Your Health News at BAMI.us

Men More Likely Than Women to be Alcoholics

A recent study found that men have a 1 in 5 lifetime risk of developing alcohol abuse or dependence, compared with only a 1 in 10 risk for women. However, the majority of both men and women do well after therapy for alcohol abuse, according to University of California researchers. 

Source: “Men More Than Twice as Likely as Women to Develop Alcohol Dependence”, The Lancet, January 23, 2009 

Psychiatric disorders are prevalent, yet undertreated, in college kids

The college years are a particularly vulnerable time of development. What’s more, the academic and social pressures can be overwhelming for a college student, living in a new, transitional, and highly influential environment. 

The major task of this age is to become their own person. They need to learn to make choices and commitments, follow through with them, and stand up independently in the world. But college-aged kids swing back and forth between dependence and independence as they work on these tasks.   What’s more, college-aged individuals may have less well-developed coping mechanisms or less experience than older adults with romantic disappointments and interpersonal difficulties, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of these and related stressors. 

A recent large Columbia study of 5,000 individuals, aged 19 to 25, found that mental health problems are highly prevalent among both college students and nonstudents alike.   In this study, an alarming 46%  of students and 48% of non-students in this age group technically had a psychiatric disorder according to objective DSM-IV criteria.

That is not to say that almost half of our youth will go on to suffer mental illness for the rest of their lives.  Many of the 19 to 25 year olds who use healthy coping mechanisms will overcome this challenging and emotional phase of their lives.  Regular exercise, adequate sleep, a well-balanced diet, choosing friends wisely, and seeking professional counseling when needed will build a solid foundation for happiness and success in their later years.  Others who turn to alcohol, heavy partying, excessive sleeping, smoking, or drugs to deal with their stressors, will more likely go on to develop more serious mental illness. Continue reading ‘Psychiatric disorders are prevalent, yet undertreated, in college kids’

Six facts everyone should know about Tylenol

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the most widely used pain reliever and fever reducer in the United States, and it’s a common ingredient that’s readily available in most parts of the world. When taken as directed, it’s thought to be safe, but it’s very important that the following facts are well known:

1. Acetaminophen causes more overdoses and overdose deaths, due to liver toxicity, than any other drug in the United States. This is due in part to it’s toxicity but also because it’s a common ingredient and very easy to obtain.
2. As few as three alcoholic drinks at one time, when combined with certain over–the–counter medications, such as those containing acetaminophen, may have toxic effects on the liver.
3. Overdoses also occur simply because people underestimate or are unaware of acetaminophen’s toxicity. Many cold remedies already contain acetaminophen (Tylenol), and overdoses can easily occur by taking acetaminophen in addition to a cold remedy, or two cold remedies which both contain acetaminophen. It’s very important to read the label of all over-the counter products before taking them.  Do not combine products which both contain acetaminophen.
4. Parents can make a variety of mistakes in the amount of acetaminophen they give their children. For one, a parent may be unsatisfied with the results of the recommended dosage of acetaminophen, and decide more will be better. Another common mistake occurs when a parent may mistakenly give adult tablets to a child, instead of the children’s formulation. Also, even the children’s versions of acetaminophen come in many different formulations, and the dosage varies for each one. For example, the infant drop formulation is three times as concentrated as the elixir or syrup typically given to toddlers. It’s easy to see how a busy parent might assume that both liquids contain the same amount of medicine. But substituting infant drops for syrup could result in a dose of acetaminophen three times what it should be.
5. Acetaminophen is frequently the drug of choice for adolescent suicide attempts. There is an antidote but it must be administered within eight to 10 hours after an overdose has been ingested.
6. Toxic levels of acetaminophen can result in severe liver damage or liver failure. Your liver is a vital organ–you can’t live without it.

As long as acetaminophen is given to children at recommended doses, there is virtually no risk of liver toxicity, according to a recent large study from Rocky Mounting Poison and Drug Center in Denver.  But it cannot be stressed enough that’s it’s essential to read the label of all over-the-counter products before taking them or giving them to your child.

via “Over-the-Counter Pain Relief” from Bay Area Medical Information
via “AASLD: Acetaminophen Dosed Properly Poses Minimal Liver Risk to Children” from MedPage Today, November 3, 2008

Don’t let Halloween become a nightmare

Halloween can be a great time for both kids and adults, but it can quickly turn into the worst night of your life, for a number of reasons. 

Halloween is a particularly deadly night due to drunk drivers. Over half of all the highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night involve a driver or a motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  It’s critical that you never drink and drive — and always remember to designate a sober driver. 

Parents beware of the dangers on the streets and the many other hazards your child can easily encounter.  Read the following extremely important safety tips you need to keep in mind, even before your child picks out a costume.

• Halloween Safety Tips from the FDA
• Novelty Makeup from the FDA
• The Dangers of Using Decorative Contact Lenses from the FDA 
• Halloween Safety Alert from the Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Stay Safe and Healthy this Halloween from the CDC
• Halloween Health and Safety Tips from the CDC
• Trick-or-Treating Fire Safety from the U.S. Fire Administration

Photo courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Metabolic syndrome linked with heavy drinking

Excessive drinking increases the risk of the metabolic syndrome, according to researchers from the CDC.
Consuming more than two drinks a day for men and more than one for women appears to increase the risk of metabolic syndrome by 60%. 

The metabolic syndrome is defined as three or more of the following:

• Impaired fasting glucose, diagnosis of diabetes, and/or taking insulin or diabetic medication
• Raised plasma triglycerides
• Low serum HDL cholesterol
• Abdominal obesity
• Elevated blood pressure or taking antihypertensive medication

About 20% of men and 19% of women have metabolic syndrome and 72% of men and 68% of women have at least one metabolic abnormality.

via Fan AZ, et al “Patterns of alcohol consumption and the metabolic syndrome” J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008; DOI: 10.1210/jc.2007-2788. /MedPage Today, July 30, 2008

Alcohol — Potion or Poison?

Studies have found an association between moderate alcohol consumption and a reduced risk of developing heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and ischemic strokes. However, many people are not aware than even moderate alcohol consumption has a huge downside such as increasing the risk of cancer of the breast, mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, and liver; not to mention harmful effects on the brain and liver. As few as three drinks at one time may have toxic effects on the liver when combined with certain over–the–counter medications, such as those containing acetaminophen.   

Moderate alcohol consumption is defined for men (no more than 2 drinks per day), for women (no more than 1 drink per day), and for people over 65 (no more than 1 drink per day).

News reports on the benefits of alcohol abound, yet the whole story is often missing.   Yes, alcohol may be helpful in preventing heart disease, but it’s certainly not a healthy drink if it causes mental decline or cancer.

More on alcohol from Bay Area Medical Information