Dr. Deb

My purse holds so much that I would surely win on Let’s Make a Deal. One deal I never planned on was poisoning a child or pet with seemingly innocuous items in that purse.

Do you know what poisons are in your purse?

1. Pill Box-

One third of the poisonings reported among children under age six are from prescription drugs commonly used by grandparents like high blood pressure, heart pills and diabetes pills.  Just one of these pills can cause severe problems, even death, in a child. Some think, “My doctor would never prescribe anything that is dangerous.” Any medication in the wrong dose has the potential to be dangerous. Child resistance only means that it took more than 5 minutes for 85% of children to open, it does not mean child proof.

A little flip box with over the counter medications like Tylenol or cold medicines can cause agitation or even fatal liver damage. Birth Control pills for new Moms or babysitters may look like candy and are easy to access but very dangerous. Iron in vitamins or particularly alone, in high dose tablets, can also be deadly.

2. Eye and Nose Drops-

Normal Saline is safe but drops with medication like Visine can be very dangerous to children and adults. Ingestion of the active ingredient, Tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05% can cause serious side effects including:

Lowering body temperature to dangerous levels
Difficulty breathing or dropping blood pressure
Nausea and vomiting
Seizures or Coma

One common urban myth is that it will cause diarrhea (which is does not.) Those who thought were using Visine in a harmless prank have caused serious problems and even death.

3. Cigarettes and lighters

Cigarettes are toxic with second hand smoke but if ingested can cause severe stomach upset or vomiting. Lighters are colorful, like a toy, and many children accidently burn themselves or start fires. Ultimately you are setting the worst example for your child, as cigarettes are the most common cause of preventable death.

4. Alcohol Products:

Hand sanitizer, mouthwash and perfume contain alcohol and children have actually become drunk by drinking large amounts.

5. Manicure Products

Nail polish and nail polish remover can irritate the eyes, skin and mouth and upset the stomach if swallowed.  A metal nail file can easily become a weapon and should be substituted with an emery board.

6. Choking Hazards:

Mints and toothpicks from restaurants often end up in the purse and can cause significant choking hazards. Even batteries may cause choking as well as severe irritation or burns if chewed.
Other hazards include hairspray, toothpaste, baby powder, pens, insect repellents, hand cream and pens that can all cause stomach irritation.  Xylitol in Sugarless gum can cause insulin spikes in a dog with only 6 pieces resulting in liver failure.

What Do You DO if there is an accidental poisoning?

True confession: when my twins were little I had called poison control so many times that I used a fake name. Since that time, I have learned that they don’t keep track. It is open 24 hours, free and confidential.

1. Stay Calm
2. Call 911 if they are unconscious, convulsing or having difficulty breathing
3. Call poison control at 1-800-222-1222

Use a free app on your iphone if you don’t have the number

Do not give anything until you have called Poison Control

Accidental poisonings do happen and I know how embarrassing it is but always call, even if you don’t think that it is a big deal. Small things in your purse right now could cause big problems in the future.

Take care,

Dr. Deb

Last week a parent told me that her son knew me as not just Dr. Deb, but the Diarrhea Doctor. No surprise to me because I taught his class how they get diarrhea and that is something they won’t soon forget.  I usually give a germ talk to first graders at the start of cold season.  We discuss germs and how to fight infection, but they always remember one point in particular. You see, I ask them, “Have you ever had diarrhea?” When most raise their hands I tell them, “Well, that means that you have probably eaten someone else’s poop!” Sure it may be a crude way to explain oral-fecal contamination, but it sure gets them washing their hands!

We are in an Indian summer now but colds and infections abound so here are:
Dr. Deb’s Tips on how NOT to get Sick!

1. Wash your Hands in Zones

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Vitamins make me sick. I really don’t like the way they hurt my stomach, burp up later and certainly the color and smell in the bathroom. So the question is do I really need to take them and if I do, which ones?

I do take daily vitamins and give them to my kids even if there is not overwhelming data to support the practice. Ideally everyone should get all their nutrition from a diet rich in fruits, vegetable, fiber and lean protein. We do better than most in getting the fruits, vegetables and fish down but there are still too many drive through dinners in our life.  There is also enough evidence to the benefit of certain supplements that makes me think it worthwhile.

You can spend a fortune on vitamins but my motto is to take the simplest formulation that you are most likely to stick with. If you can’t afford it, tolerate it or fit it into your life then find something else that works. Vitamins sitting on the shelf are certainly of no benefit.

Here are Dr Deb’s recommendations for supplements

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I love salt. I grew up with salt on watermelon, salt on cottage cheese, salt on cucumbers and extra salt on everything! Ironically, my dad has been on a salt substitute since I was young for hypertension. It always tasted bitter to me and since my blood pressure has always been low, I never worried about it.

A new study has has me thinking otherwise. I often track fat, calories, fiber and protein but by ignoring the sodium, I have made some food choices that were not as healthy as I thought.

We are a salt overloaded society. Shockingly, 75%-80% of our salt does not come from the shaker but from what is packaged in our food. A new study released from the New England Journal of Medicine highlights how cutting just a ½ teaspoon a day may dramatically saves lives and billions of dollars.

How much salt is too much?

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Laviza says, “Hi you mentioned baby aspirin on Dr. Oz’s feedback to his video; do you take this and why?”.

Hi Laviza!

There are many cardiovascular benefits to baby aspirin. It is unclear when to start taking it but many doctors advocate men start at age 40, especially if there is a family history of heart disease.

I am curious to know Dr. Oz’s thoughts as he is a cardiovascular surgeon and recommends discussing it with your Doctor even for women in their 40s. Click for Dr. Oz’s Supplement Advice

Recent data showed that it is beneficial for younger women (before they thought only around age 65) but the risk of GI bleeding is real so we really don’t know when to start. I thought it would be a good topic for Dr. Oz to discuss.

Click here for a pretty good overview of aspirin therapy.

Thanks for asking!
Dr. Deb
www.drdebraines.com