Occupational Noise Exposure Linked to Cardiovascular Conditions

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are more prevalent among workers who have been exposed to loud noises, according to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Am J Ind Med. 2018 Mar 14. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22833. [Epub ahead of print].) Researchers from CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health studied National Health Survey data from 2014 and estimated the prevalence of self-reported hearing difficulty, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and coronary heart disease or stroke by level of occupational noise exposure, industry, and occupation. They found 25 percent of current workers had a history of occupational noise exposure, and that 12 percent had hearing difficulty, 24 percent had hypertension, and 28 percent had elevated cholesterol. Of these cases, 58 percent, 14 percent, and nine percent of them can be attributed to occupational noise exposure. Industries with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were mining (61%), construction (51%), and manufacturing (47%), and occupations with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were production (55%); construction and extraction (54%); and installation, maintenance, and repair (54%).
 
Elizabeth Masterson, PhD, a co-author of the paper, said in a press release this study provides further evidence of an association of occupational noise exposure with high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as the potential to prevent these conditions. “It is important that workers be screened regularly for these conditions in the workplace or through a health care provider, so interventions can occur. As these conditions are more common among noise-exposed workers, they could especially benefit from these screenings," Masterson said. 

Published: 4/6/2018 10:34:00 AM

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2GHrHI7
via IFTTT

Occupational Noise Exposure Linked to Cardiovascular Conditions

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are more prevalent among workers who have been exposed to loud noises, according to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Am J Ind Med. 2018 Mar 14. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22833. [Epub ahead of print].) Researchers from CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health studied National Health Survey data from 2014 and estimated the prevalence of self-reported hearing difficulty, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and coronary heart disease or stroke by level of occupational noise exposure, industry, and occupation. They found 25 percent of current workers had a history of occupational noise exposure, and that 12 percent had hearing difficulty, 24 percent had hypertension, and 28 percent had elevated cholesterol. Of these cases, 58 percent, 14 percent, and nine percent of them can be attributed to occupational noise exposure. Industries with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were mining (61%), construction (51%), and manufacturing (47%), and occupations with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were production (55%); construction and extraction (54%); and installation, maintenance, and repair (54%).
 
Elizabeth Masterson, PhD, a co-author of the paper, said in a press release this study provides further evidence of an association of occupational noise exposure with high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as the potential to prevent these conditions. “It is important that workers be screened regularly for these conditions in the workplace or through a health care provider, so interventions can occur. As these conditions are more common among noise-exposed workers, they could especially benefit from these screenings," Masterson said. 

Published: 4/6/2018 10:34:00 AM

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2GHrHI7
via IFTTT

Occupational Noise Exposure Linked to Cardiovascular Conditions

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are more prevalent among workers who have been exposed to loud noises, according to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Am J Ind Med. 2018 Mar 14. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22833. [Epub ahead of print].) Researchers from CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health studied National Health Survey data from 2014 and estimated the prevalence of self-reported hearing difficulty, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and coronary heart disease or stroke by level of occupational noise exposure, industry, and occupation. They found 25 percent of current workers had a history of occupational noise exposure, and that 12 percent had hearing difficulty, 24 percent had hypertension, and 28 percent had elevated cholesterol. Of these cases, 58 percent, 14 percent, and nine percent of them can be attributed to occupational noise exposure. Industries with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were mining (61%), construction (51%), and manufacturing (47%), and occupations with the highest prevalence of occupational noise exposure were production (55%); construction and extraction (54%); and installation, maintenance, and repair (54%).
 
Elizabeth Masterson, PhD, a co-author of the paper, said in a press release this study provides further evidence of an association of occupational noise exposure with high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as the potential to prevent these conditions. “It is important that workers be screened regularly for these conditions in the workplace or through a health care provider, so interventions can occur. As these conditions are more common among noise-exposed workers, they could especially benefit from these screenings," Masterson said. 

Published: 4/6/2018 10:34:00 AM

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2GHrHI7
via IFTTT

Suicide Tinnitus

Please note: the following information does not constitute professional medical advice, and is provided for general informational purposes only. Please speak to your doctor if you have tinnitus.

There are many instances when unbearable health conditions have driven people to take their own lives. For example, pain may be unbearable, and a patient may feel like no treatments work to alleviate the pain. You may have heard about a possible link for suicide tinnitus, and you may be wondering how this could potentially impact you or a loved one who is suffering from the condition. A closer look will reveal that there is help for individuals who suffer from serious tinnitus that may be leading to suicidal thoughts.

What Is Tinnitus?
Many people have experienced tinnitus in the past and are not aware of it. This is a condition that involves hearing sounds that are not caused by any external factors. It may be something as simple as a brief ringing sound, a hum or a buzz. While some people have very brief and intermittent episodes of tinnitus, others have long-lasting or even unceasing cases. In addition, the sounds that can be heard because of this condition vary dramatically. A sharp ringing or heavy thumping that causes a serious headache may be experienced. Tinnitus is sometimes caused by hearing damage, such as by being exposed to loud sounds for a lengthy period of time or by trauma to the ear. For other people, there is no apparent cause.

What Makes This Condition Unbearable?
A mild case of tinnitus may not typically cause concern for a link between suicide tinnitus. However, when tinnitus becomes unbearable and the patient loses all hope for a treatment that works, desperation can set in. This can result in possible suicidal thoughts. It is important to note that tinnitus is not a direct cause of suicide, but it can contribute to it. Each person responds differently to health conditions and stressors in life.

If you or someone you love is dealing with suicide tinnitus issues, understand that help is available. There are many treatments available that have worked well for other people. Because tinnitus can be caused by different things, some people may have to try multiple treatments before they experience relief. Regardless of how severe your case is, remember that there are always things that you can do to alleviate the symptoms entirely or to at least reduce their impact on your life. Consult with an auditory specialist for assistance with possible treatments. If you are having suicidal thoughts, call 911 or visit your local emergency room for assistance.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2GD84Ro
via IFTTT

A fluorescence-based imaging approach to pharmacokinetic analysis of intracochlear drug delivery

Publication date: Available online 5 April 2018
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Andrew M. Ayoob, Marcello Peppi, Vishal Tandon, Robert Langer, Jeffrey T. Borenstein
Advances in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies are enhancing the development of intracochlear delivery devices for the treatment of hearing loss with emerging pharmacological therapies. Direct intracochlear delivery addresses the limitations of systemic and intratympanic delivery. However, optimization of delivery parameters for these devices requires pharmacokinetic assessment of the spatiotemporal drug distribution inside the cochlea. Robust methods of measuring drug concentration in the perilymph have been developed, but lack spatial resolution along the tonotopic axis or require complex physiological measurements. Here we describe an approach for quantifying distribution of fluorescent drug-surrogate probe along the cochlea's sensory epithelium with high spatial resolution enabled by confocal fluorescence imaging. Fluorescence from FM 1–43 FX, a fixable endocytosis marker, was quantified using confocal fluorescence imaging of whole mount sections of the organ of Corti from cochleae resected and fixed at several time points after intracochlear delivery. Intracochlear delivery of FM 1–43 FX near the base of the cochlea produces a base-apex gradient of fluorescence in the row of inner hair cells after 1 h post-delivery that is consistent with diffusion-limited transport along the scala tympani. By 3 h post-delivery there is approximately an order of magnitude decrease in peak average fluorescence intensity, suggesting FM 1–43 FX clearance from both the perilymph and inner hair cells. The increase in fluorescence intensity at 72 h post-delivery compared to 3 h post-delivery may implicate a potential radial transport pathway into the scala media.

Graphical abstract

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2GBoOsk
via IFTTT

A fluorescence-based imaging approach to pharmacokinetic analysis of intracochlear drug delivery

Publication date: Available online 5 April 2018
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Andrew M. Ayoob, Marcello Peppi, Vishal Tandon, Robert Langer, Jeffrey T. Borenstein
Advances in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies are enhancing the development of intracochlear delivery devices for the treatment of hearing loss with emerging pharmacological therapies. Direct intracochlear delivery addresses the limitations of systemic and intratympanic delivery. However, optimization of delivery parameters for these devices requires pharmacokinetic assessment of the spatiotemporal drug distribution inside the cochlea. Robust methods of measuring drug concentration in the perilymph have been developed, but lack spatial resolution along the tonotopic axis or require complex physiological measurements. Here we describe an approach for quantifying distribution of fluorescent drug-surrogate probe along the cochlea's sensory epithelium with high spatial resolution enabled by confocal fluorescence imaging. Fluorescence from FM 1–43 FX, a fixable endocytosis marker, was quantified using confocal fluorescence imaging of whole mount sections of the organ of Corti from cochleae resected and fixed at several time points after intracochlear delivery. Intracochlear delivery of FM 1–43 FX near the base of the cochlea produces a base-apex gradient of fluorescence in the row of inner hair cells after 1 h post-delivery that is consistent with diffusion-limited transport along the scala tympani. By 3 h post-delivery there is approximately an order of magnitude decrease in peak average fluorescence intensity, suggesting FM 1–43 FX clearance from both the perilymph and inner hair cells. The increase in fluorescence intensity at 72 h post-delivery compared to 3 h post-delivery may implicate a potential radial transport pathway into the scala media.

Graphical abstract

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2GBoOsk
via IFTTT

A fluorescence-based imaging approach to pharmacokinetic analysis of intracochlear drug delivery

Publication date: Available online 5 April 2018
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Andrew M. Ayoob, Marcello Peppi, Vishal Tandon, Robert Langer, Jeffrey T. Borenstein
Advances in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies are enhancing the development of intracochlear delivery devices for the treatment of hearing loss with emerging pharmacological therapies. Direct intracochlear delivery addresses the limitations of systemic and intratympanic delivery. However, optimization of delivery parameters for these devices requires pharmacokinetic assessment of the spatiotemporal drug distribution inside the cochlea. Robust methods of measuring drug concentration in the perilymph have been developed, but lack spatial resolution along the tonotopic axis or require complex physiological measurements. Here we describe an approach for quantifying distribution of fluorescent drug-surrogate probe along the cochlea's sensory epithelium with high spatial resolution enabled by confocal fluorescence imaging. Fluorescence from FM 1–43 FX, a fixable endocytosis marker, was quantified using confocal fluorescence imaging of whole mount sections of the organ of Corti from cochleae resected and fixed at several time points after intracochlear delivery. Intracochlear delivery of FM 1–43 FX near the base of the cochlea produces a base-apex gradient of fluorescence in the row of inner hair cells after 1 h post-delivery that is consistent with diffusion-limited transport along the scala tympani. By 3 h post-delivery there is approximately an order of magnitude decrease in peak average fluorescence intensity, suggesting FM 1–43 FX clearance from both the perilymph and inner hair cells. The increase in fluorescence intensity at 72 h post-delivery compared to 3 h post-delivery may implicate a potential radial transport pathway into the scala media.

Graphical abstract

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2GBoOsk
via IFTTT