Category: Medical Mondays

It’s Time To Get Vaccinated Against The Flu!

The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) tells us 20% of Americans get the “flu” (influenza) every year.

Over 200,000 people are hospitalized every year from the flu.

Anywhere from 3,000 to 49,000 deaths each year are flu related.

Getting a flu shot is the first and most important step to protect you from the flu.

Your protection begins within two weeks of getting the flu shot.

Getting the flu shot does not cause the flu!

Who should get a flu shot?

  • Everyone 6 months or older.
  • Those at high risk to develop serious complications from the flu, young children less then 5 years and especially less than 2 years, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
  • Health care workers and people who care for high risk people.
  • People who care for children less than 6 months of age.

What are the types of vaccines?

  • Traditional flu vaccine made up of flu virus particles of two types of A and one type of B flu.
  • High dose flu vaccine, same particles but in higher dose for people 65 and older.
  • Intradermal flu vaccine, same particles but different delivery method just under the skin for people 18 to 64 years old.
  • Nasal spray flu vaccine with a “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine” (LAIV) for people 2 to 49 years old.

So get your flu shot today to protect you from the flu this season which lasts usually from October until May.

Acupuncture more common for treating pain, other ailments

You may soon see a few needles next to your doctor’s stethoscope. The ancient art of acupuncture is gaining respect among western doctors who in the past haven’t recognized it as a legitimate medical practice.

New research analyzing a series of studies on more than 18,000 adult patients shows acupuncture actually worked better than other types of pain therapy on several conditions from headaches to arthritis.

Dr. Randall Snook of Advanced Integrative Medicine in Lone Tree says adding acupuncture is yielding successful results in patients who suffer from neck pain and other ailments. “There’s been evidence it can treat diabetes to a certain extent by activating the pancreas and the liver system and we’ve seen lowered blood pressure with it.”

Dr. Snook has also used acupuncture to successfully treat infertility problems.

Even the U.S. military is using acupuncture to help treat pain from war wounds and some states, like California, are expected to push for acupuncture coverage in health insurance plans.

Some private insurance plans already cover acupuncture but Medicare does not.

If you want to read more about the latest studies on acupuncture you can visit archinte.jamanetwork.com

The Heat Is On! What To Be Aware Of To Avoid Heat Exhaustion And Heat Stroke

Heat Cramps (the mildest condition) can lead to Heat Exhaustion which can lead to Heat Stroke (which if severe can be a life threatening condition!).

Who is at risk:

  • The very young less than 4 years old.
  • Older adults more than 65 years old with chronic illnesses and/or on medications.
  • Any person on certain medications or taking illicit drugs or drinking excess alcohol.
  • Obese individuals.
  • Those exposed to a sudden temperature change, “heat waves” or travel to a hot climate.

Causes:

  • High temperatures.
  • High humidity.
  • Strenuous activity.
  • Dehydration.
  • Alcohol consumption.
  • Overdressing.

Signs and symptoms:

  • Body temperature of 104 degrees F or higher–seek immediate medical attention! This is Heat Stroke!
  • “Goose bumps” and cool moist skin even in the heat.
  • Heavy sweating.
  • Faintness, dizziness, nausea, headache and muscle cramps.
  • Rapid pulse and low blood pressure.

Treatment:

  • Stop all activity and rest in a cool place.
  • Drink cool fluids.
  • Apply cool water or mist to skin.
  • Loosen or remove extra clothing.
  • If you do not feel better within 60 minutes or your temperature reaches 104 degrees F, Seek Immediate Medical Attention!

Prevention:

  • Wear loose, light weight, light colored clothing.
  • Avoid getting sunburned with a hat and sunscreen.
  • Seek cooler places and avoid strenuous activity or exercise in hot humid environments.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Avoid hot spots, hot parked car or un-shaded areas. If new to a hot area try to acclimate before going out in the heat for long periods of time.

So make sure you plan ahead when leaving the house on a hot day and recognize when you might be starting to overheat and take action!

Reality Weight-Loss TV, Is This Degree Of Weight Loss Possible For The Rest Of Us?

Super intensive exercise-based weight loss programs shed pounds and reduce the risk (and sometimes cure) diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol.

But is this intense of a program, as seen on ‘The Biggest Loser’, practical for the obese patient who presents to their Primary Care Doctor?

This reality TV exercise-centric program with only minor dietary restrictions resulted in a mean weight loss of 36% of starting body weight at 29 weeks.

The current belief of experts in this country is to recommend an attainable weight loss goal of only 5-10% for patients presenting to their Doctor for help.

After analyzing the results of 35 contestants from the show that elevated their usual work out times of 20 minutes per day to work outs consuming 3.7 hours per day the results are impressive:

  • 50% of the participants were prediabetic or diabetic at baseline and by 5 weeks all criteria for this had disappeared.
  • 77% were hypertensive (high blood pressure) and 46% on antihypertensive medications and by week 2 all participants were off the medications and normal blood pressures.
  • A mean weight loss of 51.8 kg (109 pounds) from baseline was seen at 29 weeks.

Contestants on the show received multidisciplinary support that is far from reality for the average obese American.

There is not a system in this country that can duplicate what is done on this ‘reality show’.

Can we afford this “Team” approach in the US? Or can we afford not to create a “Team” of allied health professionals to stop an epidemic of obesity that carries the biggest price tag of any other health condition.

There needs to be the development, implementation, and payer coverage of aggressive exercise-centric programs ‘as seen on TV’.

How can you start helping yourself before this “Team” is a reality?

  • Partner up with others to commit to daily exercise. There is always better success in numbers. Make it intense exercise.
  • Calorie count by showing accountability for everything you eat to maintain a reduced calorie diet. Always have calories in less than calories out. No processed foods.
  • Set weight loss goals that are challenging but realistic.
  • Be disciplined. This should be a permanent lifestyle change, not a temporary commitment.
  • Consult your Physician and have regular follow up appointments to assess your success and deal with injuries or issues that arise.

Would You Be Able To Perform CPR If Someone Needed It?

Why learn CPR?

I recently had a very eye opening experience in my own home that has prompted me to make the suggestion that everyone learn CPR.

Julie and my three daughters and I were at the end of the evening at home in our living area and were about to head up to bed when my youngest daughter Maddie, 9 years old, was sort of doing a jumping act on the ottoman of a sofa chair. She turned to me and said “watch Dad I can do it blind folded” and she proceeded to cover her head and body with a blanket. As she spring boarded off the ottoman to the chair she misjudged the angle and hit her chest very hard directly on the solid arm of the chair.

It obviously not only scared her, but hurt. She immediately came over to me and started screaming in front of me but then, suddenly she had all the wind leave her, shuttered, and then passed out completely. She was not breathing nor conscious. My first reaction was to lie her on the floor and I did this. She was lifeless and still not breathing and my wife Julie said she was gray. I immediately started CPR and felt for and found a pulse but she was still not breathing. I did a sternal rub to arouse her but this did not work and I started to give her a couple breaths to get her lungs inflated. After what seemed like an eternity, but I am sure it was only a minute, she suddenly started breathing and came to, and started crying.

Part of what is significant about this is that all the others in the room, my wife, two other daughters Kaylyn, 18, Bri, 16, all panicked. I told them to call 911 and it was as though their brains froze because of what the were seeing, their daughter/sister possibly dying. My wife Julie has had the certification for CPR just this year, and I have seen her react well in emergencies, but was incapacitated with fear, probably because it was her daughter dying right in front of her. I think she also trusted I knew what to do. The other two started freaking out and crying.

I am not telling this to you to make myself look good, I have had to perform CPR/ACLS over the course of my 22 year career many times, but to elucidate that had I NOT been a Doctor, my daughters and wife could have potentially been unable to help Maddie and she could have died. I just don’t know what would have been the result. Maddie has completely recovered.

Statistics reveal 70% of Americans feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they have never been trained to perform CPR.

Out of 383,000 out of hospital annual cardiac arrests, 88% occur in the home.

Many victims appear healthy and with no known heart disease or heart complications.

Failure to act in a cardiac emergency can lead to unnecessary deaths.

Effective bystander CPR provided immediately after a sudden cardiac arrest can triple the victim’s chance of survival.

Only 32% of cardiac victims get CPR from a bystander.

Sadly, only 7 to 10% of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive.

Overview of Emergency Response:

  • Be sure to get CPR training that includes skills practiced with a mannequin.
  • Be sure to get CPR training for infants and children as well as adults.
  • Always call 911 for the Emergency Medical Services.
  • Get Effective AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) training for use on adults, children and infants.
  • Always remember: your safety and the safety of the bystanders come first, check the area for hazards.

Overview of CPR:

  • Be aware of hazards and check the area for scene safety.
  • Check the unconscious victim for normal breathing.
  • Have someone call 911 for help and bring back an AED if available.
  • Begin CPR using the CAB sequence. C is Compressions, A is Airway, and B is Breaths.
  • Continue care until advanced help arrives (EMS) or the victim begins to breathe again on their own.

For more information and how to get your training in CPR go to CPRColorado.com or call 888-733-9990 or 303-818-3737.