Health Headlines
| Updated: 6/19/2008 6:58 pm |
Published: 6/17/2008 4:05 pm |
Salmonella Update
The FDA is saying one part of Mexico has been cleared in the investigation of salmonella-contaminated tomatoes. U.S. officials say tomatoes from the Baja California peninsula in Mexico are not contaminated. This comes as the number of those made sick from salmonella in the U.S. has risen to 277. At least 43 of those have been hospitalized. The FDA is still urging people to avoid raw Plum, Roma or Round tomatoes, unless they are grown in states that have been cleared -- which includes Arkansas.
Obesity Report
UAMS is reporting more schools are banning junk food from their vending machines. The new report shows 61 percent of Arkansas schools have taken the unhealthy food out of the machines. It also showed 83 percent of families are limiting sweets and sodas at home. However the same report found that 19 percent of schools are allowing students to access vending machines during the lunch period. That's a violation of state law.
Health Focus
New Way to Get Rid of Varicose Veins
Women who have had more than two pregnancies or people who spend a lot of time on their feet -- nurses, teachers, postal workers -- are at high risk for severe varicose veins, and half of all Americans over 50 have the problem.
Ann Miner of North Little Rock hopes to have new legs after today. She suffers with pain from varicose veins.
“Yesterday for example. I went out, I had chores to do. Shopping I was up for a long time. Up walking, looking, and standing. I was glad to come home because my legs were hurting,” Miner said.
So now Ann is getting her varicose veins removed through a new procedure call closure fast catheter - just approved by the FDA and preformed by Little Rock doctor Mimi Lee.
“It is basically treating the condition from the inside without major surgery,” says Dr. Lee.
Here's how it works.... First Dr. Lee finds the veins through ultra sound and then marks them. After that, she inserts a small catheter into the malfunctioning vein. The catheter uses radiofrequency energy to heat and close the diseased vein, literally shutting it down. The actual process takes about two minutes.
“As a surgeon I use to have to remove these veins thru what we call vein striping. It is not only traumatic but has high risks involved,” says Dr. Lee.
Now the procedure is done in the office - with a local anesthetic. And the patient is able to return to work in a day or two. Ann says she now has many things she's looking forward to, but for starters:
“I'm looking forward to seeing how it feels when it's over. Give me a week and who knows I'll go shopping again,” Ann Said.
They say this treatment is 96-percent effective. We am told Ann is doing just fine.
