San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Touchless thermometers considered reasonably accurate
Q: Whenever I go to the doctor’s office, a nurse weighs me, takes my temperature and measures my blood pressure. These days, I really do not like them sticking a thermometer undermy tongue, even in its little plastic sleeve. How reliable are the touchless devices I have seen on television news reports? Are they available to consumers?
A: The devices you are referring to are called noncontact infrared thermometers (NCITs). They detect infrared radiation coming off the human body and turn it into a digital signal.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of infrared thermal scanners was recently published in the Journal of Travel Medicine (Oct. 10, 2020). The authors reviewed 30 studies from 15 countries and concluded that handheld infrared thermometers were reasonably accurate and can safely be used for screening. They are not as good for babies and may not be as precise as oral thermometers. There are many brands of infrared thermometers available online or in pharmacies for around $30.
Don’t rely on temperature alone, though, to detect COVID-19. People can spread the coronavirus before they have a fever or other symptoms.
Q: I am a healthy “young senior” (66). When I get my flu shot this year, do I need to get
the super double dose for seniors?
A: A study thatwas recently presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions (Nov. 17, 2020) compared high-dose with standarddose flu vaccine. The participants were at especially high risk for influenza complications because they had heart disease.
The randomized controlled study involving 5,260 volunteers lasted three years.
The authors reported that the “higher dose influenza vaccine was not more effective than the standard dose in lowering the risk of death or hospitalizations from heart or lung-related illnesses.”
Q: After I read on your website that lisinopril could cause hand tremors, I asked my doctor to change my blood pressure medication. I had been on HCTZ/lisinopril for at least 10 years. She said she hadn’t heard of any connection between the two and suggested I see a neurologist. I said, let’s try changing my medication first.
She increased my HCTZ to 25 mg. I took no other medication. Within three days, my hand tremors were essentially gone. I
was able to polish my own fingernails. Thank you for bringing this information forward.
A: A dry cough is the most common complication of ACE inhibitors like lisinopril. We’re not surprised that your doctor was unaware of tremor as a side effect. Most electronic drug databases that physicians rely on don’t list this adverse reaction.
We too were unaware of it until a reader reported hand tremor associated with lisinopril. When we checked the Food and Drug Administration-approved prescribing information, we found that tremor is a recognized reaction, though it is considered rare.
It’s good that you have found that the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) alone is effective for you. Keeping blood pressure under control is important to protect your heart and your brain. You can learn more about the pros and cons of antihypertensive drugs from our eGuide to Blood Pressure Solutions. There are also recommendations on accurate BP measuring devices. It is available in the Health eGuides section at PeoplesPharmacy.com.