November 2006: Health Briefs from Baylor Health Care System

Time and Season Change Can Trigger a Fall into the 'Winter Blues" for Some

Setting the clocks back for daylight savings time means an extra hour of sleep and shorter days for most people, but for the thousands who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the shorter days and absence of daylight can actually cause depression.

Also known as the "Winter Blues," SAD is primarily diagnosed in adults with roughly 60 to 90 percent of the diagnoses occurring in women. While the exact cause is unknown, people with a relative who suffers from the disorder are more likely to develop it themselves.

"A SAD diagnosis is usually based on whether the person has been depressed in the winter and recovered in the spring or summer for at least 2 years in a row," says Gary Malone, M.D., psychiatrist on the medical staff at Baylor All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth. "These dramatic mood swings during season changes are what distinguish SAD from other forms of depression."

According to Dr. Malone, many of the symptoms of SAD mirror those of regular nonseasonal depression, but an increase in appetite marked by cravings for carbohydrates, weight gain and excessive sleeping are classic symptoms of SAD. Other symptoms include irritability, sadness, anxiety, decreased activity, drowsiness during the daytime, and problems with work and relationships.

"For people with SAD, these symptoms usually occur at the same time each year beginning in the fall and ending in the spring," adds Dr. Malone.

In addition to antidepressant medication and counseling, the standard treatment for SAD is light therapy which research has shown to be highly effective. It is believed that light therapy helps to reset a person's circadian rhythms, also known as the "biological clock." Patients are usually required to sit in front of a light box that produces artificial light for a designated amount of time in the morning. Another form of light therapy that is gaining popularity is called "dawn stimulation" which involves a low-intensity light timed to turn on at a certain time in the morning before the patient awakes and gradually gets brighter.

"These therapies have been shown to be very effective, but it should be noted that abruptly stopping light therapy can cause a relapse into depression so it is important to follow through with the treatment in its entirety," explains Dr. Malone.

More information about Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth.

Keep Your Skin Warm, But Hydrated in Cold Weather- Follow These Tips for Healthy Winter Skin

Keeping warm is a priority during the winter, but keeping your skin healthy is important as well. During the cold months, skin can become dry, dehydrated and chapped causing skin to appear old and dull. But according to Sandra Nash, licensed esthetician and supervisor of the L Spa at the Baylor Tom Landry Health & Wellness Center, cold air is not the only culprit.

"Most people don't realize the artificial heat that we use to warm up our homes and offices can suck the moisture right out of your skin as well," says Nash.

Nash recommends the following tips to keep your skin healthy this winter:

• Cleanse your skin twice a day. "Be sure to wash your face every morning and every night-this goes for men too," says Nash. "Use a gentle cleanser appropriate for your skin type and exfoliate once or twice a week to remove the dead skin."
• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. "Moisturize your face after cleansing, and if your moisturizer doesn't contain sunscreen be sure to follow that with a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean the sun is not there-skin damage from the sun can happen year round," says Nash.
• Use products with botanical ingredients. "Look for products that contain essential oils such as chamomile, lavender, and green tea. These ingredients are very calming to the skin," explains Nash. "Stay away from products that contain petroleum or mineral oil-make sure the products are 'noncomodegenic' meaning that they won't clog your pores."
• Avoid skin care products that contain alcohol. "Alcohol is very harsh and dehydrating to the skin. This is definitely an ingredient to avoid during any season," says Nash.
• Don't neglect your neck and hands. "Most people forget about these two areas, but they age faster than the skin on your face so extra attention needs to be given to them as well," explains Nash. "Whatever treatments or products you apply to your face, be sure and apply them to your neck. Apply moisturizing lotion to your hands daily, but again, include an SPF of 15 or higher."
• What you put in to your body is just as important as what you put on it. "Drink as much water as you can to hydrate your skin and stay away from excessive caffeine, alcohol and any cigarette smoke as these will dehydrate your skin. Smoking is not only bad for your health, but it's terrible for your skin." Nash also says healthy eating habits can do wonders for the skin so make sure to include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

New Research Claims a Simple CT Scan Can Detect Lung Cancer Early- But Who Should be Scanned?

It's considered one of the deadliest forms of cancer in both men and women and kills more than160,000 people in the United States each year. Early diagnosis is key to a patient's survival, but unfortunately, early detection is difficult due to a lack of early detection methods and because symptoms usually do not surface until it's too late.

But recently, new research suggests that it can be detected earlier, in its most curable stage, possibly saving thousands of lives each year.

The results of an international study, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, claim that computerized tomography (CT) scans detected Stage I lung cancer in 85 percent of the patients who participated in the study. Furthermore, when followed up with surgery, the 10-year survival rate of these patients increased to 92 percent.

"This is an important first step in the early detection of lung cancer," says Eric Nadler, M.D., oncologist on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. "The ability to cure cancer is directly related to the stage in which it is first detected. For this reason, any tool that enables us to detect lung cancer early may help save lives."

However, Dr. Nadler says it's important to note that while CT scans can detect very small lung tumors, in some cases, it doesn't necessarily mean the cancer is in an early stage or can be effectively treated.

"One must look at this study as an important advance in early detection, but still use caution in determining which patients to screen," adds Dr. Nadler. "Critics have suggested that the screenings may detect more lung cancers, but those cancers may have a slightly less aggressive biology than those cancers detected without the screening," explains Dr. Nadler.

"Yet, this is an important first step and we should consider having frank discussions regarding this diagnostic test with any patients at high risk."

But who should have their lungs scanned? Those people considered to be at high risk for lung cancer says Dr. Nadler. People considered to be at high risk are:

• smokers,
• people with significant second-hand smoke exposure,
• or environmental exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos.

November 13-19 is recognized as National Lung Cancer Awareness Week. If you are at high risk for lung cancer, consult with your physician about your risks and screening options.

More information about Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

A Happy Thanksgiving Meal.Keeping Your Food Safe from Bacteria This Holiday Season

By now you've heard the stories of E. Coli and other harmful bacteria finding their way into different foods and on to tables around the country. As many of us start planning for holiday meals, it's the perfect time to remember to keep food safety at the top of the menu.

Most would agree it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the turkey! But be sure that juicy bird is thoroughly cooked.and the stuffing too. Food experts say use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperatures of both the turkey and the stuffing. A whole turkey should reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit in the thigh and the stuffing should reach 165 degrees.

"To prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, a turkey should be thawed in a refrigerator set below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're pressed for time, thaw your wrapped turkey in a sink filled with cold tap water, but be sure to change the water every half-hour," said Julie Bender, dietitian at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

And here are some other tips to remember: While many of us look forward to feasting on turkey sandwiches after the big holiday meal, Bender warns leftovers have a refrigerated shelf life of only three to four days. As for the leftover gravy, make sure to bring it to a boil on the stove before pouring it on your food. Bender advises us to check the USDA cold storage chart for optimum storage times for all foods.

"More than one-third of holiday meals are buffet or potluck-style. After you set your spread, set your timer.after 2 hours, harmful bacteria can multiply rapidly, putting you and your guests at risk of food borne illness. Help ensure safety of holiday smorgasbord by promptly refrigerating foods below 40 degrees within 2 hours," says Bender.

As you are preparing your meal, remember that you shouldn't thaw the frozen turkey or other main meal dish on the kitchen counter, in the oven or even under hot water. To prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, frozen meat should be thawed in a refrigerator set below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If pressed for time, thaw a wrapped frozen turkey in a sink filled with cold tap water, but make sure to change the water every 30 minutes.

Bender also reminds us to wash our hands before and after handling food.

And remember, smell and appearance will not indicate if food is contaminated with bacteria. Bender says bacteria that most commonly cause disease usually do not change the taste, smell or appearance of foods.

Use a meat thermometer and follow these guidelines: