Sea Crest Health Care Center

By Nancy Smith

Today’s medical announcement would be astounding if it wasn’t almost intuitive; the results clearly demonstrate that lifestyle behaviors do contribute to stroke risk independently of the intermediate risk factors.

We are all aware that the following four behaviors are beneficial to one’s health. Physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption, no smoking, and the daily consumption of five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day can only have a positive impact. The strength of that impact was recently bolstered by a defining EPIC (European Prospective Investigation of Cancer) study conducted in England.

20,040 men and women ages 40 to 79 had a physical exam and completed a detailed health and lifestyle questionnaire upon enrolling in the study. This data determined which participants smoked, drank, were physically active, and whether they ate their fruits and vegetables. The risk of stroke for those who did not practice any of the above mentioned behaviors increased twofold compared with individuals who adopted all four.

“These results provide further incentive and support for the notion that small differences in lifestyle can have a substantial potential impact on risk,” the authors concluded.

by Adele Weber

If it’s topical, the theory goes, it has fewer side effects than pills. Right?

Wrong.

Often overlooked, the side-effects of topical creams is more important than credited. Lidocaine is a topical numbing agent frequently used before mammograms. The cream is spread on the skin and allowed to absorb for 45 minutes. It is also used to dull pain from laser hair removal, or any other surgery covering a large amount of skin. Research studies found no side-effects; however, the clinical trial did not have enough of a sample size to account for rare and unusual side effects.

This became apparent when two women spread lidocaine and tetracaine on their legs, covered it in plastic, and left it for 45 minutes. They experiences seizures, fell into comas, and died.

Experts theorize that broken skin or elevated temperature might have raised the amount of the drug entering the bloodstream to toxic levels.

When using topical analgesic, use the minimum amount, and avoid broken skin.