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August 23 , 2005
[Volume 6, Issue 18]
Antibiotics for Ear
Infections: Not the Right Answer?
One of the most
common infections children experience is acute otitis media (AOM),
which affects the middle ear, and is often associated with a
buildup of fluid that causes pain and swelling. While many doctors
will prescribe antibiotics to treat AOM, some health care
providers believe using antibiotics too frequently can lead to
drug-resistant bacteria. As a result, some doctors choose to let
an AOM infection run its course and don't prescribe antibiotics
unless they're absolutely necessary. This may be good thinking; in
fact, the results of a recent study suggest not providing
antibiotics may be just as effective in the overall treatment of
AOM.
In the study, over 200 children with AOM were randomized into two
groups. Both groups received medication to treat the pain
associated with AOM, but only one group received a course of
antibiotics. Over a 30-day period, doctors then examined the
children in both groups to determine whether the infection had
resolved or become more severe.
Results: While children given antibiotics also took fewer doses of
pain medication, samples of bacteria obtained from those children
were more likely to be drug-resistant than in children who hadn't
received antibiotics. In addition, parents in both groups seemed
equally satisfied with the care their child received, and the
costs of treatment were almost $36 less per patient among children
not taking antibiotics.
The lesson here? Not every infection needs to be treated with an
antiobiotic. With proper education and observation, acute otitis
media can often be managed without resorting to these types of
drugs for care. For more information on conservative managemet of
acute otitis media, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/pediatrics/otitismedia.
McCormick DP, Chomnaitree T, Pittman C, et al. Nonsevere acute
otitis media: a clinical trial comparing outcomes of watchful
waiting versus immediate antibiotic treatment. Pediatrics, June
2005;115(6):1455-1465.
Less Fat,
Please!
Anyone who's seen the recent film "Super Size Me" knows too much
fat in the diet can lead to an amazing array of health problems,
the least of which is weight gain. In healthy people, about half
of the fat derived from food is used for energy, while the
remainder is stored in adipose tissue for future use. According to
a new study, however, eating too much fat can accumulate in the
liver and cause "fatty liver," which can lead to metabolic
syndrome, cirrhosis and other, more sinister disorders.
In this study, researchers sought to determine the accumulation of
fat in the liver in a group of clinically obese people, all of
whom had been diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Five days before having a liver biopsy, study participants were
given food containing fats laced with deuterium, a rare form of
hydrogen, in order to trace the location of the fat as it coursed
through the person's body.
Analysis of liver tissue revealed that it contained significant
amounts of fat, approximately 15 percent of which came from the
diet. In addition, the conversion of dietary carbohydrates to
fatty acids occurred at a rate nearly five times higher than in
healthy people.
Talk to your doctor of chiropractic about creating a diet plan
that includes a healthy balance of fats, carbohydrates and
proteins. You'll end up feeling much better - and so will your
liver! For more information on weight loss, go to www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/general/wellness.
Donnelly KL, Smith CI, Schwarzenberg SJ, et al. Sources of fatty
acids stored in liver and secreted via lipoproteins in patients
with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The Journal of Clinical
Investigation, May 2005;115(5):1343-1351.
Exercise Cuts
the Fat, Keeps the Bone
They say beauty is only skin deep. Regular exercise creates
benefits that go much deeper. In addition to making you look
better on the outside, exercising causes significant changes on
the inside, such as strengthening your bones and muscles. This is
especially true among elderly people, who generally have less bone
mass and muscle tone than the overall population. A recently
published study, however, has found that routine exercise can help
the elderly gain muscle and lose fat without any significant
losses in bone mass.
In the study, 115 men and women ages 55 to 75 were asked to follow
a series of government recommendations on exercise for 6 months,
or to participate in a supervised program three times per week,
performing a series of stretching, resistance training and
aerobics. People in the supervised program showed improvements in
upper body strength, lower body strength, lean mass, body weight,
and total body fat, with no significant changes in bone mineral
density in men. Those who showed the highest gains in fitness
levels actually had an increase in bone mass. In women, there were
slight decreases in bone mineral density, but these decreases were
comparable to those seen in women who did not exercise.
As this study shows, not all of the benefits of exercise are
apparent on the outside. Furthermore, it suggests a regular,
moderately intense exercise program can be useful for people of
all ages. To learn more about the benefits of exercise,
specifically in the senior population, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/senior.
Stewart KJ, Bacher AC, Hees PS, et al. Exercise effects on bone
mineral density. Relationships to changes in fitness and fatness.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, June 2005;28(5):453-460.
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