Going into the hospital for surgery is nervewracking, even a little annoying. Having been both a patient and a caregiver, I can definitely sympathize with both sides. When I was studying to become a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist, I was drilled again and again on patient safety and indentification. On very busy days in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, I could certainly see why this was necessary. A patient might be asked multiple times before a procedure for his or her name and date of birth, which is simply a way for doctors and nurses to be absolutely sure that the correct…
Most of our area has returned to normal after the storm this past weekend, and it is looking clear for the upcoming week. The sunny, clear skies of Monday and Tuesday are a sharp contrast to a very dismal Saturday and Sunday. In the wake of all that rain and wind, homeowners were likely to find branches and trees down all over the place, some of which may have been dangling in precarious positions. Plants and lawns may have also suffered in the high wind and heavy rain, but here are a few things you can do to deal with the mess: • If you have damage, take pictures! It never hurts to submit …
If you planted tomato plants in your vegetable garden earlier in the season, chances are you now have a ton of tomatoes on your hands. The unfortunate thing about this plentiful fruit is that it tends to go bad pretty quickly if you don’t use it or preserve it right away. Luckily, there are a ton of recipes out there that call for fresh, delicious tomatoes; you can even find instructions for canning and preserving them online. Making your own pasta sauce isn’t even as intimidating as it sounds if you have the extra time to put into it. The good news about this red fruit is that it contains a …
PAD can be a rather sneaky condition because people often think the symptoms are the result of some other benign condition. Usually, when an artery in the arm or leg is narrowed, blood flow to the muscle becomes restricted which causes cramping or pain while walking, exercising or climbing stairs. The cramping may resolve (in severe cases it may persist for awhile) when the person returns to a resting state, but resume whenever the person becomes active again. Individuals who have PAD are at an increased risk of having coronary artery disease, and complications with their limbs that could …
My husband spent a lot of time in Thailand while on active duty with the U.S. Navy, which really gave him a profound love for Thai food. He shared this love with me, and one dish that we both really enjoy is known as Tom Yum soup. This soup is actually being studied by scientists because it is suspected that its ingredients have powerful health benefits, especially as a natural immune system booster. There are many variations to the recipe, and every Thai restaurant probably has its own style for making this dish, but I’d like to share a basic recipe from my husband. 4 cups chicken stock (…
It’s already August, and that leaves many of us wondering where the summer went, but if you love to garden, the approach of fall doesn’t mean the growing season is coming to a close. For those who enjoy harvesting fresh vegetables, there are a number of crops that can be re-planted right now for a late fall harvest, including cabbage, broccoli, radishes, spinach, cauliflower, rutabagas, kohlrabi, brussel sprouts, lettuce and mustard greens. If you had planted your vegetables in the late spring and early summer, you may notice that some crops, such as spinach and lettuce, have finished their …
We often think of swimming as a recreational activity this time of year, but if you are looking for something to shake up your normal exercise routine, look no further than the nearest available pool. Pool workouts are excellent for young athletes, older adults, those with arthritis, pregnant women or anyone who has had a recent injury that makes weight-bearing exercise difficult or uncomfortable. The occasional pool workout is also a great break from your normal routine, and can help your body to recover from a hard workout the day before while still getting some cardiovascular training in. …
Lately, it seems that doctors and medical personnel are trying harder to monitor a patient’s risk factors for developing disease long before there are any obvious signs of a problem. Recommendations for cardiovascular screenings have been changed slightly in the last few years in an attempt to identify young adults with a propensity for developing cardiovascular disease before they actually experience any symptoms. The American Heart Association (AHA) has published a "recommended schedule" for cardiovascular screening tests for optimal health, suggesting that many of these screenings be …
Is it possible to keep running while pregnant? Years ago it was thought that pregnant women should limit their physical activity as much as possible to reduce injury or complications, but recently there have been many articles published on the topic of running during pregnancy. Times have changed significantly; many doctors are urging healthy moms-to-be to continue exercising throughout pregnancy as long as there are no complications. Running may become difficult later in pregnancy, but it is now considered safe under the right circumstances. “Each woman and each pregnancy is different, but …
Earlier in the spring, our area experienced quite a bit of rain and gloomy weather. Currently, we are experiencing the opposite scenario, with soaring temperatures and very little rain. In the high heat of July, your garden may be struggling to survive between the lack of rain and hungry creatures that are tempted to feed on juicy leaves or vegetables. Here are a few things you can do to help your garden make it through this heat wave: • Water plants early in the morning if possible. Too much water in the evening hours will prevent the leaves from drying properly and could allow mold or …
Summer is filled with 5k road races for local charities and “Fun Runs” for runners of all levels and abilities. Some people participate for the challenge of the 5K, while others enter to support the cause and others sign up to challenge each other for first place. I always enjoyed competing in these summer races, but training for them without my coaches and teammates meant that I had to be a bit more creative than usual since I didn’t always have my “running buddy,” Chris with me. If you enjoy running and you are looking for something fun and exciting to challenge you or shake up your normal …
Carbohydrates have developed a bad name in recent years, but in reality our bodies require carbohydrates for energy. The truth is that it’s not whether you eat carbs or not, it’s the type of carbohydrate you consume that really matters when you are trying to eat a healthy diet. Choosing whole wheat bread, for example, is a healthy alternative to white bread because it contains the entire wheat kernel, which has more nutrients and fiber. White bread is made from refined flour, in which the outer shell of the wheat kernel is removed to give the flour a smoother texture and a longer shelf life…
Most of us have experienced some sort of muscle soreness after exercise at some point in our lives, especially when we exert ourselves during a workout or competition. Usually, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, or DOMS, will set in about 24-48 hours after exercise and should dissipate after about five days. DOMS is actually normal and very common among athletes and fitness enthusiast of all ages and ability levels, (you may even experience this soreness after shoveling snow or doing a lot of yard work!) but let’s face it, having muscle soreness is pretty annoying when you are trying to get …
The Fourth of July may have come and gone, but there's still plenty of prime barbecuing time left this summer. However, the USDA has released some guidelines to prompt both the hosts and guests of these summer events to think about food safety. Here are a few easy points to remember to keep your summer parties healthy and safe. • When at the grocery store, buy meats, fish and poultry last, and place them in the refrigerator or freezer immediately upon returning home. (If they are not going to be used in 1-2 days, they need to be frozen.) • Store raw meats and fish on the bottom shelf of your …
I am definitely more diligent about using sunscreen now than I ever was before as a teenager. I guess the reality set in a few years ago that skin cancer is a very real possibility for me since I spend a lot of time outside in full sunlight and a few of my family members have already dealt with melanoma. I have seen a lot of posters detailing the “ABCD’s of Skin Cancer” at various medical offices, and I think the guidelines on them are pretty helpful and easy to remember. Knowing the “ABCD” guidelines that have been put out by the American Cancer Society and the American Melanoma Foundation …
If you plan on being outdoors a lot this summer, it’s pretty likely that you are going to see some poison ivy around your yard or garden. Some people don’t have much of an allergic reaction when they come into contact with the plant’s oils, known as urushiol, while others may develop lots of itchy hives as a result. There has only been one time when I have had a reaction bad enough to warrant a trip to the doctor’s office, and that was pretty uncomfortable; most cases can be handled by applying some rubbing alcohol and Benadryl gel or Calamine lotion. Whether you have mild reactions or …
Over the course of my life, I have collected quite a few pets for the average person, including ducks, orphaned lambs, horses, dogs, cats, fish, chickens, a rabbit and two parrots, but I never thought about the fact that certain “human” diseases are now being seen in our furry friends until recently. Almost half of all pets in the United States are overweight or obese and coming down with conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, kidney failure, heart disease and cancer, which can really end up costing the pet owner a ton of money! When I was younger, I always thought I’d be bringing my dog in …
You may have seen articles or ads suggesting that you fill up your plate with more colorful fruits and vegetables with the slogan “5 a day the color way” somewhere in the pictures. There are many delicious fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins and minerals that come in other colors than just green; as the ad suggests, the more colorful you make your fruit and veggie intake, the better. From the dark green leafy greens of spinach to the bright reds and yellows of sweet peppers, there are plenty of options to keep it “colorful” and flavorful, as well. Fruits and vegetables, as we all …
Recent research studies in pediatric medicine have shown that children exposed to lots of physical activity at a very early age are more likely to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle throughout childhood and adulthood. Some literature from the American College of Sports Medicine suggests that tendencies toward physical activity or being sedentary are established early in infancy, and that babies need to be encouraged to reach for objects, crawl, sit up and roll over to help with their very early physical development. It makes sense to think about starting a child very early with physical …
Everyone knows how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. Being well rested can positively impact your mood and your performance at work or school. It’s no secret that sleep deprivation can lead to things like serious problems in the workplace or car accidents, but many adults in the U.S. have trouble going to sleep at night and walk around during the day fatigued as a result. There can be many causes for a person’s sleep deprivation; some of them may be serious underlying medical conditions, while others might be due to lifestyle choices or habits such as drinking caffeinated beverages…
