Saturday, September 02, 2006
House call: expert advice on health and fitness
`Several times during the day I find myself nodding of for a few seconds.'
THE `STAY-AWAKE PILL'
Q I'm a 42-year-old man who tries to exercise regularly, and I get at least six hours of sleep each night. I'm concerned because I have a problem that seems to be getting worse. Lately, I've been having trouble staying awake during the daytime hours while at work. Several times during the day, I find myself nodding off for a few seconds. It has even happened while I'm driving. What could be the problem, and is there something that can help me? A.J., Detroit
A If you are getting a moderate amount of sleep and generally are physically active, your condition raises some concerns that should be brought to the attention of your physician, who likely can get to the root of the problem following a thorough examination.
Doctors say the most common causes of excessive daytime sleepiness are narcolepsy and sleep apnea, a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder that affects as many as 18 million Americans. In sleep apnea, which increases the risk of stroke and heart disease, the most common symptom is snoring associated with bouts of gasping, choking, pauses in breathing and episodes of waking suddenly throughout the night. The condition disrupts sleep and leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, prompting many people to doze off frequently during the day.
A so-called "stay-awake pill" is available and has shown evidence of significantly improving wakefulness in patients suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness, especially those whose sleep apnea is a result of blockage in the throat or upper airway while asleep.
TREATMENT FOR FOOD POISONING
Q My husband and I recently went out to dinner at a top restaurant and everything had gone well. But an hour or so after finishing the meal, my husband became terribly ill. As it turned out, it was as we both had figured--food poisoning. Is there a way to prevent another incident, and what steps should be taken to treat food poisoning if you become a victim? T.P., Jackson, Miss.
A Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to prevent food poisoning if other people are preparing your food. Any food item can be contaminated with bacteria from unclean surfaces, food handlers who don't wash their hands or improper food preparation and storage. The foods that are most likely to make you sick include ground meats, raw or undercooked poultry, undercooked eggs and fresh produce that's not washed thoroughly.
Symptoms of food poisoning can appear as early as half an hour after the contaminated food is eaten, and the signs may vary, including fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, headache and severe abdominal pain and cramps.
Doctors say classic bacterial food poisoning usually runs its course in about a day. Treatment generally consists of rest, nothing by mouth until vomiting ceases, antidiarrheal medication, and replacement of fluids and electrolytes as needed. For the first 24 hours or so, eat bland foods such as crackers, bread, cooked cereals, rice or broth. If symptoms persist, contact your physician.
NEW BENEFITS OF FOLIC ACID
Q I've noticed that ever so often people in the news are talking about folic acid. What's all the talk about, and what should I know about it that could possibly help me? E.L., St. Louis
A There is a strong belief that everyone's diet should include more folic acid, a member of the B-vitamin family, because it contributes to the development of practically every cell in the body, doctors say. Found in green vegetables, orange juice and beans, there is some evidence that folic acid may reduce the risk of heart disease and possibly prevent spina bifida and other birth defects. Additionally, there has been new excitement associated with folic acid because a recent study indicates that it could help protect against Alzheimer's disease by lowering homocysteine, an amino acid.
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