Aortic Dissection

Being outside the health care field, I recently learned about what an Aortic Dissection is when a close family member of mine experienced one. For many, the episode can be just as painful as it sounds. This condition is spurred on by either sudden severe chest or upper back pain, often described as a tearing, ripping or shearing sensation that radiates down the back, and can lead to fainting, shortness of breath, weakness, or stroke.

According to the Mayo Clinic, an aortic dissection is a serious condition in which a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta, the large blood vessel branching off the heart. Blood surges through this tear into the middle layer of the aorta, causing the inner and middle layers to separate (dissect). If the blood-filled channel ruptures through the outside aortic wall, aortic dissection is usually fatal. Luckily for the benefit of my family, this tear was contained and did not reach the outside aortic wall.

Aortic dissections are divided into two groups depending on which part of the aorta is affected: Type A is the more common and dangerous type of aortic dissection. It involves a tear in the ascending portion of the aorta just where it exits the heart or a tear extending from the ascending portion down to the descending portion of the aorta, which may extend into the abdomen. Type B involves a tear in the descending aorta only, which also may extend into the abdomen. Aortic dissections may be treated with medications, such as beta blockers and sodium nitroprusside, to relieve the force of blood on the aortic wall by reducing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure. Most people with type B dissections can be treated with medications alone.

After treatment many people with aortic dissections need to take blood pressure lowering medication for the rest of their lives. In addition, they'll often need a follow-up CT or MRI scan to monitor their condition.

After speaking with the Cardiologist, as long as these risk factors are contained, one can live a long life after experiencing this life-altering change.

Avoiding Red Meat Among a Family of Carnivores

How does one avoid the excessive red meat intake at the family barbecue when you know the family craves the bloody red meat in mass quantities?

It is a delicate situation where one has to be careful enough not to offend anyone’s disproportionate intake of 16 ounces of prime rib with criticism, yet stand one’s ground when that same portion is almost thrust upon your plate.

Prevention is the key! If you fill up the plate right away with other items (corn, potato salad, chicken, beans), then most of the time people won’t even bother you. Another strategy is the amazing illusion that surface area creates. If you cut up five pieces of beef and spread out that redness among the plate sideways, you’ll look like a caveman. Finally, if you grab a piece while others are busy scooping up their portions, most won’t even notice those “scant” 5 ounces you decide to cut off that 64 ouncer.

Suffering from Gym Boredom?

Joining a gym is the easy step. Maintaining a steady routine is an entirely different story. You know the drill. New Years comes along, new expectations are set, and you join a gym to change your life. Weeks later, the drive and commitment takes a nosedive and here come the excuses. The primary complaint: not enough time.

But deep down we all know it is the worst excuse out there given that exercise improves almost every aspect of your life (sharpness of mind, energy level, mood, sex drive, among others). So by not making it a priority, you are directly hurting all of those other areas in your life.

Let’s be honest, time is not the primary issue. The root of your problem is gym motivation declines from boredom. It happens to all of us as you go through the daily grind. Is this any different than being invited to a party by a bunch of boring people and then blowing them off?

I have found you can easily boost your gym motivation through these easy steps:

1. Begin with the end in mind. What do you really want to get out of this? Don't just generalize your goals and say "I want to be healthy". Pinpoint what really got you thinking "I need to join a gym" in the first place. Is it to increase energy, build muscle to impress, or become a triathlete? Find your calling to get you focused.

2. Find one time and stick to it. This dictates everything! You’re stating this as a priority and scheduling other things around it rather than scheduling the gym around something else. Experts say you should go during your "peak" or most energetic times, but since some of us can't get up from our desk and leave work at 2 pm, just commit to a daily time and your body will adjust.

3. Limit your time at the gym. What? Limit my time, what is this guy talking about? Yes, the best way to motivation is to provide light at the end of the tunnel and give yourself a time constraint. This will force you to plan your workout and make every second count. You can always opt to stay longer if you’re in the zone.

4. Mix things up. Falling victim to routine, we feel obligated to do certain exercises over and over. Mix it up, not just to reduce boredom, but also to challenge yourself and develop new muscle groups. Actively seek out new exercises to do by browsing the workout magazines or checking out what other people are doing. Spring on tips from the personal trainer workouts is a pastime favorite of mine.

5. Plan & Set goals. Getting back to the end in mind, you need to set short and long-term goals or you'll have nothing to work towards (and don’t just say I’ll do as much as I can for each set…that’s a total copout). It's ok to not meet your goals…at least you’ll be pissed about that and it’ll light a fire in you during the workout.

6. Wake your body up. If you’re tired, you need to battle this with caffeine/energy drinks 15 minutes before. Get a sweat going (light jog/bike or stretch) to warm yourself up.

7. Make a workout mix. A good workout mix is a must. If you have an IPOD, I strongly recommend making separate playlists, one for weights and another for cardio. Create a large database of songs so they don’t get played out right away. And if the gym is playing good music, then turn yours off for a while.

8. Look around. Every gym has 1 or 2 people who are out there grinding it out every day like champs. One gym I went to had a few rehabbing from accidents or surgeries. How can you not be inspired by these people?

9. Join a class. This is the easy way out and probably most effective plan! You don’t have to organize your workout and the energy of the class will keep you focused.

Coping with Allergies

After years and years of just dealing with random bouts of allergy symptoms, I thought I’d try a more intelligible solution rather than rub my eyes until they turned bright red and use up every tissue box in my apartment.

I finally made time to see an allergist. He performed a skin test where he placed small allergens on the backside of my forearms and observed any reactions I might have, such as redness and swelling. As predicted, within 5 minutes both arms looked like they had 20 mosquito bites on them. The doctor came in and started laughing at me. He seemed happy to have a genuine allergy patient and not one of those hypochondriacs who stop by every now and then just to make sure they haven’t developed a new allergy in the past 6 months.

My main outdoor allergies consisted of most trees, weeds and pollen. Basically he told me not to go outside and to keep my windows shut. Also to wash up after coming in from the outside and change clothes right away since pollen would have stayed with me. All of a sudden, I turned into a bubble boy within one visit to the allergist!

The worst indoor allergy was determined to be dust mites. I knew about this before the visit but I did not realize it affected me as much as the doctor said it did. Of all the allergens, this one caused the biggest swelling on my arm. Since the dust mites tend to live in rugs and mattresses, he said it is important to cover your mattresses, box spring and pillows with an encasement (you can get for under $100 at Bed Bath and Beyond or Target) that provides allergy protection.

Other ways to reduce dust mites would involve getting rid of the rugs altogether or using a vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency purifying air (HEPA) filtration system. Dehumidifiers are also helpful since dust mites only survive in higher relative humidity.

It is also helpful to wash your sheets every week or two in hot water. I have to admit the only thing I’ve done since the visit is buy the encasements and wash my sheets regularly, but since waking up with allergy headaches has been my biggest problem, I’m hoping that the next one won’t occur for a long time. So far it has been a few months and the results have been great!

Making the Transition from a Weak to Stronger Immune System

Growing up, I was the one in the group who always got sick. In time, my random illnesses became an accepted fact among society regardless of the occasion. Whether it was a big exam, date, track meet, or family event, when I got sick, everyone would simply state, “he is sick again”, and there would be no debate but perhaps an occasional outcry, “he’s always sick!”.

Then something changed. I got older and started paying more attention to things that I never noticed before. One day I saw some guy sneeze all over his hand and then grab onto the subway pole. Another day I watched as a subway rider chow down on his cheeseburger, grabbed onto a pole, then scooped up some fries with the same hand and then licked his fingers. It was repulsive.

Then I thought about it, and I remembered that I was always catching the colds and flu of those repulsive people! The only time I washed my hands was in the shower or after a really muddy football game. I was a magnetic force for germs - and probably also passed them onto thousands of people. So to those people, I apologize. And for the record, yes my parents did raise me correctly and lectured me on washing my hands, but young, invincible men never take heed. I also extend apologies to my parents for racking up years of medical bills for such filthy carelessness.

Now I am a little too aware of my surroundings, and tend to wash my hands a little too much. Looking back, I remember I used to drink water only at times of extreme thirst. For some reason, I never drank water at any other time. Now I’m like a fish and find myself always getting for a refill of water, drinking tea every day. I’m sure this constant drinking of beneficial fluids has kept the immune system stronger, particularly when I avoid cold fluids and drink room temperature or hot beverages.

Lastly, I used to never listen to my body. When I was tired or feeling a cold come on, I’d ignore all symptoms and head out for a late night with friends (or the more popular term, “rally”). A day or two later, I would be bedridden. Now, I listen to everything my body is saying and get a good night sleep. How boring is that? I guess I have weighed my options more thoroughly and one night of partying does not justify three or more days of sickness.