Upcoming presentations

Wednesday, December 5, 11:00 a.m. How wars changed the world of medicine. Escondido Senior Center. Since the time of the pharaohs of Egypt and right up to the present day, tragedy on the battlefield has inspired dramatic changes in medical practice. From cautery to cataracts, ultrasound to infection control, innovative discoveries during wartime have benefitted the general public. Sponsored by OASIS. To register see their web site at http://www.oasisnet.org.

Wednesday December 12, 1:00 p.m.  Tuberculosis, a colorful history of the White Plague. Escondido Senior Center Tuberculosis was a leading cause of death for millennia. Its victims included famous artists, writers, actors, composers and politicians. Learn what made it so devastating and why the medical community is worried about its resurgence. Sponsored by OASIS. To register see their web site at http://www.oasisnet.org.

In the news

Don’t take a chance on ground beef!

Just a few days ago the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported another nearly-nationwide outbreak of Salmonella infection from ground beef. Undercooked hamburgers and meat loaf have been leading causes of disease outbreaks for decades. It might be a good time to review how to keep you and your family safe from this kind of threat.

So far at least 22 states have reported cases of ground beef-associated disease, which usually takes the form of abdominal cramps, diarrhea and fever. The illness may begin as early as 12 hours or as late as 3 days. Most persons recover in a few days but there are occasional deaths among very young infants, older people and anyone whose immune system is compromised by other diseases or chemotherapy.

NOTE: It isn’t possible to guess if ground beef has reached a safe temperature (160 degrees F.). A food thermometer is is a pretty inexpensive kitchen gadget and it takes only seconds to get a reading. Make it a habit to wash your hands, countertops and utensils that have touched ground beef.

You can find out which states are involved and a list of stores that sold the tainted meat at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks.html.

Lifestyle

Preventing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia – another step: avoid foul fats

Back in the Stone Age folks had almost no trans fat or saturated fat in their diet and what they did have was chemically different from what is in ours. Trans fats, which are present in baked goods in order to lengthen their shelf life, damage the heart and blood vessels (including those in the brain, of course). The government has mandated that they are to be gradually eliminated from foods beginning this year but you can avoid processed foods that may still contain them by reading the nutrition label: the term “partially hydrogenated” means “trans fat” even though the label might state that the amount of trans fat is ZERO. In its wisdom, the government allows up to 0.5 grams of trans fat in each serving to be equal to zero.

Saturated fat is the “marbling” in cuts of meat that gives it such a delicious flavor but it raises cholesterol levels. A recent (2018) study of more than 9,000 persons showed that a high intake of saturated fat increased Alzheimer’s disease risk by nearly 40 percent and more than doubled the risk of vascular dementia.