Helpful Health Tips and Wellness Advice

December 14 2017

How to Consume Alcohol Conscientiously this Alcohol Awareness Month

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Over the past decade, alcohol-related emergency room visits have increased by 38% for both men and women.

This means despite the increased education surrounding safe alcohol consumption, many people aren’t drinking conscientiously. During this National Alcohol Awareness Month, we’re going to discuss how to drink safely and in moderation. Check out our tips below.

Know the legal limit and your personal limit. All 50 states, excluding Utah, now enforce the same legal drinking limit of 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while driving, but do you know how much alcohol will bring you to that threshold? This can vary largely between individuals and depends entirely on your gender, weight and how quickly you metabolize alcohol. Refer to the chart below to determine if you’re legally impaired.

Drunk driving and accidents are completely preventable. It’s important to remember that just because you don’t “feel drunk” doesn’t mean you aren’t legally impaired. If you’re unsure, it’s always better to wait some time, and either drink coffee or water. The safest option is to simply request someone else drive.

Know the long-term health repercussions. Drinking unsafely doesn’t just affect people in the short term – those who drink heavily are much more likely to develop certain diseases. We’ve listed some of the most common diseases associated with and caused by excessive drinking.

- Cirrhosis
- Liver Disease
- Mouth, throat, stomach, liver and pancreas cancer
- Pancreatitis

When health has declined to this point, most individuals need organ transplants and other major surgeries and treatments to save their lives.

Unsure about what excessive drinking means exactly? Check out this link.

Replace unhealthy habits. For many of us, drinking is a social activity. For others, it’s something enjoyed alone or with family at dinner. Drinking moderately and conscientiously is unlikely to adversely affect your health, but binge and heavy drinking will. Evaluate your drinking habits to determine if you should be scaling back. If so, we recommend replacing your current habits with healthier, and sustainable, ones.

Making significant life changes is never easy. Click here if you want to learn more about breaking free from unhealthy alcohol cycles.

Did you learn something new about safe alcohol consumption? Let us know!

Nutex Health, Inc. supports you and your family’s health. Come visit Victoria Emergency Center or any one of our concierge-level freestanding facilities for the emergency care you deserve, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

December 14 2017

7 Risks of Colorectal Cancer

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Every year, 140,000 men and women are told they have colorectal cancer and a further 40,000 of those people die from it.

These numbers make colorectal cancer one of the deadliest cancers. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month so we want the members of our community to not only be aware of their personal risk, but to make changes to decrease their chances of developing this disease. Keep reading to learn more about colorectal cancer risk factors.

1. Smoking. It’s no surprise that colorectal cancer can be caused by smoking, especially considering how smoking can leave carcinogenic tobacco byproducts in your body’s tissues. It also increases your risk for a whole other host of cancers including lung, throat, breast and others. Stay away from e-cigarettes, or “vaping,” and smoking hookah as well. They’re also incredibly harmful. Visit this page to find resources on how you can quit smoking.

1. Red & Processed Meats. Having a diet with lots of red meats, like pork, beef and lamb, can significantly increase your risk of colorectal cancer. Eating meats that are overly processed, like hot dogs and chorizo, has also been shown to have adverse effects. Try to stick with lean, white meats, like chicken and fish, and save the hotdogs for a ballpark game.

1. Physical Inactivity and Obesity. Those who are significantly overweight or obese for most of their lives have an increased risk, especially if you have a large waistline. Being obese and having minimum physical activity seems to affect men more than women in terms of risk, but it can raise your chances no matter your gender.

1. Frying Your Foods. Just as eating too many red meats can increase your risk, so can frying, grilling and broiling your foods, especially meats. When you cook your foods at very high temperatures, certain chemicals are produced and seep into your food. It’s not entirely clear how much this increases your chances of developing colorectal cancer, but there is a correlation.

1. Family History & Inherited Mutations. Most people diagnosed with colorectal cancer won’t have any family history, but as many as 1 in 5 individuals diagnosed with this disease will. It’s important to learn more about your familial risk – any direct relation, like a mother, father, sister or brother, should be a reason for concern, especially if they’re diagnosed before they’re 45 years old. In some cases, around 5 – 10% of all colorectal cancers, the individual has an inherited gene mutation that causes the cancer. The most common of these mutations are Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Lynch Syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, or HNPCC). These mutations tend to cause cancers early in life so it’s important to discuss any concerns you have with your physician, no matter your age.

Racial & Ethnic Background. Blacks have the highest incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer than any other race. It isn’t completely understood why yet, but experts believe there may be a connection with education and early testing and prevention accessibility. Ashkenazi Jews, specifically those of Eastern-European Jewish descent, also have a high incidence rate of colorectal cancer.

It’s important to remember that these are only risk factors and many individuals have one or more of these and never develop colorectal cancer. Reducing your risk of this disease is beneficial to your total health and well-being, not just in preventing colorectal cancer. Want to learn more about personal risk and prevention? Visit this link. Nutex Health, Inc. supports you and your family’s health. Come visit Victoria Emergency Center or any one of our concierge-level freestanding facilities for the emergency care you deserve, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

December 14 2017

What You Should Know About Heart Attack & Heart Disease

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., causing a quarter of all deaths each year.

Contrary to what you might think, you aren’t predetermined to develop heart disease, even if there’s family history. While certain factors, like a family history, may increase your risk, heart disease is preventable. Learn more from one of our own doctors, Dr. Joseph Hathorn, about recognizing signs of heart attack and heart disease prevention during this National Heart Health Month.

How do I know if someone is having a heart attack?

The text book presentation for heart attack is pressure-like pain in the center of the chest that may radiate to the left. The person may also experience shortness of breath and sweating. Still though, many patients do not have symptoms such as these, particularly diabetics, older patients and women, says Dr. Hathorn.

Often, these patients experience more vague symptoms such as weakness, dizziness or extreme fatigue. They may have associated symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, jaw pain or back pain as well. The key to determining whether or not someone is having a heart attack is to look at their risk factors for the disease. What are some of the most common risk factors?

- Diabetes
- High Cholesterol
- Smoking
- Family History
- High Blood Pressure

Are there any signs I can look for before the heart attack that may indicate an episode later?

Any chest discomfort that is associated with exertion, shortness of breath and a decrease in exercise tolerance (becoming harder to tolerate low levels of exercise intensity) should be a cause for concern. You should seek medical attention if you notice these symptoms, and at a minimum have a stress test performed, says Dr. Hathorn.

What should I do if someone is having a heart attack?

If someone is having symptoms related to a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Do not try to transport these patients to receive emergency attention yourself. Paramedics have the necessary equipment and expertise that will minimize potential complications related to a heart attack.

You may also give them an aspirin while waiting for emergency responders as it’s been shown to decrease the mortality rate in heart attack patients, says Dr. Hathorn.

What are some preventative measures I can take against heart attack?

The best way to prevent heart attack is to address the risk factors associated with the disease. The main risk factors are diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, family history and high blood pressure. While you cannot change your family history, you can watch your diet and consume less processed foods and sugar.

You can also exercise on a regular basis, and get regular doctor visits. Avoid smoking tobacco. This one risk factor alone has been associated with a much higher predisposition for heart disease, says Dr. Hathorn.

We encourage our patients to see your regular physician about a long term heart health plan. Visit this page to learn more about heart disease and preventative measures you can take.

How do you take care of your heart health?

December 14 2017

Get Ready for Cold & Flu Season with Our Doctors

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The holidays are a time for family, friends and food.

But with all the twinkling lights and gingerbread houses, there are also some pretty serious viruses, like the flu, making their way through our homes.

Hear from Dr. Joseph Hathorn, one of our board certified emergency physicians, about common flu myths, home remedies and how to tell if your cough might be something more serious.

Q: What’s a common misconception about the flu?

A: One common misconception is that you can get the flu from the flu vaccine itself. This is simply not the case. The vaccine is made of the inactivated flu virus and because of this you cannot get an infection from it. If you get sick after getting the shot, it is most likely because the vaccine did not have time to provide full immunity and you may have caught the common cold.

Influenza is a dangerous infection, which can lead to hospitalization, and even death. The CDC estimates that there’s been as many as 700,000 flu-related hospitalizations since 2010. Don’t risk catching the flu when you could be sitting around a crackling fire with loved ones. Get vaccinated and protect your health and the health of those around you.

Wondering where to get your vaccine? Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens and even some grocery stores give immunizations. View this link to find where you can get vaccinated.

Q: How do I know if I have the flu or if it’s just a cold?

A: The flu generally comes with more serious and debilitating symptoms. Patients who have the flu tend to run a high fever whereas patients who have the common cold may have a low-grade fever or no fever at all. Patients with the flu also tend to experience body aches to the point where they are unable or unwilling to move.

You may also experience these symptoms:

- Chills and headaches
- Dehydration
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea

Q: What’s the best preventative measure against flu?

A: The best way to protect yourself during flu season is to receive the flu vaccine and to practice regular, vigorous handwashing.

Check out our guide on handwashing.

Q: What’s an at home remedy I can try during the flu season?

A: While there is no “proven” home remedy for the flu, some believe in the power of chicken soup and hot lemon tea. These “remedies” are soothing and comforting but will not directly affect the flu virus. The best thing to do at home is to take Ibuprofen and Tylenol for fever and body aches. You also want to make sure to drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.

Now that you’ve heard from our physician, let us know how you fortify your body during flu season!

December 14 2017

How to Wash Your Hands & Keep Germs Away

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A cough. A sniffle. A sneeze.

Don’t fall prey to any germs this holiday season. Spend your holidays with friends and loved ones, not sick and stuck in your bed. Keep reading for our tips on washing hands and keeping any viruses or infections away!

- If you’re washing your hands in a public place, grab a tissue and use it to open the door afterwards. There could be thousands of germs from people who may have not washed their hands on the handle.
- Bring sanitizing wipes to disinfect any dirty surfaces or your hands. This is especially helpful if you have a small child that uses highchairs in restaurants.
- Hand sanitizer may be convenient, but if your hands are visibly dirty, it won’t be effective. Use soap and a sink, instead.

Not sure where to wash? Check out our guide so you can reach all the nooks and crannies.

Want to learn more? Check out the CDC’s tips.

December 14 2017

3 Tips you’ve Never Tried to Prevent Cold & The Flu

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For most of us, hygiene is a natural part of everyday life – we wash our hands, we cover our coughs, and we wipe down surfaces – but that doesn’t mean we don’t come into contact with nasty, even dangerous, wintertime germs. While we try our hardest to stay healthy, even the best of us can get run down during wintertime by a cold or even the flu. Keep reading to learn how you can start feeling better in no time during the colder months.

Don’t go crazy with nasal rinses or salt gargles.

While it might seem like you’re ridding your body of germs, overdoing it with nasal rinses and salt gargles may end up doing more harm than good. For example, tap water, which may be completely acceptable to drink, can be dangerous to use for a nasal rinse. Tiny, microscopic germs that live in tap water are essentially given a one-way ticket into the most vulnerable parts of your body. Don’t throw out your Neti Pots just yet, though. Physicians recommend you simply boil tap water and allow it to cool to room temperature before using it, or use bottled/filtered water for your nasal rinse. And before you use a salt gargle, check with your physician to ensure this is a safe treatment for your illness. A salt gargle could alleviate symptoms in one case and exasperate them in another.

Try a couple herbal remedies

While herbal remedies can’t replace prescription drugs when it comes to treating viruses and infections, they certainly can support our immune systems and encourage our bodies to fight illness. If you’re under the weather, try cooking with certain spices and herbs, like turmeric, garlic and ginger. Turmeric is one the most powerful anti-inflammatory herbs and is found commonly in Asian dishes, like a warming soup to beat the flu. Garlic has antibacterial properties and ginger supercharges your immune system. Just stay away from any extremely spicy foods – you don’t want to irritate your stomach when you’re already under the weather.

Go old-school

Try boiling water and adding in a couple drops of essentials oils like peppermint or eucalyptus. Remove the pot from the stove and cover your head with a dishtowel while you inhale deeply, positioned over the pot. Make sure the steam isn’t too hot by hovering your hand over the pot for a moment – it can burn you just as badly as the boiling water. It’s an easy and quick method of alleviating some uncomfortable symptoms, like clogged sinuses that accompany the flu. If you’re stressed, add a drop of lavender for a nerve-soothing affect. Don’t want to risk burning yourself? Take a warm bath and add a couple of drops to the water. Just don’t overdo it – you might end up giving yourself a headache in addition to your cold.

We want our entire community to have a fun, safe and healthy holiday season, and that means taking care of yourself. Let us know how you decompress and rest during this hectic time of year and give your body a break! Have a cough? Fever? Sweats? You might have the flu, but check out this link to see if it’s a run-of-the-mill cold or something more serious. Nutex Health, Inc. supports you and your family’s health. Come visit Victoria Emergency Center or any one of our concierge-level freestanding facilities for the emergency care you deserve, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

December 14 2017

How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes & Protect Your Health

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There are nearly 30 million people in the U.S. suffering with diabetes, and in adults, 90% of these diagnoses are type 2 diabetes. While your family history does play a part in your chances of getting a certain disease, type 2 diabetes is completely preventable. During this National Diabetes Awareness Month, we’re encouraging our community to make changes to their everyday lifestyle to decrease the likelihood of type 2 diabetes. Keep reading for our tips.

Bulk up on fiber and whole grains Consuming fiber is a great way to naturally regulate your blood sugar levels and lower your risk of heart disease. If you’re having trouble fitting in enough fiber in your diet, try a supplement. There’s plenty on the market and you can easily grab a protein bar, with added fiber, after a workout or take a few gummies in the morning. There’s no excuses to not get enough fiber in your diet. Whole grains can significantly reduce your chances of getting type 2 diabetes later in life. Start trading in the more processed, white grains and pastas for whole breads and other whole ready-to-eat grains. Go see your doctor Prevention of any disease, including diabetes, starts with awareness. Speak with your physician about your risk factors and consider getting tested to determine if you have any pre-diabetic conditions. Being able to identify these risk factors early on will help you to develop a long term health plan and combat type 2 diabetes. Consider some of the following questions while speaking with your physician.

What sort of exercise can I safely do right now?
Should I have my heart checked?
What foods should I avoid altogether and what foods can I enjoy in moderation?
If I have a pre-diabetic condition, what are some changes I can make to my lifestyle to prevent type 2 diabetes?

It’s best to write down questions for your physician beforehand so you don’t forget anything. Ask family members about any diseases that may increase your likelihood of type 2 diabetes, like heart disease or high cholesterol. Skip out on fad diets Fad diets that promote fast, but questionable methods of weight loss should be avoided. While weight is a contributing factor to type 2 diabetes, going on “crash” or fad diets will ultimately wreck your metabolism and may make it more difficult to achieve a healthy weight. The goal is to maintain a healthy weight and being thin doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t at risk for diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions.

Want to know more about diabetes and if you may be at risk? Visit this page for more information. Made any changes to your diet or fitness routine? Let us know about your fitness journey! Nutex Health, Inc. supports you and your family’s health. Come visit Victoria Emergency Room or any one of our concierge-level freestanding facilities for the emergency care you deserve, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

December 14 2017

How to Decrease Your Chances of Breast Cancer

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Every year that passes, more and more research indicates that you may be able to prevent certain cancers later in life by making conscientious changes today. While some diseases are determined largely by our genetics, there are other ways to fortify your body against cancers, like breast cancer. In fact, only 5-10% of all cancers are determined by a genetic defect while the rest depend largely on environmental and lifestyle factors. During this National Breast Cancer Awareness month, we want to remind our community that while there are no guaranteed ways to prevent breast cancer, you can make gradual, but effective changes that significantly decrease your chances of breast cancer later in life. Keep reading to learn how you can fortify your body against breast cancer and work towards a healthier you. Decrease stress and anxiety We know, we know – this is often said easier than done, but trust us, it’s for the best. Decreasing stress and anxiety in your life isn’t just about improving your mental health, it also protects your physical, long term health. Chronic stress reaps complete havoc on the human body, often leading to hormonal imbalances, weight issues, depression and other diseases. Research also shows that anxiety can increase your chances of developing certain cancers because it leads to elevated levels of stress response hormones. Our body is a fine-tuned machine. If one cog or screw falls out of place, it can mean serious, and lasting effects on our health. Chronic stress has been shown in recent studies to not only increase your chances of developing some cancers, like breast cancer, but also to help the cancer spread more effectively throughout your body. But it’s not always easy to eliminate all sources of stress from our lives. Tests, coordinating birthday parties and soccer games, or finishing a huge work project will never stop being stressful. The key is to develop better methods at dealing with stress and anxiety in our lives. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America recommends the following changes to decrease chronic stress and help you deal with everyday anxieties more effectively.

Lay off the caffeine, which is proven to increase anxiety and the stress response in some individuals.
Get more sleep. Even 2 hours less of sleep each night than you’re used to has been shown to severely impact your health, mental and physical.
Catch some sunshine. Spending a few minutes in the sun everyday, even as you walk to the mailbox, increases all sorts of good-for-you vitamins in your body.
Learn your triggers. Sit down with friends and family and have a casual conversation about how they can help limit your stress by being conscientious of your triggers.

No one can handle everything that life throws at them alone, so make sure to reach out to someone you can trust. Venting doesn’t just feel good, it keeps you healthy. Get checked Whether it be through self massage or a doctor’s visit, make sure you’re maintaining your breast health. Regular exams are essential in detecting abnormalities in the breast before they develop into cancer. Early stage breast cancers are usually present with no physical symptoms so it’s important to have regular mammograms, even if you have no family history. It’s also important to find out if anyone in your family has been diagnosed with breast cancer, or related cancers. You can also test yourself for the BRCA gene, which if positive, indicates a significant chance of breast and ovarian cancer later in life. While testing for your genetic predispositions to breast cancer can be scary, it can also save your life. The more knowledge you have about your genetic makeup, the more empowered you are to make the smartest decisions for your breast health. Not sure how to perform a self exam? No worries – visit here to learn. Watch your weight Being significantly under or overweight has been shown to increase your chances of breast cancer, especially for post-menopausal women. Research indicates that the healthiest women, who are most resilient to chronic disease, usually have body fat percentages in between 21 and 25 percent. For athletes, it’s usually a little lower. Most importantly, maintaining a healthy weight means a sustainable diet and fitness routine. Constantly losing then gaining back weight will have long term health consequences. For more information about breast cancer awareness, visit here. Protect your future breast health with some of these tips and let us know how you’re making proactive choices for this National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Nutex Health, Inc. supports you and your loved ones’ health. You can depend on our trusted brand to deliver the emergency care you deserve at Victoria Emergency Center or any one of our concierge-level, freestanding emergency facilities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

December 14 2017

Fight Childhood Obesity by Getting Fit Together

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September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.
Read these tips to prevent your child’s chances of developing chronic, life threatening disease such as cardiovascular disease.

December 14 2017

5 Disease-Fighting Tips for the New School Year

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From the moment they can move on their own, children are taking risks. As parents, we become experts at anticipating their next move, whether it be jumping off a counter top or reaching for a hot pan.

But what about the dangers we can’t see?

With the start of the new school year, your child will be exposed to a whole host of unfamiliar germs. Most of these germs will help to build your child’s immune system through exposure, but some others may lead to more serious diseases. Keep reading to learn more about germs, the spread of disease and what you can do to prevent your child from catching some of these illnesses.

Wash your hands
As all parents can attest, getting your child to keep up with basic hygiene can be a struggle. It’s crucial to teach children early on how important washing hands is in the prevention of disease. The CDC recommends that children wash their hands regularly when well and often when sick. Run your hands under warm water with soap and lather for at least 20 seconds before rinsing off. We suggest setting up a reward system, like a chart with stickers, building to a certain goal.

Get vaccinated
The prevention of disease begins with protecting ourselves. Since their inception, immunizations have saved hundreds of thousands of lives and eradicated numerous diseases from many countries. Vaccines don’t just protect your child from disease, they also protect all other children your child may come into contact with and infants too young to be vaccinated.

Additionally, the less days they’re home sick, means the more days they’re in school, learning important social skills and building their knowledge.

Visit here to find a physician or clinic that distributes vaccines or here to learn more about the benefits of immunizations.

Cover your cough
Diseases, like flu, are spread most commonly through the air after someone coughs or sneezes. Remind your child to cover their mouth when they cough with a tissue. Visit here for more information on covering your cough.

Stay home
If your little one does catch something, it’s in their best interest, and the best interests of their classmates, to stay home. This ensures your child recovers as quickly as possible and doesn’t spread germs to other children.

As tempting as it may be to give in to their earnest pleas to attend a birthday party or soccer game, keeping them home while they heal ensures they’re back to all the activities they love faster and safer.

Fuel your body nutritiously
Protect your child from disease by fortifying their immune systems with nutritious foods. We’ve listed some foods that are packed full of disease-fighting vitamins.

- Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and grapefruit
- Ginger
- Honey, which is a natural antiseptic
- Garlic
- Dark, leafy greens

If your child is a picky eater, trying making a smoothie or juice with some of these foods and subtler flavors, like apple or grape juice.

We can’t protect our children from everything, but we can help them to learn habits that will protect their health. For more information about preventing the spread of germs and disease, visit the CDC’s guide on their webpage.

From our team to your family, Victoria ER wishes you and your loved ones a great start to the new school year. Let us know any tips you have for getting your child to practice some of these disease-fighting tricks!

Nutex Health, Inc supports you and your family’s health. You can depend on our trusted brand to deliver the emergency care you deserve at any one of our concierge-level, freestanding emergency facilities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.