Latest news with #cardiacsurgery
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctors reveal the hidden dangers lurking in household staple used daily by nearly every American
It's a daily routine more than 200 millions Americans partake in, but a growing number of health experts are warning about the negative effects of mouthwash. While mouthwash is part of healthy oral hygiene recommended by dentists to reduce bacteria, prevent gum disease, fight bad breath, and strengthen teeth, not all solutions are equal. As well as killing off harmful bacteria, studies have shown that some mouthwashes contain ingredients such as chlorhexidine or alcohol, which can kill microbes that make nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a chemical produced when breaking down food, and its presence has been linked to improved blood pressure and better heart health. Experts have also suggested nitric oxide could help immune cells communicate - leading them to respond faster to an infection. It has also been claimed that it can improve muscle performance by allowing cells to work faster. Dr Jeremy London, who is based out of Georgia, also advises against using mouthwash. In a TikTok video, he explains that as a cardiac surgeon, it is the one household staple that he 'absolutely avoids'. Like Dr Kahng he warns that the breath-freshening agent can kill healthy bacteria that helps control your blood pressure. He points out that this can then have a knock-on effect, as high blood pressure 'is a risk factor for both strokes and heart attacks.' Dentists are also telling people to watch out for - and avoid - washes that contain alcohol. Alcohol is a common ingredient in mouthwashes as it helps to dissolve active ingredients like essential oils for plaque and gingivitis efficacy. But California-based dentist Dr Joyce Kahng says that popular brands with alcohol in them 'disrupt the oral microbiome' - the diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that live in the mouth and throat The alcohol content varies depending on the specific product, but it typically ranges from 14 percent to 27 percent by volume. Dr Kahng added in a TikTok that alcohol also dries out the mouth. When saliva production is reduced, it can cause discomfort, bad breath, and even contribute to other oral health issues. And for pregnant women, it's even more important to avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes as 'you are assumed to swallow around 15 percent of your oral hygiene products,' the dentist added. '[Some mouthwashes] have a higher alcohol content than wine,' she adds. Finally, Dr Kahng warns that many mouth washes are acidic, with pH levels ranging from three to six, which can be harmful to tooth enamel and gums, especially for those with receding gums or sensitivity. A pH below 5.5 is generally considered potentially erosive to teeth. To solve bad breath, Dr London suggests some alternatives to mouthwash, including flossing and tongue scraping. He tells viewers: 'Now look, using mouthwash is a personal choice. I did it for many years until I was educated. Your body, your choice. Inform yourself, understand the data and make good decisions.' Backing up Dr Kahng and Dr London's claims, in 2019 researchers at the University of Puerto Rico found that people who used mouthwash twice a day or more had a greater risk of having high blood pressure compared to less frequent users. And an earlier study, in 2017, by the same Puerto Rico-based research group found that overweight people using mouthwash at least twice daily had a 50 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes over a three-year period compared to non-users. The researchers put this down to the fact that killing these key bacteria in the mouth reduces the body's ability to make nitric acid, a natural compound that plays a role in regulating insulin - the hormone that keeps blood sugar levels steady. Therefore, the destruction of this beneficial bacteria could lead to unstable blood sugar peaks and encourage the development of diabetes. And that's not the only potentially harmful side-effect of mouthwash. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine found that antiseptic mouthwash used by patients who have been hospitalized may increase their risk of death from sepsis - this is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection, leading to organ failure which can be fatal. Scientists aren't entirely sure what is behind the increased risk but suggest that killing the oral bacteria responsible for nitric acid production stops the body being able to absorb enough of this compound, which plays a key role in healthy circulation - and we know that circulation is one of the body systems that shuts down in sepsis. Last year, Listerine users sued the mouthwash's manufacturer Johnson & Johnson over claims it put them at risk of cancer. A previous study found the company's Cool Mint flavor mouthwash increased levels of mouth bacteria linked to throat and colon cancer. The $5 mouthwash tells consumers to use it for 30 seconds twice a day to kill 99.9 percent of all the bacteria in their mouth. But research suggests daily uses causes levels of two species of bacterium — Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus anginosus — to rise. These have been linked to cancer in the esophagus — the tube that connects the throat and the stomach — and in the colon. Researchers from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium also saw a decrease in a group of bacteria called Actinobacteria, which may protect against cancer by helping to reduce inflammation. A spokeswoman for Kenvue, formerly part of Johnson and Johnson, said in response to the findings that were published last year: 'Studies on the impact of Listerine on oral health have been published in hundreds of peer-reviewed publications for more than a century, making it one of the most extensively tested mouthwash brands in the world. 'We continuously evaluate the latest science and monitor safety signals to evaluate the benefit risk profile of our products.'
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
CFMEU administrator Mark Irving hospitalised, reportedly undergoes cardiac surgery
The man tasked with reforming the militant CFMEU union Mark Irving KC has been hospitalised after reportedly undergoing cardiac surgery. The 57-year-old underwent surgery due to a blocked artery, where surgeons inserted a stent to open the artery and ensure blood flow, The Australian reported on Monday. A spokesperson for the administration said Mr Irving was 'recovering well'. 'He is expected to return to work next week. The work of the administration is continuing,' he said. Newly installed Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth also shared her well wishes. 'I wish Mark all the best with his recovery and am reassured the administration's work will continue as planned until he returns,' she said. Mr Irving was appointed the role in August 2024 after the Albanese government placed the union's construction and general division into administration following several allegations of union official using standover tactics, violence and corruption. During his three-year term, he will receive a total salary package of $643,640 a year, or about $1.9m over his tenure. The fees will be paid by union member fees, with some union heavyweights opposing the forced takeover. In October, Nine newspapers reported Mr Irving had been subjected to death threats due to his work with the union, with a spokesperson for the administration saying it work 'will not be distracted or diverted'. Former CFMEU national chief Zach Smith also announced his departure from the union last week, a role he has held since March 2023. In a statement to members, Mr Smith said it was a 'time for tough decisions' and said he could not 'do justice' as both national secretary and as the acting Victorian branch secretary, previously held by disgraced union boss John Setka. He also described the administration as a 'tough chapter' in the CFMEU's 'proud history 'I have also decided that while I am willing to take responsibility for decision I make, I cannot be asked to take responsibility for decisions that are not mine,' he said.
Medscape
23-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Paravertebral Blocks Cut Opioid Use After Peds Heart Surgery
In children undergoing cardiac surgery by thoracotomy, paravertebral blocks with ropivacaine reduced opioid consumption by nearly half within 24 hours after surgery compared with local anesthetic, while also reducing pain scores at 6 and 12 hours after the operation. However, the approach did not speed recovery from the procedure. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a randomized double-blind trial to compare the efficacy of paravertebral blocks and local anesthetic for postoperative pain relief in children recovering from thoracotomies for cardiac surgery. They enrolled 100 children aged 6-14 years (mean age, 7 years; 43% boys) with atrial or ventricular septal defects who were scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass via thoracotomy at a Chinese hospital between March and August 2024. All patients received a paravertebral block and wound infiltration. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups: One received a paravertebral block at the T4-T5 level with 3 mg/kg of 0.375% ropivacaine after surgery, with saline as a placebo for wound infiltration (n = 50). The other received local wound infiltration with the same dosage of ropivacaine bilaterally at the incision and drainage sites, with saline as a placebo for the block (n = 50). The primary outcome was total opioid (sufentanil) consumption within 24 hours after surgery. Pain intensity was self-reported at 6-hour intervals using the Faces Pain Scale–Revised (FPS-R) for children, scored from 0 (no pain) to 10 (severe pain). TAKEAWAY: Children who received paravertebral blocks consumed significantly lower sufentanil within 24 hours after surgery than those who received local anesthetic wound infiltration (mean consumption, 0.3 vs 0.6 μg/kg; P = .004). = .004). Pain scores were lower among children who received paravertebral blocks than among those who received local anesthetic wound infiltration, with the most significant and clinically meaningful reduction observed at 6 hours after surgery (mean FPS-R score, 1.7 vs 3.3; P < .001 ). The scores were comparable between groups at 24 hours. < .001 ). The scores were comparable between groups at 24 hours. The two groups showed no significant differences in the duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation, stay in the intensive care unit, or hospitalization. No patients in either group experienced a paravertebral hematoma, vascular or neurologic injuries, or hypotension. The rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting were similar between the two groups. IN PRACTICE: 'Paravertebral blocks reduced sufentanil consumption and pain during the initial 18 hours after pediatric cardiac surgery but did not speed recovery or shorten ICU stays or the duration of hospitalization,' the researchers reported. SOURCE: This study was led by Jingfei Guo and Yuan Jia, from Fuwai Hospital in Beijing, China. It was published online on May 14, 2025, in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine . LIMITATIONS: Sufentanil was administered by nurses, which may not have been titrated precisely as per the needs of the patient. The researchers did not differentiate between pain evoked by movement, which is usually worse, from pain at rest. DISCLOSURES: This study received support from National High-Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding from Fuwai Hospital. The authors declared having no competing interests.
