Health Lectures, Events, & News

Fevers
Close-up of a digital thermometer Although they don't feel good, mild fevers beneficially inhibit the growth of viruses and bacteria and facilitate our bodies' immune responses. The Mayo Clinic website recommends that adults take fever-reducing medications only when fevers top 102°F. When and how to treat children's fevers was recently addressed in the journal Pediatrics, as described in this news article. For a comprehensive article on fevers in adults and children, including comfort measures and warning signs, click here.

Older Drivers
Deciding whether an individual should continue to drive as he or she grows older is difficult for seniors, their family members, and their doctors. A recent New York Times article a set of car keys described the role of physicians in assessing the abilities of older drivers. Both senior drivers who want to continue driving and family members who are concerned about a senior's driving will appreciate these resources from The Hartford. SeniorDrivers.org has skill assessments and online training for senior drivers, resources on mobility after ceasing to drive, and state regulations regarding the licensing of drivers.
Operating with volunteer and paid staff and funded with grants, membership fees, and vehicle donations from seniors, ITNAmerica is a boon to seniors in communities with affiliates. Click here to learn about bringing this innovative program to the South Bay.

Polypharmacy Safety

Taking many different medications is common among people with multiple health conditions. In a recent study, researchers found that most people, even if well-educated, devise Spoonful of assorted pills unnecessarily complicated dosing regimens for themselves when taking many drugs. This news report about the study points out ways you may be able to simplify your daily schedule of taking multiple drugs.
"The more drugs you take, the more likely you are to get one you don't need, to be prescribed the wrong drug, or to experience dangerous side effects from drug interactions. It also makes adherence to your treatment regimen more difficult, and adds to costs," notes Consumer Reports' BestBuyDrugs.org. See their excellent article on ensuring that all medications you or a loved one takes are medically appropriate, individually and in combination.

Weighty Issues
A recent review of research on weight, disease, and health found focusing on weight loss to be "ineffective and harmful." Health at Every Size (HAES) proponents suggest Person weighing him- or herself that a more helpful goal - as individuals, health care providers, and public health policymakers - would be cultivating healthy behaviors and attitudes.

If you like to stay abreast of current nutrition issues, you may find interesting the differences in approach between HAES and the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010," which were released in January by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS).

Car Safety Seats for Infants and Children
     The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that three-fourths of all child car seats are improperly selected, installed, or adjusted, reducing their effectiveness in preventing injury. Use the following resources to help you maximize the safety of children whom you transport.
    The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has an informative guide to selecting and using safety seats; the AAP's brand-new age and weight recommendations are included. Ease-of-Use Ratings, evaluating car seats on ease of installation, ease of securing a child within a seat, and clarity of installation and usage instructions, are provided by NHTSA.
Teddy bear in a toddler's car seat     After you've installed your child's car seat, have your work checked by an expert. These free inspections are very popular; appointments typically need to be scheduled weeks in advance. This document details how to prepare for an inspection and what to expect. Inspections are offered on Friday mornings by Safe Kids Santa Clara/San Mateo, in partnership with Tiny Tots Baby Boutique in Campbell. Call (408) 866-2925 for a reservation; a deposit, required as a guarantee against no-shows, is refunded. Other inspection stations may be found via this NHSTA locator.