| ||||||||
       | ||||||||
|
||||||||
Medical
Mystery -- Mite-Proof Bed Coverings
Weekly Notebook -- WTC Air Pollution
|
Special Segment: Hemorrhagic Stroke On Monday, Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon was rushed to a hospital in Chicago, suffering from internal bleeding on both sides of his brain. He was found in his hotel room, unresponsive and near death. After hours of surgery to remove the blood from his brain, he was hooked onto a ventilator and placed in a drug-induced coma and listed in critical condition. Dr. Douglas Zipes is a cardiologist, scientist and distinguished professor at the IU School of Medicine. He says the hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain), and the subsequent surgery to remove that blood, usually ends in a marked reduction in brain function. The Governor’s stroke was a rare type of stroke that is often deadly and always destructive. It is estimated in the US, that stroke happens every 45 seconds. The American Heart Association's website has an abundance of information pertaining to:
|
Mushrooms!
If you are a mushroom hunter, or just a mushroom aficionado, you'll be intrigued by Dr. Nicholas Money, a botany professor and mycologist at Miami University of Ohio. Dr. Money has recently published a book called Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard: The Mysterious World of Mushrooms, Molds and Mycologists.
Dr. Money tells us how penicillin was discovered by accident in the 1920s. He also describes how yeast is beneficial, and how dandruff is a type of fungus. Mushrooms do not have any particular nutritional benefits; they are used in food mostly for flavor. Finally, we discuss how excessive mushroom hunting can harm the environment.
- Resources:
Peruse a summary of Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard: The Mysterious World of Mushrooms, Molds, and Mycologists, a book written by Dr. Money.-
Learn the differences between edible
and poisonous mushrooms. This website has pictures and descriptions
of many mushroom varieties commonly found in the midwest.
- The website for Mushroom: The Journal contains many resources for mushroom hunters, including a directory of regional mushrooming clubs, tips for the mushroom neophyte, and pictures of different types of mushrooms.
The Debate on Full-Body Scan
A full-body CT scan to screen for disease is easily arranged. The next time you schedule a day at the spa, check to see if it offers the full-body scan -- before your massage, perhaps. It's not cheap, but proponents say the peace of mind a whole-body scan offers is worth the price.
Critics, however, claim inaccurate and insufficient reports lead to further invasive and expensive tests, or a false sense of security. Dr. Jim Borgstede, vice-chairman of the American College of Radiology board of chancellors, and an associate clinical professor of radiology at the University of Colorado Health Science Center, discusses why he is opposed to scans that are not recommended by physicians.- Resources:
- Read a press release from the American College of Radiology about full body CT screening exams.
- The Johns Hopkins Health After 50 newsletter weighs the pros and cons of full body scans.
- A CBS News story also debates the validity of the procedure.
Balance and Dizziness
It is estimated that two million people per year seek medical help for dizziness. For people aged seventy-five years old and above, balance problems are the most frequently reported ailments in office visits. Dizziness, lightheadedness, vertigo, and other balance problems can be traced to the inner ear. This is because fluid in inner ear moves, which stimulates nerve endings that send messages to the brain.
Dr. George Hicks of the Midwest Ear Institute imparts some advice about warning signs of inner ear problems. He is a specialist in the field of otology and neurotology. He is board-certified by the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery, and an assistant clinical professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
- Resources:
- Find out more on dizziness and motion sickness from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
- Take a look at the website for Midwest Ear Institute, where Dr. Hicks practices. The Balance Center at the Institute is a medical facility for dizziness and balance disorders.
- Meniere’s disease affects the inner ear, and causes unpredictable symptoms of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear pressure.
- Symptoms of vestibular disorders include dizziness, unsteadiness or imbalance when walking, vertigo, and nausea. Learn more information about these inner ear ailments.
