w I’ve been dealing with this new COVID-19 for a few months now, and the media is not holding back. ???? It becomes Coronavirus Media. They are providing information on potential symptoms, the age ranges affected, and the mortality rates. It is discussing “possible” treatment plans. “Treatments” include those that have not been researched in randomized controlled trials and whose benefits up to this point are anecdotal. Shelves have run out of TOILET PAPER of all things, masks, gloves, medical equipment…these things have all been torn from the shelves. People immediately started social distancing. And for what? The media’s role in the chaos is clear, but what about the unseen effects? I am talking about your emotions, your mental health, and your peace of mind. ???? One day, you’re watching standard TV; maybe it’s The Price is Right. Perhaps it’s playing in the background while you’re working from home, and suddenly there’s an announcement. There is a new report! Breaking News Live. What information does the media have about the coronavirus? So your heart starts pumping, and you start running like a chicken without a head, thinking… “what NOW”!! You pause your activities, take a deep breath, and observe cautiously, only to realize that it is the same news from some time ago. And you go through this multiple times a day. The process can be emotionally and mentally exhausting. The toll it takes will be significant. Studies have shown that news coverage can extend anxiety, depression, emotional distress, and even PTSD to those not even exposed to the illness or event. So what can you do to reduce its effect on you and your loved ones? First, self-assess. Are you watching the news regularly? Are you watching Coronavirus Media regularly? What amount of news do you find to be excessive? Is Coronavirus Media Affecting You? Why is Excessive News Affecting you? Try to decide for yourself when there is too much news and when it is enough. Once you have done that, here are a few things you can do. Reduce News watching. If you sense that it’s causing you anxiety and agitation, take a break. Then TAKE A BREAK. It will be there whenever you decide to watch it again, but sometimes it’s beneficial to take a break. Take time to focus on other things. The news is an excellent source of information, but, at the same time, it can fuel anxiety, depression, PTSD, and emotional distress. Being exposed to the stressors of the world is an excellent way to stay connected and stay up-to-date, but it starts to affect your peace of mind. SO, make sure you take weekly or even daily self-checks. Always watching the news can cause stress and anxiety. It can lead to fatigue or sleep loss, which can, in turn, affect your day-to-day life. It may not be suitable for your mental and even physical health. So feel free to ask yourself those important questions: How am I feeling today? Am I more anxious than usual? Am I more afraid? Stressed? Worried? Based on your responses, do what is best for YOU.???? Maybe you were just watching too much news. You can limit the exposure; maybe just check in 2x a day, or perhaps not at all. It is okay to want to stay informed, so watch enough to be told, but not enough to cause distress. Find that balance. Discuss it with the Wiser. Talking to older generations who have successfully lived through tougher times, such as wars, economic depressions, and global tragedies, can also help you cope. Why? They serve as evidence of our resilience. Often, we take our wiser generations for granted. We see them as grandpa and grandma and nothing more. But they are so much more. They are living, breathing history books. So ask them questions. Request their stories of survival. I guarantee that their stories will be far worse than our current situation. I am a firm believer that adverse conditions are relative. Our young generations have not lived long enough to go through something like this, so it makes sense that they feel it is devastating. And I won’t deny that it is. BUT, as with everything in life, It is relative to the worst thing you have ever experienced. So, talking to those who have been through worse will give you peace of mind, because although you have not been through harder times (maybe), they have. So they know we will all get through this. Focus on other activities. Life is a carousel that won’t stop moving. Yes, I know, I got that from Grey’s Anatomy, but it is so true. The carousel that is life never stops moving. So we don’t either. We have all become robots, going through the motions. We can’t stop and focus on what we need instead of what we must do. For once, the entire world is in a state of stagnation. The only moving pieces are those required for survival, such as hospitals, grocery stores, gas stations, etc. This has affected many people. However, this situation is also beyond your control. What you CAN control is what you do with that time. Do you waste it worrying? Do you spend
It is still the flu season! I have been surrounded by flu for one entire month while in urgent care, so it is the perfect time to get the message out there. So, what does this influenza season mean? We will discuss the flu, its symptoms, treatment, prevention, and the risks of not protecting yourself. First of all, the flu is NOT a bacterial infection. It is a contagious respiratory illness, and the reason is the influenza virus. Side note: It is NOT the same as the common cold or the stomach flu. SYMPTOMS Hm: These sound pretty similar to a cold, so how do you know the difference? The flu can cause a HIGH FEVER, whereas a fever from a cold is a bit rare. The flu will also hit you SUDDENLY and HARD. Of note, the flu often leads to serious secondary infections like pneumonia or bronchitis, especially in high-risk groups. SYMPTOMS IN KIDS Symptoms vary; they can be mild to severe and can even cause death. So YES. You should get tested early so you can be treated early. When is FLU SEASON? [OCTOBER–MARCH but may go well into MAY], and it PEAKS in FEBRUARY! Lucky for us, the CDC made a nice little chart, which I have attached to the left: As doctors, we focus a lot on AT RISK groups of people. Certain age groups and certain chronic medical conditions increase your risk of not only getting the flu but also experiencing worse illness and even hospitalization. WHO IS AT RISK? Children ≥65years old Pregnant Women Immunocompromised (HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Chronic Steroids) Diabetes So even if you don’t want a flu shot to protect yourself, Get it to protect your loved ones who are at risk of worsening symptoms and even hospitalizations. HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED? Respiratory droplets: Coughing, sneezing: These can reach as far as 6 feet! You can pass it along even one day before having a symptom, up to 5-7 days after symptoms start. You can even get it from touching an infected surface and then touching your face, eyes, or mouth. OUTBREAKS ARE COMMON IN CERTAIN PLACES TOO: Wherever people congregate! Communities with a large number of residents ≥65 and older More people = more contacts = more opportunities to encounter someone who is sick HOW CAN YOU PREVENT IT? Wash your hands! Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth after touching doors, tablets, etc. Disinfect surfaces Stay home when you are sick to avoid getting other people sick. Avoid contact with those who are sick. VACCINATED Immediately! Recently, I have observed that the flu vaccine has not been very effective, as individuals who received the shot are still contracting the flu. So let’s address a very common question:Could you please explain why I should receive the shot if it may not be effective? Every year a new flu vaccine is created based on the “most likely to be present” strains. If a new flu strain emerges that the seasonal flu shot doesn’t cover, you can get the flu. Please let me know if you have any questions. There is a SUPER FLU SHOT. Do you know about it? Ha! I know it’s not because I love superheroes because I do. It’s just a high-dose flu, and it is about 24.2% more effective in preventing the flu in those ≥65 and older than the standard dose. There is also a lower risk of hospital admission compared with the standard dose, especially if those ≥65 and older live in a long-term care facility. ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS? Just like the standard dose, and reported more frequently with the high dose, these are mild and temporary. Pain Redness at the injection site Headache Muscle aches Malaise The majority of people have either minimal or no adverse effects at all. Another common question is “What if I have an EGG ALLERGY?” If your allergy = hives and itchy skin. You can get the vaccine safely. BUT, even if you have severe swelling of lips, face, respiratory issues, or recurrent vomiting, or if you’ve needed epinephrine for it in the past… YOU CAN STILL GET IT. Just make sure you’re in a clinic setting or hospital setting where you can be appropriately treated if needed. However, why do healthcare professionals like myself emphasize the importance of the flu vaccine and being aware of the flu? Because of the POSSIBLE: COMPLICATIONS Pneumonia Bronchitis Sinus infections Ear infections It can make a stable chronic condition. WORSE Asthma COPD Congestive heart failure [To the point that asks you to hospitalize immediately] TREATMENT AND BENEFITS? Doctors recommend antivirals mostly to those ≥65 years old. They shorten the duration of being sick by 1-2 days. If you are high risk, then it can decrease the severity of the symptoms and keep you OUT of the hospital. Antivirals work best if given WITHIN 48 hours of getting sick. And lastly, you can receive prophylactic treatment (preventive) if one of your family members has the flu and you’ve been exposed to it. You can, of course, stay at home and rest if you’re not in the high-risk group, hydrate, sleep, etc. When should you GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM? Trouble breathing or shortness of breath Dizziness or inability to wake up Seizures Not Urinating Severe muscle pain Severe weakness or unsteadiness The fever or cough initially improved but then worsened again. Any worsening in your current medical conditions like ASTHMA, COPD, CHF As always! I hope this stuff was useful. I know it is a lot of information. The points to take home are Go for the flu shot See your doctor early. Treat it early Go to the emergency room if you get worse or can’t breathe.
The western world is increasingly recognizing the powers and benefits of meditation. Today, you find yoga and meditation centers everywhere. The ancient oriental technique of concentration, controlling the mind, and thereby using its power, is finding many takers among the people around the world today. For those of you who don’t see the benefits but routinely practice yoga, then you are unknowingly part of the meditation world. If you have never thought of practicing meditation and reaping its benefits, it is high time to know how it can affect your body, mind, and overall well-being so you can decide for yourself whether or not the activity is something you should consider starting! What is meditation? Meditation is a technique to relax our minds and, therefore, our bodies. It helps us to unleash the power of the brain and promote calmness. Through meditation, we can improve our ability to concentrate, be present at the moment, and make life meaningful. Meditation is a way to recharge our batteries and calm the mind. Daily meditation can effectively manage stress, much like yoga does. Let us explore how meditation affects our minds and bodies. Benefits of Meditation: enhances immunity Meditation calms the mind. It reduces the level of cortisol and hence controls stress. If you meditate daily, the level of serotonin and other beneficial hormones will increase in the body. It helps in reducing cholesterol, bringing down sugar levels in the blood, and lowering blood pressure. Through meditation, we experience the relaxation of the muscles. Benefits of Meditation: good for the digestive system It has been found that meditation has a positive effect on the digestive system. People who suffered from diarrhea, bloating, and constipation got relief from these symptoms after practicing meditation regularly. It could be related to the fact that meditation reduces stress and alleviates the symptoms of insomnia. We all know that diarrhea, bloating, and constipation negatively affect the digestive system. The impact of meditation on our minds is significant. Meditation has far-reaching effects on our minds. Different parts of the brain get affected by this practice as the frontal lobe goes offline while meditating. The parietal lobe, responsible for processing information, slows down when we meditate. Meditation also improves our memory. It makes us more compassionate. It creates more positive emotions in us, thus making us happier. Along with eating healthy and doing physical exercise, we must allocate time to meditate. It would improve our overall health and make us more content and calm.
How can a lack of Sleep Affect your Eating Habits and Behaviors? Do You Know About it? Let’s Read About the Effects of Lack of Sleep With Dr. Vero. This article examines the effects of lack of sleep on your eating habits and behaviors. Let’s talk about something I know we all love: sleep! There are some pretty excellent benefits to getting the recommended amount of sleep! If you have trouble sleeping, stay tuned for tips. ✓ Let’s not forget the weekly challenge! So here we go straight to SLEEP… well… not yet, guys! Otherwise, you’re going to miss all this excellent info! Whether you’re a mom or a dad or a young sprout making their way into adulthood, sleep is an essential part of your day. It’s recommended that adults get between 7 and 8 hours of sleep every night. The average adolescent needs between 8.5 and 9.25 hours of sleep per night. ✓ Otherwise, they have to bear the effects of a lack of sleep. 13-year-olds need even more! They require roughly 10 hours of sleep! But let’s face it! With school, work, and now our cell phones and other electronics, it’s pretty hard to get those much-needed and recommended Zs. Almost 26% of adolescents get less than 6.5 hours of sleep on weeknights. Crazy!! Though, how many of you have stayed up all night cramming for a test? Or have you stayed up watching TV and found it difficult to get to sleep? I have. Or woke up extra early so you could skip traffic on your way to work and even school? Yup… me too. Whatever the reason, there are a few remarkable benefits you are missing out on. So for those of you who love to sleep as I do but for some reason can’t get as much as you need, today is a great day for you! Effects of Lack of Sleep include Eating Habits and Behaviors. First, sleep is vital for memory retention! That’s right! Sleep is crucial if you want to put anything you learn in school into long-term memory. Moreover, sleep helps solidify new knowledge and even helps you find creative ways to understand tough concepts! ✓ If you are struggling to learn a difficult task or study a challenging subject, SLEEP ON IT! Not only is sleep excellent for memory, but it’s also crucial for alertness and paying attention! Sitting in class for hours is daunting. I know… I bet you think your parents forgot what it was like to try and absorb everything like a little sponge all day long; some might have, but others remember better than you think—bottom line. If you want to pay attention for all those hours without dozing off, the best thing you can do is get a good night’s sleep! So when it comes to anything academic… sleep is a great study buddy! The same goes for work! Getting the recommended amount of sleep increases productivity. Having your boss say you’re productive is a wonderful thing! So make sure you get those ZnS so you can impress those around you with your awesome work performance! But sleep isn’t just crucial for your BRAIN! That’s right; all the things I just mentioned are Brain benefits. Sleep is also vital to avoid getting sick! Getting good sleep not only keeps you free from things like a common cold… it helps your body make more antibodies when vaccinated. In summary, it positively impacts your immune system. It also contributes to your overall health! Effects of Lack of Sleep include Eating Habits and Behaviors. However, did you know that getting enough sleep is also crucial for maintaining a healthy and balanced diet? Studies have shown that if you don’t get enough sleep, you might prefer to eat foods that are high in calories and carbohydrates. Therefore, getting enough sleep helps you maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle, allowing you to fit into your favorite clothes throughout the year! Sure, many factors can influence your cravings and appetite, such as exercise. You might also just have cravings, so remember to replace them with healthier options. BUT sleep plays a role here, too. If you don’t get enough sleep, you end up messing around with the hormones that tell you, “I’m full” and “I’m hungry.” To the point that your body will say, “I’m not full,” and “I’m still hungry.” So you eat more! Did you know that people who sleep 5 hours or less per night are at higher risk of becoming overweight/obese compared to those who get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep? Crazy what good sleep can do for your body, huh? Granted, it’s not the only factor that plays a role in maintaining a healthy weight, but aside from helping you maintain a healthy weight, sleep is important for another thing too. Your mood? If you’ve never tried to pay attention to how you feel when you’ve lost a few hours of sleep… It’s time to learn about the effects of lack of sleep. You should take this week! Getting the recommended amount of sleep also improves your mood. You’re happier! In fact, not sleeping well can make you irritable and can even bring on some feelings of sadness and depression. Your mood plays a huge role in how you interact with others around you, like your friends and family. Don’t forget your emotions also change your healthy behaviors, like what foods you choose to eat and how much. So like I said…sleep plays a role in maintaining a healthy weight! But you are also maintaining your healthy lifestyle. Who feels like working out when they’re sad and gloomy? Who feels like eating all the right things and avoiding those high-carb, zero-nutrition snacks if you’re feeling down? Getting good sleep is important for your overall health! Let’s talk a little about blood pressure. For teenagers, this may not seem like a significant issue. but for parents, this is very important. Did you know that short sleep can increase your risk of high
Discover the fascinating details about this unique Coronavirus. Corona means crown in Spanish. Huge hype right now, and people are kind of FREAKING OUT. But we need to CALM DOWN because being in a frenzy will not help anyone. Sure, this is what is going around right now, and yes, about 12,027 cases of Coronavirus have been identified worldwide with 259 deaths. BUT, the flu is responsible for 42,001 deaths this season alone, yet how many of you are running around like chickens without heads to get your flu shot? Don’t all raise your hands at once now. Coronavirus So let’s get into a few details about this crowned virus, about the symptoms, how it may spread, and how to protect yourself and care for yourself. ???? It is important to understand that there are many different types of coronaviruses. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause many types of respiratory diseases, including Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). However, while the current outbreak of Coronavirus is related to the virus that causes SARS, it is distinct. This current outbreak is caused by what the CDC calls a novel, aka NEW Coronavirus, which means it was just found. These viruses transmit among animals like camels, bats, and even cats. And although they often do not infect humans, clearly, sometimes they do, and then it spreads among them. This new coronavirus has been called COV 19, and it can be tested for those suspected of having the virus. ???? So, how does Coronavirus spread? Since it’s a new virus, we don’t know much, but we suspect that it spreads similarly to other respiratory infections, including MERS, SARS, and the flu. Via respiratory droplets: A cough or a sneeze… These respiratory droplets can travel up to 6 feet. We’re not sure if it can spread by touching surfaces like tablets, phones, keyboards, doors, etc. We are also not sure if it can spread by touching anybody’s fluid-like tears, saliva, diarrhoea, vomit, urine, etc. Based on this, below are recommendations to prevent the spread and keep yourselves Coronavirus free.???? Now let’s jump into symptoms, when to seek care, how long you might feel ill for, and what to do if you suspect you have it or are told you DO have it. SYMPTOMS: Very common to ALL other viruses Fever Cough Shortness of breath Symptoms can be minimal to severe and even deadly. HOW LONG WILL SYMPTOMS LAST? 2-14 days. SO WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU HAVE IT OR SUSPECT EXPOSURE TO IT? If you’ve been to Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, or been around someone who has: Call your doctor’s office ASAP and let them know of your suspected 2019-nCoV exposure before you walk in. Why? So they can prepare for your arrival and keep everyone else protected. AND Wear a face mask when you do go! Lots of newborns, children, elderly, and immunocompromised people in waiting rooms. Stay home; do not go to work or use public transportation. If you can, stay in a room different from other members of your family and use a separate bathroom. DISINFECT your countertops, tablets, cellphones, keyboards, TV controllers, tables, toilets, etc. Use EPA-approved products or bleach. DO NOT share bedsheets, drinking glasses, towels, etc. with other members of your home. DO NOT touch your face, eyes, mouth, or nose. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water or with 60% alcohol hand sanitiser. Sneeze or cough into your SLEEVE If you’ve recently been to the Wuhan Hubei Province in China or been exposed to someone who recently travelled to or from there: Most important: Whether you are the ill one or the one caring for the ill one: Monitor your symptoms for 14 days, and if worsening…call your doctor. Fever? Check it 2x a day. Not better with Tylenol/Motrin… call your doctor. If you start to feel short of breath, call your doctor. If you begin to feel better and suddenly call your doctor [See the trend? Make your doctor your first priority. IS THERE TREATMENT FOR IT? And the most common question: “I don’t get antibiotics?” Supportive care is the treatment of choice… what does that mean? HYDRATION SLEEP TYLENOL/MOTRIN YUMMY FOOD NETFLIX AND CHILL. PREVENT SPREAD There is no specific antiviral that you can take, like for the flu. And NO… you will not be given antibiotics because a virus is not treated with anti-BACTERIAL medicine. It will just lend itself to increased resistance to future bacterial infections. Meaning that you would need stronger antibiotics with more prominent side effects. The only way you will be given an antibiotic is if you have a suspected bacterial infection. All in all, the recommendations are quite similar to any other respiratory infection, such as the flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Here are a few tips to PREVENT getting sick! Get 7-8 hours of sleep. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies for antioxidants and immune boosts. I love turmeric shots, ginger shots, and apple cider vinegar if you can stomach it! Zinc supplements Hydration Washing hands VACCINATIONS: pneumococcal, flu, shingles Hope this helps you. keep your apple above the weather!
This post is a bit different from my usual ones because I realized that daily life can’t always be so rigid and information based. I love to venture out of my niche once in a while and provide you guys with something a bit different and more relatable, like shopping. Confidence! If you have it, you can make anything look good Don’t forget I’m a person too, and so I often do a lot of fun activities, sometimes boring ones, sometimes I see friends all the time, and others not at all. Life has always had a way to pull you away from being social because, let’s face it, working hard on a weekly basis for your career, your blog, your channels, your lives can be pretty exhausting. Some days you just want to do nothing, see no one, Netflix, and chill! And that’s okay! BUT on the days that I want to do a fun activity that I enjoy, and that will help me get my body moving and keep me active, shopping is the way to go! I recently posted a picture on my Instagram, and part of the caption was “shopping is my cardio.” Believe it or not, it is! With Friends All The Time Or Shopping It’s not just about shopping! A lot of people think that because I go to the mall often it means I’m a shopaholic. I’m not lol. Okay! Only sometimes and especially during Xmas! Anyway! I love the mall! It’s a great way to get out of the house, dress up, and be active. Obviously, I have to wear comfy shoes; otherwise, I wouldn’t want to walk for hours, BUT I also make sure they match my outfit and are stylish. For some reason, I’ve always enjoyed dressing up in different kinds of styles, and when I go to the mall, I love looking fashionable. I usually don’t even buy anything! Its just window shopping and trying on stuff for fun…sounds bad, I know, but it’s so true! Most of the time, I’ll go with friends and family. The Mall & Me The mall has never been a place I’ve enjoyed going alone, unless I actually have an errand to run like a return or exchange something, or if its someone’s birthday and I HAVE TO GO ASAP. When I go with friends, it’s great, and I love it! We not only get to catch up on our daily drama, boy stories, family feuds, and obviously careers, we also get a chance to “work out” together. Something that I don’t usually do with friends because at a gym, I plug in my headphones, and it’s like no one else exists.oops! There I go being a bit anti-social, but hey, I don’t go to the gym to play around! The mall lets me have my 45min or more of daily exercise. It’s usually mild to moderate intensity, and I get to chat with friends and get the social aspect of my life satisfied, But its not always mild and moderate exercise. Sometimes it’s like doing small high-intensity interval training sessions! How is shopping HIIT? Well! CHANGING ROOMS! How many of you have gone to the mall to find something specific, or even just to try things on for the new season? Yea, changing rooms for me are no joke. I literally take almost the entire store with me, a huge mistake, but I do it all the time. Then, I have to quickly change, walk around, and “model” the outfit for friends and family to get their opinion. Then it’s back to the sauna-like room with the hot lights, which almost always make me break a sweat. But its not over! You are doing all these crazy movements as you put on and take off clothes, and then when you’re done, you shuffle over to the next store and do it all over again. Mind you, if this were something you do maybe in one store, it wouldn’t be an issue, but sometimes I go on a small changing room hopping spree, and it’s exhausting! My heart is racing, I’m hot, my arms start to feel it, and then you just want to sit and take a breather! Lol Shopping is my Cardio So for me, shopping and even window-shopping is my cardio! It’s where I can get a fun workout without actually intending to! And I can do it for hours! Recently, something new has been going around, too, especially at the malls in Broward County! At sawgrass mills mall, early risers are getting together before it opens to the public to WALK! The distance around the mall is 1.5 miles. The mall now has a formal Mall Walking Club. Membership is free at Sawgrass Mills. The mall even gives them breakfast in the food court, free! Other malls also have these walking clubs. Some have membership fees; others do not. Suppose you’re interested in joining some of these awesome fitness clubs centered at malls! I’ve found a list on the sun-sentinel and will be pasting it below! Regardless of what you think of malls and shopping, I’m glad people are going out there and staying active! So don’t be afraid to gather your friends, family and go crazy in the malls! WALKING CLUBS: Broward Mall in Plantation: No membership fee and includes weekly blood pressure checks! Coral Square in Coral Springs: Members pay a 1-time fee of $5, and it includes monthly health lectures at the Coral Springs Medical Center, incentive awards, T-shirt, and a newsletter. The Fashion Mall in Plantation: Free and also has blood pressure checks 2xweek. The Galleria in Ft. Lauderdale: Free! Hollywood Fashion Center in Hollywood: was in the process of starting its own club! To find out if they did Pompano Square in Pompano Beach: a 1-time fee of $7.50 and includes monthly meetings at the mall food court with guest speakers, incentive awards, and raffles. Members also get discount cards, T-shirts, a logbook, and a newsletter. Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise: free! You
This post is a bit different from my usual ones because I realized that daily life can’t always be so rigid and information-based. I love to venture out of my niche once in a while and provide you guys with something a bit different and more relatable. Confidence! If you have it, you can make anything look good. Don’t forget I’m a person too, and so I often do a lot of fun activities, sometimes boring ones; sometimes I see friends all the time, and sometimes I don’t see friends at all. Life has always had a way to pull you away from being social because, let’s face it, working hard on a weekly basis for your career, your blog, your channels, and your life can be pretty exhausting. Some days you just want to do nothing, see no one, Netflix, and chill! And that’s okay! BUT on the days that I want to do a fun activity that I enjoy and that will help me get my body moving and keep me active, shopping is the way to go! I recently posted a picture on my Instagram, and part of the caption was “shopping is my cardio.” Believe it or not, it is! With Friends All The time. It’s not just about shopping! Many people think that because I go to the mall often, it means I’m a shopaholic. I’m not, lol. Okay! I only do this occasionally, especially during the Christmas season! Anyway! I love the mall! It’s a wonderful way to get out of the house, dress up, and be active. I obviously need to wear comfy shoes; otherwise, I wouldn’t want to walk for hours, but I also ensure that they match my outfit and are stylish. For some reason, I’ve always enjoyed dressing up in different kinds of styles, and when I go to the mall, I love looking fashionable. I usually don’t even buy anything! It’s just window shopping and trying on stuff for fun…sounds terrible, I know, but it’s so true! Usually, I’ll go with friends and family. The mall has never been a place I’ve enjoyed going alone, unless I actually have an errand to run, like returning or exchanging something, or if it’s someone’s birthday and I HAVE TO GO ASAP. When I go with friends, it’s wonderful, and I love it! We not only get to catch up on our daily drama, boy stories, family feuds, and obviously careers, but we also get a chance to “work out” together. I don’t typically engage in this activity with friends, as I plug in my headphones at the gym, creating a space where no one else is present. oops I realize that I may seem a bit anti-social, but I go to the gym for serious workouts, not just to socialize! The mall lets me have my 45 minutes or more of daily exercise. Typically, my exercise is mild to moderate intensity, allowing me to chat with friends and satisfy the social aspect of my life; however, it isn’t always at that level, as sometimes I engage in small high-intensity interval training sessions. Sometimes it’s like doing small high-intensity interval training sessions! How is shopping HIIT? Well! CHANGING ROOMS! How many of you have gone to the mall to find something specific or try on new seasonal clothes? Yea, changing rooms for me is no joke. I literally take almost the entire store with me, a huge mistake, but I do it all the time. Then, I have to quickly change, walk around, and “model” the outfit for friends and family to get their opinion. Then, I return to the sauna-like room under the hot lights, an experience that almost always causes me to perspire. But it’s not over! You are doing all these crazy movements as you put on and take off clothes, and then when you’re done, you shuffle over to the next store and do it all over again. Mind you, if this were something you did maybe in one store, it wouldn’t be an issue, but sometimes I go on a small changing room hopping spree, and it’s exhausting! My heart is racing, I’m hot, my arms start to feel it, and then I just want to sit and take a breather! Lol For me, both shopping and window-shopping serve as my form of cardio! It’s where I can get a fun workout without actually intending to! And I can do it for hours! Recently, a new trend has emerged, particularly at the malls in Broward County! At Sawgrass Mills Mall, early risers are getting together before it opens to the public to WALK! The distance around the mall is 1.5 miles. The mall now has a formal Mall Walking Club. Membership is free at Sawgrass Mills. The mall even gives them breakfast in the food court, free! Other malls also have these walking clubs. Some have membership fees; others do not. Suppose you’re interested in joining some of these wonderful fitness clubs located at malls! I’ve found a list on the Sun-Sentinel and will be pasting it below! Regardless of what you think of malls and shopping, I’m glad people are going out there and staying active! Therefore, I encourage you to gather your friends and family and enjoy your time at the malls! WALKING CLUBS: Broward Mall in Plantation: No membership fee and includes weekly blood pressure checks! Coral Square in Coral Springs: Members pay a 1-time fee of $5, and it includes monthly health lectures at the Coral Springs Medical Center, incentive awards, a T-shirt, and a newsletter. The Fashion Mall in Plantation is free and also has blood pressure checks two times a week. The Galleria in Ft. Lauderdale: Free! Hollywood Fashion Center in Hollywood was in the process of starting its own club! To find out if they did. Pompano Square in Pompano Beach charges a one-time fee of $7.50, which includes monthly meetings at the mall food court featuring
I’m about 3 days away from starting the Family Medicine Residency here in Alabama, so I’ve decided to write this post about applying to residency to help all of those who will be participating in the 2020 Match. Joining the 2020 Match means you will be applying to programs this year (2019) on September 15th. So, how does this process of applying to residency work? What is the timeline? What should you be doing, and when? These are all questions I had, and if it weren’t for my amazing friends who updated me and reminded me to obtain my NRMP certification token and submit my application, I would likely be in a worse situation. So let’s get right into it. Now! The process is a little different for US medical school students compared to international medical school students— future international medical graduates (IMGs). I’ll be talking about the process for IMGs who must use the ECFMG website to get their token… more about this later. These two things you may already know: As an IMG from SGU, at least your third-year clinical rotations are made for you. And you can schedule your fourth-year rotations yourself: You are responsible for determining the specific dates, locations, and duration of your rotations. This information is essential; can you explain why? Consider scheduling electives at potential application locations to establish a personal connection. This was something I didn’t do. I didn’t think I should, therefore, I never did. These are known as audition rotations—something to think about if you can still make a few changes to your schedule. So now you’re a fourth year, and tokens are available to purchase on the ECFMG website. This offer is only for IMGs. Anyone NOT from a US medical school… Token… Tokens became available on June 25th, 2019. So if you haven’t purchased it… get to it! Fees are down below. Someone asked me on social media: “what is the benefit of getting your token early?” Once you receive your token, you can access ERAS and start preparing your application for residency. But what does that even mean? Here are the ten things that make up “working on your application”. Personal Statement This is a HUGE part of your application. Programs will have access to your picture, your scores, your letters of recommendation (LoRs), and your MSPE. Everything. Your statement is the one place you can show them who you are as a person and as an applicant and why you would be a great addition to their programme. This is where you talk about your trials and tribulations. This is where you address any RED FLAGS in your application. Red Flags include dealing, as we called it in SGU (meaning dropping or failing a class and having to retake it another term, therefore extending your years in med school), leaves of absence, anything that extends your med school years, low scores or failing Step 1 or 2. Don’t just list them. Explain how you GREW from it and what you LEARNT from it. Talk about a positive from the negative. This is also where you can talk about why you’ve chosen that field of medicine to apply to. Why you loved it when you enjoyed it, why you’d be good at it, and you can talk about your future aspirations as a doctor and where you see yourself in the future. You can talk about what made you who you are. And, You can talk about the things you value and the character traits you have. You can talk about specific patient encounters that changed you or showed you something about yourself. Don’t just list the qualities you have; give examples that show it! If applying to more than one speciality… write more than one personal statement. 1 for each speciality you are applying to. CV This is your resume! Your academic career, your research projects, publications, volunteering, clubs you’re in, or associations you’re a part of, such as AMSA. Be as thorough as possible. Even if not published, list it as pending or in progress and just specify that it is not published. Score Reports You permit them to access your scores. This just means that once you pay for and submit your application, all the programmes you’ve applied to will have access to your score reports. If you have taken step 2 and are waiting for the news… don’t worry… you can still submit your application. Once your report is released, the system will notify the programmes that your score is available. SIDE NOTE: If there’s a programme you’re very interested in interviewing with… send them a personalised email and let them know your score report is now available and express your interest in their programme. Picture This is what the programmes that see your application will see. Make sure you look professional. Don’t just upload any picture of yourself. The more recent, the better! Letters of Recommendation (LoR) As a 3rd- and 4th-year med student, you should be or should have been expressing your intentions to request a letter of rec from your attending in different rotations. The earlier you do this, the better. Remind them. They are busy people! So be sure to send reminder messages here and there. ERAS will create LoR request forms, which you can download and send to your attendings. These forms have instructions for them to follow. The system will ask you if you defer the right to see/read the letter… I always deferred. I wanted my letter writers to be as honest as possible and NOT be pressured by my possible access to the message. MSPE Letter Your school handles this. They will ask you for information, maybe even your resume, and they will do the rest. Make sure you let them know you will be applying and ask them what is needed. PTAL (for California Residencies) This is a big one! If you’re going to be applying to programmes in California, you need to fill out a
So you’ve submitted your application already! And now, you have an interview coming up, and you have NO IDEA how to prepare for it. What do you do? Well, there are a few things you CAN DO for Residency Interviews…, and then there are things you SHOULD DO. YOU CAN: Give off the impression of the perfect candidate – well-rehearsed and composed. YOU SHOULD: Be true to who you are, with the added piece of self-control, tact, and a hint of preparation. Practice commonly asked questions, but not in a way that will lead you to answer robotically. Be natural. HOW DO YOU DO THAT in Residency Interviews? By being honest on Residency Interviews! If you genuinely believe in what you are saying, regardless of the way you are saying it, it will come out naturally. When I say practice the questions, it doesn’t mean MEMORIZE an answer. It means to write down what you would like to say to ORGANIZE your thoughts into a cohesive message AND THEN… say it in different ways out loud. I do NOT recommend that you sound like a robot and be well-rehearsed. WHY NOT? It won’t show off your personality on Residency Interviews. You’ve been offered an interview.. It means they like you on paper. But the interview is for you to show them who you are as a person, that you will integrate into their community, mesh well with the current residents and share in their values and future aspirations. YOU CAN: Be very assertive by asking a lot of questions and taking out a list of 50 to show how well prepared and interested you are. YOU SHOULD: Have about ten questions that you genuinely NEED to know the answer to, to help you decide ranking when it comes to that time. I call these: The 10 Y’s Important for Residency Interviews The ten reasons why you should choose them as your top choice. It can be just 5.the number is up to you. But make sure they are things that will TRULY help you decide how to rank a program. These MUST BE make or break questions for you, so that if their answer is unsatisfying… you will likely not rank them very high on your list. What should they NOT be? Don’t ask questions that are already answered on their website. BUT… use what they write on their website to ask to follow up or more detailed questions. Questions that are important SPECIFICALLY TO YOU. YOU CAN: Ask the same question in multiple different ways to the same person so that you have more to ask. YOU SHOULD: Ask the same questions in the same way or different ways to multiple people, and admit you have asked others the same question. Ask the program director, ask the supporting faculty, ask each of the residents, the interns, the second years, the third years, etc. It is okay NOT to have a million questions. This way, you will have an answer to the same question by many different people. It gives you the FULL PICTURE ANSWER. If the director and all the residents and the faculty all answer in similar ways or ways that support each other, then you know its real! YOU CAN: Be very quiet and observant and answer in short yes and no answers, especially if you tend to be a shy person. YOU SHOULD: Stay true to yourself and not pretend to be outgoing, obviously, BUT you should make an effort to GET TO KNOW the people you may one day work with. Imagine you are interviewing, and one of the current residents there doesn’t say a word to you (likely because they’re shy too). Would you think they’re just shy? Would you believe they don’t like you? Would you believe you won’t get along?…. you get the idea. Imagine yourself on the other side of the table and then try to show who you indeed are. Chances are you’re shy because it’s a stressful situation and you’re nervous. DON’T LET THE NERVES GET IN THE WAY OF LANDING YOUR DREAM JOB. YOU CAN: Be VERY assertive… answer questions before they’re fully asked. YOU SHOULD: Stay true to who you are…with some slow-motion action during Residency Interviews. If you know what they’re about to ask you, that’s great! You’ve anticipated a question, and it will work in your favor. BUT, you NEED TO LET THEM ASK IT. YOU CAN: Talk a lot and fast and not let anyone else put a word in. YOU SHOULD: Be true to who you are. Are you sensing a pattern here? Lo BUT make sure you also show interest in the people around you. They might one day be people you will spend more time with than with your own family. Getting to know their hobbies, what they like, where they’re from is just as important as showing them all those things about you. This is like a date! How long will you date someone who only talks about themselves? Communication is a 2-way street. I am very happy for all of you! Proud of all of you! If you still have not received an interview, I’ve been there! So I understand the stress and fear. Start sending emails to the programs you’ve submitted applications to. Express interest in interviewing there, even if you’ve already racked up a bunch of interviews. If the programs you truly want have not offered you one yet, email them! It is the time, so be diligent! Put in as much effort. The season is not over until it’s over, and you can still get interviews as late as January and maybe early February. ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE CANCELLATIONS! Some people cancel! Spots become available! So if a program says, You already sent out all the interview invitations we have available, Do not be afraid to ask for consideration if they have any cancellations.
ICU was my 1stblock as an intern! As someone who had been OUT of the hospital setting for almost three years… It’s exciting to listen. Let’s see how to survive the ICU as a new medical student. You can say I was, oh, I don’t know. TERRIFIED! I may have done an ICU/CCU elective when I was in my 4thyear.. which I recommend so that you get an idea of what it is like before you’re there yourself… But it was a long time ago…. And I was NERVOUS. So, naturally, like all of you reading this, I Googled how to prepare and how to survive the ICU. But now that I have finished my 1st month of residency in the ICU. I can now give you guys a few tips about how to survive the ICU successfully. How to Survive the ICU 1. Introduce yourself IMMEDIATELY to all the nurses: Let them know you’re the new intern. Tell them your name. Shake their hand. Let them know that you KNOW you’re in their territory and that you will also need their help. They have the experience to be able to guide you. Do not think yourself above them just because you’re “the doctor.” We are all tadpoles still. 2. Check Potassium, Magnesium, and phosphorus on ALL your patients. Every day! By far, the thing you will do most in the ICU is replace these electrolytes. ICU patients have a lot of electrolyte imbalances. They are likely intubated, NPO, or getting TPN or Tube Feeds. So make sure you know their levels and replace them if needed. If you return one, RECHECK IT in a few hours. HINT: You can give them PO if they have a feeding tube. PO is better absorbed, so it replaces levels better. But IV is also acceptable. FYI: When given a choice… choose potassium chloride. You’re welcome. PS: Different doctors and different facilities prefer different ways of replacing… learn their ways. 3. Make sure you have labs ordered in the AM. Check that every patient has labs ordered for the following morning. Often you are trending things, especially in the ICU. I always made sure I had a CBC, CMP/BMP. If the patient has pancreatitis or is very ill, I would get the CMP because it includes the LFTs. The BMP does not! Patients in the ICU can quickly deteriorate and go into multi-organ failure. You won’t catch liver failure unless you’ve got those LFTs. 4. Find out who the nurses are for your patients and ask them how they did overnight. Ask about overnight events! You need to know how your patient is doing and how their night went. So ask about it. The nurses record everything! If the patient tried to pull out their tube, if they went into DTs and had to get Ativan, how much Ativan? Suppose they were put on pressure or taken off pressure. If their BPs and HRs have been stable. ASK! And KNOW! It will be your job to fill in the attendance. 5. Introduce yourself to the patient and their family as a resident on the team taking care of their family members. Be prepared to answer questions, and IT “IS OKAY TO SAY YOU DON’T KNOW but will find out. 6. Create your checklist every morning. Make sure you create a checklist every morning of all the things you need to do for each patient to make sure you don’t forget. Create symbols that mean TO DO and others to indicate PENDING. Honestly… I’d check out OnlineMedEd.Com and use code OME18. They have an excellent way to help you use symbols to your advantage, so you don’t have to use so many words for things. It also helps with time management. Example: AM labs Replace electrolytes and recheck Consult GI, or Cards or Neuro or whoever else CXR or other Imaging Progress Note! Progress Note! Progress Note! Discharge summary History and Physical This will also help you keep track of things you’ve done and the items you have yet to do. ORGANIZATION is the key to TIME MANAGEMENT. 7. Get there early! You won’t know how many patients you will have. So get there early; that way, you will have enough time to review everyone’s chart, see the patients, and prepare your plan of care by the time you have to round with your attending. I started out getting there at 7 am. Once I knew how long it took me to get through my to-do list and see the patients and prep the note and create a plan… I was able to get there later and still be ready for rounds with time to spare. 8. Read about your patient’s conditions and conventional treatments to help you make a plan. Getting there early was a great way to give yourself time to read up on a patient’s lab results or physical exam finding that you weren’t sure what to do with. Up To Date was my go-to. I would read up on it and find usual treatment options for it and even a diagnosis for it. I would also add all of it to my assessment and plan. The AP of the SOAP…. Yep. SOAP notes. If you don’t remember what it is or how to write one… check out OnlineMedEd.com. Also, remember to use code OME18. Get acquainted, lol. 9. Look at everything at the patient’s bedside. Read everything that is hanging by the bedside. It will be fluids, tube feeds, medications, titrations, antibiotics, etc., etc. Know what your patient is on, how much, how often, and for how long. Document it all. Confirm that they should still be on those things, and if they shouldn’t because the previous note said to stop it, ask the nurses about it. Chances are maybe it wasn’t discharged in the system, or they were told verbally to give it. Also, DOCUMENT everything. 10. Ask for help when you need it! You won’t always know what to
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