The Dr. Leigh Vinocur Show

In light of the recent Ebola Virus outbreak in West Africa, might the U.S. be next?The 1995 movie Outbreak portrayed a widespread medical disaster, via an Ebola Virus outbreak in the U.S. Although this movie makes you think seriously about what could happen, the chances of this actually occurring are highly unlikely. A recent Ebola Virus outbreak in West Africa has scientists on alert. However, they believe this is a new strain, eliminating the concern that the disease spread from other parts of Africa. According to the World Health Organization, Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever) is a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%. It is spread by animals, and most recently linked to fruit bats in West Africa. There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola, so the key is to limit the spread of the disease. This starts with healthcare providers, and includes education and awareness. Ebola is transferred in humans by direct contact, generally via secretion of bodily fluids. So, standard safety rules apply: cover your mouth when sneezing and wash your hands frequently. Symptoms are typically similar to the flu, but become far more severe. Fever, muscle aches and weakness eventually lead to bleeding, liver and kidney failure. Ultimately, the affected patient can bleed to death. So avoiding direct contact with an affected person is crucial. The incubation period is 2-21 days. However, it is highly unlikely that people would travel with the virus, so put your mind at ease... the chance that fiction becomes reality in this case is next to nil. Dr. Jon Mark Hirshon joins Dr. Leigh to discuss this scary disease.

There has been a recent resurgence in deadly diseases such as measles and whooping cough, partly due to the anti-vaccine movement.Childhood diseases such as whooping cough (pertussis) and measles were thought of as non-existent in recent years. Now, there has been a resurgence of cases due to the high profile backlash against vaccines. If we stopped vaccinating today, in the next five years there would be over 2.7 million deaths from measles. In fact, measles is the #5 cause of death in the U.S. to children under the age of five. For whatever reason, parents in the U.S. seem to be reluctant to give their children these vaccines. If you went to a parent in Africa and offered them a cure to a deadly disease, chances are they would take it so fast your head would spin. Celebrities like Jenny McCarthy and other high profile actors and actresses have spoken out against giving your children vaccines. But to what merit? These vaccines have been proven to be crucial to preventing deadly diseases. Dr. Al Sacchetti thinks that parents should give their children these life-saving vaccines. He joins Dr. Leigh to discuss the controversy and why you shouldn't believe the hype.

Distracted driving causes more than nine deaths each day in the US. Learn how to avoid becoming a statistic.With advancements in technology and every teen walking around with a smartphone (all which serve as more than just a "phone"), fresh drivers are often distracted by these devices... particularly while driving. This has become a huge problem in recent years. In fact, many states are passing new legislation making it illegal to use handheld devices while driving. But are these new laws being enforced? Dr. James Williams joins Dr. Leigh to discuss this ever-growing issue. According to the CDC, each day over nine people are killed due to distracted driving, and more than 1,000 accidents occur. The stats are astounding. Law enforcement officials are now checking phones to see if there was activity that occurred at the time of the accident that may have caused it. Is this invasion of privacy? Not when you are putting others in harms way. The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration defines distracted driving as using your cellphone to talk while driving, texting, eating or drinking, grooming, watching videos or allowing other passengers to distract you. Texting while driving creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted. This is a very serious issue and has caused thousands of injuries and deaths. Talk to your teens. Make sure they know that their texts and phone calls can wait. Of course, if it cannot wait, then pull off the road and conduct these communications while parked. This issue is not only exclusive to teen drivers. As the adult, you need to make an example and eliminate using your phones and other devices while driving. It could just save a life.

E-cigarettes are gaining popularity. But there are still many health risks to watch out for, especially where your children are concerned.You see them everywhere now... people smoking or "vaping" indoors where regular smoking is not allowed. But are e-cigarettes safe? Medical toxicologist, Dr. Ron Kirchner, joins Dr. Leigh to discuss the truth behind e-cigarettes and their health affects and risks. The refill liquids that these electronic devices use have much higher nicotine concentration than you may think; in fact, potentially dangerous amounts. The flavors and aromas may be appealing to a child and can be extremely dangerous -- even deadly -- should a child digest these liquids. Because these are liquids, they will be more rapidly absorbed into the body if ingested. Make sure you keep these products locked away and out of the reach of small children. If you feel your child may have gotten into these liquids, immediately call poison control or 911. Of course, when considering the risks, you can't forget this: the drug that cigarettes and e-cigarettes have in common is Nicotine, which is an addictive and dangerous drug. E-cigarettes are largely unregulated and are gaining popularity, especially among teens. Just because it's touted as a "safer" option, you can still become addicted to the nicotine in the vapors, which could ultimately lead to more tobacco use and still have major health risks. There may be some positive benefits to the e-cigarettes, when regulated properly. For example, adults trying to ween themselves off of regular cigarettes by using e-cigarettes may see results. Ultimately, however, e-cigarettes still hold potentially severe health hazards and do not eliminate the health risks caused by traditional tobacco products.

Obesity is a huge risk factor for developing gestational diabetes. How can you protect yourself and your baby?It's not secret that obesity is a problem in our nation... often referred to as an "epidemic" and now even classified as a disease by the AMA. One of the resulting factors of obesity is the potential development of diabetes. How might this affect expecting mothers? Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs in pregnant women. Obesity and lifestyle are both risk factors for gestational diabetes. Some women who develop the signs of gestational diabetes, actually suffered from diabetes prior to becoming pregnant but did not know. In other women, there is no history of diabetes, but certain factors (again, obesity and lifestyle) bring on the condition. How do you know if you're at risk? In this day and age, most doctors screen absolutely every pregnant woman who comes through their doors. However, there are a few doctors who only screen patients who present risk factors. The first step in screening is typically a glucose tolerance test, first administered during the second trimester. Recent studies have suggested that if you're obese during pregnancy and develop diabetes, you may predispose your unborn child to developing diabetes as well. It makes sense: if your blood has a lot of sugar in it while pregnant, it's like your baby is "eating" too much sugar. This may result in a high-birth weight baby and can lead to other complications as well, such as neonatal hypoglycemia and the need for a Cesarean birth. Treatment options include diabetic counseling, meeting with a nutritionist and assessing your severity with a glucose monitor. Most doctors try to control the condition with diet first; if that doesn't work, then medications are entertained. Join Dr. James Barrow and Dr. Leigh as they discuss the many factors of gestational diabetes.

Are you over-medicating yourself every time you get a simple cough? Know when you should and should not use antibiotics.Are physicians prescribing too much medication? A recent study in the British medical journal discussed delaying prescription drug use, specifically antibiotics. Dr. Rade Vukmir, an expert in the area of antibiotics joins Dr. Leigh to discuss this study, as well as the proper use of antibiotics. Often, people seek medical assistance at the first sign of a cough and do not let an illness "run it's course." Instead, they rush to a doctor or emergency department to get a prescription. This could actually be weakening your defenses for the next time you are really sick and actually need antibiotics. The resistance may not be effective with overuse. The next time you are sick, seek medical attention, but ask your doctor if a prescription is truly the best course of action. Sometimes there is a need for medication, just be sure that you know when that is.

Do you suffer from red irritated eyes, itchiness or swelling in your eyes? It could be conjunctivitis, better known as pinkeye.Sports broadcaster, Bob Costas, recently brought national attention to pinkeye during the Winter Olympics. He was the butt of the joke on many late night talk programs; however, pinkeye and eye infections are nothing to take lightly. Pinkeye or conjunctivitis is an infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the membrane lining of the eyelid. Symptoms include red irritated eyes, itchiness, swelling and watery eyes. Pinkeye can be extremely contagious and you should seek consultation from a physician if you have any symptoms you feel may be an infection. Be prepared and have a history of what occurred and when. A vision exam may be necessary. Knowing your symptoms is important as there are different forms of pinkeye, including Herpetic Conjunctivitis (herpes of the eye). Costas's eye infection probably was more likely Periocular Celuitis, which is an infection of the skin surrounding the eye and can be treated with eye drops and oral antibiotics. If your symptoms persist seek Opthamologist. And ladies...if you have pinkeye, throw out that makeup! Better safe, than sorry. In this segment, Dr. Lorrie Metzler discusses pinkeye and eye infections, as well as important information should you start to see red.

Sporting events such as snowboarding and skiing were once considered "extreme." But slope-style events have now become mainstream. How can you protect yourself from injury?Competitions like the X-Games and even the Winter Olympics include events such as snowboarding and skiing. While these slopestyle events were once considered "extreme sports," they have now become mainstream. As exciting as these sports are to watch -- and even participate in for those of you so bold -- they are extremely dangerous. And, as more people participate in these high-speed sports, more and more high impact collisions equal increased visits to the ER. Only about 48% of the skiers and snowboarders wear a helmet, causing much higher risk of concussion or even skull fracture, which can ultimately lead to traumatic brain injury or death. Parents, it's essential that you talk to your children if they have a desire to take part in these "extreme" sports. Proper education is key, as well as proper training and proper equipment and ideal conditions. Guest expert, Dr. Christopher Hogrefe, joins the show to discuss these exciting (yet very dangerous) activities being attempted at many ski resorts and sledding hills by an increasing number of non-professionals. The takeaway is this: if you are going to attempt to participate in these type of sports, wear proper clothing and equipment, including a helmet (even the elite athletes are required to do so)... or you could risk very serious injury.

A new study looked at states that decriminalized marijuana and found an increase in the number of children requiring medical intervention.A new study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine looked at states that decriminalized marijuana and found something very interesting... an increase in the number of children requiring medical intervention involving the drug. Medical and recreational marijuana industries have grown tremendously in the last few years. It's no longer only smoke-able forms that are available. There is a wide variety of edible forms that can look appealing to a child, such as baked goods, cookies and candy -- even beverages. However, these edibles also typically contain a high level of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the chemical responsible for marijuana's psychological effects. Whether the use is intentional or not, these appealing edible forms could lend to the increase in children needing medical attention. Symptoms of ingestion include drowsiness, confusion and lethargy and can lead to dangerous breathing and/or respiratory issues. If you use medicinal or recreational marijuana, it is crucial that you keep it out of the reach of children and that any edible forms of the drug be locked away and out of harms way. In this segment, author of the study, Dr. Sam Wang, discusses the findings as well as ways to protect your kids from harm.

Heroin abuse and overdoses are on the rise. Dr. Marsha Ford helps shed some light on this lethal addictive drug.Is heroin abuse is on the rise? The answer is yes. Since 2006, heroin use has doubled in the U.S. Prescription medication and pain killers have been abused for decades. Now that these medications are becoming harder to come by, people are turning to heroin, because it is readily available on the street Heroin overdoses have claimed the lives of many popular celebrities, including Janis Joplin, John Belushi, Chris Farley and most recently, popular Glee actor Corey Monteith and Oscar winner, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Celebrities are not the only ones that are dying from heroin use. Teenagers all over the country -- even in suburban areas -- are gaining regular access to the drug. In this segment, Dr. Marsha Ford joins Dr. Leigh to shine some light on this very real problem. The fact of the matter is heroin is lethal. If you or a loved one suffers from drug use, there are many resources available to help you. Here are a few: Official Heroin Hotline Project Know Free Addiction Helpline

You certainly wouldn't think of wine and chocolate as "health foods," but they actually do contain health benefits when consumed in moderation.Wine and chocolate... now those are two things you certainly wouldn't consider to be "health foods." But, actually, both contain health benefits. Ever hear of the French Paradox? Even though French people drink massive amounts of red wine, they have incredibly long lifespans. The benefits come primarily from the flavonoids and antioxidants. In wine -- specifically red wine -- the polyphenol resveratrol packs the health punch. With chocolate, the key is to eat the right percentage of cocoa. For instance, white chocolate has practically no health benefits, whereas dark chocolate contains more healthy compounds. A recent study following 2,000 women in England found that eating small amounts of dark chocolate with red wine helped balance blood sugar levels, even in women who struggled with diabetes. This was a small study, so more research is needed to confirm the results; but it's promising for the future of both wine and chocolate. Of course, both of these indulgent health foods should be consumed in moderation. Join Dr. Leigh and special guest, Dr. Bruce Lobitz, as they discuss the new evidence surrounding chocolate and wine.

Are you prepared for the potential risks that ice and snow bring? Dr. James Williams provides some life-saving suggestions.When the weather gets cold and icy conditions set in, there are various risks that you need to protect yourself against. How can you be prepared for all the potential risks Mother Nature may throw your way this winter? In this segment of ER 101, Dr. James Williams talks with Dr. Leigh about the many injuries that winter weather can result in, as well as the more common reasons you could wind up in the ER and how to keep yourself safe. For instance, slips and falls are a major concern in icy and snowy conditions, especially for the elderly. Whether you are old or young, make sure you wear proper footwear and cover yourself appropriately. Also, tread slowly when walking in areas with heavy ice and snow. Shoveling and snowblowing can cause heavy exertion and could lead to chest pains and heart attacks. If you aren't in a healthy position for that sort of activity, get somebody else to help you. Also, snowblowers can be very dangerous and you could lose fingers by attempting to clear snow. Make sure you turn off the machine before trying to mess with the blades or you will wind up with a very unpleasant trip to the ER. Be prepared when driving in these conditions. Be cautious of other drivers and do not think because you have a vehicle that handles snow that you can speed past someone... you may be putting others at risk. Have your car stocked with water, extra blankets, energy bars, a flashlight and car charger in case in stall or break down. You will be happy you did if ever the time comes. If you follow these helpful suggestions, then you may just avoid any unfortunate accidents this winter.

Carbon monoxide is a very serious threat when the temperatures drop. Be sure you and your family members are protected against this silent killer. One common problem when the weather turns cold is carbon monoxide poison. Dr. Eric Lavonas, director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, speaks about the silent killer: carbon monoxide. The name alone speaks to the severity of this poison, as it is the #1 poison that is likely to kill you. Carbon monoxide leaks are not detectable by smell or sight. Every home should be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector; it could save your life. They will detect high levels of gas and allow you to get out of the home long before any loss of consciousness or life-threatening risks set in. Carbon monoxide poisoning can often mimic symptoms of the flu; however, it does not cause fever. So if you have more than one person in your household sick with no fever it could very well be CO2 poisoning. Symptoms include: Headache Muscle aches Feeling weak or tired Stomach aches and diarrhea Some other helpful hints include: If you are stuck in a car, make sure your tailpipe is clear and be aware of above symptoms. Do not bring CO2 sources, such as propane tanks or grills into your home to use them as heating sources. Do not leave running cars in your garage, especially attached garages. The absolute best bet to protect you and your family is to install a detector and check them monthly to ensure a working monitor. Be smart and safe this winter!

One very serious risk with the arctic cold and wind chills is frostbite.Many parts of the country have been subjected to sub-zero temperatures this winter. One very serious risk with the arctic cold and wind chills is frostbite. Frostbite is damage to the skin and underlying tissue that results when the blood vessels contract restricting blood flow to certain areas-- often the ears, nose and fingers -- due to extreme cold conditions. In this segment, Dr. Juan Fitz joins Dr. Leigh to help you and your family protect against frostbite and to be prepared should you be subjected. Exposed skin can be at risk of frostbite within 5-10 minutes when conditions are zero degrees or below. Severe frostbite can lead to amputation, so it is important to know how to prevent or reduce your risk. Never rub snow on your skin; that is a myth and can actually increase the symptoms. Your best bet is to slowly warm the area. Do not rub the area and keep it immobilized. In severe cases it is always best to seek medical attention as soon as possible. You can help prevent the risk of frostbite by covering any normally exposed areas of your body, such as ears, fingers, and nose. Also, wear warm socks and proper shoes when you are going to be subjected to ice and snow for long periods of time.

The polar vortex has brought deadly cold to many areas of the country this winter. Are you protecting yourself and your loved ones against hypothermia?Winter has been extremely brutal across the country this season. The Polar Vortex has brought icy temperatures that are unseasonably cold, especially in areas that are not accustomed to icy, wintery conditions. Some areas of the country have dealt with deadly cold. Dr. Juan Fitz, an expert on cold weather injuries, joins Dr. Leigh to talk about hypothermia and how you can best protect yourself this winter. Hypothermia is a condition where your body's temperature drops below that required for normal metabolism and bodily functions. This is something you must be aware of when the temperatures get so dangerously low. Hypothermia can cause your heart and brain to slow down and result in an irregular heart beat, eventually leading to no heart beat which, as you know, ultimately leads to death. The following people are at the highest risk: the elderly, children and those people that are on certain medications. If you must be outside during extreme cold conditions, take the following precautions: Remember C.O.L.D. C - Cover yourself on all exposed areas (hands, face) O - avoid Overexertion L - Layers are key; dress warmly and keep extra blankets and clothing nearby D - stay as Dry as possible Also, do not drink alcohol as it can actually speed up the effects, and try and go inside to warm up as often as possible If you see someone that has been subjected to cold and they begin to get clumsy, start fumbling around, acting slow or out of character, they may have begun the effects of hypothermia. You should immediately get them to an Emergency Department or call 911.