When I was in medical school in India there was an outbreak of the bubonic plague in another state. No kidding. The bubonic plague. Didn't we get rid of that a long time ago? That's how I felt when I heard about the recent measles outbreak. Wasn't that eliminated in the U.S. a couple decades ago? Apparently yes it was. But not any more.

Exposure to extreme cold for a long time can damage your skin and the tissues underneath. That damage is called frostbite, and it’s the most common freezing injury. Frostbite doesn’t just hurt, it can lead to dangerous health consequences if not caught and treated in time. With the arrival of colder temperatures, it's the start of another frostbite season and it's important to take steps to avoid frostbite.

Prevention is the easiest way to avoid frostbite.

Any part of your body can suffer from frostbite, but your extremities – hands, feet, nose, and ears – are the most at risk. The most common contributors to frostbite are wet clothing, exposure to high winds, and poor blood circulation. Blood flow may be restricted due to things you can control such as:

• Tight clothing or boots.
• Sitting or crouching in a cramped position.
• Smoking or alcohol use.

Poor circulation is also an issue for people who take beta-blocker medications or who have medical conditions that affect the blood vessels, such as diabetes or Raynaud’s phenomenon.

Many diseases today are completely avoidable with vaccination. The reason for immunizations against certain diseases is because of the complications the disease can create.

Many Minnesotans notice a change in their behavior or mood during the fall and winter months as daylight hours shorten and the cold drives us indoors. If changes are mild and do not impair your ability to function, this pattern, called “seasonality,” is common and normal. If the changes are more prominent or are impacting your life in a significant way, you could be experiencing a disorder aptly named “SAD” or Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

According to the American Cancer Society - colon cancer is one of the five most common types of cancer, but thanks in large part to increased awareness about the importance of colonoscopy - the death rate from colorectal cancer has been steadily declining.

The key is early detection and removal of polyps that could turn into cancer.  In the second article of Ridgeview’s series about colon cancer, we get right to the bottom line: if you’re an adult of a certain age, colon screening could save your life. It’s that simple. When you should have a colonoscopy, and how often, depends on your risk level.

Are you planning to spend time outside during frigid winter temperatures? Remember, weather can quickly change from mild temps to extreme temps. Minnesotans are used to it, but that doesn’t mean you should take it lightly. It’s crucial to pay attention to how you dress for cold weather, for hypothermia prevention and to avoid frostbite. It doesn’t have to be -25^o for these problems to affect you.

Hypothermia is serious

The term “hypothermia” means your body is too cold – lower than 95^oF (35^oC). You can lose the ability to think and move. This can happen so gradually you don’t realize what’s happening to you, or that things have worsened to the point that you need emergency treatment. That’s why hypothermia prevention is critical. You’re at risk in cold weather if you:

• Don’t wear adequate protective clothing.
• Wear wet clothing, especially when it’s windy.
• Fall into a body of water.
• Are exercising heavily.
• Are not eating enough or staying hydrated.

Certain people are more vulnerable to hypothermia, those who are:

As a registered nurse and Director of Ridgeview’s Surgical Services department, B.J. Buckland has seen and cared for the full spectrum of patients in his 40-plus years working in health care. An avid outdoorsman, runner and motorcycle enthusiast, Buckland took just two personal sick days in his career. “I was in good physical shape, took care of myself physically and mentally, and could do all the activities I enjoyed. I never expected to be ‘that guy,’ that patient who – very quickly – became extremely sick.”

Buckland, who admits he “ignored some symptoms” last fall and should have been more proactive about regular annual visits and screenings, spent a couple weeks recovering and rehabilitating from a hospital stay.

Married and the father of three, Buckland advises his adult children and others to understand your health history and take advantage of the “power of information we have today to help us, especially men. Schedule annual physical exams, have lab work done and pay attention to your numbers – blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and more. Get those screenings done, make nutrition or lifestyle changes if you need to and pay attention to your body, every day.”

For someone who never thought he’d have to think about his health, Buckland now carries a copy of “my numbers and lab results with me every day. I’ve made changes to my diet, exercise and other activities to get those numbers to where I want them and need them to be.

Buckland strongly emphasizes the importance of goal-setting when it comes to one’s health. He encourages other men to identify what “healthy” means to you, today and as you move through your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. “Then take those proactive steps to get there and achieve that optimal health you want, for yourself and your family.”

 “Take it from me, guys. You’re not invincible,” Buckland says. “It’s easier to stay healthier than fix a problem or reverse something that could have been prevented.”

Regular health screening for men can help you stay ahead of any problems that may be developing without you realizing. You may have heard the phrase "know your numbers" before but what does it really mean to you and your primary care provider? The numbers primary care providers discuss with patients include blood pressure, height and weight, triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose. These numbers, known as biometrics, can provide the information you and your health care provider need to make the right decisions for a healthier life.

While a certain amount of stress this time of the year is unavoidable, other stress associated with the holidays can be minimized, if not avoided altogether.

Unexpected things can happen to those we love. Everyone's worst nightmare is getting a call that their loved one has had some type of medical crisis (trauma, stroke, aneurism), and decisions need to be made immediately regarding their care. Would you know what to do?

There is an easy test available online to determine if you are at risk for diabetes. Visit the diabetes risk test website and take the test now.