Discover the Science of Health
Many people are making plans to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday. Fireworks and outdoor recreation are a part of most July 4th celebrations, but sparklers, rockets and hot temperatures pose very real dangers to adults and children. With so many health hazards out there, it’s no wonder that patient numbers increase over the holiday.
A New Orleans woman recently lost an arm to necrotizing fasciitis — the so-called “flesh-eating bacteria” — after injecting a drug called “bath salts,” according to a case study report in the medical journal Orthopedics [1]. She presented with cellulitis, a skin infection, two days after attending a party at which she injected the drug. The infection initially responded to administered antibiotics, but then worsened. The woman lost not only her arm, but her breast and a large portion of her chest wall to amputation. The significant removal of tissue was necessary to prevent the spread of the bacteria.
In an effort to promote public health awareness, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has outlined preparation basics for the zombie apocalypse [1].
Yes, you read that right: zombie apocalypse.
As it turns out, preparing for the zombie apocalypse is similar to preparing for any other disaster: stock up on food, water and medications; have tools and supplies on hand; have items for sanitation and hygiene; etc. The CDC outlines emergency preparedness elsewhere on their website, but apparently no one really wants to read about preparing for a tornado, flood or winter weather. What people do want to read about is the zombie apocalypse. Thus, running with the idea that how you prepare is more important that what you prepare for, CDC went with a tongue-in-cheek, partially no-nonsense discussion of the undead and what happens when they attack.
Between 1996 and 2007, use of herbal supplements in the U.S. rose by a staggering 83% [1]. Many people use herbal medicines mistakenly believing them to be safe simply because they are ‘natural’. However, just like conventional drugs, herbal medicines alter normal body physiology. And despite their wholesome image, many herbal products have adverse effects and may have dangerous interactions with other drugs and dietary supplements. New research published in BioMed Central’s open access journal BMC Medicine reveals that most over-the-counter herbal products do not contain any of the key information required for safe use [2].
A new online resource, designed to give health care providers easy access to evidence-based information on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), was unveiled recently by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health. With this new resource, providers will have the tools necessary to learn about the various CAM practices and products and be better able to discuss the safety and effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine with their patients.
