Dangers Inside the Home!!!

People like to think of their home as a safe haven, a place where they can feel comfortable and secure. But our homes can pose risks to our well-being also. The ground on which houses stand, the materials from which they're constructed, as well as the mechanical systems designed to improve our comfort all have a bearing on the safety of our homes.

Radon is formed by the natural radioactive decay of                        uranium in rock, soil, and water. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Unless you tested for it, you would have no idea of its presence or its amount. The US Environmental Protection Agency has determined that most radon exposure occurs from the radon gas that moves up through the ground and into the home where it can build up to dangerous levels. It is found in all 50 states, although the amount of radon in the soil depends on soil chemistry, which varies widely from one location to the next. Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that enter the lungs when breathing. The energy released by these particles is capable of damaging the lungs and in some instances can lead to the development of lung cancer. Only cigarette smoking is more closely tied to the development of lung cancer. The amount of radon in the home can be determined with the use of in-home testing devices. Free test kits are sometimes available from local or county health departments or from your state American Lung Association. Methods to mitigate exposure to radon are available for home new construction as well as for older homes.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Many building materials and products we have in our homes release or "off-gas" VOCs. Acetone, formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene are a few of the chemicals contained in these gases. Common construction materials capable of emitting VOCs include particle board, plywood, insulating foam, carpets, paints, sealing caulks, and vinyl floors. Products used in the home such as adhesives, air fresheners, cleaning agents, cosmetics, and moth balls can also cause elevated levels of VOCs. The different chemicals comprising VOCs each have their own toxicity and potential for causing adverse health effects. Temporary effects of VOCs include eye, nose, or throat irritation, allergic skin reactions, dizziness, headaches, and nausea. Even more concerning are long-term risks including cancer, and damage to the liver, kidney and brain produced by certain VOCs. The following suggestions will help to reduce your exposure to VOCs:

• Responsibly discard any partially full containers of old or unneeded chemicals or paints. Find out if your local government or any organization in your community sponsors special days for the collection of toxic household wastes.
  
  
• VOCs are concentrated in the home, increase ventilation when using products that emit VOCs. In some cases, VOC emitting items may need to be removed from the home.
  
  
• Keep exposure to cancer-causing VOCs to a minimum. These include benzene (from tobacco smoke, stored fuels and paint supplies, and automobile emissions), methylene chloride (from paint strippers, adhesive removers, and aerosol spray paints), and perchloroethylene (used in dry cleaning).
  
  
• Formaldehyde is one of the few indoor air pollutants that can be measured using a home test kit. If an elevated formaldehyde level is detected, identify, and if possible, remove the source.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a highly poisonous gas that is formed when carbon-containing substances (gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal) are burned with insufficient amounts of air. Automobiles, space heaters, ranges, ovens, stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, water heaters, and gas clothes dryers are all common sources of carbon monoxide production. Dangerous levels of CO can build up if appliances are not working or vented properly, leading to CO poisoning. Each year in the U.S., thousands of Emergency Room visits and hundreds of deaths result from accidental CO poisoning. At moderate levels, the symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Higher levels of CO inhalation can result in loss of consciousness and death. Since carbon monoxide is a clear, colorless gas, it can be very difficult to detect without the use of CO detector. In addition to installation of CO detectors near sleeping areas and on every level of the home, the Centers for Disease Control offers the following suggestions to help prevent CO poisoning:

• Have your fuel-burning appliances (oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves) inspected by a professional at the beginning of every heating season.
  
  
• Choose appliances that vent their fumes to the outside and make sure that they've been properly installed.
  
  
• Read and follow instruction manuals that accompany fuel-burning devices.
  
  
• Don't idle the car in a garage, even if the garage door is open
  
  
• Don't use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
  
  
• Don't use a charcoal grill indoors, even in a fireplace.
  
  
• Don't sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater
  
  
• Don't ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is experiencing them.

Peanut allergy, an increasingly common sensitivity

Eight types of food account for over 90% of allergic reactions in affected individuals: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. Of these, the one most capable of producing a severe allergic reaction is peanuts. It has been estimated that approximately 400,000 school-aged children in the United States have a peanut allergy. Of particular concern is that up to one third of these children with peanut allergy are at risk of developing a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.                       

It is no coincidence that over the past few years we are hearing more about peanut allergy. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the prevalence of food allergies in children under the age of 18 increased between the years 1997 and 2007 by 18%. By some reports, the number of children with peanut allergy has tripled during this same time period.

What causes peanut allergy? Allergic reactions occur when the body’s immune system senses that something that we come in contact with, such as proteins in certain foods, could be harmful. As a defense mechanism, eating an allergenic food triggers the production of a type of antibody known as IgE. When the body is again challenged with that food, IgE antibodies are mobilized to “fight” the foreign protein. One of the effects of this defense is the release of a symptom-producing chemical called histamine. In addition to eating peanuts or peanut-containing foods, other avenues of exposure include inhaling aerosols containing peanuts (peanut flour or cooking spray), cross contact from food being exposed to peanuts during processing, and skin contact.

What are the symptoms of peanut allergy? Peanut allergy symptoms are primarily due to the effects of histamine on the skin, circulatory, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. These symptoms include wheezing, swelling in the face and throat, hives, and vomiting. In severe instances, anaphylaxis, with constriction of the airways and a severe drop in blood pressure (shock) can develop.

How is a peanut allergy diagnosed? Peanut allergy is most often suspected from the reaction that eating peanuts produces. To confirm the diagnosis, skin or blood testing may be used. In skin testing, a small amount of an extract of the food suspected of being allergic is introduced beneath the skin with a small needle. In the case of an allergy to that food, redness or swelling will develop at the site of the skin prick. Blood testing for allergies involves measuring the amount of IgE antibodies in the blood stream to particular foods. For example, an elevated IgE antibody level to peanuts strongly suggests a peanut allergy.

What is the treatment for peanut allergy? The only way to confidently avoid an allergic reaction to peanuts is by strictly avoiding exposure to peanuts or peanut-containing products. When exposure occurs inadvertently, treatment is based on the severity of the reaction. For mild reactions (hives, wheezing without respiratory distress, mild swelling, etc.) taking an antihistamine (e.g. Benadryl) may be adequate. For more severe allergic reactions, self-injection with epinephrine or treatment in an Emergency Department may be required. Parents of children with peanut allergies and allergic individuals capable of injecting themselves should carry an epinephrine auto injector (EpiPen, Twinject).

Are there other foods that should be avoided besides peanuts? In addition to peanuts or products that obviously contain peanuts, individuals with peanut allergy should avoid products with the statements, “may contain peanuts” or "produced in a facility that also processes nuts" on their labels. Other risky foods for someone with peanut allergy to eat include cookies and baked goods, candy, ice cream, and ethnic foods such as Chinese, Mexican, Thai, and Indian. Additionally, although peanuts are legumes, most closely related to soybeans and lentils, up to half of individuals with a peanut allergy also react to at least one tree nut (walnut, pecans, cashews, etc.).

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches have been a staple for generations of American children. The increasing prevalence of peanut allergy, however, is making this a potentially dangerous food choice. The good news is that it appears that around 20% of children with peanut allergy will eventually “outgrow” their sensitivity. Promising also is desensitization therapy that is currently being performed by certain Allergists. By giving gradually increasing doses of peanut protein with careful monitoring for allergic reactions, desensitization has helped children to overcome their allergy to peanuts.

Why should I finish my antibiotics when I'm feeling better?

Many uncomplicated bacterial illnesses such as strep throat or ear infections respond quickly after starting treatment with antibiotics. This can lead to people failing to complete the entire course of prescribed treatment. Why then, considering the expense and risk of side effects, should we heed the common medical advice to complete an entire course of prescribed antibiotic treatment? In short, the two primary reasons why an entire course of a prescribed antibiotic should be taken are:

1. Failure to take antibiotics in the proper dosage, or for as long as prescribed, runs the risk that the infection will not be adequately treated, leading to a persistent or recurrent infection.
   
   
2. By not taking the entire course of antibiotics, resistant bacteria may develop that no longer respond to common antibiotics. This has the potential to turn easily treatable infections into serious ones.

Inadequate treatment: Taking antibiotics for the full duration prescribed is the best way to assure that harmful bacteria causing the infection are completely eradicated. Shortening the course of treatment may only wipe out the least dangerous bacteria while allowing the less sensitive bacteria to survive. This risks a recurrence of the infection, which can sometimes be even more difficult to treat.

Scientific studies are continuously being conducted to determine the minimal period of time necessary to take antibiotics for various bacterial infections. Doctors use this information in recommending the dosage and length of treatment. While some antibiotics must be taken for 10 days or more, others are approved for a shorter course of treatment. For example, in the case of an uncomplicated urinary tract infection, the antibiotic course may be as short as three days. These recommendations occasionally change based on the development of new antibiotics or on the results of additional research.

Development of resistant organisms: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), virtually all significant bacterial infections in the world are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Stopping treatment early is one of the factors responsible for this. With inadequate treatment, bacteria undergo changes in their DNA that makes them no longer susceptible to common antibiotics. This can lead to the need for stronger, more expensive antibiotics, or in some instances, resorting to surgical treatment for what once was an easily treated infection. Other factors contributing to the development of resistant bacteria include prescribing antibiotics for inappropriate reasons, as well as taking antibiotics for a longer period of time than recommended.

Obviously, health care providers have a major responsibility to make sure that antibiotics are prescribed appropriately. Additionally, the CDC recommends that consumers of medical care follow these recommendations in order to improve treatment outcomes and to avoid complications from antibiotic use:

• Take antibiotics exactly as the doctor prescribes. Do not skip doses. Complete the prescribed course of treatment, even when you start feeling better.
  
  
• Only take antibiotics prescribed for you; do not share or use leftover antibiotics. Antibiotics treat specific types of infections. Taking the wrong medicine may delay correct treatment and allow bacteria to multiply.
  
  
• Do not save antibiotics for the next illness. Discard any leftover medication once the prescribed course of treatment is completed.
  
  
• Do not ask for antibiotics when your doctor thinks you do not need them. Remember antibiotics have side effects. When your doctor says you don't need an antibiotic, taking one might do more harm than good.
  
  
• Prevent infections by practicing good hand hygiene and getting recommended vaccines.