What Is Ketosis Anyway?
The carb craze may be responsible for thrusting the term ketosis into the mainstream vernacular. Before that, it was a word you rarely heard outside of medicine. Before Dr. Atikins and the low carb evangelists came along, you could relegate ketosis to a power point slide in an occasional diabetes lecture and be done with it.
Now it seems like ketosis is the in-word with soccer moms and zone dieters alike. And, while its conceptual popularity has grown, there’s still a lot of misunderstanding floating around about what ketosis is and what it means for your body. Much like belly button ...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 9, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
Don ’t Forget To Ask The Patient
Let the young know they will never find a more interesting, more instructive book than the patient himself.
Giorgio Baglivi
It was nearly two decades ago that I knelt on the floor before Sammy in the Santa Clara County Sheriffs booking facility. I remember him so vividly that it’s hard to believe so much time has passed. There was nothing exceptional about him. Handcuffed to the waiting area bench, he looked very much like you might expect a man high on drugs, being booked for petty larceny, might look.
Sammy felt like his heart was racing and, given his drug history, the officer thought that he needed a once-over ...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 9, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
What Is Muscular Dystrophy Anyway?
Since we’ve been talking about the fill the boot campaign the annual MDA telethon, why not use our “what is” series to take a closer look at the group of diseases we commonly refer to as muscular dystrophy.
While most EMS caregivers have a general idea of what to expect in a muscular dystrophy presentation, few of us are as knowledgeable as we should be about what muscular dystrophy is and what it does to the body. Let’s take a closer look.
While we tead to refer to muscular dystrophy as a single defined disease process, it is actually a group of disease that share some common characteristics. Add to that the...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 9, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
L.C.E.S. For EMT ’s
Some of you who are familiar with wildland firefighting are already well versed in the safety acronym L.C.E.S. It was developed in 1981 and continues to be taught in wildland firefighting curriculum as a handy checklist of things we should have in place when operating in dangerous environments where conditions can change fast.
L.C.E.S. came about when retired U.S. Forest Service Superintendent Paul Gleason looked at fatal fires over the previous 20 years and identified the four elements most likely to save your butt when stuff goes really wrong. The acronym he created is simple and it works.
In wildland firefighting ...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 9, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
The Med List: ACE Inhibitors
Today I’m starting a new series called The Med List. Once or twice a month, I’d like take a closer look at a single class of home medications and explore the medical implications for our patients who take these meds.
The patient’s medications list holds a wealth of information. Prescribed medications tell us about the patient’s medical history. They also give us clues to the patient’s possible current condition and presentation. Some medicines can better explain the clinical picture in front of us and others can be red flags regarding treatment options and the patients likely response.
Let’s kic...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 9, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
Assessment and Scope of Practice
It’s never comfortable to be placed under a microscope. Especially when the dude looking through the microscope is The Rogue Medic, Tim Noonan. Tim’s a great dude, but he’s not the guy you want picking through your knowledge sock drawer. He’s thorough, he’s smart and he’s willing to analyze the details long after you and I have gone to bed.
If you don’t already read Tim’s blog you should. He’s a fantastic EMS blogger. That being said, I wasn’t terribly excited when he posted a comment on my post “I’m Only An EMT Basic” announcing that his comments on the piece could be found over...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 9, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
Understanding Kinetic Energy and Trauma
With every trauma call we run, there are two things that are almost absolute certainties. And I don’t mean that in the tongue-in-cheek sense, like, “We are certain that the elderly fall victim will live on the third floor and the elevator will be broken or nonexistent.” or, “We are certain that the nursing home C.N.A. will call for that extended inter-facility transfer 12 minutes before the end of our shift.” type of certainty. I mean…even more certain than that.
When people call us for trauma, these two things are certain.
1.) Two objects collided with each other.
2.) Someone calle...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 9, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
Overcoming EMS Burnout
Yeah, It’s been a ride… I guess I had to go to that place to get to this one. Now some of you might still be in that place. If you’re trying to get out, just follow me. I’ll get you there.
Rapper Eminem, I’m Not Afraid, Recovery
I’ve been there.
Sure, I’d like to say that I was always a positive, proactive and optimistic EMS employee but that isn’t the case. I’ve been through periods of burnout. More than once to tell you the truth.
I know what it’s like to dread getting up in the morning and going to work. I also know what it’s like to feel like you aren’t valued by your employer. I’ve b...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 9, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
Treating Hypertension with Diuretics
This article will explore the types, uses and side effects of treating hypertension with diuretics as a supplement to other ways to lower blood pressure.
Quick Summary
Diuretics are prescribed to encourage kidney function and vascular health and regulate blood pressure.
There are several forms of diuretics with possible side effects and interactions with other drugs and supplements.
Doctors often prescribe them to complement medication or a combination for effective hypertension treatment.
Treating Hypertension and More with Diuretics
Diuretics are the most common medication to manage high b...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 8, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Kutryk Tags: Guides Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
Does High Blood Pressure Make You Tired, Sleepy?
This article will help shed light on the link.
Quick Summary
There is a strong link between feeling tired or sleepy with high blood pressure due to underlying conditions or medication.
Kidney disease, arterial disease, and sleep apnea are possible explanations for lethargy with hypertension.
Proper treatment and control can reduce the risk of fatigue caused by elevated blood pressure.
So, Does High Blood Pressure Make You Feel Tired, Sleepy, or Fatigued?
Fatigue and high blood pressure are connected, but they could also be a symptom of underlying causes—for example, hypertension medication...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 8, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Kutryk Tags: Guides Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
High Blood Pressure and Erectile Dysfunction
Research confirms that high blood pressure and ED are closely linked. But did you know the majority of cases of ED are caused by hypertension? Keep reading to find out more.
Experts suggest that “hypertension is sometimes a standalone condition and sometimes it’s associated with other conditions, which also impact erectile dysfunction.”
According to the European Society of Cardiology, this likelihood is almost double in men with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Long-term exposure to hypertension and elevated blood pressure damages the arterial wall. This leads to atherosclerosis and the narrowing of art...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 8, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Kutryk Tags: Guides Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
High Blood Pressure Can Lead to Kidney Damage
Conclusion
A potential outcome of hypertension is damage to blood vessels and organs such as the kidneys. In addition, a delay in receiving treatment increases the risk of waste fluid build-up, which elevates the chance of complications and, ultimately, renal failure.
If your doctor has diagnosed you with hypertension, you might be recommended adaptations to your lifestyle and medications. It’s vital to take prescription drugs as indicated and attend follow-ups as scheduled to check blood pressure.
References
“High Blood Pressure & Kidney Disease.” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 8, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Kutryk Tags: Guides Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
Caffeine in Coffee: How Does It Affect Your Blood Pressure?
Coffee is a daily essential to kick-start most people’s days. But did you know caffeine in coffee can affect blood pressure in hypertensive patients?
With its annual consumption of nearly 8.6 billion kgs, coffee is a must-have for most people. If you regularly enjoy a cup of java, you must be familiar with the energetic buzz that sets in shortly after your first sips.
For some, even just the aroma of coffee is enough to give you a boost. However, scientists often debate whether drinking coffee regularly benefits your cardiovascular health and blood pressure, or the opposite.
Find out if your daily cup of cof...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 8, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Kutryk Tags: Guides Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
What Are K2 and Spice Anyway?
Chances are, you’ve probably heard about the new trend in synthetic cannabis products either from your local news media or from your ongoing EMS education. Over the past few years, these products have been increasing in prevalence around the US and in Europe. But what are these products anyway? Are they cannabis or not? Are they legal to posses? Are the effects similar to traditional marijuana?
Here’s a quick rundown of what EMS folks should know about this new and growing trend in street pharmacology.
Synthetic cannabis products have a variety of street names including Spice, K2, Herbal Incense, Potpourri, Barel...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 7, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
17 Ways to Become an Awesome EMT
Want to become more awesome in 2022? Here are 17 places you can start:
1) Start Checking Out Your Rig Each Morning
Most organizations have a policy in place that states that oncoming EMS crews should complete a thorough checkout process. The reality is that very few of us check out our rig at the beginning of each shift with the proper attention that the task deserves. We know we should, but we get caught up. The signs of an incomplete rig checker are subtle but recognizable.
If you open your cabinet or kit on a call and note (for the first time) that you are low or absent a needed supply, you’re not checking o...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 7, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
