Holiday Health Tips

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No shopping info here, just a few thoughts on healthy actions you need to take, especially during the holidays.

First, allow time for yourself; don’t overstretch yourself. You’re not a superhuman. If you are feeling stressed, this cannot be good; remove yourself from the situation. Remember, you do not stay well pushing yourself to the limit.

At times, all you need is someone to talk to. I hope you have an empathetic friend or family member who can decrease your stress. Not reducing stress will put your health at significant risk.

It is especially helpful during the holidays to set some boundaries. I’m telling you to say no at times, as you can’t say yes to every request and invitation or you’ll be exhausted and overwhelmed. Saying no to something allows you to say yes to other things that may make you happier. If you think someone around you is toxic, get away from them.

It is always healthy, and especially during “the season”, to set aside 15 to 30 minutes a day for exercise.

Many of us volunteer during the holidays; helping others, especially those who need assistance, will make you happier. Trust me, it is well worth pursuing friends, family and groups that have needs. You will have a pleasant, non-stressful interlude helping folks in your community.

Lastly, be realistic; aiming for perfection sets you up for failure. Don’t sweat the small stuff, as they say.
Joyous Holidays!

Holiday Party Survival – Mobile Hydration

img_0012It is true where there is a need a business will grow! Have a ‘HUNGOVR’ – the license plate of a recent find. No surprise medical personnel far from venture capital start-up groups have recognized the realities of the season and taken it to their pockets!

In traffic I found myself behind this vehicle, amazed and thinking the ER will have less patients this holiday season!

Someone smart had ID’ed (perhaps from their suffering) how to meet the most common need of partygoers. The premise being ‘tune up, party more’ I guess? The display shows an AZ firefighter logo – no surprise paramedics start IVs all the time. Marketing well, they list for all to see, the likely hood of needing mobile hydration. No longer a need to leave the party for the ER.

However, they do not stop with one angle – partygoers they target weddings sports events and any ‘illness’. If you want vitamins and other known medications (ex. for nausea) they can be added- yes for a price! The packages have cool names- ‘super nova’, ‘rock star’, ‘shooting star’ and ‘rising star’ to name a few.

This economic is spurring new businesses!

Sobriety MEETS Technology

Screen Shot 2016-07-27 at 11.29.50 AMNearly 88,000 people die each year from alcohol-related deaths, making this the fourth leading “preventable” cause of death in the United States.

Recovery programs are now making use of remote medical monitoring; the adage “longer monitored, longer sober” here applies.

It’s no surprise that the FDA has cleared a remote monitoring device for managing patients. Soberlink connects with real-time blood alcohol content (BAC) testing. The device recognizes your face, analyzes your breath’s alcohol content, and wirelessly sends the results.

Wait! News flash! – a flexible, wearable, temporary tattoo can measure blood alcohol levels! Engineers at the University of California, San Diego came up with this simple sensor that measures through the skin. This concept is known and used – a flexible, electronic circuit board connects to the tattoo by a magnet and communicates via Bluetooth.

Police stops for alcohol checks will change very soon!

 

Doctor Burnout – human nature or the job?

As one trains in medicine, one may easily develop a ‘God’ complex, or some might say a ‘superhero’ mindset. After all, intense responsibility for the health, and wellbeing of others requires a degree of self-confidence which may transform a physician and subsequently overflow into personal life. An evolved emotional armor may translate into an indestructible mentality. Some say only adrenalin ‘junkies’ choose certain specialties ex. Emergency Medicine no surprise this group has highest drug abuse.

Even the ‘best’ health care system’s physicians struggle with burnout. A Mayo Clinic survey found that, even when 79 percent of physicians reported feeling ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with their organizations, 40 percent of them still exhibited symptoms of burnout. Burnout is lowest in the youngest and oldest physicians.

Grave consequences follow physician burnout. Common occurrences such as medical errors will occur, a recent blog addressed reality that in the USA it is the third leading cause of death. Wither errors are due to the physician’s drug or alcohol use or just stress it has tremendous negative effect including suicide.

Have a listen to Doc Handal’s podcast on this topic

 

 

Finally, A New Food Label Coming!

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Honesty in advertising has not been very complete.

During packaging and/or processing, sugars in varying forms are added but never listed. Remember, ingredients are listed in order of concentration, so if you read any type sugar in the first 3 ingredients – look elsewhere. Examples of types of sugars include:

  • syrups
  • brown sugar
  • high fructose corn syrup
  • invert sugar
  • maltose
  • trehalose
  • honey
  • molasses
  • sucrose
  • lactose
  • maltose sugar
  • concentrated fruit juice

These misleading inconsistencies in food labeling are finally being addressed. Start July 26, 2018 major companies compliance with the new FDA standards is required, with smaller companies complying a year later.

Diabetic Basics

anatomy-of-the-human-body-1279964_1280Learn the lowdown in a basic overview of what you need to know to take best of care when it comes to a medical problem 9.3% of Americans have! Want to read more check out this previous blog.

Cocaine Vaccine – Possible?

Want to stop cocaine use?

To date, the FDA has not approved a treatment for cocaine addiction; however, a Phase I Clinical Trial, funded by the National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Drug Abuse, will ‘vaccinate’ 30 cocaine users to evaluate whether they can effectively abstain from cocaine for 30 days.

Participants will also be compensated for their time and travel, receiving $25 per visit.

This new vaccine allows the body to potentially create antibodies against cocaine so it never reaches the brain for the ‘high’.Read more here!

At present, individuals will have to take an injection monthly. It is very early in the process to determine future vaccine boosters for those who wish to ‘kick’ cocaine addiction.

Check out our web ‘drug abuse’ resources for help.

Door Handles & Infection Spread

In 2011, more than 700,000 people got an infection while they were in a U.S. hospital (CDC report). Check how hospitals in your state’s preformed (2014 data reported 2016)

One must wonder what are the causes? could door handles contribute? Given we wash hands lots, but when we grab a door Screen Shot 2016-07-24 at 7.47.46 AMhandle to exit, are we contaminating our hands?

Results of a 2014 study by Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona showed that contamination of a single doorknob or table top with tracer viruses resulted in the spread of those viruses throughout multiple tested facilities (office buildings, hotels, and health care facilities). Within 2 to 4 hours, the viruses could be detected on 40 to 60 percent of workers and visitors in the facilities – staggering data, if you stop and think.

A SOLUTION - NO HANDS

A SOLUTION – NO HANDS

How about opening the door with a foot handle?

So, if everyone wore gloves, could that prevent infection spread? what happens when gloves touch door knobs? Protection would vary depending upon glove material, degree of porous quality, and micro tears. Oh, BTW – alcohol-based hand cleansers can break down glove material, causing them to be porous.

Note that the permeability of vinyl gloves to bacteria and viruses is greater than natural rubber latex or nitrile gloves.

BTW – Makes me wonder what lurks on toilet handles!

Helping Others

Would you help a friend or stranger with their medication in an emergency? Decide beforehand whether to stop and assist or to get help for them. Are you a good Samaritan?

It is common for us to carry intervention or rescue medications in case of emergencies. At present, these commonly can include an injector for an allergic reaction, an inhaler for lung problems, or nitroglycerin for angina.

Individuals all know when and how to use them, but some circumstances may warrant extra physical and emotional help.

IMG_0993Examples include:

– allergic reaction medication, a self injectable ‘epi pen‘ spring activated device containg 2 doses. Note electronic different for children and adults

-a rescue breather inhaler needs assemble and perhaps help for someone to be used

Nitroglycerin is commonly for under the tongue or spray. Spray delivery of medication often needs to be primed; do not shake or inhale. Spray on or under the tongue. Individual does not swallow right away.

 

Realize it is a drug and can cause adverse side effects; keep the person flat or in a position of comfort.

Previous blog will give you some insight into the opioid overdose epidemic and newly available antidote delivery medications.