Blog
Why Keto May Not Be for Everyone
The ketogenic diet is literally everywhere we look these days. Originally this diet was designed to treat epilepsy, but has recently become popular among the weight loss community. It’s on the cover of most of “those” magazines at the checkout stand, claiming to be the “magic pill” diet, if you will, saying that there will be weight just melting off by restricting carbohydrate intake, and increasing fat intake, while maintaining moderate protein. There is no doubt that this diet has worked wonders for people as far as weight loss, as there have been many anecdotal stories regarding it. But is this diet for everyone?
[Read more…] about Why Keto May Not Be for EveryoneExamination Pearls
Medical Assessment Tips
In school and clinicals we all learn how to take a thorough history and perform a physical assessment. Collecting this information is the foundation for our diagnosis and plan of care for our patients. As we get into practice we continue to develop and fine tune our history taking and physical assessment skills. I’m going to share a few pearls that I have learned along the way working as a nurse practitioner in the outpatient setting.
[Read more…] about Examination PearlsManagement of low back pain amidst an opioid crisis
One of the most common chief complaints in primary care, urgent care, and emergency room settings is that of low back pain. It is, in fact, according to a presentation by Roger Chou, MD, per Providers Clinical Support System, the 5th most common reason for office visits in the United States. That equates to about 5% of primary care office visits. The prevalence of this chief complaint is rising, which is resulting in more prescriptions of opioids for treatment of this pain. Opioids are, in fact, the most commonly prescribed medication for low back pain. However, given that we are in the midst of an opioid crisis, the last thing we, as providers, want to do is to contribute to this problem, if at all possible. So, what exactly can we do to treat our patients effectively, while minimizing harm to the patient, and potentially to others?
[Read more…] about Management of low back pain amidst an opioid crisisHow to Manage a Knocked-Out Tooth
Have you ever had your tooth knocked out?
If you answered yes, you are not alone and probably know what to do. But if you have not, you will be someone’s hero in knowing how to manage a knocked out tooth.
[Read more…] about How to Manage a Knocked-Out ToothNon-traumatic Foreign Bodies of the HEENT and Esophagus
People often present to an emergency room, or urgent care setting with a foreign body lodged in an orifice. When the patient presents they will have a sense of urgency, and feel that it needs to “come out now”. This may or may not be the case. In order of most to least common, non-traumatic foreign bodies can become lodged in the throat, ears, nose, vagina, rectum and urethra. Patients may be adult or pediatric. Kids will often stick beads or buttons in their ears or nose, and will swallow just about anything. Adults may have an insect in their ear, esophageal food impaction, or engage in foreign body insertions during sexual practices. In this blog we will talk about HEENT/Esophageal foreign bodies.
[Read more…] about Non-traumatic Foreign Bodies of the HEENT and EsophagusVentilator Management
The Police, an 80’s English rock band, had it right in there song ‘Every Breath You Take’ when they said:
- Every breath you take
- Every move you make
- Every bond you break
- Every step you take
- I’ll be watching you