Articles

DocHandal’s First Aid Kit Checklist

Every home, office and car should have a first aid kit. Make sure everyone knows where it is and what it contains. Below is the First Aid Kit Checklist found in my Doc’s First Aide Guide. You can use it to make your own kit, using a small tool box or plastic airtight container. Make sure the kit is clearly labeled. Restock it after using and check it ...
Read More

Test On Blood- In A Nutshell

It’s impossible to explain every blood analysis test, within in the context of this article. This is a quick overview of the most common ordered blood tests to give you an idea of the information they can reveal. Diagnostic tests are not always positive or negative. ALL results must always be evaluated in the context of what was abnormal in your medical examination and why the test was ...
Read More

MEDICINE CABINET CHECKLIST

A well-stocked medicine cabinet will also come in handy in a medical emergency.  If you call your doctor’s office or insurance company for guidance you may be advised to start treatment at home. Here is a list of items that should be kept in your medicine cabinet, out of reach of young children, of course. Remember to ask about allergies if you are giving someone any medication! Acetaminophen (Tylenol for ...
Read More

Radiation Guide

Some people are concerned about radiation exposure. While an imaging study is generally safe, it is not entirely without risk---and not always needed to make a diagnosis. Your doctor will weigh the risks of the study against the benefits it will provide. For example, if a young man presents with the typical signs and symptoms of appendicitis, a CT of the abdomen is not necessary to make the ...
Read More

Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA)

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways, which carry air to and from your lungs. This inflammation makes airways sensitive and prone to overreact when exposed to certain allergens or environmental factors called triggers. When faced with a trigger, muscles around the airways contract. The airways narrow, become more swollen, and in doing so produce excess mucus. You can do the math –the result is less air ...
Read More

Deciphering Medical Jargon

Excerpt from "Your ER Survival Guide" written by Doc Handal (available estore) Like any other area of work, the ER has its own language, often comprised of abbreviations used to save time and space---something like texting.  For example, saying someone is “SOB” does not mean the same as it does in the street:  “SOB” in the medical world stands for short of breath.  As part of your inside ...
Read More

Taking Medication Using Medical Sense

  Otherwise it will not help you, so please consider: Always unless specifically stated take pills with 8 oz of water Read carefully if should be taken on an empty stomach or with a meal. Always aim to take medication at same time of each day. Read storage information, typically the storage environment should be between 20° and 25°C (68° to 77°F), but it can vary between 15° ...
Read More

H1N1-What You Need To Know

 Forearmed you can break the chain of spread! H1N1 is the ‘novel’ virus that was responsible for the ‘swine flu’ outbreak earlier this year. It is a subtype of Influenza A but not following the ‘rules’-what this means is that the screening test done in the doctor’s office and the emergency department may test negative and you can have H1N1. Accurate presence of H1N1 can only be determined ...
Read More