Forty-five per cent of five-year-old children in Ireland suffer from tooth erosion, according to new research.
Dental damage from sugary drinks
This wearing-away of teeth is caused by acidic foods, carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices and pickles. The research, which was carried out by the Oral Health Services Research Centre, University College Cork, suggests that children who consume carbonated drinks once or more a day are twice as likely to suffer from tooth erosion than children who consumed carbonated drinks less than once a day.
Children who drink fruit squashes once or more a day are three and a half times more likely to suffer from tooth erosion than children who don't. The researchers concluded that the use of a straw for such drinks can reduce the damage caused but the frequency of brushing has little impact on tooth erosion.
Hip replacement
A US study which was set up in 1976 to look at the effectiveness of a total hip replacement prosthesis, found that the original "Charnley" model was still in place in 312 out of 353 hips 20 years later.
Of 91 hips in 82 patients who had survived for at least 20 years, 85 were voted as satisfactory by the patients. The demand for newer designs may be limited due to the remarkable durability and effectiveness of this original model.
Steroids
Many studies have looked at the effectiveness of inhaled steroids in the treatment of patients with mild asthma who are non-smokers. New research has assessed the efficacy of inhaled steroids in people with asthma who continue to smoke. The results show that smoking impairs the usefulness of steroid therapy. The study indicated that stopping smoking is just as critical for people with mild asthma as it is for those with more severe forms of the disorder.
High blood pressure drug
It has been known for many years that treating high blood pressure is important in reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack. A new trial, the LIFE (Losartan Intervention For Endpoint Reduction) in Hypertension Study, has indicated that the choice of drugs is more important than just lowering blood pressure. The trial looked at more than 9,000 patients in 800 centres in the UK, Scandinavia and the US with essential hypertension (where no direct cause can be identified) and compared the effects of a drug called Losartan with a well-established beta-blocker. Losartan was found to be more effective by 13 per cent in reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke and death than a beta blocker. Beta blockers are the current gold-standard treatment for the prevention of heart problems secondary to high blood pressure.
Lifelines is compiled by Dr Muiris Houston and Sylvia Thompson
lifelines@irish-times.ie