Idiot

Idiot

Thanks for reading today’s blog. It is a recycle from a few years ago but I thought it warranted repeating.  It is my mission to bring you something interesting and informative each week.  Often we cover health issues.  Today we cover an issue that many of us can relate to. 

 

IT’S COOL

Admit it.  We all want to be good at what we do, have knowledge in different areas, be able to perform an array of tasks, speak intelligently about things and look cool doing it, right? No one wants to look like an idiot.

 

IDIOT

When was the last time you were classified as “idiot status?”  Perhaps you said or did something you immediately regretted…gulp!  Maybe it was an action or inaction that landed you the coveted title.  Maybe you weren’t an idiot at all.

 

CHEST PAIN

I have a friend who experienced pain in her chest and jaw.  She went to work hoping it would subside.  She didn’t want to cause any commotion.  How embarrassing!  She refused to call 911 or her doctor in case it turned out to be nothing.  She didn’t want to look like an idiot.

 

LUCKY

Fortunately, she is fine.  Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky.  I assure you, there is not a soul in the ER that is going to think you are an idiot for going in with chest pain or other symptoms that concern you.  I speak from experience, better safe than sorry!

 

HEARTBURN

I lost my mom 16 years ago to a heart attack that started with symptoms that went ignored until the pain became unbearable.  She went to the ER twice and finally got admitted.  She was released the following day with a prescription for Prilosec and the assurance that it was probably just heartburn.  She died a few days later from a heart attack.  Heartburn…really?

 

LETS REVIEW

I don’t claim to be a heart expert.  I research then report facts that I wish someone had shared with me when my mom was having heart issues.

WebMD gives us a few symptoms to look for.

  • Discomfort, pressure, heaviness or pain in the chest, arm or below the breastbone.
  • Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat or arm.
  • Fullness, indigestion or choking feeling which may feel like heartburn.
  • Sweating, nausea, vomiting or dizziness.
  • Extreme weakness, anxiety or shortness of breath.
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeats.

 

CALL 911

If you experience symptoms, call 911!  If you think you are having a heart attack, do not delay.  Immediate treatment of a heart attack is imperative to lessen the amount of damage to your heart.

 

ARE YOU CONVINCED?

The intention of this blog is not to scare you, but I hope you are convinced to take your concerns seriously.  You are not an idiot for giving immediate attention to a health concern. You are an idiot if you don’t.

 

HDD

If HDD can help in the diagnosis of heart issues or any other health concerns you and your provider may have, call us at 505-350-3397.

Elevate

Elevate

“Going up?”  The minute I found this graphic, this is the question I heard in my mind.  Today’s blog has to do with elevating.   Mr. Webster would define elevating as “Raising or lifting something up to a higher position.”  The question is, where is your destination?

 

PENTHOUSE OR BASEMENT?

Let’s take the idea of an elevator.  When you enter, you have a goal in mind.  Is it your intention to go up or down?   It doesn’t get any lower than the basement.  At some point, we all take that trip to the basement although it isn’t always warm or light down there.  Up above is where it’s at.  The middle floors are where most of us are comfortable, however, how cool would the penthouse be?

 

NOT EVERYONE CAN REACH

The penthouse isn’t everyone’s style and let’s be honest, not everyone is granted access.  Perhaps you don’t desire access or perhaps you simply don’t have the tools to reach it.  Although I try to make most blogs positive and inspirational, not everyone always feels happy and inspired.  There are times when life just kicks you in the gut.  Who cares about the penthouse?  If you find yourself stuck in the basement, you are not alone down there.  Want out?  Start by looking for the elevator.

 

YOU ARE CAPABLE

You are capable of more than you know.  When you hit bottom but desire the top, put one foot in front of the other and start your ascent.  You can do it! Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

 

THE BOUNCE IS WHAT COUNTS

“Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.”

George S. Patton

How high can you bounce?  Maybe today, not at all.  With a little luck and effort, tomorrow you can bounce an inch or so.  By next week maybe a foot or even a mile.  Whatever your marker is, do it today to the degree that you are able.  This isn’t a competition. Do what works for you.

 

WHEN YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THINGS…

The late great Wayne Dyer always said, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”  Remember to be grateful when your mood or situation it at it’s peak and be graceful when the opposite is true.  One man’s rock bottom could be the end of the road, while it might serve as a solid foundation for another.  The basement supports the structure above.

 

UNLEASH YOUR POWER

We take good health for granted.   Feeling good is normal, until we don’t.  The basement is an easy descent when you feel unwell.  Unleash the power of your mind and vibration of your energy toward your desired outcome.  Make your thoughts and emotions positive and the dominating influence of your mind and spirit.  Focus on the penthouse!  If we at HDD can elevate your diagnostic ultrasound experience on your journey to better health, call us at 505-350-3397.

EMF and EHS

EMF and EHS

This week’s blog inspiration came as a request from a follower asking what I knew about EMF and EHS.  The answer to your query Kevin is this.  Not much.  However, I do have the willingness and ability to research, briefly synopsize and share what I have learned with those who are also unfamiliar.

 

PLEASE EXPLAIN

For those who are rusty or clueless, let me explain.  EMF is an acronym for “Electromagnetic field.”  An article published by  www.niehs.hih.gov explains that they are invisible electric and magnetic areas of energy, often referred to as radiation.  You may wonder, is it dangerous?

 

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Now we know what it is.  The question is, what can it do?  EMF and can cause EHS (Electromagnetic hypersensitivity) which we will dive deeper into in just a minute.  It can cause symptoms like stress, anxiety, fatigue, headache, sleep disturbances, burning of the skin, rashes and muscle aches just to name a few.

 

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Just about everything in your modern world gives off EMF’s.  A few of these devices include your cell phone, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth devices, your Apple watch, computers, your microwave oven, house energy smart meters, power lines along with natural and man-made lighting.  Unless you live under a rock, there seems to be no escaping EMF.

 

DOES IT HURT?

Reports at www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au says although there are a few exceptions, a range of experimental studies have failed to provide clear supporting evidence for the claim that EMF can be harmful to health, including:

  • No clear evidence that EMF affects biological processes.
  • No evidence that EMF can change living cells or is genotoxic (harmful to DNA.)
  • No convincing evidence from animal studies to support the claim that EMF increases the risk of cancer.

Whew!

 

AS A RESULT

EHS (Electromagnetic hypersensitivity) is a real thing.  It can be disabling and can vary in severity.  EHS has no clear diagnostic criteria and there is no scientific basis to link EHS symptoms to EMF exposure.   The World Health Organization says EHS is not a medical diagnosis, nor is it clear that it represents a single medical problem.  Medical and psychological evaluations along with assessments of the work and or home environment may be explored as a cause to the presented symptoms.  In a recent survey in Austria by Schrottner, 3.5 % of the population considered themselves to be sensitive to EMF.

 

DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER

I in no way claim to be a health care professional.  I was asked to report anything I may know about EMF and EHS so, here you are Kevin. I hope it helps.

 

HDD

I discovered some fascinating facts while doing research.  If these symptoms affect you or ones you love, further reading and researching should and must be done along with communication with your health care professionals.  We at HDD cannot diagnose the effects of EMF, but we can diagnose myriad other medical conditions through ultrasound.  If you and your provider decide an ultrasound exam is indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.

Vinegar

Vinegar

This week’s blog will discuss the subject of a standard household item you may have in your kitchen. Vinegar.  This multi-faceted little elixir has nothing to do with ultrasound. However, it has been touted for its many health benefits as well as uses around the house.  Let’s explore how this inexpensive item might benefit you.

 

CHOICES

There are many different types of vinegar to choose from.  They are white, cider, red wine, sherry, champagne, balsamic, and rice wine vinegar to name some of the most popular.  Each has its own distinct flavor and way to use them.  Are you aware vinegars begin as a grain, fruit or vegetable?

 

CHEERS!

Not so fast.  Although the fruits and veggies that make vinegar ferment to become an alcoholic liquid, you definitely don’t want to drink this stuff for cocktail hour.  The alcohol in the liquid ferments into acetic acid resulting into that pungent liquid with a telltale sign of the original ingredient.

 

APPLE CIDER

While doing research for this blog, I decided to focus primarily on apple cider vinegar.  Remember, it is high in acid so chugging a glass may not be in your best interest.  If you choose to drink it, always water it down and drink through a straw to protect your pearly whites.  It may irritate your esophagus, give you indigestion or make you feel nauseated.  It’s best to not drink it on an empty stomach.  That’s the bad news.

 

THE GOOD NEWS IS…

Some studies suggest that ingesting apple cider vinegar may help with weight loss plus you could see improvement with blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.  Try diluting a couple of teaspoons in a cup of warm water.  It may help with acid reflux.  It is thought to contain a small amount of probiotics which could be good for your gut.  Remember, your gut is thought to be your second brain so take good care of it!

 

WHY?

Webmd.com reports that vinegar is an excellent source of:

  • Potassium
  • Magnesium
  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus

It states that some types of vinegar can also be a good source of antioxidants.  The darker the vinegar, the more antioxidants remain in the liquid.

 

BUT WAIT…THAT’S NOT ALL

It is thought to provide relief from eczema although some have reported skin irritation.  It is also thought to kill germs and contains ingredients that fight bacteria and fungi.  If you have hard water, it can help with calcium buildup as well.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY

Plain white vinegar is 4-7% acetic acid and 93-96% water.  However you choose to use vinegar, use it in moderation.  Whether you use it for cooking, cleaning, baking, window washing or killing weeds, remember it can be dangerous when used in excess.  If you use it in or on your body, it is always a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider first.

 

HDD

I hope this week’s blog gave you a few insights on the health benefits of vinegar.  We at HDD are interested in helping you maintain your health.  If we can help through diagnostic ultrasound, call us at 505-350-3397.

Your Body is Amazing

Your Body is Amazing

Today is just a regular day.  Nothing has changed or happened and there is nothing of particular importance on the docket.  Wait, maybe there is after all.  Today is the day we should celebrate. You may wonder what exactly we are celebrating.  The answer to that question is you and that amazing body of yours.  Really?  Yes, really!

 

A LITTLE EXTRA

I do it too.  The self-criticism you impose when you notice the little extra cush around your mid-section.  They gray hair that peppers your locks and the wrinkles around your eyes are multiplying.  We feel the frustration when we can’t physically do what we used to do.  Who doesn’t occasionally gripe about their body?

 

SEE WHAT HAPPENS

“You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked.  Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”

-Louise Hay

 

CELEBRATE

It is high time we stop criticizing ourselves and celebrate that amazing body.  This amazing machine that houses our soul has the ability to perform myriad functions without any conscious help from us.

 

FUN FACTS

The factsite.com had some interesting facts about our bodies.

  • Though weighing only about 11 ounces, our heart beats about 100,000 times per day and pumps about 1,900 gallons of blood.
  • Every 3-4 seconds, around 50,000 cells in your body will die and be replaced by new ones.
  • It requires less effort to be happy. You’ll use 17 muscles to smile vs. 43 to frown.  Cheer up!
  • A sneeze can potentially travel at 100 miles per hour and create upwards of 100,000 droplets while a cough can travel 50 miles per hour and expel almost 3,000 droplets.
  • If you weigh 150 pounds, 21 pounds of this is the weight of your skeleton.
  • Exercising on an empty stomach will burn around 20% more calories.
  • On average, the body takes around 12 hours to totally digest food you have already eaten.
  • Eyeballs never grow while hands, ears, and the nose never stop.
  • In times of fear, you are physically stronger than normal due to the release of cortisol and adrenaline.
  • Babies don’t have kneecaps, rather cartilage that gradually turn into bone as ossification begins between ages 2-6.
  • Your tongue is the only muscle that doesn’t join two bones.
  • The cracking sound made by knuckles, necks, backs and other joints when they’re cracked is the sound of bubbles popping in the joint’s fluid.

 

YOUR AMAZING BODY

I hope you enjoyed just a few reminders about what your amazing body is capable of doing!  Stop criticizing it and start celebrating it.  Do it a favor by keeping it adequately hydrated, properly nourished, exercised and give it the rest it deserves. This is the only physical body you will ever have the privilege of using.  Treat it the way you would treat any other treasure that you revere.  Get it checked and treated.  If diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.