Page 4 - Healthbeat Sept 2016

health bits
[ THE LATEST ]
[ TERMS ]
Labyrinthitis: This is a disorder that involves irritation, inflammation and swelling of the inner ear. In rare cases, labyrinthitis occurs after an ear infection (otitis media) or an upper-respiratory infection. Labyrinthitis may also occur after an allergy or as the result of a cholesteatoma. Labyrinthitis can be caused by taking certain drugs that are dangerous to the inner ear. The inflammation causes interference with balance and hearing.
SOURCE: THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
363,781
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS WHO HAVE DIABETES. EACH YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 21,000 PEOPLE IN THE STATE ARE DIAGNOSED WITH THE DISEASE.
SOURCE: AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION
[ THE SCOOP ]
Halitosis: Hygiene issue or more serious problem?
Halitosis, or bad breath as it’s commonly known, can result from any number of factors. While food can be a culprit, some additional factors may be contributing to mouth odor as well. Poor dental hygiene is a particular concern. According to Colgate and the American Dental Association, failure to brush and floss teeth regularly leads to the accumulation of food particles in the mouth. This food can collect bacteria and begin to break down, causing a bad aroma. Dry mouth is another condition that causes bad breath. Without adequate saliva production, particles of food that may cause odor are not swept away regularly. Bad breath also may be an indication
of a medical condition elsewhere in the body. Upper respiratory infections and gastrointestinal disturbances may contribute to halitosis.
State-of-the-art care
Baptist Health recently dedicated its newest hospital, Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway. The 111-bed facility is located off Interstate 40 and cost $150 million. The hospital opened its doors Sept. 16, and approximately 325 health care professionals have been hired. Officials said the hospital was opened to provide care for the growing Faulkner County and surrounding areas.
[ DID YOU KNOW?]
According to the World Health Organization, tobacco kills up to half its users, annually killing roughly 6 million people each year. The WHO notes that more than 5 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use, while more than 600,000 deaths can be attributed to nonsmokers being exposed to secondhand smoke. While many in the United States may understand the threat that smoking poses to their overall health, the WHO notes that studies indicate that knowledge about the specific health risks of tobacco use is not widespread. It’s also important that smokers recognize that cigarettes once characterized as “light” or “low tar” are not healthier than more-traditional cigarettes. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of such terms in cigarette sales within the United States, smokers traveling or living overseas should be mindful that other countries may not operate under such restrictions. In addition, the American Cancer Society notes that there is no proof that cigarettes sold as “all natural” and marketed as having no chemicals or additives are any safer than traditional cigarettes and that the best way for men, women and children to avoid the dangers of tobacco is to never smoke or to quit immediately.
— COURTESY OF METRO CREATIVE
4
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2016 // HEALTHBEAT // ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
— COURTESY OF METRO CREATIVE