Insidermedicine in 60 - October 30, 2008

From Ottawa - Eye care professionals have issued a warning against the use of decorative contact lenses without a prescription. These lenses, which are particularly popular around Halloween, can often be found at retail stores, beauty salons and on the Internet. The lenses cover a large portion of the eye and do not offer the same level of oxygen permeability as prescription contacts. This can increase the risk for conditions like ocular inflammation, bacterial infection or mechanical damage to the eye.

From Sweden - According to research in the New England Journal of Medicine, daylight saving time affects heart attack risk. Researchers found that the risk of heart attack rises during the first 3 weekdays after the start of daylight saving time in the spring, and declines on the autumn Monday when clocks go back to normal. The researchers suggest that a sudden change in biologic rhythms, such as minor sleep deprivation, may have adverse cardiovascular effects.

And finally, from Washington - The FDA has been criticized over its research into the health effects of bisphenol A, the compound used to make sturdy plastics for baby bottles and water bottles. A panel of experts convened by the agency to examine its research found that the margins of safety that the FDA declared to be "adequate" were, in fact, inadequate. The committee suggested that the proposed safety levels should actually be at least 10 times lower.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• cosmetic
• decorative
• halloween
• contact
• lens
• color
• eye
• infection
• heart
• attack
• daylight
• saving
• clock
• bisphenol
• plastic
• fda