Archives: April 2020
Please Don’t Delay Urgent or Emergency Care During These Times of Crisis
There is a great deal of uncertainty in the public’s perception of medical care due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Many hospitals and surgical centers have appropriately stopped performing elective surgery in the hopes of saving important resources for the influx of COVID-19 patients that may begin (hopefully not) at any time. However, it is important to remember that emergency situations are still being treated as before, and patients should not delay care if they experience an emergency situation or a complication associated with a recent surgery.
With so much swirling around us, it is easy to delay getting appropriate urgent care for several reasons including a) being afraid of being infected, b) worrying about taking away resources from the hospital and c) that your condition may be minor and can be handled at a later date. Unfortunately, the result of delaying care can often lead to more severe problems, worse surgical outcomes and even fatal consequences.
Healthy Habits for Uncertain Times
It’s easy to feel stressed, alone, or depressed during this time of the coronavirus. Things are uncertain, we‘re isolated from friends and family, and we aren’t able to engage in our normal activities.
Many of us feel a loss of control in our lives, which isn’t surprising, because so much of this situation is out of our control. But some things are still within our control. We may not be able to control the situation, but we can still control our response to the situation. If you feel like you‘re losing control, here are a few strategies to help you get back on track:
The Zantac Recall and What You Can Do About GERD
Zantac is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for gastroesophageal reflux disease/GERD or chronic acid reflux. While most patients experiencing occasional reflux can do quite well with antacids, like Tums, once acid reflux turns chronic, it becomes more difficult to manage and requires medical intervention. Typically, patients were put on one of two medications – both of which are available over the counter:
- H2 antagonists that block the histamine receptors in the stomach to reduce the amount of acid produced. Common brand names are Zantac (ranitidine) and Pepcid
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole also block the production of acid in the stomach – brand names of omeprazole are Prilosec and Zegerid
Both options can be effective for many patients as a first line of defense against reflux.
How to Avoid Stress Eating Now That You’re Spending More Time at Home
Every bariatric patient knows that stress is a leading cause of over-eating and times like these make us particularly vulnerable to finding comfort in food. Even someone who has maintained an appropriate diet for years after their surgery can be derailed by this extreme uncertainty and frustration.
So how do we avoid stress eating they can add hundreds or even thousands of calories to our daily intake, so we can maintain our weight and even thrive through this outbreak.
