Dr. Deb

If don’t want to get sick, stay out of the hospital. It was true when I was in residency and even more so today.

Medication errors, infections and other hospital errors are 10x ‘s more common that previously thought according to a new study in the April issue of Health Affairs.

Medical errors may occur in up to one- third of hospital admissions.

Here are a few tips to help keep you safe and protect you from Medical Mistakes.

Dr. Deb’s Tips to Protect You from Medical Mistakes

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Whooping cough is on the rise with 25,000 possible cases per year compared to only 1500 in the 1980s. 2010 saw 3 times the number than even just the previous year in our area and 10 infants died as a result of the disease in California.

40% of parents have delayed or not given their child a vaccination according to the CDC. This month the one study of only 12 patients that falsely promoted the risk of autism in vaccines has been determined a fraud by the British Medical Journal and the author, Wakefield, had had his license revoked. Still parents are distrustful of vaccines.

The rise of Whooping cough cases is more complicated that children not getting vaccinated, which I will explain, but for certain, vaccination is the best way to protect your family from this disease.
What causes Whooping Cough?
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Whenever I order a drink, I get the craziest look from the bartender. Vodka and diet coke is an unusual combination (especially when I ask for cherries) but it gives me a low calorie buzz with a little kick so I don’t fall asleep before 10pm. But is it safe? Tis the Season for Celebrating but many can no longer party with Caffeine Alcohol Beverages (CABs) as the FDA, has issued warnings to several manufacturers.

How does Caffeine Make Alcohol more Dangerous?

Alcohol is a depressant so people usually stop drinking when they feel too drunk or too tired. Caffeine added takes away the perception of being drunk so one may continue to drink. Caffeine will not lower your blood alcohol level. You really don’t sober up with a cup of coffee, you just may feel more alert so you take on more risks and still perform poorly as tested by University of Kentucky researcher, Mark Fillmore.

Why is FDA banning Caffeine Alcohol Beverages (CAB)?

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Can you seen the left tilt? This photo was taken between the 4th & 5th Fall

Many couples have their biggest fights over holiday decorations. Whose fault was it that the tree kept falling? (We are at a record 8 falls this year but no divorce yet!) Are you all white lights and red bows or a conglomerate of color? (I lost the Classy Christmas Battle when my husband bought a blow up Santa on a Harley. Now our front yard looks like something out of Christmas Vacation.)

One thing we both agree on is no rooftop decorations! My husband is a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon and has treated too many injures from falls to ever get on a roof again.

The holidays bring many things but injures are not welcomed.

Here are my Top Holiday Hazards to keep you safe this season.

Dr. Deb’s Top Holiday Hazards

While Decking the Halls Don’t Fa La La La FALL!

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My Mom always tucked us in with, “Sleep Tight! Don’t let the bedbugs bite!” I remember asking her, “What is a bedbug?” No one even knew that they were real because they had not been around since WWII. Well, the bedbug is back and he is ready to party. Bedbugs have increased by 500% in the last few years due to increased travel, resistance to pesticides and restriction of certain pesticides.

What are bedbugs?

The bugs are the size of an apple seed after they fed on blood of animals or people. One meal can last them for several months, up to a year. Newborns are colorless and turn brown as they mature. Eggs are 1/32 of an inch and white so they are very hard to see.

Bedbugs are not poisonous and don’t cause harm but can be annoying if you have an allergic reaction to the saliva, which causes itching. Benadryl cream and pills can relieve the itch. Some people do not have an allergic reaction and may live with bedbugs for months without realizing it.  Most people are bit in the head, face, and neck, as the bedbug is attracted to the carbon dioxide of one’s breath. Psychologically, they can be devastating because they are so persistent and difficult to treat. I had nightmares just researching the topic. I can’t imagine the stress if your home becomes infested.

Dr. Deb’s 5 Steps of Bedbug Prevention

1. Inspect

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