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The death of Mike Tyson's 4-year-old daughter in a treadmill accident this week provides a sobering reminder of the dangers of exercise equipment in homes with children.
More than 25,000 children ages 14 and under are injured with exercise equipment each year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates. That includes 8,700 accidents involving children under age 5. The types of equipment in these cases include treadmills, stationary bicycles and stair climbers. Fractures and amputations were reported in about 20 percent of exercise equipment-related injuries, according to the CPSC.
Tyson's daughter Exodus died Tuesday after being injured Monday at her Phoenix home. It's believed that she either slipped or put her head around a looped cord hanging under the treadmill console and was suffocated.
The CPSC recommends that parents keep children away from exercise equipment. Stationary bikes should have chain guards, and parents should store or lock equipment when not in use.
In Australia, the government of New South Wales introduced a new safety standard for treadmills. Beginning June 1, all new treadmills must carry a prominent warning sticker to alert users to keep children away from machines when not in use.
The New South Wales government's Web site also offers these safety tips for treadmill users:
* If you can, use your treadmill in a room away from young children. If that's not possible, use safety barriers (like a playpen) to keep children away from it or don't use the treadmill when children are around.
* Always keep the treadmill unplugged when not in use.
* Store the treadmill away from children's reach.
* Always supervise older children if they are using a treadmill.
* Buy a treadmill with a protective cover and a safety stop switch.
(photo: flickr.com)
Richard Martin, Times Staff Writer
This week's theme: Healthy vision
Today: Do you have CVS?
Not the drugstore, but computer vision syndrome, eye problems caused by heavy computer use, including computer games.
Symptoms include blurred vision, double vision, dry, red eyes, headaches, and back and neck pain.
For relief cut out glare from windows, dim overhead lights, position the monitor just below eye level, 20-28 inches from your face. Look away from the screen for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes, and don’t forget to blink often.
Irene Maher, health writer
photo: Jupiter Images
We wear them to the store, to walk the dog, even to work. The popularity of the humble flip-flop has climbed far beyond its sandy origins.
But like any good thing, too much can hurt us. In recent years, doctors have bemoaned the rise of flip-flop injuries. Intuitively, we know that favorite pair doesn't provide anything resembling foot support. We don't care.
The American Podiatric Medical Association says we can have our flip-flops, and wear them too, but consider these suggestions to protect your feet:
* Buy high-quality flip-flops, like those made of soft leather.
* Never purchase any flip-flop that completely bends in half.
* Make sure your feet don't extend beyond the edge of the flip-flop.
* Consider a studier shoe when doing a lot of walking, working in the yard or playing sports.
-- Letitia Stein, Times health writer
This week's theme: Healthy vision
Today: Don't go out without your sunglasses.
Damaging rays from the sun can lead to cataracts over time, so be sure your sunglasses protect against ultraviolet light.
Gray is considered by many experts to be the best color for lenses, but read the labels carefully.
And, yes, kids, even babies, should wear sunglasses.
Irene Maher, health writer
photo: Jupiter Images
Tampa ranked 23rd in today's release of the American College of Sports Medicine's annual listing of fittest cities.
We're more fit than Miami, Dallas and Charlotte. But no where near Denver, Portland or Atlanta.
The rankings look at factors including preventive health steps, levels of chronic disease and community resources that support healthy living. (Tampa did better on parks, etc., than on personal health.)
It's hard to whoop and holler over coming in 23rd. We're not the pits. But we're not as fit as Pittsburg.
Learn more about the ACSM fitness rankings and decide for yourself whether to celebrate.
-- Letitia Stein, Times health writer
This week's theme: Healthy vision.
Today: See what can go wrong.
Some of the more common eye/vision disorders are glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. Check out this website to see what these and other disorders “look” like or how they could affect your sight.
Irene Maher, health writer
Photo: Jupiter Images
This week's theme: Healthy vision.
Today: When was the last time you had your vision checked?
Most adults should have their eyes checked at least once a year or immediately if there is sudden vision loss, eye pain or injury.
More frequent checks are usually necessary if you have diabetes, a leading cause of blindness.
Irene Maher, health writer
Photo: Jupiter images
Move over Illinois and Wisconsin. There's a new No. 1 when it comes to swine flu cases.
It's Texas. The Lone Star state is now tops with 900 confirmed and probable cases, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease and Control in Atlanta. Illinois is second with 877 cases and Wisconsin third with 766.
But before you start canceling travel plans, I'll remind you that the high numbers don't necessarily mean those states are worse off. It likely means that more testing is going on in those states.
Also, federal health officials believe the number of actual cases in the U.S. is much higher than the 6,552 total cases the CDC is reporting. One CDC official said the number could be as high as 100,000, but most people who have it haven't been tested.
Rounding out the top 10 are:
4. California (553 cases); 5. Arizona (520); 6. Washington (494); 7. New York (327); 8. Massachusetts (197); 9. Michigan (176); 10. Florida (129).
The updated list can be found here.
Richard Martin, Times Staff Writer
We tend to be suspicious of health advice from celebrities. But we've loved Ewan McGregor ever since he mumbled his way through Trainspotting, admired his pluck during the strangeness that was Moulin Rouge, and can't wait to see him in Angels and Demons (Sorry, Ewan, you lost us during your Star Wars phase, but we digress).
So we were gratified to learn that Ewan has kicked his alcohol and tobacco demons (Actually, we had no idea he had such troubles, but we're glad he apparently got over them before becoming a sad tabloid spectacle).
He explains all this in the June issue of Men's Health, on newsstands Tuesday. We got a sneak peek and were impressed at his observations about addiction. Some samples:
“What matters most with any regimen, whether it’s to lose weight or stop drinking or smoking, is your willingness to seek help and your desire to say no more. The voice in your head that says ‘I chose not to’ is what ultimately makes the difference between not changing and making changes that last.”
And this:
“I wasn’t someone who could smoke or drink in moderation, and I recognized that those things would kill me. I started visualizing the doctor telling me that I had cancer from smoking or that I was extremely ill because of how much I’d been drinking. What kind of regret would I have if I had to tell my children or my wife that I was dying because of something I could have done something about? I didn’t want to be that kind of man.”
Good for you, Ewan. And thanks for the wisdom
Charlotte Sutton, health and medicine editor
 Healthy living is a journey, and like most trips, it’s better with reliable directions, good friends and tasty snacks. Personal Best is a forum for people who care about health, harmony and beauty, and want to share what they’ve learned.
Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising. Nor is what you read here to be confused with actual medical advice. For that, you will need to see an actual medical doctor. E-mail us with feedback or story ideas. |
| Your cruise director is St. Petersburg Times Health and Medicine editor Charlotte Sutton, a Times journalist for 22 years. She goes to the gym as often as she can, mostly to support her chocolate and red wine habits. Times staff writer Irene Maher reported on health and medicine for more than 20 years at WFLA-Ch. 8. Now she writes a weekly column for the Times’ Thursday Pulse Page, and is never seen without her trusty water bottle. Richard Martin has been a reporter and editor at the Times since 2006. When he's not at work tackling issues such as health care, he's usually out running around - either training for his next marathon or shuttling his kids to baseball games and swim meets. Letitia Stein tries to practice what she writes as a health reporter, but confesses a terrible weakness for all things chocolate. Her alter ego goes by "Deal Diva" and blogs about shopping and fashion. |
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