Choking News and Research

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First Edition: August 2, 2010

Today's headlines include news about a pre-recess Senate push to pass a state aid measure as well as a preview of a White House report to be issued today that predicts savings in the Medicare program.

2 Aug 2010

Nation's emergency physicians urge parents to be aware of playground injuries

Summer for many Americans is a time for outdoor activities, including trips to playgrounds with children. The nation's emergency physicians encourage everyone to have fun and stay active in parks and playgrounds throughout the summer, but urge parents and guardians of children to be aware of injuries that can occur in a matter of seconds if everyone's not careful.

7 Jul 2010

If you suffer from sleep apnea, consult with your dentist: PDA

Sleep apnea, a serious and potentially life-threatening disorder if left untreated, affects approximately 18 million Americans. During sleep apnea episodes, a person stops breathing for at least 10 seconds. Depending on the severity of the disorder, a person can have between 10 and 60 episodes a night. Sleep apnea treatment often involves a team of healthcare providers, including dentists, general physicians, surgeons and sleep specialists.

18 Jun 2010

Alzheimer's disease may damage brain

Alzheimer's disease has long been studied primarily as a disease of neurons. But researchers have now shown how the disease may be damaging the brain by choking off blood flow. In experiments published June 10 in Neuron, scientists at Rockefeller University reveal that amyloid-β, which builds up around brain cells in Alzheimer's patients, interacts with a common blood clotting agent to increase clotting in the arteries that feed the brain.

17 Jun 2010

Caregiver's guide on avoiding life-threatening swallowing problems

That's the message of Drs. Roya Sayadi and Joel Herskowitz. They are a wife-husband team from Natick, Massachusetts, who are spreading the word that swallowing problems are everywhere - and they can be deadly!

10 Jun 2010

Odds of surviving cardiac arrest may depend on neighborhood: Study

The odds of surviving cardiac arrest may depend on which part of town you call home and whether anyone in the neighborhood comes to your rescue by attempting to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, according to a first-of-its-kind study in the June issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

1 Jun 2010

MedAire launches new course to prepare pilots, flight attendants for medical emergencies

MedAire, the aviation medical and travel assistance company, has launched the 2010 version of its Management of In-flight Illness & Injury course, which offers medical and educational best practices through the use of audio-visual tools, e-Learning, hands-on skills assessments and real-life scenarios to prepare pilots and flight attendants for medical emergencies.

3 May 2010

Prevention is key to minimize choking hazards among young children

Though airway obstructions in young children occur less often than other types of injuries, the death rate is higher, according to new research from Children's National Medical Center.

21 Apr 2010

New endoscopic scanning technique improves early detection of dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus

Cancer of the lower esophagus develops almost exclusively in patients with Barrett's esophagus, an otherwise benign complication of esophageal reflux that affects approximately 3 million Americans. Although the prognosis of patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer is poor, the chances of successful treatment increase significantly if the disease is detected at an early dysplastic stage.

13 Apr 2010

Leichhardt goes smoke free

It has been only a few days since the Waverly council responsible for Sydney’s popular Bondi Beach voted for a ban on smoking in restaurants and cafes starting this July. It is now Leichhardt Council that is responsible for the inner western Sydney suburbs that has come up with a similar ban.

24 Mar 2010

Hot dogs: Top food-related choking hazard in children under 3

Hot dogs, those ubiquitous and savory symbols of the American diet, have caught the attention of pediatricians at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and elsewhere for a decidedly unappetizing reason — they are a choking hazard for young children.

22 Mar 2010

Tips for reducing LDL cholesterol

Cardiovascular disease is the No.1 killer in North America. And high cholesterol is one of the primary risk factors of coronary heart disease and stroke. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, almost 40% of Canadian adults are classified as having high blood cholesterol levels.

16 Mar 2010

Prevention of choking hazards in food: Safe, children oriented packaging and design needed

While choking hazards in toys have been widely publicized and addressed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ironically choking hazards in food have lacked federal attention despite the fact that food is far more likely to go into a child’s mouth.

12 Mar 2010

Identification of gaps in accessing stroke centers cuts down the deadly toll of stroke

When stroke strikes, choking off blood supply to the brain, every minute counts: Nearly 2 million neurons die each minute a stroke is left untreated, making it a race to recognize symptoms so that lifesaving "clot-busting" drugs can be administered.

25 Feb 2010

Choking among children: AAP releases new policy statement

Choking is a leading cause of injury and death among children, especially those younger than 4 years of age. The majority of choking-related incidents among children are associated with food, coins and toys. A new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), led by a doctor at Nationwide Children's Hospital and published in the February 22 online issue of Pediatrics, takes a closer look at preventing choking among children.

22 Feb 2010

I.I.I. highlights fraud and abuse in New York's automobile insurance system

Fraud and abuse in New York's no-fault auto insurance system cost consumers and insurers nearly $230 million in 2009, constituting a "fraud tax" of $1,561, or 22 percent of every no-fault claim, according to Dr. Robert Hartwig, an economist and president of the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

3 Feb 2010

Bevacizumab drug shows promise to slow tumor growth in lung cancer patients

Phase II study results of the agent ASA404 showed promise in patients with either squamous or non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

13 Jan 2010

Physician's counsel can make a difference in reducing sudden death syndrome

The advice of a pediatrician to place infants on their backs to sleep appears to be the single most important motivator in getting parents to follow these recommendations and a key reason that the rate of sudden death syndrome (SIDS) has plummeted since the "Back to Sleep" campaign was launched in 1994, says a UT Southwestern researcher.

14 Dec 2009

Advice of pediatrician key motivator in baby's sleep position

13 Dec 2009

Appropriate toys for children: Suggestions from doctors and experts

With the excitement of the holidays, parents and relatives eagerly purchase the hottest toys and latest items for their children. But it's during the hustle and bustle of the season that many fail to buy age appropriate gifts and they tend to disregard warnings on these toys and gifts when it comes to ensuring safety.

5 Dec 2009