Flu Season Is Coming

Before you know it, flu season will rear its ugly head. It is never too early to start following tips that can prevent you from catching the flu and ending up sick in bed.

How to Prevent Catching and/or Transmitting the Flu Virus:

If sneezing, cough into your sleeve or into a tissue. Always cover your mouth and teach your children the importance of doing the same.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after sneezing or coughing. Use alcohol-based cleaners whenever necessary.
Avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose since germs are spread this way.
If you find yourself sick with symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. The only exception to this is if you need to seek medical treatment.
Pay attention to public health advice regarding school closures or other closings due to illness.
Get the flu vaccine every year and use whatever flu drugs may be available Please see below for further information.
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids and eat a nutritious diet.
Additional medical steps that can be taken to avoid the flu:

Seasonal flu – The main method to avoid getting the flu is to get the flu vaccine every year. It’s readily available at clinics or doctor’s offices and even drug stores throughout your community. You must get a new vaccine every year because the strain of flu virus will change. While a shot is the primary method available, ask your physician about the flu mist. It is a nasal spray flu vaccine and is approved for ages 2-49.

However, you should not take the flu mist if you fall into one of the groups listed below:

• You have lung conditions that include asthma or heart conditions
• You have diabetes or kidney dysfunction
• You have Guillain-Barre syndrome
• You are pregnant
• You have a history of allergy or sensitivity to eggs or any parts of the flu mist
• You are a child or teen who regularly takes aspirin or aspirin products

Who Should Be Vaccinated?

While it is recommended that everyone get vaccinated, the following groups are at the top of the priority list:

• Children and adolescents ages six months to 19 years
• Adults 50 years or older
• People with chronic lung, heart or kidney problems
• Diabetics
• Those with weak immune systems
• People with anemia
• Women who will be more than three months pregnant during flu season
• People in nursing homes
• Those in close contact with children newborn to 23 months
• Because your body takes time to adjust to the vaccine, you should get the shot or flu mist six to eight weeks before the flu season begins in November.

Start practicing healthy living now and follow the above tips and you will be in great shape when flu season comes knocking!

Q: Is your philtrum under your nose, tongue, or chin?

A: It’s under your nose. It is the vertical crease between your upper lip and nose.

Wake Internal Medicine Opens New Division ― Wake Sports Medicine

Wake Internal Medicine Consultants is pleased to announce a new division, Wake Sports Medicine. The practice is based at our Blue Ridge Road offices in Raleigh.

Matthew-Kanaan-smDr. Matthew Kanaan has joined our family of practices to lead Wake Sports Medicine. He specializes in non-surgical orthopaedic care, treating sports injuries, arthritis, tendonitis, and other common orthopaedic issues. Additionally, he performs ultrasound guided joint injections and advanced injections including prolotherapy, hyaluronic acid, and platelet-rich plasma.

Dr. Kanaan completed his Fellowship at Duke Sports Medicine in Primary Care Sports Medicine and his internship and residency at Duke Medical Center in Family Medicine. While at Duke he served as an assistant team physician for the football, basketball and lacrosse teams. He earned his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2009.

Prior to medical school Dr. Kanaan spent five years as a college psychology professor. He has a M.S. in clinical psychology from the University of Central Florida and a B.S. in psychology from Liberty University.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kanaan, please call 919-781-7500.

Q: If you have the condition named “bromidrosis”
do you have smelly breath, feet or armpits?

A: You have smelly feet!

Kids Sports and Concussions

If it seems like kids’ sports have become more physical in the past few years, you are probably not wrong. Along with the physicality of sports for children comes a growing awareness and concern about concussions. A concussion is an injury to the head which can temporarily interfere with the way the brain works. It can be caused by a blow to the head, a fall, a motor vehicle accident or a sports injury. While most sports-related concussions are mild and allow for a complete recovery, it is vital to know what symptoms to look out for. An unheeded concussion that does not have time to heal can lead to a potentially fatal situation. Concussions take time to heal and if your child returns to sports before the initial concussion is healed, a second blow to the head could result in fatal brain swelling. Schools and sports teams are taking the situation very seriously, and your child usually will need a doctor’s permission to resume activities.

It is important to note that symptoms of a concussion may appear hours and even days after the trauma to the head. Some of the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome can be confusing to a child if he or she does not know that they have a concussion in the first place. So, educating yourself and your child on possible symptoms can greatly help in the healing process. Make sure your child is aware that any blow to the head can lead to a mild or serious concussion.

Symptoms of a concussion:

• Headache or a pressure-filled feeling in the head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or feelings of being off balance
• Vision issues – blurry or double vision
• Mood changes not typical to your child
• Sleeping problems that suddenly develop
• Numbness or tingling in any body part
• Memory problems
• Sensitivity to noise or light
• Confusion
• Difficulty paying attention

If your child exhibits any of these symptoms after a head injury, seek medical treatment immediately. Your child’s doctor will be able to diagnose the severity of the injury and take steps to determine when it is safe for your child to return to school, sports or other regular activities.

Q: When you sneeze, at how many miles-per-hour does the spray
shoot out of your nose? 50, 100, or 150?

A: 100 miles-per-hour.

September Is Ovarian Cancer Month

pink ribbonWith September being Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, it is an excellent time to talk about the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Perhaps the most frightening part of ovarian cancer is that it frequently does not result in symptoms until the cancer has already spread extensively beyond the ovary. Regular medical checkups are crucial for women to detect any sort of growths in the ovaries. Most ovarian growths in women under the age of 30 are benign, fluid-filled cysts.

What is ovarian cancer? There are several different types of ovarian cancer. The most common type arises from the outside layer of cells on the surface of the ovary. Other types can develop from the egg-forming cells. Benign or noncancerous tumors or cysts are found in the ovary and are much more common than cancer of the ovary.

Who is at risk for ovarian cancer? If you have a family history or have had cancer yourself, your risk of ovarian cancer is increased. Other risk factors include being over the age of 55 and never having been pregnant.

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer? Symptoms for ovarian cancer can be a bit vague and can mimic other illnesses. Call you doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

• Abdominal swelling
• A feeling of being full that comes on quickly
• Frequent urination or an urgency to urinate
• Back pain
• Leg pain
• Unusual vaginal bleeding

There are no routine tests to detect ovarian cancer. While a pap smear is used to detect uterine cancer, the pelvic exam done by your doctor will be the most accurate test to determine if any bumps or abnormalities can be felt in the ovary. If your doctor does detect something, which most likely will be a benign cyst, further tests will be administered. These tests can include blood work, ultrasound and a biopsy to remove tissue to analyze for cancer cells.

The best defense against a “silent” cancer such as ovarian cancer is education and awareness. Educate yourself to the signs and be aware of how your body feels each and every day. Along with regular physical exams by your doctor, you will be able to help detect and/or prevent ovarian cancer. For more information on ovarian cancer, please refer to the link below:

www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/

Tendonitis

WHAT IS TENDONITIS?

Tendonitis is inflammation and/or degeneration of a tendon. The tendon is the portion of the muscle that attaches to the bone. This area has a lot of force placed on it, and for that reason it is a common source of injury and pain. Most injuries of the tendon are overuse conditions, which are caused by repetitive actions usually associated with poor form, improper warm up, inflexibility and improper cool down.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis of tendonitis includes patient history, physical examination and sometimes imaging tests. Physical examination findings include palpation for tenderness, swelling, nodules, warmth and increased width of the tendon. Ultrasound is the most reliable in determining the thickness of the tendon and is most convenient as it can be performed during the patient encounter.

TREATMENTS

The most effective and first line treatment is still the R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) regimen along with oral NSAIDs. This regimen should be used immediately after an injury and has shown to reduce recovery time.

Formal physical therapy is often needed. Regaining flexibility, strength, power, muscular endurance, balance and coordination will be the primary goals in the rehabilitation of the injury.

Braces and sleeves can be used initially to limit the motion of the tendon in severe cases and allow healing.

Cortisone injections have anti-inflammatory properties and are widely used in tendon injuries and pain. These injections are best performed under ultrasound guidance to minimize the risk of incorrect placement of the injection into the tendon itself.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a new and cutting edge option for giving a biological boost to the body’s own healing process. PRP is processed from a person’s own blood while they wait in the office. Basically, it is a concentration of platelets that are found in the blood and contain many factors that are essential for healing an injured or diseased body region. Platelet rich plasma is injected under ultrasound guidance into the injured tendon, and since it is the patient’s own blood, the side effects are no greater than any other injection that may be performed.

Easy Exercises You Can Do Without a Gym

If the excuse you have used not to get fit is that you either can’t afford a membership to a gym or can’t carve out the time to get to the gym, excuse time is over! Getting fit at home can be fun and can fit into any schedule if you make the effort. First of all, you don’t have to have fancy machines or classes to get your exercise. Try some of these tips for creative exercise:

• Choose an activity you like that can be done outdoors. We are fortunate to live in a climate where you can exercise outdoors in some fashion most of the year. Try walking, running, hiking or biking. Tennis is great, as is soccer.
• Rent, check out or buy exercise videos. There are vast choices out there for every type of exercise you like. Dancing, traditional aerobics, strength training, walking…you name it, there is a video for it. Make sure you choose the level of fitness that fits you. Don’t buy an advanced level video if you are just beginning. It will demotivate you and end up sitting on the shelf. Also, you could end up injured.
• Turn on some music and DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!
• Jump rope.
• Do some chores! That’s right, another excuse out the window. Mix exercise and chores together…vacuum, mow the lawn, mop the floor. It all counts!
• Organize some sort of group sport with friends or family.

Strength Training Exercises: Make sure you add in strength training to your routine. While aerobic exercise is vital, strength training is equally important to building strong bones and muscles. Lower body exercises can be done without weights while upper body exercises do not require fancy weights. You can use soup cans, water bottles, water-filled milk jugs or a backpack filled with books to add weight. You should perform the exercises slowly and in a controlled manner. If at any time an exercise does not feel right, stop doing it. Be sure to follow proper lifting techniques when doing exercises and do not hold your breath in the process. There are books and online videos that you can use to show proper techniques and breathing. Here are a few tried and true strength training moves that can be simply done at home:

• Squats
• Plié squats
• Wall sits
• Lunges
• Gluteal squeeze – basically squeeze that rear end together and hold!
• Calf raises
• Push-ups
• Seated rows
• Arm dips- hands on a chair or bench, feet on the floor, scoot off the chair and lower your body, then straighten and return to start
• Bicep curls

RULES FOR HOME EXERCISE:

• Always warm up before starting your activity.
• Aim for 30 minutes of activity per day. It does not have to be all at one time and all one activity, but strive to get that heart pumping and blood moving.
• Choose the right equipment and clothing for the sport you will be doing.
• Switch up your aerobic exercise. If you stick with the same thing every day, you will get bored. Also switch up the intensity. Walk slowly for two minutes and then very briskly for one minute. Repeat 10 times.
• For strength training, repeat exercises until you feel fatigue in the muscles.
• Make sure you stretch at the end of a routine.
• With any exercise routine, whether it is at the gym or at home, consult your doctor with your plan before beginning.

Linguine Carbonara With Zucchini

a recipe from “Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes” by Jeanne Kelley
Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 ounces apple wood smoked bacon
½ onion, thinly sliced
3 medium zucchini, sliced into ¼ inch thick rounds
½ pound linguine
2 eggs, room temperature
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Cut bacon crosswise into ½ inch pieces and fry in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel to drain. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the skillet and save for another use. Add the onion to the skillet and sauté over medium high heat until just golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add the zucchini and sauté until it is golden brown and tender.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of rapidly boiling and generously salted water until tender but firm, about 9 minutes. Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup of the cooking water. Whisk the eggs together in a medium sized bowl, then add the Parmesan cheese, a generous pinch of salt and a grinding of pepper. Gradually whisk in ¼ cup of the cooking water.

Add the pasta to the zucchini mixture in the skillet and heat briefly. Remove the skillet from the heat. Pour the egg mixture into the pasta and stir until the pasta is creamy, about 2 minutes. Add some of the remaining cooking water to moisten if needed. Stir in the bacon and parsley. Serve pasta in a bowl and add some additional Parmesan cheese.