Podcast #15

It's time for the 15th edition of Your Health, an audio program dedicated to your health from Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin. I'm Neal Linkon, your host for tips and information to help you and your loved ones. In this edition, we'll talk to a doctor about a new minimally invasive approach for prostate surgery, we'll look at another interesting health myth – this one regarding microwaves – and you'll learn what to do about coughs, even serious ones.

If you follow medical technology at all, you've surely heard the phrase “minimally invasive.”  It sounds good, but what does it mean?  We talked with Dr. Gedas Grinis, a urologist who works at clinics in Kenosha and Racine, and who specializes in the use of minimally invasive techniques for prostate surgery, to find out why you should care.

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Ask your doctor for more information. To learn more about Dr. Grinis, just go to www.Aurora.org/grinis.

Microwave ovens are convenient, easy to use, and found in millions of kitchens across the U.S. Microwaves are high frequency radio waves, which are readily absorbed by materials containing water, such as foods and human tissues. When water molecules in food absorb microwave energy, they vibrate, causing the food to be heated and cooked.

In recent years, microwave ovens have received some negative attention, and information about their possible dangers has been widely circulated on the Internet. Some people are concerned that being exposed to microwave energy from microwave ovens may lead to health problems. There is also concern that materials in plastics used to cover or hold foods in the microwave may leach into foods, contaminating them with harmful toxins.

Despite these concerns, when microwave ovens and microwave-safe plastics are used according to their instructions, they are safe.

Here's the evidence:  Human tissues exposed to microwaves could certainly be damaged by heat if sufficient microwave energy were to escape the confines of an operating oven. Other risks associated with microwave oven use include:

Substances used to make plastics that aren't recommended for microwave use may leach into foods when they are used in the microwave oven. Burns may result from handling hot materials that have been heated in the microwave. Foods or liquids that are heated unevenly may have a tendency to explode, which can also cause burns. Uneven cooking may also result in food safety risks if potentially dangerous microorganisms are not killed in parts of the food.

Although there are theoretical risks associated with using microwave ovens, their design keeps you safe from the dangers of microwave energy. Microwave ovens are designed so that their high levels of energy are only produced when the door is shut and the oven is switched on. Once the microwave is off, there is no longer microwave energy in the food, and the oven is not transmitting microwaves. Therefore, the likelihood of being directly harmed by a normally operating oven is less likely. However, if the oven is damaged or dirty, it is possible that microwave leakage could occur.

As for microwave-safe plastics, such as food covers and plastic containers, the US Food and Drug Administration requires that they be tested for their intended use before they are marketed. When these plastics are used in accordance with directions for their intended purpose, they are considered safe. While it is possible that some of the substances used to make the plastics may leach into foods, the FDA believes that the levels of these substances are well within the margin of safety.

When you use your microwave and microwave-safe plastics according to the manufacturers' instructions, you are not in danger. Still, there are some precautions you can take when using a microwave oven to avoid exposure to microwaves, dangerous substances from plastics, burns, and food borne illness:

Check that the door closes properly on your microwave Keep the door seals clean and make sure the seals are not damaged Do not use a damaged microwave until it has been repaired by a qualified service engineer If you are unsure whether a plastic is microwave-safe, use a different plate or container to heat the food Do not use carry-out containers or margarine tubs in the microwave Place plastics loosely over foods and avoid letting the plastics touch the food Never use plastic storage bags, grocery bags, newspapers, or aluminum foil in the microwave Make sure raw meats, like poultry and fish, are thoroughly cooked, and allow food to sit in the microwave for several minutes after cooking so that the heat distributes evenly

Summer cold, winter cold, it doesn't matter. When I get one, the thing that hangs around seemingly forever is the cough.  And that can be the worst part. So what should you do if you get one, and it won't go away or is particularly severe?

Call 911 right now if:

• You coughed so hard you passed out
• If you have severe difficulty breathing (e.g. struggling for each breath, unable to speak)
• If your lips or face are bluish
• If wheezing started suddenly after medicine, an allergic food or bee sting
• Or if you have difficulty breathing after exposure to flames, smoke or fumes

Call your doctor now (night or day) if:

• You feel weak or very sick
• Chest pain, other than mild chest pain lasting only a few seconds that occurs only when coughing)
• Difficulty breathing
• Wheezing is present
• Coughing started suddenly after bee sting
• Coughing up blood 
• Fever of 103 F or higher
• Fever of 100.5 F or higher and you are over 60 years of age, have diabetes mellitus or a weakened immune system (e.g. HIV positive, cancer chemotherapy, undergoing chronic steroid treatment, or you had a splenectomy), or you are bedridden

Also call your doctor right now if you have increasing ankle swelling

Call your doctor within 24 hours (between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.) if:

• You think you need to be seen
• Sinus pain or pressure (around cheekbone or eyes)
• Fever present for more than 3 days
• Earache is present

Call your doctor during weekday office hours if:

• Coughing has kept you home from school or work for 3 or more days
• Nasal discharge lasts more than 10 days
• Fever returns after being gone for more than 24 hours
• Symptoms of nasal allergy are also present (e.g. itchy eyes, clear nasal discharge, postnasal drip)
• Taking an ACE Inhibitor medication
• Exposure to TB (Tuberculosis)
• Cough lasts more than 3 weeks

There is a lot you can do for a cough at home:

For mild coughs, use cough drops or cough Medications. In cough and cold medications, there is either a "cough suppressant" to reduce the cough or a "cough expectorant" to thin thick phlegm. Some medications contain both a cough suppressant and an expectorant. Generally, medications containing a cough suppressant should be avoided if you are coughing up phlegm.

An example of the most common cough suppressant in over the counter Robitussin DM. Do not try to suppress coughs that produce mucus and phlegm. Cough suppressants are best used in the late stages of a respiratory infection when the cough is dry and hacking.

To loosen and cough up thick phlegm, try using a cough medication like plain Robitussin.

If you are having coughing spasms, drink warm fluids and inhale warm mist.  The reason is that both relax the airway and loosen up the phlegm. Suck on cough drops or hard candy to coat the irritated throat.

Drink plenty of liquids (6-8 glasses of water daily). If the air in your home is dry, use a humidifier. Smoking or being exposed to smoke makes coughs much worse. For fever relief, take acetaminophen every 4-6 hours (Adults 650 mg) OR ibuprofen every 6-8 hours (Adults 400 mg). Do not take ibuprofen if you have stomach problems, kidney disease, are pregnant, or have been told by your doctor to avoid this type of anti-inflammatory drug. Do not take ibuprofen for more than 7 days without consulting your doctor. Do not take acetaminophen if you have liver disease.

Viral bronchitis causes a cough that lasts 1 to 3 weeks.  Sometimes you may cough up lots of phlegm. The mucus can normally be white, gray, yellow or green. Be sure to call your doctor if your cough lasts more than 3 weeks.

That's it for this edition of Your Health. If you have suggestions, ideas or questions for us, please drop us a line at internet@aurora.org.  I'm Neal Linkon, and thanks for listening!