March is the perfect month to check in on your resolutions toward your good health. It’s not too far away from the promises you made to yourself at the beginning of the year–in case you need to dust them off a little bit. It’s far enough away to make serious progress toward your summer goals.
Our nutrition and fitness experts, your Personal Healthcare Consultants, are more than happy to advise you on next steps. Contact us 24/7 at 844-SMA-TALK or 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, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
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Tag Archives: SterlingMedicalAdvice.com
Happy New March!
Straight, No Chaser: Would You Consider Acupuncture?
I will start by saying this about Western medicine. The presumption is not that complementary and alternative methods of treatment engaged around world, such as herbals, are ineffective. The premise is that any treatment measure needs thorough research, testing and analysis before approval and adoption. The scientific method simply asks for proof to be established prior to recommending a course of treatment. This approach is taken for your safety. If you appreciate that sentiment, you should understand how and why the practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is allowed but not necessarily recommended as a first line treatment. Physicians have no stakes in pharmaceutical companies’ profit aspirations; in fact, we’re quite aware of them.
Acupuncture is among the oldest treatment modalities in the world, having been practiced in several Asian countries for thousands of years (most notably China). It’s obvious effectiveness in the Far East has generated a call for it to be subjected to the scientific method to better define how to integrate its use into Western medicine.
Here are some frequently asked questions on acupuncture.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a series of procedures that stimulate various anatomical points of the body. To accomplish that, the skin is penetrated with thin metallic needles. Alternatively, electric stimulation may be used. Theoretically, this stimulation releases internal pain-reducing hormones and other chemicals we use to heal ourselves.
Why is it used?
The treatment of pain is a pretty big reason for the use of acupuncture, including the following conditions:
- persistent acute lower back pain
- headache and migraine
- chronic pain, particularly neck and back pain
- joint pain
- dental pain
- post-operative pain
Some acupuncturists use acupuncture to treat additional considerations not related to pain, including the following conditions:
- post-operative nausea and vomiting
- allergies, including hay fever and eczema
- fatigue
- depression and anxiety
- digestive disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- infertility and menstrual disorders
- insomnia
Is it safe?
In the hands of a qualified practitioner, acupuncture is associated with relatively few side effects. However, there are multiple potentially serious consequences if not performed properly, including infections and rupture of organs through puncture. To that end, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires acupuncture needles to be sterile, nontoxic, and labeled for single use by qualified practitioners.
Is it being used in the U.S.?
According to the National Institutes of Health and a National Health Interview Survey conducted in 2007, over 3 million adults and 150,000 children had used acupuncture in the previous year. That’s one of every 100 people!
How does it work?
This is the answer being sought by current research efforts. Research is investigating methods of actions, appropriate medical indications and performance of different instruments used in the process.
What should I expect from a visit to a qualified acupuncturist?
- You should expect to provide a picture of your overall health.
- You should not expect much pain. These needles are hair-thin.
- You should expect to feel energized or relaxed.
- You should not expect a medical diagnosis. Acupuncturists are therapists, not physicians.
Most treatments require at least a few weeks of sessions. If you’re a sufferer from chronic pain and are at wit’s end, consider acupuncture. I prefer you did that than become a chronic and habitual user of narcotics.
Feel free to contact your Personal Healthcare Consulltant 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 will start by saying this about Western medicine. The presumption is not that complementary and alternative methods of treatment engaged around world, such as herbals, are ineffective. The premise is that any treatment measure needs thorough research, testing and analysis before approval and adoption. The scientific method simply asks for proof to be established prior to recommending a course of treatment. This approach is taken for your safety. If you appreciate that sentiment, you should understand how and why the practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is allowed but not necessarily recommended as a first line treatment. Physicians have no stakes in pharmaceutical companies’ profit aspirations; in fact, we’re quite aware of them.
Acupuncture is among the oldest treatment modalities in the world, having been practiced in several Asian countries for thousands of years (most notably China). It’s obvious effectiveness in the Far East has generated a call for it to be subjected to the scientific method to better define how to integrate its use into Western medicine.
Here are some frequently asked questions on acupuncture.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a series of procedures that stimulate various anatomical points of the body. To accomplish that, the skin is penetrated with thin metallic needles. Alternatively, electric stimulation may be used. Theoretically, this stimulation releases internal pain-reducing hormones and other chemicals we use to heal ourselves.
Why is it used?
The treatment of pain is a pretty big reason for the use of acupuncture, including the following conditions:
- persistent acute lower back pain
- headache and migraine
- chronic pain, particularly neck and back pain
- joint pain
- dental pain
- post-operative pain
Some acupuncturists use acupuncture to treat additional considerations not related to pain, including the following conditions:
- post-operative nausea and vomiting
- allergies, including hay fever and eczema
- fatigue
- depression and anxiety
- digestive disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- infertility and menstrual disorders
- insomnia
Is it safe?
In the hands of a qualified practitioner, acupuncture is associated with relatively few side effects. However, there are multiple potentially serious consequences if not performed properly, including infections and rupture of organs through puncture. To that end, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires acupuncture needles to be sterile, nontoxic, and labeled for single use by qualified practitioners.
Is it being used in the U.S.?
According to the National Institutes of Health and a National Health Interview Survey conducted in 2007, over 3 million adults and 150,000 children had used acupuncture in the previous year. That’s one of every 100 people!
How does it work?
This is the answer being sought by current research efforts. Research is investigating methods of actions, appropriate medical indications and performance of different instruments used in the process.
What should I expect from a visit to a qualified acupuncturist?
- You should expect to provide a picture of your overall health.
- You should not expect much pain. These needles are hair-thin.
- You should expect to feel energized or relaxed.
- You should not expect a medical diagnosis. Acupuncturists are therapists, not physicians.
Most treatments require at least a few weeks of sessions. If you’re a sufferer from chronic pain and are at wit’s end, consider acupuncture. I prefer you did that than become a chronic and habitual user of narcotics.
Feel free to contact your Personal Healthcare Consulltant 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
Straight No Chaser: Saluting African-American Healthcare Pioneers
Here’s a quote that I enjoy:
“History favorably remembers those that do things first and those that do things exceedingly well.”
–Anonymous
On this last day of Black History month, allow me to use our little corner of the world to recognize and pay tribute to a few of the many African-Americans whose work has impacted the lives of millions around the globe. Even if you are not familiar with these individuals or their work, learning about their existence and pioneering endeavors may prove meaningful.
Dr. James McCune Smith (1813-1865), the first Black to hold a medical degree
James McCune Smith (1813 – 1865) was the first African-American to hold a medical degree, having graduated at the top in his class at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He was also the first African-American to own and operate a pharmacy in the United States. He has been most well-known for his leadership as an abolitionist, and, along with Frederick Douglass, he helped start the National Council of Colored People (1853), the first permanent national organization for Blacks. Douglass said that Smith was “the single most important influence on his life.”
James Derham (1762-1802?), the first recognized Black physician in the U.S.
James Derham, the first recognized Black physician in the United States, was born a slave in Philadelphia. Owned by a number of physicians, Derham ended up in New Orleans with a Scottish physician who hired him in 1783 to perform medical services. When he turned 21, he bought his freedom, went to New Orleans and established his own medical practice. In 1788, he was invited to Philadelphia to meet Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Rush was so impressed with Derham’s success in treating diphtheria patients that he read Durham’s paper on the subject before the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
In 1789, Durham returned to New Orleans, establishing his legend; he saved more yellow fever victims than any other physician in colonial Philadelphia. During an epidemic that killed thousands, he lost only 11 of 64 patients. He moved back to New Orleans and was lauded by prominent local doctors. Despite his demonstrated expertise and his flourishing practice, his practice was restricted in 1801 by new city regulations because he did not have a formal medical degree and was unable to get formal training. He disappeared after 1802, and his fate was unknown.
Dr. David Jones Peck (1826-1855), the first Black to graduate from an American medical school
Between 1844 and 1846, David Peck studied medicine under Dr. Joseph P. Gaszzam, a white anti-slavery doctor in Pittsburgh. He then entered Rush Medical College in Chicago in 1846, three short years after the institution opened. Upon graduation in 1847, Peck became the first Black man to graduate from an American medical school.
In 1849, Peck established his practice in Philadelphia. Peck’s medical practice, however, was not successful. Few doctors recognized his status, referred patients to him or consulted with him. He returned to Pittsburgh in 1850. Peck was notable in having toured Ohio with William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass, promoting abolitionist ideals. Peck moved to Nicaragua in early 1852 where he was killed in 1855.
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1858-1931), physician, pioneer of heart surgery and founder of National Medical Association
Daniel Hale Williams was born in Hollidaysburg, PA, and he earned his M.D. from Northwestern University in 1883. He organized the Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses in 1891, the first black-owned hospital in the United States.
In 1893, Williams performed the first successful closure of a wound of the heart and pericardium (the layer immediately surrounding the heart). President Cleveland appointed him surgeon in chief of Freedmen’s Hospital, Washington, D.C. During his five-year tenure there, he reorganized the hospital and established a training school for African-American nurses.
Williams helped form the National Medical Association in 1895, though African-Americans were denied membership at that time. He was a charter member of the American College of Surgeons, being the first and only Black member for many years. From 1899 until his death, he was professor of clinical surgery at Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN.
Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926), groundbreaking nurse
America’s first Black professionally trained nurse, Mary Eliza Mahoney, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She graduated from the New England Hospital for Women and Children Training School for Nurses in 1879, having worked there for 15 years before being accepted into its nursing school.
After gaining her nursing diploma in 1905, Mahoney worked for many years as a private care nurse, serving as director of the Howard Orphan Asylum for Black children in Kings Park, Long Island, NY. In 1896, Mahoney was one of the original members of a predominantly white Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada, which became the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1911. In 1908, she was cofounder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN).
Dr. Charles R. Drew (1904-1950), physician, pioneer of blood transfusions
Charles Richard Drew was born in Washington, D.C. As a surgeon and a professor at Howard University, he developed a means of preserving blood plasma for transfusion. During World War II he headed the program that sent blood to Great Britain. Among his noteworthy accomplishments, Drew started and was the first Director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank.
Dr. Louis Sullivan (1933- ), Physician and 17th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Louis W. Sullivan was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Sullivan earned his medical degree, cum laude, from Boston University in 1958. Dr. Sullivan held positions at Harvard Medical School and other facilities. In 1967, he founded the Boston University Hematology Service at Boston City Hospital and later was director of the Boston Sickle Cell Center.
Dr. Sullivan left Boston in 1975 to become the founding dean and director of the Medical Education Program at Morehouse College. In 1985, the Morehouse School of Medicine was fully accredited as a four-year medical school. In 1989, Dr. Sullivan took a leave of absence from Morehouse to become the 17th Secretary of Health and Human Services. As Secretary, Dr. Sullivan championed causes among vulnerable populations. He was a strong advocate for increased medical research pertaining to racial and ethnic minorities and the illumination of racial healthcare disparities.
Dr. Ben Carson (1951- ), Groundbreaking neurosurgeon
Dr. Carson is a contemporary addition to this list because of his achievements, including successfully detaching twins conjoined at the head in 1987 and his groundbreaking surgery on a twin suffering from an abnormal expansion of the head — conducted while the baby was still in the mother’s uterus. Dr. Carson has performed operations which have greatly expanded scientific knowledge of the brain and its functions. Dr. Carson was the youngest and long-time director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. His clinical expertise in treating rare neurological conditions is unquestioned and largely unparalleled.
Congratulations to these and the many other who are pioneers and leaders. Let’s support and encourage the many who continue this proud tradition.
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
Here’s a quote that I enjoy:
“History favorably remembers those that do things first and those that do things exceedingly well.”
–Anonymous
On this last day of Black History month, allow me to use our little corner of the world to recognize and pay tribute to a few of the many African-Americans whose work has impacted the lives of millions around the globe. Even if you are not familiar with these individuals or their work, learning about their existence and pioneering endeavors may prove meaningful.
Dr. James McCune Smith (1813-1865), the first Black to hold a medical degree
James McCune Smith (1813 – 1865) was the first African-American to hold a medical degree, having graduated at the top in his class at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He was also the first African-American to own and operate a pharmacy in the United States. He has been most well-known for his leadership as an abolitionist, and, along with Frederick Douglass, he helped start the National Council of Colored People (1853), the first permanent national organization for Blacks. Douglass said that Smith was “the single most important influence on his life.”
James Derham (1762-1802?), the first recognized Black physician in the U.S.
James Derham, the first recognized Black physician in the United States, was born a slave in Philadelphia. Owned by a number of physicians, Derham ended up in New Orleans with a Scottish physician who hired him in 1783 to perform medical services. When he turned 21, he bought his freedom, went to New Orleans and established his own medical practice. In 1788, he was invited to Philadelphia to meet Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Rush was so impressed with Derham’s success in treating diphtheria patients that he read Durham’s paper on the subject before the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
In 1789, Durham returned to New Orleans, establishing his legend; he saved more yellow fever victims than any other physician in colonial Philadelphia. During an epidemic that killed thousands, he lost only 11 of 64 patients. He moved back to New Orleans and was lauded by prominent local doctors. Despite his demonstrated expertise and his flourishing practice, his practice was restricted in 1801 by new city regulations because he did not have a formal medical degree and was unable to get formal training. He disappeared after 1802, and his fate was unknown.
Dr. David Jones Peck (1826-1855), the first Black to graduate from an American medical school
Between 1844 and 1846, David Peck studied medicine under Dr. Joseph P. Gaszzam, a white anti-slavery doctor in Pittsburgh. He then entered Rush Medical College in Chicago in 1846, three short years after the institution opened. Upon graduation in 1847, Peck became the first Black man to graduate from an American medical school.
In 1849, Peck established his practice in Philadelphia. Peck’s medical practice, however, was not successful. Few doctors recognized his status, referred patients to him or consulted with him. He returned to Pittsburgh in 1850. Peck was notable in having toured Ohio with William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass, promoting abolitionist ideals. Peck moved to Nicaragua in early 1852 where he was killed in 1855.
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1858-1931), physician, pioneer of heart surgery and founder of National Medical Association
Daniel Hale Williams was born in Hollidaysburg, PA, and he earned his M.D. from Northwestern University in 1883. He organized the Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses in 1891, the first black-owned hospital in the United States.
In 1893, Williams performed the first successful closure of a wound of the heart and pericardium (the layer immediately surrounding the heart). President Cleveland appointed him surgeon in chief of Freedmen’s Hospital, Washington, D.C. During his five-year tenure there, he reorganized the hospital and established a training school for African-American nurses.
Williams helped form the National Medical Association in 1895, though African-Americans were denied membership at that time. He was a charter member of the American College of Surgeons, being the first and only Black member for many years. From 1899 until his death, he was professor of clinical surgery at Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN.
Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926), groundbreaking nurse
America’s first Black professionally trained nurse, Mary Eliza Mahoney, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She graduated from the New England Hospital for Women and Children Training School for Nurses in 1879, having worked there for 15 years before being accepted into its nursing school.
After gaining her nursing diploma in 1905, Mahoney worked for many years as a private care nurse, serving as director of the Howard Orphan Asylum for Black children in Kings Park, Long Island, NY. In 1896, Mahoney was one of the original members of a predominantly white Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada, which became the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1911. In 1908, she was cofounder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN).
Dr. Charles R. Drew (1904-1950), physician, pioneer of blood transfusions
Charles Richard Drew was born in Washington, D.C. As a surgeon and a professor at Howard University, he developed a means of preserving blood plasma for transfusion. During World War II he headed the program that sent blood to Great Britain. Among his noteworthy accomplishments, Drew started and was the first Director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank.
Dr. Louis Sullivan (1933- ), Physician and 17th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Louis W. Sullivan was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Sullivan earned his medical degree, cum laude, from Boston University in 1958. Dr. Sullivan held positions at Harvard Medical School and other facilities. In 1967, he founded the Boston University Hematology Service at Boston City Hospital and later was director of the Boston Sickle Cell Center.
Dr. Sullivan left Boston in 1975 to become the founding dean and director of the Medical Education Program at Morehouse College. In 1985, the Morehouse School of Medicine was fully accredited as a four-year medical school. In 1989, Dr. Sullivan took a leave of absence from Morehouse to become the 17th Secretary of Health and Human Services. As Secretary, Dr. Sullivan championed causes among vulnerable populations. He was a strong advocate for increased medical research pertaining to racial and ethnic minorities and the illumination of racial healthcare disparities.
Dr. Ben Carson (1951- ), Groundbreaking neurosurgeon
Dr. Carson is a contemporary addition to this list because of his achievements, including successfully detaching twins conjoined at the head in 1987 and his groundbreaking surgery on a twin suffering from an abnormal expansion of the head — conducted while the baby was still in the mother’s uterus. Dr. Carson has performed operations which have greatly expanded scientific knowledge of the brain and its functions. Dr. Carson was the youngest and long-time director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. His clinical expertise in treating rare neurological conditions is unquestioned and largely unparalleled.
Congratulations to these and the many other who are pioneers and leaders. Let’s support and encourage the many who continue this proud tradition.
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: Rashes on Your Palms and Soles – Pay Attention!
In the world of rashes, there aren’t an abundance of rashes that appear on the palms and soles. However, there are a few of note, so here’s some Quick Tips to point you in the right direction. This doesn’t take long for you to learn, so commit this to memory, and you could save yourself a lot of drama down the road. Don’t forget to wear gloves and wash your hands!
There’s actually an entity called hand, foot and mouth disease, commonly seen in children and caused by the Coxsackie A virus. It’s rather benign.
If you’ve spent any time in the woods of the Southeastern U.S. (usually between April and September), you may recall being bitten by a tick (which will transmit an infection from a bacteria named Rickettsia Rickettsii). If you contract Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (yes, it’s misnamed – the Rocky Mountains aren’t in the Southeastern U.S.), your rash may look like this.
If you’re a child with five or more days of fever, pink eye, dryness in the mouth, big lymph nodes in the neck and this rash, your physician should consider Kawasaki’s disease. This is caused by an inflammation of blood vessels, and demographically, it is seen more often in those of Asian descent.
Sometimes in Kawasaki’s disease, the tongue may look like a strawberry.
And yes, secondary syphilis presents with rashes on the palms and soles. The real take home message is this. Primary syphilis is so overlooked (because the initial genital lesion is painless and may come and go without much announcement), the development of rashes on the hands and feet may be the first time you get diagnosed. Trust me, you want to get treated before tertiary syphilis develops. Here’s what that rash looks like.
The long and short of it, is if you or a loved one develop a rash on the palms and/or soles, get it evaluated.
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
In the world of rashes, there aren’t an abundance of rashes that appear on the palms and soles. However, there are a few of note, so here’s some Quick Tips to point you in the right direction. This doesn’t take long for you to learn, so commit this to memory, and you could save yourself a lot of drama down the road. Don’t forget to wear gloves and wash your hands!
There’s actually an entity called hand, foot and mouth disease, commonly seen in children and caused by the Coxsackie A virus. It’s rather benign.
If you’ve spent any time in the woods of the Southeastern U.S. (usually between April and September), you may recall being bitten by a tick (which will transmit an infection from a bacteria named Rickettsia Rickettsii). If you contract Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (yes, it’s misnamed – the Rocky Mountains aren’t in the Southeastern U.S.), your rash may look like this.
If you’re a child with five or more days of fever, pink eye, dryness in the mouth, big lymph nodes in the neck and this rash, your physician should consider Kawasaki’s disease. This is caused by an inflammation of blood vessels, and demographically, it is seen more often in those of Asian descent.
Sometimes in Kawasaki’s disease, the tongue may look like a strawberry.
And yes, secondary syphilis presents with rashes on the palms and soles. The real take home message is this. Primary syphilis is so overlooked (because the initial genital lesion is painless and may come and go without much announcement), the development of rashes on the hands and feet may be the first time you get diagnosed. Trust me, you want to get treated before tertiary syphilis develops. Here’s what that rash looks like.
The long and short of it, is if you or a loved one develop a rash on the palms and/or soles, get it evaluated.
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
Panic Often Resolves with Sound Advice
One of the most common facial expressions we see in the ER is panic.
The good news is that oftentimes patients only need to hear the facts and sound advice before they can leave the ER resolved and prepared to take care of their health on their own.
The bad news is that buyers’ remorse often follows, sometimes at the cashiers’ stations on the way out, sometimes when the bills come in the mail, sometimes in front of the physician: “I waited all night for that?!”
Don’t panic about your health. Don’t panic about your healthcare budget. Contact your Personal Healthcare Consultant at 844-SMA-TALK or 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, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
One of the most common facial expressions we see in the ER is panic.
The good news is that oftentimes patients only need to hear the facts and sound advice before they can leave the ER resolved and prepared to take care of their health on their own.
The bad news is that buyers’ remorse often follows, sometimes at the cashiers’ stations on the way out, sometimes when the bills come in the mail, sometimes in front of the physician: “I waited all night for that?!”
Don’t panic about your health. Don’t panic about your healthcare budget. Contact your Personal Healthcare Consultant at 844-SMA-TALK or 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, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Straight, No Chaser: Trauma Quick Tips – How to Survive that Motor Vehicle Crash
As you drive the expressways of some cities, you can read how many traffic deaths have occurred that year. I’m sure the purpose of these announcements is to keep drivers alert to the real dangers of driving and to remind us to drive safely. However, when prevention hasn’t kept you out of harm’s way, what you do next can make a world of difference. Here are 10 quick tips to keep you upright.
If you see an accident happening in front of you …
1) Move away from the steering wheel/dashboard. That airbag will be coming at you at approximately 200 MPH. It can cause burns and other injuries on its own. You want both hands on the wheel as loose as possible during impact.
2) If possible, angle the car for a glancing blow. Try to avoid the head-on collision, especially with the bigger object. Similarly, the ‘T-bone’ side impact collision is especially dangerous, as the car is structurally weaker on the side, and the side is closer to passengers.
3) Slow down as best you can, but also try to control your deceleration. The faster the impact, the worse the damage will be.
4) If there’s time and you haven’t already, get that seat belt on.
5) If there’s time, get any potential projectile from where it may strike you. That’s off the seat, dashboard and cup holders. Hot coffee in your face or being slashed by your phone won’t feel good.
After the crash …
6) Call emergency medical services as your first move after a crash.
7) If you have any neck pain, as best you can, do not move. Period.
8) If you are pregnant, get onto your left side while you wait.
9) After a crash, switch off your engine, do not smoke, and stop anyone else from smoking. You will not be in a position to put out any fire you start and if flammables are in either car, you could be setting up an explosion.
10) Do not attempt to remove injured people from a vehicle yourself; leave that to the paramedics. You could be aggravating a neck (spinal) injury that is not obvious at that point.
As you drive the expressways of some cities, you can read how many traffic deaths have occurred that year. I’m sure the purpose of these announcements is to keep drivers alert to the real dangers of driving and to remind us to drive safely. However, when prevention hasn’t kept you out of harm’s way, what you do next can make a world of difference. Here are 10 quick tips to keep you upright.
If you see an accident happening in front of you …
1) Move away from the steering wheel/dashboard. That airbag will be coming at you at approximately 200 MPH. It can cause burns and other injuries on its own. You want both hands on the wheel as loose as possible during impact.
2) If possible, angle the car for a glancing blow. Try to avoid the head-on collision, especially with the bigger object. Similarly, the ‘T-bone’ side impact collision is especially dangerous, as the car is structurally weaker on the side, and the side is closer to passengers.
3) Slow down as best you can, but also try to control your deceleration. The faster the impact, the worse the damage will be.
4) If there’s time and you haven’t already, get that seat belt on.
5) If there’s time, get any potential projectile from where it may strike you. That’s off the seat, dashboard and cup holders. Hot coffee in your face or being slashed by your phone won’t feel good.
After the crash …
6) Call emergency medical services as your first move after a crash.
7) If you have any neck pain, as best you can, do not move. Period.
8) If you are pregnant, get onto your left side while you wait.
9) After a crash, switch off your engine, do not smoke, and stop anyone else from smoking. You will not be in a position to put out any fire you start and if flammables are in either car, you could be setting up an explosion.
10) Do not attempt to remove injured people from a vehicle yourself; leave that to the paramedics. You could be aggravating a neck (spinal) injury that is not obvious at that point.
Don't Worry. Call.
It stands to reason that you would feel this way. Something’s not right, and you can’t explain it. Your searches on the Internet have given you all the worst case scenarios, though you know by now that you can’t trust everything you read.
Don’t worry. Much of what ails us does not require an expensive ER or doctor’s office solution. Contact us. We’re here for you 24/7 at 844-SMA-TALK or 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, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
It stands to reason that you would feel this way. Something’s not right, and you can’t explain it. Your searches on the Internet have given you all the worst case scenarios, though you know by now that you can’t trust everything you read.
Don’t worry. Much of what ails us does not require an expensive ER or doctor’s office solution. Contact us. We’re here for you 24/7 at 844-SMA-TALK or 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, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Straight, No Chaser: Maintaining Healthy Feet
Your feet are a very good barometer of your overall health. The fact that your feet are further away from your heart than any other part of your body means you must be at your physical best for you to get everything you need to them. Remember your heart has to pump blood with its oxygen and nutrients around the body. Conversely, problems with your overall health easily show in this most distant part of the body. Plus, they’re your feet. You walk all over them by definition.
In this conversation about your feet, we’ll look at foot health first. Subsequently, we’ll review various foot problems. Joining me in this conversation is my good friend and noted Milwaukee Podiatrist Dr. Warren McIver.
Let’s start by going to those most at risk. If you’re diabetic and/or have peripheral vascular disease, foot care is a must – not an option. I’ve seen too many infected diabetic foot ulcers and amputated feet to tell you otherwise. If you fall in these categories (and even if you don’t), you must check your feet every day. The decreased sensation in your feet combined with poor circulation can have you walking about with cuts or sores on your feet, or with foreign objects in your feet without you being aware. These circumstances often lead to infections with potentially devastating complications.
Try these tips to improve your circulation and reduce the risk of damage to your feet, regardless of your status:
- When sitting, place your feet up.
- Form the habit of stretching your feet, legs and thighs.
- Practice gently massaging your feet (or have someone else do it).
- Soak your feet in warm water. Foot baths provide multiple health benefits.
- Make sure your feet are dry before you put on your shoes.
- Wear shoes when you’re outside.
- If you are sitting for a long time, get up and move around every now and then.
- If you cross your legs, reverse or uncross them often.
- Don’t smoke.
A big deal is made of shoes. Are you dressing for fashion to the exclusion of your health? Sometimes the phrase “pay it forward” refers to negative consequences, meaning you’re going to “pay for it.” There is an ongoing battle between comfort and appearance. Pressure and ill-fitting shoes are the genesis of a lot of different disorders. Think about these simple, common sense tips. Do you follow these every time?
- Have your feet measured before you buy a new pair of shoes. Every time. Did you know you likely have one foot that’s bigger than the other? Buy for the bigger foot. Also, your feet are generally bigger at day’s end, so that’s the best time to measure.
- Never buy shoes without trying them on. That’s the ultimate quality control measure. While you’re walking, pay attention to the heel and make sure it’s not sliding.
- Buy shoes that are shaped like your feet. High heels and pointy-toed shoes can hurt your feet and are invariably less safe and less comfortable.
- Leave approximately ½ inch between your toes at the end of the shoe. I’ve heard many people say they buy tight shoes anticipating they will stretch. Don’t do that. That stretching is coming at the expense of your feet.
- Buy shoes that are soft and flexible in the upper part.
- Wear thick soled shoes. They cushion your feet when walking on hard surfaces, and this is a good thing.
Your feet carry you around all day, every day. Take care of them. It would be a shame if you had to do without them.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you 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
Your feet are a very good barometer of your overall health. The fact that your feet are further away from your heart than any other part of your body means you must be at your physical best for you to get everything you need to them. Remember your heart has to pump blood with its oxygen and nutrients around the body. Conversely, problems with your overall health easily show in this most distant part of the body. Plus, they’re your feet. You walk all over them by definition.
In this conversation about your feet, we’ll look at foot health first. Subsequently, we’ll review various foot problems. Joining me in this conversation is my good friend and noted Milwaukee Podiatrist Dr. Warren McIver.
Let’s start by going to those most at risk. If you’re diabetic and/or have peripheral vascular disease, foot care is a must – not an option. I’ve seen too many infected diabetic foot ulcers and amputated feet to tell you otherwise. If you fall in these categories (and even if you don’t), you must check your feet every day. The decreased sensation in your feet combined with poor circulation can have you walking about with cuts or sores on your feet, or with foreign objects in your feet without you being aware. These circumstances often lead to infections with potentially devastating complications.
Try these tips to improve your circulation and reduce the risk of damage to your feet, regardless of your status:
- When sitting, place your feet up.
- Form the habit of stretching your feet, legs and thighs.
- Practice gently massaging your feet (or have someone else do it).
- Soak your feet in warm water. Foot baths provide multiple health benefits.
- Make sure your feet are dry before you put on your shoes.
- Wear shoes when you’re outside.
- If you are sitting for a long time, get up and move around every now and then.
- If you cross your legs, reverse or uncross them often.
- Don’t smoke.
A big deal is made of shoes. Are you dressing for fashion to the exclusion of your health? Sometimes the phrase “pay it forward” refers to negative consequences, meaning you’re going to “pay for it.” There is an ongoing battle between comfort and appearance. Pressure and ill-fitting shoes are the genesis of a lot of different disorders. Think about these simple, common sense tips. Do you follow these every time?
- Have your feet measured before you buy a new pair of shoes. Every time. Did you know you likely have one foot that’s bigger than the other? Buy for the bigger foot. Also, your feet are generally bigger at day’s end, so that’s the best time to measure.
- Never buy shoes without trying them on. That’s the ultimate quality control measure. While you’re walking, pay attention to the heel and make sure it’s not sliding.
- Buy shoes that are shaped like your feet. High heels and pointy-toed shoes can hurt your feet and are invariably less safe and less comfortable.
- Leave approximately ½ inch between your toes at the end of the shoe. I’ve heard many people say they buy tight shoes anticipating they will stretch. Don’t do that. That stretching is coming at the expense of your feet.
- Buy shoes that are soft and flexible in the upper part.
- Wear thick soled shoes. They cushion your feet when walking on hard surfaces, and this is a good thing.
Your feet carry you around all day, every day. Take care of them. It would be a shame if you had to do without them.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you 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
Happy Dance with Me
I know. The weekend’s over.
That only means it’s time to put your inner rebel to good use and keep the dance party going! Any day of the week, any time of the day, your body will thank you.
Need a dance partner? Puppies work well.
Add years to your life. Keep it moving! And when you need help, contact your Personal Healthcare Consultant like Dr. Smith here for dance moves or for information and advice about your health and wellbeing at 844-SMA-TALK or 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, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
I know. The weekend’s over.
That only means it’s time to put your inner rebel to good use and keep the dance party going! Any day of the week, any time of the day, your body will thank you.
Need a dance partner? Puppies work well.
Add years to your life. Keep it moving! And when you need help, contact your Personal Healthcare Consultant like Dr. Smith here for dance moves or for information and advice about your health and wellbeing at 844-SMA-TALK or 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, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Straight, No Chaser: Hip Pain
The hip bone’s connected to the … If you remember this song, you’re dating yourself. You’re also anatomically incorrect. There is no hip bone. The hip is a joint connecting the thigh bone (the femur) with the pelvic bone.
Today, we are going to discuss hip pain. This is going to be quite straightforward. My goal is to give you a simple approach to think about when confronted by hip pain or injury.
First, let’s appreciate how stable the hip is compared to many other joints. The head of the femur fits into the joint like a ball would fit into a cup that closes in around it. This promotes a huge amount of stability, meaning you have to go out of your way to hurt that area. Of course we do, particularly during trauma or excessive sporting activities (and of course, it’s subject to the wear and tear that occurs with time).
Here are the various ways we tend to hurt the area involving and surrounding the hip.
- Strains: Commonly known as a pulled muscle, a strain involves the stretching and tearing of muscles in an area.
- Dislocations: These injuries involve displacement of the ends of bones from the joints in which they normally meet.
- Fractures: These are disruptions (e.g., breaks) in your bones.
- Bursitis: This is inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that normally cushion joints (as well as muscles and tendons).
- Osteoarthritis (aka degenerative joint disease) usually results in a loss of the range of motion and produces pain.
- Osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones that leads to breaks.
Pain in the hip doesn’t always originate from the hip. It can start from the buttocks or knees and refer to the hip through nerves. Your physician will evaluate these areas for abnormalities. Treatment is pretty straightforward and involves rest and pain medications. In more advanced cases, you may need physical therapy and hip replacement therapy. These options are discussed at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.
The important thing for you to take from this is what you need to do in order to prevent hip pain and how you can help yourself when you have pain.
- Rest: The mantra “feel the pain (or burn)” doesn’t apply to your joints. Those are warning signs of potentially imminent injury. If you’re feeling pain, rest. Don’t sleep on that side and avoid placing pressure on it. When you’re in pain, avoid overuse of the hip, including routine activities such as bending.
- Ice/heat: Use heat to loosen your muscles, especially when exercising. This will make injury less likely. Ice serves to dull any inflammation you’ve experienced.
- Pain meds: Know the proper doses and usage of over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol), ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin) and naproxen sodium (e.g., Advil).
- Exercise: It’s usually about the weight. The more weight you’re carrying, the more stress you’re placing on the hips. Unless already injured, exercise will always produce benefits.
Finally, when you can’t move your leg, can’t bear weight, note a deformity (including rapid, massive swelling) or are in excruciating pain, that’s the time to get to the emergency room as soon as possible. When these things occur, don’t delay. Significant injuries can have devastating consequences.
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.
The hip bone’s connected to the … If you remember this song, you’re dating yourself. You’re also anatomically incorrect. There is no hip bone. The hip is a joint connecting the thigh bone (the femur) with the pelvic bone.
Today, we are going to discuss hip pain. This is going to be quite straightforward. My goal is to give you a simple approach to think about when confronted by hip pain or injury.
First, let’s appreciate how stable the hip is compared to many other joints. The head of the femur fits into the joint like a ball would fit into a cup that closes in around it. This promotes a huge amount of stability, meaning you have to go out of your way to hurt that area. Of course we do, particularly during trauma or excessive sporting activities (and of course, it’s subject to the wear and tear that occurs with time).
Here are the various ways we tend to hurt the area involving and surrounding the hip.
- Strains: Commonly known as a pulled muscle, a strain involves the stretching and tearing of muscles in an area.
- Dislocations: These injuries involve displacement of the ends of bones from the joints in which they normally meet.
- Fractures: These are disruptions (e.g., breaks) in your bones.
- Bursitis: This is inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that normally cushion joints (as well as muscles and tendons).
- Osteoarthritis (aka degenerative joint disease) usually results in a loss of the range of motion and produces pain.
- Osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones that leads to breaks.
Pain in the hip doesn’t always originate from the hip. It can start from the buttocks or knees and refer to the hip through nerves. Your physician will evaluate these areas for abnormalities. Treatment is pretty straightforward and involves rest and pain medications. In more advanced cases, you may need physical therapy and hip replacement therapy. These options are discussed at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.
The important thing for you to take from this is what you need to do in order to prevent hip pain and how you can help yourself when you have pain.
- Rest: The mantra “feel the pain (or burn)” doesn’t apply to your joints. Those are warning signs of potentially imminent injury. If you’re feeling pain, rest. Don’t sleep on that side and avoid placing pressure on it. When you’re in pain, avoid overuse of the hip, including routine activities such as bending.
- Ice/heat: Use heat to loosen your muscles, especially when exercising. This will make injury less likely. Ice serves to dull any inflammation you’ve experienced.
- Pain meds: Know the proper doses and usage of over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol), ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin) and naproxen sodium (e.g., Advil).
- Exercise: It’s usually about the weight. The more weight you’re carrying, the more stress you’re placing on the hips. Unless already injured, exercise will always produce benefits.
Finally, when you can’t move your leg, can’t bear weight, note a deformity (including rapid, massive swelling) or are in excruciating pain, that’s the time to get to the emergency room as soon as possible. When these things occur, don’t delay. Significant injuries can have devastating consequences.
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.
Here's to the World's Health
The world has shrunk, making it easy for global citizens to interact and share illnesses. Let’s be the committees of ones who start with ourselves to make the world a healthier place.
Contact us at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com or 844-SMA-TALK and do your part for humaity.
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
The world has shrunk, making it easy for global citizens to interact and share illnesses. Let’s be the committees of ones who start with ourselves to make the world a healthier place.
Contact us at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com or 844-SMA-TALK and do your part for humaity.
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: Treating Your Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever
You’re miserable from seasonal allergies (aka hay fever, allergic rhinitis)? You’ve seemingly tried everything, and nothing seems to help? Let’s do a Straight, No Chaser look at your treatment options.
I want to start with a very simple point that’s more important that everything else that will follow.
People who have allergies will have allergic attacks.
Understand that. Accept that. Now let’s deal with it.
The goal in addressing seasonal allergies is prevention. The way your body works is simple. If you are exposed to a pollen or other substance the body interprets as a potential danger (an allergen), it will generate a defense to fight it. The suffering you sometimes feel is the byproduct of that fight. Furthermore, when you are subsequently exposed to the allergen, you will generate a stronger response, as your immune system is now primed for the fight.
All of this means that avoidance of these “triggers” is the key to your wellbeing. Everything else is compensation after the fact, which, in some cases, work counter to what the body may actually need at a certain point in time. Start by focusing on identifying your triggers and practicing avoidance.
- During pollen season, stay indoors on especially hot, dry and windy days.
- Don’t be afraid to wear a mask.
There are many treatment options. Besides avoidance, strategies involve treating symptoms and reducing the immune response.
Symptomatic Relief
- For many, a nasal wash sufficiently eliminates mucus from the nose.
- Antihistamines are a good place to start, and there are over the counter options. Be mindful of whether or not the one you’re selecting makes you drowsy. If so, act accordingly. (E.g., don’t operate heavy machinery while taking them.)
- Nasal steroid sprays (corticosteroids) are the most effective treatment for allergic reaction, but may not be as effective if you’re not taking them continuously. Steroids are anti-inflammatory agents; that’s how they combat allergic rhinitis, which is an inflammation of the nose.
- Many people reach for decongestants first because the nasal stuffiness is so annoying, but be advised: You should not take these for more than three days at a time. If the need persists, you should obtain medical attention.
Reducing the Immune Response
- A class of medicines called leukotriene inhibitors block the substances released by your immune system. These substances are problematic because they also produce symptoms.
- If symptoms either get incapacitating or you can’t avoid your triggers, you may be a candidate for immunotherapy (aka allergy shots). This involves desensitization to the pollen by receiving incrementally stronger exposure until your body can adapt to the exposure.
The point of it all is you should focus on prevention by avoidance and work with your physician to address symptoms and your body’s response to them.
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
You’re miserable from seasonal allergies (aka hay fever, allergic rhinitis)? You’ve seemingly tried everything, and nothing seems to help? Let’s do a Straight, No Chaser look at your treatment options.
I want to start with a very simple point that’s more important that everything else that will follow.
People who have allergies will have allergic attacks.
Understand that. Accept that. Now let’s deal with it.
The goal in addressing seasonal allergies is prevention. The way your body works is simple. If you are exposed to a pollen or other substance the body interprets as a potential danger (an allergen), it will generate a defense to fight it. The suffering you sometimes feel is the byproduct of that fight. Furthermore, when you are subsequently exposed to the allergen, you will generate a stronger response, as your immune system is now primed for the fight.
All of this means that avoidance of these “triggers” is the key to your wellbeing. Everything else is compensation after the fact, which, in some cases, work counter to what the body may actually need at a certain point in time. Start by focusing on identifying your triggers and practicing avoidance.
- During pollen season, stay indoors on especially hot, dry and windy days.
- Don’t be afraid to wear a mask.
There are many treatment options. Besides avoidance, strategies involve treating symptoms and reducing the immune response.
Symptomatic Relief
- For many, a nasal wash sufficiently eliminates mucus from the nose.
- Antihistamines are a good place to start, and there are over the counter options. Be mindful of whether or not the one you’re selecting makes you drowsy. If so, act accordingly. (E.g., don’t operate heavy machinery while taking them.)
- Nasal steroid sprays (corticosteroids) are the most effective treatment for allergic reaction, but may not be as effective if you’re not taking them continuously. Steroids are anti-inflammatory agents; that’s how they combat allergic rhinitis, which is an inflammation of the nose.
- Many people reach for decongestants first because the nasal stuffiness is so annoying, but be advised: You should not take these for more than three days at a time. If the need persists, you should obtain medical attention.
Reducing the Immune Response
- A class of medicines called leukotriene inhibitors block the substances released by your immune system. These substances are problematic because they also produce symptoms.
- If symptoms either get incapacitating or you can’t avoid your triggers, you may be a candidate for immunotherapy (aka allergy shots). This involves desensitization to the pollen by receiving incrementally stronger exposure until your body can adapt to the exposure.
The point of it all is you should focus on prevention by avoidance and work with your physician to address symptoms and your body’s response to them.
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
Straight, No Chaser: Do You Suffer from Hay Fever?
Hay (fever) there! If any of you don’t suffer from seasonal allergies (aka hay fever, allergic rhinitis), consider yourself lucky. As nuisances go, this has to rank high on the list. Allergies can make you incapacitated for days at a time and make you feel horrible. There are two questions I often get on this topic:
- Why does it hit me so hard?
- What can I do about it?
Today we deal with the why. We will dedicate a separate post to management of seasonal allergies.
The rhinitis in allergic rhinitis refers to the nose; the “itis” is a suffix designating an inflammation. Knowing this should make the symptoms and process easy to understand: we’re describing an inflammation of the nose due to allergies. We’re all aware of the offending particles: dust, pollens, certain animals, etc. The problem is the process of exposure causes the body to release chemicals in an effort to combat what is thought to be an imminent danger to the body.
Hay fever is a specific type of allergic scenario involving pollen as a culprit. The pollens of trees, weeds and grasses are carried by the wind to your nose. You don’t need a pollen count to tell you when the risk is high. Basically…
- If you live where it’s hot, dry and windy, there are going to be a lot more pollens in the air.
- If you live where it’s cool, damp and rainy, you won’t suffer as much, because the pollen isn’t in the air to the same extent; it’s being washed away.
- If you have hay fever and allergies in your families (especially if both of your parents have them), you are likely to have hay fever and allergies.
If you inhale a pollen to which you’re allergic, symptoms will start rapidly. They typically include the following:
- Itching primarily in the nose, mouth, eyes, throat and skin, although any area can be affected
- Runny Nose
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Difficulties with smelling
With ongoing exposure, you can develop additional symptoms.
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Stuffy, congested nose and sinuses
- Stuffy, congested sensation in your ears
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Puffiness and circles under the eyes
If your symptoms are severe or don’t respond to over-the-counter preparations, you may need to see a physician. Similarly if the discharge turns from clear to colored, you may need medical intervention. If your symptoms remain or worsen over time, you may wish to discuss allergy testing with your physician, as this will guide treatment options.
Check back to Straight, No Chaser for a discussion of treatment options. Feel free to ask your SterlingMedicalAdvice.com expert consultant any questions you may 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. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Hay (fever) there! If any of you don’t suffer from seasonal allergies (aka hay fever, allergic rhinitis), consider yourself lucky. As nuisances go, this has to rank high on the list. Allergies can make you incapacitated for days at a time and make you feel horrible. There are two questions I often get on this topic:
- Why does it hit me so hard?
- What can I do about it?
Today we deal with the why. We will dedicate a separate post to management of seasonal allergies.
The rhinitis in allergic rhinitis refers to the nose; the “itis” is a suffix designating an inflammation. Knowing this should make the symptoms and process easy to understand: we’re describing an inflammation of the nose due to allergies. We’re all aware of the offending particles: dust, pollens, certain animals, etc. The problem is the process of exposure causes the body to release chemicals in an effort to combat what is thought to be an imminent danger to the body.
Hay fever is a specific type of allergic scenario involving pollen as a culprit. The pollens of trees, weeds and grasses are carried by the wind to your nose. You don’t need a pollen count to tell you when the risk is high. Basically…
- If you live where it’s hot, dry and windy, there are going to be a lot more pollens in the air.
- If you live where it’s cool, damp and rainy, you won’t suffer as much, because the pollen isn’t in the air to the same extent; it’s being washed away.
- If you have hay fever and allergies in your families (especially if both of your parents have them), you are likely to have hay fever and allergies.
If you inhale a pollen to which you’re allergic, symptoms will start rapidly. They typically include the following:
- Itching primarily in the nose, mouth, eyes, throat and skin, although any area can be affected
- Runny Nose
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Difficulties with smelling
With ongoing exposure, you can develop additional symptoms.
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Stuffy, congested nose and sinuses
- Stuffy, congested sensation in your ears
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Puffiness and circles under the eyes
If your symptoms are severe or don’t respond to over-the-counter preparations, you may need to see a physician. Similarly if the discharge turns from clear to colored, you may need medical intervention. If your symptoms remain or worsen over time, you may wish to discuss allergy testing with your physician, as this will guide treatment options.
Check back to Straight, No Chaser for a discussion of treatment options. Feel free to ask your SterlingMedicalAdvice.com expert consultant any questions you may 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. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Here's to your health
Seems cliché, but it’s one of the most deeply felt sentiments. Why? Because poor health is just the worst. There are so many ways to suffer, but so many facts prove you probably don’t have to.
Your health can improve. Your wellbeing can improve. You hold the power of good health in your actions. It’s really more simple that you allow it to be. Keep moving. Eat fruits and veggies. Avoid unnecessarily risky behaviors.
We can help. Call us to find out how: 844-SMA-TALK. Chat with us online at www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com. We offer immediate, personalized healthcare advice 24/7.
Here’s to your health!
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
Seems cliché, but it’s one of the most deeply felt sentiments. Why? Because poor health is just the worst. There are so many ways to suffer, but so many facts prove you probably don’t have to.
Your health can improve. Your wellbeing can improve. You hold the power of good health in your actions. It’s really more simple that you allow it to be. Keep moving. Eat fruits and veggies. Avoid unnecessarily risky behaviors.
We can help. Call us to find out how: 844-SMA-TALK. Chat with us online at www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com. We offer immediate, personalized healthcare advice 24/7.
Here’s to your health!
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: Health Concerns of the Homeless
We tend to take an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach to a lot of things. The plight of homelessness is certainly one of them. The healthcare needs of the homeless should be of interest to you, because even if you’re not homeless, what’s happening to them can affect your health.
Let’s start with some interesting facts.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development places homeless estimates at over 610,000, although The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty places the number at 1.75 million.
- An estimated 100 million people worldwide are homeless.
- Nearly 20 percent of homeless people in the U.S. are either in New York City (11%) or Los Angeles (9%).
- Approximately 12% of the adult homeless population are veterans; of this population, 40% are either African-American or Hispanic (despite accounting for only 15% of the veteran population).
- 50% of the homeless population is estimated to be African-American.
- 36% of the homeless population is estimated to be families with children.
Regarding health:
- Approximately 66% of the homeless have problems with alcohol, drug abuse or mental illness.
- Approximately 22% of the adult homeless population suffer from a severe and persistent mental illness.
Health concerns affecting the homeless disproportionately to the general population include the following:
- Bronchitis
- Environmental disorders (e.g. hypothermia, frostbite, heat exposure)
- Infectious diseases such as pneumonia, wound and skin infections
- Mental health disorders
- Physical and sexual abuse
- Substance abuse
The health risks are fairly straightforward.
- The preponderance of the homeless and the relative inability for them to access healthcare means any infectious diseases they carry are able to be spread into the general population.
- The presence of mental health disorders and substance abuse means the risky behaviors that correlate with these disorders are a threat to those exposed.
- The presence of such a large population of children among the homeless increases the risk for future development of mental health disorders in these individuals.
The plight of the homeless lacks the level of advocacy needed to eradicate this plague on societies around the world. In the U.S., the circumstances of homeless veterans and the chronically homeless have received attention such that the number of homeless dropped 4% between 2012 and 2013. That said, there is a long way to go and much work that still needs to be done. Consider discussing this matter with any or all of your governmental representatives. Just because homelessness may be out-of-sight or out-of-mind doesn’t mean it’s out of reality.
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
We tend to take an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach to a lot of things. The plight of homelessness is certainly one of them. The healthcare needs of the homeless should be of interest to you, because even if you’re not homeless, what’s happening to them can affect your health.
Let’s start with some interesting facts.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development places homeless estimates at over 610,000, although The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty places the number at 1.75 million.
- An estimated 100 million people worldwide are homeless.
- Nearly 20 percent of homeless people in the U.S. are either in New York City (11%) or Los Angeles (9%).
- Approximately 12% of the adult homeless population are veterans; of this population, 40% are either African-American or Hispanic (despite accounting for only 15% of the veteran population).
- 50% of the homeless population is estimated to be African-American.
- 36% of the homeless population is estimated to be families with children.
Regarding health:
- Approximately 66% of the homeless have problems with alcohol, drug abuse or mental illness.
- Approximately 22% of the adult homeless population suffer from a severe and persistent mental illness.
Health concerns affecting the homeless disproportionately to the general population include the following:
- Bronchitis
- Environmental disorders (e.g. hypothermia, frostbite, heat exposure)
- Infectious diseases such as pneumonia, wound and skin infections
- Mental health disorders
- Physical and sexual abuse
- Substance abuse
The health risks are fairly straightforward.
- The preponderance of the homeless and the relative inability for them to access healthcare means any infectious diseases they carry are able to be spread into the general population.
- The presence of mental health disorders and substance abuse means the risky behaviors that correlate with these disorders are a threat to those exposed.
- The presence of such a large population of children among the homeless increases the risk for future development of mental health disorders in these individuals.
The plight of the homeless lacks the level of advocacy needed to eradicate this plague on societies around the world. In the U.S., the circumstances of homeless veterans and the chronically homeless have received attention such that the number of homeless dropped 4% between 2012 and 2013. That said, there is a long way to go and much work that still needs to be done. Consider discussing this matter with any or all of your governmental representatives. Just because homelessness may be out-of-sight or out-of-mind doesn’t mean it’s out of reality.
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
Dance to Good Health
Some people dislike the gym or structured workout routines. Don’t let that be your excuse for resisting good health. Pick some fun or interesting reason to move that body.
Don’t even know where the good dance places are anymore? How about your living room? Or an empty parking lot.
No excuses. Move that body! It’ll be fun.
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
Some people dislike the gym or structured workout routines. Don’t let that be your excuse for resisting good health. Pick some fun or interesting reason to move that body.
Don’t even know where the good dance places are anymore? How about your living room? Or an empty parking lot.
No excuses. Move that body! It’ll be fun.
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: Addressing Hearing Loss and the Use of Hearing Aids
Again joining the conversation is my friend and colleague Greg Keeney, audiologist and owner of Affordable Hearing Aids in Texas.
Addressing hearing loss is a humbling experience in that it forces you to face your mortality. The irony is that your feeling immortal is what leads to hearing loss in many instances (e.g., gunshots, explosions, scuba diving, noise exposures at concerts and sporting events, etc.).
Prevention and protecting your hearing is easy; the decision to do so seems not to be so easy. Remembering this hearing thermometer is a good way to know what activities hurt your hearing.
When it gets to the point that you’re having acute difficulty hearing, assuming you’re a victim of trauma, you may be inclined to flush wax out of your ear or use wax softeners. If you go this route, be careful. Remember that old Q-Tip commercial with the tag line, “You should never place anything in your ear smaller than your elbow.” Unless it’s ridiculous easy, you should have a health provider remove anything from your ear. Importantly, you should never place anything sharp in your ear (e.g., bobby pins, tweezers, etc.).
There are many procedures and surgeries that can help with hearing loss, including the following:
- Placing tubes in the eardrum (aka T-tubes, tympanostomy tubes) to remove fluid
- Repairing the eardrum or the bones in the middle ear that assist in sound transmission
- Wearing heading aids, though only one of five individuals who could benefit from a hearing aid uses one
- Using cochlear implants, a final option for those whose hearing impairment is so severe that various types of hearing aids aren’t effective or a viable option (Learn about cochlear implants at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.)
Sign language can complement these other methods or aural based communication when other methods don’t work.
Let’s focus on some frequently asked questions about hearing aids.
How do hearing aids work?
Hearing aids consist of a microphone, an amplifier and a speaker. These components convert sound waves to signals you can hear through the speaker. It’s really that simple.
How do experts determine that I need a hearing aid?
When the time comes, a physician who specializes in ear, nose and throat disorders (otolaryngologist) will evaluate possible causes of hearing impairment. An audiologist, a hearing health professional, may also identify and quantify the degree of loss. The results of these evaluations will determine your needs.
What are the different types of hearing aids?
Hearing aids differ in style, placement and means of amplifying sound. You can place them behind the ear, in the ear canal or within the middle ear for this effect. Analog hearing aids convert sound waves into electrical signals, which are amplified. Digital hearing aids convert sound waves into numerical codes, similar to the binary code of a computer, before amplifying them. The digital method allows more customization of various frequencies. These simple but important distinctions comprise how hearing aids are individualized.
What questions should I ask when getting a hearing aid?
The most important consideration is your mastery of the device you’ll be taking home with you. You shouldn’t be satisfied with a “plug and play” device. You should be prepared to know how to respond if your voice seems too loud or if you’re getting feedback, buzzing or background noise. You should be aware of cleaning and maintenance needs, as well as repair and service benefits that come with your device.
Information and innovation are available for you. Don’t put it off.
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
Again joining the conversation is my friend and colleague Greg Keeney, audiologist and owner of Affordable Hearing Aids in Texas.
Addressing hearing loss is a humbling experience in that it forces you to face your mortality. The irony is that your feeling immortal is what leads to hearing loss in many instances (e.g., gunshots, explosions, scuba diving, noise exposures at concerts and sporting events, etc.).
Prevention and protecting your hearing is easy; the decision to do so seems not to be so easy. Remembering this hearing thermometer is a good way to know what activities hurt your hearing.
When it gets to the point that you’re having acute difficulty hearing, assuming you’re a victim of trauma, you may be inclined to flush wax out of your ear or use wax softeners. If you go this route, be careful. Remember that old Q-Tip commercial with the tag line, “You should never place anything in your ear smaller than your elbow.” Unless it’s ridiculous easy, you should have a health provider remove anything from your ear. Importantly, you should never place anything sharp in your ear (e.g., bobby pins, tweezers, etc.).
There are many procedures and surgeries that can help with hearing loss, including the following:
- Placing tubes in the eardrum (aka T-tubes, tympanostomy tubes) to remove fluid
- Repairing the eardrum or the bones in the middle ear that assist in sound transmission
- Wearing heading aids, though only one of five individuals who could benefit from a hearing aid uses one
- Using cochlear implants, a final option for those whose hearing impairment is so severe that various types of hearing aids aren’t effective or a viable option (Learn about cochlear implants at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com.)
Sign language can complement these other methods or aural based communication when other methods don’t work.
Let’s focus on some frequently asked questions about hearing aids.
How do hearing aids work?
Hearing aids consist of a microphone, an amplifier and a speaker. These components convert sound waves to signals you can hear through the speaker. It’s really that simple.
How do experts determine that I need a hearing aid?
When the time comes, a physician who specializes in ear, nose and throat disorders (otolaryngologist) will evaluate possible causes of hearing impairment. An audiologist, a hearing health professional, may also identify and quantify the degree of loss. The results of these evaluations will determine your needs.
What are the different types of hearing aids?
Hearing aids differ in style, placement and means of amplifying sound. You can place them behind the ear, in the ear canal or within the middle ear for this effect. Analog hearing aids convert sound waves into electrical signals, which are amplified. Digital hearing aids convert sound waves into numerical codes, similar to the binary code of a computer, before amplifying them. The digital method allows more customization of various frequencies. These simple but important distinctions comprise how hearing aids are individualized.
What questions should I ask when getting a hearing aid?
The most important consideration is your mastery of the device you’ll be taking home with you. You shouldn’t be satisfied with a “plug and play” device. You should be prepared to know how to respond if your voice seems too loud or if you’re getting feedback, buzzing or background noise. You should be aware of cleaning and maintenance needs, as well as repair and service benefits that come with your device.
Information and innovation are available for you. Don’t put it off.
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
Most medical matters are manageable.
Most of your health concerns are manageable without needing to engage your physician or having to visit the hospital. This can easily be accomplished with information and advice, as long as that information is personalized to your unique situation. Learn to take control of your health. It’s your most valuable asset. At www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and 844-SMA-TALK, we can help. With our expert consultants delivering medical best practices and outcomes to you based on your personal health history, we can advise you about how to take care of your health in your own way.
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.
Copyright © 2013 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Most of your health concerns are manageable without needing to engage your physician or having to visit the hospital. This can easily be accomplished with information and advice, as long as that information is personalized to your unique situation. Learn to take control of your health. It’s your most valuable asset. At www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and 844-SMA-TALK, we can help. With our expert consultants delivering medical best practices and outcomes to you based on your personal health history, we can advise you about how to take care of your health in your own way.
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.
Copyright © 2013 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Straight, No Chaser: Can You Hear Me Now? Let's Discuss Hearing Loss
If you think about it, it shouldn’t surprise you to hear that hearing loss is the third most common ailment. Pump up the volume could be the motto for a period of our lives lasting about 20 years. Let’s review causes, how you might know you’re suffering from hearing loss and what you can do about it. Joining the conversation is my friend and colleague Greg Keeney, audiologist and owner of Affordable Hearing Aids in Texas.
There are two main types of hearing loss. The first is called conductive hearing loss. There’s a problem transmitting sound because something is preventing the ear bones from relaying sound or the eardrum from vibrating in response. This can be due to several considerations.
- An ear infection can produce fluid in the ear, interfering with the process.
- An ear infections can scar the eardrum.
- Wax buildup or a foreign body in the ear can block sound transmission.
- Infections, cotton swabs, increased pressure from scuba diving or other items can rupture the eardrum.
Another type of hearing loss (and by far the most common type) is called sensorineural hearing loss. It is due to damage to the nerves that detect sound, and it is more likely to be irreversible. There are multiple causes of this condition as well.
- Age
- The loud noise we are exposed to at work and play (concerts, sporting events, fireworks, gun shots, etc.)
- Medications (certain diuretics, chemotherapy regimens, antibiotic classes known as aminoglycosides and large doses of aspirin)
- Infections (measles, meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever)
- Medical conditions (e.g., acoustic neuroma, Meniere’s disease)
Unfortunately, hearing deficits can also be present at birth due to genetic conditions, birth defects, and infections transmitted from mother to baby (such as herpes, rubella and toxoplasmosis).
Symptoms are pretty straightforward. You’ll know it when you don’t hear it. There are some additional considerations that suggest may be developing hearing loss.
- In those instances when your nerves are damaged and conducting sound erratically, certain sounds may seem excessively loud.
- Your relative inability to hear will result in difficulty following conversations or distinguishing sounds when in noisy areas or if background noise is present.
- Voices may sounds slurred, muffled or mumbled, and women’s voices will be harder to understand than men’s.
- An interesting thing about your ears is that they aren’t just for hearing; they’re also your balance centers. It is common to see those suffering from ear damage also suffering from disturbances in balance.
Check tomorrow’s post for tips on how to prevent and treat hearing loss as well as a discussion of hearing aid options.
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
If you think about it, it shouldn’t surprise you to hear that hearing loss is the third most common ailment. Pump up the volume could be the motto for a period of our lives lasting about 20 years. Let’s review causes, how you might know you’re suffering from hearing loss and what you can do about it. Joining the conversation is my friend and colleague Greg Keeney, audiologist and owner of Affordable Hearing Aids in Texas.
There are two main types of hearing loss. The first is called conductive hearing loss. There’s a problem transmitting sound because something is preventing the ear bones from relaying sound or the eardrum from vibrating in response. This can be due to several considerations.
- An ear infection can produce fluid in the ear, interfering with the process.
- An ear infections can scar the eardrum.
- Wax buildup or a foreign body in the ear can block sound transmission.
- Infections, cotton swabs, increased pressure from scuba diving or other items can rupture the eardrum.
Another type of hearing loss (and by far the most common type) is called sensorineural hearing loss. It is due to damage to the nerves that detect sound, and it is more likely to be irreversible. There are multiple causes of this condition as well.
- Age
- The loud noise we are exposed to at work and play (concerts, sporting events, fireworks, gun shots, etc.)
- Medications (certain diuretics, chemotherapy regimens, antibiotic classes known as aminoglycosides and large doses of aspirin)
- Infections (measles, meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever)
- Medical conditions (e.g., acoustic neuroma, Meniere’s disease)
Unfortunately, hearing deficits can also be present at birth due to genetic conditions, birth defects, and infections transmitted from mother to baby (such as herpes, rubella and toxoplasmosis).
Symptoms are pretty straightforward. You’ll know it when you don’t hear it. There are some additional considerations that suggest may be developing hearing loss.
- In those instances when your nerves are damaged and conducting sound erratically, certain sounds may seem excessively loud.
- Your relative inability to hear will result in difficulty following conversations or distinguishing sounds when in noisy areas or if background noise is present.
- Voices may sounds slurred, muffled or mumbled, and women’s voices will be harder to understand than men’s.
- An interesting thing about your ears is that they aren’t just for hearing; they’re also your balance centers. It is common to see those suffering from ear damage also suffering from disturbances in balance.
Check tomorrow’s post for tips on how to prevent and treat hearing loss as well as a discussion of hearing aid options.
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
Your 2nd Opinion Doc
Good. You’ve done the responsible thing. You found out what the problem is. Taking time to think about next steps and to get a second opinion (i.e., find an expert, set an appointment as a “new patient,” wait for the appointment date, take time off from work, etc.) just got quicker and easier.
It only takes a minute: 844-SMA-TALK
It only takes a minute: 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, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
Good. You’ve done the responsible thing. You found out what the problem is. Taking time to think about next steps and to get a second opinion (i.e., find an expert, set an appointment as a “new patient,” wait for the appointment date, take time off from work, etc.) just got quicker and easier.
It only takes a minute: 844-SMA-TALK
It only takes a minute: 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, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
