by Kristi Jain | Jan 8, 2025 | Uncategorized
We made it! As much as I love to see the holidays come, I love to see them go. We tend to make unhealthy choices during this time. January is the month when we well-meaning resolutioners commit to better health, fitness, diet, prevention and lifestyle.
YOUTUBE
This week’s blog has absolutely nothing to do with ultrasound, however I ran across a YouTube reel that I found interesting. I believe it is important to share with you because it has to do with healthcare. It pertains to skin cancer and things that you may not be aware of.
THANKS DOC
The short bit of information came from Dr. Annette Bosworth who said she can actually spot basil cell carcinoma on a random stranger while simply out shopping. That this kind of cancer is less deadly and your doctor should be able to recognize it immediately. It is melanoma that we need to worry about.
ACRONYM
In the dermatology world they use an acronym of A B C D and E that teaches us what they are looking for.
- A stands for asymmetrical. It is not an equal shape on both sides.
- B is the border. It is generally not smooth and it changes.
- C is color. It is not one color throughout the lesion and can go from a light brown to even a black inside the lesion.
- D is for diameter. Over 6 millimeters is where it can get dangerous. It is about the size of an eraser on a pencil.
- E is for evolving which means the shape and color evolve over time which means get checked!
I DO NOW
In my youth, I didn’t think much about going to the dermatologist. I do now. I have 2 friends who had melanoma. Thankfully they are both still around to talk about it. It is the most dangerous type of skin cancer appearing as a new spot or change in an existing freckle or mole. Any abnormalities should get checked. Over 95% of skin cancers can be successfully treated if they are found early.
GOLDEN GLOW
That beautiful Coppertone glow is more popular than the pasty white look, however it comes at a cost. A suntan does not indicate good health. Skin cancer occurs when skin cells are damaged and mutate, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. The primary cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Remember, a “base tan” is already a sign of skin damage.
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION…
How do we reduce the risk of skin cancer? Practice sun safety by using sunscreen religiously, cover your skin during sun exposure, and avoid the intense UV rays of indoor tanning.
HDD
High Desert Diagnostics can’t help you with the diagnosis of skin cancer. However, we can help in the diagnosis a variety of conditions because ultrasound shows the structures inside the body. The images help with diagnosis and treatment for many diseases and conditions. Call us at 505-350-3397
by Kristi Jain | Dec 30, 2024 | Uncategorized
The 2024 holiday season is history. I hope it was happy and healthy. It can be hectic yet magical for some. It can be a lonesome time for others. This season was a happy yet busy time for me. So busy in fact that New Year’s Day is creeping up when I realized I don’t have a fresh 2025 blog. A recycle from last year will have to do. I hope it gives you some healthy reminders.
2025
Happy new year!!! How many of us made a new year resolution for 2025? I for one, will raise my hand. Interestingly enough, they sound like some I’ve made in the past. Seriously, who doesn’t want to lose a few pounds, save money, plan a trip, get a job you don’t hate, work out more, and get it better health? Do you have the courage it takes to make a change?
RESOLUTION VS INTENTION
After the meditation portion of a yoga class I attended, the instructor gave her thoughts about the new year and the idea of resolutions. She said, she prefers not to say the word resolution. It implies what you were doing was not good enough. She prefers the word intention.
NO ONE IS PERFECT
If you live a relatively healthy lifestyle, but occasionally fall off the wagon I’d say you have good intentions. Keep up the good work. If you are a junk food junkie, lazy, with an addiction or two, look on the bright side, there is always tomorrow. Remember, no one is perfect.
COURAGE
Since we are on the subject of “no one is perfect”, I’d venture to say many of us lack the courage to be imperfect. Chew on that one for a minute. I listened to Brene Brown on YouTube this week, she is a research professor at the University of Houston. She has spent many years studying courage, vulnerability, empathy and shame. A question she asks is, “Do you have the willingness to step into the arena of vulnerability?”
JUDGEMENT
So many people are afraid of the judgment of others at one time or another. Heaven forbid, what if we aren’t good enough, smart enough, thin enough, successful enough, important enough or attractive enough? Are we busy judging others as well as ourselves?
NUMB
Brene Brown goes on to say that we are the most in debt, obese, over medicated and addicted society in US history. I get it. Life is hectic. Is it any wonder we need to numb ourselves a bit, then end up with an addiction to something that actually made us feel good for a time? The numbing effects of substance can be devastating on your mind, body and soul.
MAKE GOOD CHOICES
Make choices that will help make you happy, healthy and well. Not necessarily resolutions, but intention and courage could be the key a better and healthier you. Today is a great day to start! If High Desert Diagnostics can help, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Dec 24, 2024 | Uncategorized
It is finally here! For many, the crescendo of the entire year has arrived. All of the carefully orchestrated plans have fallen into place. Now we can sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. It may be gift overload and credit card debt or quiet, simple and peaceful. Whatever your situation is, will it meet your expectations?
WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?
Remember to recognize that along with expectation can come disappointment. Disappointment is a normal human reaction when expectation doesn’t align with reality. Occasionally it is beyond our control but often we set ourselves up to be disappointed. How do we avoid this?
WHAT I REALLY WANTED…
That package gets ripped open in anticipatory elation because I know it is exactly what I asked for and had my heart set on for Christmas this year. “You shouldn’t have! You didn’t. Wow, underwear and socks again. Gee thanks.” Take heart. Perhaps it won’t be that bad. Maybe you’ll get jammies again, another scarf or perhaps that coveted 2025 desk calendar. Many expectations are higher than reality.
A FEW YEARS BACK
A few years ago around Christmas time, my daughter asked me if I remember the gift she gave me the previous year. Admittedly, I had no clue. Coincidentally, she didn’t remember my gift to her either. She did remind me that for a time, when we ran out of original gift ideas, we exchanged gift cards in the identical denominations. How original. In her early adulthood, I believe she is wise beyond her years. She suggested we forgo the obligatory, perfunctory exchange of material gifts. Instead we will share a special meal, bake cookies, spend time together and make memories. That is a perfect gift in itself that we have exchanged for the past several years.
MR. GRINCH
It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!” Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Christmas” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
-Dr. Seuss
TIME
Whether you produce that expensive, perfectly orchestrated Pinterest Christmas experience or you anticipate a simple celebration with a cozy fire, good food, family or friends, make it count. Along with unconditional love and acceptance, time is one of the most important gifts you can give.
“Time is free yet priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.”
-Harvey MacKay
HDD
First and foremost this holiday season, above all else, take time to love, appreciate and nurture yourself. If you aren’t whole and well, you can’t be expected to be present and available for others. When you have the gift of good health, you have the greatest gift of all. From all of us at High Desert Diagnostics, we wish you the very happiest holiday season!
by Kristi Jain | Dec 11, 2024 | Uncategorized
It’s time again for the HDD blog. My how times flies. Wasn’t it just Thanksgiving? The reality check du jour is that we are all one week older than we were when we read last week’s blog. There is no need to remind you what will have happened by next week. Today we will discuss the aging process. Aging can be a glorious thing depending on your perspective.
FOREVER YOUNG
I’ve seen people in their golden years, who look and feel forever young. What is their secret? Having a positive attitude and good genes never hurt, however lifestyle choices are important. An unknown source said, “Surround yourself with people who also fight the toxicity of the anti-aging culture and embrace the beautiful sands of time. Be grateful for all your body has done and continues to do for you. You don’t have to buy into society’s assertion that you can’t love yourself as you are no matter how old you are. “
TOXIC
Speaking of toxic, the more you complain, the worse you may feel. Some believe it is part of the aging process. The less you move, the less energy you will have. A sedentary lifestyle is a common trigger for muscular atrophy. Atrophy leads to weight gain, loss of energy, chronic aches and pains and an attitude that reflects this dismal state.
MYTHS
Here are some myths about aging.
- Our brains grow only until we are in our twenties then they start to die. There are “Super Agers” who have memories as sharp as those decades younger!
- Our metabolism slows down when we hit 40. Fight it with exercise.
- Our skin will age and wrinkle. Yes, but there are things we can do to mitigate it.
- Our muscles will atrophy. Keep moving.
- Our joints will fail. Learn ways to protect them.
- Everyone will get cancer, diabetes or heart disease. “The Mission Daily” reports that up to 34% of cancer risk is directly attributed to life-style choices. Weight loss lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that 2% of heart disease and heart attacks in women can be attributed to smoking, lack of exercise, being overweight or eating a high glycemic-index diet. Take better care of yourself.
NOSEDIVE
Age is not a bad word. We know that many factors impact our health, especially as we age. Our body doesn’t have to take a nosedive simply because the clock is ticking. Get active. Quit smoking. Eat well. Stay hydrated. Indulge in moderation. Limit stress. Prioritize sleep. Focus on positivity. Practice gratitude. Engage in charitable acts. Stay social. Never stop learning. Stop complaining. Consult your healthcare provider.
HDD
Beauty is much more than external appearances. All the surgery, drugs and quick fixes on the planet will not allow you escape the inevitable. Aging is real. Body acceptance assists you in doing it gracefully and peacefully. If your beautifully aging body requires diagnostic ultrasound, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Dec 9, 2024 | Uncategorized
Thank you for joining me for this week’s blog. As it occasionally happens, today I sit at the keyboard with a touch of writer’s block. I expect that within a few minutes, ideas will start ruminating so that you might come away with a bit of motivation and inspiration. The mid December 2024 blog will be born shortly. Wait for it…
EXPECTATIONS
Years ago, I had the privilege of working for an extraordinary doctor and friend. He was kind, peaceful and unassuming. His wise words still resonate with me. Unlike the typical type A personality, he was calm and collected. I’m grateful for his lasting impact on my life. See how his wisdom might inspire you.
CHANGE IS CONSTANT
His gentle words of advice to me were, “Change is constant, growth is optional.” I recall bolting into his office with a frenetic list of things that needed attention immediately. He would sit back, listen and smile at my energetic delivery of the tasks at hand then calmly remind me to breathe, slow down, and “Let go of things I can’t control.”
HOLIDAYS
With the holidays in our face, the expectations amp up a million times higher than other times of the year. The self-imposed expectation of a heavily decorated home that would make Clark Griswald proud, the lengthy list of cards to produce, the line at the post office, the cookies to bake, a plethora of wrapped gifts nestled under a Pinterest worthy tree and attending or hosting parties each week are just the tip of the holiday iceberg. I’m exhausted just typing this paragraph. This reminds me of the pressure of holiday expectations.
LET IT GO
Consider what might happen if you didn’t expect. Then perhaps you won’t be disappointed. This year, I’m attempting a slightly different approach. What is the worst thing that can happen if I didn’t accomplish all of the above? The answer is nothing. The holidays will come and go as they always do. This year, try granting yourself a little more peace with a lower expectation. No one needs a stroke or heart attack from the stress the holidays bring. There is certainly something to be said for “Letting it go.”
QUOTE DU JOUR
“You are your own worst enemy. If you can learn to stop expecting impossible perfection, in yourself and others, you may find the happiness that has always eluded you.”
-Lisa Kleypas
HDD
We expect to wake up with a healthy functioning brain and a body that moves effortlessly from point A to point B. Although most of this is automatic to many of us, some are not so lucky. Take good care of yourself especially during this busy holiday season. Your health is the greatest gift you will ever receive. Lower your expectations, let go of things you can’t control and take really good care of you. If we at HDD can help with any of your diagnostic ultrasound needs, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Dec 4, 2024 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog has to do with flexibility. Think about it. Are you flexible or inflexible when it comes to your opinions, situation, mind, body and health? Maybe that is a good thing, then again, maybe not. Is there a possibility that there is another way, a different way and perhaps even a better way? Stretch out and see how it works for you.
BRAIN COLONIC
You don’t have to swallow everything you are being fed. Sometimes it is a good idea to think for yourself and consider an alternative. Maybe we could all use a “brain colonic” to clean out a bunch of antiquated ideas that we are so convinced are true. There is only one way to skin a cat, right? Wrong. Thankfully Christopher Columbus didn’t buy into that!
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED
When was the last time you got in the car and put the rubber to the road? Perhaps you opened up Google maps, entered your destination and took off. Clearly there are a few different routes you can take to get to your destination. Sometimes you even get rerouted. John and I live and Albuquerque. We would be fools to believe the only route to Denver is north on I-25. Perhaps it is the quickest way, but is it the only way? Not necessarily. Ask those who have taken a road less traveled
There are things you will miss if you travel through life with tunnel vision.
TOUCH YOUR TO TOES
Stop reading for a minute and stand up. Straighten your knees a bit and attempt to touch your toes. How did you do? Can you bend at the waist and put your hands on the floor? If so, congratulations on your amazing flexibility. There are myriad benefits to being flexible. If not and are you one of those who can barely bend over to pick up something off the floor, work on that flexibility and soon you will reap the benefits.
PANCAKES ANYONE?
You might believe that P. Diddy is a lying sack of suds while others might actually believe he is innocent. There are those who can’t believe Arianna Grande is nowhere to be found on this year’s Grammy nominations. Opinions do differ. Remain open to new ideas. Although flexibility can be frustrating and scary, some feel like it beats the alternative. Inflexibility can feel like a security blanket. Many will stay the course rather than face the uncertainty that change implies. Remember, no matter how flat you make a pancake, it has two sides.
HEALTH
Like Google maps, there are different routes you can take to arrive at a destination. When it comes to your health, have an open, flexible mind. One size does not fit all. Find a provider you are comfortable with. Ask questions, listen carefully and perhaps take notes. Consider alternatives. Be your best health advocate. If we can help, call us at 505-350-3397.
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