Archive 2007 2008 2009 2010

Q: I’ve heard that duct tape can cure plantar warts. Is there any real evidence for this? C.R., VIA THE INTERNET

A: There have been lots of anecdotes about the effectiveness of the tape. Recently, a small study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine tested the tape as a treatment for a variety of warts, and found some benefit. Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus; plantar merely refers to the location—on the bottom of the foot.

The study compared duct tape to standard cryotherapy (freezing) in people aged 3 to 22 who had warts on their fingers, palms, heels, or soles. They covered the area just around the wart and left the tape on for six days; then they soaked the area in water and used an emery board or pumice stone to scrape the wart; after 12 hours they put on a new piece of tape for another six days. This went on for two months or until the wart was gone. About 85% of those using the tape got rid of their warts, versus 60% of the cryotherapy group. Presumably the tape irritates the wart and surrounding skin and prompts the immune system to respond.

The researchers concluded that duct tape is promising, practical, inexpensive, and safe. There was no follow-up, so we don’t know if the warts came back. Any type of waterproof tape may do the job.

It’s hard to evaluate wart remedies because, if the wart does go away, you can never be sure why. Warts frequently vanish without treatment. Thus, wart lore is tre-mendous. Everything seems to work, at least sometimes. Lemon juice, garlic, baking soda, castor oil, hypnosis, and chicken gizzards all have their advocates.

Note: Warts in the genital area are another matter. Though caused by a different strain of the same virus as the more benign variety, they don’t just vanish. They are highly contagious via sexual contact and may be a risk factor for some cancers. If you have any type of growth in the genital area, don’t try to treat it yourself. See your doctor right away.

Q: Will taking low-dose aspirin increase the risk of macular degeneration or make it worse, by causing bleeding in the retina? N.P., SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK

A: Some websites make this claim, but studies have found that aspirin does not increase the risk of this eye disease or make it worse if you have it. To counter the rumors, some reputable eye-care websites reassure people that they can take aspirin to protect their hearts without endangering their vision.

In fact, aspirin might actually reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Researchers have found a link between cardiovascular disease and its risk factors (such as high blood pressure and cholesterol) and macular degeneration. Thus, drugs that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as low-dose aspirin, could be beneficial. The Physicians Health Study at Harvard did suggest that aspirin may have a small protective effect against macular degeneration, especially in men with high blood pressure, but concluded that more research was needed.

Q: When I’m in a sauna my pulse rises from my normal resting rate of 50 to about 120. Does this increase provide the same cardiovascular benefits as exercise? H.F., EATONVILLE, WASHINGTON

A: No. Sitting in a sauna or steam room won’t make you fit. It makes your heart beat faster, pumping extra blood to the skin to increase sweat production and dissipate heat. But it involves no aerobic activity, so there’s no cardiovascular fitness benefit.

Nor will it promote weight loss. These heat treatments remove water and salt from the body, losses that are quickly regained.

A sauna can be hazardous for those with heart disease, though this depends on how hot the room is and how long you’re in it. Extreme heat has a drastic effect on your body: within 10 minutes it can cause your heart rate to double and your blood pressure to drop precipitously. That can be a dangerous scenario if you have a heart condition or are taking blood pressure medication. Even if you’re healthy, staying too long in a sauna can cause fainting.

More hot air: Despite claims you may hear, a sauna or steam room won’t cleanse your skin or remove "toxins" or "impurities" from the body. The heat does enhance blood flow near the skin’s surface and may thereby give you a "healthy glow," but the sweating won’t cleanse the body of bacteria as effectively as a warm shower with soap.

Q: Are banana chips nutritious? T.P, VIA THE INTERNET

A: Nutritionally, they’re closer to potato chips than to bananas or dried fruit. One ounce has about 150 calories, nearly 10 grams of fat, and often lots of sugar. The fat comes from the oil (usually coconut) in which the chips were deep-fried. Sugar is usually added, since the chips are made from bananas that are picked green, before the starch turns to sugar (unsweetened chips would have little flavor). Banana chips do contain a modest amount of potassium and a few other minerals, but nothing to brag about.

This shouldn’t spoil your image of dried fruits, such as apricots, apples, or prunes, which are not fried. These are nutritious, low-fat (though high-calorie) snacks.

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, April 2004