National Nurses Week, advice for patients

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Holly Lambert

For sound advice on how to make your next medical visit easier, whom better to ask than the people making it happen – nurses. Numbering more than 3 million nationwide, nurses not only comprise the largest workforce in the health care industry, but a recent Gallup poll also shows they’re the most trusted profession.

In honor of National Nurses Week, May 6-12, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Nursing faculty provide these tips for patients:

  • Come prepared – Your physician will need to know everything about your past and present medical conditions, allergies, current medications (including vitamins and over-the-counter medications), and other physicians you have seen (and when). Have this information readily available – even type up beforehand – and bring it with you to the appointment. Health care staff can use this information to complete forms and decrease repetitive questions.
  • Bring a trusted family member or friend – When discussing our health, we often can get overwhelmed and forget important questions to ask. Someone who knows you well can remind you of topics to discuss and guide you when overloaded with information. Make sure you discuss those topics before your appointment so you’re on the same page.
  • Ask questions – Direct questions can get you the answers you are really seeking. When in doubt, use the National Patient Safety Foundation’s “Ask Me 3” approach, a quick and effective tool designed to improve health communication between you and your health care provider. Ask these three simple questions at your next visit: What is my pain problem? What do I need to do? Why is it important for me to do this? Repeat back what you hear to ensure you correctly interpreted your condition, diagnosis and care plan. Remember, if you don’t understand the answers the first time, it’s OK to ask for clarification.

 

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6, designated RN Recognition Day, and ends May 12 on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing as a modern profession. This week highlights the diverse ways in which registered nurses work to save lives and improve the health of individuals worldwide, so thank a nurse who has made an impact in your life or life of a loved one.

 
Contact Information

Holly Lambert

hlambert@tamhsc.edu  |  979-436-0129


The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides health education, outreach and research through its colleges and campuses in Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Temple, Houston, Round Rock, Kingsville, Corpus Christi and McAllen.

Physical activity extends lives, reduces cancer risk

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Rae Lynn Mitchell

We all know physical activity is good for you and makes you feel better. New research now suggests even more reasons to stay active and keep moving.

Even mild physical activity is associated with longer life expectancy, regardless of body weight. According to a recent study funded by the National Cancer Institute, people who engaged in leisure time physical activity had life expectancy gains of as much as 4.5 years.

Marcia Ory, Ph.D.

Dr. Marcia Ory

“Physical activity is one of the best things you can do for yourself to stay healthy,” says Regents and Distinguished Professor Marcia Ory, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) School of Rural Public Health and a leading researcher in cancer survivorship and aging. “Yet, today only about 31 percent of U.S. adults say they engage in any kind of regular physical activity.”

According to Dr. Ory, a person who gets up in the morning and spends 30 minutes on the treadmill or walking in the neighborhood feels pretty good – and he or she should. But what happens during the other 15 hours or so the person is awake? Most Americans are sitting in a car, a desk or at home, resulting in their being active only 3 percent of the day. By thinking about being active the other 97 percent, that person can reduce cancer and other chronic disease risks.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends adults ages 18-64 engage in regular aerobic physical activity for 2.5 hours at moderate intensity – or 1.25 hours at vigorous intensity – each week. Moderate activities include brisk walking, gardening or housework. Vigorous activities include running, fast dancing or lifting heavy loads.

Deborah Vollmer Dahlke, chair of the Cancer Alliance of Texas and affiliate of the TAMHSC-School of Rural Public Health Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network, reports from her vast review of research that “being more active has been proven to not only reduce cancer risks but also improve the health and quality of life of cancer survivors.”

When it comes to practical tips for moving more, we’ve all heard to “take the stairs, not the elevator.” According to Dr. Ory, it’s still good advice, but there are many more ways to get physically active breaks in your day:

  • “Buzz me active” Set a timer on your phone or your computer to remind you every 40-60 minutes that it’s time to stand up, stretch and take a brief walk, outside if possible.
  • “Walk with me” Need to have a quick chat with a family member or a co-worker? Instead of sending a text or an email, suggest going for a walk.
  • “Stand to talk” Standing desks are great, but if you don’t have one, you can always stand up every time you answer the phone. If the cord is long enough or you have a speakerphone, you can walk around, do deep knee bends and stretch while talking on the phone.
  • “Stay Webinar Fit” Hourlong webinars are great times for stretch breaks. You can attend to business while stretching or using weights. Keep a flexibility stretch band or a pair of hand weights at your desk for use during webinars and long conference calls.
  • “Park to walk” When you are shopping or at an off-site meeting, park your car at the furthest edge of the lot. Enjoy the opportunity for an outdoor physical activity break.

 

“Think of exercise as medicine,” Dr. Ory says. “Regular exercise can reduce the need for medications and costly health care treatments. There are many different types of exercise, chose one that you enjoy – this will help you stay active for life.”

 
Contact Information

Rae Lynn Mitchell

rlmitchell@srph.tamhsc.edu  |  (979) 458-0773


The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides health education, outreach and research through its colleges and campuses in Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Temple, Houston, Round Rock, Kingsville, Corpus Christi and McAllen.

Dangers of synthetic marijuana

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Cheri Shipman

Synthetic marijuana products are distributed worldwide under countless trade names and packaged in colorful wrappers to appeal to teens, young adults and first-time drug users. But its use can be life-threatening.

Head shot of Dr. Joy Alonzo

Dr. Joy Alonzo

Joy P. Alonzo, Pharm. D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, says very little is known about the drug in the medical community.

“It won’t come up on a typical toxicology screen,” Dr. Alonzo says. “It’s just so new that no one is used to seeing it.”

People of all ages have tried synthetic marijuana, which health experts say can be just as addictive and deadly as meth or even crack cocaine.

“These drugs were intended to study marijuana and were not tested in humans,” says Steven Peterson, Ph.D., associate dean of academic affairs and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at TAMHSC-Rangel College of Pharmacy. “Now by using these drugs, people are turning themselves into the test guinea pigs. If you use these, you are becoming the guinea pig.”

Head shot of Dr. Peterson

Dr. Steven Peterson

Synthetic marijuana has been linked to kidney damage, and other adverse effects include agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, racing heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, tremor, seizures, hallucinations and paranoid behavior.

“The inconsistent reaction in people is because of the inconsistency of the mixture and potency of the synthetic; there is no quality control,” Dr. Peterson says. “There is much more consistency in nicotine for cigarettes because it is monitored. You do not know what you are buying and using when you take synthetic marijuana.”

 
Contact Information

Cheri Shipman

cshipman@pharmacy.tamhsc.edu  |  


The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides health education, outreach and research through its colleges and campuses in Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Temple, Houston, Round Rock, Kingsville, Corpus Christi and McAllen.

As temperatures rise, so does heat exhaustion risk

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Jeremiah McNichols

Kory Gill has summer on his mind, but it isn’t because of an upcoming vacation.

A sports medicine physician at Texas A&M Physicians and regular team physician for Bryan-College Station High Schools and Texas A&M University, Gill knows summer fun brings new risks to children and families. And one of the biggest and most often overlooked hazards is heat exhaustion.

Dr. Kory Gill

Dr. Kory Gill

“Our bodies keep us cool primarily by sweating, because the evaporation of sweat has a cooling effect,” says Gill, D.O., of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. “Heat exhaustion occurs whenever your body can’t keep itself cool, either because sweating isn’t enough to cool you down, or you aren’t well-hydrated enough to produce enough sweat.”

But, he adds heat exhaustion isn’t just a summer hazard.

“The outside temperature, the amount of liquid you’re taking in and how strenuously you’re exerting yourself are all factors,” Dr. Gill says. “This can become a real risk for children, not just in the summer but in the spring. Humidity is also a factor, because it reduces your sweat’s evaporation, which makes sweating less effective in cooling you down.”

Dr. Gill says people tend to think of heatstroke occurring under extreme circumstances –the peak of summer or playing through a long football game – without understanding that the risk of heat exhaustion can be present even without these extremes.

“Playing outside – whether it’s on the playground or in organized sports – puts kids at risk of heat exhaustion, which can present as dizziness, confusion, nausea and headaches as their body temperature rises to an abnormal level,” he says. “The high temperatures also put a person in danger of having heatstroke, which is even more threatening because it can cause damage to your organs and brain, or even lead to death.”

To prevent heat exhaustion, Dr. Gill recommends parents ensure children are drinking plenty of liquids when active outside and they take breaks periodically throughout the day to cool off. If symptoms develop, bring the child into a cool indoor environment immediately; give a cool bath or shower, if possible; and provide plenty of cool liquids the rest of the day, avoiding further physical activity. Should symptoms persist for an hour or worsen, take the child to a doctor.

Tips for heat exhaustion and other summer safety are available in the Texas A&M Physicians’ Kids’ Summer Survival Guide.

 
Contact Information

Jeremiah McNichols

mcnichols@medicine.tamhsc.edu  |  


The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides health education, outreach and research through its colleges and campuses in Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Temple, Houston, Round Rock, Kingsville, Corpus Christi and McAllen.

Maintain mental health during tax season

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Scott Maier

As the April 15 deadline for filing your federal income tax return approaches, financial stressors may be rearing their ugly little heads – in your head. Financial stress, especially exacerbated at tax time, can cause a host of mental health concerns that include anxiety and depression.

Head shot of Dr. David Dranetz in COM

David M. Dranetz, M.D.

Mentally speaking, finances are a hot-button issue because they affect everyone. Add to that a seemingly mysterious, arbitrary, uncompromising, even threatening tax system, and people can feel powerless and without control.

“Financial stress affects us at a very basic level, leading to fears about loss of future security and feelings of lacking control,” says David M. Dranetz, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and physician at Texas A&M Physicians.

When those fears and feelings arise, the mind can cause the body some serious mental heartburn. For instance, Dr. Dranetz explains that financial stress has been linked not only to mental health concerns like depression but also to physical ailments including insomnia and unhealthy coping behaviors like drinking, smoking and overeating.

And, financial stress affects everyone.

“Often, it is best to try to accept the things beyond our control, taking things one day at a time instead of predicting the future,” Dr. Dranetz says. “The emotional support of others is also often helpful. We are not always as alone in dealing with a problem as we sometimes feel we are.”

 
Contact Information

Scott Maier

samaier@tamhsc.edu  |  (979) 436-0614


The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides health education, outreach and research through its colleges and campuses in Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Temple, Houston, Round Rock, Kingsville, Corpus Christi and McAllen.

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