COMMUNITY MAGAZINE May 2008

78 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE DRUGS FOUND IN DRINKING WATER A vast array of pharmaceuticals – including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, and mood stabilizers – have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows. While the concentrations of these pharma- ceuticals are far below those of medical doses, the presence of so many drugs in drinking water is heightening concerns of long-term health risks. Drugs are only partially absorbed by the patients, while the rest passes through and is flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated at water treatment plants, but most treatments do not remove all drug residues. New York City officials note that their drinking water meets all federal and state regulations, but these regulations do not address trace pharmaceuticals. There’s grow- ing concern that certain drugs may be harmful over time, because water is consumed in sizable amounts every day. Experts worry that while our bodies may shrug off a periodic large dose, a smaller amount delivered continuously over many years could pose a serious risk. THE DOWNSIDE OF ENERGY DRINKS Children and adolescents consuming caffeine in high concentrations suffered from caffeine-induced headaches and interrupted sleep patterns, according to a recent study by the University of Florida’s Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology. Other studies link excessive caffeine in children to elevated heart rates, hypertension and anxiety. Energy drinks entered the market in 1997 with Red Bull, which, at 66.7 milligrams of caffeine per 8.3-ounce can, was mild compared to a cup of coffee, which contains 107.5 milligrams. Approximately 10 other energy drinks have since appeared, with some containing 350 milligrams of caffeine, the equivalent of 10 cans of Coke. Some drinks contain warn- ings that they’re not for use by individuals younger than 18, pregnant or nursing women, or those with a family history of ailments such as heart disease, high blood pressure and depression. The Florida Poison Control Center at the University of Miami/Jackson reports that 39 people ages 2 to 20 showed symptoms of caffeine overexposure between January 2007 and February 2008. ANTIBIOTIC-EATING GERMS? Researchers have discovered hundreds of germs in soil that eat antibi- otics, and scientists are now struggling to determine how they do it – out of concern that more dangerous germs could develop the same ability. The accidental discovery, published in the journal Science, was made by a team led by Harvard Medical School geneticist George Church while exploring ways to create biofuels from agricultural waste. HOME DEFIBRILLATORS OR CPR TRAINING? Having a defibrillator at home can help a heart attack survivor live through a second attack, but so can CPR, and at a much lower cost. A recent study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that these devices do indeed work, but so few people in the study were stricken at home, and CPR by spouses in the com- parison group was so effective, that the sample was too small to prove the benefits of a home defibrillator. Researchers at the Seattle Institute for Cardiac Research note that there’s no downside to having a home defibrillator – except that they cost over $1,000. Many believe that health dollars are better spent boosting CPR training. NATURAL SUGAR COULD HELP DIABETES In the hunt for better diabetes treatments, researchers may have uncov- ered an unlikely drug: sugar. Tagatose, a natural, low-calorie sugar that has been used to sweeten such things as candy, Diet Pepsi, and Slurpees, is currently being tested as a possible aid in managing Type-2 diabetes. The preliminary research was published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. Diabetes, which affects about 7 percent of U.S. adults and children, hampers the body’s ability to produce or use insulin, a hormone that converts blood sugar into energy. High blood sugar can lead to complica- tions such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disorders and blindness. Tagatose ingested before meals blunted the rise in blood sugar, probably because tagatose is metabolized differently from table sugar, and may stimulate insulin secretion. While early tests show no serious side effects of tagatose ingestion, patients may experience discomfort as the tagatose passes through the body. BIG BELLY LINKED TO DEMENTIA Researchers discovered long ago that having a big belly in your 40s can boost your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other demen- tia decades later. But a new study conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research found a sepa- rate risk posed by the storage of abdominal fat, which can occur even in people of average weight. The research, published in the journal Neurology, discovered that those with normal body weight and high belly measurements were 89 percent more likely to develop dementia than those with low belly measurements. Researchers speculate that abdomi- nal fat may pump out substances that harm the brain. To • Your • Health