Sound Medicine -- January 19, 2002
- Barbara Lewis and Dr. David Crabb talk to experts about:
 A
cure for the common cold- Developments
in glaucoma diagnosis and treatment
- New
techniques in knee surgery
Listen to the show:
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A cure for the common cold
There just may be cure for the common cold. This week co-hosts Dr.
David Crabb and Barbara Lewis meet with Dr. Frederick Hayden of the
University of Virginia to talk about it.
Dr. Hayden — professor of medicine, researcher and internist at the
University of Virginia — has dedicated nearly a quarter of a century
to understanding the cold virus and is developing a new drug that may
make the common cold a little less common. It's called Pleconaril. Right
now, adults get an average of 1 to 2 colds a year; children get an average
of six.
- Resources
 Dr.
Hayden's Web site, commoncold.org, answers
all your questions about this ubiquitous ailment. Surprise, you don't
catch colds from being cold. Looking for a recipe to "feed a
cold"? Try Natalie's Chicken Foot soup.
Developments in glaucoma diagnosis and treatment
January is Glaucoma Awareness month. Glaucoma is caused by a number
of eye diseases that lead to optic nerve damage and visual field loss.
Currently, damage from glaucoma cannot be reversed. The most common
form of the disease is called open angle glaucoma, and it affects
about three million Americans. Those most vulnerable to this eye disease
are African Americans over the age of 40, and all people over the age
of 60.
Here to help us understand the disease is Dr. Lou Cantor, director
of Glaucoma Service at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He
talks about the recently discovered genetic link to glaucoma. He also
describes new ways to diagnose this disease and things we can do to
prevent losing our vision because of glaucoma. Dr. Cantor is Professor
of Ophthalmology at IUSM.
- Resources
- Read
more about glaucoma and other eye-related diseases at the Prevent
Blindness America Web site.
- The Medem
Medical library has excellent
articles on glaucoma.
- The
American Academy of Ophthalmology is the ophthalmologist's professional
organization. Lay users can search for eye doctors or peruse Patient
Information links.
New techniques in knee surgery
Orthopedic researchers are testing and approving new methods knee joint
replacement. For people in their 20's, 30's and 40's, a partial knee
replacement using human bone and tissue may be the answer.
This week we speak with Dr. Jack Farr, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes
in knee reconstruction. He is affiliated with Orthopedics Indianapolis.
- Resources
- The
Cartilage
Restoration Center provides terrific information on knees and
their parts.
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This week's Medical Mystery — When you're in stitches.
You've made that New Year's resolution to run on the treadmill --
even if it kills you. Some days it feels like it will. You are running
along nicely until wham, you get a stitch in your side. What causes them
anyway?
Find out.
Health Quiz — Mom's admonishments, are they true or false?
• If you crack your knuckles frequently you'll get arthritis when
you're older.
• Don't swallow chewing gum! It takes years to digest in the stomach.
• Reading in the dark ruins your eyes.
What's the truth?
Weekly Notebook: Glaucoma, are you at risk?
Some people are more likely to develop glaucoma than others. Here
are a few conditions which can put you at greater risk:
• you have abnormally high intraocular pressure
• you have a family member with glaucoma
• you are over 45 and have not had your eyes examined regularly
• you are of African descent
• you have diabetes
• you are myopic (nearsighted)
• regular, long-term steroid/cortisone use
• previous eye injury
Source: The Glaucoma Foundation
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