C M Y K E2
HEALTH 03-09-10 DM EE E2 CMYK
E2 Health
V1 V2 V3 V4
KLMNO TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010
Should you expose your young example, diarrhea or a mild upper
daughter to potential risks from a respiratory tract infection) can get
vaccine that protects against cer- CONSUMER REPORTS INSIGHTS the vaccine, but those with moder- The Checkup
vical cancer, a disease that she ate or severe illnesses should wait
may get 20 to 40 years from now?
Gardasil:
until they recover. To prevent falls
That’s a question millions of in case of fainting, the vaccine re- 6
voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup
parents face as television ads push cipient should remain seated or
for girls to receive Gardasil, a vac- lying down for 15 minutes after
cine that prevents infection from
risks and
the injection while a health pro-
Wal-Marketing healthy foods
four types of human papillomavi- fessional observes her.
rus (HPV), the most common sex- Seek medical attention if you A current Wal-Mart TV commercial says that people who
ually transmitted virus in the
rewards
notice any unusual conditions af- spend $100 a week at leading national supermarkets on
United States. Those four types ter the vaccination, such as a high frequently purchased groceries can save $55 a month by
cause most cases of cervical can- fever or behavior changes. shopping at Wal-Mart instead. Though there are various
cer and genital warts. Signs of a serious allergic reac- versions of the ad, the one I’ve been seeing lately focuses
The Food and Drug Administra- tion include difficulty breathing, on Wal-Mart’s “Healthy Simple Steps” selections — all of
tion approved Gardasil in 2006 hoarseness or wheezing, hives, which are packaged and processed foods.
for girls and young women to pre- paleness, weakness, a fast heart- Wal-Mart media relations person Linda Blakley
vent cervical cancer and genital beat or dizziness. explained via e-mail that the numbers “are based on
warts caused by some types of Pregnant women should not weekly price audits on 249 comparable items at leading
HPV. But complaints have start the vaccine, but receiving the national supermarkets . . . compared to Wal-Mart’s
emerged about the marketing and vaccine when pregnant is not a average national retail price” and that “savings at
cost of Gardasil, and some parents reason to consider terminating individual stores may vary.”
have raised concerns about its the pregnancy. Women who are And, she added, the comparison “excludes produce,
safety. A new report (at www.cdc. breast-feeding may safely get the meat and other random weight items.”
gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/hpv/ vaccine. Which is too bad. When I tool around on the Healthy
gardasil.html) by the FDA and the Anyone who has ever had a life- Simple Steps part of Wal-Mart’s Web site, I don’t find a lot
Centers for Disease Control and threatening allergic reaction to that fits my definition of a healthful diet. Just lots of boxes
Prevention found that serious yeast or any other vaccine compo- and bags of food.
complications had occurred, al- nent, or to a previous dose, should But there’s more to the story. A
though the rate and severity of not get the vaccine. Inform your journalist at the Atlantic compared
most side effects appear to be con- doctor of any severe allergies. the produce sold at Whole Foods to
sistent with those of other vac- Pap smears are strongly recom- that sold at the Wal-Mart
cines. mended for vaccinated women. superstores that have full grocery
To help you weigh the risks and Current guidelines advise begin- offerings. Writer Corby Kummer
benefits of Gardasil, Consumer ning screening three years after was astonished to find that in more
Reports reviewed the evidence.
HARRY CABLUCK/ASSOCIATED PRESS
the first sexual intercourse but not instances than not, Wal-Mart’s
How effective is Gardasil?
later than age 21, with repeat produce was as good, if not better.
not yet known. ported that more than 23 million screening annually or at least ev- And cheaper, too.
Studies involving about 21,000 doses of Gardasil were distributed Too bad there aren’t more of
girls and women found that for
Who should get the
ery three years.
between 2006 and 2008, and those superstores around; it might
those who were not infected with
vaccine, and when?
12,424 reports had been filed.
Bottom line
help bridge the healthful-eating
HPV at the time of vaccination, Gardasil provides maximum Most of those were not serious Gardasil is an inactivated (not gap in this country.
Gardasil was highly effective in benefit when it is administered and involved pain and redness at live) vaccine that protects young
BIGSTOCKPHOTO
— Jennifer LaRue Huget
preventing precancerous cell before a girl or woman becomes the injection site, dizziness, nau- women against cervical cancer
changes that often develop into sexually active. It’s recommended sea, headaches and fainting. and genital warts. After reviewing
cancer of the cervix, vagina and for 11- and 12-year-old girls, but it But 6 percent of the reports available information, the FDA
HEALTH SCAN
vulva, and in preventing genital can be given to those as young as 9 were serious. They included blood and CDC continue to find it safe
warts. and to women up to age 26. Young clots and Guillain-Barré syn- and effective.
But if a girl or woman is already women who are already infected drome, a disorder that causes Consumer Reports’ advice: COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE
infected with one of the HPV types may still partially benefit from the muscle weakness and tingling Consider the vaccine after you’ve
in the vaccine, Gardasil will not vaccine because very few have that can progress to paralysis. discussed its risks and benefits
Grapes of wrath?
treat the infection nor prevent dis- been infected with all the HPV There were also 32 reported with your physician. VEGETARIAN TIMES, MARCH ISSUE
ease from that type. Moreover, be- types that it targets. deaths, but they had no common Do you think you have experi- VT contributing editor Hillari Dowdle was gung-ho
cause the vaccine doesn’t protect
What are the risks?
pattern that would suggest they enced an adverse event related a about community-supported agriculture (CSA) before the
against all HPV infections, it were caused by the vaccine. In vaccine? If so, you may report it by first box of fresh, organic, seasonal produce was even deliv-
won’t prevent about 30 percent of Reports of side effects and com- most of the cases that had medical fax at 877-721-0366, online at ered. “I know in my bones that buying directly from farm-
cervical cancers and 10 percent of plications following vaccination documentation, the deaths were https://vaers.hhs.gov/esub/step1, ers is the right thing to do . . . that learning to eat in sync
genital warts. That’s why Pap are collected by the Vaccine Ad- linked to other factors, such as or by mail to the Vaccine Adverse with nature’s rhythms can only do us good,” she writes in
smears are still essential for early verse Event Reporting System diabetes, viral illness, illicit drug Event Reporting System, P.O. Box this first-person piece. Dowdle forked over $750 for a share
detection of cervical cancer, which (VAERS), which is managed by the use and heart failure. 1100, Rockville, Md. 20849-1100. in a farm that would send her fruits and veggies every
has no symptoms until it’s ad- FDA and the CDC. The reports are week for 25 weeks. But halfway through, the relationship
vanced. Protection from the vac- unconfirmed and not necessarily
What safety precautions can
Copyright 2010. Consumers Union of soured. Plagued by a difficult growing season and no back-
cine is expected to be long-lasting, related to the vaccine. In a 2009
you take with Gardasil?
United States Inc. up plan by the farmer, her deliveries dwindled to the few
but the duration of immunity is review of the data, the agencies re- People with minor illnesses (for veggies that managed to reach the “baby” stage. Dowdle
still thinks CSA is the way to go, but she suggests people as-
sess their options, ask around and even meet the farmer
AnyBODY before committing to a program. This year — after lots of
Carolyn Butler
research — she’s writing her check to another nearby CSA
provider, Organicism Farms. in Knoxville, Tenn. For a na-
tional database of CSAs, check out Localharvest.org.
Despite what you may have heard, there’s no boom in deafness
HISPANIC HEALTH
From one woman to another
a hard-rock concert, and it’s really
“THE LATINA GUIDE TO HEALTH” (NEWMARKET PRESS, $15.95)
W
hen I was growing up,
one of my mother’s loud and your ears are ringing
Jane L. Delgado, the president and
favorite admonitions — when you go home or you feel like
CEO of the National Alliance for His-
along with “If you keep making you’ve got cotton in your ear,
panic Health, offers health advice for
that face, it’s going to freeze that that’s not as worrisome as
Hispanic women of all ages, delivered
way” and “Don’t sit too close to someone who listens to blaring
“as if we were talking over a
CHOCOLATE
the television or you’re going to music at top volume, day in, day
CALIENTE
(hot chocolate).” First, the
need glasses” — was the classic out, who is more likely to have
good news: Latinas, Delgado says, have
“Turn that music down, or you’ll permanent damage to the
lower rates of heart disease and stroke
go deaf.” receptor cells in the inner ear.”
and live longer than non-Hispanic
I hate to admit it, but lately I MP3 players are a particular
white women. Now the bad: Latinas are
find myself asking friends to concern, she said. “The output
more likely to be overweight and have
repeat themselves during loudness levels can get pretty
diabetes than non-Hispanic white
cellphone conversations or to high — 100 to 120 decibels —
women and are more likely to suffer from depression. Del-
speak up over dinner in a bustling which has the potential to cause
gado goes through health issues alphabetically — from al-
restaurant. Was Mom right? permanent damage to the inner
cohol use to STDs — then includes handy health charts and
Could blaring Duran Duran and ear within 10 minutes at the
lists of questions to ask your doctor at the end of the book.
Wham on my Walkman for hours louder end.” It’s even worse when
— Rachel Saslow
on end really have caused you’re using ear buds, which are
irreparable damage? inserted into the ear canal and
Maybe, but it’s still open for lead to greater sound exposure
QUICK STUDY
debate. Although parents have than regular headphones.
been predicting that loud music Some of us are more at risk
would destroy the ears of each than others. Several studies
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE
new generation, um, forever, new indicate that both noise-induced
PULMONARY DISEASE
research suggests that hearing hearing loss and hearing loss that
loss is actually on the decline. just happens as you age “are
Lungs may show damage from pipes
According to a study published in caused by a combination of
and cigars, not just from cigarettes.
the American Journal of genetic and environmental
Epidemiology in January, the factors,” explains Griffith. NIDCD
THE QUESTION Cigarette smoking is a main cause of the
odds of hearing loss are 31 statistics show that some 15
disease of the airways and lungs known as chronic obstruc-
percent lower, overall, for baby percent of Americans between
tive pulmonary disease (COPD). Does smoking pipes or ci-
boomers than for their parents.
ILLUSTRATION WORKS/ALAMY
the ages of 20 and 69 — or 26
gars have a similar effect?
Researchers tested close to 5,300 million people — have hearing
THIS STUDY involved 3,528 middle-age and older adults,
people of various ages in Beaver Survived Rock-n-Roll Era With In fact, common guidelines, loss from overexposure to loud
most in their mid-60s, including 9 percent who had
Dam, Wis., beginning in 1993 to Hearing Intact,” which made for including OSHA standards, sounds at work or play, and that
smoked pipes, 11 percent who had smoked cigars and 52
see who could hear different some great headlines, especially recognize that noises above 85 more than 30 million of us are
percent who had smoked cigarettes. All participants were
tones and then compared the given the widely held belief that decibels can be unsafe. “But the exposed to harmful noise levels
given spirometry tests, which gauge breathing ability and
level of impairment in one or concerts, boomboxes, risk is proportional to the length on a regular basis.
lung function and are used to diagnose COPD, and urine
both ears across birth cohorts. headphones and now MP3 of time you’re exposed,” says “Some people are very resistant
tests to measure cotinine levels, which indicate the body’s
This allowed them to make players and their ear buds have Griffith, “so as you start to noise-induced hearing loss,
absorption of tobacco smoke. Cotinine levels were higher
comparisons between slowly been destroying our increasing the intensity of the some are more susceptible,” says
in cigarette smokers than in pipe and cigar smokers. None-
generations. For example, 36.4 hearing. But doubters point out noise, the duration of what’s Griffith, “and we have no good
theless, spirometry showed that people who smoked pipes
percent of men now in their early that this research doesn’t thought to be a safe exposure way of knowing where you stand,
or cigars but had never smoked cigarettes were more than
60s, or born between 1945 and specifically address noise-induced decreases.” He notes that except from a prior history of
twice as likely as nonsmokers to have obstructed airflow;
1949, have a hearing impairment, hearing loss, which is either firearms, firecrackers, NASCAR noise exposure and hearing loss,
the risk grew to more than threefold higher for pipe and ci-
compared with 58.1 percent of caused by a single exposure to races and riding on a motorcycle but by that point, it can be too
gar smokers who also smoked cigarettes.
those born between 1930 and extremely loud sounds such as an all fall into the dangerous late.”
WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Cigar and pipe smokers. Ciga-
1935, who were tested when they explosion or by repeated exposure category — but so can everyday Thus, he counsels, it’s simply
rette smoking has decline in the United States in recent
were in their early 60s. to loud or very loud sounds, such household items such as better for everyone to protect
decades, but cigar and pipe smoking has increased, accord-
“The study shows that the as blaring music. lawnmowers, leaf blowers, certain themselves from the start. This
ing to government reports.
prevalence of hearing loss at any “Are we seeing better hearing power tools and even vacuums, if includes lots of common-sense
CAVEATS Data on smoking history came from the partici-
given age is getting lower with [in this study]? Slightly. But does you use them for long enough. measures, such as turning down
pants’ answers on questionnaires. The authors wrote that
different generations — that we’re that infer that modern personal And I think the Who’s Pete the volume on your iPod, using
lower cotinine levels among cigar and pipe smokers than
retaining good hearing for longer music devices don’t damage your Townshend, for one, who recently speakers rather than headgear to
cigarette smokers reflected a difference in nicotine absorp-
than our parents and hearing? We can’t say that from announced he may quit the rock listen to your music every once in
tion but did not necessarily indicate less exposure to harm-
grandparents,” says University of this research,” since it didn’t track band because of another bout of a while, and moving away from
ful effects of tobacco smoke.
Wisconsin at Madison professor individual participants’ noise tinnitus — a ringing or buzzing in any noise that’s loud enough to
FIND THIS STUDY Feb. 16 issue of Archives of Internal Med-
Karen Cruickshanks, a co-author exposure, says Andrew Griffith, the ears that can be caused by hurt your ears — even if it’s a
icine.
of the study. This suggests that scientific director and chief of the loud noise — will attest that particularly rocking show — or
LEARN MORE ABOUT COPD at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health
hearing impairment is not solely otolaryngology branch at the playing in a band and attending using hearing protection such as
and www.familydoctor.org.
determined by genetics and that National Institute on Deafness rock concerts are also potentially earplugs. In addition, both
— Linda Searing
the environment and lifestyle and Other Communication problematic. Griffith and Jacobs-Condit
play a role, says Cruickshanks. Disorders in Bethesda. Also, he It’s not just legendary guitarists recommend that anyone with
The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed
She speculates that the move to said, tone testing doesn’t who run some risks. Linda concerns about hearing loss get
journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment’s
quieter, white-collar jobs from necessarily pick up noise-induced Jacobs-Condit, coordinator of their ears professionally tested.
effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing
more-industrial pursuits, hearing loss, particularly at the audiology services at the Speech So I guess I’ll be making an
or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.
regulations on workplace noise higher frequencies. “Listening to and Hearing Center at George appointment, to figure out how
and increased antibiotic use, anything too loud, for too long, Washington University, says that, much damage George Michael,
Thursday in Local Living
among other things, have all can damage your hearing,” he depending on volume and Simon Le Bon and other
The MisFits write about proper etiquette when swimming
improved people’s hearing in says. “There is a well- duration, the harm caused by big-haired ’80s superstars really
laps at public pools. Eat, Drink and Be Healthy reviews the
recent decades. documented, accepted very loud music can either be wrought — and whether Mom
debate over a bill that would regulate dietary supplements.
The press release for this study relationship between noise temporary, lasting up to 48 hours, was right — once and for all.
announced that “Baby Boomers exposure and hearing loss.” or more permanent: “If you go to health-science@washpost.com
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