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What You Can Do in 15 to 20 Seconds That Will Keep You Healthy

September 2nd, 2009 by BarbaraFicarraRN in Better Health Network, Health Tips

Tags: H1N1, Hand Washing, Infectious Disease, Nursing, Preventive Health

Have you ever been in a public bathroom and noticed the number of people that don’t wash their hands?

It doesn’t matter where you are.

You can be in a mall, an airport, a hospital, a restaurant, a school, a concert, work, a sporting event and the list can go on and on.

People are not washing their hands.

Hand Washing Isn’t Sexy

Okay so this topic isn’t so sexy.  Not like FOX NEWS Health’s Featured Story:  “Catwalk Confidence” that highlights a fitness class to teach women to “strut their stuff” in stilettos or FOX NEWS “FOXsexpert” who lets you know that size does matter.

It’s Not Sexy but It Does Matter

It matters because simple hand washing can stop the spread of germs, and can prevent infections including the Swine Flu.

In a recent story on CBS news, it’s reported that in a new survey it found that “87 percent of respondents wash their hands after using public bathrooms, but one percent of those only rinsed with water.”

It also reports that “people haven’t changed their hand washing habits in light of the swine flu outbreak.”

Whether the study is accurate or not who knows, the fact is that there are some people who are not washing their hands, and some people only rinse with water?  What’s up with that?

Are You Doing It Right?

If people are washing their hands, are they doing it right?  Are they lathering up long enough?  Do they sing “Happy Birthday” twice?  Turn off the faucet with a paper towel?

Take Notice Next Time You Use A Public Bathroom

You’ll be shocked by the number of people who do it wrong or worse, don’t do it at all.

Why Are People Not Doing It?

Why do people not wash their hands?  Why aren’t they changing their hand washing habits in light of the swine flu?  Hand washing is so simple.  If it can keep nasty germs away and prevent the swine flu and other viruses, why aren’t people doing it?  Why?

CDC Offers Great Info

It’s no secret that hand washing is the single most effective way to stop the spread of infection.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) offers helpful information.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

1. Wet your hands with warm running water
2. Apply soap.
3. Rub hands together vigorously to make a soapy lather.
4. Rub all surfaces including your wrists, between your fingers, back of your hands and under your fingernails and cuticles, and around any rings.
5. Rub your hands for 15-20 seconds.
6. No timer is needed; just imagine singing “Happy Birthday” x 2.
7. Rinse your hands well.
8. Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer.
9. Use your paper towel to turn off the faucet if possible.
10. Always use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

Love the Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizers

If soap and water are not available use alcohol based hand sanitizers.  They work great, and they are easy to carry with you.

With the start of school fast approaching, moms and dads encourage your kids to wash their hands after using the bathroom and before eating.

What’s Your Experience?

Do you wash your hands?  Do you notice people washing their hands in public bathrooms or not?  We would like to hear from you.  Any suggestions to help spread the word?

*This blog post was originally published at Health in 30*

Patient Perspective: The Pros And Cons Of Insulin Pumps

September 2nd, 2009 by KerriSparling in Better Health Network, Health Tips

Tags: Animas, Dexcom, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Insulin Pumps, Minimed, Omnipod, Sam Solomon, Solo, Type 1 Diabetes

I wrote a quick status update on Facebook, after receiving the Solo demo in the mail and then meeting with the local Animas rep for lunch to discuss pump options. My brain was buzzing with questions.

And the flood gates were opened.  Lots of comments, lots of perspectives, and lots of people who had great information to share.  Turns out I’m not the only one who has been thinking about this.  🙂

I’ve been a Minimed pumper for almost six years now, and have never had an issue with Minimed customer service or the pump itself.  When my pump broke two years ago, their customer service department took my call at a few minutes before midnight and a new pump was overnighted to me.  I have no problems with the color, the size, or the functionality of my Minimed 522.

But two things happened that made me think about switching.  One was the CGM upgrade, which I tried for ten weeks and still didn’t have any semblance of success and/or comfort with.  (Thankfully, the Minimed CGM works fine for some diabetics, so it’s not just me.  Appears to be personal preference.) And the second was that I haven’t seen many changes at all in the six years I’ve been pumping with Minimed (starting with a 512 and now a 522).  The CGM component was a big one, but for people who aren’t using that feature, there isn’t much going on as far as upgrades that mattered to me.

So even though Minimed has been good to me, I’m on the prowl.

With Cozmo off the market, my options are limited.  I’ve given a lot of thought to Omnipod, and while I love the idea of no tubing, I don’t like the idea of a larger device stuck to me for the duration.  I also don’t like the idea that if I lose the PDM, I’m screwed as far as dosing my insulin.  It’s important to note that I’ve never worn an Omnipod, so I’m purely speculating.  And Omnipod works great for lots of diabetics that I know, and even some cute kiddo ones.  But it’s not about the product – more about my personal preferences.

The Solo pump demo arrived in the mail yesterday and that thing appears to have both the tubeless delivery that I’d prefer and also the ability to disconnect the bulk of the pump, but it’s not a working model and with pregnancy goals on the horizon, I’d like to make a change sooner rather than later, if possible.  Still, Solo has a lot of promise and coulda been a contenda.   Could still be one, depending on their timeframe.

I’ve looked at Animas, too.  The Ping seems to be my top contender for several reasons, but the main one is the meter doubling as a remote control for the pump.  I’ve written countless times about my desires to have the pump reasonably concealed, and when my 522 is stashed in my bra at a dressy event, reaching for it to access the buttons turns me into a female, diabetic version of Mr. Bean.  I like that the Calorie King info is stored in there.  (The Dexcom/Animas integration, whenever that happens, is also a nice future-state.)  I also like the option to take a hundredth of a unit.  Precision is a nice option.  I’m not sure how I feel about the infusion sets they use (sampling some this week) or what it might be like to use their user interface, but I want to see for myself.  Thankfully, pump reps are all about hooking us up with samples so we can see if we want to make a full transition.

But then there’s the whole money thing.  And the insurance thing.  And the “closet full of supplies” thing that will be rendered sort of useless if I switch.   And the “do I want to wrangle with a new device” thing.  There’s also the “you can always go back” thing.  And the “pumping isn’t permanent” thing.  And the “if you continue to put weird phrases in quotes, people will get annoyed” thing.

There’s a lot to consider.  And I’m excited to see what options are available to me.  But there’s only so much information I can get from “official company representatives” and websites.  If you’re a pumper, what are you using and why?  If you’re thinking about going on a pump, what factors are playing into your decision?  And if you’re like me – currently pumping but thinking about changing pump providers – what would you do?

Your feedback is, without fail, among the top resources I’ll be using to make my decision.  So thanks in advance, and power to the pumpers!!

*This blog post was originally published at Six Until Me.*

The Dangers Of Delayed Vaccine Schedules

September 2nd, 2009 by KevinMD in Better Health Network, Health Tips

Tags: Bob Sears, Dangers, Delayed Schedule, Harms, Risks, Vaccine Friendly Doctors, Vaccines

by Steve Perry, MD

I recently read a post by Dr. Bob Sears which listed several “Vaccine Friendly Doctors” in Colorado and across the nation.

As a pediatrician and vaccine advocate, I thought I’d be on this list. I am “vaccine-friendly doctor” who works with moms and dads to find the best health care plan for their babies. I read the information on both sides of the issue and weighed the science against the emotional worry that so many parents feel about vaccines. While I always recommend vaccination by the CDC schedule, I always listen to parents concerns.

But, much to my surprise, I was not on this list. After a looking closer, I found that those on the list are a small population of physicians that are “friendly” to the “alternative” or delayed vaccine schedule outlined in Dr. Sears’ The Vaccine Book. The delayed vaccine schedule calls for a drawn-out vaccine plan based on Dr. Sears’ beliefs on calming parental vaccine fears. This delayed schedule has no research or science backing it, it is simply one pediatrician’s opinion.

The biggest medical problem with the delayed schedule is that it leaves babies open to disease for a longer period of time. If a baby is vaccinated by the CDC’s tried, tested and true vaccine schedule, that baby will have immunity to over 14 diseases by the age of two! With the CDC recommended schedule, babies visit their doctor five times in the first 15 months and receive protection against up to 14 diseases in as little as 18 shots if using combination vaccines, or as many as 26 shots if using individual antigens.

We immunize children so young against these diseases because infancy is the time period that kids are MOST vulnerable to life-threatening diseases. The people at greatest risk of dying from vaccine-preventable disease are the very young and the very old. We vaccinate to save lives.

On the delayed schedule, by 15 months of age children will have only received immunity against eight diseases. They miss out on measles, rubella, chickenpox, Hep A, and Hep B. By 15 months, children on this delayed schedule are given 17 shots and visit the doctor’s office 9 times – almost twice as many visits to the doctor as the CDC schedule.

Beyond Dr. Sears advocating for a medically untested vaccine schedule, I was dismayed at his classification of physicians like myself who vaccinate according to the CDC schedule. Because we follow the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC’s vaccine guidelines we are “unfriendly” doctors? Because I am following the science of my colleagues I am an “unfriendly” doctor?

This type of misinformation is damaging to families and physicians. It is the power of words that plant seeds of doubt in the minds of parents to fear vaccines. It’s this misleading information that manipulates parents into feeling that they are bad parents if they don’t question the safety and validity of vaccines.

As a pediatrician, I know it can be confusing for parents who get so much information about vaccines every day online and on TV. We all want to be informed advocates for our children’s health. Reading a balance of both sides allows parents to make an informed choice.

The best place to start the conversation about vaccines is with your pediatrician or by reading reputable sites like the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition at www.childrensimmunization.org. This non-profit does not accept donations from pharmaceutical companies and works to improve childhood vaccination rates across Colorado.

The reason I became a pediatrician was to protect children from illness and disease. Dr. Bob may only define “vaccine-friendly doctors” as those who promote his book, but the overwhelming data on the effectiveness and safety of vaccination makes it easy for us all to become a vaccine-friendly community. I hope that parents take time to read information on both sides of the issue, brings their questions to their physician and makes fully informed decisions about their child’s health.

Steve Perry is a pediatrician at Cherry Creek Pediatrics in Denver, Colorado and co-chair of the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition’s Policy Committee.

*This blog post was originally published at KevinMD.com*

Most Teens Know How To Be Healthy, And Falsely Believe They Are Healthy

September 1st, 2009 by Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips

Tags: Diet and Exercise, Health, Pediatrics, Physical Activity, Self-Perception, teens

Nielson Wire yesterday posted a summary of a Scarborough Research study that may surprise you. According to the study, teens actually know what “being healthy” means. As reported by Nielson Wire, “92 percent percent of teens aged 13-17 say that health and a healthy lifestyle are important and when asked to give themselves a “health report card,” 76 percent of teens gave a grade of B- or higher.”

Also of interest in the report is where teens get their health information. As opposed to using social networking, as we’d expect them to do given how important a role it plays in their lives, teens turn to parents first and then true internet searches second.

(source: Nielson Wire as seen in Scarborough Research report)

I don’t doubt that on some level our teens know they need to live a healthier lifestyle and desire to do so. But, all we have to do is look around any of our towns to know the majority of our teens are not living they healthy life…not yet. So, why the discrepancy? What needs to happen to help teens live the healthy life they desire?

The discrepancy may have a few root causes:

1. Unhealthy families: many of these kids have parents with weight issues…the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree so they may not be getting the encouragement to “live healthy”.
2. Lack of time for true exercise – while many teens are in sports, sports participation isn’t the same as true exercise and many kids don’t burn the calories many parents think they are burning.
3. Not knowing how to be more healthy.
4. The hurried child syndrome where childhood has become so busy there isn’t time for proper meals.
5. Not understanding their own bodies unique nutritional needs. The needs of a growing teen are different than they were when they were younger kids, especially as growth slows down. Our teens need help learning to eat more like adults and to eat in moderation and with the concept of “balance”. This will only happen if we lead by example and also have open conversations with them about food. This will also only happen if we serve food they enjoy eating!

How can we help our teens live the healthy life they desire?

1. Talk to your teen and really listen! Find out how your teen wants to eat and exercise. A friendly world of warning…it may differ from your own views but if that is how your teen wants to be healthy, help your teen with that goal because the teen years are the start of the eating and exercise paths for life.
2. Lead by example. Look honestly at how you eat and exercise and do what you need to to be more healthy.
3. Slow down the pace of the family week so there is time for family dinner each and every day.
4. Get every one in the kitchen cooking. I’ll be writing a lot more on this as the year goes on but I can tell you that a family who cooks together, becomes more healthy together!
5. Have your teen help you with the weekly family menu planning.
6. Consider a gym if you can afford it…teens love working with trainers and joining classes. Most communities have programs that are very affordable as do the local YMCAs.
7. Don’t by the junk if your teen asks you not to…that’s like having cigarette packs on the table when someone is trying to quit smoking.
8. Keep healthy snacks around such as fruit, veggie sticks, granola bars.
9. Talk to your pediatrician and address any medical issues if there are any that may be interfering with becoming more active.
10. Be encouraging!

The teenage years are when our teens are supposed to spread their wings and amaze us. If good health is where their wings are trying to take them, then our job is to hop on that path and tackle any obstacle in their way.

*This blog post was originally published at Dr. Gwenn Is In*

How To Survive A Wildfire: Lessons From Australia

August 25th, 2009 by Paul Auerbach, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips

Tags: Australia, Emergency Medicine, Fire Safety, wilderness medicine, Wildfire

We are still in fire season in the U.S., and with persistent hot, dry and windy conditions, may see quite a few more conflagrations this summer and into the autumn. The fires that can be attributed to human behavior occur for the same reasons year in and year out, whether they are accidental or intentional. So, we will face them, and knowing what to do before they happen can be a prerequisite for survival.

Of course, fires occur worldwide, and there is much to learn from the experience of others. Some months back, there was an interesting commentary in the news during fire season in Australia that pondered the question, “Why did so many die in Australian bushfires?” Here is a paraphrasing of the response:

“Yes this is awful – devastating to the psyche. For Australia, this is bigger than the twin towers and we cannot blame an external agency. Much of it we did ourselves. All over central Victoria, it was the worst fire weather by far that has ever been experienced. Temperatures were above 40 degrees centigrade (105 degrees fahrenheit) for days, there was no significant rain for months, and there were strong to gale force winds straight out of the central desert for days.

It seems that most people who died actually did so trying to flee at the last moment. They died on the open or in cars, especially in crashes along the roads or running into fallen trees. Even before the fires hit, it was so hot that eucalyptus trees were dropping large branches everywhere.

Many who survived in the fire storm did so in prepared or ad hoc refuges and bunkers or inside their houses, leaving their homes only when the houses were burning but the main fire had passed.

The problem was that in some areas the winds were so strong that houses were torn apart by the wind, leaving no option but to be in the open. As usual, many of the injured did not have suitable clothing. For some, the attire of shorts and thongs may have been fatal. The fires were so hot that they melted alloy wheels on cars. Many, if not most, people living in the area at least evacuated their children, and the elderly and sick. Most houses were relatively well prepared for ‘normal’ fires. This is a semi-rural area, so people had water, pumps, mobile and fixed sprays, and plans. The problem was that they had no chance to use them, because everything happened so fast and was so intense.

The area was beautiful-the sort of dangerous beauty that comes from houses situated amongst trees. The area is a mountain ash forest. Many of the trees around the houses are stringy barks and cyprus pines, all of which become explosive in fires. There was ember spotting as many as five miles ahead of the main fire front. The actual fire winds were over 100 kilometers per hour. At times, the main fire front moved at 30 to 40 kilometers per hour.

Some persons commented that one of the most bewildering aspects of ‘Black Saturday’ was the disconnect between the general and, ultimately, prophetic warnings issued by authorities beforehand and the absence of specific information when the fires overwhelmed communities. But really! There is not some celestial fire watcher able to communicate with everyone and tell them what to do! Phones were out, the emergency call (000) was overwhelmed (1800% over normal call volume) and the operators were actually listening to people die without being able to help.

There have been so many extraordinary stories of bravery and good luck, but it is really difficult to put it all into perspective. People everywhere seem to be really quiet and depressed. There is a constant barrage of awful vision on the TV that keeps on reinforcing the horror. Really well known people are dead. So many kids and complete families.”

Key points for those who will one day face the prospect of encountering a wildland fire:

1. The thermal intensity of a wildland fire is beyond imagination. It is far better to be away from the heat than to try to shelter within it and try to survive. Escape routes should not be left to serendipity or improvisation. Anyone who lives in an area that is vulnerable to wildfire should have a plan for when and how to escape.

2. One needs to understand fire behavior, and how to avoid panic. Last minute attempts at self rescue are often marked by tragedy.

3. The wildland-urban interface is growing. The minority of homeowners subject to wildland fire risk have properly cleared their property of remediable fire hazards, and likely are not completely prepared to protect their lives and dwellings.

4. Warning systems are not infallible, and resources are easily overwhelmed. Everyone needs to take personal responsibility for being on the lookout for wildfire, and for his or her response to an encroaching blaze.

5. The aftermath of most natural catastrophes can be as devastating as the event. Entire communities and populations are affected, so we share the responsibility to prevent fires, report them promptly, protect our family and friends, and assist response teams in doing their jobs to suppress fires.

This post, How To Survive A Wildfire: Lessons From Australia, was originally published on Healthine.com by Paul Auerbach, M.D..