Millions of Americans are under winter weather advisories and if you’re one of them, it’s important to make sure you’re staying safe – especially when shoveling snow. “Snow removal is actually pretty dangerous. Most commonly, we see people that strain their lower back while shoveling all the snow, mostly because snow is deceptively heavy,” said Carole Parsons, MD, emergency medicine physician for Cleveland Clinic. “A lot of people choose to scoop and throw the snow when it may actually be a little bit safer to try and push it instead.”
Doctors give recommendations on how to stay pain free during your fall clean up.
A Florida woman has her aneurysm cured after doctors perform surgery through her eyelid.
Can you injure yourself by simply using your phone? From smartphone pinky to text neck, no one is immune to these types of injuries that are linked to phones. Dr. King said people can develop smartphone pinky by constantly using it to steady their phone. The weight of the device on your pinky can compress a nerve – causing numbness and tingling – or it can even leave a small indentation in the finger. You can also experience something dubbed as text neck if you scroll for too long. That’s when looking down at your phone begins to strain your neck, potentially leading to muscle pain and spasms.
June is Headache and Migraine Awareness Month. If you’ve ever had a migraine, you know how painful they can be. And for some, they happen on a regular basis. Dr. Estemalik said symptoms of migraines typically include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. It’s unclear what causes migraines. However, they can be triggered by food, stress, hormonal changes, the weather, certain medications and disruptions in sleep.
With the heavy snow that we are expecting, it might be good to remember to lift with your legs and not your back to help prevent future complications. But if you start getting pains that radiate down your legs you could have a severe back injury. But doctors really want to warn people that snow shoveling could lead to something more serious, a heart attack.
Doctors say a simple cut or scrape can put adults at risk for tetanus if they do not get a booster every ten years. The bacteria that cause tetanus are usually found in soil, dust, and manure. They also recommend a pneumonia vaccine for all adults 65 years old and up. Pneumonia can pose a serious risk for older adults and getting vaccinated can protect them from being hospitalized. Doctors add adults 50 years old and older should get vaccinated for shingles, which causes a painful rash.
Tuesday, the Allen County Master Gardeners hosted "Oldster Gardening" at the Weekly Brown Bag Series. They shared tips on how things change as you age like different ways to grip the garden tools and changing up what you plant and where you plant it. All in an effort to continue your love of gardening as long as you can.
