What's With the Five Second Rule?
Sun, Aug 22 2010 04:54
| five second rule, food safety
| Permalink
Can you ever eat something you have dropped on the floor/ground? There has actually been quite a bit of research on this and none of it agrees! Several years ago a research project at Connecticut College indicated that depending on whether the food dropped on the cafeteria floor was wet or dry, it took one to 5 minutes to attract bacteria. I think now that this may be more a reflection of how frequently that floor was cleaned and if a disinfectant solution was used.
Clemson University food scientist Paul Dawson believes in a zero tolerance policy and states bacteria like salmonella can survive on a dry surface for up to 4 weeks and be immediately transferred to food. The answer may lie more in the location of the drop. Kitchen and bathroom floors are the most at risk of harboring disease-causing viruses or bacteria. I take some issue with Dr. Harley Rotbart at the University of Colorado who believes a bagel dropped on pavement is OK because there are fewer disease causing germs there. All I have to do is take a walk in my neighborhood and see the local dogs’ calling cards to nix that. They can carry pinworms and cats carry toxoplasmosis, a cause of birth defects if contracted during pregnancy.
My personal policy: Never eat something wet that is dropped. Think twice about anything dropped outdoors. You know when you last scrubbed your kitchen floor and with what and if you have been dripping raw meat or poultry juices around. Act accordingly. People with compromised immune systems, that includes the very young and old, should avoid putting themselves at any risk.
Clemson University food scientist Paul Dawson believes in a zero tolerance policy and states bacteria like salmonella can survive on a dry surface for up to 4 weeks and be immediately transferred to food. The answer may lie more in the location of the drop. Kitchen and bathroom floors are the most at risk of harboring disease-causing viruses or bacteria. I take some issue with Dr. Harley Rotbart at the University of Colorado who believes a bagel dropped on pavement is OK because there are fewer disease causing germs there. All I have to do is take a walk in my neighborhood and see the local dogs’ calling cards to nix that. They can carry pinworms and cats carry toxoplasmosis, a cause of birth defects if contracted during pregnancy.
My personal policy: Never eat something wet that is dropped. Think twice about anything dropped outdoors. You know when you last scrubbed your kitchen floor and with what and if you have been dripping raw meat or poultry juices around. Act accordingly. People with compromised immune systems, that includes the very young and old, should avoid putting themselves at any risk.
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Diabetics and Chronic Conditions
Tue, Aug 3 2010 10:26
| chronic conditions, diabetes
| Permalink
Calling All Diabetics: You can get a free membership at the Y of Orange County with enrollment in their Gluco-Fit Club; includes personal trainer, diet and nutrition information. Almost all costs off-set by insurance/Medicare diabetic supply reimbursement. Call Lindsay Schuil 949-722-3822 for information.
Exciting new program, Healthy Living with Chronic Conditions. A series of free interactive classes led by trained individuals who have ongoing health conditions themselves. Topics include healthier eating, relaxation techniques, exercise and fitness tips, appropriate use of medications, strategies for managing fatigue, new ways of dealing with anger and depression, and how to communicate more effectively with your family physician. Emphasis on peer support, goal driven planning, shared experiences, helping each other to solve problems encountered in creating and carrying out your own program developed to improve your quality of life. Contact Ericka Danczak, 714-836-3331 or Ericka.Danczak@occr.ocgov.com for more information. Classes start soon in Costa Mesa, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Brea.
Exciting new program, Healthy Living with Chronic Conditions. A series of free interactive classes led by trained individuals who have ongoing health conditions themselves. Topics include healthier eating, relaxation techniques, exercise and fitness tips, appropriate use of medications, strategies for managing fatigue, new ways of dealing with anger and depression, and how to communicate more effectively with your family physician. Emphasis on peer support, goal driven planning, shared experiences, helping each other to solve problems encountered in creating and carrying out your own program developed to improve your quality of life. Contact Ericka Danczak, 714-836-3331 or Ericka.Danczak@occr.ocgov.com for more information. Classes start soon in Costa Mesa, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Brea.
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Vitamin D vs. the Sun, Insect Repellant, Alzheimer’s Update
Wed, Jul 28 2010 08:09
| alzheimer's, vitamin D, insect repellant
| Permalink
First, a big thank you to all who were able to donate blood on Sunday, July 18! And a special thank you to Pat Robitaille who has been organizing the Caring Table all of July while Vera Viana-Asper has been sambaing through Brazil.
Vitamin D: Why do I say versus the sun? Well, we know that our skin can make all the vitamin D it needs if exposed constantly to the sun. Unfortunately, the sun will also encourage skin cancer and premature aging unless we load up with sunscreen and that prevents the vitamin D from forming… Thus, it is generally recommended that adults take a supplement of up to 2000 IU/day. Infants and children need 400 IU/day. Don’t use a children’s liquid that is 400 IU/drop, as it is too easy to give more and cause an overdose. Because the body stores vitamin D, you can take a once a week (14,000 IU) or once a month (50,000 IU) dose of D3 (cholecalciferol) which is more stable and better absorbed. And diet? Except for babies on formula or children drinking 1 quart of fortified milk/day, vitamin D is not available sufficiently from diet. If a breast-feeding mom is taking 2000 IU/day, her baby will get sufficient vitamin D from her milk.
And while we are talking about the sun, please remember the cardinal rules in this climate: Slop, Slip, and Slap! Slop on the sunscreen, Slip on a shirt, Slap on a hat!! Pick up some free travel packs of sunscreen at the Caring Table.
Insect Repellant Latest News: First, put sunscreen on first so it can bond with the skin. Don’t use a combination product. Sunscreens need to be slathered on and repellants should be used sparingly. DEET is safe for all over 2 months of age at a 30% concentration. 10% lasts a shorter time, but still for about 3 hours.
Picaridin (Natrapel) 20% works up to 8 hours for mosquitoes and ticks. Kids should only use 5-10% and only if over 6 months old.
Lemon eucalyptus oil works up to 6 hours, but has not been tested on children under 3 years.
Soybean oil (Bite Blocker) works for 2-4 hours and is safe for all.
There is a handout at the Caring Table on this subject!
Latest Research on Dementia: There was a recent International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and the findings will be presented and discussed by Jim McAleer of the Alzheimer's Association Orange County Chapter, 17771 Cowan, Suite 200, Irvine 92614, on Tuesday, August 10 from 6 – 8 pm. There is no cost to attend but seating is limited. Light refreshments provided. RSVP to rsvp@alzoc.org or 949.757.3769 by August 6.
Vitamin D: Why do I say versus the sun? Well, we know that our skin can make all the vitamin D it needs if exposed constantly to the sun. Unfortunately, the sun will also encourage skin cancer and premature aging unless we load up with sunscreen and that prevents the vitamin D from forming… Thus, it is generally recommended that adults take a supplement of up to 2000 IU/day. Infants and children need 400 IU/day. Don’t use a children’s liquid that is 400 IU/drop, as it is too easy to give more and cause an overdose. Because the body stores vitamin D, you can take a once a week (14,000 IU) or once a month (50,000 IU) dose of D3 (cholecalciferol) which is more stable and better absorbed. And diet? Except for babies on formula or children drinking 1 quart of fortified milk/day, vitamin D is not available sufficiently from diet. If a breast-feeding mom is taking 2000 IU/day, her baby will get sufficient vitamin D from her milk.
And while we are talking about the sun, please remember the cardinal rules in this climate: Slop, Slip, and Slap! Slop on the sunscreen, Slip on a shirt, Slap on a hat!! Pick up some free travel packs of sunscreen at the Caring Table.
Insect Repellant Latest News: First, put sunscreen on first so it can bond with the skin. Don’t use a combination product. Sunscreens need to be slathered on and repellants should be used sparingly. DEET is safe for all over 2 months of age at a 30% concentration. 10% lasts a shorter time, but still for about 3 hours.
Picaridin (Natrapel) 20% works up to 8 hours for mosquitoes and ticks. Kids should only use 5-10% and only if over 6 months old.
Lemon eucalyptus oil works up to 6 hours, but has not been tested on children under 3 years.
Soybean oil (Bite Blocker) works for 2-4 hours and is safe for all.
There is a handout at the Caring Table on this subject!
Latest Research on Dementia: There was a recent International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and the findings will be presented and discussed by Jim McAleer of the Alzheimer's Association Orange County Chapter, 17771 Cowan, Suite 200, Irvine 92614, on Tuesday, August 10 from 6 – 8 pm. There is no cost to attend but seating is limited. Light refreshments provided. RSVP to rsvp@alzoc.org or 949.757.3769 by August 6.
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What's This About the Whoop?
Wed, Jul 21 2010 09:04
| whooping cough
| Permalink
What’s this about the Whoop?? So should we all run out and get the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine and why? Until just a few years ago, it was never recommended that adults receive a booster of pertussis. This is because the old vaccine was very likely to cause severe side effects after childhood. Now there is an effective new killed vaccine with no mercury preservative. Side effects are very unlikely, except for some tenderness at the injection site. The vaccine is a three-in-one: tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
You can get this from your health care provider or, if you have no insurance, the health department. Call them at 1-800-564-8448 for an appointment for: children, women of childbearing age (pregnant or not), any adult who cares for children or comes into contact with them regularly, and all over 64.
A typical case of pertussis in children and adults starts with a cough and runny nose for one-to-two weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Fever is rare. 122 cases have been reported in Orange County this year compared to 10 last year. Two infants have died. Children are usually infected by adults.
There will be handouts available at the Caring Table on Sunday on this subject.
Adair Small, nurse@ocuuc.org
You can get this from your health care provider or, if you have no insurance, the health department. Call them at 1-800-564-8448 for an appointment for: children, women of childbearing age (pregnant or not), any adult who cares for children or comes into contact with them regularly, and all over 64.
A typical case of pertussis in children and adults starts with a cough and runny nose for one-to-two weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Fever is rare. 122 cases have been reported in Orange County this year compared to 10 last year. Two infants have died. Children are usually infected by adults.
There will be handouts available at the Caring Table on Sunday on this subject.
Adair Small, nurse@ocuuc.org
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Free Senior and Caregiver Summit on August 7
Tue, Jun 29 2010 10:39
| Permalink
Attention Seniors and Caregivers! Registration for the FREE Senior & Caregiver Summit on August 7 ends on July 16. Call 1-800-510-2020 to RSVP. The summit will be from 8 - 1 at the Crystal Cathedral and is hosted by the Office on Aging and Supervisor Janet Nguyen. It includes free breakfast and lunch, workshops on wellness topics, health screenings, health resources. Transportation will be provided upon request.
More information can be found by clicking on the flyer.
More information can be found by clicking on the flyer.
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Your Vision: Floaters and Flashes
As a result of a surprise new visitor in my right eyeball, it seemed a good time to talk about some normal and abnormal visual experiences. Last week while working at the computer, I suddenly became aware of a small black crescent moon-shaped thing moving with my eye movements. It looked like something was about to land on my face. I have had floaters for years, but they are mostly noticeable when peering through a microscope or staring at a bright sky, and they are transparent. This was so different, it was a little freaky so I called my optometrist who thought it was a floater but wanted me to see a retinologist to be sure I did not have a retinal tear.
The retina lines your eye and you can’t see without it. The most serious problem occurs if the retina detaches from the eye. If treated immediately, most often by laser, vision can be saved, although it will not be the same. Warning symptoms include those involved in a retinal tear: multiple floaters, flashes of light, blurry vision and, if the tear progresses, an area of shadow, followed by seeing a darker curtain or veil come down in your eye. This is a medical emergency and you should contact an ophthalmologist immediately. Your primary care caregiver or optometrist can refer you. Risk factors include having a positive family history, being very near-sighted, a blow to the eye, head, or face, cataract surgery and aging.
Flashes are caused when the gel-like filling of the eye (the vitreous) pulls on the retina. This happens most often to near-sighted people and as the vitreous shrinks with age. Floaters are debris that accumulates in the vitreous from embryonic days onward. They can look like dark specks, clouds, threads or spider webs. My new floater has changed a lot in a week and now is a black dot in an amorphous cloud and significantly less noticeable. It was caused by a small retinal hemorrhage. This little blood clot may be with me for the rest of my life, but it doesn’t interfere with my vision, although I do keep trying to wave it away with my hand! Retinal hemorrhages are often seen if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, or – guess what? - are getting older. This is the summer of my 65th birthday and I think someone is saying, “Welcome to the Club!”
Adair Small, Congregation Nurse
nurse@ocuuc.org
The retina lines your eye and you can’t see without it. The most serious problem occurs if the retina detaches from the eye. If treated immediately, most often by laser, vision can be saved, although it will not be the same. Warning symptoms include those involved in a retinal tear: multiple floaters, flashes of light, blurry vision and, if the tear progresses, an area of shadow, followed by seeing a darker curtain or veil come down in your eye. This is a medical emergency and you should contact an ophthalmologist immediately. Your primary care caregiver or optometrist can refer you. Risk factors include having a positive family history, being very near-sighted, a blow to the eye, head, or face, cataract surgery and aging.
Flashes are caused when the gel-like filling of the eye (the vitreous) pulls on the retina. This happens most often to near-sighted people and as the vitreous shrinks with age. Floaters are debris that accumulates in the vitreous from embryonic days onward. They can look like dark specks, clouds, threads or spider webs. My new floater has changed a lot in a week and now is a black dot in an amorphous cloud and significantly less noticeable. It was caused by a small retinal hemorrhage. This little blood clot may be with me for the rest of my life, but it doesn’t interfere with my vision, although I do keep trying to wave it away with my hand! Retinal hemorrhages are often seen if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, or – guess what? - are getting older. This is the summer of my 65th birthday and I think someone is saying, “Welcome to the Club!”
Adair Small, Congregation Nurse
nurse@ocuuc.org
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