Gender’s Role in Treatment of Heart Failure

In a study published in the European Journal of Heart Failure, German researchers reported that the gender of both the doctor and the patient play a significant role in the type of heart failure treatment that patient will receive. The study included the records of 829 physicians that provided treatment to 1,857 patients. Male patients were more likely to receive beta blockers, ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) by doctors of either gender when compared with female patients. In addition, the dose of ACE inhibitors and ARBs was higher in men than in women, with female doctors prescribing the highest doses when treating male patients. The lowest doses of these medications were prescribed by male doctors to their female patients, who also prescribed lower doses of beta blockers to their female patients.

Overall, the research suggested that drug treatment provided by a female physician to either a man or a woman for heart failure was more complete than that provided by male doctors. Other recent studies looking at treatment for heart disease found that in many cases, men receive more intensive treatment than women, especially during the initial stages of the disease. When a male or female patient goes to a doctor for the treatment of heart disease or some other problem, they have the right to expect quality medical care. In cases where physicians fail to provide appropriate treatment to their patients, those physicians may be responsible for any injuries that may have been prevented if proper treatment had been provided. Malpractice can occur when the incorrect dosage of medication is given (too much or not enough), or the wrong medication is given, causing injury or death to the patient. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medication malpractice in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau or Suffolk County, please contact the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein Awad & Miklos, P.C. today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Vicks VapoRub Warning for Toddlers

Vicks VapoRub, a “topical cough medicine with medicated vapors that works quickly to relieve your cough,” according to the Vicks website, has been around since the early 1900s. However, it may be responsible for the severe respiratory distress experienced by one 18-month old girl after the ointment was applied under her nose to clear nasal passages. The toddler was treated at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which also treated respiratory problems in three other young children that may have also been caused by the ointment. Researchers at the University conducted a study, which was published in CHEST, using ferrets to figure out if and why the VapoRub caused inflammation and respiratory distress in these young children. The researchers reported that the ointment lowered the ability to clear mucus by 36 percent and increased the production of mucus by 59 percent, resulting in inflammation and constriction of the airways of children under age 2.

A spokesperson for Proctor & Gamble, the parent company of Vicks, made a statement in response to the study and reported respiratory cases, saying that Vicks VapoRub is a safe product when used as directed. He also stated that the link between the hospitalizations and the ointment have not been confirmed. As for the VapoRub label, the directions instruct users to apply the ointment to the chest and throat to relieve cough, or to muscles and joints to relieve pain. However, the label warns consumers not to use the product in the nostrils or mouth and states that Vicks VapoRub is not intended for children younger than two. If a manufacturer fails to properly warn consumers of injuries their product may cause, they may be liable for those injuries. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective product, contact the product liability attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., serving clients in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk County. We also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Link Between Triglyceride Levels and Ischemic Stroke Risk

A recent study conducted in Denmark and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed a clear link between the level of triglycerides in the blood and the risk of ischemic stroke. Triglycerides are a type of fat that is stored in the blood, which come from calories that are not immediately used to provide the body with energy. The study followed 14,000 men and women for over 30 years, looking at their triglyceride level and how many suffered an ischemic stroke, which takes place when an artery to the brain becomes blocked by a clot, preventing fresh blood and oxygen from reaching the brain. Study participants that had triglyceride levels above 443 milligrams per deciliter of blood were found to have three to four times as much risk of stroke than those participants that had levels lower than 89 milligrams per deciliter. This particular study did not require the participants to fast for a period of time before their triglyceride level was tested, allowing the researchers to see who was really at greatest risk of stroke by observing their actual, everyday levels.

Previous studies have tied elevated triglyceride levels in the blood to a greater risk of heart attack, however this study out of Denmark is one of few comparing those levels with increased risk of stroke. The study should prompt doctors to check triglyceride levels when assessing a person’s stroke risk, allowing those that do have higher levels to receive treatment and lower that risk. Other stroke risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, age and heredity. In the U.S., stroke is the third leading killer of both men and women, with ischemic stroke accounting for an estimated 80 percent of all strokes that occur. If you or a loved one have suffered a stroke and have experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment, contact the stroke malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. We also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Lowering Your Child’s Risk of Lead Poisoning

Lead is considered to be one of the heavy metals, which can enter our bodies through air, water and food, and are poisonous or toxic at even minimal levels. If a child has high levels of lead in their system, it is likely that they will experience headaches, confusion, stomachaches, vomiting, muscle weakness, seizures, anemia and/or loss of hair. These toxic levels of lead can also cause long-term health problems involving the kidneys, bone marrow and brain, which may result in learning disabilities, coma, seizures or death. Even low lead levels in the body can have serious consequences for children, including trouble learning, difficulty paying attention, behavior problems and other concerns. Cases of lead poisoning are more common in larger cities, probably due to the fact that there are more apartment buildings in these areas where lead paint is often present. For children that live in apartment buildings or homes that were built before 1960, there is a possibility that lead paint may have been used on the walls at some time. Even if that lead paint has been painted over many times, lead poisoning is still a potential hazard to those children if the layers of paint begin to chip or peel. Homes and buildings build before 1978 may also have lead-soldered pipes routing water to faucets and taps. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set safety standards for lead levels in public drinking water, although lead-free drinking water is the safest recommendation. Before 1986, many gasolines had lead as an additive, which permitted that lead to be released into the air for people to breathe. After that year, lead was banned from gasoline after the EPA estimated that about 5,000 Americans had died each year from heart disease linked to lead inhalation. Minimal levels of lead is still present in the air in some places, although that level has dropped significantly since the switch was made to unleaded gasoline.

An estimated 310,000 children in the United States have elevated lead levels in their blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you are a parent, it is extremely important for you to take every precaution to lower or eliminate your child’s risk of getting lead poisoning. If you live in an older home that may have lead paint or pipes, it is important to have your child’s blood tested for lead by a doctor. If the paint on your walls is peeling, chipping or cracking and there is lead paint present underneath other coats of paint, the paint should be sealed in with a fresh coat or removed completely, which is the safest option. If your home has lead pipes, make sure to run water through the tap for one or two minutes before drinking or cooking if the tap has not been used for several hours. This will wash out any lead that has built up in the water during that time. It may also be beneficial to get a water filtration system for drinking water that may have lead present. However, the safest alternative would be to replace any lead-soldered pipes in your home or apartment. If your child has suffered lead poisoning as a result of the negligence of a landlord, contact the lead poison attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., serving clients in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. We offer complimentary case evaluations.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Blocking MicroRNA to Treat and Reverse Heart Disease

Scientists in the United States and Germany have been conducting new research using mice to see if heart disease can be treated and reversed by blocking microRNA-21, a type genetic material that can promote heart disease. By using a chemical to block microRNA-21, a type of microRNA, scientists found that less progressive scarring would occur. This scarring can prevent the heart from functioning properly, resulting in heart disease. In fact, scientists found that when a heart was failing, the cells within the heart had elevated levels of microRNA-21, making it clear that this genetic material played a significant role in heart disease.

After the mice were given the chemical, scientists analyzed them and found that their cardiac function had increased as a result of the microRNA-21 blockage, which allowed less scarring and in turn, less damaged tissue. This study is a step closer to the treatment and reversal of heart disease and scientists hope that as more research is conducted, human trials will eventually take place to see if the blockage of microRNA-21 is beneficial. If and when this occurs, new medications can be developed to treat and possibly reverse the estimated 5 million cases of heart failure in the U.S. Heart disease is the leading killer of adults and takes the life of one person every 34 seconds in this country. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of a heart attack or other heart-related problem, contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., serving clients with cases in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. We also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Risk of Cancer Reduced by Exercise in Addition to Sleep

Doctors have known for some time that regular exercise lowers the risk of cancer in both men and women. However, a new study conducted by James McClain, Ph.D. of the National Cancer Institute reports that the benefits of exercise may only result if a sufficient amount of sleep is had by women. McClain’s study reveals that lack of sleep diminishes the specific body functions that exercise enhances, including immune, metabolic and hormonal functions. So, a woman that exercises but gets less than seven hours of sleep each night may significantly lower the cancer-fighting benefits that the exercise could have provided. The study, which tracked 5,968 women age 18 and older, looked at the level of exercise and amount of sleep they received, as well as how many were diagnosed with some type of cancer. Over the ten year duration of the study, 604 of the women involved had developed cancer. When McClain analyzed his research, he found that the top 50 percent of women that exercised the most were 20 percent less likely to develop some form of cancer when compared to the women that got little or no exercise. However, even those women that were the most physically active diminished their cancer-fighting benefits if they received less than seven hours of sleep each night. Still, the overall cancer risk for women in that group that were 65 or younger was lower than those that received no exercise, no matter how many hours they slept nightly.

Although this study does not present any conclusive evidence on whether a woman’s amount of sleep has any connection with her risk of developing cancer, many experts believe that a link is very possible. This belief is based on the fact that when a person lacks an adequate amount of sleep, their immune system is less capable of fighting disease, infection and health problems, including cancer. McClain, who presented the study at the seventh annual conference of the American Association for Cancer Research along with his colleagues, stressed the importance of a healthy balance of sleep and physical activity in order to lower cancer risk. He also added that if the same study was conducted on men, similar results would most likely occur. All forms of cancer are serious and require treatment by a doctor or hospital The earlier the treatment, the better the prognosis for cancer patients, so it is important to act at the first signs of cancer and receive routine check-ups by your physician. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a delay in diagnosing or treating cancer, our cancer malpractice attorneys can help. Contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients with cancer malpractice cases in Nassau and Suffolk, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens. We also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

U.S. Infant Mortality Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, the rate of infant mortality in the U.S. has gotten worse in comparison to other developed countries around the world. Back in 1960, the United States ranked 12th for infant mortality, which is the death of an infant one year of age or younger that was born alive. By 2004, the U.S. fell to 29th on that list, showing that other countries have greatly improved their infant mortality rates (IMR), while the U.S. has lagged behind. Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Norway, Finland and Sweden all had rates lower than 3.5 per 1,000 live births, while 22 other countries had rates below 5 per 1,000. In the United States in 2004, the IMR was 6.78 per 1,000 live births, a number high enough to place the country at 29 in international standings. However, the U.S. has seen a steady decline in the actual number of infant deaths, even though the country is doing much worse comparatively. In 1960, the IMR was 26 per 1,000 live births, which dropped significantly to the 6.78 per 1,000 that was recorded in 2004.

It is believed that unfavorable IMR in the U.S. may be due to the increase in the number of preterm births, resulting in a jump in preemie deaths in the past few years. The number of premature births rose from 11.6 percent to 12.7 percent between 2000 and 2005, with an estimated 36 percent of the infant deaths in the country in 2004 relating to the birth being preterm. These infant mortality rates vary among different ethnic and racial groups, with Black mothers in the U.S. having the highest IMR of 13.6 per 1,000 live births and Cuban mothers having the lowest rate of 4.55 per 1,000. Also, baby boys had a higher IMR than baby girls, with premature and multiple births having a higher chance of infant mortality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the five leading causes of infant death are birth defects, disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, SIDS, maternal complications and accidents. If the death or injury of your baby resulted from a mistake by a doctor or hospital, please contact the birth injury attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. to discuss the facts of your case. Our firm serves clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens, as well as clients in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

New Vitamin D Recommendations for Prevention of Childhood Diseases

In 2003, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that children and adults get 200 units of vitamin D daily to keep their bodies healthy. However, the AAP recently doubled that amount for children, announcing at a Boston conference their new recommendation of 400 units of vitamin D per day, which many researchers believe may not even be enough to prevent certain diseases. Some researchers believe that 800 to 1,000 units of vitamin D may be necessary to help prevent disease. For many infants that are breast-fed, it may be necessary for mothers to also give vitamin D drops to make up for any deficiencies in the breast milk. Many baby formulas do have a sufficient amount of vitamin D, so it may not be necessary to also give a vitamin D supplement to babies getting these formulas. Toddlers and children that drink regular milk are recommended to take some type of vitamin D supplement if they are not drinking the four glasses of milk each day that would give them the recommended 400 units. Most milk that is available to consumers is fortified with vitamin D, however many young children and teens do not drink enough to get their recommended daily dose of vitamin D, so a supplement should be taken. The AAP believes that this recommended amount of vitamin D for children will help prevent serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and rickets, a disease found in children where bones soften, likely resulting in fractures and other problems. This 400 unit per day dose of the vitamin should help ward off these and other conditions and help keep children strong and healthy, however more research is still being done to find more conclusive evidence. In tests done using human tissue, researchers found that vitamin D helps kill bacteria as a result of raised protein levels.

The AAP still recommends 200 units of vitamin D per day for adults up to age 50, and 400 units per day for adults age 51 to 70. As for seniors over age 70, the AAP recommends that these older adults get 600 units of vitamin D daily to promote healthy bones, so it may be necessary for people that are not getting the recommended dose for their age range from milk and other foods to take supplements to reach that goal. Besides milk, other sources of vitamin D include fortified cereals and breads, tuna, sardines, mackerel and other oily fish and sunlight, which is converted into vitamin D by the skin. However, too much sunlight may cause skin cancer, so it is important to follow the recommended guidelines for sun exposure to avoid the risk of skin cancer. The diseases that may be avoided by increasing vitamin D levels are serious and difficult to treat. If you or a loved one has cancer, diabetes or heart disease malpractice questions in New York, contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., serving clients with cases in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. Our firm also serves clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free at 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Harmful and Helpful Fats

Many times, people that have heart disease or have suffered a heart attack believe that eliminating fat from their diet entirely will lead to a healthier heart. However, only certain fats negatively affect the heart, while others actually help protect the heart while also performing other functions that benefit the body. Trans fats and saturated fats are two that should be avoided because they increase a person’s bad cholesterol levels (LDL) while decreasing or inhibiting the benefits of good cholesterol (HDL). Trans fats, which have been banned in certain places like New York City, are known to clog arteries and increase a person’s risk of heart disease. This type of fat is found in foods like cookies, crackers, cakes, fried foods and some margarines and shortenings. Saturated fat is found in many animal products, including whole milk, butter, red meat and poultry, as well as other products. This fat promotes the accumulation of plaque in the arteries by increasing bad cholesterol, so it is important to limit the amount of saturated fat in your diet.

Unsaturated fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart by lowering bad cholesterol levels and blood pressure, reducing a person’s risk of heart disease. Monounsaturated fats are found in avocados, most nuts and many oils, including canola, peanut and olive oils, while polyunsaturated fats are found in various vegetable oils. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat, which are usually found in salmon, herring, mackerel and other fatty fish. This type of fat can also be found in certain seeds, nuts and oils. Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent blood clots, impede the build-up of plaque in the arteries and help lower cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease and heart attack.

Although some fats are better for the heart than others, it is important to consume even good fats in moderation. Diets that are too high in fat may lead to obesity, which may lead to heart disease, diabetes, cancer or other serious health problems. If you or a loved one has questions about a delay in diagnosis or treatment of cancer, heart attack or other conditions, please contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., serving clients in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk County. We also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free at 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Ginkgo Biloba May Protect the Brain During Stroke

As many people know, extracts from ginkgo may help improve memory, alertness and blood circulation when taken regularly. However, in a recent study conducted by researchers at John’s Hopkins University in Baltimore and published in Stroke, a journal by the American Heart Association, ginkgo may also be beneficial in the event of a stroke. The researchers used two groups of mice for their study, giving one group the ginkgo supplement once daily for one week and giving the other group nothing. Researchers then brought on strokes in the mice in both groups and found that the group that was given the ginkgo extract supplement had about 50 percent less damage to their brain and more use of their limbs after the stroke than the other group. When a stroke occurs, there is a lack of blood supply to the brain, resulting in a loss of brain function, affecting movement, speech and vision, among other things. People that smoke or have high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes are at greater risk of having a stroke. People that are obese and those over age 55 also have a higher risk of stroke, so it is important to take control of the factors that can be changed in order to lower your risk.

The lead researcher in the study, Dr. Sylvain Dore, believes that the ginkgo extracts helped to protect the brain cells while the stroke was occurring, reducing the level of neurological damage the person will sustain. Still, more tests need to be done on the benefits ginkgo provides for human stroke victims, but researchers are hopeful that those tests and trials will be just as successful as the ones involving mice. Before human trials can begin, researchers still need to figure out at what point during a stroke ginkgo should be given, what dosage would protect the brain cells the most and in what form the supplement should be administered. Strokes require immediate treatment by a doctor or hospital. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in treatment of a stroke, please contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. Our firm also serves clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free at 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

New Fiber Optic Tool a Breakthrough for Minimally Invasive Surgeries

In 1995, Yoel Fink, a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), participated in a project funded by the United States Department of Defense. The project asked participants to construct the perfect mirror which they needed to reflect CO2 lasers. Fink accomplished this task successfully, benefitting not only the military, but also surgeons using laser technology. Fink created the mirror by alternating extremely thin layers of a semi-conducting glass and a polymer, which have different optical properties, resulting in a mirror that could reflect any wavelength of any electromagnetic energy. From there, Fink used his mirror to created a fiber optic tool, which allowed surgeons to reach almost anywhere in the body with a CO2 laser. Using this “perfect mirror” tool, surgeons could use lasers in more complicated but minimally invasive surgeries in place of a scalpel. Patients that underwent laser surgery would have smaller incisions, resulting in a quicker recovery, and they would also have fewer complications and spend less time in surgery. Many surgeons in the U.S. have already started using the fiber optic tool in place of a scalpel to perform minimally invasive surgery on different parts of the body. In some cases, the CO2 laser can reach areas that a scalpel could not get to, allowing surgeons to perform surgeries that were not possible without the tool.

Before Fink’s breakthrough tool, surgeons that used lasers to operate usually ran into various complications and the lasers could only be used to operate on certain areas of the body because the laser could only travel at a straight angle. There was no way to carry the CO2 laser to the point of incision if it was in deeper tissue of the body. Now, the laser can be used by surgeons in a small, pen-like tool to successfully perform these surgeries with less risk of a problem. Still, with any new technology, there is a chance that problems may occur or doctors that are inexperienced or unfamiliar with the tool can make a mistake while using it. If you have questions about the medical care you received during a surgical procedure, contact the surgery malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County. We have helped hundreds of patients who did not receive proper medical care during their surgeries.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Connection Between High Blood Calcium Levels and Fatal Prostate Cancer

In a study published in the American Association for Cancer Research journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, researchers reported that there is a clear link between blood calcium level and a man’s risk of developing fatal prostate tumors. In the study, researchers collected blood samples from the 2,814 males involved in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), noting their levels of calcium in the blood. The researchers sorted the results into three different groups. The men also participated in a follow-up study, where the researchers found that compared with the group with the lowest blood calcium levels, the group with the highest levels were almost 2.7 times more likely to develop fatal prostate tumors. Luckily, these calcium levels in the blood can be treated with drugs and there is very little connection between blood calcium levels and the amount of calcium in the diet. Researchers are not sure whether the cause of the increased risk of fatal tumors is due to the actual calcium level in the blood. It is possible that the levels of parathyroid hormone in the blood, which keeps calcium levels normal in the bloodstream, cause the risk for these tumors to increase.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men in the United States and it is the second most common form of cancer in men after lung cancer. Each year, an estimated 780,000 men are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer and according to the American Cancer Society, about 250,000 men die each year as a result of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer usually develops in older men, with 1 in 6 men developing prostate cancer in his lifetime. However, only about 1 in 35 men will die as a result of this cancer. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of prostate or any other type of cancer, please contact the cancer malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free at 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Early Social Interaction Decreases Childhood Leukemia Risk

Many parents of young children worry that sending them to day care or play groups may increase their risk of getting sick, hurt or having something else happen to them. However, in a 2008 study presented at the Causes and Prevention of Childhood Leukemia conference in London, researchers determined that children that attend day care or some other social activity actually reduce their risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood leukemia, by 30 percent. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia makes up 80 percent of all childhood leukemia cases. Researchers were already aware that exposure to germs allows children’s immune systems to develop, decreasing their risk of developing certain diseases, such as diabetes and asthma. What they learned from the 14 studies examined was that young children that have more exposure to germs increase their protection against virus-fighting cells from becoming cancerous later on in life. This is because their immune system is more developed and they will not have to produce as many cells to fight the infection as they would with a weaker immune system, creating less of a risk that the cells will become cancerous. If children are kept isolated earlier in life, they are more likely to have a fragile immune system, increasing their risk of leukemia resulting from a virus. Genetics also play a role in a child’s risk of developing leukemia, leaving children with overactive immune systems at greater risk of developing cancer because the cells that are trying to fight a virus will divide more rapidly, creating more of a chance that they will mutate.

A different study conducted in Britain examined the risk of developing childhood leukemia by looking at children that were secluded from others and never exposed to colds or other viruses. This study revealed that those children had a much greater risk of developing childhood leukemia because they were exposed to such germs and viruses later on in their development, with an immune system that could not fight them off efficiently. The earlier children begin interacting with other children on a regular basis, the more protection they will have against childhood leukemia. Researchers noted that children that began daycare at 1 or 2 years old had the most protection against leukemia. Leukemia is a type of cancer where the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells (leukemia cells), which may eventually push out the normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, making it difficult for blood to function correctly. As with all cancers, treatment is most effective when the cancer is caught early on. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of leukemia or any other type of cancer, please contact the cancer malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. Our firm also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free at 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Brain Aneurysms: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

Each year in the United States, roughly 30,000 people suffer a ruptured brain aneurysm. Ten to 15 percent of those people die before even arriving at the hospital, while more than 50 percent die within thirty days of the ruptured aneurysm. What many people do not know is that an estimated 15 million people in the U.S. have brain aneurysms, however, very few will actually rupture. An aneurysm is a bulge in one of the brain’s arteries, which is usually only discovered when it ruptures, resulting in a subarachnoid hemorrhage. When an aneurysm ruptures, the surrounding area is flooded with blood, creating a need for immediate medical treatment. Most small aneurysms do not rupture, so there is no need for treatment, but some larger aneurysms may require treatment if the bulge is pressing against brain tissue and nerves.

Though small aneurysms may not cause any symptoms, larger aneurysms or ones that have ruptured have several symptoms that a person may feel if an aneurysm is present. People with large brain aneurysms that have not ruptured may experience changes in vision (double vision, etc.), pain behind or above the eye , a dilated pupil, drooping of an eyelid, or numbness or paralysis of either side of the face. When an aneurysm has ruptured, a person might experience loss of consciousness, a sudden and unrelenting headache, double vision, nausea and vomiting or a stiff neck. If these symptoms occur, immediate medical attention is crucial to find the cause treat the possible rupture.

Aneurysms usually occur because the arteries in the brain have weakened as a person gets older, allowing infections or head injuries to rupture the aneurysm. A person’s risk of developing an aneurysm drastically increases if two or more members of their family has experienced an aneurysm. Other factors, including high blood pressure (over 160/95), quick increases in blood pressure, smoking and other medical conditions may increase a person’s risk. People with high blood pressure that smoke cigarettes are about 15 times more likely to suffer a ruptured aneurysm than someone that does not smoke or have high blood pressure. As for treatment of an aneurysm, there are different procedures, depending on whether an aneurysm has or has not ruptured. For people with aneurysms that have not ruptured, the need for surgery depends on their age, health and the size, location and type of aneurysm they have. If the aneurysm is small (< 7mm), it is probable that no surgery will be needed, however, larger aneurysms producing problems in the brain may require a procedure. Options for both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms include endovascular embolization, which uses a catheter to block blood flow, and microvascular clipping, where a clip is placed on the neck of the aneurysm to prevent blood from reaching it. There are also options just for ruptured aneurysms, including drugs that prevent seizures, open blood vessels and relieve headaches and surgery that redirects excess fluid from the brain to the abdominal cavity using shunt, the rubber tube that allows for drainage of the fluid.

A few ways to lower your risk of developing an aneurysm and the chance of rupture are to avoid smoking, use aspirin carefully, avoid straining activities and limit consumption of caffeine. A ruptured aneurysm requires immediate treatment by a doctor or hospital. If you or a loved one believes you have experienced a delay in treatment for an aneurysm or has medical malpractice questions, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos. We serve clients in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Long Island, Staten Island and Westchester. Call us toll-free at 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

For more information on brain aneurysms, visit www.brainaneurysm.com

Impact of Stress on the Heart

People respond to stress in many different ways. Some are able to stay calm and relaxed while others get tense, nervous and quite visibly “stressed out”. For years, researchers have been looking at how stress affects the heart, though it is difficult for them to come to any definitive conclusions because people deal with stress differently. However, more recent studies have found that people with troubled relationships or tense jobs that cause them constant stress have an increased chance of experiencing a heart attack or other heart related problems. One study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal published by the American Medical Association, found that people with rocky love lives are about 35 percent more likely to develop heart disease. Another study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that people that experienced a heart attack for the first time were twice as likely to experience a second heart attack if they returned to a job that caused them stress on a regular basis when compared to those that had a more easy-going work environment.

People that are unable to cope with stress in a positive way are more likely to experience negative effects on their health, especially their hearts. Many researchers recommend that doctors should evaluate the stress levels of patients that have had or are at risk of having heart problems. However, it may be extremely difficult for physicians to do this since stress can have many sources and various effects. Still, doctors should mindful of patients that are at risk of heart disease or heart attack when they present with warning signs of being over-stressed. Treating stress with medication, exercise or other methods may reduce the chance that they will have to be treated for a heart attack or other heart related problem down the line.

Stress can also impact a person’s health in many other ways, including problems with sleep and digestion, depression, obesity, memory impairment and worsening of skin conditions. However, heart attack, heart disease and other cardiovascular problems are still the most dangerous consequences of too much stress and are the most serious problems to fix. If you or a loved one has medical malpractice questions in New York, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients with Nassau and Suffolk County medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice and Queens medical malpractice cases. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free at 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Advancements in Breast Imaging to Help Increase Detection of Cancer

Since the late 1960s, mammography has been key in detecting breast cancer by using a low-dose x-ray system to examine breasts and create an image. Doctors can then view these images and locate possibly cancerous cells in the breast, allowing them to investigate further and possibly begin treatment. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommends that women 40 and older have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years. They also recommend that women who are at higher than average risk of breast cancer should talk with their health care providers about whether to have mammograms before age 40 and how often to have them. In some cases, mammograms have given false negative and false positive results, meaning the x-ray either shows that there is breast cancer when there is not, or shows nothing when cancer is in fact present. However, many doctors have started using newer techniques for breast imaging to achieve more accurate results and have fewer false readings.

Breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) is a new technique which uses positively charged tracers that are illuminated and attract to negatively charged cancer cells, allowing doctors to see if cancer is present and where it is located. One BSGI study, conducted by Dr. Rachel Brem and her colleagues of the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington D.C., used results from 159 mammograms that had found lesions within the breast. Doctors then tested these women again using the BSGI technique, revealing lesions in 29 percent of the women with about one third of those lesions being cancerous. The BSGI method also

Positron emission mammography (PEM) is another advancement in the area of breast imaging that also uses radiotracers as opposed to an x-ray. The PEM method uses the tracers in addition to glucose, which the cancer cells attract to for energy, allowing the tracers to appear on the image where cancer is present. In a PEM study conducted by Dr. Kathy Schilling at the Center for Breast Care at the Boca Raton Community Hospital in Florida, the method was tested to see how breast density and hormonal status of 208 women influenced the results. Schilling found that the results were comparable to that of an MRI, which can sometimes lead to false positives.

Both of these methods are relatively new and more testing still needs to be done. Women that are at a higher risk for breast cancer should speak with their doctor and make sure they are being adequately tested. As is true for all cancers, treatment is most effective with early detection, so it is important to follow the established guidelines and recommendations and talk to your doctor regularly. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of breast or any other type of cancer, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Cholesterol-Lowering Tips to Improve Health

As people become more and more health conscious, learning new ways to prevent health problems such as heart attack and cardiovascular disease becomes extremely beneficial to people at risk of these problems. In the U.S., it is estimated that fifty percent of adults have high or marginal cholesterol levels, seriously increasing their risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke and other problems. This widespread dilemma can be treated with statin drugs and changes in lifestyle, however, it is up to the individual to decide which way to approach their high cholesterol.

The National Cholesterol Education Program strongly recommends that people with high cholesterol try their best to implement changes in their diet and increase their level of exercise. It is recommended that the majority of people consume no more than 16 grams of saturated fat each day, since this type of fat tends to raise cholesterol levels in the blood when consumed in excess. Also, it is important to limit cholesterol intake to no more than 200 milligrams each day, which usually comes easier when a person’s diet includes less saturated fat. By adding more whole grains, fruits and vegetables to your diet and cutting out more unhealthy foods, it is possible to lower cholesterol without the help of a statin. Doctors also recommend that people with high cholesterol consume more soluble fiber, which is found in foods like fruits, vegetables, oats and beans. This increase in soluble fiber prevents cholesterol from being absorbed into the bloodstream. It is also helpful to reach a healthy body weight, which helps improve cholesterol levels and overall heart health. If these lifestyle changes do not lower cholesterol to a healthy level, it may be necessary to start taking a statin to manage cholesterol more effectively. Still, it is not recommended that people with high or borderline cholesterol levels start a statin before making an effort to increase the level of exercise they receive and improve their daily diet.

Statins are prescribed to people with high cholesterol to help lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels and decrease their risk of cardiovascular disease. These drugs lower cholesterol levels by reducing the amount of cholesterol the liver produces by blocking the protein that makes cholesterol. Before starting a statin, it is important do discuss the side effects of the drug with your doctor, and make sure it will not interfere with any other drug you are currently taking.

With any drug, there is a possibility that a doctor or hospital can make a mistake by prescribing the wrong medication, or the wrong dose of the correct medication. If you or a loved one has questions involving medication malpractice in New York, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos’ medication malpractice attorneys also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women in the U.S. alone, with 25 percent of all cancer cases in women being breast cancer. In 2008, the number of newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer cases reached 182,460, while the number of newly diagnosed non-invasive cases was estimated at 67,770. Researchers are constantly looking for new ways to fight breast cancer, and one new treatment may be right in your own kitchen. In recent studies published in the open access journal, BMC Cancer, and lead by Javier A. Mendez, PhD, of the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain, it was found that extra-virgin olive oil may cut the risk of breast cancer. Mendez and his colleagues conducted various tests using extra-virgin olive oil, which is produced without heat or chemicals by pressing the olives, retaining the compounds that are lost in other processes. The team found that two of the compounds found in extra-virgin olive oil, secoiridoids and lignans, were effective in suppressing the HER2 breast cancer gene, which is found in 20 to 30 percent of breast cancer cases.

Although these findings are extremely positive, researchers say that since the compounds were used in very concentrated measures during the study, it is unlikely that simply consuming more olive oil will reduce the risk of developing breast cancer or help treat it. However, it is very possible that new drugs will result from the findings of these studies to fight the HER2 gene that causes some breast cancers. Any new treatment for breast cancer or any type of cancer is a huge step toward finding a cure. Up to this point in time, more than 2.5 million American women have survived breast cancer, and hopefully that number continue to rise with every advancement researchers make.

Breast cancer is responsible for about 40,000 deaths each year and is the second-leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of breast or any other type of cancer, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Bariatric Surgery Before Pregnancy Reduces Risks

A group of researchers from the U.S. recently announced that obese women are more likely to reduce their chances of complications during their pregnancy if they have bariatric surgery before getting pregnant. The researchers evaluated the results of 75 past studies involving bariatric surgery and pregnancy that were conducted from 1985 to early 2008. These studies were obtained from several databases, including the Controlled Clinical Trials Register Database, Cochrane Database of Reviews of Effectiveness, Medline and EMBASE, as well as the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1998 to 2005. What researchers found was that women who had the procedure before conceiving were much less likely to develop gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, a condition affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. Some studies reported that having the surgery before pregnancy reduced maternal complications, while others showed that women that received the surgery had the same or lower risk of giving birth to a premature or underweight baby as women that did not have surgery.

Obesity levels have soared, causing more people to consider weight-loss surgery, especially women of childbearing age (18-45) that still would like to have children. Review of the studies revealed that between 1998 and 2005, bariatric surgery rates rose an estimated 800% in the U.S., with about 83% of those surgeries being performed on women of childbearing age. These procedures were found to be beneficial to women who became pregnant after the surgery, however, researchers also cited some negative results. One type of weight-loss surgery, biliopancreatic diversion, was found to increase a woman’s risk of miscarriage and nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy. However, researchers noted that many of the studies involving this procedure pointed out that the failure to take vitamin supplements after their surgery may be to blame for deficiencies.

More research still needs to be done on specific areas, including fertility, contraception, nutrition and caesarean delivery, after bariatric surgery has been performed. It is important to discuss all aspects of weight-loss surgery with a doctor to reduce the risk of complications, especially if pregnancy is a possibility in the future. If you or a loved one has medical malpractice questions in New York, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients with Nassau and Suffolk County medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice and Queens medical malpractice cases. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net