Worth a look

FDA warning on topicals

The Food and Drug Administration is warning patients and health-care providers about the hazards of using skin-numbing products that contain topical anesthetics before cosmetic procedures, without the supervision of a trained health professional.

They're commonly used as a way to numb skin before cosmetic and medical procedures and to relieve pain, burning and itching due to various medical conditions.

The problem is some patients may apply too much, which can cause life-threatening side effects and even death. If such skin-numbing products are recommended for a procedure, consumers need to make sure the item is approved by the FDA, that it uses the lowest amount of anesthetic drugs possible that will relieve pain and it is administered according to a doctor's instructions on how to use it safely.

If in doubt, check it out

It's not always easy to tell the difference between symptoms of heartburn, angina and heart attack, according to Dr. Prediman K. (P.K.) Shah, director of the Division of Cardiology and the Atherosclerosis Research Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who says when in doubt, check it out.

First, he says in a press release, you should know if you have risk factors that predispose you to a heart attack, including smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, excess weight or a strong family history. Heart-attack symptoms include the sudden onset of tightness, pressure, squeezing, burning or discomfort in the chest, throat, neck or either arm. It's especially suspicious if the symptoms are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, shortness of breath or a fainting sensation.

Angina, the most common symptom of coronary heart disease, is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle doesn't get enough blood. The pain may be felt in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back, and may also feel like indigestion. He tells people to call 911 if they're unsure. "Overreact instead of underreact," he advises.

Heartburn can resemble a heart attack. If you've experienced it all your life and this time is no different, it's probably heartburn. But if it's different or you feel light-headed or sweaty, it may not be heartburn.

And some types of heart disease can be life-threatening without triggering chest pain, he says, so have a regular checkup starting around age 45 or before beginning a heavy exercise program.

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