Everyday Medicine

Dietary supplements are ingredibly popular, but very few realize how little oversight exists. In this episode, we talk about supplements, the FDA, and what you need to do to stay healthy/safe.

CPR is one of the greatest skills the general public can learn. This skill may be the only intervention between life and death when someone suffers from cardiac arrest. Recent changes have removed the traditional mouth to mouth breathing, leaving only chest compressions. Hands Only CPR can save a life.

Melanoma is the most deadly form ofskin cancer. Rates of this disease have spiked in the past decades with our culture's sun worship. In this episode, we talk about this cancer, how it happens, and how you can prevent it.

Bell's Palsy is a common presentation to the ER, many times with patient's frightened that they have had a stroke. The good news is that the process is very different and most will resolve over time. In this episode, we talk about the characteristics of Bell's Palsy and how to differentiate it from a stroke.

Everyone knows the potential risks of alcohol abuse, but few realize the potential risks associated with underage alcohol use. Minors have the same risks as adults, but also have some developmental risks that can lead to life long problems.

Spring bring our the flowers but also brings out the bees. The fact is, many Americans have an allergy to bee stings, some of which are potentially deadly. In this episode, we talk about the allergy and what you need to do to be ready this Spring.

In the winter, childhood illnesses are as common as cold days and hydration is what will lead most kids to the ER/hospital. In this episode, we talk about some of the steps to keep your child hydrated through winter illnesses.

There is no shortage of combination medications and therapies marketed for cold and flu season, but this polypharmacy exposes people to the risk of accidental overdose. It is very easy to take medications with very different names but the same active ingredients that can be very dangerous if not deadly. In this episode, we talk about the risk and what you need to do to stay safe.

With increased demands on emergency sercice and healthcare in general, it may difficult to determine when your illness is actually and emergency. In this episode, we talk about some concerning symptoms and resources to better plan for the needs of our healthcare system.

With all of the cold weather this winter, frostbite is a real concern for much of the country. In this episode, we define frostbite, how it happens, and what you can do about it.

The new year means opportunities to make changes in your life and health. In this episode, we talk about some of the keys necessary to make reasonable and achievable resolutions.

Hypertension is considered one of the "silent killers" and is one of the most common chronic medical conditions worldwide. In this episode, we talk about the keys to blood pressure control.

Top scientists and the CDC typically do a pretty good job putting together the annual flu vaccine, but the 2014-2015 vaccine appears to be a near miss, with significant less coverage than recent years. In this episode, we talk about it and why you still need to get the vaccine. Since recording this, the numbers have shifted a little more, but the teaching points are still there.

Allergic reactions are a common occurence throughout the US. Whether it is medications, food, or bee stings, our immune system is ready to fight whether we want it to or not. In the case of mild to moderate allergic reactions, benadryl has been the mainstay of treatments, but there is another family of medicines that has proven to be a good adjunct in allergic reaction therapy. This episode talks about the use of H2-receptor blockers.

The importance of an up to date medication list can be lifesaving in a time sensitive situation, for example, a trip to the ER.  It is always important to keep a current list with you at all times.  This is available at your pharmacy.  I always encourage patients to bring their medications to any doctor's appointment also.