W.C. Fields once said, “The best cure for insomnia is getting a lot of sleep.” As humans, we spend one third of our lives sleeping, and a really good night’s sleep can have a positive impact on our entire day. What if the opposite is true? Can inadequate sleep cause negative effects especially on our heart? Let’s investigate the connection between sleep deprivation and heart disease.
Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid gland, and its common symptoms can appear like several other conditions, so it’s easily overlooked or sometimes misdiagnosed. Keep reading so you can recognize hyperthyroidism and seek treatment.
Choking is the leading cause of injuries among young children and infants. One child in the US dies from choking every five days, and 75% of deaths occur in children under three. Let’s look at common choking hazards in infants and toddlers and what parents can do to prevent it from happening.
Those who are non-smokers can recognize a smoker almost immediately. The smell of tobacco, the persistent cough, plus a certain lack of patience which shows up the minute they finish one cigarette. These are all “tells.” If this is you, friends and relatives have probably coaxed you to stop. It’s not to shame or embarrass you, but just to provide the facts like the top 10 reasons to quit smoking right now. It’s not too late, and could save your life.
During this time of year it can be difficult to distinguish between having just a cold or seasonal allergies. With the fears of COVID-19, this dilemma becomes even more important, and can be quite frightening with the wrong information. Let’s unpack the symptoms of just a cold, seasonal allergies or COVID-19, and when to be concerned.
Social distancing may be the term we have become familiar with, but to many it has come to mean isolation and loneliness. Loneliness can breed fear, anxiety, and sadness. We hope the need for social distancing will end soon, but while we are living through it, many need some tips for dealing with social distancing.
With an abundance of caution due to the COVID-19, WMC is temporarily restricting visitors and vendors entering our facilities. We stress, there have been no cases of confirmed coronavirus in West Virginia, but based on CDC recommendations, our current restrictions include the following:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kelli McCoy Contact
March 11, 2020
WMC ISSUES PATIENT GUIDANCE FOR CORONAVIRUS
(Weirton, WV) – Officials from Weirton Medical Center (WMC) released guidance for local patients regarding the coronavirus.
“WMC has not had any confirmed cases of coronavirus and as of Wednesday March 11, there were no confirmed cases in West Virginia,” stated Kelli McCoy, WMC Director of Communications.
“Our physicians are obviously getting a lot of calls from concerned patients but unless you are experiencing a fever or respiratory issues and have traveled internationally or been in direct contact with an identified coronavirus patient, you are not considered to be a suspected COVID-19 patient.”
“For patients who do meet the criteria of fever and/or respiratory problems and international travel, you can call your physician office for direction. The physician office will schedule you for a time to come in for evaluation when you are not in direct contact with other patients.”
McCoy added, “Given the limitations on test availability, physician offices and WMC cannot randomly test patients for coronavirus unless the meet the criteria listed above. In reality, there have been very few patients who actually meet the criteria of symptoms and international travel in our area.”
“Medically stable patients who are not showing active signs of illness should not come to any emergency room just to request coronavirus testing. We are still in an active flu season and there is a risk for all hospitals that patients who are not actively ill could overwhelm emergency room resources and delay care for patients who are truly emergent, such as cardiac arrests or stroke patients.”
McCoy ended, “Talk to your doctor’s office and in most cases, you will be advised to stay home, rest and drink fluids unless your condition changes.”
Also known as ultrasonography or sonography, ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves that are translated into images. Most people are familiar with using ultrasound for prenatal care and to observe the fetus as it develops. This is solid proof that ultrasounds are safe. There are other types of ultrasound, and in fact, let’s look at the 6 common types of ultrasound and how they are used.
One can hardly pick up a frozen dinner, boxed cereal, or any prepackaged food and not notice the “Heart Healthy” label splashed all over the item. Relying on these marketing ploys alone will likely NOT provide much that is truly heart healthy.
You don’t have to scrupulously count calories or become obsessive about your diet to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. Here are 5 practical ways to make heart health an everyday thing.
