Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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Dear NP, How long do I have to get a laceration repaired? Dear Reader, Repair of a laceration depends on several factors, which is likely why you get different answers to your question. Let’s start by discussing what a laceration is. A laceration is a cut or wound caused by tearing the body’s soft tissue. The wound might be irregular or jagged. Lacerations carry a risk of contamination with bacteria or debris from whatever caused the cut. Lacerations can be deep or shallow, long or short and...
Dear NP, The community has noticed an uptick in RSV cases. It may be helpful to talk about RSV, what it is, how it is treated and how it affects certain age groups more severely than others. Dear Reader, Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a respiratory illness that usually causes mild cold-like symptoms. Infections usually clear up in a week or two, but in infants and older adults, RSV can be severe. In these age groups, conditions like bronchiolitis (inflammation in the small airways) or...
Dear NP, My primary care provider has offered me the bivalent COVID booster. Should I get it if I have already had COVID and multiple COVID vaccines? Are there any different side effects than the original COVID booster? Does it work well? Dear Reader, We’d all hoped that COVID-19 infections would be a thing of the past by now, but the reality is that infections continue to occur. Older adults are at the highest risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, and there is a higher risk of death for t...
Dear NP, I was recently diagnosed with sciatica. What causes it? I have tried numerous medications without any relief. What are some other alternatives for treatment? Will physical therapy help? Dear Reader, Sciatica is often caused when a herniated disc or overgrowth of bone (bone spurs) in the lower back puts pressure on a nerve. You might hear this called a “pinched nerve.” This results in inflammation and pain that can travel from the lower back through the hips, buttocks, and even down the...
Dear NP, The news is full of information about monkeypox. Since my children are preparing to return to school, I am worried about their exposure. What are the signs and symptoms of monkeypox? How is it transmitted? Is it deadly or debilitating? I would appreciate you sharing any other information you may have Dear Reader, Monkeypox has been prominently featured in the news recently. This spring, an outbreak began in the United States, raising concerns that more and more cases would develop. The...
Dear NP, I suffer from seasonal allergies that are not responsive to multiple antihistamines. I require frequent regimens of prescription steroids to help control my allergy symptoms of swollen eyes, sneezing and cough. How do I know when my allergies are severe enough to see a specialist for allergy testing? Dear Reader, Seasonal allergies are a problem for many people. About 24 million people in the United States suffer from seasonal allergies. An allergic reaction to pollen from trees,...
Dear NP, My teenager has a history of seizures and takes medication to control them. How will this affect his ability to drive? Dear Reader, There are many different types of seizures, and they affect people in various ways. Some seizures cause people to lose control of their bodies entirely. If this were to happen while driving, it could cause a loss of vehicle control and be very dangerous. Fortunately, not all seizures cause this degree of symptoms, and medical therapy can control or...
Dear NP, My teenager has a history of seizures and takes medication to control them. How will this affect his ability to drive? Dear Reader, There are many different types of seizures, and they affect people in various ways. Some seizures cause people to lose control of their bodies entirely. If this were to happen while driving, it could cause a loss of vehicle control and be very dangerous. Fortunately, not all seizures cause this degree of symptoms, and medical therapy can control or...
Dear NP, I have been a smoker for over 20 years. I talked to my doctor, and he wants me to take Chantix. What is the safest way to stop? What are the side effects of the different “stop-smoking” medications such as the patch and Chantix? Are there any other alternatives besides drugs? Dear Reader, Congratulations on taking steps to stop smoking. It’s not a simple thing to do. Tobacco cravings and the urge to smoke can be challenging to overcome. Quitting smoking reduces your heart disea...
Dear NP, My father had a complicated history of prostate cancer. My doctor told me that having my blood PSA level checked is useless. What health screenings are recommended for prostate cancer, and how often? Dear Reader, It’s normal to be concerned about your prostate health when you’ve seen a loved one deal with prostate cancer. The prostate is a small gland in men that produces sperm and semen. Prostate cancer rarely has any symptoms in the early stages. But in later stages, you may have som...
Dear NP, “In a recent column, you discussed how to lower cholesterol levels without taking medications. Please talk about the long-term side effects of taking statins, such as the increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and memory loss/confusion.” Dear Reader, Statins are a class of medications often prescribed to lower cholesterol levels when diet and exercise alone have not been successful. These medications are safe for most people, but they have been linked to some side effects. One of...
Dear NP, “Are diabetes medications helpful for weight loss? Are there any bad side effects if I take these medications for weight loss and am not diabetic? What are the requirements to have them prescribed for me?” Dear Reader, Losing weight is a struggle for many people. Recently several medications that are used to treat diabetes have also been found to impact weight loss. If you have diabetes and need to lose weight, trying one of these medications may be helpful, but what about people who...
Dear NP, “How can I lower my cholesterol without taking prescription medications? Does a keto diet worsen cholesterol levels?” Dear Reader, Prescription medications are often recommended to treat elevated cholesterol levels. However, many people wish to try to lower their cholesterol levels through diet before taking medication. When considering how to lower cholesterol levels, you’ll need a basic understanding of the different types of cholesterol and how they respond to various inter...
Dear NP, When is flu season and what is the best time to get the flu vaccine? Dear Reader, Influenza circulates year-round, but the peak season for flu is during the fall and winter months. Cases of flu may begin to increase as early as October, with the highest number occurring between December and February. In some years, flu activity can be seen as late as May. Because the flu virus remains active year-round, it is possible to get the flu at any time during the year, but most cases occur...
Dear NP, “Can you tell me what skin cancer looks like? My mother died from skin cancer that spread to the underlying bones. What can I do to help prevent skin cancer other than sunscreen? I am 48 years old.” Dear Reader, Skin cancer is the most common cancer type in the world. In the United States, one out of every five persons will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. More than two people will die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour. While these statistics are frightening, finding and tre...
Dear NP, “I was recently started on metoprolol for high blood pressure. I have never taken any prescription medications for blood pressure problems. Before starting the medication, I was able to walk at a fast pace for about 30 minutes. Now, I cannot tolerate any exercise, and I get tired very easily. Could it be due to the new medication?” Dear Reader, First, I’m happy to hear that you are addressing your high blood pressure. High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” because it often...
Dear NP, “I have an 18-month-old who continually gets ear infections. Can you explain what causes some children to be more prone to ear infections than others? Is there anything I can do to help prevent these ear infections from recurring?” Dear Reader, There is nothing worse than seeing your child in pain and feeling helpless. Some children seem to be particularly prone to ear infections. The onset of an ear infection generally occurs rapidly, resulting in a variety of symptoms. Children may se...
Dear NP, Last year I was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever after a long course of sickness. My delay in treatment was because I failed to mention I had a recent tick bite. With warmer weather approaching, it may be helpful to let readers know about tick-borne illnesses found in our area. Dear Reader, Warmer weather is coming and while we are all looking forward to spending time outdoors, avoiding ticks is a crucial way to prevent contracting the illness they can spread. Ticks can...
Dear NP, Can you talk about the COVID-19 antibody test? Specifically, who should get the test, what does it mean if I have a positive or negative test, and how long do antibodies last? Dear Reader, Now that the COVID-19 pandemic shows signs of resolution, at least locally, COVID-19 antibody bloods tests are becoming more readily available. When it comes to COVID-19 testing, you’ll find two main options: diagnostic tests and antibody tests. A diagnostic test will show if you have an active C...
Dear NP, I was recently diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. What risks are associated with this diagnosis? What is the best way to increase my vitamin D level? Dear Reader, Vitamin D deficiency can cause a host of unpleasant symptoms. These can include fatigue, depression, slow wound healing and many more symptoms. Most people are diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency after experiencing one or more of these symptoms, so the fact that you’ve been diagnosed means you’re already on the right tra...
Dear NP, I have a friend who was recently diagnosed with end-stage colon cancer at a young age. Please tell me what the recommendations are for colorectal cancer screening? Are there any options for screening besides having a colonoscopy? Dear Reader, Unfortunately, the rate at which people under 65 are diagnosed with colorectal cancer has been steadily increasing since the mid-1980s. About 12% of colorectal cases in 2020 are in people aged 65 or lower. However, the rate at which older people...
Dear NP, How often should I be screened for type II diabetes? What is prediabetes? Is there anything I can do to reverse prediabetes and prevent diabetes? F. F. Dear F. F., November is diabetes awareness month. Diabetes is a huge health issue in the United States, affecting 34.2 million adults, just over 1 in 10. You are right to be concerned, and it’s great that you’ve reached out to get some advice. As in any chronic, dangerous illness, it’s easier to treat diabetes if you catch it early and m...
Dear NP, I am in my late 60s. I am worried about the immunizations that my primary care provider is offering me. With flu season just around the corner, I am considering the influenza vaccine. Then, there is the possibility of the COVID-19 vaccine becoming available. Can you talk about vaccines, how they are made and the potential side effects of vaccines in general? M. S. Dear M. S., Vaccines have certainly been a hot topic of debate over the last several decades, and I understand why people...
Dear NP, My 69-year-old mother is becoming more than just forgetful. She recently got lost in a town she has lived in her whole life. She has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and offered a lot of medications to help with the symptoms. Can you tell me about some of these medications? L. S. Dear L. S., First of all, so many of us know all too well what it is like to see a parent struggle with Alzheimer’s. I hope the advice in this column will make things easier for you and for her. Unf...
Dear NP, My daughter struggled through school last year. Due to COVID, she was homeschooled for several months and I am worried about her focus. What are the signs of ADHD? M. L. Dear M. L., ADHD stands for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and can be a major problem for children and adults alike. Over six million children are diagnosed with ADHD every year, so it is far from a rare problem. However, many of the stereotypical behaviors of ADHD are things that all lively, energetic childre...
