Note to media: To reach the media contacts for any of these health news tips, call the Office of News and Publications at 214-648-3404.

SUMMER TRAVEL CHECKLIST: CHILDPROOF THE VITAMINS

Vacationing with the kids? Be careful where you keep the vitamins.

Multivitamins containing iron - even chewable supplements for children - can be toxic to youngsters, says Dr. Daniel Keyes, associate professor of surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

“Vitamins are very frequently the cause of severe poisoning in small children,” says Dr. Keyes, also the director of the North Texas Poison Center.

Iron ingestion is a leading cause of poisoning deaths in infants and children under the age of 6. Pre-natal vitamins, which contain high levels of the mineral, are particularly dangerous in the hands of a youngster - as few as four pills can be lethal. Early signs of an iron overdose include vomiting and abdominal pain.

Adults should use caution in the storage and use of all pills, Dr. Keyes says, since even children’s vitamins can be dangerous if eaten like candy. Travel packs designed for easy transport are convenient, but not tamper-resistant. All pills should be kept in child-resistant containers and stored out of reach, and sight, of children.

Also, adults should avoid taking medicine in front of a child or giving a child medicine while another youngster is watching.

In a poison exposure, call the Poison Center hotline at 1-800-222-1222 and locate what remains of the substance ingested or its container. Hotline workers will need the victim’s age, weight and symptoms, as well as the substance ingested and the amount and time of ingestion.

Media Contact: Rachel Horton

DON’T LET YOUR TRAVEL SNACKS SPOIL YOUR VACATION

Many parents of young children will prepare snacks for extended summer travel, but if goodies are not stored properly a fun-filled family trip could turn into a spoiled vacation.

“Millions of Americans get sick each year from foods that are not properly stored,” says Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. “Simply washing your hands frequently when preparing food could prevent 50 percent of food-borne illnesses.”

To help ensure that your family remains healthy and happy, Ms. Sandon, who is also a registered dietitian, says to:

• Wash your hands before and after eating.
• Keep raw foods separate from cooked foods.
• Cook food to proper temperatures, above 160 degrees Fahrenheit for most meats.
• Keep cold foods cold, or less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ms. Sandon also suggests packing easily transportable, non-perishable foods such as single-serving cereal boxes or fruit cups, trail mix, granola or cereal bars, individually wrapped peanut butter and cracker packages, fresh fruit, and canned tuna lunch packs.

Media Contact: Amy Shields

NEW TECHNOLOGY GIVES HOPE TO THOSE WITH ASTIGMATISM

Patients who are nearsighted and also suffer from astigmatism - where images appear blurry because the eye’s surface doesn’t curve properly - may be able to discard their glasses or contact lenses thanks to a recently FDA-approved machine used for LASIK surgery, says Dr. James McCulley, chairman of ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

VISX CustomVue expands the parameters of treatable astigmatism, giving new hope to some patients who weren’t previously candidates for the corrective surgery. With the new treatment - the latest in custom ablation technology - ophthalmologists can map the eye’s fingerprint by taking detailed measurements not possible with older technology.

“This allows doctors to give patients the best treatment possible,” says Dr. McCulley.

Media Contact: Staishy Bostick Siem

ASPIRIN PROMISING AGAINST SOME CANCERS, BUT BE CAREFUL

The old saying “An aspirin a day keeps the doctor away” may not be too far off, especially when it comes to preventing cancer.

Studies show that taken regularly, aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) may significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer, mouth and throat cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. It is believed to block mutations that cause cells to madly reproduce, and it also may encourage cancer cells to self-destruct.

“Aspirin continues to be a molecule that offers hope as part of chemoprevention strategies to reduce the incidence of colorectal neoplasms (rapidly growing abnormal tissue) both before and after diagnosis of colorectal cancer,” says Dr. Carlos Becerra, assistant professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and colorectal cancer specialist. “Future studies will try to delineate better which populations will benefit most from acetylsalicylic acid intervention and in which individuals the potential toxicity precludes its use.”

Many doctors and researchers add, however, that more studies are needed to confirm that the benefits of aspirin outweigh the risks. It is still unknown what dosage is appropriate or how long it must be taken before offering protection. Aspirin also can cause side effects, such as internal bleeding, and interact dangerously with other drugs.

Dr. Becerra and other doctors recommend only people age 40 or older take aspirin and other drugs as preventative medicines. Children should not be given daily doses.

Media Contact: Scott Maier

WHY YOU MAY WANT TO CHEW GUM IN MODERATION

Gum chewing is an easy way to relieve stress for some people, but excessive chewing can lead to jaw problems, says. Dr. Douglas P. Sinn, professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

The boundless chewing of gum can tire the jaws and cause muscle fatigue, muscle spasms and pain, says Dr. Sinn. It also may lead to Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome, a disorder that causes pain in the head or neck and makes it difficult to open the mouth normally.

“The more stressed a patient is, the more they chew the gum,” Dr. Sinn says. “They become more and more tired - it’s a vicious cycle.”

Media Contact: Staishy Bostick Siem

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