The Mom Column

Are you somebody who reaches for the Bengay or IcyHot when you or your child is sore as a result of sore muscles?  Sure, these sports creams have been around for what seems like forever and are fairly harmless, right?  That isn't exactly true.  Think twice before doing this the next time.

Most of these sports creams contain the ingredient called methyl salicylate.  In large amounts (through the skin) this can cause bleeding, heart arrhythmias, and damage to the liver.

Arielle Newman, a 17-year-old cross country runner at Notre Dame Academy in New York died from an overdose of sports creams.  Although rare, experts say this is very real and suggest the following:

• Follow the label directions.  For instance the label on Bengay says do not use more than 3-4 times a day.
• Use occasionally and not regularly.  These products build up in the body.
• Only use a small amount and only when you absolutely need it.  
• Do not apply to an open wound or broken skin.
• Do not use on children.

The joy of relaxing in a warm tub of bubbling water is heaven.  That is until you think about the risks associated with hot tubs.  Below are a few of the infections you can acquire from that heavenly tub of water:

• Hot Tub Folliculitis (Hot Tub Rash) - Red itchy bumps and blisters.  Skin infections and open sores can increase your risk of this rash.
• Genital Herpes - Genital Herpes can live up to 4.5 hours on a plastic seat.
• Hot Tub Lung - Bacteria rises into the air as the bubbles come to the surface and burst.  Breathing this in can cause an infection or allergic reaction resulting in cough, fever and chills, shortness of breath, fatigue, and tightness in your chest.  This can be serious and even fatal.
• Legionnaires' Disease - Similar to Hot Tub Lung but much more serious causing death in 5-30 percent of cases.

The FDA is warning the public about a counterfeit version of Alli that is being sold on the Internet.  The counterfeit version contains sibutramine instead of orlistat and the dosing directions on this package is three times the regular daily dose.  Find more information regarding this and what you can do at the FDA web site here.

The last place we all want to be is in a public bathroom.  I know I avoid them like the plague.  The thought of what is lurking in there gives me the heebie-jeebies.  I do what I can to avoid touching anything and get in and out as quickly as possible.

Despite how we all feel about public bathrooms, studies have shown that the chance of catching something is about the same as you would in any other public place.  Of course the door handles and faucets are covered with germs like streptococcus, hepatitis, and the common cold to name a few, but as long as you practice regular handwashing, these shouldn't cause too much of a problem.

The actual toilet seats are what scares the most of us.  The thought of things like STDs crawling the seat is enough to make you neurotic.  If it makes you feel better, studies have shown that most disease-causing organisms can only live a short time on a toilet seat and in order to acquire one of these types of infections the germs need to get into your body through either a cut in your buttock or into your urethral or genital tract.  Thinking about it this way makes it seem very unlikely.

According to Abigail Salyers, Ph.D., President of The American Society for Microbiology,  "To my knowledge, no one has ever acquired an STD on the toilet seat -- unless they were having sex on the toilet seat!"


A bigger problem is when flushing the toilet.  According to Dr. Oz, "Every toilet flush creates an unseen mist detected at head height and can travel up to 15 feet away from the toilet bowl-known as the "Aerosol Effect".  Dr. Oz suggests closing the toilet lid before flushing.  In public restrooms this is not always an option.  Your best bet is to open the stall door before flushing so that you can make a quick escape.


All in all what it comes down to is good handwashing.

As a mom of a child with asthma and allergies I am always looking out for natural ways to help my child deal with this condition.  Recently I learned a little tidbit about oranges that may help sufferers with asthma and allergies.  According to a study by the British National Health Service, apples and oranges can help to reduce the frequency of allergy and asthma symptoms.  The study shows that drinking a glass of orange juice everyday was not proven to prevent every attack, but was found to reduce the wheezing.  Further studies found the reason for this decrease in wheezing is contributed to an enzyme called quercetin found in the fruit.  Quercetin is an antioxidant flavonoid compound that blocks hyalouronidase.  Hyaluronidase is what causes the swelling in the nasal passages.  Maybe the old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" wasn't that far off.