Dr. Grimes’ Bottom Line – Page 14

Check Your ALTITUDE!

June 16, 2018December 1, 2016

Going skiing for winter break? Whether you prefer downhill or cross country skiing, please remember that the high altitude might add in a few medical challenges. Be aware of signs and symptoms of “mountain sickness” (aka. altitude sickness) and if you are susceptible to this issue, look closely at ski resort ALTITUDES. Full disclosure, my destination of choice is Crested Butte, CO, which is one of the higher resorts…no pun intended.

HOW HIGH do you have to be for altitude sickness?

There is not a set elevation for typical mountain vacations that affects everyone. Symptoms are uncommon at altitudes below … Read more

STDs – The “Underestimated Opponent”

June 16, 2018October 26, 2016

The CDC recently released the 2015 National Overview of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and the rising numbers are disturbing. The CDC’s forward begins by very accurately labeling STDs as a long-standing “underestimated opponent in the public health battle”. We CANNOT continue to ignore sexually transmitted infections and assume it is “those people over there” and not OUR crowd who gets these infections! While ZIKA VIRUS has definitely opened up more non-judgmental discussions about STDs, we have a long way to go. Here are a few highlights from the report:

CHLAMYDIA, the most common bacterial STD, has increased it’s rate by

ZIKA’s Unexpected Gifts

June 16, 2018October 6, 2016

In no way do I want to minimize the serious complications of Zika. However, the media buzz surrounding Zika offers an unexpected gift- effective STI (sexually transmitted infection) education. What is Zika doing that AIDS did not?

Zika normalizes TALKING about STIs

Zika arrived as the newest “malaria”- a mosquito-borne illness, with the added threat of potentially devastating consequences in pregnant women. Like familiar flu season reports, headlines track Zika’s progress across geographical borders, firmly establishing Zika as a hot topic. Pictures of infants with birth defects tug at our hearts, while reporters jockey to broadcast the latest Zika … Read more

No BULL…Get Your FLU SHOT!

June 16, 2018September 27, 2016

Yes, it’s only September, but we’ve been seeing cases of the flu all month! Today the University of Texas kicked off our 2016 flu shot campaign, and happily, students were lined up and ready to go. Our staff does a wonderful job of efficiently providing vaccines for students, faculty and staff- Hook ’em! The vaccines are widely available now, in your doctor’s office, pharmacies and even grocery stores.

WHO: EVERYONE that is 6 months old & up (*with rare exceptions*)

WHY: THOUSANDS of people die from flu every year, here in the United States- between 3000-49,000 deaths. Hundreds … Read more

Can College Students Get Ulcers?

June 16, 2018September 19, 2016

“Does STRESS cause stomach ulcers?”

In a college health center, this is a question I hear fairly often, especially around midterms or finals. Certainly most of us have experienced stomach discomfort when we are anxious- whether that is nausea, cramping, diarrhea or pain- but the vast majority of people with those symptoms do not have actual ulcers.

However, people who are stressed may have COPING HABITS that can irritate the stomach lining, causing a gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) which might facilitate the development of ulcers:

Drinking too much alcohol (more than one drink/day for women, or more than

6 Tips for Freshmen Insomnia

June 16, 2018September 12, 2016

Freshmen college students have many challenges as they adjust to their new environments, and sleepless nights in dorm rooms can trigger a downward spiral of fatigue, trouble concentrating, and poor grades…which leads to anxiety and more difficulty sleeping. What can students do to try and stop this cycle? Certainly there are multiple causes for insomnia, from roommate noise to seasonal allergies, to homesickness or academic stressors, but here are six basic steps to try first:

CONSISTENT SLEEP (& WAKE) TIMES- with MWF and T/Th schedules, often students have drastically different sleep and wake times each day, which doesn’t jive with

Moving in to a DORM? Double Check Your Vaccinations!

June 16, 2018August 1, 2016

Why do COLLEGE STUDENTS need the Meningitis Vaccine?

What is meningococcal disease? The bacteria Neisseria meningitidis causes a range of illnesses that can rapidly progress to be fatal if not immediately recognized and treated. Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain that can cause coma, sepsis and death. Early symptoms start like the flu- fever, headache, body aches, and possibly nausea and vomiting, then the headache progresses in severity, the neck becomes very stiff and painful, and the person may become confused or even unconscious. A very specific RASH can alert clinicians to this dangerous disease- it … Read more

Top 6 Non-Medication Items in a College First Aid Kit

June 17, 2018July 1, 2016

A College First Aid kit is my favorite personalized gift for graduating high school seniors, and a MUST for every young person heading off to college. As an urgent care physician seeing students at the University of Texas, I have significant insight as to how teens handle their first illness away from home. As you start your child’s first aid kit, here are SIX NON-MEDICINE items I suggest:

THERMOMETER- Preferably two inexpensive digital thermometers (because I’ve found their shelf-life is often less than a school year.)
- Knowing whether or not you have a true FEVER (temperature >100.4*) is a very

Summer Travel First Aid Kit

June 17, 2018June 1, 2016

Packing up for your summer vacation? If you are driving, may I suggest you prioritize finding a small space (maybe under the passenger seat as above) to stash a first aid kit? If you already keep one in your car (hello, fellow soccer/dance/volleyball moms!) then let this be your reminder to pull that kit out of your car, CHECK EXPIRATION DATES, and replenish all your used up supplies.

What’s in my kit? Although I will confess my kit is over-stocked with “extras”, here is my basic essentials Top Ten First Aid Kit List:

Ibuprofen (trade name Advil/Motrin)- for headaches, muscle

Doctor’s Help for Fear of Flying

June 17, 2018April 25, 2016

If your fear of flying is putting a damper on your summer travel plans, know that you are not alone- and that your family physician can offer you a few different medications that may reduce your stress. Many patients have told me they were afraid to ask for any medication, because they did not realize these drugs could be used situationally for a single event such as a flight.

Beta-blockers – this class of medication simply keeps your heart from racing, and lowers your blood pressure. This drug is used for public speaking anxiety as well.

Sedatives – although when … Read more