I hope this was another week of good health for you. Let’s review how Straight, No Chaser tried to contribute to your health and wellness. Don’t forget to click on any of the underlined topics for links to the original posts.
On Sunday, we reviewed eye emergencies. Don’t forget that even transient vision loss could be a stroke in progress, and certain causes of vision loss have a limited window of time in which treatment must occur. Act quickly! By the way, I didn’t mention this information that occurs more commonly than you’d think: If you ever have eye discharge so copious that it seems like you’re tearing pus, this is probably gonorrhea. Get it treated, lest you could lose an eye. Now that I have your attention…
On Monday, we reviewed syncope (aka fainting) in two parts, talking about the entity (click here) and the life-threatening conditions associated with faints. You’re way too cavalier with faints; please get them evaluated. Faints can either be the result of significant disease or can secondarily produce significant head and neck injuries from the falls. Stop going to the bathroom (with all the hard stuff in there) when you’re feeling dizzy. That’s not a good place to black out!
On Tuesday, we discussed suicide and depression in-depth, reviewing demographic information, information for your self-assessment, and tips on how to recognize when help is needed (and how you can avoid depression). I’m pleased that you’ve made these topics the most read topics yet, and I sincerely hope this information helps some of you.
On Wednesday, we reviewed the overuse of the emergency room, which will become a major theme of this blog. Those creature comfort visits are 8 times more expensive than the same visits done at a primary care physician’s office. In Texas, the average ER cost is $1020. Just because you’re not necessarily paying up front doesn’t mean the hospital won’t ensure you’ll pay eventually. Remember, hospital bills are the #1 cause of personal bankruptcy in the U.S. Straight, No Chaser was created to point you toward better options. Stick around, and we’ll get you there. Wednesday also brought a review of vomiting and diarrhea (viral gastroenteritis). Learn about oral rehydration therapy. Viral gastroenteritis is a good example of something that feels really… bad but is usually self-limited and will go away on its own, as long as you stay hydrated.
On Thursday, we reviewed end of life decision-making. I know this struck home for a lot of you, bringing back not so fond memories. That said, you must begin to think about how you want to be treated in your last days. There are many tragedies during this time that tear families apart. Use the tools discussed on the post on living wills, power of attorney designations and DNR considerations to make sure your interests are the only consideration being addressed when the time comes.
On Friday, we seemed to prick a nerve or two (no pun intended) discussing circumcision. If nothing else, be an educated consumer. Even now, considerations are perhaps best summed up by the posture of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which declines to recommend routine circumcisions for all newborns but notes that if you are inclined to get the procedure (which should be a big if), the benefits outweigh the risks. Friday afternoon, we reviewed hearing loss and the damage the activities of daily living produce. This is a pretty good example of how we take our health for granted. Just a little bit of protection and prevention over the first 40 years of your life will make a big difference later on.
Saturday, we discussed two different types of sounds that come out of you. First, we discussed snoring (which is always annoying but never boring) and gave you some Quick Tips to overcome it. We also discussed hiccups, which everyone gets at some point, but no one ever wants. We also gave you Quick Tips on hiccup cures here. Remember those ABCDEs!
We continue to listen to your comments and feedback, and over the next few months, some major changes will be occurring. Please continue to forward your topic requests. I promise I’ll get to them all eventually. Maybe I’ll start doing reader submission posts. As we continue to grow, your support, referrals and follows are much appreciated. Have a happy and healthy week.
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Tag Archives: Vision loss
Straight, No Chaser – The Week In Review
Straight, No Chaser: When that Eye Problem Could Be an Eye Emergency
Now you may look at the topic and think, “Well, isn’t that obvious?” I’m here to tell you that as many people who come to the emergency room for seemingly minor things, there’s even more that delay coming because of a thought that things will get better. When it comes to your eyes, you only have two, and can’t afford to lose even one. If you have any of these signs or symptoms, come in while you still can see (if indeed you still can).
Sudden vision loss: The problem with sudden vision loss is that it didn’t happen by accident, and it’s not likely to get better without prompt relief. This could represent a stroke involving the eyes’ blood vessels (amaurosis fugax), a blockage of those blood vessels (central retinal artery occlusion), a retinal detachment and a few other critical considerations. The point to be made is that in most of these examples, you should assume that only a limited amount of time exists to repair the damage before the eye injury causes permanent damage.
Eye pain: Yes, there’s a lot of benign things that cause eye pain, but there are some serious considerations, including the following:
- Burns (seen very commonly in welders and those using chemicals)
- Conjunctivitis (yep, even this can be serious when caused by gonorrhea or a herpes virus – wash your hands!),
- Glaucoma,
- Inflammation of various components of the eye (uveitis, keratitis)
- Migraines
- Scratches and ulcers to the eye surface (the cornea – do not sleep in your contacts unless this has been approved by your eye doctor; it just sets you up for bad things to happen),
- Trauma
- Tumors
Something is in your eye: Whether a chemical splash, a piece of metal, a branch or other foreign body, there are several concerns you should have. In the example of the chemical splash, something may be burning through the layer of your eye, putting it at risk for rupture. One word – IRRIGATE! If some object is in there that you can remove by blinking, odds are it’s not going away. Don’t cause more damage than is already there by digging around in your eye. Get evaluated.
Visualization of flashing lights and floaters: The most concerning cause of this phenomenon is a retinal detachment, which is a serious eye-threatening emergency. Visualize (no pun intended) wallpaper peeling off a wall. Unfortunately in this analogy, the retina is like the film in your camera, capturing the images of the world you see. If your retina’s gone from its natural position, you’re not seeing anything.
I welcome any questions, comments or thoughts. Otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow.
Now you may look at the topic and think, “Well, isn’t that obvious?” I’m here to tell you that as many people who come to the emergency room for seemingly minor things, there’s even more that delay coming because of a thought that things will get better. When it comes to your eyes, you only have two, and can’t afford to lose even one. If you have any of these signs or symptoms, come in while you still can see (if indeed you still can).
Sudden vision loss: The problem with sudden vision loss is that it didn’t happen by accident, and it’s not likely to get better without prompt relief. This could represent a stroke involving the eyes’ blood vessels (amaurosis fugax), a blockage of those blood vessels (central retinal artery occlusion), a retinal detachment and a few other critical considerations. The point to be made is that in most of these examples, you should assume that only a limited amount of time exists to repair the damage before the eye injury causes permanent damage.
Eye pain: Yes, there’s a lot of benign things that cause eye pain, but there are some serious considerations, including the following:
- Burns (seen very commonly in welders and those using chemicals)
- Conjunctivitis (yep, even this can be serious when caused by gonorrhea or a herpes virus – wash your hands!),
- Glaucoma,
- Inflammation of various components of the eye (uveitis, keratitis)
- Migraines
- Scratches and ulcers to the eye surface (the cornea – do not sleep in your contacts unless this has been approved by your eye doctor; it just sets you up for bad things to happen),
- Trauma
- Tumors
Something is in your eye: Whether a chemical splash, a piece of metal, a branch or other foreign body, there are several concerns you should have. In the example of the chemical splash, something may be burning through the layer of your eye, putting it at risk for rupture. One word – IRRIGATE! If some object is in there that you can remove by blinking, odds are it’s not going away. Don’t cause more damage than is already there by digging around in your eye. Get evaluated.
Visualization of flashing lights and floaters: The most concerning cause of this phenomenon is a retinal detachment, which is a serious eye-threatening emergency. Visualize (no pun intended) wallpaper peeling off a wall. Unfortunately in this analogy, the retina is like the film in your camera, capturing the images of the world you see. If your retina’s gone from its natural position, you’re not seeing anything.
I welcome any questions, comments or thoughts. Otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow.
