Health Highlights: Oct. 8, 2009

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

Immune System Linked to Osteoporosis In Celiac Patients: Study

People with celiac disease may be at increased risk for osteoporosis because their immune system attacks a protein called osteoprotegerin, which plays an important role in bone health, say U.K. researchers.

It had been believed that osteoporosis in celiac patients was caused by an inability to absorb calcium or vitamin D. This study found that 20 percent of celiac patients tested had antibodies that stopped osteoprotegerin from working effectively, BBC News reported.

"This is a very exciting step forward. Not only have we discovered a new reason to explain why osteoporosis occurs in celiac disease, but we have also found that it responds very well to drugs that prevent bone tissue removal," said lead researcher Professor Stuart Ralston, of the Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

"Testing for these antibodies could make a real and important difference to the lives of people with celiac disease by alerting us to the risk of osteoporosis and helping us find the correct treatment for them," he added, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the New England Journal of Medicine.

-----

Free Depression Screening on Thursday

Americans can take advantage of free and anonymous depression screening Thursday at one of 1,000 locations nationwide or on an online screening site.

As part of the annual event, participants can also discuss their screening results with a mental health professional, get information about depression, and find out where they can receive additional help, the Los Angeles Times reported.

This year's screening day includes specific information for military personnel and college students. For example, military members and their families will be offered screenings and information on mental health issues of greatest concern to them, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

To find a screening site near you or to complete the online screening questionnaire, go to the National Mental Health Screening Day Web site. National Depression Screening Day is sponsored by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health and other major mental health organizations, the Times reported.

-----

Nearly 17% Of Americans Lack Health Insurance: Index

The percentage of Americans without health insurance increased from 13.9% in September 2008 to 16.6% last month, according to the latest Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index figures.

In January 2008, the index started asked Americans aged 18 and older about their health insurance coverage on a daily basis, conducting about 30,000 interviews a month. The average percentage of uninsured in the first six months of 2009 was 16.2%, compared with the 2008 average of 14.8%.

The largest increases in the percentage of uninsured Americans occurred in the third and fourth quarters of 2008, coinciding with the onset of the financial crisis. Further increases occurred in the first three quarters of 2009, with percentages holding steady between 16.1% and 16.3%.

-----

Falls Common Cause Of Seniors' ER Visits

Each year, more than two million American seniors are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries caused by falls, finds a federal government report.

In 2006, treatment for head wounds, broken bones, cuts and other fall-related injuries suffered by seniors cost hospitals about $7 billion for emergency and subsequent inpatient care, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Among the other findings from the analysis of hospital emergency department data:

• Falls accounted for 10% of emergency department visits by seniors. Fall-related visits increase with age. One in 10 men and one in seven women over age 85 have an emergency department visit for treatment of fall-related injuries.
• Of the seniors treated at emergency departments for fall-related injuries, 41% had fractures, primarily of an upper extremity or hip. Other common fall-related injuries are open wounds (21%), sprains and strains (10%), internal organ injuries (5%), and joint dislocations (1.5%).
• Hospitalization was required for 63% of patients with internal organ injuries and 51% of those with fractures. About 41% of patients with fractures and 33% of those with internal organ injuries were transferred to a nursing home or other type of long-term care facility.

-----

Web Site Evaluates Swine Flu Severity

An interactive Web site designed to help people decide if their case of swine flu is serious enough to require a visit to the doctor was unveiled Wednesday.

The site uses a self-assessment tool from Emory University in Atlanta. That tool is based on key risk factors for bad flu outcome determined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Associated Press reported.

The tool "reflects the best available science," Emory emergency specialist Dr. Arthur Kellerman told the AP.

Users of the online assessment type in their age (it's only for those over 12) and answer questions about their underlying health and symptoms, such as fever. The program may advise rest and fluids, a non-emergency call to your doctor, or immediate medical attention.

The site was created by Microsoft Corp. The CDC (www.flu.gov) also offers a list of flu signs that indicate a person should seek emergency care.

-----

Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved.