by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Many times, it’s clear when someone is struck by lightning due the blinding flash and deafening boom.  However, as I wrote in a previous post, lightning can travel up to 10 miles, so a strike can happen on a sunny day.  Then the diagnosis may get difficult.

If someone who’s not been in your sight walks up confused with disheveled, even missing clothes, suspect it.  However, in this case, there’s not much you can do other than try to comfort and call 911 if available.

If you’re the one struck and are still awake, be thankful. You have good odds of surviving.  Seek shelter and get help.  Much of the following information can be applied to your situation.

HOW LIGHTNING HARMS YOU

Lightning can injure in several ways. (more…)

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

I live in Colorado on the side of a mountain and can see miles and miles of sprawling plains from my back deck.  Lightening storms are better than the best fireworks display.  We see whole clouds light up, bolts across the sky and many that hit the ground.  I always wonder what it hit and hope it was not somebody.

There are only two safe places during a storm.  One is inside a sturdy building with grounding in place, like a house with plumbing and wiring in the walls.  Of course, stay away from plumbing, wiring and phone lines.  The other is inside an automobile with a metal roof, but not for the reason you think.  It’s not the rubber tires that keep you safe; it’s the metal surroundings that ground the lightening.  Be sure to not touch metal inside the vehicle.  Convertibles and cloth roofs don’t cut it, even with a rollover bar.

I’m sorry to say, but nowhere outside is safe, even for a storm 10 miles away.  The electrical current can strike you in at least five different ways. (more…)

James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

It is beginning to be the season for lightning strike casualties In the United States.  Combine the pretty weather with the fact that 65 to 70 percent of the strikes occur in the summer and you get the picture.  Your odds of being struck over your lifetime are a surprising 1 in 3,000.  The good news is only about 10 percent (70 or so) per year die.  The bad news is most who survive have residual, lifetime side effects.

FACTS for the U.S.

• There are about 25 million cloud-to-ground strikes per year.
• Two-thirds occur during the summer months.
• One-half happen between the hours of 3 and 6 P.M.
• An average of 500 to 1000 people are struck each year. Of those struck, only around 10 percent die immediately.
• If you survive the initial strike your odds of living are very good, but your chance of chronic pain, memory loss or anxiety are great.
• Lightening can travel sideways at least 10 miles, so you can be struck on a clear day.
• You can estimate in miles how close the lightning strike is by counting the number of seconds between the flash and the thunder, then dividing by 5.

Next post I will tell you how to decrease your chances of being struck.

Do any of you have any experience with lightning strikes or near strikes?  I would love to hear.

James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Last week I was not my old blogging, commenting self.  I was under the weather a little with a virus that kept me down most of the week.

More importantly, my laptop was and is still in disrepair.  It has most of my data, e-mail addresses and bookmarked websites.  At present, I officially hate Windows Vista, Dell and their support.

But it has been a good time to reflect on my future plans and changes since I am now concentrating on two diverse plans.  Actually, I have thought long and hard on this so don’t think my new business plan is to throw something against the wall and see what sticks. (more…)

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

OK, I think this vitamin D craze is getting a little out of hand.  Every few days there’s some sort of study indicating it helps something new.  The latest I’ve seen is that eating less of the stuff was associated with fatter teens.  Eat more? You might have fewer colds.

I type “vitamin D” in Google news. Low levels are linked to mental decline, poor bone health, more cancer, and in teens, an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.

Have we found the miracle drug?

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James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Happy World Kidney Day.

And you should be happy if your kidneys are functioning well.  You can’t live without at least one, you know.  Well, you can with treatment, but it’s such a pain.

Ask the approximately 150,000 Americans who have had to have a transplant, or the roughly 350,000 on dialysis.

And then there are the costs in dollars for treatment of end-stage renal disease (renal failure), over $32 billion per year, with Medicare fronting about $20 billion of that (6.7 percent of its overall expenditures).  The latest estimates are for a 60-percent increase by 2020.  Some of that is those with the disease will be living longer, but here is the take home message:

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Dr. Hubbard recently wrote about X-ray radiation—how it can add up. Today, we’re featuring a guest post from board-certified radiologist Helene Pavlov, M.D., F.A.C.R., on how to keep it from adding up more than necessary in your kids. Dr. Pavlov is radiologist-in-chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

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Imaging Studies, Radiation and Children
Things to Think About When Your Child is Having an Imaging Study Done

by Helene Pavlov, M.D., F.A.C.R.

Outdoor sports sometimes lead to injuries and fractures, which can land children in hospital emergency rooms and doctors’ offices. Many of these injuries will require imaging examinations to help identify the problem and determine treatment.

Recent media coverage regarding high levels of ionizing radiation associated with frequent use of CT (computed tomography) scans has heightened fear and concern regarding imaging examinations.

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James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

What is a community health clinic?

President Obama hinted at how he plans to deal with health-care access when he asked for significant funds to increase and update community health clinics—$155 million up front and $2 billion over two years.

I have some experience with the rural health clinic which, I think, is the country version of a community health center.  President Carter started these in the 1970s.  They are kind of a branch of Medicare/Medicaid.   The fees are figured differently and there are more hoops to go through for providers.

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by Leigh Ann Hubbard, managing editor

Did you know they’re still recalling peanut products? Almost two months after the Peanut Corporation of America issued their first notice, recalls are trickling in daily.

We wondered, why is it taking so long? Do these companies not know where their ingredients come from? FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Kwisnek gave us some answers via e-mail (emphasis mine).

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by Leigh Ann Hubbard, managing editor

It’s time once again for our regular thank-you blog. Below are the wonderful folks who have mentioned us in the last month or so. Since they often have similar audiences to ours, you might be able to find some gems you aren’t already reading. Here we go …

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