Want your winter skin to look more radiant?

Posted on January 16, 2014 by drlesliegreenberg
flickr.com /photos /cuppini/ 11139007263

flickr.com /photos /cuppini/ 11139007263

Do not visit a tanning salon for a winter pick-me-up.  Tanning beds are bad news.  The beds use bulbs that produce mostly UVA light– a type of radiation that encourages pigment production by damaging skin’s deeper layers.  UVA exposure sharply increases the risk of melanoma (a deadly form of skin cancer).  Did you know that the World Health Organization classified tanning beds as human carcinogens?

Instead, consider using a gentle body scrub or exfoliator.  This will eliminate flakiness and will allow the skin to absorb lotion easier.   A thick lotion, called an emollient, can also help your skin look smoother.   Self-tanning lotion or spray is a safe option.

Hope this helps.

Posted in Dermatology, General Medicine- Adults, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Want your winter skin to look more radiant?

Low testosterone

Posted on January 13, 2014 by drlesliegreenberg
flickr.com/ photos /kevharb /4097634204/

flickr.com/ photos /kevharb /4097634204/

If  you have watched ANY sports on television, you must have been barraged by ads about “Low T.”   The advertisers are eluding to low testosterone.

Testosterone is the male hormone that is responsible for sexual libido and the ability to achieve a significant erection in men.  If testosterone levels are low, sexual health is most noticeably affected: decreased sexual libido and erectile dysfunction.  Other symptoms of this may be mood changes, fatigue, sleep disturbances, loss of muscle or bone mass, and lack of motivation.

To diagnose low testosterone, a history and physical exam are paired with lab work.

Treatment options include behavioral changes and medication.

  • If obese, weight loss can best help men keep testosterone as testosterone.  The outer fat cells help testosterone change to estrogen (predominant female hormone) so decreasing fat cells help testosterone not convert.
  • Heavy alcohol abusers will benefit by decreasing alcohol consumption.
  • Otherwise there are testosterone replacement forms for both intramuscular injections and topical replacement.  Oral forms of testosterone do not lead to stable blood levels so this is not well tolerated and may cause liver damage.

If you are symptomatic, seek help from your doctor.  Do not self-treat.  There are risks of taking too  much testosterone such as blood clots which can cause heart attack or stroke or prostate problems.

Posted in General Medicine- Adults, Male issues, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Low testosterone

Seasonal affective disorder. Feeling SAD?

Posted on January 7, 2014 by drlesliegreenberg
.flickr.com/ photos/ bahkubean/ 1287879564

.flickr.com/ photos/ bahkubean/ 1287879564

SAD is major depression with a seasonal pattern. This means that most feel episodes of depression during the fall or winter months.  (Scientists have seen a striking example in Scandinavia where suicide rate doubles in the winter months.)

Symptoms of SAD may include

  • lack of interest in usual activities,
  • loss of appetite,
  • social withdrawal,
  • feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness,
  • feelings of anxiety,
  • poor concentration,
  • difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Why does this occur?  In short, this is not fully understood.  Genetics, age and the body’s natural chemical makeup may all play a role.  Our biological clock (circadian rhythm) is disrupted with reduced levels and amounts of sunlight.  Reduced sunlight can cause a decreased level of serotonin (which is a feel-good chemical in the brain).  Melatonin may also decrease–this impacts our ability to get a restful night sleep.

When to see your doctor?  If your symptoms (as listed above) extend beyond a week or two, if you feel hopeless, think about suicide, or use drug/alcohol to help “cope.”

What are treatments?  Light therapy may help the brain chemicals be tricked into thinking it’s spring/summer.  Antidepressant medication may also help.  Counseling is a third way to help.

Don’t brush off that “winter blues” feeling.  Help is available.

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Resolutions? These apps may help you achieve yours.

Posted on January 2, 2014 by drlesliegreenberg
flickr.com /photos /marwamorgan/ 6608959471

flickr.com /photos /marwamorgan/ 6608959471

There are tens of thousands of health-related apps on smartphones.  Some make the smartphone into a type of health-related equipment and others help you manage health-related issues.

I’ll review some of those that help you with issues.

MediSafe: This is an easy-to-use app which provides reminders to patients when they need to take their medicine.  It can also share information with a “med-friend” (think spouse, companion, caretaker).  the app also alerts users when a refill is due.  Cost: free

MyFitnessPal:  Helps users lose weight with many strength training and cardio exercises.  Daily calorie tracking (with more than 2 million food entries in its database) and activity logging are two of its best features.  Cost: free

MyQuitCoach:  Personalizes strategies to help quit smoking.  Users can commit to quitting immediately or decreasing smoking over time.  Cost: free

iTriage: Ideal for travelers and those new to an area find the nearest hospital or urgent care center.  It is location-based and also has the ability to provide estimated wait-time.  Cost: free.

These wellness apps do not provide illness cures but they may improve health by encouraging smarter, healthier lifestyle choices.  Who doesn’t like that?

Posted in General Medicine- Adults, nicotine, obesity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Resolutions? These apps may help you achieve yours.

Meningitis outbreak!

Posted on December 23, 2013 by drlesliegreenberg

I recently received a call from a patient stating that his child was at a Santa Barbara university and there was an outbreak of meningitis.  Indeed, there have been two meningitis outbreaks–one on the West and the other on the East Coast.   Both outbreaks have been caused by serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis–but two DIFFERENT strains of it!

Interesting!

What does meningitis act like?  Fever.  Headache.  Rash.

Does our routine meningitis vaccine work?  It does work against serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135.  It does not work on serogroup B.  The CDC and the FDA have allowed administration of a  serogroup B meningitis vaccine that is used in European Union and Australia to be given to “certain individuals” in New Jersey as that outbreak  had eight cases over a several-month period.  This is a highly unusual move for the CDC and is discussed further on their website www.cdc.gov.

Our job is to vaccinate per guidelines: one meningitis vaccine at age 11-12 and a booster at age 16 and to watch for symptoms of meningitis.

Take care, everyone!

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Want to prevent shingles?

Posted on December 10, 2013 by drlesliegreenberg

What is shingles?  It is reactivation of latent herpes zoster virus–meaning you’ve had chicken pox in the past and your body holds onto the virus to then let it reactivate.  As we age or as our immune systems becomes weaker, the virus may re-emerge as shingles.  This  typically results in a localized, blister-looking, painful rash on one side of the body.  Before the rash symptoms like

  • headache,
  • sensitivity to light,
  • fatigue,
  • localized abnormal skin sensations (feeling like bugs or hot embers are under the skin)

start one to five days before the rash appears.

The US sees one million new cases of herpes zoster yearly.  1/3 of the population is expected to develop shingles during their lifetime.

The vaccine may cause redness, itching, swelling or warmth where the vaccine was administered but overall the vaccine is safe, effective, and well tolerated.  The 2012 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) suggest immunocompetent people (those of us with a good immune system) get the vaccine at 60 years or older, even if they have a history of shingles.

Ask your physician about details of the shingles vaccine.

Posted in General Medicine- Adults, Vaccines | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Want to prevent shingles?

Flu vaccines may prevent heart attacks, too!

Posted on December 9, 2013 by drlesliegreenberg

immunizationImmunization against the influenza lowered the probability of heart attack by 45%.  This Australian study  recently published in the journal Heart.

It is thought that acute infections, such as influenza, cause an increased production of disease-fighting inflammatory proteins.  It is these proteins which may clog up vessels and may precipitate a heart attack.

The World Health Organization notes that among seniors, the flu vaccine reduces severe illnesses and complications from the flu by as much as 60% and reduces deaths by 80%.

Have you had your flu vaccine this fall?

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2013 Whooping cough epidemic in Texas

Posted on December 3, 2013 by drlesliegreenberg

Texas is a southern neighbor for us, Kansans.  Whooping cough has reached epidemic proportions in Texas and is projected to hit a 50-year high!  Nearly 2000 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Texas this year with two infant deaths due to the disease.  Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a bacterial infection that may begin with cold-like symptoms and a mild cough.  Severe coughing can start two weeks later.  It is contagious when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. 

The Tdap vaccine has pertussis in it.  We give this vaccine to pregnant women, children ages 2 and 4 and 6 months old.   The first vaccine that a 2 month old gets does not fully shield them from the infection.  Frequent boosters are needed  help secure immunity.  Infants are at most risk for the most severe respiratory complications and death.

Friendly advice:  Get the Tdap vaccine if you are due.  Stay home from work/school if you are ill. Cover your cough.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 2013 Whooping cough epidemic in Texas

Free HIV testing tomorrow in Wichita

Posted on December 1, 2013 by drlesliegreenberg

In celebration of Worlds AIDS Day (today!) the Sedgwick County Health Department will offer free HIV testing tomorrow (Monday 12/2/2013).  Two locations are offered.

  • If you are a WSU student or faculty the testing is offered in Ahlberg Hall main lobby Monday 12/2/13 from 9 am to 3 pm.
  • For all others interested, Sedgwick County’s main health clinic at 2716 West Central is offering conventional HIV testing from 8 am to 5 pm Monday 12/2/13.

Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins will be seen.  Call 316 660-7300 for more information.

Posted in General Medicine- Adults, infections, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Free HIV testing tomorrow in Wichita

Fighting sleep?

Posted on November 29, 2013 by drlesliegreenberg

As we age we sleep differently.  We continue to need the same amount of sleep, but our sleep patterns may change. 

Sleep needs vary among individuals.  Some do well on five hours of sleep per night, others need 9 hours.  As life gets busy, you may not pay attention to your personal sleep signal.   You may still need your same number of hours of sleep per night even if you don’t make time for it.

Best solution to help induce sleep is simple.  Turn off lights, shut eyes, relax… and go to sleep.

There can be conditions which inhibit sleep like restless leg syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, muscle cramps, and even heart or lung conditions.  A thorough physical exam will help reveal if there is a complicating factor for insomnia.

Hints:  get 30 minutes of sunlight daily (this will help to wake up your body at the appropriate time and help the body stay on your “clock”).  Exercise daily.  In bed, only have sex or sleep.  No TV or screens near bedtime (as this may stimulate your brain and make sleep more difficult).

Nightie-night.

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