Healthwise 76               July 2006

Healthwise is a regular column written especially for laterlife.com members and visitors by Helen Franks, journalist and author. Welcome to healthwise 76.  

For previous articles in the healthwise series visit 'more healthwise'

Relief from psoriasis and arthritis

The first World Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Conference in Stockholm revealed in a new study that there was a significant reduction in symptoms among psoriatic arthritis patient treated with Enbrel (etanercept), over a period of 24 weeks. EDUCATE (Experience Diagnosing, Understanding Care, And Treatment) was the title of the study, which took place in 121 sites in the United States.

The study covered 1122 patients treated with this drug, and the following improvements were noted:

• Visits to nurse practitioners and physicians assistants were reduced by 79%

• Patients who had required friends and family for care or transportation dropped by 70%

• Emergency room or urgent care visits were reduced by 62%

• Visits to the physicians’ office (other than dermatologist) were reduced by 45%

• The number of sick days fell per month by over 26%

The drug is not available over the counter, so see your GP if you’d like to know more.

Osteoporosis: don’t stop taking the treatment

Almost half of patients stop taking their weekly treatment within a year for osteoporosis, leaving them open to a greater risk of broken bones, says a new report from the International Osteoporosis Foundation.

Osteoporosis is a widespread disease affecting one woman in three and one man in five. It is treatable, but lack of adherence to treatment is a huge problem, with many patients finding it difficult to continue with medication for the recommended long-term period.
It also has a significant financial impact since, in Europe alone, osteoporosis now costs more than 4.8 billion Euros a year in hospital healthcare – and unless the fracture rate is reduced these costs are likely to increase still further.

In women over 45, osteoporosis accounts for more days spent in hospital than many other diseases, including diabetes, heart attack and breast cancer. The Staying Power campaign has been launched by film star Britt Ekland, who has osteoporosis. For further details of the campaign, and to download a copy of the dossier, please visit the Staying Power section of the IOF website.

Or go to the National Osteoporosis Society: the telephone helpline (0845 450 0230) is open Monday to Friday between 10am and 3pm (except bank holidays). You can also send your medical query to NOS nurses by emailing nurses@nos.org.uk . Alternatively you can write to the NOS Helpline, Camerton, Bath, BA2 0PJ.

Vitamin D and calcium reduce falls

Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health in Zurich say that long-term vitamin D plus calcium supplementation reduces the odds of falling in active older women by 46 % and in less active older women by 65 %. But the supplements offer only a neutral effect in men, independent of their physical activity level.

The study involved 199 men and 246 women, aged 65 years or older and living at home, each taking either 700 IU cholecalciferol plus 500 mg calcium citrate malate daily or a placebo.

After three years, 55 % of men and 45% of women reported at least one fall; however, the cholecalciferol-calcium combination significantly reduced the odds of falling in women, with more pronounced effects in less active women. Baseline vitamin D levels had no apparent effect on results, and supplementation did not reduce men's risk of falls.
 

First signs of dementia

The first signs of dementia—including Alzheimer’s disease—may be physical, rather than mental, according to a joint study between Group Health Cooperative and the University of Washington reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study followed 2,288 Group Health members age 65 and older for six years. At the start, none showed any signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers contacted the participants every two years, assessing physical and mental functioning.

By six years, 319 participants had developed dementia, including 221 with Alzheimer’s disease. The participants whose physical function was higher at the start of the study were three times less likely to develop dementia than were those whose physical function was lower. So there’s a new incentive for exercising regularly.

The heatwave plan

Although severe heatwaves are uncommon in England, the experience across Northwest Europe in 2003 is a reminder that heat can be fatal.
In England, figures released showed there were 2,000 excess deaths - 85% of which were amongst people aged 75 and over .

The heatwave plan gives advice to health workers and those caring for vulnerable older people, so they know what action to take in advance and in the event of a heatwave. A public information leaflet is available which gives practical advice on surviving the heat.

The public information leaflet called 'Heatwave - a Guide to Looking After Yourself and Others in Hot Weather' is available at GP surgeries, pharmacies and walk-in centres.

Plaster casting

Blisters occur when your feet get hot; your socks and shoes then stick to your feet, causing friction and rubbing against prominent parts of the foot. Fluid then fills up the space between the layers of skin to protect the area, creating a small balloon to reduce any further friction causing damage to the skin.

Contrary to popular belief, wounds don’t need air to heal as there is enough oxygen in the blood to aid wound healing, so by using plasters no scabs are able to form, meaning you don’t have the uncomfortable itch and there is no chance of scarring. You have to use breathable plasters, so any excess moisture is able to evaporate and the wound doesn’t become macerated.

Try new waterproof ‘Blister Plasters’ produced by Profoot, to alleviate pressure to blisters. They contain aloe vera which cleanses the wound, eases pain and soothes. Blister Plasters come as a mixed pack of six containing three different sizes, priced at ?3.99, and available from most independent pharmacies including Lloyds Chemists. Further information can also be found on the website www.profoot.co.uk

High doses of painkillers and risk of heart attack

Painkillers such as ibuprofen and diclofenac can double risk of heart attack, says a study from Oxford University epidemiologist Colin Baignet. Anti-inflammatory drugs like Vioxx are known to cause heart problems, and they have been banned since 2004.

Now non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibruprofen, are implicated. But it’s only in high, regular doses that the effect has been noted. So people taking them for occasional headaches can still go ahead.

If in any doubt about any of the information covered in healthwise articles and it's relevance for you, consult your GP.

IN THE PREVIOUS EDITION

In edition 75:-   

In edition 75 of healthwise Helen covers 6 new topics: 

Time to get an eye test

Spots before the eyes

Dryness in the eye

News from Arthritis Care

Five-minute oral work-out

Cancer Research e-newsletter

The complete family health guide

Essential medical reference that's a must for every home. Published in association with the BMA, it includes comprehensive coverage of every important aspect of health and medicine, as well as user-friendly charts for at-a-glance information and easy reference. Also lists the best medical websites...

Maximise your memory

This work provides detailed instructions, illustrations and sample exercises that show the reader how to build a system of personalized frameworks for storing and recalling information on demand.