Video Game Epilepsy March 24, 2009

   Let me start by saying don’t let the title of this post fool you – video games do not cause epilepsy.  But doctors are noticing that the lights and sounds from some of today’s most popular games can cause epileptic seizures in some children.

   This was once thought to be an urban legend – children seizing while playing a video game with friends.  It has become a reality though.  Experts in pediatric seizures say the change in colors, lights, and sounds you see in all games provokes a neurological response in some kids.  Photosensitive epilepsy can be a one time thing or a regular response to flickering lights.  Using video games as a diagnostic tool can also help doctors see who may be more susceptible to this type of seizure.

    The video game industry is aware.  Most games have warning labels on the box and a warning on the screen when you first turn the game on.  At least one state is considering a law requiring game stores to post a warning as well.

    To reduce your risk, the Epilepsy Foundation recommends playing in a well-lit room, reducing the screen’s brightness, limit your playing time to 30 minutes, and take regular breaks.  You can also use a flicker-free monitor such as an LCD or flat screen, a monitor with a glare guard, or wear non-glare glasses while you play.

Uterine Fibroids March 16, 2009

    This health alert is for the thousands of women in Atlanta who suffer with uterine fibroids.  If your periods are heavy, your pelvis hurts, or you have to go to the bathroom a lot – you may be one of them.  If you don’t know, uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that form most often during your childbearing years.  Some women never have any symptoms, but many others do, and they can be painful.  The woman we featured in our story is only 37 and her heavy periods and bladder problems are really slowing her down.  The latest treatment is called uterine fibroid embolization – a much less invasive alternative to a hysterectomy ( a complete removal of the uterus) or a myomectomy ( the surgical removal of the fibroids ). 

  Here’s how the embolization works. A doctor makes a small incision in the groin and threads a catheter to the tiny vessels that supply blook to the fibroids.  He then injects microscopic particles to those vessels, cutting off the blood supply and slowly shrinking the fibroid over a few weeks.  The whole thing takes only 35 minutes!  The recovery time is less than after surgery at just a couple of weeks.  And you leave the hospital with just a band-aid.

    People who are most susceptible to fibroids are African- American, those women who have fibroids run in their family, and those who have a higher percentage of body fat.  If you’ve been diagnosed with troublesome fibroids, talk to your gynecologist about fibroid embolization.

Digital Mammograms March 9, 2009

    This week’s health alert looks at a necessary part of staying healthy as women age – the routine mammogram.  There is new technology out there that give doctors a better look inside the breast – digital mammography.  The digital image is clearer and more easily manipulated by a techinican so they can look at the tissue from all angles.  Digital mammography is especially helpful for women with dense breast tissue.  The doctor can magnify the mammogram, change the contrast, and the brightness – just like it was on a TV set!  The one drawback to a digital mammogram is that there can be more false positive readings leading to more testing to make sure the tissue isn’t cancerous.  Doctors caution though that a good breast x-ray can be just as effective as a digital mammogram, if done right and read properly.

   There are many places in the Atlanta area that offer digital mammography.  Just ask your doctor for a recommendation.  And remember to take your previous mammogram films with you if you switch to a digital center.  Doctors need them to compare with the new film to get a proper reading.  If you’re 40 or older, a yearly mammogram and breast self exams should be part of your health routine.

Hypothyroidism March 4, 2009

    Do you feel run down all the time?  Are you sick, gaining weight, and having trouble concentrating?  If so, you could be among the 10 to 12 million women who suffer with hypothyroidism.  An underactive thyroid gland can be responsible for your fatigue.  The thyroid gland is at the base of your throat and its job is to control your metabolism.  When it’s not working, you feel it.  It not only makes you feel lethargic, but you may also have dry skin, hair loss or heavy periods.  Keep in mind, the women who are most at risk for hypothyroidism are over 50 and those with a history of thyroid problems.  The tricky part of this is diagnosis because these symptoms show up with other health issues, too.  But get checked, because a pill can do the trick for most people.  Imagine, one pill a day to feel alive again. 

     If you’re interested in getting checked out – look for Dr. Karen Bullington in Atlanta – she was so helpful and would be happy to get you on the road to feeling like yourself.