Blood Clots
PodcastDX
This week we discuss blood clots A blood clot is a clump of blood that has changed from a liquid to a gel-like or semisolid state. Clotting is a necessary process that can excessive blood loss when you have a cut, for example. Thrombosis is when a blood clot and reduces blood flow. There are two types: Arterial thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in an artery. Venous thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein. When a clot forms inside one of your veins, it may dissolve on its own. However, sometimes a clot doesn’t dissolve on its own, or part of it...
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Hearing Loss
PodcastDX
This week we discuss hearing loss. A person who is not able to hear as well as someone with normal hearing – hearing thresholds of 20 dB or better in both ears – is said to have hearing loss. Hearing loss may be mild, moderate, severe or profound. It can affect one ear or both ears and leads to difficulty in hearing conversational speech or loud sounds. Hard of hearing refers to people with hearing loss ranging from mild to severe. People who are hard of hearing usually communicate through spoken language and can benefit from hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other assistive devices as...
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Food Safety at the Holidays
PodcastDX
In this episode we will discuss food safety at the holidays. From prep to serving there are important tips to remember to ensure a toxin free meal for everyone! Parties, family dinners, and other gatherings where food is served are all part of the holiday cheer. But the joy can change to misery if food makes you or others ill. Typical symptoms of foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning, are vomiting, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms, which can start anywhere from hours to days after contaminated food or drinks are consumed. The symptoms usually are not long-lasting in healthy...
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Abdominal Adhesions
PodcastDX
This week we discuss Abdominal adhesions. These are bands of scar tissue that form between abdominal tissues and organs. Like the name suggests, the tissue can cause your organs to “adhere,” or stick together. Adhesions commonly form after abdominal surgery. Typically, you don’t need treatment unless they cause a complication, like a small bowel obstruction. Abdominal adhesions are bands of scar tissue that form between the organs in your belly and pelvis. Mainly, they form between loops of your . They can also form between an organ and the wall of your abdominal cavity. Your...
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Vaccines/ Re-Run
PodcastDX
The first human vaccines against viruses were based using weaker or attenuated viruses to generate immunity. The smallpox vaccine used cowpox, a poxvirus that was similar enough to smallpox to protect against it but usually didn’t cause serious illness. Rabies was the first virus attenuated in a lab to create a vaccine for humans. Vaccines are made using several different processes. They may contain live viruses that have been attenuated (weakened or altered so as not to cause illness); inactivated or killed organisms or viruses; inactivated toxins (for bacterial diseases where toxins...
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Ablation or Meds for AFIB
PodcastDX
This week we will discuss possible treatment methods for AFIB. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common type of irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat chaotically and out of sync with the lower chambers (ventricles). This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including: Palpitations (a feeling of a racing or irregular heartbeat) Fatigue Shortness of breath Dizziness or lightheadedness Chest discomfort AFib can increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications. ...
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Vagus Nerve Injury
PodcastDX
This week we are talking about the Vagus Nerve. The vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve) is a critical part of the autonomic nervous system, responsible for regulating vital functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiration. It extends from the brainstem (medulla oblongata) through the neck and chest to the abdomen, with motor and sensory fibers allowing communication between the brain and organs. The vagus nerve has two branches—left and right—which overlap in regulating autonomic functions. Functions and Importance Cardiac and Pulmonary Regulation: The left vagus nerve...
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CRPS Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
PodcastDX
Our guest this week is Christine James. Christine is a mother to two daughters, 19 and 23, a nurse of 8 ½ years and now a chronic pain patient. She was happy to take the time to speak with us in order to bring awareness to a rare and largely unknown disease: CRPS or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. As a nurse she worked in the fields of home health, acute medical, psych, long term care, dialysis; and has floated to many other units within hospitals. She has worked at the bedside and have also held supervisory positions. Passionate about her career as a nurse, she hopes to get well...
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Integrative Neurology with Dr. Alexander Zubkov
PodcastDX
This week we discuss the field of Functional Neurology with Dr. Alexander Zubkov. Stroke care is complex and does not stop when a patient is discharged from the hospital. As a Functional Neurologist, Dr. Zubkov offers comprehensive follow-up for Stroke care, and focus on prevention through health and wellness. According to his online presence, these are the benefits of such tailored medical care: Benefits of Integrative Neurology and Functional Medicine Identify the root cause of your illness Decrease excessive inflammation ...
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Winter Safety
PodcastDX
The winter season brings cold temperatures and severe weather conditions that create many hazards for individuals working in areas that experience these conditions. Even if you work indoors, winter weather still poses many hazards for you, such as driving into work in bad weather or walking through an icy parking lot to get to your building. It is important to recognize and address the hazards the winter season brings with it. During extremely cold weather or winter storms, staying warm and safe can be a challenge. Winter storms can bring cold temperatures, power failures, loss of...
info_outlineOn today’s show, we are talking about knee replacement surgery with Dawn Richardson, a friend I met in my last couple of years in the Army. Dawn is a retired Navy Captain, former restaurant manager, and former Bed and Breakfast owner who is delighted to say she's now retired and finds fulfillment in her volunteer activities and personal pursuits.
About 4% of people 50 and older have knee replacements. At age 80, that number is above 10%. The average age is 65 and more women than men have knee replacements.
Three facts we were surprised to hear after speaking with Dawn:
- You aren’t supposed to travel for 6 weeks
- You aren’t supposed to kneel on that knee for 6 months
- You shouldn’t have any non-emergency dental work for 6 months to include cleanings
These surgeries have evolved greatly after the use of minimally invasive scope-type surgeries.
Total knee replacement is a type of surgery to replace a damaged knee joint. A minimally invasive surgery uses a smaller cut (incision) than a traditional total knee replacement. This type of surgery typically requires special tools so that the surgery team can see and do the procedure through the smaller incision.
The knee has several parts: the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), the upper end of the shin bone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella). A smooth substance called cartilage caps the ends of these bones and keeps the bones from grinding together. When there is damage to the knee joint, these bones may scrape together abnormally and cause pain.
During minimally invasive total knee replacement, your surgeon makes an incision to access your shinbone and thigh bone. Next, he or she removes a portion of the bones that make up the knee joint. Your surgeon replaces these bone parts with metal components that recreate the joint surface. A layer of plastic is placed between the metal components for smooth gliding.
Minimally invasive total knee replacement often takes place under general or spinal anesthesia. (credits: Johns Hopkins Medical)