HEALTH MATTERS The Rundown On Recent Findings by Kelley Sullivan

saved by the bats
A stroke occurs every 45 seconds, according to the American Stroke Association, claiming the lives of some 163,000 people in our country each year. What’s more, 42 percent of Americans don’t even know the warning signs associated with a stroke. However, scientists are developing new and interesting ways to battle this chronic disease. Desmoteplase (D.S.P.A.), an active ingredient in the saliva of vampire bats, has recently been targeted by researchers for its ability to prevent blood clotting. Scientists have engineered a D.S.P.A analogue that can destroy fibrin, the structural component of blood clots ultimately responsible for causing strokes, with the hope that this new chemical will provide a major breakthrough in stroke research. Studies using the treatment are already underway in Europe, while results from U.S. trials are expected within the next two years. For more information, visit www.strokeassociation.org.

acupuncture eases women’s ailments
Not only does heart disease kill 500,000 American women each year, but according to the Society for Women’s Health Research women who suffer a heart attack and survive are at a greatly elevated risk of having a second attack during the same year. Furthermore, these women are two to three times more likely to suffer from depression than those who have never had a myocardial infarction. Interestingly, the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine cites acupuncture as an effective therapy with a rich history of treating heart disease, depression and other chronic ailments, boosting the immune system and centering the body’s energy. In fact, the North American Menopause Society reports 30 percent of women have used acupuncture to treat and ease their menopause symptoms. For more information, call (800) 729-0941 or visit www.PacificCollege.edu.

lead alert
Did you know that lead can be found in things like tamarind candies and imported mini blinds? The Texas Department of Health (T.D.H.) urges parents to be aware of lead in children’s surroundings and the threat of lead poisoning. Once exposed, children up to age 6 can suffer physical and behavioral problems as well as develop learning disabilities. Symptoms of lead poisoning are abdominal and muscular pain, anemia, constipation, diarrhea and irritability. Some helpful tips the T.D.H. offers to avoid exposure are: routinely wash children’s hands before they eat or sleep; wash any toys or pacifiers if they come in contact with the ground; wash all fruits and vegetables before serving; clean older homes by mopping or vacuuming and wipe down all window sills and mini blinds with soap and water on a weekly basis. For more information, call 458-7269 or (800) 588-1248.

texas poison control
A new toll-free number [(800) 222-1222] is available to the public to report poisonings and connect victims with their nearest poison control center. In 2002, more than half of the 168,000 calls the poison control centers received were for children under 5, according to Judy Whitfield, coordinator of the Texas Poison Control Center Network and a staff member of the Bureau of Epidemiology at the Texas Department of Health. The center suggests this nationwide number be posted near telephones and programmed into cell phones for use in the event of an emergency. For more information, call 458-7268.

the drinking gene
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, nearly 12 million Americans abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. This aggressive disease is often hereditary and the Mayo Clinic is creating a research program that may be able to predict and hopefully prevent alcoholism using genomics. By mapping an individual’s genetic information, this process could enable those with a higher probability of addiction a chance to seek treatment and perhaps change a genetically determined future. The program is still seeking funding, so no clinical trials are available yet. For more information, call (507) 284-8540 or visit www.mayo.edu/research.