by Kristi Jain | Apr 28, 2021 | Uncategorized
I hope you enjoy reading today’s blog. Perhaps while you do so, you have a loyal furry friend resting comfortably in your lap. In my case, I have a snobbish terrier under my feet who could care less and a large goofy Labrador slobbering on them. Today’s blog discusses the health benefits of having pets.
OUR BUDDIES
John’s and my life would simply not be the same without our two little canine buddies greeting us when we get home. They are always hopeful a morsel will drop off the dinner table, exhibit total euphoria for a post dinner walk and can’t wait to curl up at the foot of our bed after an exhausting day of napping.
TO PET OR NOT TO PET
I realize there are a few of you who couldn’t imagine a life of copious amounts of pet hair, letting critters out periodically throughout the day, feedings and scooping poo. There are vet bills, food cost, training, grooming along with various discipline problems. If you’ve ever been in panic mode about finding a pet sitter, raise your hand. The above mentioned might dissuade you from being a pet owner. However, we can’t imagine life without them.
PETS CAN IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH
Can you feel the love the minute you walk in the door? Research has shown that living with pets provide health benefits. WebMD suggests that pets can help lower blood pressure and lessen anxiety. They boost our immunity. Oddly enough, they say they can even help you single folks get dates. Interesting. Let me know how that works for you.
ALLERGIES?
James E. Gern, MD, a pediatrician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison tells WebMD that a growing number of studies have suggested that kids growing up in a home with furred animals, whether it’s a cat, dog or farm animal will have less risk of allergies and asthma.
SENIOR MOMENTS
Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s patients have fewer anxious outburst if there is an animal available to them says Lynette Hart, PhD. Their caregivers also feel less burdened when there is a pet. Caring for a pet for the elderly who are able can provide exercise and companionship.
CHEER UP!
WebMD has been my source du jour. They say that pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression. The benefit is especially pronounced when people are strongly attached to their pets. In one study, those with high blood pressure had lower reading in stressful situations than did people without pets. Playing with your pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine which are nerve transmitter that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties.
HDD
Yes it’s true. If your pet has health issues, diagnostic ultrasound is an option for them. Consult your vet for further information. Stay tuned. At some point in the near future, HDD is hoping to be able to provide Ultrasound for your furry friends as well! If you need ultrasound, consult us. We can be reached at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Apr 20, 2021 | Uncategorized
I hope today finds you happy, healthy and ready to slay dragons! A healthy morning meal, a bit of exercise and a good night’s sleep will help insure you make the most of another day. We take it for granted that we will rise, shine and function well. Hopefully, that is the case. Is there more we can do to facilitate this?
ELUSIVE SLEEP
Many of us find a good night’s sleep to be a challenge. Once we find the conditions right and establish a comfortable sleeping position, we assume a blissful night’s sleep will follow. Not so fast. Studies suggest the position of your body while you sleep may have an impact on your overall health. This didn’t make a lot of sense until I did some research. This is what I found.
FLIP FLOP
Sleeping face up might relieve back pain but exacerbate sleep apnea. While side sleeping may relieve you sleep apnea, you may find it hurts your back. Sleeping on your tummy may alleviate sleep apnea and snoring but can cause neck or back pain. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with in increased risk of heart failure.
RELOCATION?
Get a load of this. If you’re dealing with a heart condition, sleeping on your left side may increase pressure on your heart. It is thought to reposition your heart in your chest and change its electrical activity. It’s not clear if this effect is large enough to be of concern. I’d love to hear cardiologist Dr. Harvey White’s opinion on this one. Feel free to chime in at any time Dr. White!
RIGHT ON
Healthline.com suggests that those who sleep on their right side have their heart held in place by a thin layer of tissue between the lungs called the mediastinum. Some experts think that sleeping on your right side could compress your vena cava which is the vein that feeds into the right side of your heart.
CLEARLY UNCLEAR
A 2018 review of studies published in the Journal of Clinical sleep Medicine found that both poor sleep quality and short sleep duration are associated with a risk of coronary heart disease. It is not clear what is the best sleeping position for your heart health if you don’t already have an underlying heart condition. Seems like getting quality sleep is more important that your sleeping position.
ALL THIS TO SAY…
It remains unclear what the best way to sleep is best for your heart health. Research seems to suggest that not getting enough sleep or poor sleep quality raises your risk of developing heart disease, obviously among other factors. Staying well rested is critical for maintaining optimal heart health no matter how you hit the mattress. Today’s blog didn’t solve the world’s problems, but I believe it gave us something to think about!
HDD
If you have concerns about your heart health, contact your healthcare provider immediately. If they determine diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, we can help. Call us at 505-350-3397.
Buenas noches!
by Kristi Jain | Apr 14, 2021 | Uncategorized
Today as I sit at the keyboard expecting inspiration to arrive, I find myself struggling slightly to churn out another addition of the weekly HDD Blog. This is not entirely unusual. I can’t always expect a stoke of genius to pop into my head and out of my fingertips. When this doesn’t magically happen for me, I often feel a twinge of frustration and disappointment.
AN OLD FRIEND
I had a friend years ago that was a huge source of inspiration and joy. As the matter of fact, I worked for him for many years. Among myriad things he taught me, one of them was, “Where there is no expectation, there is no disappointment.” This is one of those pearls of wisdom I will never forget. Dr. P remains indelibly imprinted in my heart and mind.
EXPECTATION
How would Mr. Webster define expectation? He would say expectation is a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future. I imagine a hefty percentage of us have a laundry list of expectations each day. The question is, how often do you see your expectations come to fruition and how often do we feel disappointment?
TEMPORARY BOOST
Verywellmind.com gives us the following thoughts. While we believe the ideal job, perfect relationship or large bank account will change our happiness levels permanently, the temporary boost of joy is surprisingly short lived. Research backs up the idea that we may not fully appreciate what we have when we are expecting or comparing what we we could have.
EXPECTATION VS. REALITY
Our expectations can create significant stress when they don’t match up to reality. The following are a few ways to build awareness of expectation vs. reality.
- When you go into a new situation, ask yourself what you expect to happen.
- Ask yourself if your expectations should be this way. Where did these expectations come from and are they realistic?
- When you feel disappointed, try to think about whether it was realistic to expect what you were hoping for. If so, plan for getting what you want next time. If not, think about managing your expectations and how to do this.
A WORD FROM VERYWELL.COM
Ultimately, striving for more can lead you to work harder and do your best. It can also rob you of joy, especially when you expect things to unfold in a certain way. Becoming more aware of your expectations and how they change your feeling toward your own reality can free you from disappointment and stress that come from unrealistic expectations.
EXPECTATIONS FROM HDD
When diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, go ahead and expect the absolute best High Desert Doppler has to offer. Our goal is to never disappoint you. We have been in business since 2008 and are going strong. Covid didn’t get the better of us. We have been here the entire time for your ultrasound needs. We hire the most competent, knowledgeable, and people pleasing staff we can find! Call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Apr 6, 2021 | Uncategorized
Hello! Thank you for stopping by to read today’s blog about mistakes. While in the process of writing weekly blogs for HDD, I admittedly make an occasional mistake. That is why I rely on my buddy Tanya to edit them, so they read slightly better than when she receives them. Suffice it to say, mistakes happen!
WHOEVER IS PERFECT, RAISE THEIR HAND
There is not one soul among us, from the entry level “newbie” to the most educated and experienced professional who doesn’t make occasional mistakes. We are not perfect. Mistakes are how we learn as well as teaching us how to avoid making them in the future. Forget the mistake, remember the lesson.
MISTAKES TO AVOID
I read an article on www.lifehack.org about the very thing we are discussing today. I believe it pertains to many of us and is worth sharing. It suggests a few mistakes in life to stop making to avoid regrets.
- Following someone else’s dream. The pain of your unfulfilled dreams is more severe than disappointing others.
- Taking your loved ones for granted. Don’t waste the opportunity to show those you care about how much they mean to you.
- Pretending to be someone you are not. The most admirable and inspiring people are the ones who are their true authentic selves.
- Burning bridges. As the adage says, be kind to the people you meet on the way up because you’ll meet them on your way down.
- Telling lies. Telling the truth will insure you will never look back with regret and remorse for lies told.
- Forgetting to live in the moment. There is nothing worse than reaching goals and discovering you have no clue how you got there.
- Denying happiness. Do good and spread happiness. It adds value to your own life as well as others.
- Not standing up for yourself and others. Never stand by passively as an injustice takes place.
- Disregarding your health and wellness. Your health is your life. Never disregard it.
ATTENTION PLEASE
Whatever you are doing deserves your full attention so, figure out why you made a mistake in the first place. Be mindful. Prepare for tasks and avoid distractions. Slow down and leave time to double check. Do one thing at a time. Prioritize your tasks each day. Set reminders on your phone. Take breaks. Ask questions. Make a checklist. Be clear about your role. Listen, review and learn. And there you have it!
HDD
I won’t pretend to say that we at HDD have never made a mistake. When a discrepancy arises we always appreciate constructive feedback on how we can make an immediate correction. Make no mistake, we strive to deliver professional, quality, timely diagnostic ultrasound service to you.
“Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.”
-John Ruskin
Allow us to show you a quality ultrasound experience from the team at High Desert Doppler. Call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Mar 31, 2021 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog asks the question, are you in the zone today? Did you wake up grouchy and tired? Often this state of being means that copious amounts of coffee are the only means of survival. If this sounds familiar, you are probably not in the zone. Perhaps it’s time to wake up and experience “the flow.”
IN THE ZONE
I was inspired for the “In the Zone” blog from an audio book I’m listening to narrated by Oprah Winfrey. Love her or not, it is a great book that considers many interesting points of view. It is uplifting, inspiring and worth a read (or listen.) It is called “The Path Made Clear.”
IN THE ZONE
First, let’s clarify what it means to be in the zone. If you are in the zone, you are happy or excited because you are doing something very skillfully and easily. Getting into the zone, also known as “being in a state of flow” usually happens when we are…
- Feeling energized.
- In a good mood and doing things we enjoy.
- Have some level of skill that meets the demands of the task.
CRUSH IT
I love days when you crush it! Some days it is natural and easy then there are other days we have positively no interest in reaching the zone. Occasionally you need to mentally and physically veg out. That’s okay but don’t stay in that state of unresponsiveness. If you’re not feeling particularly motivated, how does one get into the zone?
FOCUS
Performance psychology suggests that if we sharpen our focus and attention you increase the chances of achieving flow. Reduce distractions, both environmental and internal that can get in the way of seeing and doing. Gain confidence and trust in yourself and your abilities. Match your skills and challenges and you will increase the chance of getting into the flow. The feeling is euphoric if you allow yourself to get there.
GOOD THINGS TAKE TIME
It may take some effort to get into a state of flow. It can take a few minutes of seriously focusing on a task to fully reach it depending on the task at hand. FYI, constantly checking social media is a surefire way to derail your focus and yank you out of the zone. Before you “zone out” be sure to check your e-mails, Instagram, and snapchat. Be certain enough friends have “liked” your latest selfie so you can now put your phone away and let it flow!
YOUR HEALTH
Make sure you are staying in the zone when it comes to your health and wellness. Don’t think about your health only when you feel unwell or there is a problem. Your health is your life. Take care of yourself as if your life depends on it because it does.
HDD
We are a team and in the zone and here at HDD. We are dedicated to helping you in the diagnosis and maintenance of your health. When diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Mar 23, 2021 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog is kind of fun. It asks and answers a few of those head scratching questions that perhaps you always wondered about. If you are anything like me, I have good intentions of looking something up then forget, or sometimes the question is too embarrassing to ask. Let’s see if we can answer a few of those head scratchers today.
OLD WIVES TALES
My former mother in law more than a quarter century ago used to give me advice. Some I gratefully took, and others I questioned. She advised if I rubbed fireplace ashes into my children’s chicken pox, they would disappear or if I put sliced potatoes on a feverish forehead, the fever would dissipate. Thanks, but no thanks.
WHAT’S UP DOC?
How many times were we told to eat our carrots because they are good for our eyesight? Each time the folks served carrots, right? Maybe the parental units were right. The fact is that carrots are rich in beta-carotene which the body utilizes to produce Vitamin A. Carrots are good for lowering cholesterol levels and yes, for improving vision. Vitamin A helps the eye convert light to a signal to the brain allowing you to see better in low light.
PLEASE PASS THE CRANBERRIES
Have you also heard that cranberry juice is good for a UTI (urinary tract infection?) WebMD says that cranberries don’t work for everyone and they don’t treat the UTIs that you already have. They do make urine more acidic which is less friendly to bacteria like Escherichia coli (E. coli) that are usually to blame. If you suspect a UTI, consult your provider pronto!
SPEAKING OF URINE…
Here is a subject that nobody really wants to discuss. Have you ever wondered why asparagus makes your urine smell funky? I looked it up and ww.aurorahealthcare.org gets down to the truth of the matter. The culprit of the funky smelling urine appears to be asparagusic acid. This is a compound high in sulfur and abundant in asparagus. When your body breaks down asparagusic acid, it releases volatile components that are responsible for the nasty smell of asparagus urine. Sometimes as quickly at 10 minutes! So, there you have it. You’re welcome.
GOUT ANYONE?
Hopefully you aren’t one of the lucky ones that suffers from gout. If you are, my condolences. It is a painful, crippling condition. Those affected know that cherry juice is sometimes recommended. Does it really help? I read that cherry juice lowers uric acid. That is the culprit of gout. Both the lowering of uric acid and the increase in antioxidants may help lessen the number of gout attacks. Also recommended are copious amounts of water, milk and interesting enough, coffee.
CHAT WITH YOUR PROVIDER
Before you make any dietary changes, be sure to chat with your provider. Perhaps dietary changes will suffice, and sometime good old-fashioned medicine may be in order.
HDD
I’m afraid that HDD can’t help much with poor eyesight, UTI’s, gout or funky urine. We can help with all of your diagnostic ultrasound needs. Call us at 505-350-3397.
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