The Texas A&M Health Science Center is pleased to provide the latest installment of “Hometown Health” with the following tips:

School of Rural Public Health
“Happy Birthday” for hand washing

Everyday objects like the gas pump, shopping cart and door handles are prime locations for germs to live, but there are methods to limit their health threat.

Sing “Happy Birthday” twice, and that’s how long it takes to properly wash your hands. While there are plenty of hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes and sprays, none compare to a 20-second scrub.

Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including the common cold, staph infections and the flu. Three necessary ingredients of proper hand washing are water, soap and friction. Combine all three for at least 20 seconds, and the germs won’t see their next birthday.

When soap and water are unavailable, alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be substituted.

Barbara Quiram, Ph.D., associate professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health and director of the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness, says that when it comes to fighting germs, people are more likely to do something that is convenient.

“Hand sanitizer is great because you can keep it in your pocket, carry it in your purse and even keep it in a desk drawer or your car,” Dr. Quiram said. “And, everyone has their hands on a remote control.”

So after watching television, it would be a good practice to sing “Happy Birthday” twice while washing your hands.

College of Medicine
The basics on celiac disease

“Gluten-free” labels seem to be popping up everywhere -  from the grocery store aisle to restaurant menus. So what does gluten-free mean, and just exactly who follows a gluten-free diet?

Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. For most people, gluten poses no trouble. But for those with celiac disease, gluten can be a big problem.

Celiac disease is a lifelong autoimmune intestinal disorder that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is ingested, making it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients.

The symptoms of celiac disease are gas and bloating, changes in bowel movements (either diarrhea or constipation), weight loss, fatigue, weakness and vomiting. Left untreated, it can lead to long-term health problems such as iron deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, vitamin deficiencies, intestinal cancers, diabetes and more.

Although a gluten-free diet means no wheat, barley or rye, those with celiac disease do have other options such as rice, corn, soy, potato, tapioca, beans, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, flax and nut flours. Research also shows that pure, uncontaminated oats consumed in moderation are tolerated by most people with the disease.

“Treatment for celiac disease is basically the elimination of gluten from the diet, which is easier said than done,” said Richard Dusold, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and gastroenterologist with the Scott & White College Station Clinic. “Going gluten-free should cause symptoms and endoscopy findings to improve. Diet compliance is critical for a positive long-term outcome.”

The cause of celiac disease is unknown, but it can be genetic. Approximately one in 133 people in the United States has celiac disease, and it shows up in 5 to 15 percent of siblings or children of those with the disease.

Celiac disease is often mistaken for food intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome because of the symptoms it causes. Doctors can order blood tests to check for certain antibodies that signal the disease. A positive blood test could then lead to an endoscopy and biopsy for confirmation.

College of Nursing
Keep children active and safe throughout the summer

School soon will be out for the summer, so it’s time to think about summer safety.

You always should make every effort to keep your children safe year-round, but especially in the summer with more time spent outdoors, and perhaps unsupervised. Summer brings hot temperatures, insect bites, sporting accidents and more.

“Sun and heat can be a major problem in Texas,” said Sharon A. Wilkerson, Ph.D., R.N., acting dean of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Nursing.

“Apply sunscreen daily and year-round at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days. Before prolonged physical activity, the child should be well-hydrated. During the activity, periodic drinking should be enforced. Normal urine should look like weak lemonade. If it looks like tea, the child is not drinking enough.”

Insects like the summer, too. Insect repellents containing DEET are most effective against ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease, and mosquitoes, which can transmit the West Nile virus and other germs.

“Mosquito repellant with 30 percent DEET provides the best protection -  this is the maximum concentration of DEET currently recommended for infants and children,” Dr. Wilkerson said. “DEET should not be used on children under 2 months of age. Do a daily tick check if your kids have been playing outdoors, especially in or near wooded areas.”

Bicycles, skateboards, scooters and skates keep children active all year but put them especially at risk in the summer, primarily in areas of traffic when drivers are not aware school is out, Dr. Wilkerson said.

A helmet and other protective gear such as knee and wrist guards are particularly important. A helmet should be worn level on the head, not tipped forwards or backwards. The strap should be securely fastened, and the helmet should not move in any direction.

“Children need to be outside and active,” Dr. Wilkerson said. “It improves their overall health and helps with weight control. Just make sure they are safe while they are having that fun.”

Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy
Don’t use dietary supplements for weight loss

From a patch to place on your skin to a specially formulated multi-vitamin, dietary supplements with the promise of helping you lose weight are becoming more prominent in our daily lives. But, before you put them to the test in hopes of looking your best this bathing suit season, pharmacists say you should reconsider.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has taken the supplement ephedra off the market, there are several ephedra-free supplements that tout the same weight-loss effects such as guarana, bitter orange, cola nut and green tea extract.

According to Mary Chavez, Pharm.D., chair and professor of pharmacy practice at the Texas A&M Health Science Center Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, there are many cases surfacing in which these supplements are proving to be more harmful than helpful.

“This is not the same as drinking a cup of green tea,” Dr. Chavez said. “What they are doing is taking the leaves and extracting the chemical constituents EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), and they make it into a powder they put into capsules. There have been over 100 reports of liver damage from around the world associated with using green tea extract.”

“With the other ephedra-free supplements, a lot of people may be taking them and don’t even know they have an underlying heart condition,” Dr. Chavez continued. “Then, their blood pressure can go really high, or they can get an arrhythmia.”

Although there is not a “magic pill” to melt the pounds away that does not have dangerous side effects, Dr. Chavez says healthy weight loss is not impossible. It just takes time and the commitment to exercise and make better dietary choices.

“You’ve got to remember that with weight, how long did it take you to put it on?” Dr. Chavez said. “It is not something that happened quickly, and the weight is not going to come off in a week or month. It’s a lifestyle change.”

Baylor College of Dentistry
Oral infections pose deadly threat for transplant patients

An organ transplant affects every part of the human body because it impacts the way the body fights infection.

The mouth serves as home to millions of bacteria, so preventing oral infections is critical for every transplant patient. Even the slightest gum infection could spread and turn into a deadly illness. Potential transplant recipients have to solve any dental problems and pass a rigorous dental exam. This includes meticulous daily brushing and flossing, with no bleeding whatsoever.

Side effects from medications are another consideration. Transplant patients sometimes take more than 20 pills a day to remain healthy, and these medications often have side effects that can cause problems with the teeth and gums. The soft tissue in the mouth and inside of the cheeks is particularly susceptible to ulcers and soreness that can be long lasting.

“Transplant patients require a team of doctors working closely together -  a team that includes a general dentist and an oral surgeon,” said Dr. Charles Wakefield, professor and director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency program at the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry. “Therapies are available to increase oral comfort and allow patients to eat and swallow to maintain health.”

Because the immune system is compromised in transplant patients, the responsibility of caring for the donated organ begins with something as simple as taking care of your teeth.

The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides the state with health education, outreach, and research. Its seven colleges located in communities throughout Texas are Baylor College of Dentistry, the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, and the School of Rural Public Health.

Source: Texas A&M Health Science Center