tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30421710123694591002024-03-13T23:24:07.601-07:00Impact Urgent CareAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-50686899613143835402013-08-13T11:40:00.000-07:002013-08-20T11:41:04.968-07:00Ouch! Learn about concussions before they happen.<br />
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Is your child going out for sports this year? This article gives great info on concussions and their treatment. And make sure to get them a <a data-mce-href="http://www.impacturgentcare.com/San_Antonio_Concussion_Screening.htm" href="http://www.impacturgentcare.com/San_Antonio_Concussion_Screening.htm" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">baseline concussion test</a> before any potential injuries!</div>
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Read it here: <a data-mce-href="http://www.uiltexas.org/files/health/2011-NFHS-SMAC-Suggested-Guidelines-for-Management-of-Concussion-in-Sports.pdf" href="http://www.uiltexas.org/files/health/2011-NFHS-SMAC-Suggested-Guidelines-for-Management-of-Concussion-in-Sports.pdf" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.uiltexas.org/files/health/2011-NFHS-SMAC-Suggested-Guidelines-for-Management-of-Concussion-in-Sports.pdf</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-58584088201799690812013-08-06T11:39:00.000-07:002013-08-20T11:39:46.570-07:00No shots? No school. <br />
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In SA, many children can't start school or college without certain immunizations. Watch Dr. Ratner in this KSAT video for more info.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.ksat.com/news/districts-no-shots-no-school/-/478452/21340214/-/xsdop4z/-/index.html" href="http://www.ksat.com/news/districts-no-shots-no-school/-/478452/21340214/-/xsdop4z/-/index.html" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">Districts: No shots? No school</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-31649854910332226762013-08-02T11:36:00.000-07:002013-08-20T11:37:18.266-07:00It's time for meningitis vaccinations!<br />
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<a data-mce-href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/freshman-dorm_l.jpg" href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/freshman-dorm_l.jpg" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="freshman-dorm_l" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1002" data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/freshman-dorm_l.jpg" height="400" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/freshman-dorm_l.jpg" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; cursor: default; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /></a>It’s that time. Summer’s almost over, and the frosh are getting ready to enter college. Among shopping for new pillow cases and hoping your roomie isn’t too weird, don’t forget that all schools of higher education in Texas require a meningitis vaccine. It’s not just your school giving you more forms to confuse you; it’s actually the law here in Texas that you get and maintain your vaccination.</div>
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Don’t wait until the last minute, either. Vaccinations take 7-10 days to become effective, and most schools won’t let you register for classes before you have the vaccine, and it’s effective. That means you need to have it done at least ten days prior to registration, or you might get stuck registering too late and miss out on a lot of classes you want/need to take.</div>
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But why do the schools and the state care so much? What’s the big deal?</div>
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Meningitis is a disease that inflames the meninges, or the membranes that protect your central nervous system. It’s spread by the exchange of saliva (or throat secretions), and people who live in close quarters (hello quad dorm room!) are more likely to spread it. So say your not-too-weird roommate isn’t feeling great, and sneezes all over your toothbrush when he’s in the bathroom. There’s a perfect chance for transmission. Or you know how much you love washing dishes. Say you use a fork that’s not completely 100% home-dishwasher clean. Even sharing water bottles, food, or the best college pastime--kissing--can spread meningitis.</div>
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Symptoms of meningitis include:</div>
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<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Rash or purple patches on skin</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Severe headache</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Light sensitivity</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Confusion and sleepiness</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Lethargy</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Vomiting</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Stiff neck</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Nausea</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">High fever</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Seizures</li>
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Meningitis can be very nasty. You really don’t want to catch it. It could potentially cause hearing loss, blindness, coma, kidney failure, limb damage requiring amputation, convulsions, learning disabilities and even death.</div>
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But wait, we can fix everything with antibiotics, right?</div>
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Well, you can treat meningitis with antibiotics if it’s caught early. But that doesn’t guarantee a cure, while the vaccination is effective against 4 out of 5 of the most common bacterial types that cause meningitis. Vaccination is very safe, with little to no side effects in most patients. Even when caught early and treated with antibiotics, meningitis can still cause permanent disability or death.</div>
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It is possible to decline the vaccination if it will cause you medical problems or if your religion denies vaccinations. However, this can take a while. At Texas Tech, for example, they require a notarized affidavit and warn that it can take “a significant amount of time. Begin well in advance of your intended registration date.”</div>
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Yes, we have the vaccine! Walk in any day 8-8 to get your shot, and head on out to your close-quarters-sharing-water-bottles adventure!</div>
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For more info:</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9276.php" href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9276.php" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9276.php</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.nmaus.org/meningitis/" href="http://www.nmaus.org/meningitis/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.nmaus.org/meningitis/</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.medicinenet.com/encephalitis_and_meningitis/article.htm" href="http://www.medicinenet.com/encephalitis_and_meningitis/article.htm" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.medicinenet.com/encephalitis_and_meningitis/article.htm</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.alamo.edu/meningitis/" href="http://www.alamo.edu/meningitis/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.alamo.edu/meningitis/</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/VoicesofMeningitis" href="https://www.facebook.com/VoicesofMeningitis" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">https://www.facebook.com/VoicesofMeningitis</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.acha.org/topics/meningitis.cfm" href="http://www.acha.org/topics/meningitis.cfm" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.acha.org/topics/meningitis.cfm</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.lonestar.edu/meningitis.htm" href="http://www.lonestar.edu/meningitis.htm" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.lonestar.edu/meningitis.htm</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.stampoutmeningitis.com/beckystory.htm" href="http://www.stampoutmeningitis.com/beckystory.htm" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.stampoutmeningitis.com/beckystory.htm</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/30/california-father-calls-daughter-fighter-after-teen-loses-limbs-to-meningitis/" href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/30/california-father-calls-daughter-fighter-after-teen-loses-limbs-to-meningitis/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/30/california-father-calls-daughter-fighter-after-teen-loses-limbs-to-meningitis/</a></div>
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Photo credit: <a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegeoffmeister/3688872541/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegeoffmeister/3688872541/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">thegeoffmeister</a> / <a data-mce-href="http://foter.com/" href="http://foter.com/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">Foter</a> / <a data-mce-href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">CC BY-NC-SA</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-63855457445325080262013-07-26T11:36:00.000-07:002013-08-20T11:37:34.861-07:00But it's so itchy!!<br />
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If you’re anything like me, the mosquitoes love you! It’s always nice to be popular, but in this case, I’d rather be a wallflower. I made the mistake of stepping outside for about ten minutes a couple evenings ago and, well, here’s the result:</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Screen-Shot-2013-07-26-at-2.14.54-PM.png" href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Screen-Shot-2013-07-26-at-2.14.54-PM.png" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-07-26 at 2.14.54 PM" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-994" data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Screen-Shot-2013-07-26-at-2.14.54-PM.png" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Screen-Shot-2013-07-26-at-2.14.54-PM.png" height="204" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; cursor: default; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 100%;" width="232" /></a></div>
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Being that we’re a medical clinic, there are a lot of people here who tell me to stop scratching! So what in the world can you do when you’re covered in itchy mosquito bites and you can’t scratch?????</div>
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<i style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Please note that this is not meant as medical advice. If you’re not sure what to do, contact your doctor, or come see us.</i></div>
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First, the best defense is a good offense, right? So invest in a good insect repellant and apply according to the manufacturer's directions. Did you know some need to be applied more often than others? If you prefer to avoid the chemicals in many bug sprays, there are options like citronella, peppermint oil or even garlic oil. Consult with an expert, however, before you try applying essential oils to your skin. Some essential oils can be concentrated enough to burn or even blister your skin if used incorrectly.</div>
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If you’ve been bitten, here’s where your self control needs to kick in. Wash off the effected areas as soon as possible, using mild soap and cool water. Pat it dry with a towel rather than rubbing. The reason it itches is because the mosquito has injected you with an anticoagulant (to drink more of your delicious blood) and your body is fighting its and having a minor allergic reaction.</div>
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For minor bites like these, a paste made of a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a few drops of water and apply it gently. Or another option is to apply some vinegar to the bite. Scratching, though it may feel good for a little while, can actually make the bite worse and make it last longer.</div>
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Here in the US, the risk of catching a serious disease from a mosquito bite is low, but you should seek medical help if you’re having a severe allergic reaction, like a racing heartbeat, difficulty breathing and severe swelling. If you’ve scratched your bites and they have become infected, that’s when it’s a good idea to see your doctor.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.skeeterbite.info/article_10.html" href="http://www.skeeterbite.info/article_10.html" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.skeeterbite.info/article_10.html</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/mosquito-bites/" href="http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/mosquito-bites/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/mosquito-bites/</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://voices.yahoo.com/how-easily-treat-mosquito-bite-naturally-stop-6650586.html?cat=5" href="http://voices.yahoo.com/how-easily-treat-mosquito-bite-naturally-stop-6650586.html?cat=5" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://voices.yahoo.com/how-easily-treat-mosquito-bite-naturally-stop-6650586.html?cat=5</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://mosquitobitetreatment.org/hello-world/" href="http://mosquitobitetreatment.org/hello-world/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://mosquitobitetreatment.org/hello-world/</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-8641128227605908692013-07-11T10:47:00.000-07:002013-08-20T10:48:05.309-07:00Group B Strep Awareness<br />
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It’s July, and that means summer fun, 100-degree+ heat and (if you’re lucky) water slides! It also means it’s International Group B Strep Awareness month, which is a very common but little-known (apart from mommies and doctors) bacteria that effects babies in utero, newborns and babies up to six months old.<br style="line-height: 1.5;" />Huh? What is that, and why have I never heard of it?<br style="line-height: 1.5;" />GBS (Group B Streptococcus), or Streptococcus agalactiae--not strep throat--is a type of bacteria that can potentially effect babies as they pass through the birth canal or when the mother’s water breaks. Though up to 25% of women have this naturally-occurring bacteria in their digestive tract and/or birth canal, few babies who are exposed become ill.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/July-ribbon-art-150x150.png" href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/July-ribbon-art-150x150.png" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="July-ribbon-art-150x150" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-970" data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/July-ribbon-art-150x150.png" height="150" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/July-ribbon-art-150x150.png" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; cursor: default; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 100%;" width="150" /></a><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />However, that illness can be severe, such as meningitis, pneumonia or a permanent handicap like blindness, deafness or cerebral palsy. In some cases, GBS has caused stillbirth or miscarriage.<br style="line-height: 1.5;" />It’s a good idea to get tested for GBS before your baby is born (even if you’ve been tested on a previous pregnancy, that doesn’t mean you don’t currently have GBS living in your system). There are little to no symptoms associated with GBS for the mother, with the most common being yeast-infection-like symptoms or even a bladder infection. If your doctor suspects GBS when you are pregnant and have a bladder infection, they will likely perform a urine culture apart from the routine urine tests performed on all pregnant women. In the US it’s now standard practice for GBS testing to be part of your routine prenatal testing. If you test positive for GBS, you may be placed on IV antibiotics when you go into labor. Just four hours of IV antibiotics given to the mother in labor can prevent up to 90% of newborn GBS infections. Taking these prior to the onset of labor won’t help much, as the bacteria can grow back very quickly.<br style="line-height: 1.5;" /><i style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Just a side note: testing positive for GBS does not mean you’ve done anything wrong during your pregnancy, or are unclean. GBS can live in just about anyone.</i><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />Now your beautiful baby has been born, and you want to provide them the absolute best in care. There are some strategies you can follow to avoid infecting your baby (not just with GBS; some of these are common-sense guidelines to protect against bacteria in general)</div>
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<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Everyone, yourself included, needs to wash their hands before handling your baby. Antiseptic wipes won’t cut it--get out the soap and water.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">If you’re able to breastfeed, it’s a great choice to supply your little one with antibodies to help fight infection.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Make sure <b style="color: black; line-height: 1.5;">everyone</b> who takes care of your baby knows the symptoms of GBS infection in babies and how to respond.</li>
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Most cases of GSB will start in the first few hours after birth. Symptoms may include:</div>
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<li style="line-height: 1.5;">High-pitched cry, shrill moaning, whimpering</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Constant grunting as if constipated</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Projectile vomiting</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Sleeping too much, difficulty being aroused</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">High or low or unstable temperature; hands and feet may still feel cold even with a fever</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Blotchy, red, or tender skin</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Blue, gray, or pale skin due to lack of oxygen</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Fast, slow, or difficult breathing</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Body stiffening, uncontrollable jerking</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Listless, floppy, or not moving an arm or leg</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Tense or bulgy spot on top of head</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Blank stare</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Infection (pus/red skin) at base of umbilical cord or in puncture on head from internal fetal monitor</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Problems with temperature regulation</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Grunting sounds</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Fever</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Seizures</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Breathing problems</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Stiffness or extreme limpness</li>
</ul>
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Of course, if you have questions about GSB it's a good idea to ask your doctor! If you'd like to read more, check out these useful sites. There's even a <a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/GroupBStrepInternational" href="https://www.facebook.com/GroupBStrepInternational" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">Facebook page</a>:</div>
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<em id="__mceDel" style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.groupbstrepinternational.org" href="http://www.groupbstrepinternational.org/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.groupbstrepinternational.org</a><br style="line-height: 1.5;" /><a data-mce-href="http://www.groupbstrepinternational.org/gbs-articles/" href="http://www.groupbstrepinternational.org/gbs-articles/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.groupbstrepinternational.org/gbs-articles/</a><br style="line-height: 1.5;" /><a data-mce-href="http://www.drum.amedd.army.mil/news/2010/0710/Strep_Awareness.htm" href="http://www.drum.amedd.army.mil/news/2010/0710/Strep_Awareness.htm" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.drum.amedd.army.mil/news/2010/0710/Strep_Awareness.htm</a><br style="line-height: 1.5;" /><a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/GroupBStrepInternational" href="https://www.facebook.com/GroupBStrepInternational" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">https://www.facebook.com/GroupBStrepInternational</a><br style="line-height: 1.5;" /><a data-mce-href="http://sites.conversionplanet.com/group-b-strep-awareness" href="http://sites.conversionplanet.com/group-b-strep-awareness" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://sites.conversionplanet.com/group-b-strep-awareness</a><br style="line-height: 1.5;" /><a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_B_streptococcal_infection" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_B_streptococcal_infection" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_B_streptococcal_infection</a><br style="line-height: 1.5;" /><a data-mce-href="http://groo.com/newgbsi/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/GBS_Awareness_brochure.pdf" href="http://groo.com/newgbsi/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/GBS_Awareness_brochure.pdf" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://groo.com/newgbsi/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/GBS_Awareness_brochure.pdf</a><br style="line-height: 1.5;" /><a data-mce-href="http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/index.html" href="http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/index.html" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/index.html</a><br style="line-height: 1.5;" /><a data-mce-href="http://www.strepb.ca/" href="http://www.strepb.ca/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.strepb.ca/</a><br style="line-height: 1.5;" /><a data-mce-href="http://www.aap.org/" href="http://www.aap.org/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.aap.org/</a> </em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-25257494438095678472013-07-09T12:31:00.000-07:002013-07-09T12:31:32.160-07:00Why is my child limping?<br />
<h1 class="entry-title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;">You’re worried about your child. They’ve been waking up complaining their knee hurts, or you notice their fingers seem swollen, but they can’t remember hurting themselves. Maybe they’ve been limping a little in the morning, or they seem to have a mild flu with a pinkish rash that comes and goes. What could be happening?</span></h1>
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<img alt="9212414100_3c9fff9651_m" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-962" height="222" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/9212414100_3c9fff9651_m.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="204" /></div>
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All of these are symptoms of Juvenile Arthritis, which effects more than 250,000 children under the age of 18 in the <span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">US</span> alone. If your child has swollen, tender joints that last for more than six weeks, he/she could be among their number. Commonly, the knees, hands and feet will be the most effected, though sometimes children with <span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">JA</span> can also have inflamed eyes.</div>
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Diagnosis comes at the end of extensive testing performed by a juvenile rheumatologist, who will exclude other conditions through imaging, lab work and physicals before diagnosing your child with arthritis. Most forms of arthritis are known as autoimmune disorders, where the body’s own immune system attacks its own healthy tissues, causing swelling, soreness and stiffness in joints and the surrounding muscles and supporting tendons/ligaments. The resulting inflammation can damage the joints.</div>
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Sometimes the damage done to joints can effect a child’s growth, causing one leg or arm to grow longer than the other, or even slowing the child’s overall growth.</div>
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Unfortunately, there is no cure for Juvenile Arthritis. It’s considered a chronic condition that will require care and treatment with exercise, physical therapy and possibly medication. Since every child is different, there is no one right treatment plan for everyone. Your child’s doctors will work with you to come up with an individual plan that works for your child. Some children will have one or two flare-ups of arthritis and never suffer again, while others may have to deal with it on a day-to-day basis.</div>
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Some doctors may prescribe medication right away, while others will advise treatment during flare-ups like swimming, which allows the child to exercise and move their joints without putting pressure on them. It’s important to support your child not only with their physical but also their mental needs to support them through <span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">JA</span>.</div>
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<img alt="Screen Shot 2013-07-09 at 1.30.42 PM" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-965" height="265" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Screen-Shot-2013-07-09-at-1.30.42-PM.png" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="432" /></div>
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There are a lot of great resources available to learn more about Juvenile Arthritis online. We recommend the following sites for more detailed info:</div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.arthritis.org/conditions-treatments/disease-center/juvenile--arthritis/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.arthritis.org/conditions-treatments/disease-center/juvenile–arthritis/</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Juv_Arthritis/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Juv_Arthritis/</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/juvenile-rheumatoid-arthritis/DS00018" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/juvenile-rheumatoid-arthritis/<span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DS00018</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00075" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00075</a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/juvenilearthritis.asp" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/juvenilearthritis.asp</a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.findarthritistreatment.com/five-common-symptoms-of-juvenile-arthritis/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.findarthritistreatment.com/five-common-symptoms-of-juvenile-arthritis/</a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.aaos.org/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.aaos.org</a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.rheumatology.org/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.rheumatology.org</a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.arthritis.org/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.arthritis.org</a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.kotb.com/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.kotb.com</a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.carragroup.org/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.carragroup.org</a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.arthritis.org/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">www.arthritis.org</a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.arthritis.org/ja-article.php?id=15" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">www.arthritis.org/ja-article.php?id=15</a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.niams.nih.gov/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">www.niams.nih.gov</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.rheumatology.org/REF" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">www.rheumatology.org/Foundation</a></div>
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Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/danimal0416/1249575254/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">danieljohnsonjr</a> / <a href="http://foter.com/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Foter</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CC</span> <span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BY-NC-SA</span></a></div>
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Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurengrace/2483612270/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lauren Grace Picture Place</a> / <a href="http://foter.com/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Foter</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CC</span> <span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BY-NC</span></a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-70556386179724922792013-07-04T07:51:00.001-07:002013-07-04T07:51:31.336-07:00Have a safe and happy 4th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QmLPPVQodBg/UdWL25bUMqI/AAAAAAAAAHo/bAFj8to4-uc/s640/photo-1+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QmLPPVQodBg/UdWL25bUMqI/AAAAAAAAAHo/bAFj8to4-uc/s320/photo-1+copy.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">We're working today 8-8 in case you need help. Walk in to either location or </span><a data-mce-href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/impact-urgent-care/sick-and-tired-of-waiting/" href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/impact-urgent-care/sick-and-tired-of-waiting/" style="color: #743399; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" target="_blank" title="Sick, and tired of waiting?">check in online</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> and we'll txt you when it's your turn!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-70253609534030026552013-06-24T10:15:00.000-07:002013-06-24T10:15:21.252-07:00Allergies or strep?<br />
<section style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It’s summer time here in San Antonio, and while that means soaring temperatures and kids out of school, it’s also allergy season. We’ve written before about <a href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/impact-urgent-care/how-pure-is-your-air/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(140, 140, 140); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #111111; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">what causes allergies</a> and <a href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/allergies/seven-tips-to-make-allergy-season-more-bearable/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(140, 140, 140); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #111111; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">some ways to combat them</a>, so I won’t go into too much detail about that here. What’s concerning is that we’re starting to see some cases of strep throat mixed in among people coming in for their allergies.</div>
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You can muddle through allergies on your own (or we can help you if you’re really miserable), but strep needs extra attention.</div>
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<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/fc4a68a88402c290ab336678b690fdb6/tumblr_inline_mowq88uBLi1qz4rgp.png" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></div>
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How can you tell if you have strep or just bad allergies?</div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Strep</strong><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div>
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<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sudden sore throat</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sore throat and tonsils</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Painful swallowing</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tender, enlarged cervical nodes</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">White exudates on tonsils</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fever</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Headache</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Occasionally nausea/loss of appetite or abdominal pain</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Occasionally a rash 12–48 hours after onset of symptoms</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Usually no respiratory or nasal symptoms</li>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Allergies</strong></div>
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<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Usually prolonged duration of illness</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Runny nose</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sneezing</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Itchy, watery eyes</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nasal discharge</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recurs at a particular season or with exposure to allergen</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Occasionally cough, hoarseness, sore throat (from drainage)</li>
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Here at Impact Urgent Care, we have rapid strep tests available that can confirm our doctor’s findings if we believe you have strep. Then, we can prescribe antibiotics and other medications if they’re needed. Untreated strep can leave you susceptible to nastier diseases, and it’s not a good idea to see if it’ll clear up on its own.</div>
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Even if it’s just a summer cold or bad allergies, we can help you feel better.</div>
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<a href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/impact-urgent-care/sick-and-tired-of-waiting/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(140, 140, 140); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #111111; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Try out our new online check in system to beat the crowds. Just look for this</a></div>
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<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/ee21c713e5578d3b0fb2f13e3def7bcc/tumblr_inline_mowq8uPh5q1qz4rgp.png" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></div>
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<a href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/impact-urgent-care/sick-and-tired-of-waiting/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(140, 140, 140); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #111111; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"> in the upper right corner of our website, and you’ll be automatically placed in our queue. You can wait at home or anywhere you please once you’re checked in online, and our new system will txt you when it’s your turn!</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-29381960398128161742013-05-15T14:24:00.001-07:002013-05-15T14:24:02.123-07:00Struggling to speak: a personal view of Spasmodic Dysphonia<br />
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">This week we take a look at a rare vocal disorder called Spasmodic Dysphonia. It can greatly effect your vocal cords, resulting in a strangled-sounding or hoarse voice. For some, it seems like they have lost their voice. It can be treated with a combination of speech therapy and Botox, but there is currently no cure.</em></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/gray1204_l.png" href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/gray1204_l.png" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="gray1204_l" class="size-full wp-image-893 aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/gray1204_l.png" height="400" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/gray1204_l.png" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; cursor: default; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 100%;" width="511" /></a></div>
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My name is Mark and I am 36 years old. I have always relied heavily on my communication and people skills to get me ahead of everybody else. I never would have thought that I would struggle with something everybody takes for granted.</div>
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I can’t pinpoint the exact moment where my life changed but I know for a fact that it happened in early 2006 while I was working for the San Antonio Express News in their call center as a Customer Service Representative. I was struggling to speak and was hesitating with certain words and phrases. It was extremely embarrassing!</div>
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I kept asking myself: <i style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Why is this happening? Will it ever go away? Will I lose my voice? Could it be stress related? Is it psychological?</i></div>
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There were certain words and letters that I really struggled with. The letter “h” was the hardest for me and to this day still is. The opening phrase at the San Antonio Express News was: “<i style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Thank you for calling the San Antonio Express News, this is Mark, how can I help you</i>?” Two “h” words! So, I changed this to: “<i style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Thank you for calling the San Antonio Express News, this is Mark, what can I do for you?</i>” A simple change but this really helped me on the phones.</div>
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Despite my speech issues, I never got any complaints or questions from customers or co-workers who couldn’t understand me. I thought it would eventually go away, but it never did. It was getting more difficult every day for me to speak clearly and be understood and I was embarrassed.</div>
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On May 1, 2006, I saw Dr. Yvonne Page, a Speech Language Pathologist.</div>
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As I soon started talking, Dr. Page knew exactly what I had. She asked me a lot of questions trying to pinpoint my problems and took a lot of notes. She eventually had me read these phrases: “<i style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Early one morning, a man and a woman were ambling along a 1-mile lane, running near Rainy Island Avenue” </i>and <i style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">"He saw half a shape mystically cross a simple path, at least 50 or 60 steps in front of his sister Kathy's house."</i></div>
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I read the first with ease but really struggled with the second sentence.</div>
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Dr. Page referred me to Dr. Blake Simpson, an Otolaryngologist, who works at the University of Texas Health Science Center. He would be able to get a better look at my vocal cords and verify my speech problems.</div>
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Dr. Simpson also wanted me to read those phrases. With the second phrase, it felt as if I forgot how to read. I couldn’t even say the word “house.” My mouth opened but nothing came out. It took a few seconds for the word “house” to finally come out and it didn’t sound good at all. By using a fiber optic Laryngoscopy, Dr. Simpson showed me what was happening with my vocal cords.</div>
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In May of 2006, I was officially diagnosed with a rare voice disorder called Abductor Spasmodic Dysphonia. According to the <a data-mce-href="http://www.dysphonia.org/" href="http://www.dysphonia.org/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">Dysphonia</a> website:</div>
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<i style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Spasmodic dysphonia (SD), a focal form of Dystonia, is a neurological voice disorder that involves involuntary "spasms" of the vocal cords causing interruptions of speech and affecting the voice quality. SD can cause the voice to break up or to have a tight, strained, or strangled quality. There is no cure. It is treatable by speech therapy and Botox injections in the vocal cords.</i></div>
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I started speech therapy with Dr. Page immediately after I was diagnosed. Our sessions were weekly for 12 weeks. For the first four weeks, we met twice a week. I was very lucky that my work schedule allowed me to have two consecutive days off during the week. Otherwise, I would have had to use all of my sick and vacation time.</div>
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We did a lot of breathing and relaxation exercises. We worked on the voiceless sounds. Every few weeks we would try words that began with the letter “h.” Dr. Page wanted me to have a soft voice; no yelling or talking loud on the phones. She had software that measured how loud my voice was and how much roughness I had. It was really interesting to see these changes before, during, and after a session. I was also able to hear my voice; it was good sometimes, bad sometimes, and sometimes just plain laughable!</div>
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I was relieved that the Speech Language Pathologist knew what I had as soon as I started talking. Unlike other people I have met with Spasmodic Dysphonia, I didn't have to wait months or years and see several other doctors to get the correct diagnosis. After lots of research, talking with Dr. Page and Dr. Simpson, and consulting with my parents, I decided to try the Botox injections. I was aware there could be side effects. But I was ready to take the plunge.</div>
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On August 14, 2006, I was in the waiting room at University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. I was extremely nervous. My mother came with me and her support really helped me get thru the anticipation of getting my first Botox injection.</div>
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Dr. Simpson sprayed my nose to numb it. It didn't taste like anything, but it really made my nose runny!! He then inserted a needle into my neck to numb it. The numbing medication tasted really gross and made me cough a lot; but that means the numbing was working. A Neurologist, Dr. Carlayne Jackson, put some sensors on my stomach; this helps locate the proper spot for injection. A resident from the hospital was also in the room and he was the one who inserted the fiber optic Laryngoscope from my nose to my vocal cords.</div>
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I coughed a few times and said the letter "E" for a few seconds. I even read these phrases again “<i style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Early one morning, a man and a woman were ambling along a 1-mile lane, running near Rainy Island Avenue” </i>and <i style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">"He saw half a shape mystically cross a simple path, at least 50 or 60 steps in front of his sister Kathy's house." </i></div>
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Dr's. Simpson and Jackson located the correct spot for a unilateral injection and I didn't even feel the Botox. Wow! Afterwards, I was coughing a lot, had some discomfort in swallowing, and my voice was very strained. But, those side effects wore off quickly and I was very glad.</div>
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I went back for my 2nd Botox injection on October 23, 2006. I was more eager this time and was looking forward to how my voice would fare. It was the same procedure for the treatment. I had the same side effects but again they vanished quickly.</div>
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Since my diagnosis, I have had 17 Botox injections and I am getting fantastic results and do notice a HUGE difference in my voice. I always have the discomfort in swallowing, a strained voice, and lots of coughing. But, they go away quicker each time. My last 3 Botox injections have lasted about 6 months. I will probably schedule another Botox injection toward the end of the year. Each injection I get lasts longer than the previous.</div>
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If you heard me talk, you probably wouldn't even know I have any issues. I do struggle at work occasionally but nobody notices it. I am kinda curious to see how my voice would do without Botox?</div>
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I made my first podcast to share recently. <a data-mce-href="http://snd.sc/10r2ubo" href="http://snd.sc/10r2ubo" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"> I gotta admit, I was extremely nervous when I recorded this last night in my car on the way home from work. Yes, my recording studio was my car; hey, it was quiet and nobody bothered me.</a></div>
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At least I thought it was quiet...when I replayed it afterwards, I heard my keys jiggling and my turn signal clicking. Next time, I will unhook the car key from the miscellaneous keys and find a straight path to nowhere in particular. Other than that, I am very excited to debut my voice and hope you enjoy it.</div>
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">This post was reproduced with permission from Mark at <a data-mce-href="http://www.mdlblog.com/search/label/dysphonia" href="http://www.mdlblog.com/search/label/dysphonia" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">mdlblog.com</a>. </em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-11786077797711701632013-05-07T15:30:00.000-07:002013-05-07T15:30:01.860-07:00Children's Mental Health Awareness Day<br />
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Today we hear from Dr. Dan Powell, our soft-spoken and much-loved provider who mainly works at our Woodlake location. Here, he teaches us how to speak about mental illness without the stigma that's commonly associated.</em></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/mad-world-5.jpg" href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/mad-world-5.jpg" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="mad-world-5" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-887" data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/mad-world-5.jpg" height="528" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/mad-world-5.jpg" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; cursor: default; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 100%;" width="1023" /></a></div>
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Today is Children's Mental Health Awareness Day. The National Federation of Families has declared this year's theme to be: "Out of the Shadows: Exposing Stigma."</div>
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As healthcare providers at Impact Urgent Care, we frequently have the privilege of providing care for children with mental health issues who present with acute illness. While addressing the child's acute illness is paramount, an equally important issue (as with all children we treat) is addressing any associated family or parental concerns. Without a doubt, one of the greatest challenges parents face when caring for their child with any mental health diagnosis is dealing with the stigma of mental illness.</div>
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Whether your child is struggling with Depression or Situational Anxiety, or more chronic conditions such as ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder/Aspergers, you are already well-aware of the overt and sometimes subtle ways that the stigma of mental health illness can impact a child and his or her ability to navigate the waters that other children breeze through at school or athletics, or even just going out to eat and going to the movie theater. Reversing the stigma of childhood mental health illness will not happen overnight, but efforts are definitely underway to begin the process, and events such as Children's Mental Health Awareness Day are critical in raising public awareness and educating all of us on how we can make a difference.</div>
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The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health (www.hogg.utexas.edu) has produced a brochure titled <em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Language Matters in Mental Health</em> that gives excellent guidelines for HOW WE TALK about persons with a mental health condition. Saying, "He has a mental health condition" instead of, "He's mentally ill" - or "She has Anorexia Nervosa" instead of, "She's an Anorexic" may seem like potato - po-tah-toe to folks who don't have (or live with a family member who has) a mental health condition but for those of us who do, it's a night-and-day difference that expresses volumes about a person's attitude toward mental health and/or the stigma of being labeled. Educating your child's siblings, friends and teachers on the impact of the word choices we make when talking about a child with a mental health diagnosis is crucial to helping shape a healthy and encouraging environment for them to thrive. This approach is called "people-first language" and can open up communication lines with others that take a concern for your child's well-being.</div>
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Caring for a child with mental health issues can be an enormous challenge for their parents, and we hope you will consider us a resource you can depend on at Impact Urgent Care. We count it as a privilege.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG_1527.jpg" href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG_1527.jpg" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Dr. Dan Powell" class=" wp-image-885 " data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG_1527.jpg" height="346" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG_1527.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; color: #444444; cursor: default; line-height: 1.5; margin: 5px; padding: 0px;" width="230" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="color: #444444; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Dr. Dan Powell</dd></dl>
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Dan Powell, M.D.</div>
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Staff Physician, Impact Urgent Care</div>
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Photo credit: <a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29487767@N02/3247821179/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29487767@N02/3247821179/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">alles-schlumpf</a> / <a data-mce-href="http://foter.com/" href="http://foter.com/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">Foter.com</a> / <a data-mce-href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">CC BY-NC-SA</a></h6>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-52784878239674305692013-04-10T09:53:00.001-07:002013-04-10T09:53:50.475-07:00Is it IBS or just tummy troubles?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NdlM2xN_CVg/UWWYw2KU4jI/AAAAAAAAAD8/kn304jMeY2M/s1600/312878-5171-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NdlM2xN_CVg/UWWYw2KU4jI/AAAAAAAAAD8/kn304jMeY2M/s320/312878-5171-5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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You have a chronic condition that causes pain, occasional embarrassment and lifestyle restriction. Nobody really knows why or how you got it, though there are theories. There’s no cure, though the symptoms are treatable. Sometimes you can eat whatever you want, others even looking at something as innocent as white rice causes spasms.</div>
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It sounds dreadful, doesn’t it? Well, if you are one of these people, you may have IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.</div>
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For those who don’t have IBS, have you ever had food poisoning? Imagine that happening to you every day or even several times a month. The problem is that it’s not well understood. IBS can effect you either with diarrhea or constipation, and it’s estimated to effect 3-20% of the population. It’s a wide estimation because not everyone will seek medical help or even think they have a medical condition.</div>
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IBS can be treated in a variety of ways, including dietary, hypnosis, lifestyle changes, yoga, medications, therapy, etc. Some doctors will perform gastrointestinal scans to rule out other medical problems, while others will just write a prescription for an anti-spasmodic and allow you to go on your way.</div>
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Do you have IBS? How do you deal with your symptoms?</div>
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There are lots of resources out there to learn more about IBS and how to treat your symptoms. The US Department of Health and Human Services has a good overview. The<a data-mce-href="http://www.helpforibs.com/messageboards/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php" href="http://www.helpforibs.com/messageboards/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank" title="This external link will open in a new window">helpforibs.com</a> site has a lot of information and message boards (fair warning--they also sell supplements and books about IBS). There’s even a <a data-mce-href="http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/irritable-bowel-syndrome.cfm" href="http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/irritable-bowel-syndrome.cfm" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank" title="This external link will open in a new window">site directed at women with IBS.</a></div>
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In the end, you’ll need to have a conversation with your primary care doctor if you’re not sure you’ve got IBS and to make sure it’s not something more serious.</div>
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And if you have any unexpected emergencies remember we're always here to help! </div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Photo credit: </span><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dranik/5147822546/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dranik/5147822546/" style="color: #743399; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Dranik</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> / </span><a data-mce-href="http://foter.com/" href="http://foter.com/" style="color: #743399; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Foter.com</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> / </span><a data-mce-href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/" style="color: #743399; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">CC BY-NC-SA</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and http://help-health.com/stomach-pain-after-eating/</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-42283438786249171392013-03-28T13:26:00.003-07:002013-03-28T13:26:53.197-07:00Tsunamis?! But we live in SA!<div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 12px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This week, Dr. Ratner tells us about preparing for the unexpected. What’s in your emergency kit?</em></div>
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Dr. Ratner</div>
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Most of us here in San Antonio do not know that this week is Tsunami Preparedness week. Just because San Antonio is only a little more likely than Salt Lake City to suffer the direct effects of a tsunami there are lots of lessons we can learn from this week.</div>
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<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Really bad things happen, even if they’re not very likely to happen. So, do you need life vests? Probably not, but you should think of some basic items and procedures for any unplanned catastrophe. Events that happen far away can have ripple effects. Are you prepared if your plant closes down because you can’t get parts or your customers are unavailable?</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We may not be at risk for a tsunami, but what about a flash flood?</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How hard would it be to store 5 gallons of water and a few days of canned or dehydrated foods, or some macaroni and cheese for each member of your household? You could fit a few days’ worth under each person’s bed.</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Can you put together a small plastic type toolbox with a few screwdrivers, a pair of pliers, some duct tape, a utility knife, some zip ties, a hacksaw and a flashlight?</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Take a few minutes and discuss with your family and your extended family where and when you will meet in the event of fire, blackouts or other disasters.</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Once a month buy a few extra <span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AA</span>, <span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AAA</span>,C, D and 9 volt batteries, and switch out your used batteries with your current stock. This will prove very useful if there’s a power outage.</li>
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This is not an all-encompassing list, but it is easy, inexpensive and really useful when the expected happens.</div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s not something we want to think about every day, but if we’re prepared it can turn a disastrous situation into something that’s just difficult. <a href="http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster-safety-library" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The American Red Cross has some great resources and advice for all kinds of situations here. </a>And a <a href="http://arcbrcr.org/#SITE?id=300206" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tool to help you estimate how much you’ll need of everything here</a> based on your household. Always remember we’re here to help at <span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IUC</span>, but we hope you have a happy and safe weekend!</em></div>
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The unexpected strikes…unexpectedly.</div>
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Photo credit: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/37913760@N03" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">United Nations Development Programme</a> / <a href="http://foter.com/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Foter.com</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CC</span><span style="color: #743399;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></span><span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BY</span></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-58632720325453903002013-03-26T12:02:00.002-07:002013-03-26T12:02:37.309-07:00ALERT! Day 2013--Learning more to stop Diabetes<br />
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Today is the American Diabetes Association's ALERT! Day. </div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/diabetes-risk-test/?utm_source=Offline&utm_medium=Print&utm_content=risktest&utm_campaign=RISK" href="http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/diabetes-risk-test/?utm_source=Offline&utm_medium=Print&utm_content=risktest&utm_campaign=RISK" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">Today through April 9, 2013, there's a free online test you can take to help you figure out your risk factors</a>, and for every test that's taken there will be $5 donated to help fight diabetes by a large food company. My risk factor comes up as 4--who can beat me?</div>
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Diabetes effects a staggering 14% of San Antonians, which is <strong style="color: black; line-height: 1.5;">double</strong> the national average (!), causing numerous health problems and putting its victims at risk of amputation, blindness and even death. And the most tragic thing about type II diabetes is that it's almost completely preventable. We all know that we need to eat right, exercise, etc....consult with your doctor to help address any of your risk factors and see how you can help prevent Pre-Diabetes and Type II Diabetes.</div>
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To quote from our local ADA office: "The American Diabetes Association's San Antonio office is so committed to finding a cure, educating the public about how to <a data-mce-href="http://stopdiabetes.com/?loc=SanAntonio-LocalPage" href="http://stopdiabetes.com/?loc=SanAntonio-LocalPage" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Stop Diabetes</a> and providing support for those living with the disease are central to our mission. We are here to help.</div>
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To receive local information or learn more about events occurring in and around San Antonio sign up for our free newsletter! Contact Jose Macias, Online Communication Manager, at <a data-mce-href="mailto:jmacias@diabetes.org" href="mailto:jmacias@diabetes.org" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">jmacias@diabetes.org</a> to sign up!"</div>
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There are also <a data-mce-href="http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-opportunities.html?area=A6STX&code=127" href="http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-opportunities.html?area=A6STX&code=127" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">a lot of local opportunities to volunteer</a> and help fight Diabetes!</div>
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There's even a <a data-mce-href="http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/expo/2013/san-antonio-expo-2013/" href="http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/expo/2013/san-antonio-expo-2013/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="color: black; line-height: 1.5;">free</strong> Expo coming to San Antonio in May</a>. They're advertising nutrition info, cooking demonstrations and health screenings. What would you like to see at the expo?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-90775301936086969952013-03-22T09:56:00.002-07:002013-03-22T09:56:57.096-07:00Do your ears continue to grow as you age?<br />
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Prince Charles may worry about this very question.</div>
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There are definitely some changes in the face that occur with aging. First some facial muscle tone is lost, causing that saggy look. Then you get the dreaded double chin. The nose can also lengthen a bit, and the skin on the face becomes thin, dry, and wrinkled. Then there are longer, thicker eyebrows and gray hair. We haven’t even mentioned droopy eyes, receding gums, missing, teeth, and last but not least - bigger ears. Yes, your ears do continue to grow as you age, but only slightly. This is probably due to cartilage growth.</div>
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What a list of wonderful things to look forward to as we enter our golden years.</div>
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Excerpt from <em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Why Do Men Have Nipples?</em> by Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-49088752518803207252013-03-20T12:17:00.000-07:002013-03-20T12:17:11.602-07:00Seven tips to beat spring allergies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Spring has sprung! And with it comes allergies galore. How do you know it’s allergies and not a cold? The most noticeable difference is that, while a cold will commonly last less than two weeks, allergies will drag on as long as you’re exposed to whatever it is you’re allergic to.</div>
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Here are some tips and tricks to make your allergy season a little more bearable. And if you’re still not feeling well, you can always come see us at IUC.</div>
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<li style="line-height: 1.5;">To avoid allergens, simply keep your windows closed while you’re inside.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Take a shower when you come in from the great outdoors to wash off any potential pollen that’s made you its home.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Wash your clothes and bedding as often as possible. Allergens tend to stick to fabrics, and you can easily track them inside.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Drive with the windows up to avoid pollen-laden air.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">If your pet spends time outside, keep it out of your bedroom to avoid any pollen it may bring in on its fur.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Pollen is at its peak in the morning, between 5AM and 10AM, so avoid the outdoors during those hours.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Treat any potential symptoms before you go outside. Speak with your doctor to determine which over-the-counter or even prescription medications could help you.</span></li>
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Do you have any tips of your own to share? We’d love to hear from you!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MCXA3YkRpwk/UUoK06GXj_I/AAAAAAAAADM/adLvGNhzJgQ/s1600/sneeze-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MCXA3YkRpwk/UUoK06GXj_I/AAAAAAAAADM/adLvGNhzJgQ/s1600/sneeze-7.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Photo credits: </span><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oakleyoriginals/2791834143/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oakleyoriginals/2791834143/" style="color: #743399; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">OakleyOriginals</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> / </span><a data-mce-href="http://foter.com" href="http://foter.com/" style="color: #743399; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Foter.com</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> / </span><a data-mce-href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" style="color: #743399; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">CC BY</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">; James Gathany / </span><a data-mce-href="http://foter.com" href="http://foter.com/" style="color: #743399; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Foter.com</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> / </span><a data-mce-href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/" href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/" style="color: #743399; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Public Domain Mark 1.0</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-77291119326918467782013-03-18T09:48:00.000-07:002013-03-18T09:48:45.659-07:00Dr. Gutierrez weighs in on National Youth Violence Prevention Week<br />
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Today, our own Dr. Gutierrez takes a look at National Youth Violence Prevention Week.</em></div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/DrGutierrez.jpg" href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/DrGutierrez.jpg" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Dr. Gutierrez" class="size-medium wp-image-833" data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/DrGutierrez-250x300.jpg" height="300" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/DrGutierrez-250x300.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; color: #444444; cursor: default; height: auto; line-height: 1.5; margin: 5px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" width="250" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="color: #444444; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Dr. Gutierrez</dd></dl>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5;">As spring break ends and most students reluctantly return to class, the very serious subject of youth violence will be one of the topics at the forefront. </span></div>
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March 18-22 marks National Youth Violence Prevention Week. This nationwide campaign is designed to raise awareness and educate students, teachers, counselors, parents and the general public on effective ways to prevent or reduce youth violence. </div>
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Violence affects all people regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity or religion, but violence disproportionately affects young people. The young person can be a victim, offender, or witness to the violent act. According to the CDC, youth violence is the second leading cause of death for young people age 15-24. </div>
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Each day of the Youth Violence Prevention Week focuses on different activities in regards to violence prevention: </div>
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Day1: Promote Respect and Tolerance</div>
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Day2: Manage Your Anger, Don’t Let it Manage You!</div>
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Day 3: Resolve Conflicts Peacefully</div>
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Day 4: Support Safety</div>
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Day 5: Unite in Action</div>
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Much of the focus is to remind us that while anger is a normal human feeling, violence is not a normal human reaction. The activities of this education initiative help to demonstrate the positive role young people can have in making their school and community safer. </div>
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The ultimate goal is to stop youth violence before it starts. </div>
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Take some time this week to find out more about Youth Violence, and what you can do to help prevent it. <a data-mce-href="http://nationalsave.org/who-we-are/chapters/Texas/" href="http://nationalsave.org/who-we-are/chapters/Texas/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">There's even some chapters of Students Against Violence Everywhere in San Antonio. </a> And some great suggestions of activities to do this week to promote awareness <a data-mce-href="http://nationalsave.org/what-we-do/save-events/national-youth-violence-prevention-week/" href="http://nationalsave.org/what-we-do/save-events/national-youth-violence-prevention-week/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">can be found here.</a> What will you be doing this week to help spread awareness of Youth Violence Prevention?</em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-44624985929204773582013-03-15T13:26:00.000-07:002013-03-15T13:26:20.575-07:00What's up with the ear hair?<br />
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Aging can be cruel. You lose the hair where you want it, and gain it in all those other unsightly places. Bushy eyebrows, excessive nasal hair, and hairy ears certainly don’t make you anxious to get older, do they?</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5;">Sometimes the excessive growth of hair on the ears is genetic and is linked to the Y chromosome, the sex chromosome found only in males, which explains why don’t see many hairy-eared females, except in</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span><em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">The Lord of the Rings</em><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">movies.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5;">And what would this excess hair growth be without a competition? The</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span><em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Guinness Book of World Records </em><span style="line-height: 1.5;">record for the longest ear hair was broken again in 2002. A seventy year old</span><em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;"> </em><span style="line-height: 1.5;">from Tamil Nadu state in India, Anthony Victor, broke the record with his ear hair measuring 11.5 centimeters.</span></div>
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Excerpt from <em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Why Do Men Have Nipples?</em> by Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-8653501084230487022013-03-14T12:17:00.002-07:002013-03-14T12:17:32.786-07:00Your amaaaaaaaaazing kidneys!<br />
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Ask not what your kidneys can do for you, but what you can do for your kidneys? It’s World Kidney Day and that means it’s time to learn a little more about what your kidneys do and why they’re so important!</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 310px;" id="attachment_815" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; clear: both; color: #888888; margin: 10px auto 20px; max-width: 632px !important; padding: 4px; width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/heart-kidneys.jpg" href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/heart-kidneys.jpg" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="We heart Kidneys!" class="size-medium wp-image-815" data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/heart-kidneys-300x200.jpg" height="200" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/heart-kidneys-300x200.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; color: #444444; cursor: default; height: auto; line-height: 1.5; margin: 5px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="color: #444444; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">We heart Kidneys!</dd></dl>
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I’m sure we all know that your kidneys produce urine, but what else do they do?</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Your Kidneys:</a></div>
<ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style: square; margin: 0px 0px 24px 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Make urine</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Remove wastes and extra fluid from your blood</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Control your body's chemical balance</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Help control your blood pressure</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Help keep your bones healthy</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/your-amazing-kidneys1/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Help you make red blood cells</a></li>
</ul>
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Those are all important things! Imagine if you had Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and had to have dialysis several times a week to filter your blood. That doesn’t sound like much fun.</div>
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If you detect it early, though, kidney disease is treatable. If you’re at risk, your doctor can order a simple test to determine if you need treatment.</div>
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How can you reduce your risk of developing kidney disease? Just live an active, healthy lifestyle, and get your kidney function checked if you're at risk.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Those who are at more of a risk for developing kidney disease include:</a></div>
<ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style: square; margin: 0px 0px 24px 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">you have diabetes</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">you have hypertension</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">you are obese</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">one of your parents or other family members suffers from kidney disease</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">you are of African, Asian, or Aboriginal origin</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/reducing-risks/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">The World Kidney Day site</a> is a great site to find out more about your amazing kidneys!</div>
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Resources:</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org" href="http://www.worldkidneyday.org/" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">World Kidney Day site</a></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oPdSAT7yjdc" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oPdSAT7yjdc" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">World Kidney Day 2013 video</a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/WorldKidneyDay" href="https://www.facebook.com/WorldKidneyDay" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">World Kidney Day on FB</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-74789740482392039442013-03-11T13:43:00.000-07:002013-03-11T13:43:26.008-07:00Brain Awareness Week (or how to avoid Zombification from a concussion)<br />
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">This week, be aware of your brain. Your delicious, delicious brain. Not only are they great for feeding your zombies, the gooey center in all of our skulls are extremely important! Here's our own Dr. Ratner weighing in on why concussion baseline screenings are so important:</em></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahFTLQWDzJE/UT5BgVv38WI/AAAAAAAAACw/wbPqKgCAz00/s1600/Delicious+gooey+brains!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahFTLQWDzJE/UT5BgVv38WI/AAAAAAAAACw/wbPqKgCAz00/s1600/Delicious+gooey+brains!.jpg" height="320" width="270" /></a></div>
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It is amazing that we are generally so unaware of the organ that does the most for us. Here at Impact we value your brain! Well, most of your brain, anyway. One of the best things you can do as a teenager who is involved with sports is to get a baseline concussion screening. We do not charge for this test. It involves playing a computer game for about 25 minutes. There are no needles, no radiation, or tubes to be stuffed into your nose. If you ever sustain a head injury or concussion, we repeat the test post-injury and the results help us to determine when it is safe to return to normal activity.</div>
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We know so much more about this subject than we did ten years ago. I compare it to seat belts. There was a time when seat belts were not used, but at some point we learned that without a doubt they save lives. It was not easy to convince some people, but now the majority of Americans believe it and wear seat belts. It won’t be long before the same type of paradigm shift occurs when it comes to concussion awareness and management.</div>
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">So come on by either location, any day between 8AM-8PM for your baseline concussion screening BEFORE you get hurt. That way if you should have a head injury, we can make sure you're back to normal before you run off into another potential head-bashing opportunity.</em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-71184518729004188002013-03-08T10:35:00.001-08:002013-03-08T10:35:12.458-08:00Is there really a medication that acts like a truth serum?<br />
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Action heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger often find themselves faced with an interrogator who uses a truth serum to get the hero to reveal his secrets. In the movies, our heroes are able to resist these potions and hid the truth. Hiding the truth seems to also prepare action heroes for a successful career in politics.</div>
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They seem pure fiction, but truth serums do exist. Barbiturates such as sodium amytal and sodium pentothal were first used as truth serums in the early twentieth century. These drugs inhibit control of the central nervous system and were used by physicians to help patient recover forgotten memories or repressed feelings. They are also used for patients with suspected conversion disorder, a condition in which psychological problems produce physical symptoms.</div>
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An “amytal interview” is performed by administering a small amount of this drug intravenously. The drug produces a state of drowsiness, slurred speech, and relaxation. This condition makes patients more susceptible to suggestion, allowing the potential to uncover repressed feelings or memories.</div>
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Today, these interviews are seldom performed. The “truth serum” will not necessarily make you tell the truth. Patients may lose inhibition but will not lose all self-control. Therefore, they are still able to control their behavior and lie. Studies have shown that during these “amytal interviews”, patients often demonstrate a distorted sense of time, who memory disturbances, and have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy, so the line between fact and fiction becomes even more blurred.</div>
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Excerpt from <em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Why Do Men Have Nipples?</em> by Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-39102111028688214142013-03-06T15:30:00.000-08:002013-03-06T15:30:00.569-08:00Breakfast: The Yummiest part of School!<br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nsbw2013/index.htm" href="http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nsbw2013/index.htm" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-785" data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/school-breakfast-300x244.png" height="244" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/school-breakfast-300x244.png" style="border: 0px none; color: #444444; height: auto; line-height: 1.5; margin: 5px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="school breakfast" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="color: #444444; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">The yummiest part of school!</dd></dl>
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">March 4-8 is National School Breakfast week. Here are a few words of wisdom from our own Dr. Gutierrez about the importance of breakfast for children:</em></div>
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We have all heard it said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”. With that in mind, the week of March 4 recognizes National School Breakfast Week.</div>
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National School Breakfast Week raises awareness about the availability of the School Breakfast Program (SBP), as well as highlights the benefits, especially academic, of eating a healthy breakfast.</div>
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My grandfather grew up very poor in South Texas, near Refugio. He tells stories of how he did not have food in the house for days. He and his brothers would survive on the oranges they picked off the trees in the neighborhood. He admits he was not a good student and recalls how he had lots of difficulty concentrating. He remembers feeling extremely fatigued as well as having terrible diarrhea due to eating nothing but fruit for days in a row. He could have really benefited from a nutritious, well balanced meal provided at school.</div>
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The School Breakfast Program started under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. This program offers breakfast to children free or at a reduced price. Currently, about 7 million children eat breakfast at school daily with approximately 85% of participants receiving their breakfast free or at a reduced cost.</div>
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According to “Ending Childhood Hunger: A Social Impact Analysis” children who ate breakfast scored 17.5% higher on standardized math tests and attended 1.5 more days of school. Now that’s powerful food for thought.</div>
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Visit the <a data-mce-href="http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nsbw2013/index.htm" href="http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nsbw2013/index.htm" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">National School Breakfast website</a> to learn more. There's all kinds of cool merchandise for sale to help support the program, and even a <a data-mce-href="http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nsbw2013/contest.html" href="http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nsbw2013/contest.html" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">writing contest</a> for kids!</em></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nsbw2013/index.htm" href="http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nsbw2013/index.htm" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-786" data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/webbanner1.gif" height="298" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/webbanner1.gif" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 100%;" title="webbanner1" width="250" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-57348210917669705662013-03-04T14:50:00.003-08:002013-03-04T15:34:04.900-08:00Zzzzz…It’s National Sleep Awareness Week<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">Did you know that sleep (which is so luxurious and wonderful anyway) greatly impacts your health? Not getting enough sleep can cause or contribute to obesity, diabetes and depression, all of which are widespread throughout the</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span class="caps" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">US</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">. And being sleep-deprived can also cause traffic accidents and even impaired performance at school and work. There’s even a</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2000-09-20/health/sleep.deprivation_1_sleep-deprivation-impairment-researchers?_s=PM:HEALTH" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Maggie’s Law”</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">(named after a young woman killed by someone driving while sleep-deprived) in New Jersey making driving while drowsy illegal. In fact, once you’ve been awake for 17+ hours, you’re considered just about</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><a href="http://drowsydriving.org/about/facts-and-stats/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">as impaired as someone driving while intoxicated. </a></div>
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Try this quick list of tips to help you sleep well:</div>
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<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Establish a regular bed and wake time</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Avoid nicotine altogether and avoid caffeine close to bedtime</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Avoid alcohol</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Exercise regularly (but complete the workout at least 3 hours before bedtime)</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Establish a consistent relaxing “wind-down” bedtime routine</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet and comfortable</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Discuss the appropriate way to take any sleep aid with a healthcare professional</li>
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Check out the <a href="http://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-facts-information/sleeping-smart" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">National Sleep Foundation’s site</a> for more info (like the above list) and to find out if you’re “Sleeping Smart”</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-55548456132518929842013-01-15T08:20:00.000-08:002013-03-06T08:21:37.378-08:00Why do we sneeze?<br />
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Sneezing helps our body to get rid of potential irritants such as dust and pollen, and it<br style="line-height: 1.5;" />also helps to clear our breathing passages.</div>
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A sneeze happens when we feel a tickle behind the nostrils: then a nerve in the nose sends a message to the brain. The brain informs the muscles of the abdomen, chest, diaphragm, vocal cords, throat, and even eyelids to work together in just the right order to get rid of the irritants, through the amazing mechanism of the sneeze. Our chest muscles squeeze the chest with enough force to shoot air up from the lungs and out through the nose at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.</div>
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Sometimes bright light can make us sneeze-about one out of every three people sneezes when exposed to bright light. These people are called “photic” sneezers (photic means light), and this trait is hereditary.</div>
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">An excerpt from the book “Why you shouldnʼt eat your boogers” by Francesca Gould</em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-63523525260664411192013-01-10T08:19:00.000-08:002013-03-06T08:19:57.016-08:00Concussions<br />
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">by Dr. Evan Ratner M.D.</em></div>
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The topic of concussions in athletes has really been in the spotlight recently. There have been multiple stories on the local and national news, newspapers, and the most recent cover of Sports Illustrated.</div>
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From the NFL to the NCAA to the UIL recognition of this all to common injury has come to the forefront of our awareness. We have successfully managed athletes who have sustained concussions over the past several months.</div>
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Some athletes have been cleared to return to play earlier than expected, and some have required a longer recuperation period. By recognizing and properly managing concussion syndromes we hope to prevent the long term effects of repetitive, cumulative head injuries.</div>
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Impact Urgent Care has become a leader in neurocognitive testing for concussion management in San Antonio.</div>
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Although football may be the most widely recognized high risk sport, there are other high risk sports including soccer, cheerleading, lacrosse, basketball, baseball and bicycling. The optimal management includes obtaining a baseline study on any athlete at risk for head injury. If an injury occurs than those baseline results can be compared to a post - injury test to optimize the management of that injury. </div>
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The baseline study takes about 30 minutes and costs no more than 10 dollars. A small investment of time and money can really make a difference when it comes to caring for concussions.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02869607790965524461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042171012369459100.post-90601730468754938752013-01-10T08:16:00.000-08:002013-03-06T08:17:24.456-08:00Isn't it normal to be tired?<br />
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I didn’t know it, but for many years I was literally gasping for air while I was asleep. It took me ten years and twelve doctors to find one who could and would help me. The persistence paid off and now I feel SO MUCH better!</div>
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What was going on? I had been having health problems for years. Though never skinny, it wasn’t until I was 18 and suddenly gained 65 pounds in three months that I was truly obese. And no matter, which diet I tried or which doctor I saw, I couldn’t seem to get rid of it. Even though I tried the best diet of all: being a poor student who couldn’t afford to eat. But it still stuck around.</div>
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All through my 20s, I went to see more than a dozen doctors to see what caused this and if they could help me. Their response was almost invariably that I was just fat and should lose weight...and that was it. But how could I do it? And what caused it? Nobody seemed interested in that part, which to me was the most important factor.</div>
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I always thought, “Oh, I’m just an insomniac. So’s my dad. It must run in the family.” I'd lie down for hours, doze off, get up and go pee five times (a symptom of the apnea I didn’t know I had), read my book for a while, get a little more sleep and finally pull myself out of bed feeling bleh when it was time to get up for the day. What I didn't know is that I was dragging around with severe undiagnosed sleep apnea for who knows how long. I'm sure I had it when I was a teenager and through my 20s; I always looked at the bright energetic faces of my peers and wondered what it was like to have so much energy!</div>
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So imagine what a surprise it was when I went to see a new doctor recommended by a family friend. Rather than dismissing me outright as another fatty, she actualy listened to me, felt my neck and lower jaw and within five minutes of meeting me had diagnosed me with sleep apnea. She sent me for a sleep study that week.</div>
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I didn’t really know what to expect, but the sleep study was not bad. The rooms were like a small, nice hotel and the tech was very nice. She literally pasted wires to my scalp, but the worst part was the pulse oximeter on one finger--imagine just one finger stuck in an old-fashioned finger trap all night! The tech assured me that they would only put a breathing machine, or CPAP, on me that night if they thought it was an emergency; this was just meant to be a baseline test to see how well I slept.</div>
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I was actually able to sleep fairly quickly that night. The bed was comfortable, the tech was very nice and I was very, very tired. Only an hour later the technician woke me up with a worried expression on her face, and proceeded to fit the CPAP mask over my face! I had suffered 121 hypopneas in that first hour...essentially, I was breathing so shallowly that my blood oxygen level was in the mid-70s (i.e., not good). I didn't learn that part until later, though.</div>
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At the point when she placed the mask on my face, my main feeling was relief. They had finally found what was wrong with me. When the tech work me up four hours later, apart from a couple sleepy adjustments to the mask, I hadn't moved! They wake you up at five AM to leave the clinic, so I'd only had about five hours of sleep, four of which were on the CPAP machine. Despite that, I had SO MUCH ENERGY that day! It was incredible!</div>
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Two years later, I use my CPAP every night. I’ve fallen asleep three times without it for a nap, and boy can I tell the difference! It’s like having horrible nightmares all night and not remembering a thing except that SOMETHING happened. And my husband is still happily sleeping away next to me, the roaring of my snoring just a vague memory.</div>
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In my case, persistence paid off. But it took more than ten years. Here at Impact Urgent Care, our goal is to give you the best possible medical care, and our staff are strong patient advocates. But even the best patient advocate can’t feel the pain you’re feeling. Our clinical staff is here because they love helping and being your partners in healing, and want you to be actively involved in your own care. Don’t be afraid to ask your medical provider questions. If you’re in a clinic setting and meeting a doctor for the first time, ask them about themselves. What’s their specialty? Why did they choose to work in urgent care? What does the diagnosis they’re giving you mean? Ask until you understand and are comfortable with your treatment. After all, it’s your body.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/draft_lens19711388module161149425photo_1345415717-copy1.jpg" href="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/draft_lens19711388module161149425photo_1345415717-copy1.jpg" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Taking a nap for the camera" class="size-medium wp-image-716" data-mce-src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/draft_lens19711388module161149425photo_1345415717-copy1-225x300.jpg" height="300" src="http://sanantoniourgentcareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/draft_lens19711388module161149425photo_1345415717-copy1-225x300.jpg" style="border: 0px none; color: #444444; height: auto; line-height: 1.5; margin: 5px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="Taking a nap for the camera" width="225" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="color: #444444; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Taking a nap for the camera</dd></dl>
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Want to know more about sleep apnea? Ask your doctor.</div>
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<strong style="color: black; line-height: 1.5;">Tips and tricks for getting along with your CPAP.</strong></div>
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<strong style="color: black; line-height: 1.5;">Sleep is precious. Try it.</strong></div>
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I love the way I feel after a night's sleep now rather than how I remember feeling before I started using my CPAP, and have a few little tips and tricks I've developed over time to help keep me motivated to use it.</div>
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<li style="line-height: 1.5;">-Support helps a lot. My favorite forum for sleep apnea is <a data-mce-href="http://www.cpaptalk.com/CPAP-Sleep-Apnea-Forum.html?sid=c275666ea4c5a447b1cdbde2df85f2bb" href="http://www.cpaptalk.com/CPAP-Sleep-Apnea-Forum.html?sid=c275666ea4c5a447b1cdbde2df85f2bb" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">CPAP Talk</a>. There are a lot of newbies here asking many questions you may be wondering, and a lot of experienced CPAP users who can help. I highly recommend it if you're struggling.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">-If you have an animal or a small child, you may want to introduce them to your mask and machine so you don't scare them.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">-If you have a pet prone to shedding, like my cat, keeping fur out of your mask, hose and machine is very important. I keep my mask covered with a washcloth when I'm not using it to help keep it clean. Remember, anything that gets into that hose or machine may potentially end up in your mouth or lungs, yuck!</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">-Some kitties love to chew on plastic. Mine sure does. I caught him making tons of little teeth marks on my hose one day while I was taking a nap. I didn't have a backup hose, and had to end up covering the holes in duct tape while I waited for my new hose. Once I covered the plastic, Franklin Cat wasn't interested any more. I also keep the hose looped over our headboard so he doesn't sit or lie on it while I'm sleeping.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">-If you have a humidifier, try it out with different settings. I'm a mouth breather and found that I had to set the humidity pretty high to avoid getting a mouth so dry it was painful and would wake me up! Some people prefer their humidifier to be set very low or even off.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">-Use distilled water in your humidifier. You can usually get this easily at the grocery store in one or five gallon jugs. The distilled water doesn't have any minerals in it, so as it evaporates in your humidifier it won't leave a mineral deposit behind.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">-Clean your mask, hose, humidifier, headgear, etc. regularly. I wash the snap-off silicone mask cushion at least every other night and usually every night. Keeping everything clean helps cut down on any kind of weird smell, and a clean mask always feels better on my face.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">-Wash any makeup, lotion or moisturizer off your face before going to bed.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">Having anything on your face can interfere with your mask making the proper seal and can cause leaks.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5;">-When you're getting fitted for your mask, don't be afraid to lie down and ask for a machine to test with it. Remember, your face and the mask will shift when you go from upright to lying down, and the mask that fit perfectly in the supplier's office won't necessarily be the one you ultimately end up with.</li>
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