Let’s start with back pain. Be mindful if the snow is wet and heavy or light and fluffy. Get a shovel that you push like a plow. Try not to lift the snow, but if you do, bend at the knees and lift in small amounts. If it’s wet and heavy, half the shovel is more than enough. Be sure your muscles are warmed up before you start to shovel. Do some stretching before you head outside. Cold, tight muscles are more likely to cause a sprain or strain. Most importantly, snow shoveling is a perfect storm for a cardiac event. As you shovel, the exertion causes you to breathe harder through your mouth instead of your nose. This brings cold air into your body which may result in spasms in the blood vessels around your heart. Because shoveling is exercise, your heart needs more blood to pump to keep up with demand. And here’s the crux of the problem: The spasming vessels can become so narrowed from the cold that they can’t meet demand, especially if there’s any pre-existing blockage due to coronary artery disease which sets the conditions for a heart attack. Pace yourself, take it slow and easy with the snow shovel and don’t overdo it!
Gloves and dry socks are the best way to beat frost nip and bite. Nip occurs before bite. If you picture your extremities in layers, frost nip happens when the first few layers of tissue are frozen. For frost bite, the entire body part, most commonly fingers and toes, is frozen through and tissue begins to die. If you suspect frost nip or bite, run the extremity under warm water for 20 minutes. Never use hot water or rub the finger or toes to increase circulation. If after 20 minutes there is pain or no feeling at all, it’s time to head to the emergency center or a certified urgent care facility like Lakes Urgent Care. With hypothermia, your body gives plenty of warning to get warmed up before serious problems set in. We see hypothermia in our more vulnerable populations such as the elderly, those who are significantly immunocompromised, those with dementia and those with mental illness. Depending on their mental status, they might not know they’re cold, which can lead to hypothermia.
Plan ahead for delays, changes in weather or other emergencies. Place a small amount of your daily medications in a bottle for your carry-on bag that can take you through a two-day delay. Put your regular medication bottles with your checked baggage. Check the weather, consider that it may change, and bring clothes that allow for layering.
Make sure everyone stays adequately hydrated and drinks plenty of fluids each day, especially when traveling to warmer climates. Bring along plenty of hand sanitizer to reduce your exposure to contaminated surfaces. Also bring a travel package of sanitary wipes and clean commonly touched surfaces in your hotel room, like the TV remote. Finally, do your best to maintain regular sleep and exercise habits.
Bring good shoes for hiking and swim shoes for beach and water activities. Pack exercise clothes so that you can maintain your exercise routine in the hotel gym. If visiting somewhere with a high altitude, contact your physician for altitude sickness medication or see us at Lakes Urgent Care. Make sure that everyone is up to date on any needed vaccinations including the influenza vaccine.
Check the local resources in the area where you are traveling to determine any particular health risks. In the Caribbean and Central America, be wary of mosquito-borne illnesses like Zika. In the African continent, Malaria is more prevalent. Prevention of both of these illnesses can be achieved by utilizing insect repellent containing at least 20% DEET. If you are sleeping in an outdoor environment, always use mosquito netting. There is also an increased risk of contracting hepatitis when traveling to these same areas, so if you have not yet been vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B, we strongly recommend doing so. Both of these vaccines are available at Lakes Urgent Care or through your primary care physician or local health department. Pay attention to the local news stations and weather forecasts during your visit, and avoid outdoor activities if severe weather conditions are expected. Additionally, cold and flu-carrying pathogens cover many surfaces such as desks, door handles, and phones. Keep yourself protected by washing your hands with soap and water often or carrying a hand sanitizer with you at all times.
Be prepared before you leave. If traveling out of the country, find out exactly what your health insurance company will cover. Medicare does not cover hospital or medical costs outside of the United States so you will likely require a supplemental insurance plan or have to pay cash and then seek reimbursement. Contact the nearest US Embassy for a list of physicians and medical facilities that they recommended and trust. The US consulate can also be of assistance if you require the transfer of funds or require repatriation. Give strong consideration to purchasing a global medical transport insurance policy, such as MedJet Assist, that can help a sick family member that requires hospitalization. There are several companies that offer reasonably priced family plans that can provide significant piece of mind if someone becomes ill outside of the country or more than 150 miles from home.
We have known for a long time that high blood pressure is a silent killer, often with no symptoms. New treatment guidelines were announced at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology on November 13, 2017.
The new guidelines may impact up to 50% of our adult population and are based upon extensive research by a panel of scientific health experts. But there is still much work to be done within the medical field to effectively roll out and apply these recommendations in the clinical setting. Proactively treating patients sooner will help reduce the risk of poor outcomes and complications associated with untreated hypertension.
If you do not have a primary care physician, the physicians at Lakes Urgent Care can help with your initial assessment and direct your follow up care with a high-quality primary care provider.
Children, teenagers and young adults should get their blood pressure checked at least once every 5 years. Given the new guidelines, I recommend that this same group get their blood pressure checked at least once annually. As you age, your blood pressure is likely to increase and should be checked more often. If you have any type of underlying chronic illness, more frequent blood pressure checks are mandatory. Your blood pressure fluctuates during the day, so when you start tracking your blood pressure, you should check it at different times of the day, about 5-6 times. If you have already been diagnosed with hypertension and are taking high blood pressure medication, your blood pressure measurements should coincide with your doses. The best time to check it is before you take your medication. Your primary care physician should provide you with education and recommendations for a routine to check your own blood pressure and track those results in a blood pressure diary.
If you smoke, quit. Add some form of regular exercise. Reduce your intake of sodium, alcohol, caffeine, added sugars and refined carbohydrates. Lose some weight. By reducing your body mass index (BMI) by just 5%, you could significantly lower your blood pressure.
Add calcium, magnesium and potassium rich foods, soy, dark chocolate or cocoa and fresh berries to your diet. Many nutritionists recommend whey protein, Co-Q-10, fish oil, Hibiscus, Berberine and aged garlic extract for their beneficial effect on blood-pressure reduction.
Add any type of stress reduction activities in addition to meditation. There is a well-known connection between daily stress associated with work, family or financial difficulties and its negative impact on our blood pressure. Developing effective stress management reduction skills will have a very powerful beneficial impact on your general wellness and mental fitness. Finally, sleep apnea (excessive snoring) has been directly linked to high blood pressure, and other chronic illnesses. Lakes Urgent Care can help you set up a sleep study if you are unable to do so through your primary care physician.
It remains unclear as to the exact reason why there is a sudden spike in the number of Hepatitis A cases in Michigan. Unfortunately, local epidemiologists are unable to pinpoint the exact point of origin for this particular outbreak. There are some commonalities associated with those who have been afflicted with the infection. As of last week, there were 398 cases reported in the Tri-County area and, sadly, 15 of those individuals have died.
Hepatitis A is a very contagious viral disease that affects the liver and can lead to liver failure. The virus is generally found within the feces of infected individuals. It is frequently transmitted through contaminated food and water, but can also be sexually transmitted or contracted through injection of illegal drugs. Symptoms commonly begin two weeks to as long as two months after initial exposure and include the usual host of vague symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. The symptoms most classic to advanced cases of Hepatitis (A or B) include yellowing of the skin or eyes (otherwise known as jaundice) or very dark colored urine.