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Dec 06, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- WARNING SIGNS FOR WOMEN
An American College of Emergency Physicians poll shows most women would not get help when feeling head, neck, back and jaw pain, a sign of a heart attack. Only 47 percent said they would call their doctor and just 35 percent would call 911 or visit an emergency department, the survey of more than 1,000 women older than 35 shows. "Waiting to seek medical attention can mean the difference between life and death," says Dr. Linda Lawrence, ACEP board member. "This information is particularly important as the holidays approach, because it is a stressful time, and we are more likely to neglect our health due to the many distractions and obligations over the next several weeks." Less common symptoms of a heart attack in women include flu-like symptoms such as nausea, clamminess or cold sweats.
TAKING THE BLUES OUT OF THE HOLIDAYS
Don't frustrate yourself with unrealistic New Year's resolutions, advises a Texas psychiatrist who notes expecting too much can bring on the blues. Most people experience some form of malaise during the holidays, says Dr. Madhukar Trivedi of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. To keep your spirits up, he advises: don't dwell on things that went wrong but on what went well; do something nice for yourself for a change; and, exercise. If you still are out of sorts, see a professional about getting help.
RED MEAT MAY RAISE RED FLAG FOR ARTHRITIS
A British study found participants who ate high amounts of red meat had a greater risk of developing arthritis than those who abstained. "A high level of red meat consumption may represent a novel risk factor for inflammatory arthritis or may act as a marker for a group of persons with an increased risk from other lifestyle causes," conclude the authors from the University of Manchester. "It is unclear whether the association is a causative one." Inflammatory arthritis is a precursor of rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the immune system, which has been linked to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as cigarette smoking, says Alan Silman, co-author of the study published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.
TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT FOOD SAFETY
U.S. specialists say high school students who may prepare food at home or as restaurant employees may be lax about food safety. An Iowa State University survey, published in Food Protection Trends, suggests students lack sufficient concern about the possibility of processed meat products causing foodborne illness. The students thought food eaten at home is the least likely to cause illness, although research suggests otherwise. "The 16-to-18 age group makes up 30 to 32 percent of the food service work force," says Jason Ellis of ISU's Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management Program. "You want that population to be somewhat knowledgeable of the impact they can have through their work in service establishments." With that goal in mind, the team developed a Food Safety Education Fair in partnership with the Iowa Hospitality Association Educational Foundation. The information is available at extension.iastate.edu/hrim/training/fsef/.
(Editors: For more information about WOMEN, contact Nora Plunkett at (312) 642-0789, ext. 204 or noraplunkett@thereillygroup.com. For HOLIDAY, Katherine Morales at (214) 648-3404). For MEAT, Amy Molnar at (201) 748-8844 or amolnar@wiley.com. For FOOD, Dave Edmark at (479) 575-5647)
Copyright 2004 by United Press International.
