Health Matters The Rundown On Recent Findings by Kelley Sullivan

tracking down tuberculosis The Texas Department of Health (T.D.H.), the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Pan American Health Organization and the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission are working to contain and eliminate the spread of tuberculosis (TB) through a pilot program. According to the T.D.H., 1,550 TB cases were reported in Texas in 2002, a six percent drop from 2001. “While we’re glad that rates have declined, this is not a disease that’s going away easily or quickly. We can’t be complacent in our efforts because rates of TB tend to fluctuate,” explains Charles Wallace, director of the State Health Department’s Tuberculosis Elimination Division. Making sure that migrants with TB travelling between Mexico and the U.S. receive complete care, may be one of the best ways to reduce the number of cases further. Therefore, a bi-national project has been created to keep a record of people receiving treatment and increase the chance that patients will complete the treatment prescribed by their physicians. If only given partial treatment, the disease can build up resistance to medication and reoccur with a stronger intensity. If this program is successful, it may be available along the entire Texas and Mexico border. For more information, call 458-7447.

age and massage therapy According to the Administration on Aging, a reported 35 million people over the age of 65 were living in the U.S. in the year 2000. The administration anticipates this number will double (70 million) by 2030, and that this age range will soon represent 20 percent of the population. According to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, senior citizens experience many ailments that may be inadequately treated, such as arthritis, depression, pain, stress and loneliness. A study conducted in 1997 by a nurse at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services found that seniors who received regular massage noticed a marked improvement in mood and anxiety levels. It is now speculated that improvements in circulation resulting from massage may be responsible for these positive results. For more information, call (800) 729-0941.

preventing e. coli The CDC reports an estimated 76 million people suffer from food poisoning each year, resulting in 325,000 hospitalizations and more than 5,000 deaths. And one common bacteria associated with food poisoning is Escherichia coli (E. coli). This bacteria may be found in undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized milk, apple juice or apple cider, alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, cured sausage and undercooked roast beef. Some symptoms of E. coli infection are low urine output, fever, abdominal pain and cramps. In addition, a small percentage of E. Coli cases are lethal. To avoid coming in contact with this bacteria, make sure to cook all meat thoroughly until it is no longer pink. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests storing ground beef at a temperature at or below 40° F. The USDA also recommends consuming meat within two days of its purchase. Here are some helpful tips from the Mayo Clinic to keep you and your loved ones healthy: separate meat and poultry from other groceries, write dates when meat is purchased and opened and if you are traveling for more than one hour be sure to use a cooler. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.