XIAM007

Making Unique Observations in a Very Cluttered World

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Could you be allergic to your mobile phone? -

Could you be allergic to your mobile phone? - 



If you have ever noticed itching, redness or swelling near your cheekbones, jaw or hands you could be allergic to the metal in your mobile phone, scientists have warned

They have been accused of frying our brains; altering our posture and ruining our grasp of the English language but now scientists claim mobile phones could also bring us out in a rash.
If you have ever noticed swelling, redness, itching or blistering near your cheekbones, ears, jaw or hands, you may be allergic to your phone.
A new study suggests the nickel, chromium and cobalt found in common phones made by BlackBerry, Samsung and LG among others, can cause skin irritations.
Danish and US researchers found at least 37 incidents since 2000 where contact dermatitis was caused by mobile phones.
For those allergic to metals, symptoms range from dry-itchy patches on the face or ears to redness, blistering, lesions, and sometimes oozing.

Half of BlackBerry, 75 per cent of Samsung’s and 70 per cent of Motorola phones tested had nickel or cobalt on the keypad or headset. No Apple iPhones, Nokias or Androids were found to contain metal.
Most suffers developed skin problems on their face, although some reported rashes on their hands and thighs.
One 17-year-old French teenager was left with a rash on her chest after keeping her mobile phone tucked into her bra.
Most people reported problems after using their phone continuously for 30 minutes or for more than an hour throughout the day.
Report authors said doctors should be aware that many phones have nickel and cobalt in their headsets, screen surrounds or buttons, which could cause allergic reactions.

Read more - 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10844655/Could-you-be-allergic-to-your-mobile-phone.html

Is Your Handshake As Dangerous As Smoking? -

Is Your Handshake As Dangerous As Smoking? - 



It’s a fairly standard greeting … the “hello” handshake. Whenever I meet a new patient, I say Hi, introduce myself, and stick my hand out for a shake. And if it’s someone I have seen before, there’s a Hi, how have you been, with a simultaneous handshake.
But if infectious disease experts from UCLA have their way, my handshake may go the way of leeches and bloodletting — replaced by a long distance wave or salute.
A commentary in the Journal Of The American Medical Association says it’s time to say goodbye to the handshake greeting in a health care setting. Or for that measure, goodbye to the goodbye handshake as well.
Sure, a firm handshake can be seen as a sign of greeting and compassion, but it’s also believed to be one of the easiest methods to transmit germs. We’ve actually believe this for a long time but perhaps there is new urgency in the mysterious new world of diseases like MERS.
So the recommendation is to treat handshakes like smoking. In other words, since there are a lot of places that simply have smoke free zones, it seems like a good idea to have handshake free zones.
That means educational programs, signage (I guess a stencil of a handshake with a big “X” through it), and perhaps penalties for violating the no-handshake policy.
The authors write: “Removing the handshake from the healthcare setting may ultimately become recognized as an important way to protect the health of patients and caregivers, rather than a personal insult to whoever refuses another’s hand.”
They recommend we develop an alternate greeting that doesn’t involve touching. And one that won’t insult someone.
A text? A phone call? A megaphone hello from down the hallway?
It all makes me wonder, if no contact is allowed, how am I supposed to do an exam?
I mean, that involves actually touch someone to figure out what’s wrong. Perhaps I’m supposed to use a glove attached to the end of an 8 foot long stick. From the hallway.
Now that’s insulting.
In the meantime, I will continue to wash my hands between patients. Use soap. Hand sanitizer. Whatever.
I still think with common sense proper hygiene, personal contact with your doctor creates a bond that aids a key relationship. I’m not ready to toss it away quite yet.

Read more -
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/05/20/is-your-handshake-as-dangerous-as-smoking/