Not Medical Ignorance, but Poor Editing?

 

During the 2016 presidential election, there was a joke about Hillary Clinton suffering from prostate cancer. Whether anyone thought the joke funny or not, the premise was that Clinton was something less than a real woman. Surely no one today is that lacking in basic anatomical knowledge.

Now eight years later, we have the above news article. A prominent physician has written an article decrying non-medical professionals who attempt to comment on issues they may not understand.

But is a lack of knowledge what produced the article's headline? In a world where everyone wants a Facebook or similar link for their stories, I suspect this humorous title is the result of simple poor editing. The author's original title probably referenced "older men," but a hurried editor decided to remove the word "older" in an attempt to make the heading fit.

No matter how funny the article's title, the current rise in prostate cancer is no joking matter. If you're over 50, have your PSA checked regularly. After all, you don't want to wind up in the same cohort as Hillary Clinton.

Nurse Nan

No CPR Shields? This is Negligence

 

This week, the City of New York is holding a trial for a man accused of depriving street entertainer Jordan Neely of oxygen, ultimately causing his death. Testimony has indicated that police officers initially refused to administer CPR to Neely since he was a "dirty" drug user.

CPR shields prevent any skin to skin contact while allowing air to flow to a patient. They can be purchased in bulk for as little as $2.00 each. It's sad to think one of the largest police departments in the world wouldn't be provided these as standard issue.

CPR shields, Narcan - these are supplies that we all need to carry in today's world. You hope you never have to use these items, but you should be ready:

CPR Face Shields

Nurse Nan

Pertussis Up 300% in Alabama

 

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) is up 300% from last year. Why? The Alabama Department of Health has announced this, and all, vaccination(s) are down in 2024.

What could happen to your child if he or she contracts Pertussis?

Minor complications are:

• Middle ear infection
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep disturbance
• Fainting
• Hernias
• Rib fractures
• Rectal prolapse

Major complications can lead to death. It doesn't have to happen; the vaccine has been around since the 1950s. If you love your child, vaccinate today!

Nurse Nan

Pink Noise is Better

 

If you work shifts or just have trouble falling asleep, you may have been using some kind of noise producing device for years. I had tried three over the decades before I purchased a Google Home Assistant and began using that exclusively for the many and varied sounds it can produce. Somewhere along the way, I had settled on "rain sounds" as my favorite. Now I've found something better.

Pink noise - what is it? From Yogasleep: In white noise, the power is constant, but in pink noise, as the numbers get bigger, the difference in power becomes smaller, so the higher-pitched sounds are softer. Because the lower frequencies are louder than the higher frequencies in pink noise, it sounds less abrasive and leads to a better night's sleep.

So the next time you can't sleep, give pink noise a try. There's no subscription, which makes it a win-win for a good night.

Nurse Nan

Blue Light for Pruritus (an Itch)?

 

You frequently hear that some men are chick magnets. Have you ever heard that some women are insect magnets? I imagine cologne and scented soap play a large part, but studies show that many insects prefer women, especially Caucasian women. Unfortunately, I'm one of them.

I hadn't intended to do any yard work last Saturday without some repellent on my legs, but I never expected the huge bite I received while outside only a few minutes without it. I soon saw a dime size red mark that managed to enlarge to almost quarter size by the end of the day.

Then the pruritus (itching) set in. By early Monday, it was intense. I had tried ice, hydrocortisone cream (usually OTC formulas don't work), and benzocaine marketed for oral health. I even considered a trip to the emergency department, not caring how much anyone laughed.

Out of desperation and pain, I decided to try my LED device. I usually set the light to red, but I knew that the blue light treated some skin problems. Would it work for the extreme discomfort I was then feeling?

Yes, it did and it took less than 90 seconds. So far the symptoms haven't returned, and I've ordered a new bottle of Ben's to keep by my door. Stay bite free this summer, but if attacked by some of the little buggars, have a blue light handy.

Rubeola (Red Measles) Is Comig!

 

Florida currently has the largest number of measles cases in the United States. The CDC has predicted the once-eradicated disease will work its way west via the panhandle to New Orleans. If so, Alabama's coastal area will be in the path of the highly contagious virus.

Will the virus spread north to the Shoals? We can't predict that. What we can positively say is that the vaccine is 99.9% effective against the disease.

It's been only two or so years since a political activist in the Shoals stated he wished his toddler son would contract the disease. We sincerely hope this man knew nothing about the effects of the disease or what he was wishing on his son.

If you care about your children, have them vaccinated against Rubeola!

Nurse Nan