Home Defibrillators Without a Prescription
Patients may soon be able to buy defibrillators without a prescription, according to government advisors. Philips Medical Systems recently asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve over-the-counter home defibrillators.
The FDA asked panel advisors to debate the issue, but there was no vote to grant the request for over-the-counter sales. The consensus, however, was that a prescription for easy-to-use devices did not add much value.
Last fall, a study revealed that having portable defibrillators in airports and other public places may double the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest.
Triptans Can Prevent Menstrual Migraine
Women who suffer from menstrual migraines, which can develop between 2 days before and 4 days after the onset of menses, may now find relief by taking one of the newer trip-tan drugs-frovatriptan (Frova). Women who took the drug a few days before they would normally get a menstrual migraine suffered fewer migraines during their periods. For women who did get a migraine, the symptoms were less severe and did not last as long, according to the July issue of Neurology.
The researchers recommended that women who opt to take frovatriptan should start the treatment 2 days before they expect to get their period and continue for 6 or 7 days.
Asthmatics Breathe Easier with Biofeedback
The August issue of Chest notes that in a study, asthma patients could reduce their use of inhaled steroids by using biofeedback. Using biofeedback, body functions are controlled with the help of electronic monitoring devices.
The study included 94 people with moderate, persistent asthma divided into four groups: heart rate variability (HRV) feedback and training in pursed-lips abdominal breathing; HRV feedback alone; placebo feedback procedure; and no treatment. The first three groups received 10 weekly biofeedback sessions and practiced at home for 20 minutes, twice a day.
The two HRV biofeedback groups significantly reduced their use of inhaled steroids and reduced their asthma severity from moderate to mild persistent asthma. The placebo group also showed improvement in asthma symptoms, but did not show any improvement in pulmonary function or use of medication and did not show changes in asthma severity, medication use, or symptoms.