April 20th, 2010 by Paul Auerbach, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Opinion, Research
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When we think of people who enjoy the outdoors, the images in our minds are often of healthy and vibrant individuals — stereotypes are young athletes engaged in vigorous activities like climbing, biking, skiing, etc.
Of course, going outdoors is for everyone, and persons may be young or old, active or sedentary, and healthy or infirm. We carry our personal health status with us wherever we go, and the health habits we pursue in our daily lives form the framework for our participation in adventures, recreation and other outdoor activities.
Therefore, public health issues are important, be they adherence to precautions to avoid infectious diseases or lifestyle modifications to maintain optimal physical and mental health. Read more »
This post, Obesity, Smoking And Life Expectancy, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Paul Auerbach, M.D..
March 15th, 2010 by Paul Auerbach, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips
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There are rules that have been advocated for doctors to use to determine the need for x-rays (radiographs) in the setting of a possible ankle fracture (broken ankle). The purpose for using rules is to avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation. In the wilderness, there is not likely to be an x-ray machine available. Therefore, the rules might be useful to give the rescuer (or a parent) more confidence about what clinical presentation is likely to be or not be a broken bone. This would be important in terms of deciding whether or not to allow weight-bearing, such as would occur if a victim needed to walk out under his or her own power. Read more »
This post, How To Tell If A Child’s Ankle Is Broken, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Paul Auerbach, M.D..
December 28th, 2009 by Paul Auerbach, M.D. in Better Health Network, News, Research
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Most of us have learned that bears use brown adipose tissue (“brown fat”) to assist them in hibernation during the winter, and that other animals use it to regulate body weight and adaptive thermoregulation (control of body temperature). What is less well known is that humans also take advantage of their own version of brown adipose tissue. How it functions in humans may not only have implications for thermoregulation, but for a targeted strategy to combat obesity. The ratio of “white fat” (“bad” fat) to brown fat (“good” fat) may also be important. Read more »
This post, Brown Fat Plays A Role In Human (And Bear) Fat Regulation, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Paul Auerbach, M.D..
December 17th, 2009 by Paul Auerbach, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips
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Christian Vaillancourt, MD and his colleagues recently published an article in the journal Annals of Emergency Medicine (2009;54:663-671) entitled “The Out-of-Hospital Validation of the Canadian C-Spine Rule by Paramedics.” This rule was originally developed for “clinical clearance” (e.g., without the use of x-rays) of persons with possible cervical spine fracture (broken neck) in alert and stable trauma patients by qualified persons (generally, emergency physicians) in a health care setting (such as an emergency department). This particular study found that paramedics can apply the Canadian C-Spine Rule reliably, without missing important cervical spine injuries.
The Rule, properly applied to an awake and alert injured person for which there is a concern for a cervical spine injury, provides the following direction:
1. If a person has a high-risk factor (age greater than or equal to 65 years; a dangerous mechanism of injury [a fall from an elevation greater than or equal to 3 feet; fall down 5 or more stairs; direct blow to top of head, such as a diving board accident; motor vehicle accident characterized by high speed, rollover or passenger ejection; motorized recreational vehicle accident; bicycle collision]; or numbness/tingling in an arm or leg), then neck immobilization and x-rays are indicated. Read more »
This post, Canadian C-Spine Rule: How To Know If A Neck Is Likely To Be Broken, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Paul Auerbach, M.D..
December 9th, 2009 by Paul Auerbach, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Research
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported an analysis of motorcycle helmet use in fatal crashes. What was discovered is not surprising – namely, that in states in which there is not a state helmet law, the odds of a rider in a single-vehicle (e.g., the motorcycle) crash wearing a helmet was 72% less than in states with a helmet law. So, absent a law, people are not particularly inclined to wear a helmet.
One needs to couple this information with the facts about the benefits of wearing motorcycle helmets. First, motorcyle fatalities and fatality rates are increasing at a time when motorcycle riding is becoming more popular. Second, the average age of motorcycle fatalities has moved up to 39 years, from 30 years nearly 20 years ago, probably because the age of motorcycle riders has increased. Third, motorcycles expose the drivers more directly to lethal forces than do enclosed vehicles. Helmets are essential to prevent brain injuries and deaths. Read more »
This post, Motorcycle Helmets: Why Don’t People Wear Them?, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Paul Auerbach, M.D..
