Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Panic Attacks

Understanding panic attacks may be more difficult for a person who has never had one. To the person that gets them, it can be like a near death experience. I know a few people who get panic attacks but I could not comprehend how real it was to them. After talking to others who have had panic attacks I realized what a major impact it could have on ones life. I choose to write this newsletter not just for the people who get panic attacks but also for the people who were like me. I did not realize how real these panic attacks are and how they can play a major role in someone life.

Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults according to the Anxiety Disorder Association of America. A panic disorder is three times more common in women than in men and typically develops in early adulthood. A panic attack is defined as the sudden onset of extreme fear that reaches a peak within minutes. People, who experience out-of-the blue attacks, can become preoccupied with the fear of a recurrence of such attacks. These panic attacks can occur unexpectedly, even while asleep. If you have at least four of the following symptoms you could be experiencing a panic attack.

A feeling of imminent danger
A fear of losing control
A fear of dying
Things being unreal
The need to escape
Depersonalization
Heart palpitations
Chest pain
Chills
Sweating
Trembling
Shortness of breath
A smothering feeling
A feeling of choking
Nausea
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Tingling sensation

This affliction may go unchecked due to fear or embarrassment to tell anyone about what they’re experiencing. Instead of seeking help, they continue to endure these symptoms instead of getting help or support. If you or a family member displays the symptoms of panic attacks, tell your doctor and get treatment as soon as possible. The disorder is real and it can be highly responsive to medical treatment.

If anyone is ever in the need to recall their medical information when experiencing a panic attack it could all be there quickly and accurately with a Med File Now® (MedFN®) account. If you have a loved one you want to protect tell them to set up an account. Just go to www.medfn.com to get started. You don’t need a health condition to use MedFN.com just a desire to be safe.

Monday, September 29, 2008

STRESS!

We all have experienced different levels of stress and some deal with it better than others. This newsletter is not going to be all about the studies and research on stress. We all know that we need to manage and limit our stress. Professionals tell us to remove stressful people and situations out of our lives if possible. I do not claim to be a professional but I have had to deal with stress.

Three times in my life, I feel I have had more stress than most people. The first and most traumatic time was when I was told I had cancer and I was staring death in the face. The second time was when I was told my cancer relapsed. That led to the third time when I was told I would need a stem cell transplant to save me life and that the treatment could kill me. September 16th was 6 years since my transplant, which brings me to my personal view on stress.As the Oncologist explained to me, with the deepest compassion and the highest level of medical professionalism, what I should expect. I could not hear his words or explanation. Thinking back all I could hear was that voice (slow, low, base, trumpet sound) of the school teacher for the cartoon Charlie Brown. My stress level was so high I could not even think straight.

After 11 years of dealing and handling stress, I recently found myself totally stressed out almost to the levels as when I was fighting my cancer. I found myself in what I call false stress. I describe it as, the smaller your problems are in life the bigger the little issues become. So if you are told you may die tomorrow, other big issues may not matter as much. But if life is great and everything is perfect and you get upset over spilt milk you are living under false stress. Realizing where your levels of issues are compared to other might help you out of false stress.It is easy to recognize when others put stress on us, but are you stressing other people out. Ask yourself this hard question. Do you do what you say you’re going to do and by the time you said it would be done? If you can answer yes to this question then you are doing your part to reduce stress, if not, you could be fueling other peoples stress. If everyone could move in the direction of answering yes life, would be a lot less stressful.

I will never judge anyone for what may cause their level of stress or how it manifests itself. I developed Med File Now® so if anyone is ever in the need to recall their medical information when under stress it will all be there quickly and accurately. If you have a loved one you want to protect tell them to set up a Med File Now® (MedFN®) account. Just go to www.medfn.com to get started. You don’t need a health condition to use MedFN.com just a desire to be safe.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Procrastination, Don’t Let It Kill You

We all put things off until a later date or time, but when it comes to your health and safety you better think twice about procrastinating. Procrastination may be the culprit in preventing success in one’s life. Procrastinators can even end up sabotaging themselves by putting obstacles in their own paths. They choose the paths that could actually hurt their performance so they do not succeed.

You might ask yourself, why an individual would do that to themselves. Amazingly twenty percent of the population recognizes that they are chronic procrastinators. Procrastination can become one’s routine and it has a dramatic affect on their life. The procrastinator doesn’t prepare properly for uncertainties and puts off health concerns. Even their financial obligations are set aside such as filing income tax returns late or not paying bills on time. The list goes on but as a society we do not view this as a serious problem.

Procrastination is not a problem of time management or of planning. Procrastination is developed; you are not born with it. Procrastination is an indirect learned behavior. It is one type of response to an authoritarian parenting style. A parent that is controlling keeps the child from developing the ability to regulate themselves, from internalizing their own intentions and then learning to act on them. This leads to the procrastinator to seek their friends for support rather than their parents, because they are more tolerant of their excuses. This unfortunately manifests into additional reinforcement of the procrastination.

Signs of a procrastinator can be found in their verbiage. Such as, "I feel like doing it tomorrow" but in fact they feel the same the following day. Or "I work best under pressure", but pressure does not make the difference. To extenuate the procrastination and protect their actions they will say "this isn't that important to me." The procrastinator actively looks for distractions. These distractions typically don't take a lot of commitment on their part. These distractions are ways to control their fear of failure.

There are different types of procrastinators and they procrastinate for different reasons. Adrenalin rush type or thrill-seekers will wait for the last minute for the exhilarated rush. Then there is the circumventor who has the fear in two areas, the fear of failure or the fear of success. Furthermore in either case these individuals would rather have you believe they lack effort, than ability. Then there is the procrastinator who cannot make a decision. They will abstain from making a decision to absolve themselves from the responsibility of the outcome.

There are big health costs that are associated with procrastination. Results of one study showed evidence of compromised immune systems that led to more colds, flu, gastrointestinal problems and also insomnia. Others will feel the consequences of the procrastinator. By shifting the burden of responsibility form the procrastinator onto others, the recipient will feel in addition stress and become resentful. Procrastination also destroys teamwork in the workplace and private relationships. If one recognizes themselves as being a procrastinator they can change their behavior. This does take time and is a step by step process.

For safety reason one should not procrastinate on setting up a Med File Now® (MedFN®) account. Just go to www.medfn.com to get started. You don’t need a health condition to use MedFN.com just a desire to be safe.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Destination of Fun and Safety

You have waited all year to break loose and enjoy all the benefits of summer but are you really prepared? Summer is a time for families and individuals to venture off to new and different locations. Where you are going could mean everything. Whether you are visiting; major cities, theme parks, the great outdoors, traveling abroad or on a cruise, make sure to incorporate safety into all your plans.

Know your Destination

We all plan on having a great time on our vacation but typically no one plans on the unexpected. If you are traveling to a major city one would assume that there would be appropriate emergency facilities available. By doing some preplanning you can find out where some of these facilities are if the need arises. Also if you do have a medical condition that is being treated by a Physician you can consult with them before leaving to see if they might know a colleague in that area.

Theme parks and cruise lines put their best foot forward for the safety of their guest but a simple call, ahead of time, can help you prepare for the unexpected. Plus, you may discover that there is more available than you would have expected. When on a cruise, consult your Cruise Director before leaving the ship for any on shore excursions. Be prepared for that emergency.

The great outdoors is one way to get away from everything. From camping in a tent, arriving in a RV or staying in a cabin, all of them put you right in the middle with nature. At the same time you can be very isolated from the rest of civilization. Knowledge of near by medical facilities could be vital when vacationing in desolate areas.

Traveling abroad will require more preplanning and research. Remember there is always diversity in foreign countries culture and customs in regard to healthcare. Also you will want to check with your insurance carrier about your coverage or if you need additional coverage.

Keeping it Safe

Current and expedient information is the first step in planning ahead and keeping it safe. Losing airline tickets or your passport could lead to travel interruption. An accident could spoil the whole trip. Family members getting separated could lead to panic. Keeping a backup of information could become critical. This can all be accomplished via the Internet. Members of Med File Now® (MedFN®) know that the benefits of having electronic medical information available, in an instant. It is crucial but it is not always just about medical issues. Travelers and their children need to protect themselves with electronic information also. MedFN.com has a unique tri level security system which you can choose who can view this information. If you have a child and they get separated from you, the MedFN.com card would give access to information that you would want to make available. Such information as their name, list of emergency contacts, and insurance card information will ensure they are going to get the best care available in an emergency. Also, you have the ability to enter the location and dates of where you are staying while on vacation. Med File Now® (MedFN®) makes it convenient to store information in different areas on the site, such as ticketing and passport information that can be kept private for your eyes only. You don’t need a health condition to use MedFN.com just a desire to be safe.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Disaster Preparedness

Are you prepared for a national disaster? Many people don’t think about it until it is too late. The ability to react during and after these tragedies could be a matter of life or death. Don’t become a statistic.

A disaster such as an earthquake gives a person little to no warning and can demolish a city in seconds. The devastating tornados in the plain states are a constant reminder that you might only have a minutes warning before your life is turned upside down or even taken. Recent forest fires that ravished the West and what is being called the 500 year flood in the Mid-west gave people just hours to evacuate before having to evacuate their homes. June 1st begins hurricane season. For people living in these regions there is an advance warning to evacuate the area because these large hurricanes can bring unimaginable, wide-spread, massive destruction to the infrastructure.

Being in one of these disasters could be life threatening but what about during the extended aftermath? This was evident when hurricane Katrina plowing through New Orleans. Basic needs such as food, water and shelter where were made available over time but one of the biggest challenges was medication. Not because it was not available but because the individuals could not recall the medications they were taking or their specific health history. This can be brought on by stress, a weakening memory or caused because someone receives their personal healthcare from someone else who was not available.

In any type of disaster, beside the toll it takes on the psyche, there is the devastation that it takes on the infrastructure. Some areas will become inaccessible or even leveled beyond any recognition. If this location is the only place that holds your medical records, they could become unavailable or even worse, destroyed. That is why it is so important to have as part of your emergency disaster plan a backup of your personal health records.


It is vital to have your crucial and non-crucial information, available in one place, with you at all times. By having your MedFN® ID card on you, emergency personal or you can simply go to the website www.medfn.com and access your alphanumeric code to retrieve this vital information. If you are serious about your health then take the next step and protect yourself with a Med File Now® (MedFN®) account. Med File Now® is doing its part in bringing security to you and your loved ones during a disaster.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. This year, Med File Now® joins the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to challenge Americans to better health by getting active and fit during this month. Med File Now® (MedFN®) echoes the words of President George W. Bush, "Better health is an individual responsibility and an important national goal."

According to Melissa Johnson, executive director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports affirmed "For health benefits, adults need 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity on 5 or more days a week; youth aged 6 to 17 need 60 minutes. If there were a medication that conferred all of the health benefits of regular moderate physical activity, every doctor would prescribe it. Physical activity is the ultimate magic pill. Small steps add up to big results. Taking stairs instead of the elevator, going for a walk instead of a coffee break, parking the car further away from the office or shopping mall, sweeping the floor instead of vacuuming: all of these activities add up to better health."

Twenty minutes of vigorous physical activity, three times a week, such as sports, aerobics, working out in the gym, and running, has added health benefits. Johnson says, “But it’s important to understand that you don’t need to sweat in a gym or run a marathon to reap the health benefits of daily physical activity. Even 30 minutes a day, broken up into shorter increments of ten or fifteen minutes, can greatly improve your health.”

If you are one of those who have already made the decision to increase your health with sports, aerobics, working out in the gym, biking and running have you made the decision to protect yourself too? Most individuals that participate in these actives do not like to carry extra items with them such as a wallet that holds a lot of personal information. But if something happened would this crucial information be available, such as identification, insurance cards, emergency contacts or even more life threatening allergies, alerts and medications?


It is vital to have your crucial information, available in one place, with you at all times. By having your MedFN® ID card on you, emergency personal can simply go to the website
www.medfn.com and access your alphanumeric code to retrieve this vital information. If you are serious about your health then take the next step and protect yourself with a Med File Now® (MedFN®) account. Med File Now® is doing its part for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month to bring safety to you and your loved ones.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Hands-Only CPR

A major change to CPR for adults, and renewed guidelines were announced by the American Heart Association in April 2008. The new method involves using a “Hands-Only” method for CPR. The adult victim should receive 100 rapid deep presses per minute on the center of their chest. It is still crucial to call 911 first if you are alone or if there is someone else available, for them to call immediately. The CPR should be continuous until help arrives or the victim becomes conscious.

Studies have shown that the new method of CPR, hands-only, works just as well as the standard CPR, which is compressions and mouth-to-mouth together, for sudden cardiac arrest in adults. This is good news, due to the fact, that under the traditional standards bystanders would not get involved in helping a victim. If you are not formally trained with the new CPR, don’t worry, you cannot make the situation worse. If you see an adult fall unconscious and they are not responsive, call 911 and then take action. Remember inaction kills.

This new method of CPR is only if you witness the collapse of an adult. Still use the standard method of CPR when it involves infants, children, adults that had near-drowning, drug overdose, or carbon monoxide poisoning. In these cases using the standard method of CPR introduces the needed air into the victim’s lungs and bloodstream.

Even though this new method of CPR is just now being brought to the forefront, surprisingly it has been used longer than you may think. About one year ago I was shown the 100 compressions per minute CPR by Dr. Robert Tober who is the Medical Director of the Collier County EMS in Southwest Florida. This method of CPR was part of the Collier County’s EMS training since April of 2005. He explained that when a person first collapses there is still oxygen in the lungs and blood throughout the body. The priority is to keep the residual oxygen rich blood flowing to the brain.

Also, in speaking with Dr. Tober I learned that throughout his career he has always been on the leading edge of medicine. He was one of the first pioneers in ideas and methods of rapid responses of personal health records. He said the availability of past information is crucial. The problem is not that the people do not understanding this, but just do not follow through and protect themselves with their medical information.


It is vital to have your crucial medical information available at all times. Are you and your loved ones prepared with their personal health records? It is as simple as having a MedFN® account. Having their
www.medfn.com alphanumeric access code on you at all times will give you that security. Med File Now® is doing its part to bring safety to you and your loved ones.