‘Shingles’ is a very painful rash usually occurring in middle aged and older adults, although young people sometimes get it, as well. It is caused by the chicken pox virus that the victim had as a child. It lies dormant in the nerve tissue of one’s body for years, then causes a rash along that particular nerve root. The cause for it to breakout again is unknown. Typically the rash is preceded a few days by unexplained pain in that area, then manifests itself with redness and clusters of small blisters along that nerve on one side of the body or other, but not both. A particularly dangerous place to have this is on the face and in one’s eye.
Shingles is not contagious for most people, but those with the rash should avoid pregnant ladies, as sometimes a transmission can occur which can affect the baby.
It is important to know that shingles can be effectively managed in many patients if detected and treated early enough with special antiviral medication. Also, for older...
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Posted in Blog, Dr. Dale
During this season of gift giving, we must be mindful of toy safety. A child’s developmental stage can help guide us upon the type of present to purchase. For instance, infants explore the world through their mouths so we want to avoid small parts as they are a choking hazard. Toddlers are unsteady on their feet as they are beginning to navigate the world through walking, so we want to avoid sharp objects and ensure that their toys are sturdy.
Toys facilitate learning and development; however, they are no substitute for person to person interaction and engagement. Therefore, parents should be encouraged to play with their children. Also, expensive toys are not necessary. Between the ages of 1 and 2, children initiate pretend play in which one object can stand for another; a banana can easily be a telephone as an example. Children are very imaginative, and that creativity should be encouraged. Additionally, reading books is an excellent way to stimulate children’s learning and...
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Posted in Julia Mitchell, MD
DELTA HEALTH ALLIANCE November 17, 2011
STONEVILLE, MISSISSIPPI
Contact: Karen Fox
Delta Health Alliance President and CEO
662-686-7004
kfox@deltahealthalliance.org
University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy & Delta Health Alliance
A Winning Combination!
(Stoneville, MS) – The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and the Delta Health Alliance (DHA) are partners in an ambitious project to reshape the way patients interact with their pharmacists. The Delta Pharmacy Patient Care Management Project (Delta Pharmacy Project) focuses on residents in the medically underserved Mississippi Delta who suffer from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes. The goal is to improve the health of these patients by...
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Posted in Press Release
Think of the thyroid as the thermostat for your body.
If your home [or body] was set at 50 degrees, you would be tired, cold, gain weight easily, sleep a lot have dry skin, constipation and a slow heart rate. You would want to wear extra sweaters and clothes, extra socks, and curl up on your couch/bed and not move.
That is an underactive thyroid, called HYPOTHYROIDISM.
Unfortunately, each symptom mentioned above is totally nonspecific. There are a lot of reasons to be tired, a lot of reasons to gain weight which have nothing to do with the thyroid.
If your thyroid is under-working [hypothyroid], a part of your brain called the pituitary gland tastes these low levels of thyroid hormone [called free T4] and makes an extra hormone called thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] to push your thyroid to work better. So, the best test to determine if you have an underactive thyroid is to measure a TSH in a blood test. If it is elevated, taking a pill every day will help get your metabolism...
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Posted in Jay Cohen, MD
Fireplace and Home Fire Safety
More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels.
Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently.
Fireplaces regularly build up creosote in their chimneys. They need to be cleaned out frequently and chimneys should be inspected for obstructions and cracks to prevent deadly chimney and roof fires. Check to make sure the damper is open before starting any fire. Never burn trash, paper or green wood in your fireplace. These materials cause heavy creosote buildup and are difficult to control. Use a screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of...
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Posted in Weather, Winter
Flu season is around the corner! It’s time to get a flu shot! Do not be afraid of them, as in spite of what you may hear from others, they DO NOT cause the flu. Occasionally someone may not feel quite normal for a day or two afterward, but that is nothing compared to the flu. Every year hospital ERs and doctors’ offices are inundated with people who have neglected to get flu shots.
Nearly all people should get a flu shot, but especially the very young and the elderly. The Center for Disease Control recommends them for children 6 months and older, and recent studies have shown a large decrease in flu in vaccinated children. They are especially important if your child in Day Care or other child care facility where viruses spread rapidly.
Also, elderly folks over 60 years of age, and especially those with heart disease, chronic lung disease, and diabetes, are at risk for serious or even fatal illness from the flu.
Since we cannot know when the flu epidemic will hit, you should get...
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Posted in Blog, Dr. Dale
