Did You Know? Food Poisoning is a Common Summer Ailment. This is because, some foods are not properly cleaned or taken care of and sit in the summer heat before being consumed.
Food poisoning is a common, usually mild, but sometimes deadly illness. Typical symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal
- Cramping
- Diarrhea
These symptoms occur suddenly (within 48 hours) after consuming a contaminated food or drink. Depending on the contaminant, fever and chills, bloody stools, dehydration, and nervous system damage may follow. These symptoms may affect one person or a group of people who ate the same thing (called an outbreak).
Did You Also Know? 1 in 6 people become sick from eating contaminated food. In 2001, the CDC estimated that food poisoning causes about 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and up to 3,000 deaths each year.
Salmonella remained the top cause of foodborne illness last year. The second most common cause of illness was Campylobacter (a bacterium that causes acute diarrhea), which increased 14%. Campylobacter lives on live chickens and can taint meat during slaughter; it can also be found in raw, unpasteurized milk. Chicken and ground beef top a list of "risky meat."
Exams and Tests
Your health care provider will examine you for signs of food poisoning, such as pain in the stomach and signs your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should.
Tests may be done on your stools or the food you have eaten to find out what type of germ is causing your symptoms. However, tests may not always find the cause of the diarrhea.
In more serious cases, your health care provider may order a sigmoidoscopy. A thin, hollow tube with a light on the end is placed in the anus to look for the source of bleeding or infection.
Treatment
You will usually get better in a couple of days. The goal is to make you feel better and make sure your body has the proper amount of fluids.
Getting enough fluids and learning what to eat will help keep you or your child comfortable. You may need to:
- Manage the diarrhea
- Control nausea and vomiting
- Get plenty of rest
Sunburn
What are the signs? The skin is red and there’s pain in the area of the burn.
When your skin is exposed to the sun for a period of time, eventually it burns, turning red and irritated.
Under the skin, things get a little more complicated. The sun gives off three wavelengths of ultraviolet light:
- UVA
- UVB
- UVC
Under the surface, ultraviolet light can alter your DNA, prematurely aging your skin. Over time, DNA damage can contribute to skin cancers.
How soon a sunburn begins depends on:
- Your skin type
- The sun's intensity
- How long you're exposed to the sun
If a sunburn is severe seek medical advice. If you have caught too much sun, below is a natural remedy to treat it:
- The first priority is to cool the affected area. Standing under a cool shower for 10 minutes will provide pain relief and prevent the sunburn getting any worse.
- Dab cooled chamomile tea gently on affected areas.
- Apply the gel from the inside leaves of the aloe vera plant for a cooling and regenerative effect.
- Lavender oil can be applied directly to the skin (only a drop or two is needed) to provide healing from sunburn.
- Make sure you drink two liters of purified water daily - more if it is hotter than usual or if you are recovering from sunburn or sunstroke.
- Homeopathics are extremely useful for sunburn and can be found in most pharmacies. The number one remedy for sunburn is arnica, which can be taken both internally and applied externally to the burn for additional support.
- Limit further exposure to the sun. The skin requires time to heal and regenerate. Use a sunscreen daily.
This Season will be the harshest season when it comes to allergies. Those who have never had it are now suffering from it, and those who have already had it are now getting it worse. Symptoms can be an itchy throat, watery eyes, and then some. Below are a few tips to look fresh and flawless no matter how bad allergy season may be.
Deflate Puffy Eyes
Allergies can often cause water retention, which results in puffy eyes. To combat the bags and fluid buildup, try to pat the area with your ring finger for about a minute per eye to stimulate circulation and tone down puffiness in the morning. You can also help control puffiness by sleeping in a slightly elevated position, avoiding salt and alcohol, doing regular cardio to sweat out excess water, and/or placing tea bags or cucumbers on the orbital bone of the eye.
Send Allergens Down the Drain
Irritating allergens like pollen can settle on your hair and skin, causing your symptoms to flare. Showering before bed will rinse the irritants away and prevent them from coating your pillow.
If you wash your hair daily, switch to a gentle shampoo, that's free of parabens, sulfates, gluten, and other additives that can irritate or dry out your scalp when shampooing frequently.
Hydrate Dry Eyes
Many people pop antihistamines to relieve sneezing and itchiness, but it can block the muscarinic receptors that keep eyes moist. Preservative-free drops can help. If you wear contacts, consider switching to disposable lenses; it can help keep eyes comfortable. Since you toss them; and the allergens accumulate, every night.
Brighten Up Dark Circles
If your allergies are keeping you up at night (as it is with many), your skin can become dull and pale; this can be especially noticeable in the transparent skin under the eyes. Vitamins D and K are known to heal blood vessels and improve under-eye darkness; caffeine increases circulation to brighten the under-eye area.
Relieve Your Red Nose
Constant nose blowing can turn skin red, raw, and flaky. You can target the area with a treatment, that contains humectants, essential oils, and peptides to control flaking and sensitivity.
With Medicine always changing and growing with the times, you may see some Medical Staff titles that are new to you. The following list and descriptions are some of the most common encountered in medical practices today.
2. Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) After acquiring an undergraduate degree, a DO completes four years of basic medical education and two to six years of residency in a specialty area. They also must pass a state license exam. DOs practice a "whole person" approach to medicine, verses treating specific symptoms or illnesses. They also receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system and osteopathic manipulative treatment.
3. Physician Assistant (PA-C)This is a certified mid-level medical provider practices medicine under the supervision of a licensed doctor (an MD) or osteopathic physician (a DO.) They must have at least a bachelor's degree, but many PA's are trained at the Master's level. They must complete a PA training program that is accredited by the national commission of Physician Assistants, pass a board certification exam every 6 years, and are licensed by the State in which they practice.Their scope of practice and specialty is defined by the practice in which they work. Different states may have limitations on their privileges
. 4. Advanced Practice Nurse (APNC) is an umbrella term appropriate for a licensed registered nurse prepared at the graduate degree level as either a Clinical Specialist, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse-Midwife, or Nurse Practitioner. Advanced Practice Nurses are professionals with specialized knowledge and skills that are applied within a broad range of patient populations in a variety of practice settings. All Advanced Practice Nurses should hold a graduate degree in nursing and be certified. They may specialize and can practice in varied settings. They are licensed by the state in which they practice.
Feel comfortable being treated by professionals with extensive training and experience at the New York Doctors Urgent Care Facilities.
Milk is the first food babies eat and considered one of the healthiest foods for you. So imagine feeling sick just because you ate cereal for breakfast or from having an ice cream treat. That's what it can be like to have lactose intolerance.
Lactose is the major sugar in milk and other dairy products. People with lactose intolerance can't digest lactose well. Lactose intolerance is not curable, but there are many ways to reduce symptoms and feel better.
Each person tolerates a certain amount of lactose, which affects how quickly he or she has symptoms and how severe they are. Some people may be sensitive to small amounts of lactose-containing foods, while others can eat larger amounts before they notice symptoms.
About 75% of all people around the globe have some degree of lactase deficiency. African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans have lactase deficits more than other races.
Lactose intolerance is easy to manage. People with the condition usually find that they can tolerate a certain amount of lactose-containing foods without having symptoms. Some people use trial and error to figure out how much and what foods they can tolerate. Lactase enzyme supplements can also help you get the nutritional benefits of dairy, especially calcium and vitamin D, and avoid symptoms of lactose intolerance. In addition, nondairy beverages, such as soy, almond, and rice milk, are often fortified with the bone-building nutrients calcium and vitamin D.
Remember:
Lactose is the major sugar in milk and other dairy products. People with lactose intolerance can't digest lactose well. Lactose intolerance is not curable, but there are many ways to reduce symptoms and feel better.
What Are the Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance?
At least 30 minutes after eating a dairy product, but before two hours have passed, people with lactose intolerance have one or more of these symptoms. Symptoms can be mild or severe.
At least 30 minutes after eating a dairy product, but before two hours have passed, people with lactose intolerance have one or more of these symptoms. Symptoms can be mild or severe.
- Bloating
- Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Painful gas
- Nausea
Each person tolerates a certain amount of lactose, which affects how quickly he or she has symptoms and how severe they are. Some people may be sensitive to small amounts of lactose-containing foods, while others can eat larger amounts before they notice symptoms.
Which Foods Have Lactose?
Products such as milk and ice cream are some of the most common foods high in lactose. It's also in foods with dry milk solids, milk byproducts, nonfat dry milk powder, or whey, including:
In addition to food, lactose is in some prescription medicines, including birth control pills, and in some over-the-counter medicines, such as certain tablets to ease stomach acid or gas.
Products such as milk and ice cream are some of the most common foods high in lactose. It's also in foods with dry milk solids, milk byproducts, nonfat dry milk powder, or whey, including:
- Breads and baked goods
- Candy
- Cereals
- Salad dressings
In addition to food, lactose is in some prescription medicines, including birth control pills, and in some over-the-counter medicines, such as certain tablets to ease stomach acid or gas.
What Causes Lactose Intolerance?
People with lactose intolerance can't digest lactose, the major sugar found mostly in milk and other dairy products. The problem is they don't make enough of the enzyme that digests lactose -- lactase -- which the small intestine makes. So when they eat foods or take medicines with lactose, they have symptoms.
For many people, lactose intolerance develops naturally with age because the small intestine starts to make less lactase. Reduced amounts of lactase may also be from an injured small intestine or certain digestive diseases, such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease.
People with lactose intolerance can't digest lactose, the major sugar found mostly in milk and other dairy products. The problem is they don't make enough of the enzyme that digests lactose -- lactase -- which the small intestine makes. So when they eat foods or take medicines with lactose, they have symptoms.
For many people, lactose intolerance develops naturally with age because the small intestine starts to make less lactase. Reduced amounts of lactase may also be from an injured small intestine or certain digestive diseases, such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease.
About 75% of all people around the globe have some degree of lactase deficiency. African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans have lactase deficits more than other races.
Lactose intolerance is easy to manage. People with the condition usually find that they can tolerate a certain amount of lactose-containing foods without having symptoms. Some people use trial and error to figure out how much and what foods they can tolerate. Lactase enzyme supplements can also help you get the nutritional benefits of dairy, especially calcium and vitamin D, and avoid symptoms of lactose intolerance. In addition, nondairy beverages, such as soy, almond, and rice milk, are often fortified with the bone-building nutrients calcium and vitamin D.
Remember:
- Incorporating small amounts of milk or dairy products with meals may help because it's easier to digest lactose eaten with other foods.
- Certain dairy products are easier for people with lactose intolerance to digest, such as cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese.
- Using lactose-free milk, cheese, and other dairy products in recipes will likely make the meal more pleasant.
Did You Know? April is Stress Awareness Month and has been held every April, since 1992.
A little bit of stress is good for us, in that it provides energy and keeps us motivated. However, it's important to keep stress in check. When left to its own devices, stress can lead to or worsen a number of serious health problems, from heart disease to depression and anxiety.
In medical terms, stress is the physiological response to a noted threat. Fear and anxiety are normal and essential feelings in life. But for some people, these responses take on a life of their own and start to disrupt everyday situations. Stress has expanded into a chronic condition with lasting health effects and the ability to weaken the immune system.
There are a number of things backed up by research that you can do, right now, to lower your stress levels. Here are a few simple tips on how to reduce stress and warning signs that it may be time to seek professional help:
- Take deep breaths. It’s not a cliché, it actually does slow your heart rate and increases oxygen intake.
- Listen to music. This releases dopamine which results in a good relaxed feeling.
- Workout. Physical activity and high water intake will keep you feeling renewed and stress free.
- Crack open a book. Just six minutes of reading is enough to help you de-stress. Studies suggest that reading was linked with a slower heart rate and muscle relaxation.
- Grab your phone. There are many smartphone apps available to reduce stress. Popular ones include: “Deep Relaxation” and “StressFree” (both available in iTunes).
- Know when it’s time to see a professional. If your stress is becoming or has become chronic, you may pose a danger to yourself or others without even realizing it. Trained professionals in stress management will be able to help pinpoint the cause of your stress as well as provide insight into how you should deal with it. It’s time to seek professional help if you experience the following:
o Loss of concentration very quickly
o Memory loss
o Constant worrying
o Sinking into depression and feeling alone or even suicidal
Most people affected with allergies start crossing their fingers and refreshing their medication the minute they get one whiff of spring's bounty of grasses, trees and flowers.
But once cooler weather hits, there's another segment of the population that prepares itself for Mother Nature's mischief. The mayhem surprisingly can happen indoors too - as people escape the frigid temperatures outside. Take a look at some of these cold-weather culprits.
COLD-INDUCED URTICARIA
Cold Facts: Some people get rosy cheeks in the cold weather. For others, plummeting temperatures cause a breakout of cold-induced urticaria, also known as "cold-induced hives," They're a reaction to cold weather or cold water and are often itchy - can be as large as a half-dollar, may appear suddenly and may reoccur chronically with exposure to cold.
Remedy: The appearance of cold-weather hives requires a visit to a medical doctor who'll test for abnormal proteins in the blood, called cryoglobulins, that are activated by exposure to the cold. If cryoglobulins are present, further evaluation is needed to check for underlying causes, including hepatitis C.
Other precautions to take include keeping the body as covered up as possible and taking a nondrowsy antihistamine before going out in the cold or into cold water. If medication doesn't help, a physician may suggest Periactin, a prescription drug with the active ingredient cyproheptadine, which has side effects such as drowsiness and possible weight gain.
COLD-INDUCED ANGIOEDEMA
Cold Facts: Cold-induced angiodema - swelling in the deeper tissues - is often associated with cold-induced urticaria. Swelling is potentially a more dangerous response because it may precipitate a drop in blood pressure. This, in turn, may lead to light-headedness or more serious symptoms. In contrast with the itching of hives, cold-induced angioedema typically causes burning or pain.
Remedy: If taking a nondrowsy antihistamine before going outdoors doesn't help, following the pharmaceutical protocol for cold-induced urticaria may provide relief.
RAYNAUD'S PHENOMENON
Cold Facts: In some individuals, exposure of the hands and feet to the cold may lead to severe constriction of the blood vessels. The result is decreased oxygen to those areas, which causes the skin to go white and become painful. As the skin warms up, the affected body parts often turn a rainbow of colors - blue followed by red. When Raynaud's becomes chronic, the skin, tissue under the skin and even muscles may waste away. Fingernails may become brittle and marked by longitudinal ridges.
Remedy: It's important to seek additional medical attention to rule out Raynaud's syndrome, also known as secondary Raynaud's. Secondary Raynaud's may be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), other immune disorders and even medications such as beta blockers. In extreme cases, the fingertips may be so adversely affected that skin ulcerations or gangrene may result.
Protective clothing, especially for the extremities, is a must. If SLE has been ruled out but the patient still experiences severe symptoms, a visit to a vascular specialist for further evaluation is suggested.
COLD-INDUCED ASTHMA
Cold Facts: For some individuals, simply breathing cold air into the lungs is all it takes to bring on an asthma attack, with shortness of breath and constriction of the airways. Cold dry air is sometimes a more potent trigger than the cold moist variety. Cold winds can also fuel an attack, and typical winter-weather flu and colds can worsen asthma symptoms.
Remedy: To keep your mouth and nose warm and help ensure that you're breathing warm air, generously cover these body parts with protective outerwear. Carry a rescue inhaler, such as albuterol or levalbuterol, at all times, and use it before exposure to the cold. If necessary, avoid exercising outdoors in frigid temperatures or even in unheated indoor facilities.
VASOMOTOR RHINITIS
Cold Facts: Although it's technically not an allergy, vasomotor rhinitis - the common runny nose - nevertheless behaves like an allergy. Symptoms of this condition - continuously runny noses, sneezing, nasal congestion and post-nasal drip can all be part of the mix - may suddenly erupt in cold-sensitive people after they do nothing more than set their feet down on a cold floor.
Remedy: Antihistamines typically provide no relief for this condition. However, prescription nasal sprays - including nasal antihistamines, nasal cholinergic inhibitors (ipratropium), or nasal steroids - may provide relief.
DUST MITES
Cold Facts: It's far more comfy watching snow, sleet and bundled-up neighbors on a plush sofa or pillowed up in bed on a soft mattress. But you may have company. House dust mites, which allergists often refer to as HDM, also like to stay - in upholstery, bedding and linens.
These microscopic critters have quite an appetite, gobbling up skin that humans regularly shed. As they dine, the mites secrete digestive enzymes, especially proteases, which wind up in their fecal matter. These substances - as well as the mites' external structure - may trigger allergic symptoms that include runny noses, wheezing, congestion, headaches, itching and asthma. Fortunately, blocking the activities of Dermatophagoides farinae and other dust mite brethren is relatively easy.
Remedy: Dust mite covers do a great job keeping these at a safe distance. That's because the weave of these special fabrics is very tight - typically less than 10 microns - which helps ensure that mites can't squirm their way in and out of your possessions. As a precaution, wash bedding at least once a week in very hot water. If family members are dust mite-sensitive, keep fabrics in the home to a minimum by eliminating drapes and opting for blinds or other window treatments.
EVERGREEN TREES
Cold Facts: Bringing nature indoors is one way to fuel the winter-holiday spirit. Unfortunately, decking your home with evergreen trees, wreaths or garlands may also heighten allergies. That's because evergreens may harbor naturally forming mold on their needles and fruits.
Remedy: Some holiday tree farms put their trees into a "shaker" with an eye towards dislodging the mold. But if your tree still provokes allergic reactions, try an OTC nondrowsy or long acting antihistamine. An artificial tree may be the most trouble-free solution of all.
FABRICS
Cold Facts: With an onslaught of cold weather, most people start insulating by layering their clothing. Trouble is, some winter fabrics, such as wool, contain short and rigid fibers that can provoke skin itching. The people most susceptible are often those who have thinner skin or existing skin conditions, such as eczema.
Remedy: To cut down the scratchiness quotient, make sure the first-layer garment touching your skin is made of 100 percent cotton. Once that cotton layer is in place, consider experimenting with synthetic fabrics, especially garments that athletes wear in the cold weather. Read clothing labels carefully, and stay away from garments that have been coated with resins or other chemicals. And, because dry skin is more susceptible to irritation from fabrics, moisturizing your skin is a must.
FOOD ALLERGIES
Cold Facts: One tasty antidote to cold weather is the variety of food that becomes available as holiday time approaches. However, there are seldom labels of ingredients on the pot-luck offerings from family and friends or the food served at catered events or office parties. For people who are food-sensitive or allergic to certain foods, the season presents the problem of having less control over what's being served.
Remedy: Good communication is key. Ask if these foods - fruit cakes, eggnog and casseroles are often red flags - contain ingredients on your "do not eat" list, especially nuts. Be vigilant and, if necessary, abstain from eating potentially appetizing but harmful dishes. If you have already been diagnosed with a food allergy, be sure to carry your emergency medication with you at all times.
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