Alcohol and caffeine have joined the ranks of milk, juice and other substances that now come in powdered form.

A handful of states have pre-emptively banned the sale of powdered alcohol. But some say powdered caffeine – which is considered a dietary supplement and not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration – poses more of a danger.

Because of its concentrated form, it’s not so easy to just add a sprinkle of powdered caffeine to food or drink without running the risk of overdose. (Photo: YouTube screengrab)

“Of the two, caffeine is the more concerning one for me,” says Dr. Glenn Geeting, an emergency physician at Penn State Hershey. One teaspoon of the substance – easily bought online – contains roughly the same amount of caffeine as 25 cups of coffee. That’s more than four times the amount that appears safe to consume in a day.

Because of its concentrated form, it’s not so easy to just add a sprinkle to food or drink without running the risk of overdose. Powdered caffeine has been blamed for at least two deaths and numerous hospitalizations for overdose nationwide in the past year.

“Like any drug, it creates a toxic syndrome, and it can create real problems,” he says. Geeting notes those who ingest more caffeine than their bodies can handle may experience rapid or erratic heartbeats, agitation and vomiting, and even seizures. “While mortality is not very common with powdered caffeine, it is a possibility,” Geeting says. “I think it is worth using caution.”

In December, the FDA issued an advisory that recommended consumers avoid using the substance because of the danger of overdose. The agency said parents should recognize the potential danger among teenagers and young adults, who may be drawn to powdered caffeine for its perceived benefits.

Powdered alcohol, on the other hand, is not a concentrated form of alcohol – it is just packaged differently. Makers say it could appeal to backpackers and anyone else who wants to be able to mix up a drink without carrying glass bottles or liquid alcohol.

A pouch that contains about one ounce of alcohol would be larger but lighter than an ounce of alcohol in liquid form. Opponents of the substance say it could be more convenient, appeal to a younger crowd, be snorted or used to spike drinks. Geeting says the potential for abuse seems to be the same or less than alcohol in liquid form.

“For those who are worried about powdered alcohol being smuggled into schools or theaters, it is likely to be harder to hide, more expensive than liquid alcohol and takes at least 30 seconds to dissolve,” he says. “It would be really painful to snort and takes about half a cup of it to get an ounce of alcohol. It seems like it would be easier to just drink a shot.”

Article by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

The number of teens who abuse tobacco, alcohol, drugs and other substances hasn’t changed much in the past couple of decades — but for those who are prone to addiction for one reason or another, the menu of substances to choose from is larger than ever.

Parents have to educate themselves about more than simply cigarettes, pot and other street drugs. These days, those who fall into addiction can do so using cough syrup, alcoholic energy drinks or family members’ prescription medications. Creatively-named concoctions such as “K2” or “Spice” and bath salts with appealing monikers like “Ivory Snow” continue to surface.

Teens have a larger menu of substances that can lead to addiction than ever before, including cough syrup, alcoholic energy drinks or family members’ prescription medications. (Photo: Stock photo)

“You push down one drug and then another comes up,” said William Milchak, an addictions counselor at Penn State Hershey.

Social media and access to the Internet for drug purchases might have something to do with that. Instead of meeting a drug dealer on a shady street corner, teens are getting their fix from the home medicine cabinet, the corner drugstore or online peddlers.

“I think parents really have to educate themselves about what these drugs are, how they come, who is using them and what to look for,” Milchak said.

Experts agree that the following could be signs that a teen is involved in substance abuse:

• Missing money or medications
• Using mints, mouthwash and room deodorizers more than usual
• Changes in appetite or sleep habits
• A new set of friends
• Problems at school — either with behavior or academics
• Withdrawal from social activities

Of course, some of that could just be typical adolescent behavior. The key, Milchak says, is for parents to trust their instincts. “You know your kid better than anyone. If you sense something is wrong, don’t just write it off — err on the side of safety and do the hard things.”

Seeking help for your teen doesn’t mean you must be a bad parent.

Often, addictions have a genetic link. If someone in your family has — or had — a problem with any type of substance abuse, your children are four to five times more likely to become addicted to something. Substance abuse might also be the result of underlying problems such as low self-esteem, depression or anxiety.

Studies also have shown that children introduced to addictive substances before age 18 or 21 are more likely to become addicted to something than those who don’t drink or try addictive substances until later in life. “Age is really important, as are genetics,” Milchak said. “That’s just the way it works.”

If you suspect your teen is abusing any substance, call a school counselor, pediatrician or any of a number of hotline numbers that can be found on the Internet.

Article by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

A quick Google search for “mobile device” and “germs” lists pages of reports about how your smart phone is likely dirtier than a toilet seat and how you’d be terrified if you knew all the germs and bacteria it collects in a single day.

Your cell phone is likely dirtier than your toilet seat. (Photo: iStock/Mashable)

That’s to say nothing of the tablets and touch screens you use everywhere from the gas pump to the grocery checkout.

Dr. Michael Katzman, an infectious diseases physician at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, said the reports don’t surprise him.

“You’re going to find a lot of germs, such as bacteria and viruses, on anything that gets touched by a lot of people,” he said. “This is not new information. It’s why we should be careful about door knobs and why we should wash our hands after we use a bathroom.”

He said some articles suggest that the glass surfaces of touch screens are more prone to having germs adhere to them, however that doesn’t prove a link between the presence of bacteria on the devices and illnesses produced in the users.

Balance concern with common sense

“Yes, there is evidence that the flu virus can persist on surfaces for several hours – and the MRSA bacteria for many days – but ultimately, those things have to get to someone’s hand and then into their body to cause a problem,” he said. “So you need to balance concern with common sense.”

Katzman said the skin is a natural protective barrier to prevent infection, but places like the mouth, the lining of the nose and the moist part of the eyes don’t have that barrier. Nor do open cuts or wounds, or inflamed areas around the fingernails.

Staying healthy is a matter of using the same precautions we’ve known for years and applying them to the new technology. Wash your hands after shaking hands, coughing or sneezing, and especially before touching your eyes and nose or before eating.

In a world with hand sanitizer around every corner, Katzman reminds us that washing with soap and water is still an excellent way to stay germ-free.

“An often overlooked point by the community is that alcohol-based sanitizers do not work if your hands are visibly soiled,” he said. “You have to physically remove dirt and have fairly clean hands for them to be effective.”

Several companies sell products to remove physical residue and fingerprints from electronic devices, but Katzman said a simple microfiber cloth – dry or with a bit of water on it – would help significantly, even though it won’t sterilize a screen.

If you are still intent on trying to sterilize a device’s screen, be cautious before using cleaners that could damage a touch screen or seep into cracks of electronic devices and ruin them.

Article by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Diabetes is a condition that affects millions of people in the U.S. In fact, 26.9 percent of people over the age of 65 have it. About 1.9 million people aged 20 and over have it. But, being diagnosed with diabetes covers only a part of the population. There are many people on their way to becoming diabetic that have sub-clinical symptoms. In short, they’re on the road, but haven’t gotten there yet. If you have diabetes, or you suspect that you’re pre-diabetic, here’s what you can do.

Changing your diet now could prevent diabetes in the future. (Illustration: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

Change your diet immediately and forever

Changing your diet immediately might make a lasting improvement in your condition. If you’re used to sugary drinks and foods, try to limit these and focus more on healthy starches like potatoes and sweet potatoes or yams. If you need the sugar for your insulin, opt for healthy fruits.

If you can control it through diet, your doctor may recommend a low-carb diet. Look into resistant starch and soluble fiber, like inulin and FOS, which may help stabilize your blood sugar.

Eat at consistent times each day. Your body will get used to this and, if you skip meals, you may send your blood sugar into the basement. Then, you overeat and your blood sugar skyrockets. Not good. Coordinate your meals with your medication and you should be able to manage it just fine.

Stop smoking and cut way back on drinking

Alcohol can mess with your blood sugar in a nasty way. Smoking is just plain bad for you, but it can be especially detrimental for you if you’re diabetic. If you currently have problems with drinking, because you’re depressed about your condition or you’re a heavy drinker, consider some alternative treatment options that don’t involve AA for alcoholics (you may not be an alcoholic – you may just need to reduce or eliminate your habit).

Exercise

Everyone who wants to be healthy goes outside and runs. But, you actually need a combination of walking or running and strength training. Doing weightlifting, like barbell-driven exercises, will build muscle that will help you with your condition as you age. It also helps to stabilize (lower) your blood sugar, and it will generally make you feel better.

Manage stress

Even stress can drive up blood sugar. So, before you get ticked off about the guy who just cut you off, take a breather. It’s good for your health. It might also be beneficial to start doing meditative yoga or some other kind of meditation.

Take care of your general health

It’s important to get regular eye, dental and regular physicals from your doctors. Why? Because diabetes, and even pre-diabetes, presents with problems like loss of vision, dental problems and other physical problems that may decrease the quality of your life, or even kill you if left unchecked. For example, regular inspection of your feet will help uncover diabetes quickly because half of all people with the condition have some form of nerve damage or neuropathy. Nerve damage can make you numb so you won’t notice pain or other issues – especially in your feet.

Article by Steve Tucker. Steve’s passion for holistic medicine grows from his love for research and healthy living. He knows that medications are often most effective with healthy lifestyles and better understanding of ailments, so he often blogs about his research and insights into a healthier life.

From Cinco de Mayo margaritas to beers at the Labor Day cookout, summer is a time of late night parties — and for some of us, late night drinks. Sometimes it seems as though just one or two drinks can make us feel rough the next day. With weddings, summer festivals and beach trips coming up, here is the what, why and how-to-beat-it of the hangover.

(Source: vanityrich.onsurgar.com)

What is happening to me?

If you go to the doctor convinced you’re dying of your hangover, they’ll call it veisalgia and assure you you’re not. The medical symptoms that qualify veisalgia are as follows: “headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, diarrhea, exhaustion, thirst and dysphoria.” Dysphoria, for those not in the know, is a condition of general malaise and dissatisfaction, the feeling that makes you lay on the couch and insist you’ll never drink again.

So what causes a hangover? The most well known cause is dehydration. From the first sip of your drink, alcohol begins to enter the bloodstream. Alcohol suppresses the production of vasopressin, the hormone that regulates fluid management in the body. Without vasopressin, water doesn’t go to the rest of your body. Rather, liquids are sent straight to the kidneys for processing — explaining the need to use the bathroom frequently while drinking. Because of this, even one drink can dehydrate us, especially if we’re already dehydrated previously.

Ethanol

The active ingredient in alcoholic drinks is called ethanol. Ethanol consumption requires a massive diversion of metabolic activity — in layman’s terms, just like you’ve set aside your night to party, so has your body! Producing glucose for the brain, creating enzymes for liver processes and handling the byproducts of ethanol production all get put on a hold for a night of processing alcohol. If you consume more alcohol than your body can keep up with, this can lead to depletion of salt, water and potassium, things we need to feel good.

Congeners and what to drink

What you drink also matters. Congeners are byproducts produced during the fermentation of alcohol that are responsible for the flavor and color of certain drinks. To put it in terms you’ve probably heard before — clear, flavorless liquors are less likely to make you feel hungover than things such a whiskey and red wine. It’s more than just college advice, there’s science behind it!

(Source: www.cure-hangovers.com)

So great, you’re saying. Thanks for telling us about the beast, how do we stop it?

Prevention and cures

Drinking water before, during and after alcohol consumption can mitigate some of the dehydration effect. You will lose fluid with even one drink, but try drinking a 8 ounces of water for each alcoholic drink you consume.

Eating a full meal including carbohydrates and protein can keep the byproducts of ethanol (such as acetic acid — better known as vinegar!) from giving you a sour stomach and diarrhea the next day. Before and after you plan to drink, give your body the protein and potassium it needs. Sports drinks contain potassium and electrolytes that can help with the soreness and dehydration the next day.

Take your vitamins! The frequent urination of drinking causes your body to deplete itself of necessary vitamins. Not only will a multivitamin replenish and help your body get back on track, but a B vitamin complex can give you energy much better than caffeine, which will only dehydrate you further.

Hopefully these tips will make your summer a bit smoother as you go from party to wedding to beach, one day to the next. Take it easy, relax and above all — be safe!