Contents:
Health
in the News
Seizure Disorders
What To Do
When
To Call 911
Do
Cellular Phones Cause Brain Tumors?
Smoking
and Skin Cancer
Esophageal
Cancer Risk Higher in U.S. Black Men
University
News
This issue
of Health in Our Hands will focus on different health topics which
are currently being reported in the news. This issue will also feature
a column about seizure disorders from M.J. Campo of Disability Services.
March 12-15 is Disability Awareness Week. Be sure to check out the
schedule of events planned for this week in University News.
Seizure Disorders
by M.J. Campo,
Learning Disability Specialist - Disability Services
Epilepsy is the
most common chronic neurological disease in the general population, affecting
about 1 % of the population in the U.S. (Kaplan, Harold; Synopsis
of Psychiatry). A seizure is a transient disturbance of cerebral
dysfunction that is caused by spontaneous, excessive discharge of neurons.
During a seizure, neurons may fire as many as 500 times a second, much
faster than the normal rate of about 80 times per second. In some
people, this only happens occasionally. In others, this may happen
up to hundreds of times a day.
There are two
major types of seizures: generalized and partial. generalized
seizures involve the entire brain, and partial seizures involve only localized
areas of the brain. Symptoms of a general seizure include:
loss of consciousness, tongue biting, and incontinence.
Partial seizures
are classified as simple or complex. During a simple partial seizure,
the person will remain conscious but may experience unusual feelings or
sensations that can take many forms. The person may experience sudden
and unexplainable feelings of joy, anger, sadness, or nausea in addition
to many other sensory perceptions. In a complex partial seizure,
the person has a change in or loss of consciousness, producing a dreamlike
experience. During a complex seizure, people may display strange,
repetitious behaviors such as blinks, twitches, mouth movements, or even
walking in a circle.
1. Roll the person on his
or her side to prevent choking on fluids or vomit.
2. Cushion the head and remove
any sharp or solid objects that the person might hit during the seizure.
3. Loosen any tight clothing
around the neck.
4. Do NOT restrict the person
from moving unless he or she is in danger.
5. Contrary to widespread
belief, people cannot swallow their tongue during a seizure or any other
time. Therefor,. do NOT put anything into the person's mouth.
6. It is important to note
how long the seizure lasts and what symptoms occurred so you can provide
this information to a doctor or emergency personnel if necessary.
7. It is important to stay
with the person until the seizure ends. After the seizure ends, the
person will probably be disoriented, tired, or have a headache. Be
patient and assist the person by locating a safe place to rest. If
necessary, offer to call a friend or relative to help the person get home
safely.
Call 911 immediately
if any of the following occur.
1. The seizure lasts longer
than five minutes.
2. The person is pregnant.
3. The person stops breathing
and has regained consciousness.
4. Another seizure starts
before the person regains consciousness.
5. The seizure occurred in
the water.
6. The person is injured
during the seizure.
7. This is the person's first
seizure, or you think that it might be. Always check the person for
a medical identification card and/or jewelry.
Do Cellular Phones Cause Brain Cancer?
Current rumors
are linking the use of cellular telephones with the increased development
of brain tumors. Brain tumors are considered fairly rare, striking
about six in every 100,000 people in the U.S. each year. This debate
started in 1993 when a Florida man claimed that cell phone use caused his
wife's brain tumor. Since then, scientists have investigated the
effects of cell phone use.
A recent study
published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that
cell phones did not affect the chances of developing brain tumors, regardless
of their usage. A study from the Journal of the American Medical
Association also found that cell phones do not cause brain cancer.
However, both studies tested people who had only been using cell phones
for only a few years. No claims on long-term cell phone use and their
influence over the development of brain tumors can be made. this
controversy will likely continue as more studies are published on this
topic.
Source - American
Cancer Society website, New England Journal of Medicine
A recent study
from the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that smoking is a distinct
risk factor for at least one type of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma.
This study found that smokers are three times more likely to develop this
cancer than nonsmokers. Smoking increases the risk of skin cancer,
regardless of age, sex, or sun exposure.
The researchers
also concluded that higher smoking rates were directly related to higher
rates of skin cancer. Current smokers are also more likely to develop
skin cancer than former smokers. This means that people who stop
smoking may be decreasing their risk of developing skin cancer. Smoking
is also linked to lung cancer, throat cancer, and many other health problems.
Source - American
Cancer Society website
Esophageal Cancer Risk Higher in U.S. Black Men
The American
Journal of Epidemiology recently published a study that found that
men, especially black men, with risk factors such as heavy alcohol consumption,
low income, or tobacco use, are much more likely to develop esophageal
cancer. The researchers suggest that black men are possibly more
likely to develop esophageal cancer because of genetic traits, nutrition,
or possible viral factors.
The authors of the
study suggest an overall healthier lifestyle for men at higher risk.
Modifications in alcohol and tobacco usage and diet can markedly decrease
the incidence of squamous cell esophageal cancers in black males.
Source - American
Cancer Society website
* Disability Awareness Week is March
12015. The following events are planned for the week. For more
information, contact Kim Fields at kfields@cox-internet.com
.
Monday, March 12 - Displays and
Hearing Impaired Seminar
Tuesday, March 13 - Disability
Student
Forum
Wednesday, March 14 - Film Festival
Thursday, March 15 - Luncheon/Banquet
and Symposiums
* Last Call! There is still time to register a team for the College of Nursing and Health Professions Chili Cookoff on March 10th! Registration is $25 dollars. the cookoff will start at 8:00, and it will be held at the ASU football field on the home side of the parking lot. Cookoff tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. Raffle tickets are available for $1. The prizes are $50-100 U.S. savings bonds. Contact Bill Payne at wpayne@crow.astate.edu for ticket information, cookoff rules, or an application form.
* The Wilson Health Center is expanding the pharmacy hours from half a day to full day coverage. It will now be open Monday through Friday from 8 to 5. This will be a temporary trial to see if it is beneficial.
* Mark your calendar for the Wilson Health Center's "Safe Spring Break" Health Fair on March 8th from 10 am to 4 pm at the ASU Pavilion. Some of the services being offered are cholesterol screening, blood sugar tests, tests for anemia, blood pressure checks, fat calibration, fitness level checks, depressions screenings, scratch allergy tests, and foot evaluations. There will also be screens for vision, speech, and hearing as well as an American Red Cross Blood Donor Drive. There will be many local businesses on hand, free door prizes, gifts, and health literature.
ooOoo
The Arkansas State University Employee Wellness Newsletter is published monthly during the academic year by the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Health questions can be addressed to Dean Susan Hanrahan, Ph. D., ext. 3112 or hanrahan@crow.astate.edu.
Produced by Kimberly McGaughey, graduate student in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, Physical Therapy Program.