Fever and Malaise: Flu or New Disease

Fever. Chills.  Malaise. Myalgia. Loss of appetite.  Cough.  These symptoms are consistent with the flu syndromes such as influenza.  They may also be signs of new inflammatory disease like infection in the body. Cancer and rheumatological disorders that include connective tissue diseases and arthritis may also present in similar fashion. Flu symptoms usually resovle in about ten days to two weeks.  Complications from the flu like pneumonia are likely to cause worsening of symptoms accompanied by new symptoms.

Flu precautions include:

• frequent hand washing especially after contact with others
• avoid those who have flu-like symptoms
• cover your mouth when you cough
• eat nutritious foods especially those that are specific for immunity and healing
• stay well hydrated
• get flu shot before flu season starts
  

These preventive measures are important for staying well and healing.  If your symptoms persist or worsen in any way follow-up with your healthcare provider that initially diagnosed you. Telemedicine health visits help contact avoidance while getting appropriate medical care for you.  Healthy self care, prevention, and avoidance are primary. Best health!

Healthy Life Lines

Live healthy.  Live simply.  "Healthy Life Lines: Simple Tips to Improve Your Health" http://amzn.to/2nLf1u0 consists of one line health tips for better health and wellness. These tips will encourage you to live a lifestyle of good health.  "Healthy Life Lines: Simple Tips to Improve Your Health" is available FREE on Kindle Unlimited.  "Healthy Life Lines 2" coming soon!

Healthy life lines include:

• Be literate in health.
• Focus on prevention to avoid intervention.
• Constantly do things to improve your health.
• Embrace healthy routines.
• Limit and avoid multitasking.
• Find funny and laugh daily.
• Keep a health diary.

Best health!

Health Budget & Savings Habit Healthy

As a new year and decade approach, take the time to review again your health bank account.  This starts with your medical condition and diagnoses.  Is everything stable?  Are you in good health?  When you look at your personal health, you can assess present condition and what the cost of your health care has been this year.  it is important to do this to see how much you spent on prevention (routine tests and doctor visit checkups, insurance, etc.) and actual treatment (home health, medication, hospitalization, holistic treatments, glasses, dental, etc,).  

Healthcare costs and coverage change as healthcare itself changes.  The biggest change for the next decade could be healthier people spending less for costly medical treatments; however, it will be patients paying more for medical services, while insurance companies pay less.  This can be quite a challenge especially for those on a limited income.  

It is as important to do a health expense checkup as it is to get a physical checkup every year.  Gather together all information for healthcare expenses in 2019.  Itemize and add up the total.  You may need at least this amount probably for 2020.  Set up a savings account at your bank,  Deposit regular to this account monthly.  Use it only for health costs.  If you have enough cash on hand equal to or more than previous year, start with that amount and try to double it by year's end.  Money you save on health can also be included. 

There is a cost for good health, but you can make it less of your cost by adhering to healthy living. Recent research has shown that non genetic factors may contribute more to disease than genes.  This means maintaining healthy habits while keeping unhealthy habits away.  Over time this in itself will help keep you healthy without overspending.  Prevention costs less than treatment, keeps you healthier and happier.  Best health!

Doctor Availability Less Available?

As a potential primary care physician shortage may be approaching, it has become more difficult to get timely appointments.  If you have insurance, they must be in network to avoid extra cost beyond your insurance coverage.  Many physicians also have limited visiting hours unlike days of old when they made themselves more available to patients.  

Be aware of reasons doctors may be selective about their patient choices.  This may include:

• too many patients per doctor
• cash only
• limited to certain insurance or Medicare, Medicaid only
• gender preference
• age limits like over fifty
• too many chronic conditions

You must seek out doctors you feel are best for you.  Even if it means seeing several in the same specialty before you get the right one.  Doctor shopping is becoming more popular as the healthcare landscape keeps changing.  The Internet makes it easier to do, but the telephone can make it more personable.  Talking to someone can give you more information to add to your research.  Word of mouth is still a good way to find doctors.  Seek out the best doctors and you will find great available healthcare personalized for you. Best health!

Patient Doctor Commuincation: Listening Is Primary

In this ever changing world of new technology conversations with your doctor face to face are becoming less frequent.  Prior to modern technological advances, most talking to your doctor was done in person during the office or home visit.  Any talk after the visit was by phone, fax, and/or postal mail.  Today this has expanded to e-mail, electronic health records (EHRs), and telemedicine.  Many patients feel that face doctor time is too short and often overshadowed by intense study of the chart and other distractions.  Many doctors overlook the fact that what you have to say will help them diagnose you. 

Studies have shown that missed diagnoses are more likely if the doctor has failed to listen to the patient.  Distractions like patient chart review, interruptions during the office visit, leaving the room to take care of something else, and more decreases the patient’s time.  This unprofessional, unmannerable behavior leaves the patient at a disadvantage.  After getting ready for the appointment and being transported and possibly waiting over one hour to see the doctor, the patient gets an average of less than five minutes of fifteen minute visit to talk.  This is a major faux pas. Patients are able to help lead the doctor to correct diagnoses and treatment over 90% of the time if they listen to the patient.  Less listening invites more unnecessary tests, procedures, and incorrect diagnoses than one can imagine as the doctor tries to rule out what is wrong.

Listening to patients’ history and doing a comprehensive physical exam contributes more to getting the correct diagnosis.  Blood and diagnostic tests add to this; however, if the patient doctor communication is unclear, these could be the wrong tests.  For the patients’ best interest (and less misdiagnosis for patients, malpractice for doctors) communication must be a priority.  The following suggestions for doctors will help:

• Avoid distractions when you are with a patient.
• Give more time for those that need it like hearing impaired, elderly, illiterate.  If hearing impaired, write down conversation to each other.
• Listen intently to patients without interruption when they are talking.  More important information and more information will be obtained that way.
• Take more time to answer questions.  Use patient information handouts as applicable (include books, CDs, websites, etc.on pages)) for more reliable factual information
• Review patients’ medical record before you see them.  The more you see them the better you will get to know them requiring less chart review before each visit.

Doctor and patient communication is important in every patient’s health care.  Miscommunication can lead to adverse outcomes, inaccurate diagnosis, improper treatment, and poor overall health care.  Listening is a primary diagnostic tool that should be used all the times.  Best health!

How To Connect With Your Inner Doctor - You

Studies and common sense have shown that doctors who listen to their patients receive the proper care and diagnosis over 90% of the time.  Self care is very important as are routine check ups on yourself. It is time for you to take responsibility for your health. It is time for you to know what your health numbers are. It is time for you to know your medical conditions, risk factors, and family medical history.

Give yourself a medical checkup. Start by writing or typing or recording your medical history - medical conditions, surgery, treatments, family history. Add your medication. Save it. Update it. Add to it. Correct it. Keep it current. Keep a copy in a secure place.

Examine as much of yourself as you can. Look at your skin, hair, nails, eyes, teeth, and every part of your body that is visible to you. Make note of any abnormalities. Make note of any symptoms you have - new, old and ongoing. Go through each body system. Add this information to your medical history.

Add to this your doctors' and health care providers' names, phone number, land address, and email address.

Call your doctor for an appointment for a comprehensive CPE (complete physical exam).  Get it done routinely (yearly, every other year, etc. ). Take your information and notes with you on your appointment. Review everything with your doctor. Take notes.

Sign a medical record release to obtain a copy of your medical record from each doctor you see at the time of the visit.

Be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment within a month or less to go over everything with your doctor. Get copies of your information including blood tests, and any other tests as well as medical notes.

Take charge. Care for your health is good health care. Be the healthiest you can be. Best health!

Details on all of the above are explained simply in Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide http://amzn.to/13m51UU 
 

Sun Safety Saves Your Skin

The incidence of melanoma is rising.  Cancer statistics estimate that the incidence doubles every 10 to 20 years.  It is one of several skin cancers that may result from repeated exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR), natural (sun) or artificial (tanning bed, phototherapy lamp). UVA, UVB, and UVC rays cause irreparable skin damage which leads to wrinkles, premature aging, and pre-cancerous lesions. Sunburn during childhood as well as frequent bouts of sunburn increase the risk, too.

Of course total avoidance of the sun would be ideal; however, it is a good source of natural Vitamin D, and should be taken in moderation. Avoiding the painful peril of sunburn is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer.  Simple, easy ways to do this are:

• Limit sun exposure – avoid 10AM to 4PM, spend less than one hour in direct sun - less if burn easily, prone to skin cancer.
• Wear protective clothing – wide brim hats, long sleeves, long pants, skirts and/ or clothes made with sun protection fabric.
• Umbrella and shade.
• Use sunscreen SPF 15 or greater. Put on every hour if sweating or swimming. Put on every area exposed to sun, and be sure to remember behind the ears and on the neck. Stay well hydrated by drinking lots of water.
• Be aware of medication that you take that causes photosensitivity (medication interacts with the light to induce sunburn).

Symptoms of sunburn include redness and pain over the skin (even through clothes especially if wet).  This may be accompanied by fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and blistering. Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Use of cool compresses/bath/shower, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), hydration, and rest should help ease symptoms of mild sunburn.  Oatmeal baths, milk baths, aloe vera plant/products and honey are also useful.

Best health!

by J. L. Richardson, MD, family practice physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.

Family Doctors: Your Primary Health Care Source

The family physician cares for the whole person and the whole family. Training in this specialty teaches one to care for all aspects of the patient no matter what age, sex, or illness. The Family Physician’s Creed is:

I am a Family Physician, one of many across this country. This is what I believe: You, the patient, are my first professional responsibility, whether man, woman or child, ill or well, seeking care, healing or knowledge. You and your family deserve high quality, affordable health care including treatment, prevention and health promotion. I support access to health care for all. The specialty of family practice trains me to care for the whole person, physically and emotionally, throughout life, working with your medical history and family dynamics, coordinating your care with other physicians when necessary. This is my promise to you.

Because of their versatility, family doctors are excellent primary care physicians. They are able to diagnose and treat many different problems and refer to specialists when needed. They provide continuous routine medical and preventive healthcare. Family doctors may also perform minor surgical procedures in the office. These may include excision of small skin lesions such as warts, opening drainage of a small abscess, and even suturing (sewing up) minor lacerations like cuts. In addition, some also take additional training to perform procedures such as a colonoscopy.

Everyone should have a family doctor as their primary health care source and resource.  You will be guaranteed the most comprehensive care and compassion you deserve. Join the Family Medicine revolution!

Best health!