Cool Medical Tools
My longtime friend, Kevin Kelly, author, world traveler, and futurist invited me to join him on the Cool Tools podcast. He wanted me to share my most recent medical “Cool Medical Tools”. He also asked me to share the first aid and medical treatments I carry with me when I travel. Check out the video below for our conversation:
Links to My Favorite Recent Cool Medical Tools
01:00 – Timeshifter app
12:55 – Aranet4 CO2 monitor:
19:14 – Bite Helper big bite aid
25:18 – Natrapel insect repellent
26:13 – Zyrtec antihistamine
Cool Stuff in my Personal First Aid Travel Kit
Ibupro...
Source: Conversations with Dr Greene - August 25, 2022 Category: Child Development Authors: Alan Greene MD Tags: Dr. Greene's Blog Kids Travel Safety Vacationing & Travel Source Type: blogs
How to Avoid Allergies This Spring
Spring comes every year, and every year people across the world are bombarded with runny noses, red eyes, and uncontrollable sneezing. Spring allergies are more than just an inconvenience—they can completely derail your day and keep you from leaving your home.
But you don’t have to hide indoors all spring to avoid all the pollen in the air. Here are six ways to keep your allergies at bay this year so you can enjoy the warming weather.
Avoid Wearing ‘Outside Clothes’ Inside
Every time you go outside, your clothes pick up microscopic pollutants, dirt, and pollen. When you get home after work, after a hike,...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - April 29, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Emma Davis Tags: featured health and fitness allergies Spring Source Type: blogs
Epinephrine is the only effective treatment for anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can potentially lead to death if not promptly treated. Allergic reactions typically begin suddenly after exposure to an allergen, which may be a food, medication, insect sting, or another trigger. Anaphylaxis can occur in anyone at any time; it can sometimes be triggered by allergens that a person has only had mild reactions to in the past — or to which they have never reacted to before.
Recognizing anaphylaxis
A mild allergic reaction may consist of hives, itching, flushing, swelling of the lips or tongue, or some combination of these.
However, throat swelling or tightening...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - July 9, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Parul Kothari, MD Tags: Allergies Emergency Planning Source Type: blogs
The Itchy, Bumpy Blues: How to Treat and Prevent Mosquito Bites and Related Conditions
Mosquito bites may be a nuisance, but fortunately, in the U.S., they tend to amount to nothing more than that. Upon being bitten, most Americans experience a bit of swelling and itchiness, and nothing more. However, there are exceptions to this, including stronger allergic reactions to bites and cases of mosquito-borne illness.
Insect and arachnid bites, including ticks, account for approximately 2,000 cases of malaria and 30,000 cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. annually. In addition, millions of people worldwide die of malaria each year. It is helpful to protect yourself against insect bites, not only to avoid pesk...
Source: Conversations with Dr Greene - June 7, 2020 Category: Child Development Authors: Alan Greene MD Tags: Dr. Greene's Blog Environmental Health Insect Bites & Stings Insects & Animals Outdoor Safety Source Type: blogs
Prescription Drugs That Block Weight Loss
A number of drugs prescribed to treat common conditions, such as hypertension, allergies, depression, inflammation, and diabetes, block your ability to lose weight. Several of these drugs actually cause weight gain, and most doctors fail to inform their patients of such side effects. Among the drugs that block weight loss are:
Beta-blockers: metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol, and propranolol
Antidepressants: amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), doxepin, paroxetine (Paxil), trazodone, and others
Steroids: prednisone and hydrocortisone (but not inhaled or nasal steroids for allergies)
Antihistamines: diphenhydr...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - May 7, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates blood sugar drugs failed weight loss fatigue weight loss hypertension insulin prescription drugs undoctored wheat belly Wheat Belly Total Health Source Type: blogs
Live the Wheat Belly lifestyle, get off prescription medications
Take a look at the list of medications people have been able to stop by following the Wheat Belly lifestyle.
These represent medications prescribed by doctors to, in effect, “treat” the consequences of consuming wheat and grains. They prescribe drugs to treat inflammation, swelling, skin rashes, gastrointestinal irritation, high blood sugars, airway allergy, joint pain, high blood pressure, leg edema and other abnormal effects caused by wheat and grains.
The list includes anti-inflammatory and pain medication, acid reflux drugs, injectable and oral drugs for diabetes, numerous anti-hypertensive agents, asthma i...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - October 27, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates autoimmune blood sugar bowel flora cholesterol Gliadin gluten-free grain-free grains Inflammation undoctored Weight Loss wheat belly Source Type: blogs
Depression: Common medication side effect?
This study is especially thought-provoking, given that more and more people are taking medications with depression or suicidal thoughts as possible side effects. The CDC just released updated data showing a troubling recent rise in suicide rates, and that 54% of those who die from suicide do not have a known mental health disorder, so this is an important public health issue.
That said, it is important to note: in this study, people who used these medications were more likely to be widowed and have chronic health problems, both of which are associated with a higher risk of depression. And many (but not all) of these medica...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - July 16, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Monique Tello, MD, MPH Tags: Anxiety and Depression Drugs and Supplements Health Source Type: blogs
Might Depression Be Linked to One of These Popular Medications?
If you’re taking beta blockers, certain kinds of anxiety drugs, certain types of painkillers (including ibuprofen), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (used to treat acid reflux), ACE inhibitors (used to treat high blood pressure), or anti-convulsant drugs, you may be at greater risk for depression. That’s according to a new, large-scale study published earlier this week in JAMA.
However, this was a correlational study, so it can’t say that these medications actually cause depression or not. It may be that people with greater health problems are more likely to take one of these medications and be depressed abo...
Source: World of Psychology - June 15, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Depression General Medications Psychiatry Research Drugs cause depression popular medications Source Type: blogs
6 tricks that pharmaceutical marketers use
Long before the Internet and direct-to-consumer advertising, the medical profession tried to reassure people about their health concerns. Remember “take two aspirins and call me in the morning?”
Flash forward to today’s online “symptom checkers.” They are quizzes to see if someone has a certain disease and exhortations to see their doctor even if they feel fine. Once drug makers discovered that health fears and even hypochondria sell drugs, there seems to be no end to the new diseases, symptoms and risks people need to worry about.
In fact, since drug ads began on TV, Americans take so many drugs it inspires ...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 30, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/martha-rosenberg" rel="tag" > Martha Rosenberg < /a > Tags: Meds Medications Source Type: blogs
Keep your seasonal allergies in check
Seasonal allergies can be frustrating. When spring crawls in, many people begin to experience all-too-familiar itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, and congestion. Symptoms of seasonal allergies are the result of an immune system in overdrive in response to pollen and other allergens. Those bothersome symptoms are intended to protect you from unwanted foreign particles, but in this situation they end up causing misery. There are quite a few options when it comes to controlling allergy symptoms, but we want to watch out for a few that can be quite dangerous when used incorrectly.
Nasal steroids
The first-line treatment for se...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - May 1, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Dominic Wu, MD Tags: Asthma and Allergies Ear, nose, and throat Health Source Type: blogs
Madeline ’ s Wheat Belly success . . . in a real world
Madeline shared her story on our Wheat Belly 10-Day Grain Detox private Facebook page. Her experience highlights many important aspects of this lifestyle, but especially how health can be transformed by sticking to this lifestyle and not being confused by “gluten-free” foods, the misguided advice of doctors, and overcoming stress that is inevitable in everyone’s lives.
Her reward? Magnificent transformation in her health and appearance, all achieved by rejecting conventional dietary advice.
“I’m posting to show that not everyone looses at the same speed–don’t be discouraged. I l...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - April 5, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Lifestyle asthma diabetes gluten grains skin rash Weight Loss Source Type: blogs
Are these prescription drugs preventing your weight loss?
A number of drugs prescribed to treat common conditions, such as hypertension, allergies, depression, inflammation, and diabetes, block your ability to lose weight. Several of these drugs actually cause weight gain, and most doctors fail to inform their patients of such side effects. Among the drugs that block weight loss are:
Beta-blockers: metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol, and propranolol
Antidepressants: amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), doxepin, paroxetine (Paxil), trazodone, and others
Steroids: prednisone and hydrocortisone (but not inhaled or nasal steroids for allergies)
Antihistamines: diphenhydr...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - September 13, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Depression Dr. Davis Drugs and wheat Nutritional supplements Weight loss Wheat Belly Wheat Belly Lifestyle Wheat Belly Total Health Wheat-Free Lifestyle anxiety Source Type: blogs
Matthew’s incredible Wheat Belly transformation
Remember Matthew? I previously shared his story and photos, including his 80-pound weight loss and change in cholesterol values.
But there is much more to his story that he has been sharing on the Official Wheat Belly Facebook page. Because the changes he described were so extensive, I’ve collected his comments here. Put together, Matthew’s health transformation is nothing short of astounding. He previously told us that hypertension and pre-diabetes have reversed with now normal blood pressure and blood sugars. But just read on and see how much more happened.
Matthew’s experience is a terrific example of ...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - November 27, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories acid reflux allergy asthma cholesterol cramps gerd gluten grains heartburn IBS indigestion spastic colon Weight Loss Source Type: blogs
What medications have you been able to stop on the Wheat Belly lifestyle?
I posed this question on the Wheat Belly Facebook page recently and received an overwhelming response. Here, I share a partial list of the responses: medications people have been able to stop by following the Wheat Belly lifestyle.
Just take a look at this incredible list: these represent medications prescribed by doctors to, in effect, “treat” the consequences of consuming wheat and grains. They prescribe drugs to treat the inflammation, swelling, skin rashes, gastrointestinal irritation, high blood sugars, airway allergy, and other abnormal effects all caused by wheat and grains.
The list includes anti-inf...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - October 6, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Lifestyle asthma cholesterol diabetes drugs gluten grains hypertension prescription medication reflux Source Type: blogs
Allergy, asthma, rash, IBS, pre-diabetes, hypertension . . . all becoming a bad memory for Matthew
Matthew shared his 90 day Wheat Belly experience:
“I began my Wheat Belly journey approximately 90 days ago. At that time, I weighed 285 lbs, had really bad sinus/rhinitis/allergy issues, worsening asthma that depended on a rescue inhaler many times a day, high BP, high cholesterol, borderline Type II sugar levels, frequent IBS symptoms, frequent gastric reflux symptoms, the skin on my fingertips would dry, crack and bleed and had for 3 years, chronic hip, knee, and foot pain, and I had not gone home from work a SINGLE DAY in the last 15 months without a headache, and I had not slept a complete night through in 24 mo...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - September 23, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories acid reflux allergy anti-aging asthma gluten grains IBS irritable bowel skin rash Weight Loss Source Type: blogs
