Certain bacteria in aquariums can cause skin infections, but these infections may go undiagnosed by doctors, according to a new study.


Researchers from the Henry Ford Hospital identified five patients who had skin infection by Mycobacterium marinum that occurred between January 2003 and March 2013 at Henry Ford Hospital. M. marinum infection can occur if you have an open wound and you come into contact with contaminated aquarium water. Researchers looked at the medical records of these patients to see how long it took before they finally received the right treatment.


On average, 161 days passed between the time the skin lesions first appeared and the time it took to have the lesions treated (with the shortest amount of time until proper treatment[1] being 33 days, and the longest being 379 days). Researchers found that two of the patients first received antifungal medications before even getting the right antibiotics. Plus, they observed that the incubation time for the infection -- meaning the time between when skin lesions actually appeared, and the initial infection -- was long, ranging from 11 to 56 days.


Fortunately, M. marinum is not considered life-threatening. However, doctors should keep in mind that aquariums could be a potential source of infection if their patients present with skin lesions.


"To accelerate diagnosis and treatment, physicians are encouraged to ask detailed questions about the patient's history, especially questions about potential exposure to aquariums[2] ," study researcher George Alangaden, M.D., an infectious diseases doctor at Henry Ford, said in a statement.


The new study has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal; it was presented at the Infectious Diseases Society of America's annual meeting.


A fact sheet on the bacteria from Iowa State University explains how M. marinum infection usually manifests[3] :


Signs of disease involve localized skin lesions, usually on the fingers or hands. They may be single nodule or ulcer or a series of multiple nodules. Skin lesions can heal on their own or persist for months. Less commonly the bacteria can spread in the body and cause joint and bone infections. Death is rare but occasionally occurs, most often in persons with weakened immune systems.


The same fact sheet notes that the best way to prevent infection by M. marinum is to avoid having contact with aquarium water or aquarium fish. If you must touch aquarium water, wear gloves when handling the water[4] or the fish, and then wash your hands immediately afterward.



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    Try to schedule regular meet-ups with friends, whether it's a book club or poker -- it doesn't matter. (No need to make it exercise-based, although that's nice too.)

    Just connecting with other people, and maintaining those social networks as you age, is good for your health.




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    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/xxxlps/4897705884/" target="_hplink">Lauren Powell-Smothers</a></em>




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    More is not better when it comes to vitamins and supplements, and too much of a good thing can actually be harmful.

    In 2011, an analysis of data on nearly 40,000 women found that those who took dietary supplements -- especially iron -- were actually at slightly higher risk of dying, although the investigators weren't sure why. "There's no really long-term studies that show unequivocal benefits of taking vitamin and mineral supplements," says Rogg. "If you're going to take supplements, take them in moderation and stick to the recommended daily doses."

    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/superfantastic/4016241122/" target="_hplink">SuperFantastic</a></em>




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    As with vitamins and minerals, more does not always mean better when it comes to medical tests. Especially tests marketed directly to consumers, like the cardiac calcium-scoring test. While this test -- a CT scan that identifies calcium deposits in the heart arteries -- is useful for a select group of at-risk people, it isn't for everyone, says Rogg. It also exposes you to a whopping amount of radiation -- the equivalent of 25 to 50 chest X-rays.

    Several U.S. medical specialty groups have launched an initiative, Choosing Wisely, to draw attention to overuse of 45 medical tests, and encourage physicians to avoid tests and procedures of questionable benefit.




  • You Beg For Antibiotics


    Many people ask their doctor for a prescription for antibiotics or antivirals for symptoms that probably would resolve on their own, or just because they fear getting sick.

    And some doctors may oblige. But these drugs also carry risks, from contributing to the huge problem of drug resistance to killing off the good bacteria in your body. Let your doctor decide if your symptoms warrant medication, and skip the high-pressure tactics.




  • You're A Germaphobe


    We all know people who never leave the house without their hand sanitizer -- you may even be that person. And yes, you should wash your hands with soap and water to kill germs that can make you sick.

    But evidence also suggests that some germ exposure could steer the immune system away from allergies, and that an <em>overly</em> sterile environment might be bad. (It's called the hygiene hypothesis.) Good bacteria are also key for staying healthy, particularly for the skin, digestive tract, and vagina. So "fear of germs" does not equal "good health."

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    Once upon a time, it was hard to get the medical establishment to recognize that acupuncture, herbal remedies or biofeedback could sometimes heal people as well as big-name drugs.

    Now we know that if you dismiss acupuncture as "quackery," you may be missing out on your best therapy yet. At the same time, if you over-rely on alternative medicine -- opting for a herbal remedies instead of chemotherapy, for instance -- you may also be missing out on the best cure yet.

    Try to keep an open mind and consult the experts to make informed choices.




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    You're healthy, so that crushing chest pain has to be heartburn, right? Or weakness and confusion can't be a stroke, right?

    Wrong. All too often, people stall or explain away serious symptoms, when in fact, rapid treatment can help prevent permanent heart or brain damage.

    Doctors say "time is tissue," meaning the faster you get treatment for a stroke or heart attack the less heart or brain tissue you lose. So don't delay if you have stroke or heart attack symptoms.




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    Regular exercise is crucial for health and maintaining a healthy weight, but it won't help you lose weight unless you cut down your calorie intake.

    "Patients exercise themselves until they're blue in the face, they're frustrated, they're sort of at a loss as to why they haven't had success," says Shantanu Nundy, M.D., a primary care physician at the University of Chicago. But the truth is that exercise -- maybe because it whets the appetite, maybe because we decide it's OK to reward ourselves with a treat after that workout, maybe both -- often makes people eat more, which means you'll make up for the calories you just burned, and then some.




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    You watch your calories. You avoid meals dripping with saturated fat. But sodium? All too often that's the ingredient that gets ignored when weighing healthy options.

    High sodium intake has been firmly tied to an increased risk of high blood pressure, and the average American eats well over the recommended amount. Most of the excess sodium we consume comes from packaged and prepared foods, from spaghetti sauce to frozen dinners. Always check nutrition labels for sodium content; the Institute of Medicine recommends people limit their intake to below 2,300 milligrams per day, and 1,500 milligrams for people 51 and older, African Americans, and anyone with high blood pressure or diabetes.




  • You Guzzle Calorie-Free Soda


    Artificially sweetened beverages may free of calories, but it doesn't mean they're all that great for your health.

    A couple of studies released at the 2011 American Diabetes Association's annual meeting suggest just the opposite. One found that older people who drank lots of diet soda saw their waistlines expand five times more over a decade than their peers who didn't drink diet soda at all, while another showed that mice fed the artificial sweetener aspartame had higher blood-sugar levels.

    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31064702@N05/4521255107/" target="_hplink">Dawn Huczek</a></em>




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    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44534236@N00/4785580080/" target="_hplink">faungg</a></em>




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    "I think a common mistake is to sort of put more faith in those resources than health care professionals," says Nundy, the author of "Stay Healthy at Every Age: What Your Doctor Wants You to Know".

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    Low fat is another tricky claim. The FDA does have clear guidelines on when a product can claim to be low- or reduced-fat, but these products may still be high in sugar, sodium, or calories -- or all of the above.




  • You Exercise Too Much


    Pushing yourself is usually a good thing when it comes to physical activity. But your body needs rest, too, especially after an extra-hard workout. Signs that you are working out too hard can be mental and physical, and include fatigue, difficulty sleeping, decreased immunity, muscle soreness, and injury. To keep your workout fresh -- and avoid overuse injuries -- it's a good idea to vary your routine, and give yourself a day off now and then. "Sometimes, just sitting back and relaxing is better for your body than going to the gym for that hour," says Rogg.




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    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/5428918190/" target="_hplink">USDAgov</a></em>




  • You Obsess Over The Details


    Health shouldn't be seen as something to strive for, but as a way of life, Rogg says. "When you focus on keeping healthy as an endpoint, as opposed to a healthy lifestyle, you may tend to sort of miss the whole picture."

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    Recommendations for adult vaccine coverage vary based on age, health, where you travel and what you're exposed to, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an annual flu shot for everyone, and a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis booster every 10 years for adults. Check out the full list of recommended vaccines for adults.

    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/christopherbrown/6333328398/" target="_hplink">christopher_brown</a></em>




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    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwynia/126370548/" target="_hplink">J Wynia</a></em>




  • You Avoid Doctors In General


    You know you should eat better, exercise, lose weight, quit smoking -- what more can a doctor do to help? A lot, says Nundy. Studies have shown people have a better chance of trying to quit smoking, and succeeding, when a doctor advises them to do so. Doctors can also prescribe medications that can greatly increase quitting success. And while there's unfortunately no safe pill to help people lose weight, a doctor's advice can give you a better chance of succeeding in trimming down as well, Nundy says.




  • You Don't Read Nutrition Labels


    A nutrition label -- which contains information on a food's calories, sugar, fat, and sodium content -- will tell you the real story about whether those "natural" or "low-fat" foods are actually good for you.

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  • You Think High-Tech Health Care Is Enough


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    So don't think the gee-whiz medical techniques of the future are going to cure you down the road, but do take a day off to get a good old-fashioned checkup. "There's no substitute for prevention," he says. "We have lots of pounds of cures, but they're not perfect."




  • You Don't Have A Primary Care Doctor


    "A lot of people don't really have a relationship with a primary care physician or a health care facility," says Nundy. "I think that's a huge mistake."

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  • You Skip Checkups


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  • You're Clueless About Health Records


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    <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsaint/2987926396/" target="_hplink">Rennett Stowe</a></em>