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.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR BIKE-RIDING CHILD SAFE THIS SUMMER

Pediatric trauma doctors can always tell when school lets out for the summer. The number of kids on bicycles struck by cars rises sharply.

“Children are out more and people drive faster in school zones and crossings during summer,” says Dr. Todd Maxson, assistant professor of surgery who heads up the pediatric trauma program at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

Dr. Maxson offers these tips to avoid accidents:

• Don’t ride at dusk, in the dark or at any other time outdoor lighting is poor.
• Wear brightly colored clothes and helmets - this goes for adult riders, too.
• Avoid parking lots unless they are empty, because traffic can be unpredictable.

If someone is struck, Dr. Maxson says to keep the injured still until rescuers arrive - only move the victim if he or she is likely to be hit again. Also, be calm and reassuring.

Media Contact: Staishy Bostick Siem

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY ON THE FAMILY VACATION

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) continues to make headlines daily, causing many families to become increasingly aware of travel health. Dr. Daniel Skiest, infectious disease specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says following a few guidelines may help families enjoy good health for the summer holidays:

• Before traveling, children should be current on tetanus shots and routine vaccinations.
• During long trips in a car or plane, passengers should get up and move around several times to get the blood flowing and avoid clotting.
• On plane trips, drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol.
• When traveling to an underdeveloped country, drink only bottled water or carbonated beverages, and eat only cooked food - avoiding food sold by street vendors.

Media Contact: Rachel Horton

DURING PREGNANCY, COMMON MEDICATIONS ANYTHING BUT

Physicians warn their pregnant patients not to take any medications without first consulting them. That includes aspirin. Doctors say chronic use of aspirin is associated with increased hemorrhage risk both before and after childbirth, extended pregnancy, prolonged labor and pulmonary hypertension.

“Although aspirin is a common medication with many uses, it is a very potent medicine,” says Dr. Norman Gant, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

Other common medications that women may consider harmless include antihistamines and diuretics. Not so, says Dr. Gant.

“While it is sometimes necessary for women who are pregnant to take medication, this should only be done under a doctor’s supervision,” Dr. Gant says. “It’s much better to get medical advice than to put yourself or your baby in danger.”

Media Contact: Ann Harrell

IF YOU’RE FEELING BLUE, DON’T SEEK COMFORT IN FOOD

While many people may stop eating when they are depressed or feeling anxious, Dr. Madhukar Trivedi of UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas says such feelings may lead others to engage in voracious eating habits, e.g., feasting on junk food.

“People who suffer from a disorder called atypical depression tend to eat more when they’re feeling depressed and also tend to sleep more than usual,” says Dr. Trivedi, associate professor of psychiatry and an expert in depression and anxiety research. “If the weight gain is immediate, it could be due to stress or life changes. That’s because for some people, food’s a comfort. It’s a myth that all depressed people lose weight.”

He suggests trying to determine whether you’re eating just to feel less depressed or anxious. If so, try substituting a healthy activity, like taking a walk with a friend, playing ball with the kids, or going dancing. By exercising - and shunning the fridge - you help keep your weight under control and feel better, he says.

Trivedi adds: If your sluggish mood persists longer than a few weeks and you continue to eat as an “upper,” consult your doctor or a mental health professional.

Media Contact: Ann Harrell

FOR OLDER WOMEN, EXERCISE KEY TO AVOIDING BONE LOSS

Millions of Americans exercise daily to stay in shape or lose weight. Now, there may be another reason, especially for older women - to prevent osteoporosis, a disease manifested by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue.

“In the first seven to 10 years after menopause, bone loss is very excessive,” says Dr. Khashayar Sakhaee, program director of the General Clinical Research Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and an osteoporosis expert. “After that, it continues at a slower rate, but your risk of a fracture already has increased significantly, and it can lead to other health problems.”

The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports that about 10 million Americans have osteoporosis. Thirty-four million have low bone mass, a risk factor for the disease. Women, who make up 80 percent of the cases, can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause, making them more susceptible.

In a recent Oregon study researchers showed that a group of older women, exercising three days a week while wearing weighted vests, but did not exercise regularly, lost 3.8 percent of total hipbone mass, while the exercise group lost less than 1 percent. At the femoral neck of the hip, that same non-exercising group lost 4.4 percent of bone mass; the exercisers gained more than 1.5 percent.

No amount of exercise, however, will prevent osteoporosis and bone loss if proper diet is also not maintained, Dr. Sakhaee cautions. “In addition to regular exercise, a daily intake of 800 to 1,000 milligrams of calcium and 800 units of vitamin D are essential for bone health,” Dr. Sakhaee says.

Media Contact: Scott Maier

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