What to Expect in the ER if You Have Shortness of Breath
If you’re complaining of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, here is what will be done for you in an emergency room. (more…)
Child Hit Head? Questions to Ask ER Doctor re CT Scans
If your child got hit in the head, you need to make sure they don’t get unnecessary CT scans.
Here’s questions to ask the ER doctor if you’re worried about radiation exposure.
CT scans take about 15 minutes and are easy to conduct. Not all doctors in an emergency room setting practice the same screening protocol when it comes to deciding to order a CT scan for a child who’s been hit in the head.
CT scans can be life-saving, being that they can show a brain bleed as a result of getting hit in the head – which children often do during play or from accidents.
The chart below shows radiation exposure from a CT scan of the head compared to other common sources of radiation.
Questions Parents Should Ask About CT Scans for Kids’ Head Trauma
• Ask if the CT scan is necessary. Do not fear being thought of as “challenging a doctor” by asking this question. Think of yourself as an inquiring customer. You have a right to ask this question.
• Ask about other options such as MRI or ultrasound, as these do not use radiation. However, chances are high that an ER is not going to give an MRI for head trauma since it takes much longer.
• If the ER doctor will order only a CT scan, ask how the radiation dose will be adjusted to ensure use of minimal radiation.
• The answer to this question should include whether or not the staff has the expertise to ensure minimal radiation.
What if Child Seems to Have Only a Minor Head Injury?
The above questions apply, but there’s a few more questions you should ask the ER doctor if your child seems okay.
• Can a watchful waiting approach, in the emergency room, be taken instead of a hasty CT scan?
• If there’s no evidence of worsening symptoms, can the CT scan be put on hold while the child is held for several hours of observation?
• Be prepared for that—several hours—as this is what’s necessary for doctors to gain a strong foothold on whether or not head trauma can be serious or is truly minor.
• Ask about looking out for a change in, or worsening of, symptoms (if any) over those several hours as being the warrant for a CT scan rather than just the claim, “My child hit her head.”
Symptoms for Parents to Watch Out For
“If any symptoms appear after a head injury, a doctor should be immediately consulted,” says Dr. Lisa Lewis, MD, a board certified pediatrician in Fort Worth, Texas, and author of “Feed the Baby Hummus, Pediatrician-Backed Secrets from Cultures Around the World.”
“Although not as common as a concussion, brain hemorrhage (a bleed in the brain) can be life-threatening and require immediate intervention,” says Dr. Lewis.
“Symptoms to look out for that will warrant an immediate ER visit: vomiting, loss of consciousness, altered mental state, difficulty walking, not able to eat or talk, difficulty awakening.”
A worsening headache and nausea are also symptoms to take seriously and warrant an ER trip.
Having 25+ years’ experience, Dr. Lewis completed her pediatrics residency at Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Scott and White Memorial Hospital. For two years afterward she was assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at Texas A&M University Health Science Center.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
What Is Hyperhidrosis and Might You Have It?
Hyperhidrosis is a very bothersome condition that can impede the quality of one’s social life.
It can bring on enough embarassment to make the sufferer want to stay home.
“Hyperhidrosis is a condition that in any circumstances where a person would normally sweat (whatever the cause), those with the condition will sweat far more relative to volume .– four or five times more than what’s considered normal,” says registered nurse and emergency medical technician Angela Ballard, RN, EMT, with the International Hyperhidrosis Society (www.SweatHelp.org). (more…)
Does Hyperhidrosis Go Away with Age? Can You Outgrow Sweat?
Hyperhidrosis of the armpits, groin or feet–it can be bad enough to impair social life.
But is there hope as the sufferer gets older?
Can you “age out” of hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. It can occur anywhere, but when it affects the armpits and feet, the odor becomes an issue in addition to the sweat.
If the groin is affected, this is really uncomfortable.
It can be so bad that several changes of underwear a day are necessary.
Too Old for Hyperhidrosis?
There’s a belief circulating that people who suffer from excessive sweating, which can also affect the hands and beneath the breasts, will outgrow this condition as they get older.
After all, how many elderly people do you know who complain of hyperhidrosis?
Then again, how many people of any age reveal this problem to family and friends?
They know it may be taken as poor hygiene rather than as a medical condition.
- But what really is the truth?
- Is advancing age the best treatment for excessive sweating?
“No, contrary to popular belief, research shows that hyperhidrosis does not go away or decrease with age,” says registered nurse and emergency medical technician Angela Ballard, RN, EMT, with the International Hyperhidrosis Society (www.SweatHelp.org).
“In fact, in one recent IHhS study, 88 percent of respondents said their excessive sweating had gotten worse or stayed the same over time,” continues Ballard.
“This was consistent across all the different age groups, from youngsters to older adults.
“Research from the IHhS also shows that profuse sweating is not simply dictated by the time of year (i.e., hot summer months).”
Nor is it simply a function of rigorous physical activity. It can occur during sedentary periods.
“The majority of patients in one survey indicated that their sweating bothers them equally, no matter the season,” says Ballard.
Angela Ballard has been working with the International Hyperhidrosis Society (IHhS) since it’s inception in 2003.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik.com pressfoto
What Happens in the ER when Elderly Woman Reports Chest Pain
Be on the lookout for specific things that should be done in the ER when an elderly woman complains of chest pain.
If an elderly family member is having chest pain, don’t delay getting them to the emergency room. (more…)
Are All Autistic Children Necessarily Withdrawn?
Is a “quirky” child possibly autistic even though they seem to be very socially interactive and uncomfortable being alone?
Of course, not all introverted children meet the diagnostic criteria for autism. (more…)
HIIT vs. Typical Exercise and Drugs for Battling Depression
A form of exercise called HIIT may be much more effective at treating depression than is more typical exercise and antidepressant drugs.
HIIT stands for high intensity interval training. (more…)
Why Don’t More Doctors See Dense Breasts As a Cancer Risk?
There’s a reason why most of the medical establishment still does not take seriously high breast density as a major risk for breast cancer. (more…)
Is Surgery Necessary to Diagnose Ovarian Cancer?
A doctor may suspect ovarian cancer based on symptoms, a blood test & an image of a suspicious mass.
But is surgery always necessary for a formal diagnosis of this ruthless disease? (more…)
WHY Does Stress Increase & Affect Vaginal Discharge?
Have you read somewhere that stress can directly cause vaginal discharge?
“There’s no direct mechanism for stress and vaginal discharge; however, chronic stress can cause hormone imbalances which can lead to abnormal discharge,” says Mylaine Riobe, MD, founder of Riobe Institute of Integrative Medicine.
Dr. Riobe, who’s board certified in ob/gyn and integrative medicine, is the author of “The Answer to Cancer.”
Despite no direct mechanism, stress sets the ball in motion that often leads to changes or increases in vaginal discharge.
“Chronic stress can also cause immune system weakness which can lead to infection, especially with unprotected intercourse,” says Dr. Riobe.
A compromised immune system can pave the path to issues with vaginal discharge.
“In traditional Chinese medicine, there is a mechanism for non-infectious vaginal discharge called damp and also spleen qi (pronounced chee) deficiency.
“Damp is excess fluids in the body, or inflammation. Spleen qi is responsible for management of fluids in the body, and when it’s weak, vaginal discharge can result.
“These causes of vaginal discharge are most closely linked with digestive problems.”
Does stress affect vaginal discharge differently for younger vs. older women?
“Stress-induced infectious vaginal discharge can occur at any age, and risk is increased with unprotected intercourse,” says Dr. Riobe.
“Stress hormones cause suppression of the immune system. The weakened immune system increases the possibility of infection.”
Stress’s Effect on the Immune System
Why does stress compromise immune function?
If you have to fight danger or escape from danger, which body systems do you need?
• Musculoskeletal
• Neuronal
• Cardiovascular
• Respiratory
Chronic stress triggers the same biochemical changes that acute (sudden) stress does.
Shutterstock/Cory Thoman
The body cannot tell the difference between the acute dangers our ancient ancestors faced in the wild, and the ongoing pressure-cooker lives that people face in industrialized societies (e.g., workplace issues, traffic jams, mounting bills, worrying about kids doing drugs).
Chronic stress puts the body in a never-ending state of “fight or flight.”
Shutterstock/tommaso79
The body is always in a preparatory state for that fight or escape from the perceived threat.
You don’t need your immune system to fight or escape from a threat.
The immune system becomes dismantled while more relevant systems gear up for the fight or flight (fast resting heart rate, high blood pressure, accelerated breathing, nervous twitches).
An actual physical fight never comes, of course, so the body remains on perpetual standby – meaning, a perpetually compromised immune system – leading to digestive troubles and creating the perfect storm for vaginal infection leading to more discharge.
“Stress hormones also suppress the ovarian function leading to reduced ovarian hormone levels which can also cause discharge,” says Dr. Riobe.
Again…do you need your ovaries to fight or flee from danger?
“Another possible mechanism is nutrient deficits which are needed by the liver to remove inflammation from the body.
“If the liver is missing key nutrients to perform its function, toxic inflammation will remain in the body causing discharge as well as other problems related to inflammation.”
Dr. Riobe has helped thousands of patients overcome difficult illnesses by addressing root causes, not just masking symptoms. The Riobe Method focuses on the prevention of disease, not the prevention of death from disease. She has 20+ years’ experience using integrative techniques to treat diverse patients.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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