Douglas Lakin's Podcast

This gives you information on all the in's and out's of flu season prevention and treatment. Take a listen.

Doctor Doug

The Flu
This is a specific viral illness that has similar and overlapping symptoms with common cold/respiratory viruses but is unique in that it is much more virulent (symptoms are significantly worse). This infection is specifically seasonal, typically in Arizona from November until March with the peak incidence in December, January, and February.

Most Common Symptoms
They consist of the same set of symptoms as the common cold/rival respiratory syndrome, but they are worse.
• High fever (often over 102 degrees, but can range from 99’s to 104+)
• Aching muscles throughout the body
• Pain in the muscles around the eyes with movement of the eyes
• Sore throat
• Sinus congestion
• Severe cough
• Excessive mucous production (sinus and chest)
• Headache
• Occasionally diarrhea

What to Do at Home
Symptomatic treatment for the most bothersome symptoms

Aches and Pains and Fever:
• Use anti-inflammatory medication. Advil (Ibuprofen 200mg), 2–3 tablets….2–3 x per day or Aleve (naproxen 220mg), 1–2 tablets...1–2 x per day, or Tylenol 650–1000mg four times per day.
• Drink good amounts of clear liquids (anything you can see through)

Sore Throat:
• Salt water gargling
1. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.
2. Gargle for 15 seconds and spit.
3. Repeat during the day every 2–4 hours to relieve pain.
• Pain relief medications: Advil (Ibuprofen 200mg), 2–3 tablets….2–3 x per day or Aleve (naproxen 220mg), 1–2 tablets...1–2 x per day, or Tylenol 650–1000mg four times per day.

Sinus Congestion and Drainage:
• Use a decongestant such as Sudafed 30mg, 1–2 pills up to four times per day, or use a drying antihistamine such as Chlortrimeton 4mg, up to four times per day. Other cold medications (over the counter) can be used.
• Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra will not work for congestion symptoms from an infection. Do Not Use.

Cough:
• Steam: Either in the form of a hot, steamy shower or using a hot pot of water and covering with a towel and put your head under the towel. Both methods will provide humid air to the irritated air passages and soothe the cough.
• Cough Syrup: Robitussin DM or Delsym cough syrup can be used to suppress cough.
• You may require a prescription cough syrup with Codeine. Contact me if that is the case.

When to Seek Medical Assistance
• If it’s during flu season and you have high fever, aches and pains, and sore throat/cough….prescription treatment is reasonable to reduce symptoms and shorten the course of illness.
• Flu medication (Tamiflu..twice daily for 5 days) can shorten the course of symptoms. Earlier is better, but you can take this later in the course of the flu.
• Xofluza….single dose (2 pills) is best taken very early in the course of the flu (within 48 hours). It significantly reduces the duration and severity of symptoms in just one single dose.

Worsening symptoms/Signs of Complications:
• If fever is over 101 degrees and symptoms are worsening after 2–3 days and fever is persisting at a night level.
• If cough produces blood tinged mucous
• If confusion is associated with the above symptoms
• If you get a rash with the above symptoms

If any of the above symptoms occur…..you may want to be checked for complications of THE FLU. Come to the office to be evaluated

How Long to Recover
• The flu is a viral infection that will generally take from 3–5 days to improve and then from 7–14 days to completely resolve.
• Plan on being away from the general public for the first three days, although you may remain infectious for a week. Rest and drink fluids for the first few days then your activities are ‘as tolerated.’

How to Prevent
• Avoid people who you know are significantly ill particularly during the flu season
• Consider getting the FLU SHOT. This is an immunization that is given in late summer through the winter and can markedly reduce your chances of getting the flu.
• Wash your hands and use alcohol-based hand cleansers frequently.

This is a quick review of the symptoms and recommended treatment for respiratory infections this time of year.
Generally, in the fall or winter, we will get one of these milder infections and this is some general rules for how to feel best, how to avoid spreading it to others, and when to see me in the office or call for antibiotics.

This podcast outlines, in general terms, the purposes of the general bloodwork done at the time of your physical exam

DR. HOWARD BAUM IS A MASTER CLINICIAN AND PRACTICES ENDOCRINOLOGY AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER. HERE HE DISCUSSES WITH ME SOME CRITICAL INSIGHTS FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETES. HIS COMMON-SENSE INFORMATION PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR CONFIDENT MANAGEMENT OF YOUR CONDITION.

DR. HOWARD BAUM IS A FRIEND OF MINE FROM MY HOPKINS DAYS AND IS CURRENTLY ON THE FACULTY OF VANDERBILT MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENDOCRINOLOGY. HE IS A MASTER CLINICIAN.
THIS IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF PODCASTS ABOUT HORMONE ISSUES, AND THIS ONE FOCUSES ON HYPOTHYROIDISM. DR. BAUM PROVIDES HIS COMMON-SENSE APPROACH TO IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IN THYROID TREATMENT IN AN EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE MANNER, WHILE BRINGING TO THE TOPIC THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE. ENJOY AND LEARN.

DR. HOWARD BAUM IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO CURRENTLY IS A PROFESSOR OF ENDOCRINOLOGY AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER. IN THIS INTERVIEW HER PROVIDES COMMON SENSE INSIGHTS INTO TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DOCUMENTED OSTEOPOROSIS AND WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE PRO'S AND CONS OF CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TREATMENTS.

Here's a simple affirmation that you are healthy......here it is. Most of us are!

Travelling can have its travails and being prepared with proper medication is key for your safe and enjoyable vaciationing. This list of medications to take for travel complements the HOME MEDICAL KIT and provides additional assistance as you require.
Read more about this in my upcoming book THE GUIDE, which will be available after January 1st on the website and in our office.

Having the proper Over-The-Counter medications in the cabinet at home is crucial. Here is my list...take a listen;

You can find the written list in my upcoming book THE GUIDE, which will be out in January, 2013. Or, go to our medical library for your copy...it's great for shopping when someone is moving to a new place or a child is going out on their own.

http://doctordoug.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Minfo-Home-Medical-Kit.pdf

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS:

Bladder infections, also called urinary tract infections (UTI), are commonplace in women. Although they may occur in men, this is very rare.

Risk Factors:
Most urinary tract infections occur spontaneously and are not the result of personal habits of hygiene. Risk factors for recurring infection include:


Previous UTI
Sexual intercourse
Lack of hormone (post-menopausal state without hormone supplementation)

Symptoms:
Most people are aware of these, but if you’ve not had a UTI previously, here is the list
Frequent urination
Burning with urination (painful)
Cloudy urine
Blood in the urine
Fever (low grade or high temperature)

Evaluation:
If possible it is best to have a urine specimen checked for infection. This is the simplest way to diagnose a UTI. If you have had UTI’s in the past and are familiar with the symptoms, then testing the urine is not required. Typically, the urine specimen shows the presence of white blood cells or red blood cells. Culture can confirm the specific bacterial germ involved

Treatment:

Antiobitcs are the required treatment. As most antibiotics concentrate in the urine, as they are cleared by the kidneys, antibiotics tend to be very effective for treatment and a virtual ‘guaranteed’ cure, so long as the causative bacteria is not resistant.

Antibiotics include:
Keflex (Cephalexain)
Cipro (Ciprofloxacin)
Macrobid (Macrodantin
Amoxicillin
And others

In addition to an antibiotic, we often prescribe an anesthetic agent called Pyridium. This medication provides immediate relief as it acts directly on the surface tissues of the bladder. It turns the urine an orange color, so do be aware of this. Treatment with Pyridium requires that an antibiotic be used as well, or the Pyridium will suppress symptoms but let the infection progress unabated

Expectations:

Symptoms of UTI resolve quickly, often within 12-24 hours. Certainly symptoms should be markedly improved by 48 hours. If they are not, please call and the antibiotic selected will have to be changed.

Prevention:

There are not perfect methods of prevention but here are several that are used, depending on the situation:

Voiding (urinating) after intercourse
Antibiotic (single dose) after intercourse
Antibiotics daily to prevent recurrent infections
Use of hormones (pills or topical) to reduce the changes of germs entering the urethra (bladder drainage tube)

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