Is it Ebola? Or “just” the FLU?

You have a fever, chills, sore throat muscle aches, headache, nausea and vomiting…is it Ebola Virus? Or perhaps that new respiratory virus (Enterovirus 68)? While technically speaking, it is possible for your illness to be caused by one of these dreaded agents, the odds are very much against it. However, you very well may have the FLU.

NOW is the time to get your flu vaccine- please! The flu vaccine is recommended for EVERYONE aged 6 months and older (who does not have a contraindication for the immunization.) We are already seeing cases of flu here in Austin, as … Read more

Shake, Bump & Fives!

The American Journal of Infection Control has the media world abuzz with talks of fist bumps vs. handshakes today, as they released a recent study confirming that a quick greeting of fist bumps “substantially reduce” the transfer of bacteria between people (compared with shaking hands.) This investigation confirms previous similar studies, such as the 2013 report from the Journal of Hospital Infection, Reducing pathogen transmission in a hospital setting Handshake vs. fist bump: a pilot study.

We know that fist bumps (and high fives) are typically very brief- less than a second, versus hand shakes that can last for … Read more

Jellies!

My last blog was about INVISIBLE things that sting, but this one is all about much larger and visible stingers- JELLYFISH. We all know what they look like- bell-shaped, primitive looking soft tops, with variable amounts of tentacles streaming below. Swimmers typically stumble upon these creatures at or near the surface of the water, or washed up along the beach. Do NOT make the mistake of thinking an obviously dead jellyfish washed up on the shore is harmless! The stingers (nematocysts) in the tentacles will release their toxin and sting you- whether the jelly is dead or alive.
Most jellyfish
… Read more

Invisible Things that Sting…

The crystal clear waters beckon you, and you blissfully leap into the water ready to search for playful Honu (sea turtles) and brightly colored fish. Suddenly something stings your arm…and then your leg and your other arm. Are there jellyfish? No. In fact, you see absolutely nothing, yet SOMETHING or things are continuing to sting you. Have you baked your brain in the sun too long?

The picture above is from the Na’ Pali coastline in Hawaii. While snorkeling there, a small group of the swimmers (including myself and one daughter) were bothered enough by invisible “stings” to get back … Read more

Worried about Dementia? Try Something New…

This week, JAMA Neurology offered an encouraging study for our aging population which demonstrated that continuing to stimulate your brain through intellectually challenging work or leisure activities (such as playing a musical instrument, using a computer or reading) can postpone the onset of dementia. The investigators utilized nearly 2000 participants in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, specifically enrolling people aged 70-89 years old, and identifying whether or not they had APOE (a genetic marker linked with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease) and assessing their baseline cognitive performance.

People who had less mentally challenging occupations, less late-life intellectual stimulation and/or … Read more

The Gift of a Complete Smile

Mariza, Joseph, and Steven are just three of many precious children that our Austin Smiles team enjoyed meeting and helping last week in El Salvador. Cleft lips and/or palates occur in the United States at a frequency of roughly 1 in 700-1000 births (roughly 7000 babies per year) making them one of the most common birth defects. However, these problems arise with more than twice that frequency in Central America and in some Asian countries. Why? We are not completely sure.

Scientists continue to investigate the various contributing roles that genetics, nutrition, toxins, and environment play in creating these defects, … Read more

Planning International Travel? Check out the CDC!

I am  so excited to be heading to El Salvador today with Austin Smiles, a wonderful organization that gives the gift of a beautiful smile to people born with cleft lips or palates. Check out our blog and Facebook page!

If you are planning to international travel, start your medical planning for the trip well in advance- ideally six months ahead, and check out the CDC Traveler’s Advice page.  Simply select your destination country, and you will see all the current medical recommendations for your travel. Please note that often vaccinations are recommended that may require more than one … Read more

Nervous about Flying?

Do you have travel plans for the summer? Any fear of flying? If you do, you are not alone. Many people, especially since 9/11, are very nervous flyers. I know that I never had any issues about flying until I became a mother, at which point suddenly I was emotionally convinced I would die in a plane crash and orphan my child (despite the logical part of my brain telling me it’s far more dangerous to drive on Saturday nights.)

So, what can you do? Well, there are many choices, but suffering in silence should not be one of them. … Read more

Summertime & SUNBURNS: Just Say NO

Happy June 1st! With summer here, it’s time for my annual post on SUNSCREENS. Remember that “base tans” are a medical myth- no pre-tanning helps prevent sunburns. Period. As for sunscreens- which one is the best? Sprays are so fast and convenient- but do they work? Which ingredients matter?

Let’s start with SPF. What does it mean? Sun Protection Factor is a measure of a sunscreen’s ability to protect the wearer against UV radiation from UVB. Note that the sun produces both UVA and UVB, and BOTH cause damage that can lead to skin cancers. Right now, though, … Read more

A Doctor’s Travel First Aid Kit

Packing up for your summer vacation? If you are driving and have the luxury of a bit of extra space, you may want to consider packing a first aid kit to take with your family. 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? A handful of medicines have earned their way into my ever-ready first aid kit. Here is my top 10 list:

  1. Ibuprofen- for headaches, muscle aches,
… Read more