It is impossible to turn on the television without hearing about the recent passing of Michael Jackson. The official autopsy results are being released later this week and news outlets are reporting various causes of death. The most reported cause is Michael Jackson’s ALLEGED addiction to pain killers which led to his death at such a young age.  However, people have abused pain pills long before Michael!

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, while most people do not abuse their prescription drugs when prescribed, an estimated 20 percent of the American population (ages 12 and older) has used prescription drugs for nonmedical uses in their lifetimes. In 2004, a survey revealed that 9.3 percent of 12^th graders had used Vicodin and 5 percent had used Oxy-Contin without a prescription in the past year.  These are clear examples of drug abuse.  

People tend to abuse prescription drugs more easily than street drugs because they believe the myth that they are achieving a medically-safe high. Prescription drugs are often attained easily from friends or relatives making it an easy to attain and less threatening than street drugs.

Prescription drugs such as opioids, depressants, and stimulants which alter brain activity and therefore lead to addiction.  

Opioids: Codeine, Oxy-Contin, Vicodin, Percocet- prescribed for moderate to severe pain. Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord and the gastrointestinal tract to block the perception of pain. They are abused because of their euphoric, sedating and numbing effects.  Long term effects include tolerance and adaptation to the drug. Over time, a single large dose of an opioid could lead to severe respiratory depression which causes death.

CNS Depressants: Xanax, Valium, Librium- used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.  These sedatives and tranquilizers slow brain activity to make the person drowsy or more calm. A tolerance to the drugs becomes a result and higher doses are necessary to achieve the initial effects.

Stimulants: Ritalin, Dexedrine, Meridia, Adderall, Concerta-used to treat ADD/ADHD and other conditions such as narcolepsy. These drugs increase alertness, attention and energy, as well as elevate blood pressure and increase heart rate and respiration. Stimulants enhance the effects of dopamine and norepinephrine chemicals found in the brain often causing a sense of euphoria. Long term effects of abusing these drugs include dangerously high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat and even at times cardiovascular failure leading to life threatening seizures.

A person becomes addicted to prescription drugs when they begin to use the drugs in ways other than those prescribed. Ways to treat addiction include behavioral and pharmacological. Behavioral treatment, such as counseling, teaches the patient how to function without the drug in their life, how to avoid situations with drugs, how to handle cravings and to even cope with a relapse.  Pharmacological treatment, used to treat opioid addictions, requires the use of a different drug to help with withdrawal symptoms, treat an overdose or help overcome drug cravings.

 If you even think you  or someone you love MAY have a problem with prescription or non- prescription drugs, GET HELP!  Many times this is a problem that requires the help of many… Your primary care physician is a good place to start!

Call 504-363-4711 if you do not already have a primary care doc.  You can even make an appointment online at www.valentinemedcenter.com.

Experience is not the only teacher!  Share your story so others may learn… 

Symptoms
• Feelings of sadness, helplessness, hopelessness
• Change in sleeping patterns (sleep too much or can’t sleep)
• Lack of concentration
• Easy tasks become difficult
• No control over negative thoughts
• Change in eating habits (loss of appetite or increase in appetite)
• Irritable and short-tempered
• Thoughts of suicide
A person may not develop every symptom on the list. If the symptoms last two weeks or longer, a person has clinical depression. A person suffering from depression needs to see a doctor immediately to get his or her life back on track. A doctor can perform a test to determine whether or not a patient has depression and can recommend a therapist for treatment.
A person needs to especially seek help when thoughts of suicide arise.
After treatment, about 2/3 of people recover and are able to return to their daily lives after a few days or weeks depending on the patient.

DEPRESSION FACTS
• DEPRESSION AFFECTS 19 MILLION AMERICANS ANNUALLY
• CAN AFFECT ANYONE
• MORE COMMON IN ELDERLY PEOPLE THAN IN YOUNG PEOPLE
• CONTRIBUTES TO ½ OF ALL SUICIDES

Have you ever been affected by depression? If so, please share you inspirational story on how you overcame it.

Heart attacks are the #1 killer of both men and women. It occurs when there is a blockage in the heart, generally caused from a buildup of plaque lining the coronary artery. The blood cannot flow through the heart while there is a blockage. That means that oxygen is not getting to the heart and the heart muscle becomes damaged and then begins to die.

Causes of Heart Attacks

There are multiple causes of heart attacks.

Coronary Artery Disease is the number one cause. It is the buildup of plaque along the inner wall of the coronary artery. The plaque consists of fat and cholesterol as well as other items found in your blood.  Once the plaque builds up enough to block the blood flow, a heart attack occurs.

Another cause is a severe spasm of the coronary artery. This can occur from drug usage, emotional stress or pain and smoking cigarettes. The spasm closes up the artery and induces a heart attack.

Symptoms/Signs of a Heart Attack

Heart attacks can either come suddenly or build up slowly in a person. That is why it is important to get help immediately. Every second that a heart attack is occurring more and more of the heart muscle is being destroyed.

Chest Pain or discomfort

Shortness of breath

Pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach

Fainting

Nausea/vomiting

Cold sweats

Lightheadedness

When experiencing these symptoms, you or someone else needs to call 9-1-1 immediately to get medical attention as fast as possible.

Tips for a Healthy Heart

The best way to start preventing a heart attack is to begin eating a low fat diet. You need to increase your fruit and vegetable intake and reduce your salt intake. This eating pattern will help reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol level. It will also help you lose weight, which also benefits your heart.

Quitting smoking is also a great idea. It will not only help your heart, but your lungs as well.

Finally, take time to work out. Exercise strengthens all of your muscles, including your heart.

In what ways are you working on your heart health? Have you or someone you know survived a heart attack? If so, tell us about your/their recovery and lifestyle changes.

What it is and how it works

The birth control patch is a small, square patch that sticks to your skin. The patch releases hormones through the skin that enter the blood stream. These hormones prevent ovulation, or releasing of an egg to be fertilized, from occurring. The patch makes the mucus produced in the cervix thicken. The thick mucus makes it difficult for sperm to pass through the cervix to the eggs.

Studies have suggested that the patch is as effective as the birth control pill when used properly.

How to use the patch

The patch should be applied to the skin once a week for three weeks. On the fourth week, a patch should not be worn to enable the menstrual cycle to occur. Once the menstrual cycle is complete, a patch should be placed on the body once again.

The patch should be placed either on the abdomen, upper arm, upper torso or buttocks. The patch should never be applied to the breasts.

While wearing the patch, you can swim, shower and exercise. The patch is able to get wet and still remain in place on the body.

Things not to do with the patch

When reapplying the patch, never place it on the same spot as the old one. It can cause skin irritation. A patch should never be placed on red, irritated or cut skin.

Never place more than one patch on your skin at a time. Make sure to always remove the old patch before the new one is placed on the body.

Never remove the patch and place it back on the skin because it will lose the important stick factor. Never trim or tape the patch to your body.

Do not apply the patch over makeup, lotion or any other skincare products. It will not stick as well.

Dangers of wearing the patch

There are some health risks associated with the patch. The most serious are blood clots, heart attack and stroke. The chance of these health risks occurring increase with smoking cigarettes.

The patch also releases more hormones than the pill.

Have any of you had an experience with the patch?  Would you recommend it to other women?

It’s summer time and with it comes warm, beautiful weather.  We all will be spending some more time outside in the next few months, so I think it’s important to be educated on exactly your body is experiencing when exposed to the sun.

As we all know, there are some risks to prolonged sun exposure, the most common being sunburn.  However, exposure to the sun is very important.  In small amounts, it can provide as much vitamin D as 100 glasses of milk.  Vitamin D is important for bone health.

Sun light is made of UVA and UVB rays.  It’s the UVB rays that are more harmful to the skin.  It’s important to know that, even if it is cloudy or overcast outside, your skin is still being exposed to UVB.  Sun exposure can be harsher at places near the equator and at high altitudes.  Most people rack up 50-80% of their lifetime sun exposure before they are 18, so it’s very important to keep en eye on children

                                            SUNBURNS                                         
 Regardless of your race or ethnic background, YOU can get a sunburn!  The more burns you experience the higher your risk for skin cancer.  Sun burns can begin about 30 minutes after being in the sun.  Redness and irritation will begin about 2-4 hours after exposure and the peak of your symptoms occur between 12 and 16 hours.

Sun burns can generally go untreated, but seek medical attention if you begin to experience blisters, nausea and fainting.  These could be signs of more serious conditions

HEAT EXHAUSTION

Heat exhaustion usually occurs when someone is playing or exercising outdoors and is more severe than a sunburn.  It typically occurs when someone depletes their internal “water supply” and their body is unable to produce sweat and cool itself down.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fainting.  If you experience the lesser of these symptoms, you may not have to seek medical help.  Just be sure to drink plenty of water and move into the shade.  If you begin to experience fainting, then proceed to the nearest hospital.

HEAT STROKE

Heat stroke is more severe than heat exhaustion.  It is actually a form of hyperthermia where your body is at an abnormal temperature and can be fatal if not treated immediately.  Causes of heat stroke include dehydration and symptoms sometimes mimic a heart attack.  They include difficulty breathing, rapid pulse, hallucinations, confusion and seizure.

Most susceptible to heat stroke are infants, seniors, outdoor workers and athletes.  To treat, immediately call 911, take the victim to a shaded area and give them plenty of water.

PREVENTION

Of course, it is unrealistic to deny yourself any exposure to the sun, nor is it health.  To prevent any of these ailments, be sure to stay hydrated, take frequent breaks from the sun and avoid caffeine, alcohol and tea.

Any questions?  Feel free to comment and post about your experiences with sun exposure and your tips for staying hydrated this summer.