H1N1 antiviral dosages confuse parents, could endanger children
Antiviral drugs like Tamiflu are crucial for effectively managing the H1N1 flu in both small children and infants. However, according to a letter authored by scientists from Northwestern, Emory University and the Weil Cornell School of Medicine, instructions included on the boxes’ pharmacy labels are creating headaches for parents. The dosage instructions included on the box are in terms of teaspoons while the liquid drug inside comes in a syringe marked in milligrams. But milligrams are a unit of mass, while teaspoons measure volume, necessitating some simple – yet unnecessarily tedious – arithmetic to convert one quantity to the other. In one case, parents were instructed to give their 6-year-old daughter three-fourths of a teaspoon of the medication twice daily. Only after some diligent math were parents able to calculate the equivalent dose in milligrams. This dosing misalignment increases the possibility of giving a child too little or too much of the drug, rendering it either less effective or potentially toxic.
Heart disease linked to recurring illnesses, rates exceptionally high in the U.S.
New data provided by the Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health Registry has shown an eye-opening correlation between heart disease and a patient’s risk of developing other ailments down the road. The study analyzed the medical histories of more than 32,000 patients both one and three years after enrolling in the REACH Registry. Those with history of heart disease were more likely to suffer from heart attacks, strokes or other vascular events – ailments that affect hundreds of millions of people globally. The study also suggested that those living in the U.S. may be at a higher risk of developing these recurrent conditions than those in other countries, demonstrating the need – and urgency – for Americans to adopt healthier, more active lifestyles.
High percentage of mentally ill patients who smoke may benefit from interventions
Anywhere from 40 to 80 percent of the mentally ill are daily smokers, compared to less than 20 percent of the general population who smoke. As a result, many doctors are hesitant to ask their patients to kick the habit, fearing they may inflict even more psychological harm. This cautiousness seems to be unfounded, however, according to Prof. Brian Hitsman, a tobacco addition specialist who argues well-structured therapy can both help patients quit and could lessen their psychiatric symptoms.
Midnight snacks can cause weight gain due to fewer calories burned at night
Researchers at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine are proposing a third “must,” in addition to diet and exercise, for effective weight loss: Avoid eating when you should be sleeping. The human body’s energy demands vary at different times of the day, which may complicate the simple “burn more calories than you take in” weight-loss mantra. Basically, researchers say, the next time you embark on a weight-loss regimen, do whatever you can to stave off those midnight cravings.
