Every breath you take: Most people with respiratory disease inhale their medicine. Many asthma patients are using their inhalers incorrectly, however, which means they aren't getting their full doses.
A study of more than 7,000 patients has shown that those who used a new breath-activated metered dose inhaler, called Easi-Breathe, got fuller doses and showed greater control of symptoms than those who used traditional inhalers. They needed less reliever medication and fewer oral steroids, and experienced fewer respiratory infections. The findings may have significant implications for which inhaler asthma sufferers choose.
Shocking news
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been used in psychiatry since the 1930s, though some still doubt its effectiveness as a treatment for depressive illness. Their scepticism is countered by a new review whose authors conclude that ECT remains an important treatment option. Their findings indicate it may be better than drug therapy for treating short-term depressive illness. The review, published in the Lancet, suggests ECT is associated with impaired cognitive ability, especially memory impairment. Real ECT was found to be significantly more effective than simulated ECT, and treatment with ECT was significantly more effective than drug therapy.
Legal medicine
More than 2,500 people are involuntarily detained in psychiatric hospitals every year, according to Clinical Practice And The Law (Butterworths, €75), a new book by Dublin GP and barrister Dr Simon Mills. Although the Mental Health Act 2001 brings the rights of the patient to the fore, it seems it is not being implemented in many hospitals. In his book, Dr Mills also reviews current laws on euthanasia and forensic medicine and the need for regulation of cloning and assisted human reproduction.
Pay attention
Parents, teachers and medical personnel who have contact with children affected by attention deficit disorder will be interested in a public lecture by American psychologist Sam Goldstein on Friday, March 28th at 8 p.m. in the Westbury Hotel in Dublin. Dr Goldstein will discuss developmental impairments and critical factors for successful parenting of children with attention deficit disorder. You can find out more by visiting his website, at www.samgoldstein.com. Tickets for his talk cost €30 in advance from 01-8748349, or e-mail hadd@eircom.net
Oat cuisine
How do you make sure your children turn into healthy adults? You feed them lots of porridge, according to the Oat Millers of Ireland, an industry group that says a good diet reduces the risk of heart disease, some cancers, type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
You'd expect it to back its product, which it says makes an ideal breakfast. But porridge has the advantage of delivering energy slowly, not in a sugary burst.
Like fruit and vegetables, oats are also high in fibre. So next time, you're shopping, don't just reach for the Coco Pops.
Lifelines is compiled by Dr Muiris Houston and Sylvia Thompson
lifelines@irish-times.ie