As a child, many of us were told about the dangers of stepping on a rusty nail. “Step on one and you could get lockjaw” was what I was told. For that reason, many of us assume that tetanus is caused by a cut or scratch from a metallic object. In fact, tetanus - an infection of the nervous system - is caused by a bacteria commonly found in soil, feces or saliva called Clostridium tetani (C. tetani). Thus it’s the dirt on the rusty nail, not the rust that carries the threat of tetanus. It should also be noted that dirty needles, such as those used for tattooing or piercing, can carry the C. tetani bacteria.
The biggest risk for tetanus is from deep puncture wounds or cuts that aren’t properly cleaned. Wounds that are on the face or head also tend to be more dangerous. A person becomes infected when the spores of the C. tetani bacteria enter the wound and release a neurotoxin that causes muscle spasms. This toxin can then travel throughout your body via the lymph or blood system and create more muscle spasms. Tetanus can be fatal.
Tetanus is often called lockjaw because muscle spasms in the jaw are generally the first symptom. This can lead to pain or stiffness in the neck, shoulders and back, as well as make it difficult to swallow. As the neurotoxin spreads, so do the spasms. If the spasms become severe enough they can tear muscles or cause fractures. Symptoms usually appear within a week to four weeks.
If you have suffered a deep cut or wound that you think may put you at risk for tetanus, contact your physician. Even if you have been vaccinated a booster shot may be necessary. Immunization for tetanus is believed to protect you for 10 years.
Summer means travel. And for many of you that can mean motion sickness - be it travel by plan, train or automobile. It can even happen to people at an IMAX theatre. You may feel nauseous, dizzy, sweaty and uncomfortable. For most people the symptoms vanish once the offending motion stops - in other words, once you get off the plane or out of the car. But for some people the symptoms can last for a few days. This condition is called “mal d’embarquement.”
Just why do people suffer from motion sickness? Well, your body is constantly balancing a variety of sensations - signals from your inner ear, your skin, your eyes and your central nervous system. When these systems receive different messages, you can start to feel sick. One of the best examples is reading a book in the car. Your eyes - focused on the page - tell your body that you are stationary. But the fluid in your ears is telling your body a different story - a story of motion.
What can you do to prevent motion sickness?
- Don’t pick a window seat in an airplane. If you are seated by the window, don’t look out.
- Don’t read a book while in a car. Opt to sit in the front seat or drive.
- Get on the deck of the boat and take a good look around you. Watching the horizon will help.
- Don’t pick a backward facing seat on the train. Forward is best.
Certain medications can also help prevent motion sickness. The key is taking them well in advance of the motion. Antihistamines (such as Dramamine or Meclizine) or a scopolamine skin patch can prevent motion sickness. The skin patch is placed behind the ear and should be applied about four hours in advance of getting in the car, boat or plane. Some people also find that ginger ale helps an upset stomach, or even rolling down the window in the car. Experiment and see what works for you.
Finally, some people can actually teach their bodies to tolerate the conflicting sensory signals that make them motion sick. So, if you like reading in the car but start to feel woozy, try to extend your reading time a little longer each time. Eventually, your body may tolerate reading in the car.
Having difficultly grasping objects? Perhaps you’ve noticed painless knots, or a thickening of tissues, in your palm near the base of your fingers. Or that some of your fingers have become difficult to straighten. If so, you may have developed Dupuytren’s contracture.
Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition that develops slowly, usually over a period of years that causes the connective tissues within the hand to thicken and pull your fingers into a bent position. While the ring and pinky fingers are most commonly affected, any of your fingers may be affected on either hand.
While this condition is usually painless, it can make it difficult for the affected person to grasp objects, to shake hands, straighten the fingers or place a hand into confined spaces - such as gloves.
Research indicates that Dupuytren’s contracture does run in families and most often affects men of Northern European descent over the age of 50. Alcoholics and smokers are also more likely to be affected perhaps because of damage done to blood vessels. Diabetics are also at higher risk for the condition.
Other treatment options include:
- Needling -a needle is inserted to puncture the cord.
- Enzyme injections of Xiaflex -this enzyme softens the thickened cord. The doctor then manipulates the hand to try and “break” the cord.
- Surgery - the affected or scarred tissue is removed.
If you begin to experience symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture, see your physician. Early intervention with heat, physical therapy and stretching may help in slowing the progression of the condition.
Summertime can bring out the best - and worst - in us. You want to play hard (good), but don’t hydrate yourself (bad). Or spend too much time exerting yourself in the sun (again, bad). The result can be a case of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
At this time of year, it’s very important that parents, coaches and lifeguards understand the differences between heat stroke and heat exhaustion. The most important difference is this -heat stroke is a life-threatening condition in which your brain can no longer regulate your body temperature. This can result in damage to your organs or brain as your temperature escalates above 105°F.
Those most likely to suffer from heat stroke have trouble moderating body temperature - the elderly, infants and people on blood pressure, depression or allergy medications.
Those suffering from heat stroke typically have the following symptoms.
- Dizziness, confusion, hallucinations
- Unconsciousness
- Skin that is dry, flushed, hot
- Hyperventilation
- Changing blood pressure -can be elevated and then fall
- Rectal temperature of 105°F
And beware - heat stroke can develop rapidly. If you even suspect that you or another person are suffering from heat stroke, call 911. If someone has heat stroke, there are a few things you can do while awaiting the ambulance.
- If the person is conscious, move them to a cooler place or into cool water.
- Place lukewarm water on their skin and use a fan to blow air across the skin.
- If the person is not acting abnormally, try to give the person water to drink. If the person can’t tolerate the liquids, stop immediately.
Heat exhaustion is less severe and usually occurs when people overheat during exercise. The person’s body temperature does not get above 104°F. People are more susceptible to heat exhaustion when it is humid outside because the body doesn’t sweat and cool itself as effectively on humid days.
Those suffering from heat exhaustion may:
- Sweat profusely
- Suffer from muscle cramps or aches
- Have pale, moist and cool skin
- Be dizzy or feel faint
- Have a headache
- Feel weak, thirsty or nauseous
- Have an increased pulse rate
- Have a core temperature above 100°F
In some instances, heat exhaustion can be more serious. If the person can’t drink fluids, vomits continually, has chest or abdominal pain, is delirious or unconscious, or has a temperature above 104°F, seek medical attention immediately.
For mild cases of heat exhaustion, give the person plenty of fluids (not soda), have them eat some salty snacks, get them to rest in a cool place, have them remove excess clothing and apply cool water to their skin.
Get outdoors and play - just be smart. Rest when needed, drink plenty of fluids and take a few minutes to enjoy the shade.
To parents — get your kids of the couch at an early age and promote a lifestyle that includes some sort of exercise every day (be it biking, a walk around the block, hitting baseballs, swimming, gardening…). To kids — get active, get outdoors.
Why? Well, besides the long-established benefits — cardiovascular health, lower rates of obesity and diabetes, healthier proportions of muscle mass — a new study shows a connection between exercise and GPA. According to the study, “Twenty minutes of daily vigorous physical activity among college students may lead them to have grade point averages about .4 higher, on a scale of 4.0, compared with students who do not exercise.”
Now think of what 40 minutes of exercise could do! I’m kidding, of course, but the study did indicate that while daily exercise is not necessary — the research did indicate that more exercise is better.
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