and bleach, to avoid accidental ingestion by children or pets,-- ventilate,-- opt for biodegradable, environmentally friendly, detergent-based rather than solvent-based cleaners.Linda Vishino, an environmental safety specialist, also recommends:-- using non-aerosol, pump-type sprays,-- controlling ants with a borax-sugar-water mixture,-- cleaning bathrooms with baking soda and castile soap,-- putting up screens to keep bugs away,-- polishing copper with vinegar and salt, and furniture with lemon juice and vegetable oil,-- freshening the air with simmered cinnamon leaves and cloves,-- opening drains with baking soda, vinegar and boiling water,-- opening drains with baking soda, vinegar and boiling water,

--UPI Consumer Health welcomes comments on this column. E-mail: lwasowicz@upi.com

Copyright 2007 by UPI

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