Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 December 2002 — Page 34

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6,8001 ■ PAGED*

TO Y01 HEALTH

Assure your child’s car ride is a safe one

Submitted by the Health Education, Promotion and Training Department of the Marion County Health Depart*

meat

way Traffic Safety Administration), a $40-$50 convertible child seat saves an estimated $100 in medical spending and related insurance claims processing over its 4-5 year life. The

Whether it’s a short trip to seat also offers other m^jorsavthe grocery store ora long trip to ings in auto insurance costs by visit relatives, many parents still preventing future work loss due do not ensure that their chil- to death and permanent disabil-

dren are restrained in child ity.'

safety seats or safety belts. Each To make matters worse, there year, more than 1,700 children is also the misconception that ages 14 and under die and an the more expensive a car seat is additional 265,000 are iryured the safer it is. Inexpensive car as passengers of motor vehicles, seats can be very effective. When Sadly, more than half of chil- shopping for a car seat make dren 14 and under who were sure that it is one thatyou will be

killed in crashes in 2000 were

completely unrestrained. Even the most safety conscious parent may hot be aware

of the risks of not restraining their children or restraining

them incorrectly. As many as nine out of ten car seats are not

able to use correctly eveiy time. More expensive car seats may have extra features that make it difficult or cumbersome to use. Ifyou must use a secondhand seat make sure that you have all of the parts, including the instructions. Before accepting a

used or installed correctly. Most used seat, confirm with the origicar seats have at least one mis- nal owner that the car seat has use, and misuse can put your never been in a crash. Car seats child at risk for serious injuries, are made to withstand only one Make sure that you always read crash. For this reason, avoid car your car seat and vehicle seats from garage sales and secmanufacturer’s instructions be- ondhand stores because there is fore installing any car seat. Small no way to determine if the seat details such as the placement of has already been involved in a

the car seat’s harness straps in crash,

the top slots versus the bottom Obtaining a correct fit is cruslots could make the difference cial to keeping your child safe between your child escaping while on the road. Just like unharmed or being seriously shoes, parents must make sure injured in a minor crash. that their child’s cpr seat fits Some parents cite cost as an them. Failure to follow height obstacle to the regular use of car and weight recommendations seats. Car seat prices can range set by the manufacturer can fromaslowas$20toupto$220 cause fatal injuries. It can be per seat! This can be out of expensive to replace outgrown

reach for some parents. Accord- car seats,

ing to NHTSA (National High- Your child may need two or

three car seats before they are big enough to use the vehicle’s safety belt alone. Children fit properly into a safety belt when the shoulder belt fits snugly across the center of the shoulder, their knees bend over the seat while sitting as far back as possible without slouching, and the lap belt fits across the upper thighs. This usually doesn't occur until the child is over 80 lbs. After your child outgrows the traditional car seat, your child should use a booster seat until they fit properly in a safety belt. Despite 31 parent’s best efforts, they may have trouble installing their child’s car seat correctly. When installed a car seat should be snuggly attached to the vehicle seat. The seat should not move more than one inch from side to side or toward the front of the vehicle. Some car seats are not compatible with every vehicle. Tfie Marion County Health Department sponsors free car seat inspections to help parents navigate through this often-con-fusing process. Interested parents maycall 221-2045to schedule an appointment with a NHTSA Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. It takes about 30 minutes per seat. The certified technician will make sure that you have the car seat that fits your child best and fits your vehicle properly. Don’t risk your child’s life. Bucklethemup properly on every ride. 'National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Standardized Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructors Manual, 2001.

BRACHYTHERAPY AND EARLY DIAGNOSIS Prostate cancer cure rates similar for Black and white men

Special to The Recorder CHICAGO - AfricanAmerican men are just as likely as white men to be cured of prostate cancer when diagnosed early and treated with radioactive seeds implanted in the prostate, according to research presented this week at the 88th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The research provides some of the first good news for African Americans who suffer from prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that African Americans have higher incidences of prostate cancer than whites (234.2 per population of 100,000, compared to 144.6 per 100,000 for whites) and more than twice as many deaths from it (53.1 per 100,000, compared to 22.4 per 100,000 for whites). African Americans with prostate cancer also have lower 5-year survival rates (92 percent) than whites (97 percent) and compared to the average for all races combined (96 percent). Researchers at the University of Cincinnati analyzed the outcomes of 173 patients treated for prostate cancer with implanted radioactive seeds a procedure called bnchytherapy and found no statistical differences between African-Ameri-can and white patients with

similar pre-treatment characteristics. The good news is that when diagnosed early, prostate cancer is frequently curable in African Americans, said lead investigator William L. Barrett, M.D., assistant professor of radiation oncology and otolaryngology, head and neck surgery at the University of Cincinnati Hospital. “Our findings underscore the need for more screening among African-American males so the cancer is detected early, when it’s most treatable.” Dr. Barrett and co-author William M. Kassing, Ph.D., compared the biochemical response to brachytherapy of 12 African-American patients to 161 white patients. The average follow-up period was 44 months for African Americans and 40 months for whites from 1995 to 2000. The results showed similar treatment outcomes with brachytherapy, stage for stage. There has long been debate about the usefulness of prostate cancer screening because some forms of the disease are so slow-growing, they will never be an issue for die patient, Dr. Barrett said. But because prostate cancer in African Americans is generally not slow-grow-ing, the combination of early diagnosis and effective treatment should be particularly beneficial None of the African Ameri-

cans undergoingbrachytherapy in the study experienced a recurrence of prostate cancer, although 5.6 percent of the white patients did. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate that in higher concentrations is an important marker of prostate disease, was monitored. African-American patients achieving and maintaining PSA levels of 1.0 or less was 83 percent, compared to 85 percent for whites; PSA levels at less than or equal to 0.5 were found in 67 percent of the AfricanAmericans, compared to 72 percent of the Whites; and PSA levels at less than or equal to 0.2 were found in 50 percent of the African-Americans, compared to 44 percent of the whites. Another study, published in the November issue of Radiology, an RSNA journal, presented similar results. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Defense Center for Prostate Disease Research investigated the relationship between African-American ethnicity and radiation therapy treatment. An analysis of 1,806 prostate cancer patients (1,349 white, 343 African American) treated with radiation therapy from 1973 to 2000 found that race had no statistically significant bearing on survival when patients were grouped by clinical tumor stage, tumor grade or PSA level.

Proper Child Safety Seat Use Chart Buckle Everyone. Chitdren Age 12 and Under in Back!

INFANTS

TODDLER

YOUNG CHILDREN

AGE/WEIGHT

BMito 1 ywr Ub 10 2042 ft*.

1 yaar and 20-40 lbs.

4040 lbs. Ases 4-1. unless 4 , V

TYPE OF SEAT

InftM only or mr-ftcing

Conwrtible/Forward-fking

Ball potkkmiiig bootfsr

SEAT POSITION

Rawteing mly •NmrlafcmtsfM akhrn

FOf\MMPd , (WBiHE

Forward-feeing

ALWAYS MAKE SUREt

Chtldran M see year aad srlmfMIbaiaraar* (being Ml*. - Hhimw mags at or below shoulder level.

Harness laaga ahould be at or above shoulders. a an—. -Mia »— — ivkmk sevis require nimcsF straps to be In top slott for Ris-aafmt FLiiImi* saklLI Torwira-rRcmg cniia

BsK positioning booster seats mint he used with bath lap and shonMer Mt. Make tuts the lap belt (Its low and tight across tbs hptopper tidgb ana and the shoulder bait (Its snug crossing die cheat and shoulder to avoid

WARNING

Ml children *ge 12 end under should ride In the beck seat

Proper Child Safety Seat Use Chart taken from the Notional Highway Traffic Safety

On the Subject of Women’s Health

Exercise During Pregnancy

By Amy Moon, M.D. What are the benefits of exercise during pregnancy? Exercise has been found to decrease the incidence of pre-eclamp-sia or toxemia of pregnancy as well as help shorten the pushing stage of labor. Women who do not exercise while pregnant become less fit as the months pass by and they are becoming heavier. A good exercise program can counteract this trend toward decreasing fitness. What types of exercise can be done while pregnant? There are three different kinds of exercise women can do. •The first is aerobics where strenuous activities demand increased oxygen to the muscles, examples of these are walking, jogging, swimming or aerobic classes. Aerobic exercise improves circulation that enhances the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus while decreasing the risk of varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and fluid retention. It also increases muscle tone and strength that can relieve back pain. •The second type of exercise is relaxation techniques. Breathing and concentration exercises that relax mind and body help conserve energy for when it is needed. It assists the mind to focus on the task at hand and increases awareness of your body. •The third type of exercise is pelvic toning or Kegel exercises. Kegels are done by squeezing the vaginal walls together, much like trying to stop urinating midstream. It is a simple way to tone the muscles in the vaginal and perineal area, strengthening them in preparation for delivery. How do 1 start an exercise program? The best time to start is before you get pregnant, however it is never too late even if you are almost finished

Amy Moon, M.D.

with the pregnancy. It is important to start slowly and gradually build up to a full program of 30-45 minutes 3-5 times weekly. Be sure to warm up and cool down each time you exercise to avoid injuries and decrease soreness. Will I need to eat and drink more if I exercise? Yes, you will have to consume about 100 to 200 additional calories for every 30 minutes of strenuous exercising, and at least a frill glass of extra liquid to compensate for fluid lost through perspiration. Do not work out on an empty stomach have a small snack about one hour before. Are there some women who cannot exercise? Yes, sometimes women develop medical problems that prevent them from exercising. Your doctor will most certainly restrict exercise if you have preterm labor, incompetent cervix, placenta previa, heart disease or develop pre-eclampsia. Always contact your physician before starting an exercise program. Amy L Moon, M.D. specializes in Obstetrics and dynecology. She is a member of Women's Health Alliance practice located on the campus of Women’s Hospital. Call our Women's Health Resource Center at (317) 972-1821 to team more about Dr. Amy Moon or any of the physicians on staff at Women* Hospital.

sni