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Show The Ogden Valley news Page Volume XVII Issue X August 15, 2009 Be Still, My… Legs They say it’s like spiders crawling up and down your legs. Or like a tingling wave that never stops. That’s how many sufferers of restless legs syndrome (RLS) describe the puzzling condition that makes it impossible for them to sit still or enjoy a full night’s sleep— because their legs are constantly tingling, twitching and needing to move. According to the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, approximately 10-12 percent of Americans suffer from RLS, a neurological condition that has no obvious cause. Physicians believe it’s associated with a deficiency of iron in the blood or dopamine in the brain. To confuse the issue even further, RLS can also appear with conditions ranging from diabetes to pregnancy. But unlike those who suffer from diseases like cancer and asthma, patients with RLS often also have to face confusion—and sometimes scorn—from friends and colleagues who believe their diagnosis is a joke, not an actual medical condition. Not so. “This is a real neurologic and sleeprelated condition, with specific criteria for diagnosis and a growing body of scientific literature that helps define its causes and treatment,” says Dr. Stephen Barczi, associate professor of medicine at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He treats at least one RLS patient per week as part of his work with Wisconsin Sleep, the clinical and sleep research center at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “It’s also not a minor thing,” says Dr. Barczi. “Restless Legs Syndrome not only affects the ability to fall asleep, but some patients who have RLS can’t go to a theater or watch a movie. They have to constantly be moving around. They feel like they’re crazy, and they can’t describe what they’re feeling.” That was the case for one of Barczi’s patients, a 58-year-old woman who began noticing about 15 years ago that she couldn’t keep her legs still, especially in the late afternoon and evening. The Madison woman describes her RLS as “a tingling wave” that starts at her knee and rushes down to her toes, jumping from leg to leg in a rhythm she’s unable to ignore. For years, it robbed her of productivity at work and regular sleep at night. It took her two years to seek medical attention and get a diagnosis. Her doctor put her on ropinirole, one of several dopaminebased drugs that can sometimes offer relief to patients. Dr. Barczi also notes that RLS can be inheritable, with a positive family history in 40 to 60 percent of cases. The problem is slightly more prevalent in females. Not all RLS patients need medication, but some can benefit from carefully chosen medications that can help control symptoms. Is it Dangerous to Use a Cell Phone in a Thunderstorm? By Ronald L. Holle Vaisala, Inc. Lightning is far more dangerous than most people realize. It kills 50 to 75 people annually in the U.S. and injures between 500 and 750. Lightning also is a lot more common than most people realize. Every year in the U.S., between 25 and 30 million lightning strikes hit the ground. Around the world, approximately 2,000 thunderstorms (where there’s thunder, there’s lightning) are occurring at any given time, with as many as 100 lightning strikes every second. About twothirds of all thunderstorms in the U.S. occur in June, July, and August. At least 95% of lightning deaths occur outdoors. If you see lightning, get inside your home or a large building immediately. Ronald L. Holle, a weather consultant and former meteorologist with the National Severe Storms Laboratory, provided the following information. Is it dangerous to talk on a phone during a thunderstorm? Corded phones are extremely dangerous during a storm. Home phone lines are protected with surge devices, but these defenses can be overwhelmed should lightning hit a nearby power pole. Someone dies every few years while talking on a phone during a lightning strike. Caution, homes in isolated areas are more vulnerable because they don’t share power poles with as many neighbors. In areas with multiple homes, the electricity is more likely to be “diluted” because it splits in different directions. Portable (cordless) and cell phones are safe to use during a thunderstorm. most of the electricity would flow around (not through) you. There have been cases in which a lightning strike vaporized a car antenna and broke the car’s windows, but the people inside were unharmed. Some people think that it’s the rubber tires that make a car safe. Not true. A few inches of rubber can’t possibly “ground” a car. ning is no more likely to strike through an open window than a closed one. Caution: Always close windows if there’s a tree nearby. You also might want to close blinds or curtains. A lightning strike can cause the bark to explode off the trunk, and the bark can travel about 50 feet. People have been killed by flying bark. A window might offer some protection. Is it really that dangerous to be under a tree during a thunderstorm? It’s one of the most dangerous places you can be. Lightning tends to hit the tallest objects in an area. Trees are a natural target, but the lightning doesn’t stop there. Electricity always seeks the easiest path to the ground. Since people conduct electricity better than trees, the lightning may jump sideways (a “side flash”) if you’re within Can I get electrocuted in the shower or three to six feet of the trunk. bath? There was a report a few years ago of Is it true that golfers often get hit by lightsomeone who was killed by lightning when ning? taking a shower. Faucets, knobs, and other Fewer than 5% of direct lightning strikes metal fixtures are natural conductors of elec- have involved golfers. However, golfers tricity. So is water. A lightning strike that do share with other outdoor enthusiasts the hits your house—or even comes close— two main risk factors for lightning strikes— could potentially carry enough electricity they’re out in the open, and they’re often indoors through these natural conductors to higher than the surrounding terrain. cause injury or death. Water activities—boating, swimming, etc.—also are risky. The current from lightHow safe am I in a car during a thunder- ning hitting water or a boat travels across the storm? surface of the water for tens of yards and can A fully enclosed metal-topped vehicle be deadly within that distance. Check weathis generally safe; however, a convertible er reports, and stay off the water if there is a with a vinyl or cloth top is not safe. The chance of a storm. metal-topped vehicle may protect you for the same reason that buildings do—the lightning How can I tell if lightning is close enough travels through the framework and to the to be dangerous? ground. Even if you happened to be touching A thunderstorm doesn’t have to be overa metal component, such as a door handle, head to be dangerous. When you see a lightning flash, count the seconds until you hear thunder. If the interval between lightning Office hours minimum and thunder is 30 seconds or less, get inside a substantial building or a metal-topped 3 days a week. vehicle. Wait 30 minutes after the last flash Often same day service. before going back outside. Does it make sense to get a lightning rod for my home? Several hundred thousand homes and small businesses are hit by lightning each year in the U.S. But because of grounded electrical and plumbing systems, electricity from a lightning strike flows around you— through walls, plumbing, and wiring—and dissipates into the ground. Small sheds, picnic pavilions, and the like are not safe from lightning. These days, lightning rods are usually used to protect hospitals, schools, police stations, and similar structures. When lightning hits, a lightning rod and its attached thick cable take the surge in current safely to the ground. A lightning rod on your home is not necessary, but it can offer some peace of mind. The rod is more likely to take the hit than the roof or another part of the house. Having the rod take the hit means that the massive current surge has a preferred path to follow. Otherwise, the current rips through the house and looks for something to carry it, usually the wiring or plumbing. But if the current doesn’t find these paths very quickly in a short distance, then fire and other damage can occur. A rod costs about $1,000 or more installed. Installation must be done by a licensed professional who specializes in lightning protection (check the yellow pages, or search under “lightning rod installation” on the Internet). Should I unplug my computer and TV during a storm? No, not during a storm. Electronic devices should be unplugged before a storm arrives. A few years ago, a man in Phoenix unplugged a device at the precise moment when lightning struck. He was thrown across the room. Every year, the insurance industry pays out about a third of a million dollars in claims for losses due to lightning. Many of these losses involve electronics that are blown out by power surges. It’s a good idea to protect electronic equipment—stereos, TVs, computers, etc.—with surge protectors. Good-quality ones typically cost between $50 and $100. Like the surge protection built into houses, however, they don’t offer 100% protection. Unplugging devices before a storm is the best approach. eileen p. burke, PA, RN, Pm family medical practitioner local house call service medical liaison / patient advocate wellness & prevention eburke@healthresolutionsllc.com p.o. box 453 eden, utah 84310 ( l o ca te d n ex t to t h e va l l e y m a r ke t ) (p)435-901-heal 801-745-4000 2555 WOLF CREEK DR. EDEN STORE HOURS: MON. - SAT. 7 AM - 10 PM SUNDAY 7 AM - 9 PM One Day Meat and Seafood Sale Saturday September 12, 2009. Great prices! Enter to win $100 worth of meat. 2 Lbs. or more of Local Peaches 50c OFF with coupon Expires 9/1/09 Any Rotisserie Chicken in the $1.00 OFF with coupon Expires 9/1/09 Service Deli Farr’s Ice Cream $1.00 Expires OFF9/1/09with coupon 1 gallon 10 ct. Pumpkin Choc. Chip Cookies 50c OFF with coupon Expires 9/1/09 from the Bakery Does lightning ever hit the same place twice? It happens all the time. The Empire State Building gets hit an average of 23 times a year. Should I close house windows during a thunderstorm? Most people do close windows, if only to keep out the wind and rain. However, light- Note: Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Ronald L. Holle, a former meteorologist with the National Severe Storms Laboratory, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He currently is a meteorologist and consultant with Vaisala, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of meteorological instruments. Based in Tucson, Arizona, the company owns and operates the National Lightning Detection Network. Massage Therapy |