Category: Preventable Deaths

Stroke awareness and prevention in Illinois after Senator Mark Kirk, age 52, suffers stroke

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January 24, 2012

11:14 AM

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Illinois, In your 50's, Preventable Deaths

Illinois Senator Mark Kirk, age 52, suffered a stroke over the weekend. Doctors yesterday removed a portion of his skull to relieve post-stroke pressure.  He could leave some paralysis of the face, and may affect his ability to move his left arm and possibly his left leg.  Sad news.

Senator Kirk’s prominence in Illinois will heighten awareness in his state to the risk of stroke and hopefully get some Illinoisans to make lifestyle changes for prevention.  By the looks of the statistics, many should pay heed.

The CDC has a webpage for Illinois for heart disease and stroke. “According to 2007  Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey results, adults in Illinois reported the following risk factors for heart disease and stroke:

  • 28.0% had high blood pressure
  • 36.3% of those screened reported having high blood cholesterol
  • 8.8% had diabetes
  • 20.1% were current smokers
  • 63.0% were overweight or obese (Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 25.0)
  • 51.3% reported no exercise in the prior 30 days
  • 75.4% ate fruit and vegetables less than 5 times a day”

 

 

 

Prescription drug deaths exceed traffic fatalities: Fentanyl drug lollipops now in the mix

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September 19, 2011

4:31 PM

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Early Grave, Indiana, Preventable Deaths

 

Prescription drugs are deadlier than cars.  (emphasis mine)

 Among the most commonly abused are OxyContin, Vicodin, Xanax and Soma. A relative newcomer to the scene is Fentanyl, a painkiller that comes in the form of patches and lollipops and is 100 times as powerful as morphine. Such drugs now cause more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined.

Later in the article:

The most commonly abused prescription drug, hydrocodone, also is the most widely prescribed drug in America, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Better known as Vicodin, the pain reliever is prescribed more often than the top cholesterol drug and the top antibiotic.

Cleaning the medicine cabinet

Are there any unused prescription drugs in your medicine cabinet that could be abused or stolen?   A new Indiana law allows Hoosiers to return unused drugs.  If a take back programs is not available, the FDA recommends:

  • Mix medicines (do NOT crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds;
  • Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag; and
  • Throw the container in your household trash

 

 

Images source: Wikipedia commons