Note to media: To reach the media contacts for any of these health news tips, call the 
Office of News and Publications at 214-648-3404.

Makeshift heating sources often harbor dangers

As the mercury dips, some people turn to alternative sources to ward off the cold. Too often, these practices lead to accidental deaths and injuries.

“Ovens and stovetops should never be used for heating, and space heaters should be kept away from children, animals and flammable objects,” says Dr. Paul Pepe, chairman of emergency medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. 

People who have fireplaces should also check their chimney and flue for leaves and branches, and allow for ventilation and fresh air when using the devices. And if everyone in the house develops a headache at the same time, check for carbon monoxide right away, Dr. Pepe adds.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/emergency to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in emergency care.

Media Contact: Connie Piloto


If produce pickings are slim, head for the freezer

The produce section may be a bit bare this time of year, but that doesn’t give anyone a free pass to skimp on fruits and vegetables.

Dr. Jo Ann Carson, professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the solution lies in choosing as much fresh seasonal produce as possible, then augmenting it with a mixture of frozen and canned offerings.

Frozen fruits and vegetables often contain nearly as many nutrients as fresh produce because they have been picked, frozen and packaged at their peak, she said. 

Dr. Carson also notes that some canned vegetables, including pumpkin, provide more vitamins per serving than their fresh counterparts.

The key, she says, is to watch the sugar and sodium content, because canned produce can be higher in both.

“A good principle is to look for fruit without added sugar or syrups and vegetables without extra butter, salt or cream sauces,” Dr. Carson says.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/nutrition to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in nutrition.

Media Contact: Kristen Holland Shear


Fat-reduction surgery may not cut heart-disease risk

Liposuction may not reduce risk for heart disease the way good, old-fashioned diet and exercise can.

It has been shown that belly fat, or waist circumference, is more closely associated with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease than other distributions of fat.  However, how one gets rid of the fat seems to matter in terms of reducing these risks, say physicians at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

“Diet and exercise certainly can reduce abdominal fat and reduce heart-disease risk, as can surgical procedures like gastric bypass, which limits caloric intake,” says Dr. Amit Khera, who directs the UT Southwestern program in preventive cardiology. “Interestingly, studies looking at liposuction do not seem to show the same benefits. Fat reduction by liposuction does not seem to reduce a protein in the blood called C-reactive protein, which is a measure of inflammation and heart disease risk.”

This may be because liposuction targets the subcutaneous, or outer, layer of belly fat but does not reduce the visceral fat that surrounds the intestines and abdominal structures, which is more closely associated with risks for heart disease, he says.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/heartlungvascular to learn more about heart, lung and vascular clinical services at UT Southwestern.

Media Contact: Katherine Morales


Colon cleaners may do more harm than good

Do you think special diets, pills, powders or enemas are needed to rid the body and colon of toxins? UT Southwestern Medical Center experts say you should think again.

“The lining of the gut regenerates about every seven days, so you probably don’t need colon cleansers,” says Dr. Anne Larson, associate professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern who specializes in digestive and liver diseases.

Not only are colon cleansers unnecessary, colon cleansers could imbalance the body’s fluids and lead to dehydration, salt depletion and low blood pressure. Long-term dangers include anemia, malnutrition, heart failure and breaking the colon wall. Unclean enema equipment could lead to infection.

So what should you do if you’re worried about a buildup of toxins because of constipation?

“Stick with what’s proven to be safe,” Dr. Larson says. “Drink plenty of water, and eat food high in fiber such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.”

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/digestive to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in digestive disorders.

Media Contact: LaKisha Ladson


Weight loss before bariatric surgery reduces time on the table

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers say losing pounds before weight-loss surgery can help reduce the time spent in the operating room.

Bariatric surgeons reviewed the records of 15 people who lost an average of about 8 percent of their body weight in the three months before gastric bypass surgery and 25 who did not.

“An 8-percent reduction of body weight was associated with a decrease in operative time, suggesting that weight loss prior to surgery results in a technically less challenging operation in the super-obese patient,” says Dr. Sergio Huerta, assistant professor of surgery who led the study appearing in Obesity Surgery. “However, weight loss prior to surgery did not affect the rate of postoperative complications, and both groups had the same long-term weight loss after two years.”

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/surgery to learn more about UT Southwestern’s surgery services.

Media Contact: Russell Rian