by Kristi Jain | Nov 15, 2023 | Uncategorized
Hello! I hope this week’s blog will give you a bit of information that you didn’t have before you clicked on it. That is what happened to me. I was searching Google one day and an article popped up that I thought was interesting and worthy of sharing.
HEALTH
My goal when delivering your weekly blogs is to entertain, share and perhaps inform you about what is on my mind today. Since High Desert Doppler is a healthcare facility, it stands to reason that the blogs relate to healthcare. They may not always pertain to ultrasound but that’s okay.
BENEFITS
The article I read touts the benefits of drinking hot water. This is a foreign concept to me unless the hot water is used for making tea or coffee. Drinking plain hot water, huh? Okay, lets explore the benefits and how it might help in our wellness journey.
HOT H2o
Staying hydrated is essential for life and critical for maintaining good health. We’ve heard that drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day is average. Most of us grab a glass of water poured from the faucet or bottle and drink it cold or room temperature. It never occurred to me to heat it up. My question is why.
HEALTH BENEFITS
An article from medicalnewstoday.com reports that drinking your water hot can provide a range of health benefits. Here are eight potential benefits.
- Healthier digestion. Hot water helps break down food faster than cold water.
- Body detoxification. When water is hot enough to raise your body temperature, it can cause sweating which expels toxins.
- Improved circulation. Hot water is a vasodilator meaning it expands the blood vessels, improving circulation.
- Weight loss. Raising the water temperature increases your metabolism which could increase weight loss.
- Reduce pain. Hot water improves circulation and may improve blood flow particularly to injured muscles. Note that no research has directly linked hot water consumption to pain relief.
- Fighting colds and improving sinus health. Hot water may help mucous move more quickly and encourage coughing and nose-blowing to be more productive.
- Encourage consumption of coffee and tea. Although they tend to dehydrate the body, coffee and tea offer some health benefits when consumed in moderation.
- Reduces stress. The warmth of hot water can play a role in improving mood by calming stress and anxiety.
NOT A FIX ALL
We’ve read about the benefits of consuming hot water. Don’t be under the delusion it is a cure all. If you frequent Mc Donald’s, scarf Cheetos and chug beer, the benefits of consuming hot water may be minimal.
HDD
If you have ever had an ultrasound, depending on the kind you require, you may be encouraged to drink plenty of water prior to your exam. By the way, hot water is not necessary! Always check with your healthcare provider for clarification. Remember if diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Nov 13, 2023 | Uncategorized
Hello! As always, thank you for taking time to read this week’s blog. We are gearing up for another holiday season. Where does the time go? I wanted to make sure I wrote in time to wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!
THANKSGIVING
One of my favorite holidays is tomorrow. Many of us stick with tradition. Others may choose to treat it as just another calendar day. Whatever your situation is, remember the day is less about the menu or the number of souls around the table and more about simply being grateful.
FOCUS
We tend to focus on gratitude especially on Thanksgiving Day. How about the other 364 days? A daily practice of gratitude can help you focus on the positive things occurring in your life instead of harping on the negative. If you are feeling bummed, a reminder to refocus on your abundance rather than lack can actually help you feel happier.
QUOTES TO GET THIS PARTY STARTED
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”
-Eckhart Tolle
“This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.”
-Maya Angelou
“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
-Charles Dickens
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
-William Arthur Ward
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not but rejoices for those which he has.”
-Epictetus
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and see that they were big things.”
-Robert Brault
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
-Voltaire
TAKE IT FOR GRANTED
The expression to take for granted means “To accept without question or objection,” and often implies a lack of appreciation or gratitude. We all do it at some point or another. Don’t ever assume you will always have it. Maybe it is time to re-examine your life and think about the things you take for granted.
YOUR HEALTH
We wake up each day assuming we will feel fine or at least better. A healthy mind and body bring freedom that we take for granted until we no longer have it. Take precautions, be aware, pay attention and don’t take your good health for granted.
HDD
Each of us at HDD extend a wish for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday to you and yours. Remember, when diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Nov 8, 2023 | Uncategorized
Hello! It is a beautiful afternoon here in the Q. After finishing an afternoon full of household responsibilities (which incidentally, I don’t mind) I had some decisions to make. Do I relax and unwind with my iPad for a bit or do I sit at the keyboard and prepare your Wednesday blog. Guess what? You won.
DECISIONS
Admittedly, I occasionally have difficulty making decisions. I struggle with what to wear, how I will arrange my appointments at work, where do meetings and events fit in, when do I shop, what’s for dinner, what movie do we watch, when I can do my chores, when do I write the blog and what the content will be. Do I really have time to relax and unwind? By the way, the answer is yes.
WHY
I’ve often wondered why decision making can be so difficult. Psychecentral.com writes that the difficulty comes from several factors including fear of failure and lack of confidence or information. Indecisiveness can also be a symptom of mental health conditions such as ADHD, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
IN ADDITION…
If you are a perfectionist you don’t want to be seen as right or wrong. If you are a people pleaser you worry about what others might think. Others get lost in the details and become overwhelmed. Self-doubt and lack of confidence can lead to procrastination. Perhaps there is simply not enough information on the subject you need to decide on. The article gives 10 methods to help you become more decisive.
- Make decisions for yourself.
- Develop your confidence.
- Let things go.
- Choose a person that can act as a sounding board.
- Talk it out.
- Narrow it down.
- Outline the pros and cons.
- Flip a coin.
- Avoid questioning your final decision.
10.Recognize and celebrate your decisions.
Now, don’t you feel better?
HEALTH
On a personal note, recently I had a few lingering symptoms that have had me dragging. I procrastinated believing I would feel better tomorrow. Tomorrow became 3 weeks and I finally went in to see my doc. I felt confident it was simply allergies hence my procrastination. By the way, self-diagnosis is never a good idea. Luckily it was nothing serious. He prescribed some meds and voila! I felt better in 2 days. Why didn’t I decide to get seen and treated earlier and save myself the discomfort of feeling ill?
QUOTE
“More is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity. It will steal you blind.”
-Marcus Tullius Cicero.
HDD
In the medical field, we understand that you need to listen to your body, sooner rather than later. Note to self Kristi. If you have decisions to make about your health and wellness, be proactive. Early detection saves lives. If you and your provider decide diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Nov 1, 2023 | Uncategorized
It’s that time of year. From Halloween to New Year’s Eve we are gonna get slammed. Many have full calendars with the upcoming holidays approaching. Others have a wide open agenda. What is the forecast on your docket this season?
NEWSFLASH
We will be racing from one situation to another. It seems we never have enough time. Newsflash. You are never going to have enough time…unless it is important to you. It isn’t about finding time. It is about making time.
OVERBOOKED AGAIN
So you overscheduled, overcommitted or overextended yourself again. Remember something or someone is going to have to take a backseat. When you say yes to something, you are saying no to something else. Get the point?
EXCUSES…
The main reason you aren’t doing something is because it doesn’t immediately matter to you. Perhaps you simply don’t want to or it isn’t as important as the thing you are replacing it with. Hopefully you don’t regret your choice.
QUOTE
“If it’s important enough, I’ll make the time. If not I’ll make an excuse.”
-Marie Forleo
LAME EXCUSE
Why do we make excuses? It serves as a distraction that prevents us from achieving a task or perhaps an unconscious need to protect ourselves from anxiety or shame. We don’t want to be criticized or attacked so we make an excuse. A good solid excuse can literally get you “off the hook.” It that a good thing?
DANGER
There can actually be danger in making those lame excuses. Playup.com.ng reminds us that making excuses is perfectly natural. We all make them occasionally. “One major danger of giving excuses is that they can become a crutch, allowing us to avoid taking responsibility for our actions or inactions. By blaming external factors or making excuses for why we didn’t do something, we can absolve ourselves of guilt and avoid facing the consequences of our actions. When we consistently make excuses for why we can’t follow through on our commitments or responsibilities, it can lead to tension and conflict with other people.” Remember, if it is important, you’ll make time. If it isn’t, you’ll make an excuse.
YOUR HEALTH
Your health is of tremendous importance. You should never avoid medical care or make excuses for why you don’t seek it. Early detection can save lives!
AHA
The American Heart Association recently updated it’s “Top 10 reasons people (mostly men) put off their doctor visits.”
- You don’t have a doctor.
- You don’t have insurance.
- There is probably nothing wrong.
- You don’t have time.
- You don’t want to spend the money.
- Doctors don’t DO anything.
- You don’t want to hear what you may be told.
- You’d rather tough it out.
- You got probe-a-phobia.
- Your significant other has been nagging you to get a checkup.
HDD
There is NO good excuse for putting your healthcare on the back burner. If you have symptoms, a condition or questions, make the call and make the appointment. If you and your healthcare provider determine diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Oct 25, 2023 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog comes to you from a chilly fall afternoon in Albuquerque. It is that time when our weather changes dramatically and as I write, I’m chilled to the bone. This indicates that Halloween is right around the corner. I was contemplating what to write about for this week’s blog when I stumbled upon last year’s Halloween blog and decided it has some information about your bones that are worth repeating.
BONE FUNCTION
The following bit of information is a reminder about how important your bones are. Hopkinsmedicine.org tells us that bone is living tissue that makes up the body’s skeleton. Your skeleton provides shape and support for your body as well as protection for your organs. Bones also serve as a storage site for minerals and provides marrow for the development and storage of blood cells.
DID YOU KNOW?
The human skeleton is actually a pretty complex piece of machinery. Here are a few fun facts about the bones of a human body that might be of interest to you.
- The adult body has 206 of them.
- There are 26 bones in the foot.
- The hand including the wrist contains 54 bones.
- The femur, or thighbone, is the longest and strongest bone of the skeleton.
- The stapes, in the middle ear, is the smallest and lightest bone.
- Arms are among the most commonly broken bones accounting for almost half of all adults’ broken bones.
- The collarbone is the most commonly broken bone among children.
- The only bone not connected to another is the hyoid, a V-shaped bone located at the base of the tongue.
- Bones are made up of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and collagen as well as other minerals.
WHAT IS BONE?
An article in www.bones.nih.gov tells us that bone is living, growing tissue and is made mostly of collagen. Collagen is a protein that provides a soft framework and calcium phosphate is a mineral that adds strength and hardens the framework. This combination makes bone strong and flexible enough to withstand stress.
CAN YOU SEE BONES WITH ULTRASOUND?
The fact is that ultrasound cannot penetrate bone. It can only see the outer surface of bony structures and joints and the soft tissues surrounding them. If you sustain an injury that results in pain or swelling, your healthcare provider might recommend medical imaging such as X-ray. It is useful for looking at bones and dense tissues in your body. Ultrasound can however produce pictures of muscles, tendons ligaments, nerves, and joints through the body.
HDD
If and when you and your healthcare provider determine diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, we will move our bones as fast as possible to get you taken care of in the most expeditious, professional and courteous manner! Call us at 505-350-3397. Have a safe and fun All Hallows Eve!
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