“What kind of medical care would you want if you were too ill or hurt to express your wishes? Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to spell out your decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. They give you a way to tell your wishes to family, friends, and health care professionals and to avoid confusion later on.”
An Advance Directive is a legal document stating your healthcare wishes should you not be able to express them due to injury or illness.
An Advance Directive can be:
A Living Will
Power of attorney
DNR (Do Not Recusitate)
Organ Donation Card
Verbal Instructions
All states have different laws governing Advance Directives, check with your doctor, attorney or hospital for specific information in your state.
Most people do not have an Advance Directive, and if the need arises, the lack of one could create confusion and conflict.
Examples of stating your wishes
Not wanting a blood transfusion
Not wanting life support under certain circumstances
Invasive life safe-saving procedures
Write an Advance Directive according to your state’s laws. Give copies to your healthcare provider.
An advance directive will let family and health care professionals your wishes regarding the type of treatments you wish to have preformed, whether you wish invasive lifesaving measures, or not.
Advance Directives can be changed at anytime by you if you change your mind about anything. Inform your family, healthcare practitioners, or proxy of any changes and update any documents.
Carry a copy in your wallet and the glove box of your car.
Take a copy with you to the hospital, tell the staff over your care about the documents.
February is American Heart Month, and there’s no better time to make sure you’re staying heart healthy with simple lifestyle changes.
The CDC reports heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women and most racial and ethnic groups. In fact, one in four Americans die from heart disease each year–that’s about 647,000 Americans and one person every 37 seconds dying from cardiovascular disease. From 2014 to 2015, heart disease cost the US about $219 billion. That amount includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death.
Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing nearly 366,000 people in 2017. Just over 18 million adults 20 years old and over have CAD, with about two in 10 deaths reported in adults under 65.
In the US, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. Of the 805,000 Americans who have a heart attack each year, 605,000 are a first heart attack, 200,000 happen to people who’ve already had a heart attack, and about one in five is silent–meaning the damage is done but the person isn’t aware of it.
Being aware of the warning signs of a heart attack can be helpful, the number one presentation is chest pressure, tightness, or a squeezing sensation in your chest. This presentation is the same in men or women. Other symptoms include this sensation radiating to one’s arms, jaw or back. Sometimes cardiac symptoms are experienced as nausea, indigestion, or heartburn. Other signs include a cold sweat, shortness of breath, or light-headedness. Women have a higher incidence of experiencing these other symptoms rather than just the chest discomfort.
So how can you avoid heart issues? Simple lifestyle changes can help keep your heart healthy. First, don’t smoke or vape. If you are smoking or vaping, quit as soon as possible. Second, know your numbers. Be aware of your healthy weight, cholesterol, and your blood pressure. Third, check with your doctor to learn your blood sugar. Ask for a diabetic check-up during a wellness visit. Finally, get active, even during winter. The American Heart Association exercising 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, with a couple of the sessions to include resistance or weight training. The World Health Organization has shown that just walking 20 minutes a day can dramatically improve your health. If you aren’t ready to walk 20 minutes, start small with five to ten minutes a day and build up your time and distances.
Your diet can also make a major difference, both reversing effects and preventing future problems. Try increasing your consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains. Also make sure to put a focus on heart smart proteins like salmon. Limit junk food. Processed foods and sugar should be reduced or avoided completely.
Other ways to help stay heart healthy: rest. You’re encouraged to get at least seven hours of sleep each night. Try reducing your stress levels as well. You can do so by setting aside a 15-minute quiet period each day. Close your eyes, be free of digital devices, slow your breathing and de-stress. In addition, find a friend and do something for fun.
Influenza, also called “the flu,” is a contagious respiratory infection caused by a virus. It can cause mild to severe illness. Annually, more than 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized from flu complications and approximately 36,000 people die from flu. Last season, from 2016-2017, Idaho recorded a record number of flu-related deaths, totaling 72. And we’ve already gotten our first report of a flu-related death this season. Normally the peak of flu season is anytime between December and March, although flu season can start as early as October and last until May.
How do you know if you have the Flu?
The flu can present with the following non-specific signs and symptoms; abrupt onset of fever, muscle aches, severe fatigue, sore throat and dry cough that often make people sick enough to keep them in bed for several days, headache and runny or stuffy nose, and or stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can occur but are more common in children than adults. These symptoms are associated with other types of infections such as the common cold and other viruses. So if you are suffering from these symptoms please consider seeing your health care provider.
Some individuals, such as older people, young children, and those with certain underlying health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. Complications of flu can include pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children may get sinus issues and ear infections.
Aspirin or medications with salicylates, which are common ingredients in many cold medications, should not be given to children or adolescents that are sick with flu-like symptoms or fever. These ingredients have been linked with the development of Reye’s syndrome, which can lead to coma, brain damage, or even death in children and teenagers who are experiencing the flu, flu-like illnesses, or chicken pox.
What you can do to prevent the Flu!
Flu viruses spread in respiratory droplets caused by coughing or sneezing. They usually spread for person to person, though sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu virus on it and then touching their nose or mouth. Flu virus can be passed before visible symptoms develop.
5 easy steps to help avoid the Flu 1 Wash your hands often. 2 Stay home from work or school when you are sick. 3 Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. 4 Cover your cough and sneezes. 5 Get vaccinated!
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone older than 6 months get an annual flu shot since each year’s vaccine is created specifically for the strains of flu experts predict will be the most active in the coming year.
It’s especially important for certain vulnerable groups to get vaccinated, including children age 2 and younger, adults age 65 and older, pregnant women and anyone with certain medical conditions, including asthma or heart conditions.
Since the flu is unpredictable, a flu shot doesn’t mean you won’t get the flu – although the CDC says that it is the No. 1 way to avoid it – but even if you do get the flu after getting vaccinated, it will help cut down the length and severity of symptoms.
The flu vaccine is safe and effective, but it doesn’t guarantee you a flu-free year. The vaccine won’t protect you or your family from common colds or the more serious enterovirus—a respiratory illness that has infected children in almost two dozen states, including Idaho.
If you have any questions about whether you should get a flu shot, talk to your doctor.
Flu shots are readily available at doctors’ offices, clinics, local health departments, pharmacies and even in some workplaces. Better yet, the vast majority of health insurance plans cover the cost of your annual flu shot, so you’ll have no out-of-pocket costs.
Adam Saperston M.D. on KIVI TV Wellness Wednseday discussing how to reduce your risk of catching the cold and flu
You may not realize how big of an impact you can have just by getting a flu shot. Getting vaccinated is not just about you. It’s about protecting the ones you love and it’s also about the hundreds of people you come in contact with on a regular basis as well. The more protected you are against the flu, the more protected the public will be as well. The more people who get the flu shot, the better chance everyone in our area has of not getting sick this year.
Who am I? I’m a father of 2 daughters. I have been a young man who has been intoxicated and wanted to have sex with a young woman. And I am a physician. Alcohol is an inanimate substance that causes a bunch of side effects. And while alcohol is associated with a number of these cases – it does not provide any excuse for violent sexual assault. I’m clear that the father of this violent rapist is an insensitive pig and an utter failure as a father. Brock Taylor of Ohio has clearly demonstrated psychopathic traits and characteristics. His actions were monstrous. Lastly I don’t know where to begin with the heinous behavior of Judge Aaron Persky.
Brock Taylor Mug Shot – Credit: Santa Clara Sheriff’s Department
Let us start with the scene…A young super intelligent and talented man who claims he wants to be a surgeon-finds an unconscious lady due to probable alcohol toxicity-instead of calling 911 or offering aid- he violently sexually assaults her with everything at his disposal- to include foreign objects- you know – sticks, glass bottles and stuff. There is nothing to confuse about consensual here. We are defined as human beings by what are actions are – in the pivotal moments. This is who and what Brock Taylor is- He is a violent, depraved rapist. His actions in that moment demonstrated his character. Since those actions, he has portrayed himself as the victim in this and has chosen to not seek redemption nor make amends. This young man is a textbook sociopathic individual.
Now for his father, Daniel Taylor, a man who has resources and privilege, and who appears to feel entitled to a different set of standards because he has these things. His words in that court painted his son as the victim and implied that his 20 minutes of action and poor judgment should not negate his previous 20 years of hard work. Is Daniel Taylor a sociopathic? What happens behind closed doors at the Taylor home that he would describe violent rape with foreign objects at home as just action? Does he not have the ability to have empathy for a daughter who has been violently assaulted? And how is 6 years not lenient in this case? Where with good behavior this man is out in 3 years. At this point in a young man’s life the father again has failed to teach his son that there are consequences for our actions. And more damning he has failed to demonstrate true compassion or a path for redemption for his son and his son’s victim. Daniel Taylor and Brock Taylor are demonstrating their grandiose sense of entitlement and lack of empathy or compassion.
Lastly Aaron Persky, what are you? You have been given the opportunity to play a role in justice. Yet you sentence a violent depraved rapist to 3 to 6 months in county jail rather than the lenient 3 to 6 years sentence, because you are worried about the impact it will have on him. You sir – choose to perpetuate injustice.
I am a father, a physician, and have a master’s degree in biochemistry. As a father I know all parents want a healthy child and a life for their child. As a father and physician I know that there are diseases that exist that could possibly harm my children. These diseases include those caused by communicable infections and those caused by possible environmental toxins or injuries.
As a parent we all believe that our babies and children are “perfect.” But no matter how perfect I believe my newborn to be, I know that on their own they will not survive. There are actions we can take that improve their health and vitality. First and foremost is the choice for the mother to breastfeed. One of the benefits is by breastfeeding the mother is passing on passive immunity to the child. Mom’s immunity supports the baby’s immunity! But when the breastfeeding stops that additional immunity stops.
So my children haven’t been exposed to the same illnesses their mom or I have. So they don’t carry the same immunity that we have. Also both my wife and I have a lifetime of immunizations. So we decided to immunize our children. In addition this decision protects other children that we don’t even know.
It is my responsibility as a parent to do the best I can to protect my children. It is my responsibility, obligation, and privilege to protect all children as a physician. Obviously we cannot protect our children against everything. We cannot put our children in a bubble and avoid all of the world’s bumps and bruises along the way. So as parents and society we have to make informed, rational, and smart choices to protect our children and the health of our society.
Some parents don’t want to immunize their children for fear of putting something foreign into their perfect babies. What does that mean? Are we so narcissist that we don’t realize that we enjoy an epidemiological advantage due to the majority of our population having historically gotten immunized? That prior to these public health program perfect babies died all the time due to infectious diseases. And others were left with neurological sequelae. Are we so narcissistic that we don’t recognize our connectedness to others and that our choices won’t harm others. Education is a factor; we are woefully unprepared to understand the nuances of a scientific education. Yet we used to trust those that went through the rigors of such training.
Rather some trust celebrity more. Some trust a former playboy bunny more than individuals who have dedicated their lives and minds to promoting health. Unfortunately there is the occasional physician – who cares more for celebrity and money or power than actually following their oath. The only physician in England who falsified data to tie a correlation between vaccinations and autism has had his license to practice removed. He did such damage that he is untrustworthy to practice. You might find one or two physicians claiming the same but the clinical evidence is overwhelming in favor of immunizations. I am not part of big pharma and the majority of my colleagues are not either. We only care about practicing sound evidence based medicine.
I have good friends that have had children with autism or Asperger’s disease.
I had one friend in particular from college who is certain that the vaccinations caused the autism. She is certain because of the time line and how it was experienced. Her child was diagnosed with autism a few months after receiving the vaccinations. The problem with this thinking is that there are things that can be true and true but unrelated. In other words her child did get vaccinated prior to demonstrating symptoms of autism. Yet the development of the symptoms would have come at that time due to developmental staging and not vaccinations. I can empathize with her pain at having a child with such a difficult disability. But blaming something that did not cause the disability cannot ease the pain. Unfortunately we do not have a specific cause for autism at this time. But that does not make vaccinations the culprit. In fact continuing to promote vaccines as a cause of autism delays the possibility of finding the true cause or causes.
Vaccinations and immunizations do such good and prevent such horrific diseases such as polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, hepatitis, and tetanus. The evidence is clear that immunizations are good for our children and other children. We know that autism can be a terrible disease. We don’t know what actually causes it. There may be some environmental factors that are associated with it; we know enough to know that those environmental factors are not associated with vaccines. We need to look in other areas for a solution for autism. Clearly there are things in our environment that may be causing harm and we must search to continue to improve our overall health. But we should not dismiss what we already definitively know. We need to vaccinate our children because by not doing so we will knowingly bring back terrible diseases, which would be a selfish action. For every outbreak of a disease that is making a comeback due to the actions of those parents who have not vaccinated their children should be held accountable and responsible legally. It is possible one could argue that they are knowingly poisoning the environment and that they are committing hate crimes against their neighborhoods, schools, churches, and playgrounds. So Don’t Hate – Vaccinate.
My last entry was a rant. What generates my ranting? Well it starts with what I think is outrage and anger at what I can’t control. It also stems from outright fear and upset over the fact that a child or any child has to get seriously sick and die. And as a parent it cuts to my deepest nerves and cuts me to the bone. All I want to do is wail.
Sure I’m upset that my fellow physicians continue to misuse antibiotics. But rarely does a rant change anything. Also this was not the best case for that discussion. So why distract. Why get so angry?
Am I angry at the tragedy of the death of a child? Am I scared that I might act just as crazily if it were my own children? Yes is the answer to all these questions. Where is my faith? But also where are the places to go and deal with our grief. Where are the rituals to truly say goodbye and remember our dead? Currently our society doesn’t create the space or time for such grief. I am left with a greater emptiness and lack of sense of authentic connection. So my grief is more likely to come out sideways and crazy. So I rant.
Today is National Health Care Decisions Day. It is a perfect day to start the conversation. The quality of one’s life is always based on choices. Here at Living End, we want everyone to live the best and truest life. One fact is that none of us get out of life alive. What do you want to choose for your care at the end of life? What do you want your end of life to look like? How will you know when you are at the end? Let’s begin to talk about it…
