Mayo Clinic Health Letter Tip of the Month - January 2003

Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Are You at Risk of Diabetes? Exercise and Diet Can Help

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Doctors can determine if you are at increased risk of diabetes, which now affects 16 million Americans — more people than ever before, according to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Understanding your risks can be needed motivation to make changes in your lifestyle. Diabetes is not inevitable, even with a family history of the disease. Recent research shows that losing weight and increasing exercise can dramatically reduce the risk of diabetes.

Risk factors include:

• Impaired fasting glucose:If the level of glucose in your blood after fasting measures between 110 and 125 mg/dL, you have impaired fasting glucose. It's above normal, but not quite at the level of diabetes. It means you are at high risk of diabetes.
• Age: Your risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially past age 40.
• Weight: Eight out of 10 people with diabetes are overweight.
• Family history: Your chance of developing diabetes is higher if you have a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, with diabetes.
• Race: For reasons not yet clear, blacks, Hispanics and American Indians have high rates of diabetes.
• Inactivity: The less physically active you are, the greater the risk of developing diabetes.

What Did You Say? A Possible Cause for Hearing Loss

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Noticing that your hearing isn't what it used to be? A possible cause is otosclerosis (o-to-skluh-RO-sis) — an abnormal growth of bony tissue in the middle ear that results in hearing loss.

The January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter explains that this condition is thought to be genetic and typically surfaces in early adulthood. Most often, it affects both ears.

The disease involves rapid bone rebuilding in the tiny bones of the middle ear. As the disease progresses, the bones become denser than normal. The abnormal bony tissue growth usually freezes the stapes, one of three tiny bones in the middle ear. As a result, sound waves can't reach the inner ear.

If you have otosclerosis, your doctor may recommend watchful waiting, hearing aids or surgery. Treatments generally are effective. Rarely does ostosclerosis result in complete hearing loss.

Bacteria Germs vs. White Blood Cells: The Result Can Be Abscesses (Boils)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A red bump that's tender to the touch could mean you have a surface abscess, sometimes called a boil.

When bacterial germs invade bodily tissues, white blood cells quickly attack them. Pus forms as a result of this battle. Your immune system may then "wall off" the pus by forming a pouch, or abscess, around it. Abscesses can occur anywhere on your skin or inside your body, according to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

If you have a surface abscess, don't try to pop it — this can spread the infection. You may apply a warm, moist dressing to help relieve the pain and swelling. If it doesn't go away within a few days, see your doctor.

Inside your body, an abscess could cause a fever usually lasting for five days or longer, chills, unexplained weight loss, night sweats or other more localized symptoms. If you suspect an internal abscess, see your doctor promptly. If left untreated, the abscess may enlarge and the infection may spread. Usually treatment includes having the pus drained and taking antibiotics.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll-free 1-800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.

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