VIDEO EXPLAINS WHAT IS CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME READ ABOUT SURGERY DRUGS AND ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT INCLUDING YOGA

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What does carpal tunnel syndrome feel like? You're working at your desk, trying to ignore the tingling or numbness you've had for months in your hand and wrist. Suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain shoots through the wrist and up your arm. Sounds like carpal tunnel syndrome. It's likely you have carpal tunnel syndrome, not just a passing cramp. As the video below explains Carpal tunnel is a painful progressive condition caused by compression of a key nerve, the median nerve, in the wrist. It's often associated with repetitive work

Surgery Medication Alternative Therapies and Drugs for Carpal Tunnel

Medication can ease the pain and swelling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome but drugs are no panacea. Acupuncture and chiropractic care have benefited some patients with carpal tunnel but their effectiveness remains unproved. An exception is yoga, which has been shown to reduce pain and improve grip strength among patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. There are two kinds of surgery for carpal tunnel. Endoscopic surgery, where the surgeon works through a small opening and uses a camera and instruments to guide and cut and Open Surgery






Watch this video explaining Carpal Tunnel Click the arrow to start





Medication can ease the pain and swelling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome but drugs are no panacea. Chronic carpal tunnel probably needs more than drug treatment. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonprescription pain relievers, may ease symptoms that have been present for a short time or have been caused by strenuous activity. Long term NSAIDS can irritate the stomach lining and even cause ulcers. Corticosteroids (such as prednisone) or the drug lidocaine can be injected directly into the wrist or taken by mouth (in the case of prednisone) to relieve pressure on the median nerve and provide immediate, temporary relief to persons with mild or intermittent symptoms. (Caution: persons with diabetes and those who may be predisposed to diabetes should note that prolonged use of corticosteroids can make it difficult to regulate insulin levels. Corticosteroids should not be taken without a doctor's prescription.) Additionally, some studies show that vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) supplements may ease the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.



Exercise. Stretching and strengthening exercises can be helpful in people whose symptoms have abated. These exercises may be supervised by a physical therapist, who is trained to use exercises to treat physical impairments, or an occupational therapist, who is trained in evaluating people with physical impairments and helping them build skills to improve their health and well-being.






Treatments for carpal tunnel include:

Splints for the wrist

Medicines like ibuprofen to reduce inflammation

Corticosteroid injections or Steroids

Physical therapy and exercises

Ultrasound therapy

Surgery (2 kinds) to relieve the pressure in the carpal tunnel



There are two kinds of surgery for carpal tunnel. Endoscopic surgery, where the surgeon works through a small opening and uses a camera and instruments to guide and cut and Open Surgery

Endoscopic surgery



Endoscopic may allow faster functional recovery and less postoperative discomfort than traditional open release surgery. The surgeon makes two incisions (about ½" each) in the wrist and palm, inserts a camera attached to a tube, observes the tissue on a screen, and cuts the carpal ligament, the band of tissue over the top of the tunnel. This two-portal endoscopic surgery, generally performed under local anesthesia, is effective and minimizes scarring and scar tenderness, if any. One-portal endoscopic surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is also available.



See

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME REPETITIVE WORK DIAGNOSIS AND WHO GETS CARPAL TUNNEL

Yoga Based Intervention for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Open release surgery



The older procedure used to correct carpal tunnel syndrome, consists of making an incision up to 2 inches in the wrist and then cutting the carpal ligament to enlarge the carpal tunnel. During carpal tunnel release surgery, the surgeon cuts the band that forms the top part of the carpal tunnel. This takes some pressure off the nerve. Carpal tunnel release surgery can be done through a cut in the palm of your handThe procedure is generally done under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, unless there are unusual medical considerations.



Although symptoms may be relieved immediately after surgery, full recovery from carpal tunnel surgery can take months. Some patients may have infection, nerve damage, stiffness, and pain at the scar. Occasionally the wrist loses strength because the carpal ligament is cut. Patients should undergo physical therapy after surgery to restore wrist strength. Some patients may need to adjust job duties or even change jobs after recovery from surgery.

Click Part Two about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION NITROGLYCERIN VIAGRA AND CAR EXHAUST WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON

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When a man is turned on, sexually stimulated, it causes the production of nitric oxide in the penis. O.K now that I have your attention. It is more than a little surprising that air pollution, brain chemistry, erectile dysfunction and heart disease could be in any way related and yet they are. Nitroglycerin and Viagra (sildenafil) probably don't occur to you in the same thought. It's hard to see what Viagra and nitroglycerin have in common unless it's the explosive consequences of their use!

Besides being used to blow things up, nitroglycerin has been employed by doctors since the late 1800s to relieve the pain of angina in the heart. Ironically, it was prescribed to Alfred Nobel,inventor of dynamite and the Nobel Prize for his angina. Nitroglycerin causes the coronary arteries of the heart to expand (dilate) and so more blood can flow to the heart muscle itself. This happens because the nitroglycerin triggers the release of a tiny molecule in the lining of the arteries called nitric oxide. These effects arise because nitroglycerin is converted to nitric oxide in the body and nitric oxide is a natural vasodilator and important signal chemical all over the body.

Watermelon Has Viagra Like Effects


Nitric Oxide relaxes the smooth muscles in the arterial walls. Viagra also works it's magic to prolong the expansion of the blood vessels in the penis by working on a product of nitric oxide. Amazingly, the nitric oxide in the penis is the same nitric oxide in the blood vessels of the heart and they are both the very same poisonous nitric oxide that spews from car exhausts creating smog and acid rain!




Click on the letter at the start of your selected answer(s).

What is true about the chemical known as nitric oxide?





Car exhaust contains nitric oxide

Nitric oxide acts as a signaling molecule in the heart

Viagra works on nitric oxide

Lighting produces nitric oxide

Nitric oxide is a general anesthetic

Viagra has been studied by scientists as a possible plant growth aid because of it's effect on nitric oxide

Erectile Function Vs Dysfunction and the Role of Nitric Oxide

Caution: The following is a Graphic Description!
This is a topic you should discuss with your doctor. The penis is composed of a number of tubes, sort of cylindrical balloons that extend the length of the penis. Two of these tubes running the length of the penis are called the corpora cavernosa from the Latin corpora meaning bodies and cavernosa meaning hollow spaces. The corpora cavernosa are two "hollow cylinders" that have spongy tissue with lots of spaces in them. The two tubes are analogous to long deflated balloons. In the usual penile configuration the two corpora cavernosa are deflated. But when they fill with blood the corpora get inflated, the penis gets enlarged and the result is an erection.

Click healty medical Watermelon as the New Viagra

How Erectile Function Happens: The Yin and Yang

When a man is turned on, sexually stimulated, it causes the production of nitric oxide in the penis. Specifically the release of nitric oxide in the blood vessels of the penis cause an enzyme to make a chemical called cGMP. It is cGMP that relaxes the smooth muscles in the blood vessels of the corpora cavernosum. Therefore the blood vessels get wider and the blood flows into the tubes and the corpora cavernosa fill up and enlarge. When you have more cGMP you have more dilated blood vessels and the spongy material in the two cavernosa can stay inflated with blood and the penis stays erect. cGMP is found elsewhere as well and is involved with vision as well as the kidneys to name just some places.


As a matter of fact sildenafil was discovered serendipitously by researchers looking for a drug to dilate the blood vessels of the heart.

Nitric Oxide is nitrogen and oxygen. Incredibly simple and vitally important as a chemical messenger in the body. It's hard to believe yet the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for the elucidation of the mechanism of nitric oxide in the body.

Yin and Yang of Erection

There is of course a yin and yang. At the same time that there are forces favoring an erection there are forces opposing an erection in the form of an enzyme called PDE5 that is destroying the cGMP. Since the blood vessels stay dilated because of the cGMP, if you can keep the cGMP around longer you keep an erection longer. Sildenafil prevents the destruction of cGMP and so keeps the penis erect. Viagra blocks the PDE5 from destroying the cGMP and the erection is maintained. So sildenafil is called a PDE5 inhibitor.

New Competitors to Sildenafil

Other PDE5 Inhibitors On the Erectile Dysfunction Market

Sildenafil has been joined by other PDE5 inhibitors on the market. One is called Levitra vardenafil and Cialis tadalafil. Among the ways they hope to distinguish themselves is the fact that Cialis has a longer half life so that it ought to stay around longer.

Why Viagra Maintains an Erection but Doesn't Cause It

Senator Bob Dole and countless others are no doubt very happy that Viagra works to prevent the destruction of the cGMP. But it's the sexual stimulus, the "turn on" that causes the production of nitric oxide in the penis. Without the initial "turn on" the sildenafil has nothing to work on. That's why they advertise that it won't cause an erection. So sildenafil and the other PDE5 inhibitors result in the blood vessels being expanded for longer. This would explain why they have warnings about the danger of using the PDE5 inhibitors with heart drugs like nitrates.

From Explosives to the Gas That Heals: Nitric Oxide in Medicine

The Mechanism of Viagra

Illustrated Guide to Erectile Dysfunction from the National Institue of Health.

PDE5 Inhibitors May Help Plants Stand Up Straight Also

Scientists in Israel and Australia working on nitric oxide in plants have reported on experiments with sildenafil. An Israeli scientist, Yaacov Leshem, at Bar-Ilan University, and Ron Wills, at the University of Newcastle have reported that the PDE5 inhibitors might keep plants from wilting so soon. Professor Leshem got the idea because "plants share the same common denominator as humans nitric oxide."

Now Viagra to the aid of limp plants

Does Viagra Keep Flowers From Wilting?

LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE NO LIKE WATERMELON FOR VIAGRA SAY TEXAS SCIENTISTS CITRULLINE RESEARCH WIDENING IMPLICATIONS

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Scientists at Texas A&M say watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra like effects to the body’s blood vessels and may even increase libido. Citrulline, a substance found in watermelon has the ability to relax blood vessels, much like Viagra does via production of the same chemical, nitric oxide. Citrulline, the precursor to arginine, is found in higher concentrations in the rind of watermelons than the flesh. Scientists know that when watermelon is consumed, citrulline is converted to arginine through certain enzymes. Arginine is an amino acid that works wonders on the heart and circulation system and maintains a good immune system, Dr. Bhimu Patil said. Patil is director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station.










“The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes,” said Patil. “Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it.” Nitric Oxide relaxes the smooth muscles in the arterial walls. Viagra also works it's magic to prolong the expansion of the blood vessels in the penis by working on a product of nitric oxide. Amazingly, the nitric oxide in the penis is the same nitric oxide in the blood vessels of the heart and they are both the very same poisonous nitric oxide that spews from car exhausts creating smog and acid rain.




While there are many psychological and physiological problems that can cause impotence, extra nitric oxide could help those who need increased blood flow, which would also help treat angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems. “Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra,” Patil said, “but it’s a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects.”

Click healty medical on the Connection Between Car Exhaust and Viagra



Citrulline, is found in higher concentrations in the rind of watermelons than the flesh.As the rind is not commonly eaten, two of Patil’s fellow scientists, Drs. Steve King and Hae Jeen Bang, are working to breed new varieties with higher concentrations in the flesh.

Watermelon May Have Viagra Effect

RED WINE SHOULD YOU OR SHOULDNT YOU LATEST REPORT IN THE SAGA OF RESVERATROL DOES A CHEMICAL IN RED WINE RED GRAPES SLOW DOWN AGING AND A VIDEO

RED WINE SHOULD YOU OR SHOULDNT YOU LATEST REPORT IN THE SAGA OF RESVERATROL DOES A CHEMICAL IN RED WINE RED GRAPES SLOW DOWN AGING

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Videos Scientists Examine Resveratrol's Effect on the Genes Might it Slow Aging?

Here is the latest installment in the ongoing saga of resveratrol and red wine should you or shouldn't you? This from the Washington Post, "A key compound in red wine known as resveratrol appears to protect against many of the health ravages associated with growing old, new animal research reveals". Red wine may be much more potent than was thought in slowing down aging. Instead of "let them eat cake" the French are more likely to "let them drink red wine" resulting perhaps in something called the French Paradox where the French allegedly have better heart health despite a diet that may not be the healthiest.









"It's very hard to extrapolate from this finding to comment on the benefits of red wine directly, because red wine has many other compounds besides resveratrol, including ethanol, which have very active biological effects," noted study author Rafael de Cabo, unit chief of the laboratory of experimental gerontology at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore. But red wine is a good source of resveratrol," he added. "And, in this mouse study, we have shown that this particular compound has very strong positive effects on preventing cardiovascular disease, reducing heart inflammation, keeping bone health in terms of structure and function, and maintaining loco-motor and balance activity. So, if these effects translate into humans, it will have a very good impact on the standard of human health."



Charlie Rose Talks with Dr. Sinlair About Resveratrol Click the arrow to start






"De Cabo conducted the research with David A. Sinclair, of Harvard Medical School. Their team is publishing its findings in the July 3 online issue of Cell Metabolism".


A short video about reseveratrol Click the arrow to start






An article in the NY Times talks about the efforts of scientists to determine if a chemical found in red grapes and red wine called resveratrol can lead to slowing down aging and longer life. And if so does resveratrol work like calorie restriction in extending lifespan?


Resveratrol, a natural compound found in grapes and red wine has previously been shown to extend lifespan in some organisms. Calorie restriction while getting adequate nutrition has been shown in mice as well as primates to extend lifespan at least in some studies. That is to say eating fewer calories while getting good nutrition does seem on average to make animals live longer. "Caloric restriction retards several aspects of the aging process in mammals, including age-related mortality, tumorigenesis, physiological decline and the establishment of age-related transcriptional profiles".

Compound in Red Wine Fights Ravages of Age

Cancer chemopreventive activity of resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes


Scientists are examining resveratrol, the chemical found in red grapes and red wine to see if the effect is consistent and why and how it works. In a report that appears in the online science journal called PLOS One, they say "Our studies suggest that dietary consumption of a low dose of resveratrol partially mimics calorie restriction, and inhibits some aspects of the aging process". "The study is based on dosing mice with resveratrol, an ingredient of some red wines. Some scientists are already taking resveratrol in capsule form, but others believe it is far too early to take the drug, especially using wine as its source, until there is better data on its safety and effectiveness".



According to the Times article "A critical link in establishing whether or not caloric restriction works the same wonders in people as it does in mice rests on the outcome of two monkey trials. Since rhesus monkeys live for up to 40 years, the trials have taken a long time to show results. Experts said that one of the two trials, being conducted by Dr. Weindruch, was at last showing clear evidence that calorically restricted monkeys were outliving the control animals. But no such effect is apparent in the other trial, being conducted at the National Institutes of Health".

New Hints Seen That Red Wine May Slow Aging

See healty medical Blog Eating Fewer Calories May Lengthen Life

A Low Dose of Dietary Resveratrol Partially Mimics Caloric Restriction and Retards Aging Parameters in Mice

EXERCISE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM MAY BE SUPERIOR TO RESTING EKG TO DETECT HEALTH PROBLEMS AND HEART TROUBLE IN WOULD BE ATHLETES AND WEEKEND SPORTS AFFICIAN

EXERCISE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM MAY BE SUPERIOR TO RESTING EKG TO DETECT HEALTH PROBLEMS AND HEART TROUBLE IN WOULD BE ATHLETES AND WEEKEND SPORTS AFFICIANADOS

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A new study has shown that exercise EKGs may pick up heart trouble and cardiac abnormalities in athletes that are missed by resting EKGs

How do you know if a man or woman can do exercise or sports? What is a pre exercise or pre sports physical? How can you tell if a person who is going to go jogging or running will have a heart problem? The problem of figuring who can and can't exercise or do sports safely is one that confounds doctors and would be athletes as well as weekend joggers and soccer players. Sometimes people you never would suspect (even marathoners) can collapse. Remember Jim Fixx? "A new study has shown that exercise electrocardiograms (EKGs) may pick up heart trouble and cardiac abnormalities in athletes that are missed by resting, or baseline,EKGs. (In an exercise EKG, you either walk on a treadmill or pedal on a stationary bicycle while being monitored by an EKG machine) Dr Francesco Sofi (University of Florence, Italy) and colleagues report their findings online July 3, 2008 of the British Medical Journal".









When you go to the doctor they will ask questions about your medical history, have you ever felt faint when running? Do you have high blood pressure? Do you get chest pain or shortness of breath? Without an obvious history of problems, you can do an electrocardiogram. You can order a treadmill test. You can do an echo cardiogram. But really for the average person and especially for young people the pre sports physical is still a matter of controversy. Some doctors would say at least get a resting electrocardiogram but many others would say the electrocardiogram is not likely to answer the question.






"We believe the addition of exercise ECG will give a good improvement of the evaluation of cardiac abnormalities in both young and older athletes," Sofi told Heartwire. (In an exercise EKG, you either walk on a treadmill or pedal on a stationary bicycle while being monitored by an EKG machine) He said this is the first study in a large cohort of athletes undergoing preparticipation screening to look at the inclusion of exercise ECG; the latter is something that is routinely incorporated into screening in Italy, he noted. "Pre participation screening is the systematic practice of evaluating sports participants before competition to detect cardiovascular abnormalities and thus prevent sudden death or progression of disease.In Italy, such screening constitutes an established medical program that has been implemented for more than 25 years. Over the past few decades, clinicians and experts have debated its clinical usefulness in identifying those at high risk."



"Findings from this cross sectional study, although only preliminary and not supported by follow-up analyses, support the inclusion of resting and exercise EKGs to detect heart problems, cardiac abnormalities such as ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias (irregular heart beat) and coronary heart disease among people taking part in competitive sports, especially those who are middle aged and older. A consistent proportion of people disqualified for cardiac disorders showed innocent or negative findings on resting 12 lead EKG but clear pathological (dangerous or abnormal) alterations on exercise ECG.
Over the past few decades, there has been increasing interest in the role of cardiovascular screening to identify potentially fatal cardiac disorders among athletes before they take part in competitive sports".

Cardiovascular evaluation, including resting and exercise electrocardiography, before participation in competitive sports: cross sectional study

Exercise ECG: better detection of cardiac abnormalities among athletes



Videos about Health and Fitness

Watch the latest videos about health on YouTube.com

VACCINES FOR PANCREATIC CANCER AND MORE ABOUT PROBLEMS OF DESIGNING CANCER TUMOR VACCINES

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Designing tumor vaccines presents a bunch of problems that anti-pathogen (that is a germ such as a virus or bacteria) vaccines don’t. Besides surgery for her cancer, Marilyn Horne, the renowned opera diva has received a pancreatic cancer vaccine at John Hopkins Medical Center. As you read in healty medical Blog (o.k I guess there is a small chance you read it elsewhere) Patrick Swayze, the much loved actor has a form of pancreatic cancer. He seems to be holding his own and in fact, will soon start filming a new series in Chicago.



Swayze is one of a number of recent celebrities said to have pancreatic cancer. Besides Swayze, Pavarotti and Marilyn Horne have had it. Besides surgery for her cancer, Marilyn Horne, has received a pancreatic cancer vaccine at John Hopkins Medical Center.



As the blog Mystery Rays from Outer Space, (no, really) points out "Designing tumor vaccines presents a bunch of problems that anti-pathogen vaccines don’t. One of those problems is identifying an appropriate antigen". An antigen is a molecule, such as on a cell that causes an immune response from the body. When your body recognizes a foreign antigen on say, a bacteria that invades your body, you generate an immune response. The cells of our body as well as bacteria and others substances can have antigens. In vaccines, they introduce an antigen into your body that causes the body to produce an immune response. There’s been a lot of interest in finding tumor antigens that cytotoxic T lymphocytes will recognize, and in fact hundreds have been identified. The database of tumor antigens at Cancer Immunity lists some 750 of them, divided into various categories":

Unique antigens result from point mutations in genes that are expressed ubiquitously. They are unique to the tumor of an individual patient or restricted to very few patients;

Shared tumor-specific antigens are expressed in many tumors but not in normal tissues;

Differentiation antigens are also expressed in the normal tissue of origin of the malignancy;

Over expressed antigens are expressed in a wide variety of normal tissues and over expressed in tumors



"Overall, shared tumor-specific antigens may be the ideal target. Because they’re found in multiple tumors, a vaccine can be pre-designed and go through a time-consuming optimization and validation process; because they’re only found in tumors, there’s less concern about safety. That is, the risk of the vaccine precipitating an autoimmune reaction to normal cells is low".

Side Effects of Tumor Vaccination

Studying Animals to See What Works Against Cancer in Humans


The results of the pancreas cancer vaccine and surgery together are encouraging.The pancreatic cancer vaccine is designed to enlist the immune system in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

The pancreas cancer vaccine is designed for people who already have pancreatic cancer. Usually most vaccines are designed as prophylaxis but this one is to help the body attack the disease."Now declared free of pancreatic cancer two years after diagnosis, Marilyn Horne adds another milestone to her long list of accolades: "Prima donna and survivor." Horne,who has never discussed her experimental cancer treatment publicly said she wanted to talk about it to help others facing the same illness".




"Horne began receiving the injections of lab-grown pancreatic cancer cells in early 2007, after surgery to remove the tumor. The vaccine has been genetically modified with an immune-boosting gene to tackle any lingering malignant cells. "Essentially, the vaccine teaches the immune system to recognize those pancreas cancer cells as being foreign and attack them specifically," says Dr. Daniel Laheru, a Johns Hopkins oncologist leading the study. "Her most important treatment was the surgery, but we hope the vaccine is additional insurance against recurrence."

Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Information at Johns Hopkins

Click for healty medical on Research about Vitamin D and Pancreatic Cancer

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY WHAT TYPES AND COSTS OF INJURIES ARE CAUSED BY AMATEURS WITH FIRECRACKERS AND FIREWORKS

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July 4th is synonymous with fireworks. Fireworks can be majestic,beautiful and inspiring. Fireworks can also be dangerous and a health hazard. You know it's coming, news stories about people getting injured while playing with fireworks, firecrackers,etc. It's as inevitable as the Chicago Cubs fading in the post season playoffs. How can fireworks injuries be prevented?



The safest way to prevent fireworks-related injuries is to leave fireworks displays to trained professionals. How big is the firecracker fireworks problem? In 2006, eleven people died and an estimated 9,200 were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in the United States. An estimated 5% of fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency departments required hospitalization.



Who is most at risk for fireworks-related injuries? More than two-thirds of all fireworks-related injuries in 2006 occurred between June 16 and July 16. During that time period, one out of every three people injured with fireworks were children under 15 years of age. About three times as many males were injured as females; and young people under twenty sustained nearly half (47%) of all injuries from fireworks. People actively participating in fireworks-related activities are more frequently and severely injured than bystanders.



What kinds of firecracker and fireworks injuries occur? Between June 16 and July 16, 2006: The body parts most often injured in fireworks accidents were hands (2,300 injuries), eyes (1,500 injuries), and the head, face, and ear (1,400 injuries).More than half of the injuries were burns. Burns were the most common injury to all body parts except the eyes and head areas, where contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies in the eye occurred more frequently. Fireworks can be associated with blindness, third degree burns, and permanent scarring. Fireworks can also cause life-threatening residential and motor vehicle fires.




What types of fireworks are associated with most injuries? Between June 16 and July 16, 2006:Firecrackers were associated with the greatest number of estimated injuries at 1,300. There were 1,000 injuries associated with sparklers and 800 associated with rockets. Sparklers accounted for one-third of the injuries to children less than 5 years of age. Between 2000-2005, more than one-third of the fireworks-related deaths involved professional devices that were illegally sold to consumers.



How and why do these injuries occur? Availability: In spite of federal regulations and varying state prohibitions, many types of fireworks are still accessible to the public. Distributors often sell fireworks near state borders, where laws prohibiting sales on either side of the border may differ.



Fireworks type: Among the various types of fireworks, some of which are sold legally in some states, bottle rockets can fly into peoples' faces and cause eye injuries; sparklers can ignite clothing (sparklers burn at more than 1,000°F); and firecrackers can injure the hands or face if they explode at close range.
Being too close: Injuries may result from being too close to fireworks when they explode; for example, when someone leans over to look more closely at a firework that has been ignited, or when a misguided bottle rocket hits a nearby person.
Lack of physical coordination: Younger children often lack the physical coordination to handle fireworks safely. Curiosity: Children are often excited and curious around fireworks, which can increase their chances of being injured (for example, when they re-examine a firecracker dud that initially fails to ignite).




What is the annual cost of fireworks-related injuries? An estimated 2,200 reported structure or vehicle fires were started by fireworks in 2004. These fires resulted in $21 million in direct property damage.

Brief Report: Injuries Associated with Homemade Fireworks --- Selected States, 1993--2004

Fireworks Related Injuries