Are you making ho-hum lifestyle decisions because your heart is slowing you down? Remember how much fun running used to be? What if you could still scale all four flights to visit that loved one who needs to see you?
The reason you can find so much heart healthy information and advice in Straight, No Chaser, our online SMA Health Library and Sterling Medical Wellness is because your heart health is in your own hands. Barring genetic disorders, you don’t have to leave it up to chance. You have a lot of power over your heart condition–even if you think you’re starting a little late in the game. Your heart is a muscle, and we aim to ensure that you know how to treat it well.
Just as important is the power you have over your children’s long term heart health, a central quality of life factor that ranks up there with good education, people skills and an inheritance. We hope that you’ll also empower them with this knowledge and healthy behaviors.
Consider doing a little heart research over at www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and share it with your friends and family. If you have heart trouble, discuss your newly inspired heart health goals with your healthcare provider. Then call us for personalized information and advice at 844-SMA-TALK. We’re here for you, 24/7.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Tag Archives: Sterling Medical Advice
From the Heart
Straight, No Chaser: Staying Alive – A Ridiculously Simple Approach to CPR
Hopefully, this video is the hokiest thing I’ll ever post, but modern understanding of CPR is such that every single one of you should know exactly how to respond in the event someone collapses near you. Simply put, this is how you save lives. I would think every one who reads this would do well to forward or post this message within your networks.
CPR video
In case the video doesn’t launch for you, here’s your two steps.
1) Have someone call 911.
2) Interlock your hands and fingers (one on top of the other) and use them to apply compression to the center of the affected person’s chest, right between the nipples. Push fast and hard; and yes, the correct rate (200 reps/minute) can be approximated by pump to the beat of The BeeGee’s hit “Staying Alive.” Forgive me, but this is important enough to go there.
You may have noticed the deemphasis of rescue breathing. That makes this process even easier. Combine this with my past comments regarding an AED (automated external defibrillator – click here for details), and you are really giving someone the best opportunity to have a successful outcome.
Don’t worry, in a future post, I’ll address how to get that song out of your head.
Feel free to ask your SMA personal healthcare consultant any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Hopefully, this video is the hokiest thing I’ll ever post, but modern understanding of CPR is such that every single one of you should know exactly how to respond in the event someone collapses near you. Simply put, this is how you save lives. I would think every one who reads this would do well to forward or post this message within your networks.
CPR video
In case the video doesn’t launch for you, here’s your two steps.
1) Have someone call 911.
2) Interlock your hands and fingers (one on top of the other) and use them to apply compression to the center of the affected person’s chest, right between the nipples. Push fast and hard; and yes, the correct rate (200 reps/minute) can be approximated by pump to the beat of The BeeGee’s hit “Staying Alive.” Forgive me, but this is important enough to go there.
You may have noticed the deemphasis of rescue breathing. That makes this process even easier. Combine this with my past comments regarding an AED (automated external defibrillator – click here for details), and you are really giving someone the best opportunity to have a successful outcome.
Don’t worry, in a future post, I’ll address how to get that song out of your head.
Feel free to ask your SMA personal healthcare consultant any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Hearts For You
Was out shopping for some non-candy Valentine’s Day gifts for you, and look what I found!
Tons of ways to share the love.
And for the kiddies…
Enjoy! Did you notice all of these gifts are good for the heart? Well, here’s one more. Contact your SMA Personal Healthcare Consultant for advice or information at 844-SMA-TALK or www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com. We are prepared, 24/7, to give you the immediate and personal advice and information you need – and we can discuss other ways to make this Valentine’s Day your most fulfilling ever!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Was out shopping for some non-candy Valentine’s Day gifts for you, and look what I found!
Tons of ways to share the love.
And for the kiddies…
Enjoy! Did you notice all of these gifts are good for the heart? Well, here’s one more. Contact your SMA Personal Healthcare Consultant for advice or information at 844-SMA-TALK or www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com. We are prepared, 24/7, to give you the immediate and personal advice and information you need – and we can discuss other ways to make this Valentine’s Day your most fulfilling ever!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Straight, No Chaser: Sensitive Teeth
What goes through your mind when your teeth hurt (other than whether or not all of that Valentine’s Day candy is worth it)? Is it fleeting or constant? Are you easily agitated by hot and cold stimuli alike? Do you have problems even when you brush and/or floss? These are some of the circumstances those with sensitive teeth have.
Now you would think this is pretty straightforward, right? Your teeth hurt, you stop doing what is making them hurt, and you go to get them evaluated. Unfortunately, it’s never that simple. Sensitive teeth can be a precursor to disease developing, or it can be a symptom of disease that’s established. Examples of causes of sensitive teeth include the following.
- Cavities (holes in the teeth)
- Decayed and/or fractured teeth
- Exposure of the tooth root or nerve endings supplying the teeth
- Gum disease
- Worn tooth enamel or fillings
A common thread exists in the above listing. Enamel protects healthy teeth at the level of your crowns—the part above the gum line. Cementum protects the tooth root (which lies below the gum line). Underneath both the enamel and the cementum is dentin, a layer of the teeth less dense and more hollow. When the levels of protective covering are eroded and dentin is exposed, foods and other substances may penetrate and reach the nerves within your teeth through these more hollow areas. The increased propensity for this to happen is experienced as hypersensitivity.
Your first challenge is not to let things get out of control. In the event you’re experiencing dental pain for any reason, it needs to be evaluated and addressed. If it’s truly hypersensitivity, your dentist has several options at his or her disposal.
- Desensitizing toothpaste contains compounds that help block transmission of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerve. Several applications are usually required before the sensitivity is sufficiently lessened.
- Fluoride gel can be applied in the dentist’s office. This serves to strengthen tooth enamel.
- Placement of a crown, inlay or bonding may be used to correct a flaw or decay that results in sensitivity.
- If gum tissue has been lost from the root, a surgical gum graft will protect the root and reduce sensitivity.
- If sensitivity is severe and persistent and cannot be treated by other means, your dentist may recommend a root canal to eliminate the problem.
Ask your dentist or your SMA expert consultant any questions you have about tooth sensitivity.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
What goes through your mind when your teeth hurt (other than whether or not all of that Valentine’s Day candy is worth it)? Is it fleeting or constant? Are you easily agitated by hot and cold stimuli alike? Do you have problems even when you brush and/or floss? These are some of the circumstances those with sensitive teeth have.
Now you would think this is pretty straightforward, right? Your teeth hurt, you stop doing what is making them hurt, and you go to get them evaluated. Unfortunately, it’s never that simple. Sensitive teeth can be a precursor to disease developing, or it can be a symptom of disease that’s established. Examples of causes of sensitive teeth include the following.
- Cavities (holes in the teeth)
- Decayed and/or fractured teeth
- Exposure of the tooth root or nerve endings supplying the teeth
- Gum disease
- Worn tooth enamel or fillings
A common thread exists in the above listing. Enamel protects healthy teeth at the level of your crowns—the part above the gum line. Cementum protects the tooth root (which lies below the gum line). Underneath both the enamel and the cementum is dentin, a layer of the teeth less dense and more hollow. When the levels of protective covering are eroded and dentin is exposed, foods and other substances may penetrate and reach the nerves within your teeth through these more hollow areas. The increased propensity for this to happen is experienced as hypersensitivity.
Your first challenge is not to let things get out of control. In the event you’re experiencing dental pain for any reason, it needs to be evaluated and addressed. If it’s truly hypersensitivity, your dentist has several options at his or her disposal.
- Desensitizing toothpaste contains compounds that help block transmission of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerve. Several applications are usually required before the sensitivity is sufficiently lessened.
- Fluoride gel can be applied in the dentist’s office. This serves to strengthen tooth enamel.
- Placement of a crown, inlay or bonding may be used to correct a flaw or decay that results in sensitivity.
- If gum tissue has been lost from the root, a surgical gum graft will protect the root and reduce sensitivity.
- If sensitivity is severe and persistent and cannot be treated by other means, your dentist may recommend a root canal to eliminate the problem.
Ask your dentist or your SMA expert consultant any questions you have about tooth sensitivity.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Don't Choke!
Choking is hazardous to your health. Avoid it at all costs. Especially leading up to Valentine’s Day. Get the right gift!
Today’s tip for avoiding choking is to avoid as many unnecessary ER and doctor bills, co-pays and deductibles as possible. Avoid the hospital choking your purse or wallet. Contact your Personal Healthcare Consultant for advice or information at 844-SMA-TALK or www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com. We are prepared, 24/7, to give you the immediate and personal advice and information you need.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Choking is hazardous to your health. Avoid it at all costs. Especially leading up to Valentine’s Day. Get the right gift!
Today’s tip for avoiding choking is to avoid as many unnecessary ER and doctor bills, co-pays and deductibles as possible. Avoid the hospital choking your purse or wallet. Contact your Personal Healthcare Consultant for advice or information at 844-SMA-TALK or www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com. We are prepared, 24/7, to give you the immediate and personal advice and information you need.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Straight, No Chaser: What Will You Do If Your Baby Starts Choking?
We’ve previously discussed how to address choking in adults. Today, we address the twin horrors of needing to save a baby’s life (those younger than 12 months old) from choking and how to help yourself if no one else is around to help.
In case you didn’t realize it, infants haven’t had time to accumulate enough disease and toxins to have heart attacks in the way adults do. When they are in a life-threatening situation, it’s far more likely to be from a respiratory cause, such as choking. Infants and young children are exploring their world and seemingly will place most anything near or in their mouths. Too often this leads to choking. Please keep this in mind if you’re ever faced with an infant in danger.
In discussing how to help a child in danger, let’s focus on two considerations: how to assess the situation and how to act.
It is vital to assess these situations accurately. There are important splits in treatment algorithms based on your assessment.
Simply put, the first thing you want to do is determine the infant’s level of responsiveness. For the purposes of this discussion, let’s assume we’re discussing conscious choking.
If an infant is suddenly unable to cough or cry, it’s a reasonable to assume that something may be blocking the airway.
- When this is the case, help will be needed getting the object out.
If an infant is coughing or gagging, it’s likely that the airway may be partially blocked.
- Coughing is actually the most effective way to dislodge an object, so you shouldn’t interfere in this setting.
If an infant is somewhat responsive in the context of a recent insect bite, bee sting or other possible allergic exposure, the throat could be closing because of an allergic reaction.
- When this is the case, you are facing a potential life-threatening emergency. Call 911 immediately.
When you’ve made your assessment, your next step (unless you’re performing CPR, calling 911 or the child is still coughing) is to try to assist in getting the object out. Think “back blows, chest thrusts, repeat unless the infant gets unconscious.” Yes, that was meant to be a jingle.
Back blows:
- Hold the infant face up on one forearm, and hold the back of his head with the hand.
- Stabilize the infant’s front with your opposite hand and forearm.
- Flip the infant face down so that he’s now in the control of the other forearm. Use your thumb and fingers to stabilize the jaw while flipping. Lower your arm onto your thigh; now the baby’s head will be lower than his chest.
- Using the heel of your hand, deliver five firm back blows between the infant’s shoulder blades in an effort to dislodge the object. Maintain head and neck support by firmly holding his jaw between your thumb and forefinger.
- Finally, place the hand that had been delivering the back blows on the back of the baby’s head with your arm along his back. Carefully, turn him over while keeping your other hand and forearm on his front.
- If you have dislodged the object and the infant is responsive and/or coughing, you are done. Otherwise, proceed to chest thrusts.
Chest thrusts
- Use your thumb and fingers to hold his jaw while sandwiching him between your forearms to support his head and neck. Lower your arm that is supporting his back onto your opposite thigh, still keeping the baby’s head lower than the rest of his body.
- Place the pads of two or three fingers in the center of the baby’s chest, just below an imaginary line running between his nipples. To do a chest thrust, push straight down on the chest about 1 1/2 inches. Then allow the chest to come back to its normal position.
- Do five chest thrusts. Keep your fingers in contact with the baby’s breastbone. The chest thrusts should be smooth, not jerky.
Repeat
Continue alternating five back blows and chest thrusts until the object is forced out, the infant starts to cough forcefully, cry, breathe on his own or becomes unconscious. If he’s coughing, allow him to do so.
If the infant becomes unconscious
If a choking infant becomes unconscious, you should proceed to modified CPR as follows:
- Open his mouth. If you can see an object, remove it with your little finger.
- Give two rescue breaths. If you don’t see the chest rise, tilt his head and try two rescue breaths again.
If his chest still doesn’t rise, do 30 chest compressions.
- Check the mouth again, looking for an object. Remove it if seen.
- Repeat the cycle with rescue breaths and chest compressions until help arrives.
Regardless of the outcome, the infant will need prompt medical attention.
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
We’ve previously discussed how to address choking in adults. Today, we address the twin horrors of needing to save a baby’s life (those younger than 12 months old) from choking and how to help yourself if no one else is around to help.
In case you didn’t realize it, infants haven’t had time to accumulate enough disease and toxins to have heart attacks in the way adults do. When they are in a life-threatening situation, it’s far more likely to be from a respiratory cause, such as choking. Infants and young children are exploring their world and seemingly will place most anything near or in their mouths. Too often this leads to choking. Please keep this in mind if you’re ever faced with an infant in danger.
In discussing how to help a child in danger, let’s focus on two considerations: how to assess the situation and how to act.
It is vital to assess these situations accurately. There are important splits in treatment algorithms based on your assessment.
Simply put, the first thing you want to do is determine the infant’s level of responsiveness. For the purposes of this discussion, let’s assume we’re discussing conscious choking.
If an infant is suddenly unable to cough or cry, it’s a reasonable to assume that something may be blocking the airway.
- When this is the case, help will be needed getting the object out.
If an infant is coughing or gagging, it’s likely that the airway may be partially blocked.
- Coughing is actually the most effective way to dislodge an object, so you shouldn’t interfere in this setting.
If an infant is somewhat responsive in the context of a recent insect bite, bee sting or other possible allergic exposure, the throat could be closing because of an allergic reaction.
- When this is the case, you are facing a potential life-threatening emergency. Call 911 immediately.
When you’ve made your assessment, your next step (unless you’re performing CPR, calling 911 or the child is still coughing) is to try to assist in getting the object out. Think “back blows, chest thrusts, repeat unless the infant gets unconscious.” Yes, that was meant to be a jingle.
Back blows:
- Hold the infant face up on one forearm, and hold the back of his head with the hand.
- Stabilize the infant’s front with your opposite hand and forearm.
- Flip the infant face down so that he’s now in the control of the other forearm. Use your thumb and fingers to stabilize the jaw while flipping. Lower your arm onto your thigh; now the baby’s head will be lower than his chest.
- Using the heel of your hand, deliver five firm back blows between the infant’s shoulder blades in an effort to dislodge the object. Maintain head and neck support by firmly holding his jaw between your thumb and forefinger.
- Finally, place the hand that had been delivering the back blows on the back of the baby’s head with your arm along his back. Carefully, turn him over while keeping your other hand and forearm on his front.
- If you have dislodged the object and the infant is responsive and/or coughing, you are done. Otherwise, proceed to chest thrusts.
Chest thrusts
- Use your thumb and fingers to hold his jaw while sandwiching him between your forearms to support his head and neck. Lower your arm that is supporting his back onto your opposite thigh, still keeping the baby’s head lower than the rest of his body.
- Place the pads of two or three fingers in the center of the baby’s chest, just below an imaginary line running between his nipples. To do a chest thrust, push straight down on the chest about 1 1/2 inches. Then allow the chest to come back to its normal position.
- Do five chest thrusts. Keep your fingers in contact with the baby’s breastbone. The chest thrusts should be smooth, not jerky.
Repeat
Continue alternating five back blows and chest thrusts until the object is forced out, the infant starts to cough forcefully, cry, breathe on his own or becomes unconscious. If he’s coughing, allow him to do so.
If the infant becomes unconscious
If a choking infant becomes unconscious, you should proceed to modified CPR as follows:
- Open his mouth. If you can see an object, remove it with your little finger.
- Give two rescue breaths. If you don’t see the chest rise, tilt his head and try two rescue breaths again. If his chest still doesn’t rise, do 30 chest compressions.
- Check the mouth again, looking for an object. Remove it if seen.
- Repeat the cycle with rescue breaths and chest compressions until help arrives.
Regardless of the outcome, the infant will need prompt medical attention.
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
A Choker for You!
Straight, No Chaser: How Can I Save Myself If I'm Choking?
If you’re the type that is cool under pressure, you’re well positioned to think your way out of many dangerous situations. If you’re the type that’s inclined to panic, Stop! The life you save may be your own!
At Straight, No Chaser, we’re big on you knowing when to appropriately engage the healthcare system, knowing when you can contact us for advice and information, and knowing simple tips that can help you prolong your life. Here’s a very important example.
Think it through. If it happened today, how would you react if you choked on something and no one else was around?
Can you perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself?
Here’s what you do.
- Make a fist. Place the thumb below your ribs and above your navel.
- Grasp your fist with your other hand. Using a quick, upward motion, press your fist the area.
As noted in the diagram, while perform this maneuver you can also lean over a chair, the edge of a table edge, couch or other object of similar height. In this example, you will quickly thrust your upper abdomen against the edge.
You should repeat this motion until the object blocking the airway comes out or until help arrives.
Feel free to ask your SMA personal healthcare consultant any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
If you’re the type that is cool under pressure, you’re well positioned to think your way out of many dangerous situations. If you’re the type that’s inclined to panic, Stop! The life you save may be your own!
At Straight, No Chaser, we’re big on you knowing when to appropriately engage the healthcare system, knowing when you can contact us for advice and information, and knowing simple tips that can help you prolong your life. Here’s a very important example.
Think it through. If it happened today, how would you react if you choked on something and no one else was around?
Can you perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself?
Here’s what you do.
- Make a fist. Place the thumb below your ribs and above your navel.
- Grasp your fist with your other hand. Using a quick, upward motion, press your fist the area.
As noted in the diagram, while perform this maneuver you can also lean over a chair, the edge of a table edge, couch or other object of similar height. In this example, you will quickly thrust your upper abdomen against the edge.
You should repeat this motion until the object blocking the airway comes out or until help arrives.
Feel free to ask your SMA personal healthcare consultant any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
All Choked Up
We understand. The love month inspires so many kind and loving gestures, that lots of people will be walking around choked up. If you find yourself in this type of never-ending loop, feel free to call. We’d love to talk you through it. Just make sure you’re not choking. If you are, you should be calling 911 while performing the Heimlich maneuver.
Contact your Personal Healthcare Consultant for advice or information at 844-SMA-TALK or www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com. We are prepared, 24/7, to give you the immediate and personal advice and information you need.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
We understand. The love month inspires so many kind and loving gestures, that lots of people will be walking around choked up. If you find yourself in this type of never-ending loop, feel free to call. We’d love to talk you through it. Just make sure you’re not choking. If you are, you should be calling 911 while performing the Heimlich maneuver.
Contact your Personal Healthcare Consultant for advice or information at 844-SMA-TALK or www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com. We are prepared, 24/7, to give you the immediate and personal advice and information you need.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Straight, No Chaser: What Will You Do If You See Someone Choking?
So … what would you do if someone around you starting choking. Or if they choked, then lost consciousness? What would you do if you choked and no one else was around? Don’t you think you should know? Read on …
First things first. You’ve all heard of the Heimlich maneuver, even if you don’t know how to do it. My job today is to make this easy for you. My first task will be to pass on the physician’s mantra of “Do No Harm.” To that end, let’s start with things you shouldn’t do.
- If the person is able to speak, don’t interfere.
- If the person is coughing and still has a normal level of awareness, don’t interfere.
- If the person is able to breathe in and out without excessive difficulty, don’t interfere.
- If the person is conscious, don’t place anything in his/her mouth trying to extract an object.
Next, let’s review a few quick points to help you understand what could be going on.
- Choking is occurring because something is blocking the airway (aka windpipe).
- Choking is dangerous because complete blockage will prevent oxygen from circulating thorough the body.
- Choking is deadly because without oxygen, permanent brain damage will likely occur in four to six minutes.
Partial blockage isn’t the same as complete blockage. The body has protective reflexes to deal with blockage. That’s what coughing is. Once blockage has become complete, you’re facing a life-threatening emergency, and the risks of doing something outweigh the risks of doing nothing.
It’s not that difficult to know if someone’s choking; they’re likely grabbing their throat. You would do well to know what it looks like if someone has already choked or is choking but can’t use his/her hands. Here are some clues:
- Coughing may be increasingly weaker.
- They likely will exhibit difficulty breathing.
- They may be unable to speak.
- Their skin may have a bluish or purplish color.
- You may hear high-pitched musical sounds while they’re breathing.
- They may have blacked out (from the blockage).
Here are universally accepted steps to the Heimlich maneuver (in someone not obese or pregnant):
- Ask the person, “Are you choking?”
- Then ask them to speak. If they can speak or are vigorously coughing, you watch and wait. If not, proceed.
- Standing behind the person, wrap your arms around his/her waist.
- Placing your thumb just above the belly button (navel), make a fist with one hand.
- Grasp the fist with your other hand.
- Thrust your fist quickly, upward and inward.
- Repeat until the person either loses consciousness or the object is dislodged.
If the person is obese or pregnant, wrap your arms around the chest, not the abdomen. Place your fist between the nipples on the middle of the breastbone, and make firm thrusts back toward you.
If the person loses consciousness, there are four steps you must take.
- If you see something blocking the airway, try to remove it.
- Lower the person to the floor, preferably on his/her side until you start CPR or if vomiting starts.
- Have someone call 911.
- Begin CPR.
Of course, prevention is key. Take care to chew your food slowly and thoroughly.
Here are three more tips for those most at risk:
- Children: Keep them away from small objects that can be placed in their mouths.
- Elderly: Make sure their dentures fit appropriately.
- Adults: Limit alcohol intake around the time of eating.
Next is to master CPR, which we’ve made very simple for you. We’ll also add a post for you regarding how to handle yourself and infants (less than one year old) if choking.
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
So … what would you do if someone around you starting choking. Or if they choked, then lost consciousness? What would you do if you choked and no one else was around? Don’t you think you should know? Read on …
First things first. You’ve all heard of the Heimlich maneuver, even if you don’t know how to do it. My job today is to make this easy for you. My first task will be to pass on the physician’s mantra of “Do No Harm.” To that end, let’s start with things you shouldn’t do.
- If the person is able to speak, don’t interfere.
- If the person is coughing and still has a normal level of awareness, don’t interfere.
- If the person is able to breathe in and out without excessive difficulty, don’t interfere.
- If the person is conscious, don’t place anything in his/her mouth trying to extract an object.
Next, let’s review a few quick points to help you understand what could be going on.
- Choking is occurring because something is blocking the airway (aka windpipe).
- Choking is dangerous because complete blockage will prevent oxygen from circulating thorough the body.
- Choking is deadly because without oxygen, permanent brain damage will likely occur in four to six minutes.
Partial blockage isn’t the same as complete blockage. The body has protective reflexes to deal with blockage. That’s what coughing is. Once blockage has become complete, you’re facing a life-threatening emergency, and the risks of doing something outweigh the risks of doing nothing.
It’s not that difficult to know if someone’s choking; they’re likely grabbing their throat. You would do well to know what it looks like if someone has already choked or is choking but can’t use his/her hands. Here are some clues:
- Coughing may be increasingly weaker.
- They likely will exhibit difficulty breathing.
- They may be unable to speak.
- Their skin may have a bluish or purplish color.
- You may hear high-pitched musical sounds while they’re breathing.
- They may have blacked out (from the blockage).
Here are universally accepted steps to the Heimlich maneuver (in someone not obese or pregnant):
- Ask the person, “Are you choking?”
- Then ask them to speak. If they can speak or are vigorously coughing, you watch and wait. If not, proceed.
- Standing behind the person, wrap your arms around his/her waist.
- Placing your thumb just above the belly button (navel), make a fist with one hand.
- Grasp the fist with your other hand.
- Thrust your fist quickly, upward and inward.
- Repeat until the person either loses consciousness or the object is dislodged.
If the person is obese or pregnant, wrap your arms around the chest, not the abdomen. Place your fist between the nipples on the middle of the breastbone, and make firm thrusts back toward you.
If the person loses consciousness, there are four steps you must take.
- If you see something blocking the airway, try to remove it.
- Lower the person to the floor, preferably on his/her side until you start CPR or if vomiting starts.
- Have someone call 911.
- Begin CPR.
Of course, prevention is key. Take care to chew your food slowly and thoroughly.
Here are three more tips for those most at risk:
- Children: Keep them away from small objects that can be placed in their mouths.
- Elderly: Make sure their dentures fit appropriately.
- Adults: Limit alcohol intake around the time of eating.
Next is to master CPR, which we’ve made very simple for you. We’ll also add a post for you regarding how to handle yourself and infants (less than one year old) if choking.
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Beware the Deadly Handshakes
What do you do at the end of your interview when your potential boss has been sneezing into his hand the whole fascinating hour?
Do you …
A) reveal your true Klingon identity?
B) model good hygiene and sanitary behaviors before asking for the job?
C) do a Three Stooges hand shake fake out and hope he’ll be in touch … or not …
D) offer an innovative alternative and hope this wins points on landing the position?
E. exceed expectations!
For consultation on these and other medically critical decisions, contact us at 844-SMA-TALK or www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com. We’re here for you, 24/7.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
What do you do at the end of your interview when your potential boss has been sneezing into his hand the whole fascinating hour?
Do you …
A) reveal your true Klingon identity?
B) model good hygiene and sanitary behaviors before asking for the job?
C) do a Three Stooges hand shake fake out and hope he’ll be in touch … or not …
D) offer an innovative alternative and hope this wins points on landing the position?
E. exceed expectations!
For consultation on these and other medically critical decisions, contact us at 844-SMA-TALK or www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com. We’re here for you, 24/7.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Straight, No Chaser: Hygiene and Illness
There are things you know, there are things you know but don’t really know, and there are still other things that you think you know that you don’t know at all. When it comes to colds and influenza (both or which are simple to understand, prevent and treat), all of the above apply.
Are you sickly or do you get colds more frequently than others? Respectfully, a big part of that is because you have habits that put you at risk. Common things happen commonly.
Of course this is not an actual photo, but it’s a good depiction of what’s happening. Simply put, most of the day, your hands are pretty disgusting. You handle money that’s been handed hundreds if not thousands of times and never cleaned. You grab handles and door knobs all day long. You cough and sneeze throughout the day, spewing germs into the air to be inhaled by others. And you spend time in the restroom. Your unclean hands contribute to many ailments, including colds, influenza, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea) and skin infections.
The important points are simple things you can do to lower your risk for infections. First, you have to stop assuming you know more than you do about basic hygiene and allow yourself to start practicing better habits. For example …
- When you sneeze, do you sneeze into your hands or into the air around you? Please learn the habit covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough by sneezing/coughing into your elbow and not your hands.
- How often do you wash your hands? You must wash every time you begin to cook, before you eat, after you use the rest room, before you change a diaper and before you apply any topical medicine.
- Have you ever noticed how much you keep your hands on parts of you that can become infected by doing so? Keep your hands out of your eyes, mouth and nose, and stop picking at your skin!
Yes, you wash your hands, but do you do so effectively and when you need to? Hand washing must be the easiest and most effective ways to prevent disease. Let’s start with this: from now on, whatever you do to clean your hands, do it for twenty seconds. Of course, antimicrobial soap and water are what we all learned to do way back when. It works! If that’s not available, use hand sanitizers or disposable hand wipes. It that’s not available, just rinse your hands! Be sure to rub your hands vigorously during the process as if you’re trying to get someone off of your hands, because you are!
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
There are things you know, there are things you know but don’t really know, and there are still other things that you think you know that you don’t know at all. When it comes to colds and influenza (both or which are simple to understand, prevent and treat), all of the above apply.
Are you sickly or do you get colds more frequently than others? Respectfully, a big part of that is because you have habits that put you at risk. Common things happen commonly.
Of course this is not an actual photo, but it’s a good depiction of what’s happening. Simply put, most of the day, your hands are pretty disgusting. You handle money that’s been handed hundreds if not thousands of times and never cleaned. You grab handles and door knobs all day long. You cough and sneeze throughout the day, spewing germs into the air to be inhaled by others. And you spend time in the restroom. Your unclean hands contribute to many ailments, including colds, influenza, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea) and skin infections.
The important points are simple things you can do to lower your risk for infections. First, you have to stop assuming you know more than you do about basic hygiene and allow yourself to start practicing better habits. For example …
- When you sneeze, do you sneeze into your hands or into the air around you? Please learn the habit covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough by sneezing/coughing into your elbow and not your hands.
- How often do you wash your hands? You must wash every time you begin to cook, before you eat, after you use the rest room, before you change a diaper and before you apply any topical medicine.
- Have you ever noticed how much you keep your hands on parts of you that can become infected by doing so? Keep your hands out of your eyes, mouth and nose, and stop picking at your skin!
Yes, you wash your hands, but do you do so effectively and when you need to? Hand washing must be the easiest and most effective ways to prevent disease. Let’s start with this: from now on, whatever you do to clean your hands, do it for twenty seconds. Of course, antimicrobial soap and water are what we all learned to do way back when. It works! If that’s not available, use hand sanitizers or disposable hand wipes. It that’s not available, just rinse your hands! Be sure to rub your hands vigorously during the process as if you’re trying to get someone off of your hands, because you are!
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
"I Don't Want to Goooo!"
“I don’t want to go to see the doctor! She might give me a shot!!”
Remember that sentiment from when you were little? Well, I have good news and … other news.
The good news is that when you contact us at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com or 844-SMA-TALK, we will not, positively not, give you a shot. Promise.
More good news: You may find out–through one of the SIX easy ways we share information and advice–that you don’t need to go to the doctor after all. You can get the core of your concerns addressed immediately.
Even more good news: You will have saved yourself a bundle in co-pays, deductibles, facilities fees, transportation, wasted time, etc., just by checking in with your personal healthcare consultant.
The … other news is that we might advise you to see a doctor, and he might give you a shot.
Best news: If you take your shot like a champ, you can probably arrange for a cool bandage and a sucker (sugarless, I hope)!
Call 844-SMA-TALK (844-762-8255), or login at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com. We are prepared, 24/7, to give you the immediate and personalized advice and information.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
“I don’t want to go to see the doctor! She might give me a shot!!”
Remember that sentiment from when you were little? Well, I have good news and … other news.
The good news is that when you contact us at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com or 844-SMA-TALK, we will not, positively not, give you a shot. Promise.
More good news: You may find out–through one of the SIX easy ways we share information and advice–that you don’t need to go to the doctor after all. You can get the core of your concerns addressed immediately.
Even more good news: You will have saved yourself a bundle in co-pays, deductibles, facilities fees, transportation, wasted time, etc., just by checking in with your personal healthcare consultant.
The … other news is that we might advise you to see a doctor, and he might give you a shot.
Best news: If you take your shot like a champ, you can probably arrange for a cool bandage and a sucker (sugarless, I hope)!
Call 844-SMA-TALK (844-762-8255), or login at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com. We are prepared, 24/7, to give you the immediate and personalized advice and information.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Straight, No Chaser: Late Night Shift Work and Shift Work Sleep Disorder
I used to love to work third shift. Generally, I’d be the only “boss” around, so I really got to enjoy my staff in a way that wasn’t possible during the day shifts. The only real problem was that after two shifts, it was hard to function during the days in between shifts. After three it got harder to function during the shifts. I’d find myself fighting moodiness and catching coldsmore easily.
Well, as luck would have it, there’s a name for that pain: shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). It shouldn’t be a surprise that working nights is problematic. Night work runs counter to the body’s natural biological cycle (called the circadian rhythm), and its attempts to compensate still don’t result in ideal body function, particularly related to sleep.
What is shift work sleep disorder (SWSD)?
SWSD is the consequence of recurrent sleep interruption in a way that runs counter to our circadian rhythms. Individuals working between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. are particularly at risk for SWSD, although not everyone in this situation develops SWSD.
What are the symptoms of SWSD?
The most common symptoms of SWSD are difficulty sleeping and excessive sleepiness. Other symptoms associated with SWSD include increased irritability, moodiness, higher risk for illness, difficulty concentrating, headaches or lack of energy. Those with SWSD are more prone to have accidents and make errors at work. Additional discussion of long-term health effects of SWSD is available at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.
Here are some tips to help you handle working nights and addressing SWSD.
- Go to sleep as soon as possible after work.
- Keep a regular sleep schedule that includes at least seven hours of sleep every day.
- Control your home environment when you’re trying to sleep. Limit light from coming into your bedroom and keep things quiet. Discuss this with your roommates so they don’t engage in disturbing activities.
- Understand that the effects are compounded the more nights you work in a row, as night shift workers sleep less than day workers. Decrease the number of night shifts you work in a row and try to limit shifts to five a week or four in a row.
- Attempt to normalize your life while awake (excluding your sleep time). Engage in routine social activities when possible.
- Avoid long commutes.
- Avoid rotating shifts, which are even more difficult to deal with than it is to work the same shift for a longer period of time.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine during your home time.
- Plan a nap just before or during the night shift, if allowed. These can improve alertness.
- Additional medical interventions are available at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
I used to love to work third shift. Generally, I’d be the only “boss” around, so I really got to enjoy my staff in a way that wasn’t possible during the day shifts. The only real problem was that after two shifts, it was hard to function during the days in between shifts. After three it got harder to function during the shifts. I’d find myself fighting moodiness and catching coldsmore easily.
Well, as luck would have it, there’s a name for that pain: shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). It shouldn’t be a surprise that working nights is problematic. Night work runs counter to the body’s natural biological cycle (called the circadian rhythm), and its attempts to compensate still don’t result in ideal body function, particularly related to sleep.
What is shift work sleep disorder (SWSD)?
SWSD is the consequence of recurrent sleep interruption in a way that runs counter to our circadian rhythms. Individuals working between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. are particularly at risk for SWSD, although not everyone in this situation develops SWSD.
What are the symptoms of SWSD?
The most common symptoms of SWSD are difficulty sleeping and excessive sleepiness. Other symptoms associated with SWSD include increased irritability, moodiness, higher risk for illness, difficulty concentrating, headaches or lack of energy. Those with SWSD are more prone to have accidents and make errors at work. Additional discussion of long-term health effects of SWSD is available at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.
Here are some tips to help you handle working nights and addressing SWSD.
- Go to sleep as soon as possible after work.
- Keep a regular sleep schedule that includes at least seven hours of sleep every day.
- Control your home environment when you’re trying to sleep. Limit light from coming into your bedroom and keep things quiet. Discuss this with your roommates so they don’t engage in disturbing activities.
- Understand that the effects are compounded the more nights you work in a row, as night shift workers sleep less than day workers. Decrease the number of night shifts you work in a row and try to limit shifts to five a week or four in a row.
- Attempt to normalize your life while awake (excluding your sleep time). Engage in routine social activities when possible.
- Avoid long commutes.
- Avoid rotating shifts, which are even more difficult to deal with than it is to work the same shift for a longer period of time.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine during your home time.
- Plan a nap just before or during the night shift, if allowed. These can improve alertness.
- Additional medical interventions are available at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Winter Blues: Just Don't Feel Like It
DON’T SUCCUMB! GO, and work out. COOK, and don’t try to chase the blahs away with junk food. TURN UP THE MUSIC, and DANCE like spring is already here. Keep it moving! The more you do, the better you will feel.
If you really, really don’t feel like it, maybe you should call someone. Feelings can be an important health indicator, and they may be nudging us to pay a little extra attention to ourselves. Maybe it’ll pass quickly; maybe supplements would help; maybe a chat with an expert would help lift the malaise.
We are here for you 24/7 whether your feelings are mental or physical. Feel free to contact us at 844-SMA-TALK (844-762-8255) or www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com for advice or information.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
DON’T SUCCUMB! GO, and work out. COOK, and don’t try to chase the blahs away with junk food. TURN UP THE MUSIC, and DANCE like spring is already here. Keep it moving! The more you do, the better you will feel.
If you really, really don’t feel like it, maybe you should call someone. Feelings can be an important health indicator, and they may be nudging us to pay a little extra attention to ourselves. Maybe it’ll pass quickly; maybe supplements would help; maybe a chat with an expert would help lift the malaise.
We are here for you 24/7 whether your feelings are mental or physical. Feel free to contact us at 844-SMA-TALK (844-762-8255) or www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com for advice or information.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Straight, No Chaser: The Dangers of Shoveling Snow and Other Winter Chores
You have probably heard it said, but you’d be surprised to know how often people hurt themselves shoveling snow. Of course, this time of year, people are doing many more strenuous activities than just shoveling snow. There’s walking (through mounds of snow), skiing, cross-county skiing, snow boarding, football in the cold, pushing cars that are stuck, scraping ice off the car and many other activities.
Is this really such a big deal? The important consideration is that you exert a lot of energy doing these activities. If your heart, back or overall health isn’t prepared to handle them, you can suffer debilitating consequences. Would you believe that every year over 11,000 people visit emergency rooms for back injuries related to shoveling snow?
Let’s address this in a way that is easy to understand. Shoveling snow can be even more vigorous than a full aerobic workout. It involves utilization and straining many muscles not often used by many people. It can lead to several ailments, ranging from strains and sprains to a herniated disk or a heart attack. Thus, if you’re going to do it smartly, certain rules should apply.
Understand your risks. These winter activities I mentioned pose higher risks in the following groups, including an advanced rate of having a heart attack.
- Individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle
- Individuals having had a prior heart attack
- Individuals with known heart disease
- Individuals with high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Smokers
Here are some quick tips to lower your risk while shoveling:
- Discuss your risk level with your doctor.
- Wait until the snow has stopped falling.
- Stretch and walk for a few minutes before starting. This will loosen and warm up your muscles.
- Avoid eating, having sex, exercising or other strenuous activity for at least 30 minutes before shoveling, as your blood (and needed oxygen) will be diverted away from your heart. This is the basis of many heart attacks.
- Avoid coffee or smoking for at least one hour before or one hour after shoveling or during breaks. These stimulants increase your heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the level of work your heart does and your heart attack risk.
- Drink water before and after shoveling.
- Dress warmly; cover your head, mouth and neck. Hypothermia and frostbite are serious issues.
- Wear shoes that will prevent you from slipping and falling. Strains, sprains, and broken bones are one faulty step away in many instances.
- Your equipment matters. Use a shovel with a bent handle. This angling will relieve the pressure on your back. Use a smaller shovel. It may take longer, but the lowered risk is worth it.
- Push snow; try not to lift. If you have to lift, use your knees to take some pressure off your back.
- Take your time and take breaks. If your body doesn’t feel right, stop.
Most importantly, KNOW WHEN TO STOP.
Do you know the warning signs of a heart attack? Be quick to seek medical attention if you feel out of sorts.
If you live in certain climates, winter chores are unavoidable. Arm yourself and your loved ones with these precautions. Your Sterling Medical Advice expert consultants are certainly available to answer any questions you have on this topic or when the need arises.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
You have probably heard it said, but you’d be surprised to know how often people hurt themselves shoveling snow. Of course, this time of year, people are doing many more strenuous activities than just shoveling snow. There’s walking (through mounds of snow), skiing, cross-county skiing, snow boarding, football in the cold, pushing cars that are stuck, scraping ice off the car and many other activities.
Is this really such a big deal? The important consideration is that you exert a lot of energy doing these activities. If your heart, back or overall health isn’t prepared to handle them, you can suffer debilitating consequences. Would you believe that every year over 11,000 people visit emergency rooms for back injuries related to shoveling snow?
Let’s address this in a way that is easy to understand. Shoveling snow can be even more vigorous than a full aerobic workout. It involves utilization and straining many muscles not often used by many people. It can lead to several ailments, ranging from strains and sprains to a herniated disk or a heart attack. Thus, if you’re going to do it smartly, certain rules should apply.
Understand your risks. These winter activities I mentioned pose higher risks in the following groups, including an advanced rate of having a heart attack.
- Individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle
- Individuals having had a prior heart attack
- Individuals with known heart disease
- Individuals with high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Smokers
Here are some quick tips to lower your risk while shoveling:
- Discuss your risk level with your doctor.
- Wait until the snow has stopped falling.
- Stretch and walk for a few minutes before starting. This will loosen and warm up your muscles.
- Avoid eating, having sex, exercising or other strenuous activity for at least 30 minutes before shoveling, as your blood (and needed oxygen) will be diverted away from your heart. This is the basis of many heart attacks.
- Avoid coffee or smoking for at least one hour before or one hour after shoveling or during breaks. These stimulants increase your heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the level of work your heart does and your heart attack risk.
- Drink water before and after shoveling.
- Dress warmly; cover your head, mouth and neck. Hypothermia and frostbite are serious issues.
- Wear shoes that will prevent you from slipping and falling. Strains, sprains, and broken bones are one faulty step away in many instances.
- Your equipment matters. Use a shovel with a bent handle. This angling will relieve the pressure on your back. Use a smaller shovel. It may take longer, but the lowered risk is worth it.
- Push snow; try not to lift. If you have to lift, use your knees to take some pressure off your back.
- Take your time and take breaks. If your body doesn’t feel right, stop.
Most importantly, KNOW WHEN TO STOP.
Do you know the warning signs of a heart attack? Be quick to seek medical attention if you feel out of sorts.
If you live in certain climates, winter chores are unavoidable. Arm yourself and your loved ones with these precautions. Your Sterling Medical Advice expert consultants are certainly available to answer any questions you have on this topic or when the need arises.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Spotlight on Our Dentists
I’ve seen so many individuals with dental complaints in the emergency room that it begs certain questions? Do you not have access to a dentist? Are you aware of under what circumstances you should wait it out, go to the emergency room or seek out a dentist? Even when you want to see a dentist, do you know what to do?
Would you like to chat with a dentist? Have questions about what’s separating you from your beautiful smile?
Our network of over 300 experts includes dentists who are available 24/7 with immediate, personalized medical and healthcare information and advice.
Call 844-SMA-TALK (844-762-8255) or login at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
I’ve seen so many individuals with dental complaints in the emergency room that it begs certain questions? Do you not have access to a dentist? Are you aware of under what circumstances you should wait it out, go to the emergency room or seek out a dentist? Even when you want to see a dentist, do you know what to do?
Would you like to chat with a dentist? Have questions about what’s separating you from your beautiful smile?
Our network of over 300 experts includes dentists who are available 24/7 with immediate, personalized medical and healthcare information and advice.
Call 844-SMA-TALK (844-762-8255) or login at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Straight, No Chaser: Understanding and Appropriately Stopping Thumbsucking
At first glance, you may be wondering what’s so significant about thumb sucking that we need to discuss it. And then, I show you these two pictures.
In most instances, thumb sucking is a benign activity. It appears to stem from the sucking reflexes babies have, which are useful in breastfeeding. It is understandable how babies can transfer the level of comfort and security they find in their maternal attachment. You would think that at some point that wouldn’t be necessary, and indeed that is the case in the overwhelming majority. In those instances when that is not the case, you need to have tools at your disposal to address the situation.
As a frame of reference, thumb sucking tends to end during the toddler years for most. For most of the rest it ends when they are exposed to other children who may exert peer pressure.
As noted in the above picture, thumb sucking becomes a physical problem when a child’s permanent teeth start to come in. Thumb sucking then can affect how teeth develop and how the roof of the mouth forms.
Regarding mental considerations, children (and adults) may revert to thumb sucking behaviors when confronted with stress. In these instances the thumb sucking can take them back to a more comforting time.
The two most common questions are “When should I do something about it?” and “What can I do about it?”
In general, the time to start working with your children to move past thumb sucking is at about age four to five, if you notice dental problems or if you suspect that thumb sucking is related to anxiety and stress.
Various strategies are used to facilitate cessation of thumb sucking:
- It appears that parental displays of anxiety are counterproductive. Children tend to respond more to positive reinforcement (rewarding good behaviors) than negative reinforcement (criticizing negative behaviors). Along those lines, experts generally recommend avoiding strategies such as placing bitter substances on the thumb.
- Avoid rewarding the use of thumb sucking as a means to obtain attention.
- It’s easier and more productive to address any triggers (e.g., anxiety, stressors) that promote thumb sucking than the activity itself. Substitution of the thumb with another release (e.g., a stuffed animal) may be effective.
- If other efforts have been unsuccessful and the thumb sucking is interfering with normal development of the teeth, your dentist might recommend a dental appliance (such as a mouth guard) or a thumb guard to prohibit sucking.
It is important to realize that in most instances thumb sucking will go away. It is also important for you not to display so much stress that it adds to the child’s stress or reinforces any attention-seeking behavior.
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
At first glance, you may be wondering what’s so significant about thumb sucking that we need to discuss it. And then, I show you these two pictures.
In most instances, thumb sucking is a benign activity. It appears to stem from the sucking reflexes babies have, which are useful in breastfeeding. It is understandable how babies can transfer the level of comfort and security they find in their maternal attachment. You would think that at some point that wouldn’t be necessary, and indeed that is the case in the overwhelming majority. In those instances when that is not the case, you need to have tools at your disposal to address the situation.
As a frame of reference, thumb sucking tends to end during the toddler years for most. For most of the rest it ends when they are exposed to other children who may exert peer pressure.
As noted in the above picture, thumb sucking becomes a physical problem when a child’s permanent teeth start to come in. Thumb sucking then can affect how teeth develop and how the roof of the mouth forms.
Regarding mental considerations, children (and adults) may revert to thumb sucking behaviors when confronted with stress. In these instances the thumb sucking can take them back to a more comforting time.
The two most common questions are “When should I do something about it?” and “What can I do about it?”
In general, the time to start working with your children to move past thumb sucking is at about age four to five, if you notice dental problems or if you suspect that thumb sucking is related to anxiety and stress.
Various strategies are used to facilitate cessation of thumb sucking:
- It appears that parental displays of anxiety are counterproductive. Children tend to respond more to positive reinforcement (rewarding good behaviors) than negative reinforcement (criticizing negative behaviors). Along those lines, experts generally recommend avoiding strategies such as placing bitter substances on the thumb.
- Avoid rewarding the use of thumb sucking as a means to obtain attention.
- It’s easier and more productive to address any triggers (e.g., anxiety, stressors) that promote thumb sucking than the activity itself. Substitution of the thumb with another release (e.g., a stuffed animal) may be effective.
- If other efforts have been unsuccessful and the thumb sucking is interfering with normal development of the teeth, your dentist might recommend a dental appliance (such as a mouth guard) or a thumb guard to prohibit sucking.
It is important to realize that in most instances thumb sucking will go away. It is also important for you not to display so much stress that it adds to the child’s stress or reinforces any attention-seeking behavior.
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Don't Blame the Baby
Sleep deprived. Busy. Haven’t primped in a month. Way off your workout regimen.
“It’s the baby’s fault!”
Nope.
That baby’s yet another opportunity for you to be constructive and work toward your health goals.
Notice in these picture that babies provide a perfect 10-30 lbs. of weight resistance for your favorite exercises.
Also, swinging babies has been shown to produce giggles and improve brain development. But please don’t bounce your baby on her head or otherwise place her in harm’s way. We don’t advocate that!
Find your 30 minutes. It’s great for your health, and she’s watching and learning how to take care of herself.
Feel free to contact us at 844-SMA-TALK (844-762-8255) or www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com for advice or information. We are prepared, 24/7, to give you immediate and personal advice and information.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Sleep deprived. Busy. Haven’t primped in a month. Way off your workout regimen.
“It’s the baby’s fault!”
Nope.
That baby’s yet another opportunity for you to be constructive and work toward your health goals.
Notice in these picture that babies provide a perfect 10-30 lbs. of weight resistance for your favorite exercises.
Also, swinging babies has been shown to produce giggles and improve brain development. But please don’t bounce your baby on her head or otherwise place her in harm’s way. We don’t advocate that!
Find your 30 minutes. It’s great for your health, and she’s watching and learning how to take care of herself.
Feel free to contact us at 844-SMA-TALK (844-762-8255) or www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com for advice or information. We are prepared, 24/7, to give you immediate and personal advice and information.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Straight, No Chaser: About Teething and Why We Need Baby Teeth
Have you ever wondered why our design includes baby teeth (primary teeth)? It’s not like we have primary bones in our arms and legs that disintegrate in favor of stronger arms and legs. It’s not like primary teeth aren’t strengthened by calcium and couldn’t grow like young bones do.
We’ll address that shortly, but the value in discussing baby teeth is that things outside of normal occur to them. You can’t just assume that everything is ok because permanent teeth will follow. Healthy permanent teeth represent a successful stage of development, and you need to know what steps to take to ensure that healthy development. You also need to know what steps to take when things appear to be going wrong with that development.
A child’s primary teeth (aka “baby teeth”) serve very important functions. Specifically, they help children speak, chew and serve as placeholders for the permanent teeth. Primary teeth typically begin to appear when a baby is between age six and 12 months, even though they begin to develop in the womb (as do our permanent teeth).
Even though you know they’re not permanent, dental visits are important while baby teeth are in place. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that a dentist examine a child within six months after the first tooth comes in and no later than the first birthday in any circumstance. Besides checking for tooth decay, your dentist will show you how to properly clean your child’s teeth and how to evaluate any adverse habits such as thumb-sucking.
Throughout it all, good nutrition is key from pregnancy through childhood. This includes appropriate amounts of Vitamins C and D, calcium and phosphorus.
Speaking of baby teeth, everyone always asks me, “What’s the deal with teething?” Just as adults have problems with kidney stones or women have with childbirth, the passage of things through us can be painful. Infants only have a limited number of ways to respond to pain, so their symptoms are both local to the teeth and somewhat general in nature. Common symptoms with teething (the appearance of the primary teeth) include the following:
- Anxiety, irritability, grumbling
- Changes in eating habits
- Difficulty in sleep
- Increased production of saliva (spit, salivation)
- Lack of appetite
- Red and/or swollen (i.e., inflamed) gums
Teething is generally a benign process, and you should expect symptoms to be mild. Fever, rashes, vomiting and diarrhea are not part of that complex and could indicate that an additional process is occurring. This warrants a visit to your pediatrician.
In order to relieve your baby from all these discomforts , you must clean his/her mouth two to three times/day with a wet gauze, towel or tissue. Try giving cold objects (look for those manufactured especially for this purpose), a cold clean cloth or a clean teething ring to bite or chew. Gently rubbing your child’s gums with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon or a wet gauze pad can be soothing, too.
If your child is still cranky and in pain, consult your dentist or physician. You certainly can contact your SMA personal healthcare consultant for any questions you may have.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Have you ever wondered why our design includes baby teeth (primary teeth)? It’s not like we have primary bones in our arms and legs that disintegrate in favor of stronger arms and legs. It’s not like primary teeth aren’t strengthened by calcium and couldn’t grow like young bones do.
We’ll address that shortly, but the value in discussing baby teeth is that things outside of normal occur to them. You can’t just assume that everything is ok because permanent teeth will follow. Healthy permanent teeth represent a successful stage of development, and you need to know what steps to take to ensure that healthy development. You also need to know what steps to take when things appear to be going wrong with that development.
A child’s primary teeth (aka “baby teeth”) serve very important functions. Specifically, they help children speak, chew and serve as placeholders for the permanent teeth. Primary teeth typically begin to appear when a baby is between age six and 12 months, even though they begin to develop in the womb (as do our permanent teeth).
Even though you know they’re not permanent, dental visits are important while baby teeth are in place. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that a dentist examine a child within six months after the first tooth comes in and no later than the first birthday in any circumstance. Besides checking for tooth decay, your dentist will show you how to properly clean your child’s teeth and how to evaluate any adverse habits such as thumb-sucking.
Throughout it all, good nutrition is key from pregnancy through childhood. This includes appropriate amounts of Vitamins C and D, calcium and phosphorus.
Speaking of baby teeth, everyone always asks me, “What’s the deal with teething?” Just as adults have problems with kidney stones or women have with childbirth, the passage of things through us can be painful. Infants only have a limited number of ways to respond to pain, so their symptoms are both local to the teeth and somewhat general in nature. Common symptoms with teething (the appearance of the primary teeth) include the following:
- Anxiety, irritability, grumbling
- Changes in eating habits
- Difficulty in sleep
- Increased production of saliva (spit, salivation)
- Lack of appetite
- Red and/or swollen (i.e., inflamed) gums
Teething is generally a benign process, and you should expect symptoms to be mild. Fever, rashes, vomiting and diarrhea are not part of that complex and could indicate that an additional process is occurring. This warrants a visit to your pediatrician.
In order to relieve your baby from all these discomforts , you must clean his/her mouth two to three times/day with a wet gauze, towel or tissue. Try giving cold objects (look for those manufactured especially for this purpose), a cold clean cloth or a clean teething ring to bite or chew. Gently rubbing your child’s gums with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon or a wet gauze pad can be soothing, too.
If your child is still cranky and in pain, consult your dentist or physician. You certainly can contact your SMA personal healthcare consultant for any questions you may have.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
