Tag: health

Ten Tips for Effective Communication With Your Doctor
By Dr. Karen Trollope-Kumar

Sometimes my work as a family doctor the days don’t always go as expected. On a busy day, I feel like I’ll never catch up, and it’s frustrating that I can’t give adequate time to each individual patient. One afternoon not long ago, I was feeling unusually tired. I looked down at my schedule and saw that my last patient was Beth, a young mother with a seven-year-old son. I thought to myself – Let’s hope this one is just a simple sore throat!

“So what brings you in today?” I asked, after a brief greeting.

“Well, I’m worried about Jimmy”, said Beth anxiously. “He’s getting into trouble at school a lot, and his teachers say he’s not paying attention. Sometimes he has stomachaches. I’m not sure what to do… Also, I’m wondering if you could just check his foot, I think he’s developed a plantar wart.”

I couldn’t help letting out a sigh. “Well, let’s just focus on the main problem,” I say. “What more information can you give me? Have you got his latest report card? Any specific comments from the teacher?”

Beth shook her head. She tried to explain more about her concerns about Jimmy, but she sensed that I was not listening closely, and she tripped over her words. Finally, I said in a voice edged with irritation, “There’s not much I can do in this short appointment. This is a complicated issue. Can you re-book for another time?”

After Beth and Jimmy left the office, I felt very guilty for brushing her off that way. I knew that she was not happy with the appointment, and neither was I. We had a communication problem, aggravated by time constraints. Unfortunately, such problems are all too common between family doctors and their patients and with a little teamwork can get the critical doctor-patient relationship back on track.

Like any healthy relationship, good communication is fundamental and that applies to the doctor-patient relationship as well. When that vital link of understanding is broken between doctor and patient, a cascade of negative consequences can result. If the patient hasn’t been able to fully explain his or her symptoms, an incorrect diagnosis might be made. If the doctor hasn’t clearly communicated his or her assessment of the problem, the treatment plan might fail. Poor communication inevitably leads to dissatisfaction for both doctor and patient.

There are ten quick tips to communicate better with your family doctor, and to make your office visit more effective:

1.     If you are seeing the doctor for a complicated issue (like Jimmy’s problem) ask the receptionist to book you a longer appointment.
2.     Prepare what you’re going to say ahead of time, and keep it concise and focused.
3.     If you’ve done some research on the Internet about your problem and want to share it with your doctor, make sure you use reputable sites to get that information.  Doctors get frustrated when patients bring in reams of information of dubious value.
4.     Avoid coming into the doctor’s office with a list of unrelated problems – focus on your main concern for that visit.
5.     If you are going in to get results of an important test, bring a friend or relative with you. Sometimes it can be hard to remember what the doctor has said, especially when the topic is emotionally laden.
6.     If you have a particular worry about a symptom (for example, Could this be cancer?), express that concern to the doctor.
7.     If the doctor advises a treatment you don’t feel comfortable with, explain your reasons, and see if an alternative approach would be possible.
8.     Keep your follow up appointment, and at that time let the doctor know how well (or not) the treatment has worked.
9.     If you’re not happy with the service you’re getting, communicate this clearly but politely, using “I” statements.  (for example, “I feel concerned about how long it took to receive these test results.”)
10.  If you’re happy with the service you’re getting from your doctor, a word of thanks or a card is always appreciated. Doctors are human too!

Improving communication requires work on the part of both the doctor and the patient. Thinking back on this appointment with Beth and Jimmy, I realized my faults: I was tired and also frustrated because the issue was complex and difficult to address during a short appointment. Yet still, I could have done a better job at communicating with compassion. On Beth’s part, she could have prepared for this appointment by thinking ahead about what information might be useful for the doctor. Working together, patients and family doctors can form great partnerships if they keep communication at the forefront of their relationship.

Dr. Karen Trollope-Kumar is a family physician in Canada and author of Cloud Messenger: Love and Loss in the Indian Himalayas. For more information, please visit www.karentrollopekumar.com.

Getting Outside is Good for You: Five Benefits

Spring is here and families will spend more time outside dining, playing, relaxing, and gardening as the weather improves. And while they may enjoy being outside, they may not know that getting outside is also good for their health. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) outlines five health benefits of getting outside:

Reason #1: Your lawn can make you happier! Our stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces. Knowing and experiencing nature makes us generally happier, healthier people.

Reason #2: Getting dirty is good for you! Mycobacterium vaccae in soil mirrors the effect on neurons that Prozac provides. Give your kids a pair of gardening gloves and have them work with you in your green spaces for a hefty dose of Vitamin N(ature) and G(reen). People who spend time gardening and have direct contact with soil feel more relaxed and happier.

Reason #3: Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children. Children gain attention and working memory benefits when they are exposed to greenery.

Reason #4:  Living landscapes help people and pets be healthier. Playing outdoors increases fitness levels and builds healthy, active bodies. Research also shows that children reap numerous health, social and personal benefits from spending time outside playing.

Reason #5:  Your lawn produces lots of oxygen and cleans the air too. Fifty square feet of grass generates enough oxygen each day for a family of four, and reduces the “code red” effect since grass removes pollutants from the air we breathe.

“Our living landscapes not only provide beauty, but are a stress-reliever, a recreational space, a wildlife habitat, and an outdoor living area,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO, OPEI. “Studies show that our green spaces contribute to our health, happiness and intellect.”

Our outdoor living spaces offer great health benefits to us. Trees, shrubs, grass and flowering plants are integral to human health. They provide a place for children and pets to play and directly contribute to our mental and physical well-being.

For more information please visit www.livinglandscapesmatter.com.

From Elizabeth DeRosa of Finding The Way Integrative Nutrition Health Coach & Author 

http://findingtheway.net

The Gifts I Received from Having a Benign Brain Tumor

“I am sorry to tell you this Elizabeth but, you have a large acoustic neuroma”. Those were the unexpected and terrifying words that came out of my doctor’s mouth when I went to see him after having an MRI to determine the cause of my symptoms. As you can imagine, my world stopped and I immediately thought I was going to die.  What is a person to do after receiving news like this?

This journey has had many challenges and moments of uncertainty, but it has also taught and continues to teach me many important and valuable lessons that I have incorporated into my daily life and self-care practice. I believe some of these gifts or lessons can be applied to anyone’s life regardless of their health or medical issues.

The lessons I have learned include not only the reality of physical strengths and challenges but more importantly, it is teaching me the genuine and heartfelt importance of emotional wellness.

I share with you now some of the actions, tips, and ideas that I was gifted with during this time to help me overcome my diagnosis and surgery side effects. I do that to bring awareness to the idea that healing is a journey of the body, mind, and spirit. Healing is a process that requires your attention and commitment.

Gifts

• Life is a beautiful and mysterious gift. Being diagnosed with a medical condition is not a punishment (regardless of outcome) and there can be gifts that you find along the way if you are willing to open your eyes.

• Somehow during this difficult time in my life, I was surprised and blessed to feel the Grace of God in ways that I had never experienced before on a conscious level.  I was a witness to Grace and it’s many forms including humility, love, patience, faith, vulnerability, forgiveness, struggle, patience, empathy, freedom, laughter, gratitude, and hope.

• I have learned to begin to understand my body in a different way moving forward. I listen more closely to the messages it is sending me.
• Receiving. Moms typically give of themselves first before they ever think about their own needs. To be the person who needed help and allowing others to give to me was one of the most valuable lessons.
• Advocacy. I identified what I wanted in regard to outside support and began putting that in place to help with pre-surgery concerns and post-surgery side effects. I researched my type of brain tumor, doctors and hospitals, procedures, insurance coverage, post-surgery specialists, and so on to help me make the best decision regarding these important issues. I was an active participant in my treatment plan. Ask questions and get second and third opinions, if necessary.
• Use an integrative approach to health. I utilized alternative modalities including acupuncture, holistic therapy, cranial sacral massage, castor oil packs and homeopathic remedies, holistic nutrition, reiki, and aromatherapy. I also worked with neurosurgeon, ENT, occupational and physical therapist, audiologist, and neuro-opthamologist.  I worked with incredible people and healers to assist in my recovery.
• Communication. I learned the importance of effectively communicating with others. I gained an ability to express myself in a way that allows for more personal freedom in deciding what is right for me.
• Boundaries. I learned the importance of setting appropriate boundaries with people and myself. Being able to set boundaries allows me the freedom to live from an authentic place of being.
• Healthy eating has provided me with proper nutritional balance and has lowered inflammation in my body.
• Life is not so serious and there is room for laughter and to view the world through the eyes of a child.
• Simplicity - We have overcomplicated most aspect of our lives. We can reduce stress and the “busyness” to create more harmony in our lives or we can learn to live in harmony with ourselves despite the stress and chaos.
• Perfection - I have learned that there is no need to try and be perfect. It takes so much our daily energy to strive for others to see us as “having it all together”. I embrace the thought that I am not the perfect mother, wife, neighbor, or person. I do my best but also know that I do not have to waste my time and energy trying to create that image for myself. Letting go of this thought has created independence in my life. I believe it has also allowed others around me to be who they are without the pressure of being “perfect”.
• We are all in this together!
• A diagnosis or medical issue does not define who you are as a human being. It is part of your life’s journey, but we don’t need to limit our beliefs about ourselves. We are so much more than our physical limitations.
• Our bodies are bio-computers with the ability for self-healing. We can learn how to activate those healing powers within to bring well-being to many areas of our lives.

This has been a long and challenging road as I learn to navigate my world differently with physical challenges, but, changing my thoughts, being an advocate on my behalf, communicating more effectively, and accepting where I am today has given my life a new purpose and allowed me to humbly see the beauty and mystery of life.

New Documentary ‘What the Health,’ the health film that health organizations don’t want you to see, hits top spot on Vimeo

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., – “What the Health,” a new feature-length documentary, captured Vimeo On Demand’s number one trending spot, and racked up more than 6.5 million social media shares, following its release Thursday. “What the Health” exposes the collusion and corruption in government, big business, and the nation’s leading health organizations. With heart disease and cancer the leading causes of death in America, diabetes at an all-time high, costs and healthcare costs in the trillions, “What the Health” reveals possibly the largest health cover-up of our time.

Proceeds from online views raised more than $45,000 for hunger relief organization Food Not Bombs.

Intrepid filmmaker Kip Andersen tracks down the leading and most trusted American health nonprofits to find out why these groups are staying silent, despite a growing body of evidence. Audiences will be shocked to learn the insidious roles played by pharmaceutical companies, agribusiness, and processed animal food companies in the nation’s health, especially in the most vulnerable communities, and will cheer at the transformation and recovery of those who took their lives into their own hands.

“Like a lot of Americans, I have a family history of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, so it was important to me to learn more,” said Andersen, who co-directed the film with Keegan Kuhn. “We are astonished by the support for ‘What the Health’ and hope it contributes to the national conversation about our health, and how big business influences it.”

Surprising, and at times hilarious, the documentary features the insights of urgent care physician Dr. Milton Mills; bariatric medicine specialist Dr. Garth Davis (“Big Medicine”); Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine; physician and bestselling author Dr. Michael Greger (“How Not to Die”); NYU School of Medicine professor Dr. Michelle McMacken; public health attorney Michele Simon (“Appetite for Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health and How to Fight Back”), and many more.

“We're so grateful to Kip and Keegan for making us part of this incredible film and for their generosity in supporting our efforts to share healthy vegan food with the public, many who are hungry and homeless, struggling to find nourishment in communities across North America and the globe,” said Keith McHenry, co-founder of Food Not Bombs.

For a press kit, photos, and other media resources visit https://app.box.com/s/7um6eicrfbnw6tnviblemc00b7lfjode

For the trailer visit https://vimeo.com/ondemand/whatthehealth

For more information visit http://www.whatthehealthfilm.com.

About AUM Films and Media

AUM Films and Media is a 501c3 non-profit focused on creating films and media that promote thrivability, compassion, and harmony for all life. “Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret,” its first production, premiered in late 2014. This documentary uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today – and investigates why the world's leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it. For more information visit http://aumfilms.org.

How to Change Your Environment to Improve Your Health

From Elizabeth DeRosa of Finding The Way Integrative Nutrition Health Coach & Author

http://findingtheway.net

The number of serious and chronic health issues facing children, individuals, and families continues to increase year after year. Some of these health concerns include an increase in diabetes, cancer, heart disease related diagnosis, mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, digestive disorders, obesity, and asthma, These health concerns effect not only our physical health, but just as importantly, our emotional and spiritual health. Important steps to better daily health includes advocacy, education, empowerment, and action. Taking control of your health is one of the greatest gift you can give yourself. By creating a healthy environment, you are creating the opportunity for overall wellness on many different levels.

Tips for creating a healthy environment:

• What concerns do you have about your health or what goals have you set for yourself in terms of overall wellness? Keep a journal and make this a priority in your life. If you suffer from a medical condition, get your medical records and become your own advocate.
• Look at the food you eat daily. Most people consume the Standard American Diet (SAD) that is composed of chemicals, preservatives, added sugar, “white” flour, unhealthy oils, GMOs, pesticide and antibiotic residue, artificial coloring and flavors, and more. The SAD is typically void of the proper nutrients our bodies require to sustain maximum health. Can you begin to make small changes each week to transition to a Green, Living, and Alkalizing Diet (GLAD)? Including whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, pasture raised meats, wild caught seafood, and healthier oils in your daily diet is important. Read labels and know where your food comes from. This also includes your beauty products and cleaning supplies. For example, the average women is exposed to 168 chemicals daily from her beauty products and most of these have never been tested for human safety.

• Get the proper amount of sleep each night:

School age children (6-13 yrs.) 9-11 hours per day

                              Teenagers: (14-17 yrs.) 8-10 hours per day

                              Younger adults: (18-25 yrs.) 7- 9 hours per day

                              Adults: (26-64 yrs.) 7-9 hours per day

                              Older adults: (65+) 7-8 hours per day

Due to stress and increased daily demands, we are living in the sympathetic nervous system or the fight, flight, or freeze mode. In this state, our body is constantly releasing hormones to compensate. The parasympathetic nervous system, or rest and digest, is where we want to reside. Sleep is a very important process that assists our body in recovery and rejuvenation from the inside out.

• Proper hydration is important. Drinking adequate water daily is essential for normal bodily function. Water intake can also include incorporating juicing, smoothies, teas, broths, and soups.
• Get the body moving! Exercise is important for the lymphatic system and removal of toxins from the body. Develop a daily routine of getting some form of exercise.
• Mediation/prayer is a great way to center and balance yourself in this fast- paced and stressful world.

Train Hungry. I’ve always preferred to train weights about 2-3 hours after a meal and there are few good physiological reasons for this.

1) With no food in your stomach you have more readily available blood to flood your muscles with for the pump, because less blood is being used for digestive-related distribution. The pump can be one key driver of muscle hypertrophy when applied correctly.

2) Your pre-workout supplements will tend hit you harder when they’re not being mixed in with food that’s already in your stomach. You’ll get more of a concentrated, high potency effect – the intended effect actually. 

3D Printing Applications for Healthcare Will Transform Medical Devices and Pharma Industries

 Pharmacy distribution is expected to be disrupted by 3D printing that simplifies drug customization, finds Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision team

3D printing technology is the ideal solution for the healthcare industry’s need for the efficient production of complex and personalized products. A large number of market majors have shown deep interest in adopting 3D printing for its ability to customize drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and medical devices, driving an era of personalized medicine. The field that is most likely to be disrupted by 3D printing is pharmacy distribution of drugs because of the ease of obtaining customized dosage quantities of medication.

“Using 3D-printed tissues for drug testing, clinical trials and toxicity testing will have a huge impact in the pharmaceutical sector, as they will help eliminate costly animal testing and use of synthetic tissues,” noted Frost & Sullivan TechVision Research Analyst Madhumitha Rangesa. “However, traditional, large-scale manufacturing is still more economical for mass production of drugs; 3D printing will be viable for small-volume production in orphan diseases.”

3D Printing for Healthcare Applications, recent research from Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision (Medical Devices & Imaging) Growth Partnership Service program, finds that there is a slow shift in pharma toward continuous manufacturing (CM), which can shrink production time to less than 10 days. When this practice is merged with 3D printing, pharma companies can develop various dosage forms for a specific, customized demographic. 3D printing will also bring about a change in the structure of the medication, making it easier to swallow or dissolve, and more attractive to children by printing them in any shape and size.

Click here for complimentary access to more information on this analysis and to register for a Growth Strategy Dialogue, a free interactive briefing with Frost & Sullivan’s thought leaders.

Currently, the most researched and popular tools for the development of drugs/medication using 3D printing techniques are thermal inkjet printers, which can be used with powder-based medications. The tablets/pills manufactured can be customized to the patient’s requirements by structuring them layer by layer, with precise dosage of each ingredient, at a granular level. The use of 3D-printing technology in designing and prototyping will also tremendously reduce material wastage.

Despite all the progress being made, the pharma industry is facing challenges in securing approval from various government regulatory bodies for medical application of 3D printing. Furthermore, there are high chances of counterfeiting in the market.

“Current products being developed using 3D printing are largely in applications areas such as medical implants, surgical guides, prosthetics, orthotics, orthodontics and anatomical models for surgery,” noted Rangesa. “Furthermore, a wealth of opportunities is opening up in future healthcare applications areas such as creation of bone structures, airway tracheal splints and medicine.”

About TechVision

Frost & Sullivan's global TechVision practice is focused on innovation, disruption and convergence, and provides a variety of technology-based alerts, newsletters and research services as well as growth consulting services. Its premier offering, the TechVision program, identifies and evaluates the most valuable emerging and disruptive technologies enabling products with near-term potential. A unique feature of the TechVision program is an annual selection of 50 technologies that can generate convergence scenarios, possibly disrupt the innovation landscape, and drive transformational growth. View a summary of our TechVision program by clicking on the following link: http://ifrost.frost.com/TechVision_Demo.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion

6 Foods That Can Help Save Your Skin From Sun Damage

Just as an unhealthy diet can have a negative effect on your skin and health, a healthy diet high in antioxidant-rich foods can help protect your body, even from the sun. Since antioxidants help reduce inflammation and free radicals, loading your diet with them will go a long way against sunburn and skin damage as a result of UV rays. We connected with Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O., a New York City Osteopathic Physician board certified in family and anti-aging medicine for his list of foods that help prevent sun damage.

To be clear, Dr. Calapai is not saying you should completely replace using daily use of sunscreen with food, but what you eat can offer additional protection for your skin. So if you’re looking for some ingestible sun protection, add these six sun-friendly foods to your next shopping list.

1. Berries & stone fruits

Strawberries, blueberries and cherries contain high levels of vitamin C, which can reduce free radical damage caused by exposure to UV radiation. Vitamin C also stimulates collagen production, important for skin’s youthful appearance. As a bonus, cherries contain melatonin, which protects skin from UV radiation and repairs sunburn damage.

2. Leafy greens

If it’s green and it’s got leaves, chances are it’s good for sun protection. According to one study, spinach, kale and swiss chard can reduce the risk of squamous cell skin cancer by 50%. Broccoli is also a good choice: it’s full of sulphoraphane, an antioxidant that helps your cells protect themselves against UV radiation.

Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, sage and rosemary are also packed with free radical-fighting, skin-protecting antioxidants. Not sure where to start? Check out our guide to cruciferous vegetables.

3. Red & orange produce

The antioxidant lycopene has been shown to protect the skin against sunburn and is at least twice as effective an antioxidant as betacarotene when it comes to blocking UV light. It also helps rid the body of free radicals. Chow down on tomatoes, papaya, guava, red bell peppers and pink grapefruit. Watermelon is an especially good choice: it contains 40% more lycopene than tomatoes.

4. Micro-algae

Spirulna has been dubbed “the next great superfood,” and for good reason. This micro-algea, along with chlorella, contains the antioxidant astaxanthin, which has been shown to protect the skin and eyes against UV radiation. It also fights free radicals and inflammation to prevent sun damage by preventing UV-induced cell damage.

If micro-algea isn’t exactly your cup of tea, you can find this powerful antioxidant in shrimp and salmon.

5. Chocolate

As long as it’s dark chocolate you’re eating, you’ll be ingesting plenty of flavanoids, which can improve your skin’s ability protect against sunburns and other UV-induced issues.

Research found that people who ate about one ounce of high-percentage dark chocolate every day for three months could withstand twice the amount of UVB rays before their skin started to turn red, compared to those who didn’t.

6. Green & black tea

The myriad health benefits of tea are well known, but it’s nice to know that the cups you’re drinking can also help protect against sun damage. Green and black teas are packed with polyphenols that can help stop cancer development by limiting the blood supply to the cancerous area. Green tea can even help prevent non-melanoma skin cancer by enhancing DNA repair.

New York City based Beauty Expert Jill Caruso of Fox Vein Care, has come up with the perfect Winter to Spring beauty tips to ensure vibrant skin.

Harsh weather conditions in the Winter can bring anyone’s skin woes, so as the first bud of spring blooms there are a few things to keep in mind. Jill is a Board Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist and her distinctive background in medicine, design, and skin esthetics gives her a unique approach when analyzing a patient's face and determining an individual treatment. She suggests the following for Winter to Spring flawless skin:

Ø  Do not forget your sunscreen - This is not an option, but an essential everyday necessity, regardless of weather, to protect your skin from UV radiation. Also, contrary to popular belief, SPF ratings higher than 30 do not offer more protection and no sunscreen can block more than 97 percent of UV rays.

Ø  Be sure to moisturize daily - Moisturizing your face will help you to look and feel younger, resulting in softer, more elastic skin… not to mention it will keep your skin hydrated.

Ø  Wash your face every night - This is vital, as it removes not only makeup, but the dirt and dust that accumulates throughout the day. Outside elements as well as makeup clogs your pores with dirt, dust, smoke, etc., however, Jill suggests that soap-less cleansers are okay occasionally as they can act as cleansers with nondrying agents.

Ø  Light Chemical peels can be great for the season change - There are lower UV levels during the winter, making it optimal for recovery and an ideal time to prepare your skin for the forthcoming spring season.

Ø  Lastly, when it comes to makeup, less is more - People often tend to overdo it on the winter.  Heavy foundation, mascara, and lipstick often ages women.

Jill Caruso RN, BSN, CANS

Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist

Jill Caruso is a Board Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist and one of only 220 practitioners with credentials from the Plastic Surgery Nursing Board.

Jill began working as a cosmetic injection practioner more than 7 years ago, and started working alongside Dr. David Fox at Fox Vein Care in 2014.  She specializes in anti-aging treatments and clinical skin care. Using injectable fillers, neurotoxins, chemical peels, lasers, and Kybella, Jill softens the signs of aging.  Her "less is more" philosophy and innate artistic ability, combined with a passion for personalized patient care allows her to give her clients the most optimal outcome; their most beautiful, natural self.
Jill holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh. She also has earned a Certificate in Design from Parsons School of Design and holds a New York State Esthetics license. Her background in medicine, design, and skincare gives her a distinct approach when analyzing a patient's face and determining an individual treatment.
To stay abreast of the latest advances in anti-aging treatments and technologies, Jill regularly participates in medical and aesthetic meetings, workshops, and seminars. In February 2017, Jill attended the Aesthetic Blueprint with Dr. Kent Remington and Dr. Arthur Swift.  This in-depth, immersive seminar was created exclusively for the top 1% of advanced injectors worldwide.

In October 2015, Jill was selected by Allergan (Botox, Juvederm, Voluma, Kybella, and Skin Medica) to work directly with world-renowned plastic surgeon Mauricio de Maio during his three-day Master Class in Manhattan. This opportunity was given to only one non-physician, practitioner in New York City. Learn more about Jill here https://www.facebook.com/jillcarusonyc/.