Everything Related to Orthopedics
Posts tagged preventative medicine
Avoid the Hospital This Summer
0284 days
Summer is a time when you want to spend all of your time outside by pool, grilling, on the beach and doing all the other fun “summer” things. What you don’t want to spend time doing is taking your kids to the hospital because of an injury. With all of the outdoor, physical activities that go on during the summer months, pediatric injuries increase dramatically.
One of the most common injuries during the summer comes from falls. Whether kids are jumping on a trampoline or playing on the playground, hospitals see a lot of kids come in with broken bones and deep cuts from falling. To avoid a trip to the hospital, make sure there is supervision while kids are on a trampoline or playground. Also, try to find a playground that has mulch or rubber tire instead of just blacktop. This can go a long way in avoiding serious injury from a fall.
Another frequent cause of injury for kids comes from riding their bicycle. During summer vacation kids tend to spend a lot of time outside on their bikes. While this is a great form of exercise, it is important to take some safety precautions to avoid serious injury. Most injuries from bicycles are to the arms and legs but the most serious are to the head. When your kids take their bikes out make sure they always wear a helmet. Also be sure that your kids know the proper hand signals and always walk their bikes across busy streets or intersections.
While the weather is hot, a lot of people will spend time by the pool or at the beach. Near-drownings become a serious problem during the summer. Many people may not realize that a person can drown in mere inches of water. To avoid injury, or even worse – death, it is important that parents always supervise their kids while they are in the water. A strong recommendation that could possibly save a child’s life is for all parents to become CPR certified. Also, be sure that children wear proper flotation devices while enjoying the water. A few steps in safety can go a long way in making sure you have a fun, injury free summer!
The Facts About Bone Density
0350 days
An important aspect of bone and joint health is bone density. Your bone density is basically how much matter is comprised in a square centimeter of bone. Getting a bone density test is very easy and 
relatively painless. The test involves a minimal amount of radiation and doctors typically scan the lower part of the spine or the hip. Getting a bone density test can be a vital part of your overall health picture and can aid in preventing bone diseases like osteoporosis.
People who have low bone density are at a high risk for not just osteoporosis but also fracture. Women are generally at higher risk for bone loss than men and should be screened regularly. Women over the age of 65 or younger women who are postmenopausal are at a high risk as well. Other risk factors for bone loss include a history of eating disorders or anyone who has had weight loss surgery. Patients who have this in their medical history have been shown to lose bone density after surgery or a long battle with an eating disorder.
There are ways to increase your bone density and even prevent it. First, pay close attention to your diet. Certain vitamins like Calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin K are a huge part of bone health. Always get plenty of exercise – a healthy body all around is at a lower risk for bone loss. Finally, be careful with weight loss. Extreme loss of weight in a short amount of time can cause bone loss. If you are on a severe weight loss plan or have had surgery, make sure your diet is fully balanced with all of the nutrition your body needs.
