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Sep 23, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- MOST DON'T RECOGNIZE NERVE PAIN
Neuropathic pain, known as nerve pain, which causes "pins and needles" tinglings as well as electric shock-like sensation, affects 15 million Americans and Europeans. A survey sponsored by the American Chronic Pain Association, finds 34 percent of Americans have or know someone who has experienced nerve pain, yet only 6 percent of people recognize the symptoms. Nerve pain is a type of chronic pain that occurs when there is a dysfunction of the central nervous system or nerves become injured because of conditions such as diabetes, shingles, carpal tunnel syndrome or and cancer and its treatments. "People need to recognize all the symptoms of pain, take them seriously, and speak to their physician for proper diagnosis and treatment," says Penney Cowan, executive director of the American Chronic Pain Association.
HAND WASHING REPORT CARD
The U.S. Soap and Detergent Association's 2004 Clean Hands Report Card gives Americans a "C" for hand hygiene. The Report Card indicates that while 90 percent of Americans surveyed say they always washed their hands after using the bathroom, a 2003 observational study found as many as one-third of public restroom users did not wash their hands. The 2004 Report Card also finds that 43 percent surveyed seldom or never wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, while 32 percent don't always wash before eating lunch. Fifty-four percent of respondents don't wash their hands long enough to effectively remove germs and dislodge dirt. It's recommended that people should wash hands for at least 20 seconds.
MORE CROHN'S AWARENESS NEEDED
A U.S. survey of people with Crohn's disease reveals that 84 percent of respondents find there is a need for increased awareness about Crohn's. More than half with Crohn's disease find their employers, families and friends tend to underestimate the effect of the disease on their daily lives, according to the survey by Voices of Crohn's. Since the perception among those surveyed is that awareness is limited among the general public, a new Web site, voicesofcrohns.com, is available for people to learn more about the debilitating nature of the disease. Symptoms for Crohn's include unpredictable and persistent diarrhea, fever and severe abdominal pain.
HIBISCUS HAS HEALTH BENEFITS
Hibiscus flower extract may have the same health benefits as red wine and tea, according to researchers in Taiwan. The findings, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, says hibiscus, often used in soft drinks and tea, contains antioxidants that help control cholesterol levels and reduce heart disease.
Chau-Jong Wang of the Chung Shan Medical University finds that the antioxidant properties of flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds and anthocyanins contained in the flower can prevent the oxidation of Low-Density Lipoproteins associated with heart disease. "Experiments have shown that compounds extracted from red wine and tea reduce cholesterol and lipid buildup in the arteries of rats," says Wang.
(EDITORS: For more information on NERVE PAIN, contact Penney Cowan at (800) 533-3231. For HAND WASHING, Brian Sansoni at (202) 662-2517 or bsansoni@cleaning101.com. For CROHN'S, Meg Harrison at (215) 928-2357.)
Copyright 2004 by United Press International.
