Faces of Sepsis

22-year-old JonyRose Filip died of sepsis following a urinary tract infection.

Read her story on the Faces of Sepsis.

Migraine Rates Rising?

Could it be that more people are experiencing migraines than ever before? If a recent study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is right, then it's true: migraine sufferers are becoming more numerous.

According a press release discussing the study, there was a 1% increase in people who reported having migraines - now 12%, up from 11%. The issue that seemed to puzzle researchers the most was why the increase occurred. They couldn't find one particular cause for the rise.

What is the difference between migraines and headaches? Here is a video that does a good job of explaining the difference.

In a previous blog post about migraines, I gave some basic information about migraines:

Migraines are very common. According to statistics, up to 17% of women and 6% of men have had at least one migraine. Some people have occasional migraines, but some experience chronic migraines. These, according to the MayoClinic.com, are migraines that occur 15 or more days per month. The National Headache Foundation reports that 80% of migraines are severe and up to 24% of people with migraines have had to go to the emergency room.

What causes migraines? We don’t really know but we do know that there are many triggers. The most well-known ones are migraines that occur with a woman’s menstrual cycle or the ones that occur when some people drink red wine or eat chocolate. Other triggers can be:

- Alcohol
- Allergies
- Bright lights
- Changes in weather patterns
- Lack of or too much sleep
- Loud noises
- Skipping meals
- Stress (physical or emotional)
- Strong odours

Do you have migraines? What do you do about them?

Diabetes "Hotspots" in the US

An interesting study has identified 10 states as being hotspots for type 2 diabetes. They are:

1. California:  6.6 million people with diabetes;
   
2. Texas:  5.5 million;
   
3. Florida: 4.2 million;
   
4. New York:  2.9 million;
   
5. Ohio:  2.1 million;
   
6. Illinois: 2 million;
   
7. Georgia: 2 million;
   
8. Pennsylvania: 1.9 million;
   
9. North Carolina: 1.9 million; and
   
10. Michigan: 1.6 million.

The sad and frustrating thing for healthcare professionals is that many cases of type 2 diabetes are preventable. Unlike type 1 diabetes, which often, but not always, begins in childhood, type 2 diabetes can result from being overweight and inactive.

According to the CDC, type 2 diabetes (previously called adult-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes) accounts for 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Let me repeat that: 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases.

The American Diabetes Association reports: In 2007, diabetes was listed as the underlying cause on 71,382 death certificates and was listed as a contributing factor on an additional 160,022 death certificates. This means that diabetes contributed to a total of 231,404 deaths.

Diabetes is more than just a disease that affects your blood sugar. High blood sugar levels affect your whole body drastically. Having diabetes increases your risk of developing heart disease, nerve pain (particularly in your feet) and inability to fight infection. Having diabetes can lead to an often fatal illness called sepsis. Diabetes can cause kidney disease, too.

The cost of diabetes is enormous. From the financial aspect of dealing with the supplies to manage the disease, to the lost days of work. Diabetes affects the community as a whole.

Are you at risk for diabetes? Take the ADA Risk Test to find out.

Are iodine tablets necessary?

With all that is going on in Japan right now, the world is focused on the radiation that appears to be leaking from the crippled nuclear power plants. This is scary because we know that radiation is very harmful to us - and as a result, some people are panicking who maybe don't need to panic.

While the Japanese who are close to the incident do have reason to be fearful, those of us in North America are at very little risk. According to the experts who have been interviewed, even if radiation does get into the atmosphere, by the time it would blow over to the west coast of NA, the radiation levels would be minimal. So, is the rush on potassium iodine tablets justified? Not likely.

Iodine tablets don't protect you from overall radiation exposure. They protect your thyroid from damage, which is important, but only one part of your body that can be damaged. And, it can't reverse any effects - it is only preventative. But another thing to remember is that it is a salt and considered a medication - and it can be harmful to some people, so it shouldn't be taken without consulting with your physician.

According to the CDC:

Taking KI may be harmful for some people because of the high levels of iodine in this medicine. You should not take KI if
• you know you are allergic to iodine (If you are unsure about this, consult your doctor. A seafood or shellfish allergy does not necessarily mean that you are allergic to iodine.) or
• you have certain skin disorders (such as dermatitis herpetiformis or urticaria vasculitis).
People with thyroid disease (for example, multinodular goiter, Graves’ disease, or autoimmune thyroiditis) may be treated with KI. This should happen under careful supervision of a doctor, especially if dosing lasts for more than a few days.
In all cases, talk to your doctor if you are not sure whether to take KI. 

For more information on potassium iodine, check out these sites:

• CDC
• Medline Plus
• LA Times