Hello Everyone,
It has been a while since I have written about this topic. However, several things have happened in the area which brings the topic to the forefront.
Wearing medical ID is so important and it is a potentially life saving practice. Are you diabetic, have a pacemaker, defibrillator or other heart condition? Do you have asthma, epilepsy or on anti-coagulation medicine? If you have any of these or other medical conditions, you need to let people know.
One of the easiest ways to notify people that you have a condition that requires special attention in the event of an emergency, is to be wearing some sort of medical ID.
For example, a gentleman is in the grocery store and faints suddenly. The bystanders come to his aid and the first thought may be that he has had a heart attack. The paramedics are called and they arrive in a few minutes but the patient has not revived. He is taken to a local hospital when he makes a full recovery.
Taking the same scenario, a gentleman goes down in the grocery store. This time he is wearing a medical ID bracelet that identifies him as having diabetes. This information is relayed to the paramedics. Since a common problem with diabetics is having an episode of LOW blood sugar (hypoglycemia), this could alert bystanders or emergency personnel that the first step to take would be to try to revive the patient with glucose. The patient is administered a dose of glucose in the store, he recovers and a trip to the hospital may not be necessary.
The Medical ID can be in the form of a bracelet, pendant or watch tag. I recommend that the ID be something that you wear, not just in your pocket. There are wallet cards, key fobs and other types, however, in the case of emergency, you may not have your wallet or keys on your person.
There are many companies that can provide you a Medical ID. They are not free, however, it is a good investment.
Please take a few minutes and obtain a Medical ID. It may save your life!
Until Later
Dr. Paul
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
General Health Topic - Exercise Induced Asthma
Hello everyone,
Does this ever happen?.... you go to the gym and within a few minutes of starting your workout you are extremely tired or short of breath? Do you experience chest tightness, wheezing or coughing when you exercise? The first thing you may be thinking is wow, I need to get into better shape! If you do, you might have exercise induced asthma (EIA).
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAI) brochure to help educate patients, approximately 20 million Americans have EIA. Their airways may be overly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, especially colder, drier air. While exercising, many people start breathing through their mouths, bypassing the warm moist nasal passages which allows colder, less humid air to reach the lungs.
To know for sure if you have EIA or even a chronic asthma condition, you need to see your physician to get tested. If positive for EIA, work out a treatment plan with your physician and pharmacist. There are many treatments that are effective in controlling EIA.
Inhaled medications taken prior to exercise are helpful in preventing or controlling EIA. The medication of choice is a short-acting bronchodilator spray used 15 minutes before exercise. These medications, which include albuterol and levalbuterol are effective in the majority of patients. They work quickly and last for up to four to six hours. These inhalers can also treat EIA symptoms after they occur.
If symptoms are not readily controlled by medications, patients should talk to their physician.
A severe asthma attack is a medical emergency and if EIA symptoms cannot be controlled, more rescue medications may be needed. An "Epi-pen" (epinephrine injection) and emergency supplemental oxygen are items that should be available.
Enjoy your workout.
Dr. Paul
Does this ever happen?.... you go to the gym and within a few minutes of starting your workout you are extremely tired or short of breath? Do you experience chest tightness, wheezing or coughing when you exercise? The first thing you may be thinking is wow, I need to get into better shape! If you do, you might have exercise induced asthma (EIA).
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAI) brochure to help educate patients, approximately 20 million Americans have EIA. Their airways may be overly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, especially colder, drier air. While exercising, many people start breathing through their mouths, bypassing the warm moist nasal passages which allows colder, less humid air to reach the lungs.
To know for sure if you have EIA or even a chronic asthma condition, you need to see your physician to get tested. If positive for EIA, work out a treatment plan with your physician and pharmacist. There are many treatments that are effective in controlling EIA.
Inhaled medications taken prior to exercise are helpful in preventing or controlling EIA. The medication of choice is a short-acting bronchodilator spray used 15 minutes before exercise. These medications, which include albuterol and levalbuterol are effective in the majority of patients. They work quickly and last for up to four to six hours. These inhalers can also treat EIA symptoms after they occur.
If symptoms are not readily controlled by medications, patients should talk to their physician.
A severe asthma attack is a medical emergency and if EIA symptoms cannot be controlled, more rescue medications may be needed. An "Epi-pen" (epinephrine injection) and emergency supplemental oxygen are items that should be available.
Enjoy your workout.
Dr. Paul
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
