Good Medicine for Pennsylvania July 2008
| Date: July 3, 2008 |
Media Contact: |
Chuck Moran |
| |
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Pennsylvania Medical Society |
| For Immediate Release |
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(717) 558-7820 |
Dear Readers: Welcome to “Good Medicine for Pennsylvania” featuring Peter Lund, MD, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and his member colleagues sharing general medical information to help you live healthier. This column is brought to you as a public service of the Institute for Good Medicine at the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
Beat the Heat
It’s here – the hot, hazy, sometimes unbearable heat that arrives in Pennsylvania every summer. And with it comes the potential for heat stroke, which occurs when excessively high body temperature damages the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and other organs. Most at risk are elderly persons and infants, those with chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease, and people on certain medications. Athletes, laborers, and soldiers—persons who overdo physical activity in very hot temperatures—are especially prone to dehydration and heat stroke.
“Heat stroke is not an accident,” says Marilyn J. Heine, M.D., an emergency physician in Montgomery County and a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. “It’s a condition that generally can be prevented with a little effort and lots of common sense.”
Pay attention when humidity rises to 70 percent and temperatures climb to about 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat stroke’s symptoms are similar to those mentioned above, but are even more severe— profuse sweating, then hot, dry, red skin; high fever; vomiting; confusion; seizures during cooling; and unconsciousness. The blood pressure may be low or high, and lack of sweating is common, though athletes may perspire. The body temperature often will be 105 degrees or higher. “After calling 911,” Dr. Heine says, “move the victim to a cooler location, remove heavy clothing, fan the body and wet it down with a cool sponge or cloth, and encourage the individual to drink cool fluids.”
During oppressively hot weather, keep cool and healthy by doing the following:
- Don’t overexert yourself.
- Drink a quart of fluids an hour.
- Wear loose clothing light in color and fabric, as well as a hat and sunblock, and stay in the shade or indoors if possible.
- Open windows and use fans, or turn on air conditioning. If you don’t have air conditioning, go to a public place that does, like a mall, library, or movie theater.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can speed up dehydration.
- Finally, be a good neighbor—check on elderly and chronically ill persons regularly to make sure they’re bearing up under the heat.
A Closer Look
We often talk in this column about the importance of prevention and early detection. Last month, my colleagues and I urged readers to “Get Checked” as part of our partnership with the American Cancer Society. While most patients understand the difference early detection can make in the fight against cancer, many of us undervalue the role it plays in protecting our vision and our overall health.
According to our recent Patient Poll, only 40 percent of adult Pennsylvanians surveyed have had their eyes checked in the last year. “Once you turn 40, it’s time for a comprehensive medical eye exam that includes pupil dilation,” explains David Pao, MD, president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and fellow Pennsylvania Medical Society member. He says that a thorough exam by an ophthalmologist can detect not only early signs of eye disease such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, but also other health issues such as impending strokes, brain tumors and metastases, and signs of diseases like sarcoidosis, leukemia and multiple sclerosis.”
The current recommendation is that adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease undergo a baseline comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist at age 40—the time when early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to occur. Dr. Pao suggests the following guidelines for a comprehensive eye exam: ages 40 – 54, every 2 – 4 years; ages 55-64, every 1-3 years; ages 65 and over, every 1-2 years. No matter what your age, if you have a family history of eye disease, or if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, talk with your ophthalmologist about how frequently your eyes should be examined.
Like mammograms at age 40 or colon screenings at 50, a comprehensive eye exam is yet another way to take charge of your health.
Small but Mighty
Just below your Adam’s apple lies your thyroid gland – a small gland that produces, stores and releases thyroid hormones that help control the function of your metabolism as well as your heart, brain, kidneys, liver and skin. Basically, if your thyroid isn’t working properly, neither are you. Too much thyroid hormone and your body speeds up; too little and it slows down. An imbalance of thyroid hormones can even impact a woman’s ability to conceive1.
Scranton endocrinologist and fellow Medical Society member Greg Borowski, MD, urges patients to periodically check your neck for swelling or lumps which can be the first sign of a benign or malignant tumor. “Because thyroid disease often runs in families, it’s a good idea to talk with your family members to find out who, if anyone, has ever experienced thyroid problems. And women should pay special attention, since they are about eight times more likely to experience thyroid problems than men,” notes Dr. Borowski.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) may include weight gain, fatigue, decreased appetite, feeling cold when others don’t, muscle aches and hair loss. Hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid) may be indicated by fatigue, weight loss, nervousness, rapid heart beat, increased sweating, tremors and feeling hot when others don’t. If you think you’re experiencing thyroid-related health problems, see your doctor. He or she will most likely recommend a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone test, a simple blood test to verify your thyroid gland’s condition). No matter what, remember to periodically check your neck.
1 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12536361
The patient-doctor relationship has been the priority of the Pennsylvania Medical Society since its founding in 1848. The Medical Society listens to concerns of both patients and doctors to improve the delivery of health care services. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Medical Society, visit its website at www.pamedsoc.org or its consumer website at www.myfamilywellness.org.
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Last Updated: 8/1/2008