Tag Archives: There are 72 Hours in a Day

Straight, No Chaser: The Cancer Prevention Checklist

Logo_ReduceYourRisk

I’m going to present this information two separate ways: today a checklist, as simple as possible; and tomorrow with the same information explained briefly but with detail. You likely will find it of interest that many of these considerations are the same healthcare basics that promote good health generally. Always appreciate these considerations aren’t guarantees but reductions of risks.
So… here are three principles and a total of eight tips (in case you remember nothing else, go with the principles).

Cancer-Prevention-1

What you allow to enter your body matters.

  1. Eat healthy foods.
  2. Protect yourself from the sun.
  3. Avoid tobacco of any type.

Strengthen your body.

  1. Maintain a healthy weight.
  2. Be physically active.
  3. Get immunized.

Prevention and early detection are key.

  1. Avoid risky sexual and illicit drug-related behaviors.
  2. Engage in routine medical care, screenings and self-exams.

 

Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
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Processed Meats Cause Cancer

Introduction

This Straight, No Chaser post discusses the links between processed meats and cancer.

processed meats cause cancer

Perhaps this should be filed under things you already know, think you know, or know but don’t care enough for it to change your lifestyle (we are a bacon-loving nation), but at least after reading this, you can consider yourself an informed consumer.
bacon-wrapped-hot-dog-maple-bar

What’s the news?

The World Health Organization has reaffirmed that processed (and cured) meats cause colorectal cancer. This places these foods in the same category of danger as smoking, alcohol intake and asbestos exposure. Furthermore, red meats such as beef, lamb and pork have been upgraded to “probable” carcinogens, which means the research is mounting in that direction but isn’t yet definitive.
bacon cigarettes

Which meats pose the danger?

Bacon, ham, hot dogs and sausage, as well as processed meats like salamis and cold cuts.

Red-Meat-1

Can I trust this information?

You should. These recommendations were based on data from over 800 different research studies.

Is this an example of “everything in moderation is ok?” Doesn’t everything cause cancer?

If you want to believe that, fine. It’s more accurate to say there are levels of risk at every amount of consumption. However, to quantify the risk for this topic, approximately 3 slices of cooked bacon eaten daily was shown to increase the risk for colorectal (bowel) cancer by 18%. The average American eats about 18 pounds of bacon per year, well above that standard. The difference here is this level of consumption is well within the normal eating habits of Americans, as opposed to theoretical consumptions that aren’t practically realized due to insufficient lifetime exposure.

hotdogeating

 

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Ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic. Also, take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. Additionally, as a thank you, we’re offering you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!

Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.jeffreysterlingbooks.com. Another free benefit to our readers is introductory pricing with multiple orders and bundles!

Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK. Likewise, please share our page with your friends on WordPress! Also like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com! Follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.

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Straight, No Chaser: Mass Trauma Alert – Your Disaster Preparedness Strategy

tornado
If you’ve become a regular reader of Straight, No Chaser (thank you!), you will note the recurring theme of prevention. There’s often just not enough time to act in the midst of a life-threatening emergency. Today, I’m just asking you to put together a simple contingency, emergency supplies kit for whatever disaster may befall you and your family. Should you ever need it, I suspect you’ll be glad you did. The disaster you’re preparing for could last hours or more than a few days. Depending on where you live, it could be a hurricane, tornado, blizzard, or wildfire. Or maybe you’ve just become trapped inside your home; maybe you’re trapped outside your home, and your children are trapped at home. You might not have access to food, water, or electricity. With preparation of emergency water, food, and a disaster supplies kit, you can provide for and protect your entire family.

disaster natural

Without getting precise or complicated, it’s a very good idea to assemble a basic collection of items in the event of any emergency or disaster. All of this should sound basic and obvious, but, unless assembled and at the ready, you might not be able to access what you need. It would be good to strategically place kits at home, work, and/or car. Also consider any unique health and medical needs of your family, and include these in your kit. Store at least a 3-day supply, and if at all possible, up to a 2-week supply that will cover each member of your family. Don’t forget to consider your pets. Here’s a list of essentials. Use it to customize and develop your kit.

disaster_supply_kit

  • Water—one gallon per person, per day. This is a must. Think one half-gallon for drinking and another for food preparation and hygiene. If you are unable to store this much, store as much as you can without making your kit too difficult to maneuver. You can conserve water and energy of water by reducing activity and staying cool.
  • Food—nonperishable, easy to prepare items (Don’t forget the can opener.)
  • First aid kit
  • Medications (7­-day supply) and any supplies needed to administer them
  • Flashlight
  • Battery powered radio (will last longer than the charge on your smartphone)
  • Cell phone with chargers
  • Extra batteries for everything
  • Multipurpose tool
  • Sanitation and personal hygiene items
  • Copies of personal documents (birth certificates, insurance policies, medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, etc.) with family and emergency contact information
  • Extra cash
  • Emergency blankets and towels
  • Area maps
  • Extra house and car keys
  • Protective masks
  • Rain gear
  • Work gloves
  • Tools/supplies for securing your home
  • Extra clothing, hat, and sturdy shoes
  • Duct tape
  • Something to cut with (scissors, pocket knife)
  • Household liquid bleach
  • Entertainment items and other creature comfort items to help maintain your sanity

disasternat

Pack the items in easy-to-carry containers, label the containers clearly, and store them where they would be easily accessible. Rollable trash containers and backpacks are very good for this purpose. In a disaster situation, you may need access to your disaster supplies kit quickly—whether you are sheltering at home or evacuating.
So there you have it. I’ve tried to be basic. Much more detailed information is available, and I’d suggest you tailor your kit to what types of disasters are most likely in your area. Take an hour and do this. Without a good disaster plan and kit, the disaster itself will only be the first wave of trauma to hit.

Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Mass Trauma, Community Stress and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

masstrauma nairobi shootings

If you’ve been following the Straight, No Chaser series on post-traumatic stress disorder, it may have occurred to you that episodes that some might be able to handle when taken in isolation can have dramatically different psychological effects on others. It gives one pause and a cause to reflect on recent episodes in the news locally and abroad through a different prism.
This is the fourth in a series on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

  • For an introduction to PTSD, including signs, symptoms and those at risk, click here.
  • For a discussion of the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD, click here.
  • For a discussion of the effects of PTSD in children, click here.

ptsddisasters

When entire communities are affected by a mass trauma such as a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, the effects of war or even a seemingly senseless death within the community, many can develop signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In these instances, symptoms tend to develop in the first few weeks after the episode. This is a normal, expected and shared community response to serious trauma. Fortunately, when communities suffer trauma, resources are more likely to become readily available, which allows many to experience a lessening of symptoms over time.
In the immediate timeframe of the event, vital measures for physical and mental wellbeing should include the following.

  • Getting medically evaluated and to a safe place
  • Securing food and water
  • Contacting loved ones or friends
  • Learning what is being done to help and either provide or receive help as needed

A woman cries while sitting on a road amid the destroyed city of Natori, Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan March 13, 2011, after a massive earthquake and tsunami that are feared to have killed more than 10,000 people. Picture taken March 13, 2011. REUTERS/Asahi Shimbun (JAPAN - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT) JAPAN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN JAPAN. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
Unfortunately, some individuals just do not get better on their own. Although most people tend to improve with time after a community disaster, it is not uncommon for some to become more distressed and to exhibit more symptoms of PTSD, depression, and other mental health conditions. There are so many variables in play based on the type of disaster that occurred. Some people are effective at rebuilding their lives if the available resources are appropriate for the type of effect it had on them personally, but others may experience ongoing stress from loss of jobs and schools, trouble paying bills, finding housing, and getting healthcare. These types of stressors compound the effects of the disaster and may delay recovery in those affected by PTSD.
Many in the public health communities are embracing a comprehensive version of mass trauma “psychological first aid.” This complement to medical and financial resources is meant to fill existing voids in post-community disaster care delivery. Otherwise treatment approaches are generally similar to treatment of other forms of PTSD.
At the end of it all, disasters are just that. It would be a good thing for you and your family to be aware of the types of community disasters you may be exposed to and prepare before you ever need help. Having emergency numbers and other resources on your person at all times can be the difference between life and death when seconds count. Here’s hoping you either never need such assistance or you’re prepared enough during a disaster to make it through ok.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
 

Straight, No Chaser: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment

ptsdpic
Review this previous Straight, No Chaser post for a review of PTSD signs, symptoms and those at risk.
Fortunately, not every traumatized person develops post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In those that do, symptoms typically begin within three months of the incident but may present years afterward. The severity of symptoms is such that they must last more than a month to be considered PTSD. There is significant variation in outcome in those with PTSD; some recover within six months, and in some the condition becomes chronic.
To be diagnosed with PTSD, a person must have the following symptom complex for at least one month:

  • At least one re-experiencing symptom (including flashbacks, scary thoughts or nightmares)
  • At least three avoidance symptoms (a pathologic response to stay away from or forget the episode)
  • At least two hyperarousal symptoms (a constant state of being on edge, sensitive and prone to overreact)

Additionally, PTSD is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or other anxiety disorders.

PTSD cognitive-behavioral-therapy

PTSD is typically treated with either psychotherapy (“talk” therapy), medications, or both. Mental health professionals will review and discuss all treatment options with you prior to initiating therapy, because some people will need to try more than one variety to discover what works for their symptoms.
If someone with PTSD is going through ongoing trauma, such as an abusive relationship, both the PTSD and the current problems need to be treated. Other ongoing problems can include panic disorder, depression, substance abuse, and suicidal feelings.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications for treating adults with PTSD, sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil). Both of these medications are also used to treat depression. In PTSD, they help control symptoms such as sadness, worry, anger, and the feeling of numbness inside. Taking these medications often make it easier to go through psychotherapy.
Sometimes people taking these medications have side effects at the beginning of therapy, but they usually go away. Any side effects or unusual reactions should be reported to a doctor immediately. Sometimes the medication dose needs to be reduced or the time of day it is taken needs to be adjusted to help lessen these side effects. The most common side effects of antidepressants like sertraline and paroxetine are the following:

  • Headache
  • Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
  • Sleeplessness or drowsiness
  • Agitation (feeling jittery)
  • Sexual problems (occurs in both sexes), including reduced sex drive and problems having and enjoying sex.

Doctors may also prescribe other types of medications, such as benzodiazepines (commonly used for relaxation and as a sleep aid), antipsychotics and other antidepressants. There is little information on how well these work for people with PTSD.
If you believe you suffer from PTSD, it’s very simple. Please get evaluated, and get the help you need.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Straight, No Chaser: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Signs, Symptoms and Those at Risk

ptsd-1

Memorial Day serves to honor our fallen heroes. Part of that involves caring for our soldiers still with us. Understanding and acknowledging the mental components of their suffering remains a vital and underachieved need. Our soldiers disproportionately suffer from several mental disorders, notably, post-traumatic stress disorder. Today’s post begins a review of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We thank all of our veterans for their service.
I’ve dealt with disease and death everyday as an Emergency Physician, and it has been dehumanizing on many levels. Imagine having to pronounce someone dead despite giving your version of a superhuman effort to resuscitate them and then having to deliver the news to a family deep in prayer and holding on to strings of hope. Oh yeah, and then you immediately get to return to a room filled with patients and families oblivious to anything you’re dealing with as an individual, who are completely immersed in their personal situations and often complaining because “you took too long.” Imagine the lives of morticians or cemetery workers, having to stare at and feel the remains of the dead all day everyday. Imagine the lives of those habitually raped or viciously beaten by a loved one as a child. And, of course, there are the soldiers. Over 7.5 million Americans are thought to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), approximately one in every 40 individuals.
Traumatic and post-traumatic stress are not only able to affect your reality, but to adjust your reality. The body’s normal “fight-or-flight” response to danger or extremely stressful situations can evolve into abnormalities in your behavior if you are continually immersed in these environments. One such as the emergency physician may become desensitized and/or empowered to address situations that would make otherwise normal individuals recoil, or one may become overly sensitive, hyper-stressed and prone to a fight response to lesser stimuli—or no stimuli at all.
There are three categories of symptoms of PTSD, which are easily remembered by thinking of a hyperactive “fight-or-flight” response: reliving traumatic experiences, avoiding circumstances or situations that remind one of the experience, and reacting out of hyperarousal to stimuli suggestive of the experience.
ptsd2

  • Reliving can involve flashbacks, scary thoughts and nightmares. Victims have been known to actually re-experience the physical and mental episodes, complete with palpitations, sweating, jitteriness and severe anxiety. Such experiences can become incapacitating.
  • Avoidance is in many ways the opposite end of the “fight or flight” syndrome. In this example, avoidance isn’t just being proactive and staying away from reminders of the experience, but it can escalate to loss of emotions or even recollection of the event. This isn’t a strategic decision; it’s a defense mechanism gone haywire. As an example, imagine the near-drowning victim who refuses to even sit on the beach.
  • Hyperarousal leads one to be on edge, sensitive and prone to overreact. In contrast to the other two symptoms listed, hyperarousal tends to be a constant state of being. PTSD victims with hyperarousal describe themselves as easily angered and always stressed.

Many if not most of us will experience traumatic events in our lives sufficient enough to cause tremendous stress. There are circumstances that enhance the risk of developing PTSD.

ptsd-dv

  • Childhood trauma is especially dangerous in that the developing brain can respond “appropriately” in coding for abnormal circumstances and exposures. Subsequent trauma can trigger PTSD-quality responses.
  • Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men.
  • Mental illness may abnormally shape responses to traumatic events.
  • There is some evidence that susceptibility to the disorder may run in families. Individual differences in the brain or genes may predispose an individual.
  • The relative absence of social support and a functional network is a severe risk.

Conversely, if you have strong coping mechanisms, you may be able to lower your risk for developing PTSD after trauma. Consider the following protective factors:

  • A predisposition toward optimism
  • The ability and inclination to seek out support from others, ranging from friends, family and/or an active support group
  • A mental orientation that you “performed well” in the face of the danger
  • A mental orientation of learning from the experience instead of allowing the experience to define you
  • Sufficient mental fortitude to be able to carry on in the face of the symptoms (fear, anxiety) that follow the event

The presence of these “resilience factors” does not suggest that those suffering from PTSD are lacking in any way; it suggests the best opportunities for you to avoid succumbing to the enormous pressures that exist.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
 

Straight, No Chaser: Do You Have Moles?

Molesinyard 

Odds are you do, but we’re not talking about the animal variety. It’s Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, and so if you do have moles, you should know when to be concerned. Let’s review some basic and critical information you should know.

common-moles

1. What are moles? The term common mole is applied to hyperpigmented skin growths. Typically, colors are pink, tan or brown. They tend not to grow beyond the size of a pencil eraser and are usually oval or round. Moles are most commonly seen above in the waist in sun-exposed areas.
2. Do moles develop more commonly as you age? Hopefully not in your case. Moles develop until approximately age 40, then they tend to fade away. However, ongoing sun exposure at any age can prompt the development of more moles. Still, the growth or changing of moles with age must be a prompt to you to get evaluated.
3. How many moles would be considered normal? Most people with moles have between 10-40. Those with more than 50 have an increased risk of developing melanoma, which is a form of skin cancer. It is important to note that most moles do not turn into melanoma.
4. What are abnormal moles? The medical term for an abnormal mole is a dysplastic nevus. This term refers to moles that tend to be larger with possibly different colors, borders and texture. The relevance of these moles is that they are more likely to develop into melanomas, although most do not.

moles

5. When should I be concerned about moles? You should discuss your moles if you notice any of the following:

  • The color of the mole changes.
  • The mole gets smaller or bigger.
  • The mole changes in shape, texture or height.
  • The skin on the surface becomes dry or scaly.
  • The mole becomes hard or feels lumpy.
  • The mole starts to itch.
  • The mole bleeds or oozes.

ABCDChart

I’m going to reconfigure what I just explained in a way that may be easier for you to remember. Characteristics of melanoma can be remembered by ABCDE:

  • A: The mole of melanoma tends to be asymmetric (as opposed to round or oval).
  • B: The mole of melanoma has irregular borders.
  • C: The color of melanotic moles is uneven, and may include multiple colored shades.
  • D: Most melanomas are larger than six millimeters wide (i.e., larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser).
  • E: The mole has been evolving over a matter of weeks or months.

6. What factors increase the risk of melanoma? People with the following risk factors have an increased chance of melanoma:

  • The presence a dysplastic nevus
  • Having more than 50 common moles
  • Excessive exposure to UV radiation: Our greatest exposure to UV radiation is sunlight. Also, tanning (e.g., use of tanning booths and sunlamps before age 30), an increased lifetime sun exposure and having had at least one blistering sunburn (especially during adulthood), a past history or a family history of melanoma all increase the chance of developing melanoma.

7. How can the risks of moles becoming melanoma be reduced? The best way to prevent the development of skin cancer is to limit your time in the sun. When in the sun, you should use sunscreen and wear clothing that covers your skin.
We recommend that you be mindful, not only of the existence of moles, but of other matters that affect your health. Feel free to ask your SMA personal healthcare assistant any questions you have on this or any medical or healthcare topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
 

Straight, No Chaser: Healthy and Safe Swimming

Did you know this is National Healthy Safe and Swimming Week? Whether you’re an avid swimmer or only deal with it on a vacation, it’s important to be reminded how to be safe while you’re in the water. Based on recommendations of the American Red Cross, consider these important swimming safety tips, which include direct and indirect hazards posed by swimming and related activities.

 swimming-pool-safety-150x150

Preparing to swim

  • Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate swim courses.
  • Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing aids, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
  • Enroll in home pool safety, water safety, first-aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.
  • Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around and in water.
  • If you have a home pool, secure it with appropriate barriers.
  • Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

swimming_b250px

While in the water

  • Choose to swim in levels of water consistent with your skill; being adventurous can be deadly.
  • Until and unless you’re an expert swimmer, always swim with someone else.
  • Choose to swim in areas supervised by lifeguards.
  • Never leave a young child unattended near water. Develop the habit of having children ask permission to go near water.
  • When you’re the one supervising your children, always be attentive; avoid distractions.
  • If a child is missing, check the water first.
  • Protect your skin while swimming. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Wear sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15.
  • Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.

swimming healthy1

Water safety is just something that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Every second matters in preventing death and/or long-term disability. Many children who drown will only be out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time. At the other end of risk, too often those believing themselves to be most skilled are most likely to place themselves in harm’s way with overly risk activities, leading to increased incidences of death (this is especially true for scuba divers). Take the time to protect yourselves and your loved ones.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
 

Straight, No Chaser: Bell’s Palsy

bellsPalsy-enHD-AR1

We’ve spent a few days focusing on stroke recognition, but today we focus on a condition that often gets confused with a stroke. Bell’s palsy is a paralysis of the facial nerve, caused by inflammation or other irritation to the nerve.  This paralysis causes muscle weakness in one side of the face.
Patients often find themselves unable to close one of the eyelids or wrinkle one side of the forehead/face.  The eyes may become dry due to inability to blink.  One side of the mouth may drool and droop.  The sense of taste may change.  Sounds may become louder, and headache may develop.

Bell’s palsy is treated with steroids and artificial tears.

The prognosis for individuals with Bell’s palsy is generally very good.  The extent of nerve damage determines the extent of recovery.  Improvement is gradual and recovery times vary.  With or without treatment, most individuals begin to get better within 2 weeks after the initial onset of symptoms and most recover completely, returning to normal inside of 3-6 months.  For some, the symptoms may last longer, and in a few cases, the symptoms may never completely disappear.
bellspalsy
By the way, in case you’re wondering about the picture, the right side of the picture (the left side of the patient’s face) is the side affected.  He can neither wrinkle his forehead nor close his eye, both of which are functions of the cranial nerve.  And no, this is not a stroke.
 

Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
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Straight, No Chaser: Heat Illnesses Awareness (Heat Exhaustion, Heat Cramps, Heat Stroke)

heatawarenessday-logo

Heat Awareness Day occurs the last Friday in May instead of the first weekend in July because prevention is better than cure. Once the rains calm down across America, it’s predictable what will happen next: heat, more heat and all heat, and you’d better be ready. The way things work, we just have to deal with it. Unlike when the weather is cold, and you can just add layers, when it’s extremely hot, it seems unescapable. So we sweat, get fatigued and even cramp up. Surprisingly there appears not to be much thought given to the notion that heat cramps are an early sign of a life threatening condition, even though many of us have had loved ones die from heat related illnesses.
When a loved one dies, families often ask “Is there something I could have done?” Usually I give you information. Today’s Straight, No Chaser will  give you information and power to act if needed. There are several varieties of heat-related illness, and you would do well to be aware of them, because you can make a difference if someone’s suffering in the heat.

heat-sickness-signs

For starters, I really want you to become mindful of Heat Stress, which is the earliest complex of problems arising from excessive heat exposure. Heat stress is that strain and discomfort you get (usually during outdoor exertional activity) that reminds you that you’d be better off inside (assuming it’s cooler inside). You may notice such symptoms as cramping, a prickly-type rash, swelling and a sensation that you want to lose consciousness. If you must remain outdoors due to work, or choose to (playing sports or enjoying the sun), hydration means everything. It really is true that in some instances if you’re not actively urinating, you’re not drinking enough fluid. (This is the level at which LeBron James was suffering, and it really does beg the question as to why he was allowed to suffer on the sidelines instead of being taken to the locker room, iced down and given intravenous fluids.)
Ok, so you’ve ignored both me and your body, and you’re still outdoors, not rehydrating enough. Heat exhaustion may occur next, and it’s defined by ongoing body salt and fluid losses. Now you’re feeling faint, thirsty, anxious, weak, dizzy, you want to vomit and may have a headache, and your body temperature starts to climb. I see a lot of these patients, usually because once you get wobbly, your employers or co-workers are getting concerned, which is good, because at this point, you are actually in danger.

heatstroke2.1206

Or maybe you didn’t come to see me when you had the chance, and you’ve collapsed outdoors, to be found and brought in. This is Heat Stroke, and is defined by changes in your mental status, increases in your temperature and disruption of your bodily functions, including a loss of ability to sweat and a loss of your kidney and liver’s abilities to detoxify your body the way they normally do.
Well, in case you’re feeling good about yourself because you’re too smart to exert yourself outdoors, all I’ve been describing is ‘Exertional’ Heat Stroke. The more deadly form of heat related illness is ‘Classic’ Heat Stroke. This is the type that captures the headlines every year in places like Chicago, New Orleans, Miami and Houston. Classic Heat Stroke is seen in those with underlying disease, bad habits or the elderly. I’m talking about the obese, alcoholics, meth and/or cocaine users, folks with thyroid or heart disease or on certain medications like diuretics or beta-blockers. These folks can get the same symptoms simply by not being able to escape the heat. They may actually just be sitting around in a less than optimally air-conditioned home.
So that’s what you’re up against. And yes, many people die from this. By the way, you’re not protected from the heat related illness just because you’re in shape. Let’s end with some 2 tips (one for prevention and the other for assessment and treatment) to help you Beat the Heat.

heat_stroke_prevention

1) Take special caution during the following conditions

  1. 95 degrees is high risk, regardless of the humidity
  2. 85 degrees and 60% or above humidity
  3. 75 degrees and 90% or above humidity

heat_maintips

Here, you want to remove yourself from that environment. You need to keep plenty of fluids around. You need to visit an environment where there’s adequate air conditioning. Dress very lightly.
2) If symptoms of heat related illness short of mental status changes occur, think “Check, Call, Care, Cool”

  1. Check – look for those signs and symptoms I mentioned earlier
  2. Call – call 911 immediately. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
  3. Care – Lie in a cool place, elevate the legs, place cool, wet towels on the body (especially in the armpits and groin), and drink cool fluids. If mental status changes occur, or if the heart or lungs appear to give out, cool by any means necessary while waiting for the ambulance. This could include ice bath, ice packs, fans or cold water, but don’t drown someone trying to put them in a tub of water if you can’t handle them. Don’t forget to remove those layers of clothing.

Please be mindful that it is hotter in July, and unfortunately lives are lost every year to the heat. That said, it doesn’t have to be July for you to get a heat-related illness. If you can’t avoid the exposure, at least have a plan for managing the heat and acting on any mishaps. The life you save may be your own.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
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Straight, No Chaser Vlog: Stroke – How to Save a Life


It’s stroke awareness month. We understand that being confronted with a family member in the midst of a stroke can be terrifying. Somehow, you have to muster the courage to act and get your loved one the help needed. Of course, recognition is key. In emergency medicine, we say “time is (brain) tissue.” Watch the video for a key primer on what needs to be done when seconds matter.s

Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
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Straight, No Chaser In the News: New Guidelines on Fruit Juice and Fruit Intake for Kids

The American Academy of Pediatrics has offered revised recommendations regarding children’s intake of fruits and fruit juice. If you’re wondering why such a thing is necessary, think no further than avoiding a lifetime of bad teeth and reducing the risks of childhood obesity and failure to thrive. The recommendations are adjusted by age, but the most fundamental consideration is parents should age giving any fruit juices during the first year of a child’s life. In short, it’s time to toss the sippy cup.

Here are the recommendations:
Birth to Age 1:

  • Breast milk or formula should be the only nutrient fed to infants for the first six months of life.
  • After six months of age, parents can introduce fruits (either mashed or pureed) but not fruit juice.

Ages 1-4:

  • At this age, children need one cup of fruit a day.
  • Up to 4 ounces (half a cup) can come from 100% fruit juice.

Ages 4-6

  • At this age, focus on whole fruits.
  • Fruit juice shouldn’t exceed 4-6 ounces a day.

Ages 7-18

  • At this age, children and teens should get 2 to 2.5 cups of fruit daily.
  • Fruit juice shouldn’t exceed 8 ounces (1 cup) a day.

Don’t worry. Kids adopt the habits you introduce. Nutritious eating is a lifestyle. Develop the habits of fruits in cereals, yogurt or smoothies. Introduce apples and oranges as snacks or deserts. You can even use mashed apples or applesauce as a sugar replacement in baked good.
A final reminder is to avoid fake fruit. Fruit chews, strips or gummies don’t deliver the same nutritional content (especially fiber) as whole fruit. And definitely avoid fruit “drinks,” “beverages” or “cocktails.” These are typically signs that it’s not 100% juice.
Here’s to your health!
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
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Straight, No Chaser: Treating Arthritis

arthritis

The thing about treating arthritis is you’d better do it. If you’re not lucky enough to have a form that readily responds to treatment or if you didn’t get early treatment, your arthritis will progress and create an incrementally worse situation for you. Given that we’re discussing arthritis, we’re talking loss of mobility somewhere, maybe in your legs or hands, and pain.
The goal of treatment is to reduce pain, improve function, and prevent further joint damage. The underlying cause often cannot be cured.
Treatment considerations for arthritis fall into three general categories: lifestyle changes, medication and surgery. Let’s review each.
arthritisrx
Lifestyle
The best time to enact lifestyle changes is before you’re struggling to return to normalcy. Exercise is a lifelong habit that will improve the quality and extend the quantity of your life. For starters, exercise maintains and improves muscle tone. It also strengths your bones and cartilage. This will reduce pain, fatigue and stiffness over the long-term.
Exercise should include a tolerable level of aerobic activity, flexibility exercises to sustain your range of motion and strength training to maintain and improve your muscle tone. Physical therapy is another component; massage, heat and ice application, splints and other treatments are important in maintaining blood flow, mobility and positioning as stiffness and deformity increase over time.
Medication
Using medication for arthritis is a very delicate act. Many if not most arthritics are aging and may have other medical issues. Medications in these settings have risks for side effects and drug interactions, including kidney, liver and heart damage, stroke, ulcers and bleeding. Any medications should be coordinated with your physician. Typical over-the-counter (OTC) medical regimens begin with acetaminophen, then move to NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen).
When OTCs don’t work, your doctor may prescribe medicines, including steroids and other medications called biologics, immunosuppressants and DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs). These drugs all are effective in certain patients but can have serious side effects.

arthritis surgery

Surgery
Surgery is an option if and when other therapies haven’t worked and if the patient is healthy enough to have it. There are two primary options. Arthroplasty rebuilds the joint, and joint replacement starts from scratch.
Let’s start back where I’ll always hope you start: prevention. Here are some lifestyle change tips for holding off the onset of arthritis or slowing down its advance.

  • If you are overweight, do what you can to slim down. Weight loss significantly reduces joint pain in the legs and feet.
  • Eat a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. Among other things, a rich supply of vitamin E yields benefits you’ll need. Also eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., salmon, mackerel, herring, flaxseed, canola oil, soybeans and soybean oil, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts).
  • Sleeping eight to 10 hours a night and taking naps during the day can help you both prevent and recover from flare-ups more quickly.
  • Avoid staying in one position for too long.
  • Try stress-reducing activities, such as meditation, yoga or tai chi.
  • Avoid positions or movements that place extra stress on your sore joints.
  • Change your home to make activities easier (e.g., grab bars in the shower, the tub, and near the toilet).
  • Consider capsaicin cream over your painful joints. Typically expect improvement after three to seven days if it’s going to help.

Old Man With Walking Stick Showing Aged 3d Character

If and when you develop arthritis, it’s going to be a tough time. Get ahead of the challenge and take care of yourself in advance. Feel free to ask questions or leave comments.
 

Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
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Straight, No Chaser: Arthritis, The Inevitable Disease

OA

Actually, humans have a few different “inevitable” diseases, but today we’re discussing arthritis, specifically degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis). For this conversation, the inevitability of arthritis is based in the gradual wear and tear on your joints. It seems our design includes an expiration date on our joints. By now, you’re likely wondering why. The answer is in the definition.
osteoarthritisArthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints.

  • Inflammation is a process of some form of attack to an area, producing symptoms that usually include redness, swelling, warmth and pain.
  • A joint is the area where two bones meet.

It stands to reason that when regular use becomes wear and tear, ongoing inflammation ensues, the structure of your bones and joints changes and function decreases. This is why you see decreased movement and deformities in the involved joints of arthritics.
What I just described was a reasonable description of osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, but in fact there are over 100 different types of arthritis. Given its importance in helping you understand and treat yourself and/or your loved one with arthritis, let’s review the common and distinguishing mechanisms.
cartilage

Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage, which is the tissue coating the ends of two bones at a joint. Its purpose is to keep the bones in place and moving smoothly. When cartilage is damaged, the bones rub together. This damage results in pain, swelling, stiffness, warmth and redness—inflammation.
The causes of this inflammation are broad but typically center on four mechanisms:

  • The aging process itself causes sufficient wear and tear on the body, including bones and cartilage, such that the joints will suffer. This represents the most common form of arthritis: degenerative joint disease, aka osteoarthritis.
  • When you break bones, especially near a joint, the resulting damage and/or insufficient healing will expedite the development of arthritis.
  • When you develop certain infections, they can occur in the bones/joints or target those areas. This also can lead to arthritis.
  • The body’s immune system sometimes mistakenly views certain parts of the body as foreign. When this occurs, it will attack healthy tissue, including bones and cartilage. These conditions are known as autoimmune disorders, and they cause inflammation and can lead to acute and chronic arthritis.

OA

You’ve heard of many different forms of arthritis. If you know anyone with any of the following diseases, they likely have arthritis as part of (if not the predominant feature of) the disease.

  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Gonococcal (i.e., due to gonorrhea) arthritis and other arthritis due to other bacterial infections
  • Gout
  • Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children) and rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)
  • Scleroderma
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

The inflammation and other symptoms usually go away if you can find and treat the cause. If it doesn’t go away, or if it goes untreated, chronic arthritis will develop.
Here are the various conversations you should have with your physicians regarding arthritis:

  • “I have a family history of arthritis. Should I be concerned?”
  • “I have a newly swollen joint but didn’t strain or sprain anything.”
  • “All of a sudden my joint (or joints) have really started hurting.”
  • “My skin in my (knee, elbow or other joint) is very hot and very red.”
  • “I have arthritis, and now I’m having problems moving my joint.”
  • “I have arthritis, and the swelling is much worse.”
  • “I have arthritis, and my pain has lasted more than three days.”
  • “I have arthritis, and I have developed a fever plus my joints are really aching.”
  • “I have arthritis, and I seem to be losing weight.”

Next, I’ll discuss general treatment of arthritis and tips you can use to help yourself or your loved one with arthritis. I welcome any questions or comments you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
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Straight, No Chaser: When Sex Hurts Her – Vaginismus

Vaginismus

The human body is fascinating and mysterious in so many different ways. Unfortunately, that’s not always a good thing. Not every medical condition has to be life threatening to have a powerful and detrimental impact on one’s life. Vaginismus is an example of that. It’s a condition in which women suffer involuntary contractions of the floor of the vaginal walls. These contractions can be so violent and incapacitating that it renders sex very painful and uncomfortable at best and physically impossible at worst. No, this is not esoterica. Many women suffer through this, not knowing what it is or ascribing the pain to ‘size’.

Here’s three things you need to know:

She’s not faking it. 

Vaginismus is horrible for the sufferer, as you’d imagine, and it’s a tremendous stress on relationships.  It is the number one cause of unconsummated marriages, and can be complete or situational.  It may be complete, impacting ability for a physician to complete a pelvic examination or for a woman to even place a tampon.  These contractions can be reflex occurrences such that the symptoms occur when presented with any effort to penetrate the vagina.  That said, the reflex is thought to be physiologically learned, and it has been demonstrated that it can be unlearned (Consider your immediate impulse to lift your arm when a fast object comes at you; one episode of vaginismus can prompt a lifetime of similar reactions during efforts at sex.).

vaginismus

Vaginismus can be cured.

It stands to reason that in the many cases in which vaginismus is a learned reflex, the reflex can be overcome.  Muscle training and control are the keys to overcoming vaginismus and is a process that can be accomplished over weeks to months.  The good news is developing this level of training and control can also have wonderful benefits for couples that do get past the problem.  Many women are familiar with Kegel exercises from prenatal classes.  Application of these in the correct manner (with systematic progression until penetration is possible) provides success in approximately 90% of patients.  If you require details, feel free to ask, or discuss this with your physician.

Vaginismus requires patience (and flexibility) to overcome.

Healthy sex lives are enjoyed by many couples without penetration.  This is an important frame of mind to have, less the additional stress can hinder treatment and torpedo the relationship.  It may seem like a lot to ask for some, but believe me, many couple maintain happy relationships in the midst of this, either during treatment or throughout a lifetime of suffering through it.  Taking this mindset into the period during which treatment is ongoing can lead to a very happy outcome once the vaginismus has been overcome.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
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Straight, No Chaser In The News: HIV Vaccine Awareness and Update

HIVvaccines-1

The first (and at that point only) vaccine developed to date that has shown any significant effectiveness was demonstrated to be so in Thailand back in 2009. It was shown to cut the rate of HIV infection by 31% over 3.5 years, with most of the effect seen in its first year. This study was followed by a small-scale study in South Africa. The trial study involved 252 South Africans, and its positive results have set the stage for a much larger study, and it is generating a lot of excitement among the world’s top HIV vaccine scientists.

HIVvaccines-2

The U.S. National Institutes of Health is following up with a trial of an experimental vaccine in South Africa later this year on 5,400 healthy, at risk volunteers from ages 18-35, pending regulatory approval. The vaccine is a combination of a canarypox-based vaccine and another that enhances the body’s immune response to a vaccine. Results from the study will be available in 2020.
In case you’re wondering why the trial is occurring in South Africa, HIV is more pervasive in southern Africa that anywhere else in the world. According to the United Nations, it is estimated that 12.2 percent of the South African population (6.4 million persons) are HIV positive.

HIVvaccines-3

New HIV infections have fallen by 35% globally since 2000 but still ravages millions worldwide. The opportunity to offer an effective HIV would be welcomed everywhere.
If you’re interested in learning more about HIV/AIDS, just type HIV or AIDS into the search engine on the right.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
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Straight, No Chaser: Stroke Awareness Month

American-Stroke-Month-1-

This content of this post is so simple yet important that it really warrants taking up space in a few of your brain’s cells. Most of us know someone who has suffered from a stroke. With recent improvements in treatment, it’s really unfortunate when debilitating consequences occur simply because signs and symptoms weren’t recognized and/or brought in for treatment soon enough.
Let’s talk about strokes, aka Cerebral Vascular Accidents (CVA) and Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA), and specifically about recognition and treatment. If you don’t remember anything else here, commit the mnemonic FAST to memory. (Details follow.)
A stroke (CVA) is an insult to some part of your brain, usually due to an inability of the blood supply to deliver needed oxygen and nutrients to that part of the brain. The brain actually approximates a “body map,” so depending on what part of your brain is affected, different parts of your body will be predictably affected. Technically, a stroke isn’t a stroke until the symptoms have been there for more than 24 hours; until then and/or if the symptoms reverse within that timeframe, the same scenario is called a TIA or a “mini-stroke.”
strokerecogThink FAST, Act Faster
Here’s how the layperson can recognize a possible stroke:

  • Face: Ask the affected person to show you his/her teeth (or gums). In a stroke the face often droops or is otherwise noticeably different.
  • Arms: Ask the person to lift and extend the arms so the elbows are at eye level. In a stroke one side will often be weak and drift downward.
  • Speech: Ask the person to say any sentence to you. In a stroke the speech will slur or otherwise be abnormal.
  • Time: If any of the above occur, it’s recommended that you call 911 immediately, but if it’s my family, I’m getting in a car and going to the nearest MAJOR medical center—not the nearest hospital, which is where the ambulance will take you. There are important differences in hospitals when it comes to stroke treatment (which you won’t know offhand), because some are designated stroke centers and others are not. Friends, this is not the situation where you should wait hours or overnight to see if things get better. Time is (brain) tissue.

It is VERY important that you act on any of the above symptoms (F-A-S) within three (3) hours of symptom onset if possible for the best chance of recovery. Important treatment options are available within the first several hours of symptom onset that are otherwise unavailable.

 
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
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Straight, No Chaser: So… You Skipped Your Period? Let’s Discuss Secondary Amenorrhea

missed-periods-300x205

It happens all the time, but one thing that makes both men and women anxious is a missed menstrual period. Everyone’s always worried about being pregnant (and you should be).

amenorrhea

While a missed menstrual period is the defining feature of early pregnancy, it can be due to a number of other factors and conditions.
Skipped periods are a fact of life. Doctors use the term amenorrhea—primary and secondary amenorrhea—to describe the absence of menstruation.
Primary amenorrhea, which is very rare, is when a female has not yet started her monthly periods, though she is older than age 15 and has otherwise completed puberty. We discuss primary amenorrhea over at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.
Secondary amenorrhea, which is much more common, is the absence of periods in a previously menstruating woman. Periods may be irregular, with the woman skipping periods for the first few years after she begins menstruating and during perimenopause (the time preceding menopause). However, when the lapse in regular periods last for over six months, it is called secondary amenorrhea. (This designation does not pertain to post-menopausal, pregnant or breast-feeding women.)
Let’s jump right into the risk factors and causes. There are many, and these conditions tend interfere with the balance and levels of the body’s sex hormones.
Risk factors
You are more likely to have amenorrhea when the following factors are present:

  • Excessive exercise
  • Significant, sudden weight loss (e.g., gastric bypass, extreme diets)
  • Obesity
  • Severe anxiety or emotional distress
  • Very low body fat (less than 15% – 17%)

Other possible causes include the following:

  • Brain tumors (e.g., pituitary tumors)
  • Cancer/chemotherapy treatment
  • Dilatation and curettage (D&C)
  • Drugs used to treat schizophrenia or psychosis
  • Overactive thyroid gland
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Reduced function of the ovaries
  • Severe pelvic infections
  • Use of hormone shots (e.g., Depo-provera) and the six-month period after cessation of these shots

Of course, you’re going to get evaluated, and the first question will be whether or not you are pregnant. The good news is for secondary amenorrhea (and even more so for skipped periods), simply addressing the underlying cause resolves the situation in most cases. However, don’t take it lightly. Get evaluated if you have concerns. Of course, you can feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
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Straight, No Chaser: Twenty Questions on Menopause (Plus One)

Menopause concept.

Menopause (aka “the change of life”) seems to be one of those things that everyone knows about but many don’t understand well. Let’s approach the topic by reviewing a series of frequently asked questions.

1. Why does it occur?
Menopause is the completion of menstruation. It can occur naturally due to the exhaustion of a woman’s supply of eggs or for other reasons such as having a hysterectomy combined with removal of the ovaries that store these eggs.
2. When does it occur?
The average age of menopause is 51. Symptoms may start much earlier, but it’s usually after age 45.
3. How do I know that menopause has started?
The first thing you may notice at the beginning of menopause is irregular periods. Other changes may include alterations in the flow or duration of periods. To actually know that the process has begun, you should discuss your symptoms with your gynecologist.
4. What’s going on with my hormones during menopause?
Many of the symptoms of menopause are related to changing levels of estrogen and progesterone, two prominent female hormones made in the ovaries.
5. What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the timeframe between when menopausal symptoms begin and your last menstrual period. You can still have periods and get pregnant during this time.

meno-symptoms-img1

6. What are the common symptoms of menopause?

  • A change in periods (shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, with more or less time between)
  • A change in your sleep patterns, with trouble sleeping
  • Hot flashes and/or night sweats
  • Mood swings
  • Less hair on the head and more on the face
  • Trouble focusing
  • Vaginal dryness

7. What is a hot flash?
A hot flash is a sudden warming sensation in your body, usually in the upper portions. This can result in flushing of your upper skin with redness and sweating, followed by shivering. Hot flashes tend to last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes.
8. How do I best deal with hot flashes associated with menopause?
Here are some tips to help you address those hot flashes and night sweats.

  • Drink cold fluids when symptoms begin.
  • Don’t smoke.
  • Dress in layers so that if symptoms begin, you may comfortably take off some clothing.
  • Dress and sleep in fabrics that allow your skin to “breathe.”
  • Lower the room temperature, especially when you sleep

9. I’ve heard that hot flashes aren’t as bad if I’ve had a hysterectomy. Is that true?
In some cases, yes. Overall, that correlates with age. If you have a hysterectomy without affecting the ovaries, then the ovaries are still able to make estrogen and progesterone (two important female hormones), and hot flashes may not occur or be as prominent early on. Once the ovaries stop making these hormones, symptoms may occur.
10. Why do I have problems with my bladder?
Changes in your hormone levels (i.e., estrogen) cause thinning and dryness of your genital area. This subsequent can lead to imperfect control, resulting in leaking and urinary tract infections.

© Copyright 2010 CorbisCorporation

11. Does sex change after menopause?
Changes in your hormone levels (i.e., estrogen) cause thinning and dryness of your genital area. This subsequently can lead to pain and other types of discomfort during intercourse. It is not uncommon to see a decreased level of interest after menopause. However, in some the feelings of freedom from possible pregnancy and other considerations lead many to feel sexually freer.
12. What causes early menopause?
Early (premature) menopause may be due to several factors, such as chemotherapy or pelvic radiation treatments for cancer, surgeries of the ovaries or uterus, genetics, chromosomal defects and certain autoimmune diseases (e.g., thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis–two conditions in which the body’s immune system may attack the ovaries).
13. Can I get pregnant after menopause?
By definition, no. Menopause represents the end of your menstrual periods, and as such you aren’t releasing any eggs that could be fertilized once this has happened. However, you can get pregnant during the perimenopausal period.
14. How is menopause medically managed?
Menopause is an occurrence, not a disease. However, some symptoms of menopause require treatment. More importantly (usually) considerations of and risks for breast cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis must be addressed. Your physician can be expected to have these conversations with you.
15. Can I still have periods after menopause?
By definition, no. “After menopause” is after you’ve had your last menstrual period. During the transition (i.e., the perimenopausal period), you may have a long gap between periods (i.e., irregular periods), but once menopause has occurred, you’re finished with menstruation.

menopausemoods

16. Why do I seem to be more moody?
It is not clear that mood changes are directly related to menopause. Many other circumstances occurring simultaneously may be contributing to these feelings. Such considerations include stress, anxiety related to family changes (e.g., becoming an “empty nester” or having ill parents), depression or diminished physical fitness, all of which may independently cause emotional distress and mood changes.
17. Why do I develop problems with my bones?
Estrogen controls bone loss. The loss of estrogen occurring around the time of menopause contributes to women losing more bone than is being replaced. As this process progresses, bones become weaker or more likely to break.
18. Why do I develop problems with my heart?
This is likely multifactorial. Heart disease simply increases with age. So does obesity and high blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for heart attacks. Estrogen loss may also contribute.
19.  How can I best stay healthy after menopause?
Read the next Straight, No Chaser post, which specifically answers this question.
20. When is it safe to say I’ve reached menopause?
It’s safe to say a woman has reached menopause when she has not had a period for one year.

andropause_

21. Why don’t men go through this?
Men actually do have a version of menopause called andropause. Stay tuned!
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Hoping for Health, Happiness and Healthcare Reform that isn't Sexist On Mother's Day

Apologies in advance for this not being the Mother’s Day post you might have expected, but in the current environment, it’s perhaps a more valuable gift than your typical set of platitudes…
There’s something about being a Mother that men clearly don’t get. Even as a physician, I’ve always been fascinated at how seemingly oblivious to their own health women are in pursuit of the care of their children. I’m not just talking about all the infection risks that come from caring for the snotty noses, strep throats, flu and pneumonia that kids get (moms, you do know that stuff is contagious, right?). I’m talking about risks of death. Mother’s Day is as good of a time as any to remind the thirteen men in the US Senate drafting a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) why this matters.
Did you know that the U.S. has the absolute worst maternal mortality rate (death during childbirth) in the developed world? That’s right (or wrong), we’re #1 in the worst possible way here. According to the World Health Organization, the U.S. was one of a very few countries in which the rates of death for pregnant and new mothers increased in the years between 1990 and 2015. Meanwhile, in the rest of the world, that rate dropped by 44% – nearly half. In 2014 alone, the estimated US maternal mortality rate increased by 26.6%. The sum total here is about three mothers die every single day. In case you were wondering, according to this same data, African-American women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women.

Of course, nothing compares to an actual death, but our ongoing national tragedy is compounded by analysis from the CDC Foundation suggesting that approximately 60% of maternal deaths are preventable. In other words, this isn’t just attributable to say, women choosing to have children at more advanced ages, which independently increases the risk of death.

Incredibly, it is against this backdrop that steps are in place to worsen the situation. Remember, death is an absolute and not a factor of your political inclinations. In the American Health Care Act bill just passed in the House of Representatives, here’s a three-pack of considerations that will predictably further increase the maternal mortality rate:

  • Labeling pregnancy as a pre-existing condition
  • Reducing or eliminating coverage for contraception and abortion
  • Removal of funding for Planned Parenthood and other sources of reproductive health

Medicaid pays for approximately one-half of the childbirths in the United States.
This post probably isn’t what you think it is. Given everything happening in the political arena regarding proposed changes in this nation’s provision of health, Mother’s Day is as good of a time as any to remind the 13 men in the US Senate why this matters.
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone. Here’s hoping it’s a healthy one. Let’s all give the additional give of fighting for adequate health care.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
 

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