Throwing an off switch for a big itch

In the 1955 Billy Wilder film "The Seven Year Itch," The Girl (Marilyn Monroe) and her neighbor Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell) take a stroll in NY...

Throwing an off switch for a big itch

In the 1955 Billy Wilder film "The Seven Year Itch," The Girl (Marilyn Monroe) and her neighbor Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell) take a stroll in NYC. As she walks over a subway grate, a train passes below, blowing her skirt up, sparking Sherman's fantasies. He's been married for seven years, and his urge to stray is dubbed "the seven-year itch." The film is a comedy, so (spoiler alert) no harm, no foul. But if you're one of the 25 percent of American adults who've had to deal with a persistent itch, called pruritus, you know it's nothing to laugh at.

Scratching the Surface: Pruritus can alert you to severely dry and aging skin, an allergy (dermatitis) or troublesome immune response (psoriasis), certain cancers and even kidney problems. That's why it's important to ID the cause.

-For dermatitis and psoriasis, try antihistamines, UV light therapy and/or topical compounds such as corticosteroid ointments; for dry skin, avoid harsh soaps and use lotions regularly.

-If it's kidney-disease-related, gabapentin and pregabalin (used to treat epilepsy and neuropathic pain) may help. Also, talk to your doc about foods to avoid.

-Cancer-related itching may result from infection or jaundice, or the tumors themselves. It can be treated with antihistamines, steroids, antidepressants and alternative, stress-reduction therapies.

Breaking News: There may be a way to turn off the itch sensation altogether! Chinese scientists isolated itch-processing neurons in the spinal cord and, in the lab, have been able to interrupt the pathway that triggers "itch-induced scratching behavior." Targeted therapy is under development.

© 2017 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

When apologies backfire

Last April, when United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz issued apology after apology for the forcible ejection of Dr. David Dao from a flight he was seated on, the repeated m...

When apologies backfire

Last April, when United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz issued apology after apology for the forcible ejection of Dr. David Dao from a flight he was seated on, the repeated mea culpas did nothing to quiet public reaction to the incident. Social media lit up with outrage at the inadequate responses, and millions viewed various videos of the incident on YouTube.

That wouldn't have surprised researchers who recently published a study in Frontiers in Psychology. They found that apologies are not the most effective way to ease someone's damaged feelings when you have turned down or rejected them.

The researchers conducted a series of experiments with around 1,000 people. In one scenario, people shown rejection letters found the ones containing apologies to be more hurtful. In another, researchers told people that they were being rejected from a hot-sauce-tasting event, but allowed those barred from the activity to decide how much hot sauce participants had to eat. Those who had received apologies ("I'm sorry, I don't want to work with you.") took more revenge on the hot-sauce qualifiers.

So next time you have to reject (or eject) someone romantically, professionally or socially, explain your reasoning and be friendly and polite. Accept responsibility for your action. But don't say, "I'm sorry." That will just make the rejection sting more and put you in the hot seat. Save "I'm sorry," for when you are in the wrong and need to make sincere amends, but don't ask for forgiveness - that's not up to you. Then it works wonders.

© 2017 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

What to do when you see a seizure

What do actor Danny Glover, President Theodore Roosevelt and singer Neil Young have in common? All of them have or had epilepsy, disturbances in the brain's ...

What to do when you see a seizure

What do actor Danny Glover, President Theodore Roosevelt and singer Neil Young have in common? All of them have or had epilepsy, disturbances in the brain's electrical activity that lead to recurring seizures.

An estimated 10 percent of Americans will have or have had a seizure at some point in their lifetime. Would you know what to do if you saw someone having a seizure?

Sometimes the only symptoms are that the person suddenly has a blank look accompanied by facial twitching. You should calmly guide the person to a safe, quiet place. If he or she is agitated, speak calmly. Call 911.

Some seizures are more active: A person having what's called a generalized seizure may cry out, fall, jerk and become unaware of his or her surroundings. Some forms may interfere with regular breathing. The person may collapse suddenly. Incontinence can happen. Here's what to do:

-Turn the person on his or her side to help breathing. Loosen anything around the neck.

-Put something soft under the person's head.

-Remove glasses if wearing, and any other nearby objects.

-Call 911 and seek medical help.

-Do NOT put your fingers or anything else in the person's mouth. Contrary to popular belief, you can't swallow your tongue.

-Do NOT try to restrain the person.

There are also nonepileptic seizures that can happen when a drop in blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat or very low blood sugar causes sudden changes in blood flow or glucose and oxygen supply to the brain. Call 911 immediately.

© 2017 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.