Frontline: Asthma & Older Women; Public Blood Pressure Monitors; High-Dose Flu Vaccine
More effective asthma management needed among older women
Women over age 65 who suffer from asthma have an asthma mortality rate that is nearly four times higher than other people who have asthma, according to a report in the August 2014 issue of the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. This suggests that older women with asthma face special challenges in managing their condition, since their asthma rate is no greater than the rate among other segments of the population. Women who use inhalers to treat their asthma also have a higher risk of adverse events associated with inhaler use, including osteoporosis, glaucoma, cataracts, and adrenal suppression. Also, these women have a higher incidence and greater severi-ty of depression. The study author notes that, for these women, getting their asthma under better control also will improve their control over other health conditions. If you have poorly controlled asthma, an allergist can help you identify triggers and manage your condition more effectively.
Public blood pressure monitors aren’t always accurate
You’ve probably checked your blood pressure at a free, public monitor; after all, they are in drugstores, as well as many supermarkets and shopping malls. However, although checking your blood pressure while shopping may seem like a good idea, a recent statement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against relying too heavily on the accuracy of these machines. The FDA notes that several key factors are necessary for an accurate blood pressure reading. For example, correct cuff size is critical to get a proper reading. In your doctor’s office, the nurse or physician’s assistant can adjust the cuff to your arm size, but the cuffs in the free monitors are one-size-fits-all. A cuff that is too small may lead to an artificially high blood pressure reading, and a cuff that is too big may show an inaccurately low blood pressure, or may not work at all. In ad-dition, the way you sit and place your arm for the reading can influence the measurement. If you want to monitor your blood pressure on your own, buy a home monitor and take it to your doc-tor’s office, where you can calibrate it to their monitor and get instructions on correct usage.
High-dose flu vaccine offers better protection for older adults
A high-dose influenza vaccine is 24 percent more effective than the standard-dose vaccine in protecting adults age 65 and older against the flu and its complications, according to a recent study published in the Aug. 14, 2014 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, which included 31,989 participants, was based on data from the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 flu seasons. The researchers concluded that the high-dose vaccine is safe, induces significantly higher antibody responses, and provides superior protection compared to the standard-dose vac-cine. Adults over age 65 are especially vulnerable to flu complications, such as pneumonia, and account for most seasonal flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. If you are age 65 or older and you haven’t been vaccinated yet, ask your doctor if the high-dose vaccine is a good option for you.
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