Burnt foods, especially meats, may cause an increased risk of cancer. Higher peak temperatures may even increase risks in foods that don’t burn. To minimize risk avoid burning or charring foods, cook for longer times at lower heat and cut foods into smaller pieces prior to cooking. Continue to avoid heating foots in plastic containers, even if they are “microwave safe” as this may produce dioxanes, potential carcinogens, that can leach into the food.

IN THE NEWS:
A Dutch study finds that foods containing acrylamides, chemicals produced when foods are fried, grilled or roasted, may significantly increase the risk of developing cancer, especially in women. Those women who ate 40 micrograms of acrylamide a day, or the approximate equivalent of half a package of cookies or a single serving of French fries or potato chips, were twice as likely to get ovarian or womb cancer. Researchers say more study is needed to confirm the potential link, however.

Think Twice before insisting on that CAT-scan or MRI. Medical tests such as CT-scans, X-rays and MRI’s are important tools used by physicians to diagnose a variety of medical conditions. However, like everything, they do have risks. Sometimes things are discovered on these tests that “might” be abnormal, leading to further tests or treatments, each of which have their own risks, and in the end everything would have been better off left alone. Some tests expose the patient to high doses of radiation or to dyes that occasionally cause kidney damage or allergic reactions. In the U.S. we spend a lot more on health care than other countries, but are no healthier. So the next time your doctor advises you against a certain test, if you trust him or her, listen. Often there is a safer approach. Sometimes less is more.

The holidays are coming sooner than you think. If your business gives gifts to customers or if you just need to stock up on some stocking stuffers, please consider THINK TWICE: MORE LESSONS FROM THE ER. It’s the perfect gift and it helps keep your customers safe, so they can stay your customers.

This post brought to you courtesy of my uncle who wanted more people to know about the shingles vaccine and other adult vaccines.

Flu shots have been available since October 1st. If you haven’t had yours yet, ask your doctor. For most of us the benefits far outweigh any risk. Contraindications include allergy to eggs.

If you haven’t had the pneumonia vaccine or Pneumovax in the past 5 years and you are older than 65 or have immune compromise, you should ask your doctor. It can prevent pneumococcal disease which is probably the most common cause of fatal pneumonia and meningitis.

The Shingles vaccine is relatively new and is now recommended for adults over the age of 60 by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.  Shingles is an extremely painful reactivation of the virus that causes Chicken Pox.  If you have never had Chicken Pox, keep reading.  The same committee has also recommended the Varicella vaccine for adults without evidence of immunity to this virus. (ask your doctor).

HPV vaccine: This vaccine is indicated for females age 11-26 to aid in the prevention of cervical cancer.

Other vaccines for adults: Hepatitis B, Varicella, Tetanus
Travel Vaccines to consider: Hepatitis A, Japanese Encephalitis, Lyme, Rabies, Typhoid, Yellow fever.

A patient of mine who stayed at home all night while having a mild heart attack, and finally came to the Emergency Department (not Emergency Room) in the morning wanted me to put the following advice into print:

If you have chest pain, even if it is mild, and it radiates to both arms, go to the ED immediately.

Most people worry more if they have symptoms in their left arm along with chest discomfort. Radiation to the left arm may or may not increase the risk. However, if the symptoms radiate to BOTH arms, the chance that the discomfort is due to a cardiac condition becomes very high, regardless of symptom intensity.

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Can a flu shot prevent more than the flu? Possibly. As of October 1st, flu shots are available. Ask your doctor if you should have one.

How many hours should you sleep each night for optimum cardiac health? Click here for the answer provided by a recent study

Daylight savings time and Halloween are coming. Here are some important safety tips for trick-or-treaters and their parents.

Be Crosswalk Safe: When holding a child’s hand crossing the street make sure you are holding their hand rather that the other way around. If they are holding your finger or part of your hand, they could let go. If you have your hand around theirs, then you are in control and they are safer. A little life could depend on it.

Be Street Safe: Avoid dark costumes. Choose light colors or add reflective material to costumes. Carry flashlights. Avoid masks that obscure peripheral vision or teach your children to keep the masks tipped up and back until they ring the doorbell. Stay out of the street except for crosswalks and even then be very careful.

Be House Safe: Check your property yearly, if not more often, for tripping hazards, poor lighting or low branches that could injure a running teen or child. What better month to do this than in October, when on the 31st many strangers may be walking up and back from your front door? Also make sure your pets are not going to put anyone at risk. We see as many injuries from dogs causing trips and falls as we do from bites.

Be Fire Safe: Try to use battery powered lights rather than candles. Avoid costumes with low hanging material or that are not flame-resistant. Teach your children how to “Stop-Drop-and-Roll” (Dropping is the most important part of this)

Be Food Safe: Prepare a large wholesome meal so your family doesn’t overindulge. Inspect candy before your children eat it. Allergies to unfound peanut products are the number one cause of ER visits from halloween candy.

OUTDOOR TIPS:

Seek shelter: if you can hear the thunder within 30 seconds of seeing the lightning then the storm is close enough to put you at risk.
Stay low: Avoid being the tallest thing around. Squat or lie down under shrubs or smaller trees with your heels together.
Avoid tall trees: Don’t stand next to the tallest thing around either. You can be hit by a side flash if you are under a tall tree.
Stay out of the water.

INDOOR TIPS:

The best shelter: The best shelter is a building with plumbing, electric wiring or other metal in it. Other structures offer little protection.
A car offers protection: Roll up the windows and don’t touch anything metal though.
Don’t touch: Once indoors, wear insulating shoes and avoid windows. Also don’t use or touch any plumbing, metal, or electrical appliances, especially a non-cordless phone.

Summer is upon us and with the extended daylight hours and outdoor activities we will be seeing more injuries in the ED. Drownings and pool safety, one of the top causes of accidental death in children, has been covered previously and is also a major topic in Think Twice and Don’t Try This at Home. Trampolines are another popular backyard summer activity - but jumper beware! The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended the elimination of trampoline use at home because of the number of injuries that occur with its use. Proper trampoline use should include supervision by a skilled instructor, one jumper on the trampoline at a time and no jumpers who are under the age of 6.  To share your summer safety advice with readers, click on the subject title above the write a comment in the space below.

Avoid supplements without the “USP Verified” mark.  All prescription and over the counter medications must meet quality standards set by the US Pharmacopeia.  This is optional for supplements.  Many supplements though “natural” can cause serious health problems, especially if they contain adulterants.  The USP Verified mark means that a supplement contains what it says it does, is free of harmful contaminants, and will break down in the body properly so that it can actually be absorbed.  For more information visit consumerreportsmedicalguide.org