You don’t think that one day you’ll wind up in someone’s emergency department…..

Unable to state your name or provide the phone number of your closest relative or emergency contact…

Unconscious, without any way of letting the doctors know what allergies you have or what medical problems you may have.

You may believe you’re invincible and that these scenarios could never happen to you.

You may believe you’ll never be in a situation where you’re not in control.

However, I’m here to tell you that if you believe these things can’t happen to you then YOU’RE WRONG.  I’ve seen so many people come into the emergency department victims of motor vehicle accidents or motorcycle accidents, injured on the job or for whatever reason can’t remember the events leading up to them coming into the ER.  My husband calls me the deliverer of doom and gloom but what I call it is being a realist, being practical. 

I’m here to tell you that you can’t live your life believing that nothing unexpected will ever happen.  I’m here to tell you that you have to be prepared for the unexpected and hope that the unexpected never occurs. 

Preparation is half the battle. 

Here are 3 easy steps to take to ensure you’re prepared for the unexpected.  These are steps that I’ve personally taken with my family and I encourage you to do the steps yourself and then help your family members do the same.  So here are the steps:

1. Pick an emergency contact person.  Now this can be your spouse, your significant other, your parents, one of your siblings or a close friend.  Whoever you name as your emergency contact person be sure that they’re aware of your designation and have access to your most up-to-date medical problems, medications, allergies and surgeries.  This should be a person that a doctor can call and provide pertinent medical information about you.  You should also update your emergency contact on new medical issues that arise on an ongoing basis.

2.  Keep your emergency contact information handy at all times–typically in your car, in your wallet or purse, in whatever you carry with you daily.  I can’t stress this point enough.  There are countless times when I’ve had to search through a person’s wallet or purse to find any information on their next of kin, on what medications they’re taking, even their own identification.  Without this vital information, I have to spend valuable time searching for this information to help me best treat the patient.  Valuable time which could be costing you your life if I can’t find that one piece of information that can save your life.  So here’s what I suggest you do to avoid being a “Jane Doe” or “John Doe.” 

• Keep an up-to-date copy of your emergency contact with name, address and phone number in your wallet or purse and a copy in your car
• Keep a list of major medical problems in your wallet also especially if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, have had a stroke or heart attack in the past
• Keep a list of your current medications with dosages in your wallet or purse. 

And finally…

3.  Discuss making these designations legally binding by filling out an Advanced Directive which includes naming a Healthcare Surrogate (someone who you name to make medical decisions about your healthcare even decisions about life support) and a Living Will (which outlines your wishes for medical treatment if you should have a terminal condition).  Your physician or healthcare professional can help you fill out these forms. 

So remember, it’s best to be prepared for the unexpected and by following these 3 easy steps you can ensure that you get the most accurate and timely medical attention.

To your wellness,

The Health and Wellness Queen

…..is in the calories. 

Scientists have studied worms and even dogs and showed that eating about 25 percent fewer calories resulted in a longer life.  Now I’m not saying that we’re exactly like worms or even dogs but we can take a few lessons from these findings. 

Eating fewer calories over a period of time slows down the aging process.  Just take a look at all of the over 100 year olds that have been in the Guiness Book of World Records.  I’ve never seen an obese or overweight person that has made it to the age of 100.  Most of my patients close to or over the age of 100 have been lean for their height and in general don’t frequent fast food joints or fill up on high fatty foods.  Now that’s not to say that they haven’t enjoyed themselves over the years or partaken of cake and ice cream on occasion but for the most part, they’ve made healthy food choices throughout their lives.

My great-grandmother lived to 91 and she was still active way into her 80’s.   She started losing her sight when I was just born so she never got the chance to really see me but even in her old age she could chase us down.  There was no hiding from Grandmommie.  She couldn’t see us but she could sure hear us.  During the summers at my grandparents’ house, my sister and I would try to sneak out the house and play outside but she could always hear the screen door squeak open.  We thought we were so smart back then.  But it was my great-grandmother who was the smart one.  She stayed active and ate healthy—starting each morning with grapefruit and hot tea.  I often think about my great-grandmother when I see patients who’ve lived almost a century and are still active.  I thank my great-grandmother everyday for giving me such a good example to follow.   

In addition to less calories, exercising adds additional benefit to your overall cardiovascular health.  Now back in the day, my daily exercise routine inclued playing touch football with the neighborhood kids in our backyard or racing down the hill against my best friend.  Now with my hectic schedule, the only racing I do is around the house trying to keep up with my 10 month old son.  When I want to get a workout in I do my “At home Workout with Rhadi” to stay in shape.  This incredible DVD is available NOW– so get yourself a copy.  

So remember, fewer calories coupled with exercise leads to healthier and longer living. 

To your wellness,

The Health and Wellness Queen

 …..to get your year in order.   You’ve had 28 days so far to start the new year off right.  You’ve set your standards for the year, you’ve decided what you’re going to focus on for the next 365 days and you’re well on your way to achieving your ultimate goal. 

However well things may be going you need to recognize that very soon your focus may begin to wane and you may start to revert to your old ways, your old habits.  You may already be going through this lull or downward spiral in terms of your motivation to get up early every morning to workout, to stop smoking, to cut out all the junk food or to limit the amount of television you and your family watch every day.  It’s only natural for you to begin to get bored with your new routine after focusing so intently to change your behavior. 

Now is the time to recognize this natural lull and embrace this time to redirect your focus or garner more support to help you achieve your goal.  Maybe you’ve been able to make it alone so far but now you need the encouragement of your family and friends to help you through this slump.  Take these next three days to reevaluate your game plan and determine what aspects of your plan need adjusting or enhancing. 

I personally made a decision earlier this month to get back to exercising on a regular basis (at least four times a week).  When my in-laws came to visit over the Christmas holiday, I threw my workout schedule out the window.  I was so busy entertaining them, getting the final trimmings for the Christmas tree and doing my last minute shopping that I didn’t have any extra time to workout during the day like I planned.  I thought that I could simply restart my previous workout schedule without any adjustments and get back on track. 

But boy was I wrong!  I’m working longer hours in the hospital and never seem to get home before 8:30 or 9:00pm even though my shift ends at 7:00pm.  By the time I make it in the door, my husband is rightfully ready to hand me our 9 month old son and try to get some work done.  So that means once I walk through that door, I’m on “Mommy duty” until Rufus decides it’s time for him to go to bed for the night….which is usually not until 11:00pm.  Since I am no where close to meeting my goal of working out 4 times a week, I knew I had to change the timing of my workouts and now have to set my alarm an hour earlier in the morning to workout. 

By working out first thing in the morning, I now have no excuse, no other obligations that will prevent me from meeting my goal.  I simply had to realize that I needed to change the timing of my workouts. 

Have your uncovered what’s keeping you back from meeting your goals for 2007?   What adjustments do you need to make?  Do you need to start working out with a buddy to keep you on track?  Do you need to ask your spouse to also make the commitment to stop smoking to help you with your goal?  Whatever your goal, whatever your obstacle, take these next three days to brainstorm and discover what you need to do to keep you on track for 2007.

To your wellness,

The Health and Wellness Queen

The number of people being diagnosed each year with diabetes and heart disease is reaching epidemic proportions.  We’ve all seen television shows and made for TV movies depicting the unpredictable spread of the Ebola virus, the avian flu and the plague and these shows are usually followed by news reports designed to increase your level of fear and terror. 

But the Health and Wellness Queen is here to tell you that diabetes and heart disease are already widespread, they’re already claiming lives every minute.   We’re so caught up in our daily lives that we don’t even realize how close we really are to this diabetes and heart disease epidemic.  If you’ve signed up for my “Daily Dose” you’ll already know some of these statistics.  If you haven’t gotten around to signing up for my ”Daily Dose” I urge you to take advantage of this FREE, life-saving information to share with your family and friends. 

Studies have shown that an increased waist circumference significantly increases your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.  That’s right….your battle of the bulge could cost you your life.  But don’t fear….the Health and Wellness Queen is here to help you take the first step to fighting diabetes and heart disease.

Once you’ve completed your 5 Second Test you’ll be armed with vital information, information that will help you make life-changing decisions that will affect the way you look at yourself and how others view you.  So here it is….

Get out a tape measure and measure your waist at the level of your belly button.  You may have to look in a mirror to make sure that the tape measure remains level to the floor as you record your waist circumference.  This will give you the most accurate measurement of your true waist.  Record this number.  This measurement should take you no longer than 5 minutes, hence the name.  Now here’s how you did on the test….  

You’ve passed the test if your waist measures less than 40 inches (for men) or less than 35 inches (for women).  If you’ve passed the test that means you are at a decreased risk for developing diabetes and heart disease.  For men, if your waist measures more than 40 inches then you are at increased risk for developing diabetes and heart disease.  For women, if your waist measures more than 35 inches then you are at increased risk.  The larger the number the greater the chance of you becoming part of the epidemic–the diabetes and heart disease epidemic that is killing thousands of men and women each day.  So my question to you is….

Did you pass your 5 Second Test?

If your answer is yes, then congratulations!  However, if your answer is NO then you really need to get my FREE, life-saving information by signing up for my ”Daily Dose” that will help you make the necessary changes in your diet and in your lifestyle that can literally change your life.  For those of you who want to jumpstart your lifestyle change then check out this easy-to-use tool that helped me lose 40 pounds in 3 months after giving birth to my son.  

Bringing you closer to your goal of better health and more sustained wellness in the new year,

The Health and Wellness Queen

After watching President Bush’s State of the Union address and hearing the commentary from congressional representatives and news anchors I had to ask myself this very question. 

How can YOU get affordable medical care? 

That’s the million …or best said….billion dollar question facing politicians and other law makers today.  Millions of people in the US don’t have any medical insurance and those that can afford insurance are finding out that what they’re paying for doesn’t cover what they need.  Additionally, millions of people over the age of 65 are struggling to find ways to afford to buy their monthly supply of medications on a fixed income.  Many people are traveling to Canada to buy their medications and I heard the most amazing story last Saturday while I was at the nail salon….

I heard that women (and men, too) are traveling all over the world to get plastic surgery….from breast augmentation, face lifts, eyelid lifts, tummy tucks, to other outrageous “enhancements” that even I am too embarassed to say.  Now what does this say about the US healthcare system?  Have we forgotten about this huge section of our population that doesn’t have adequate healthcare coverage?  Have we ignored the cries of children and adults alike who are struggling to make ends meet and can’t imagine paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars every month to buy health insurance?  Are taxes so high that small businesses can’t even afford to offer their employees health insurance and just hope that their employees never get sick or miss a day of work? 

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer or solution to the question of how to get affordable medical care but there are ways to maneuver through our system to get the care that you need.

The first step is find out about your local resources.  Check out the local paper or the local hospitals.  They usually have information on upcoming health fairs or health screenings where you can get your blood pressure or even cholesterol checked.  If you have a local health department, go take a visit.  Most health departments are state or county run and will see local residents for routine medical evaluations and even speciality visits.  Payment is typically on a sliding scale so they take into consideration how much you earn to determine how much you can afford to pay per visit. 

The second step is to ask for assistance from the drug companies to see if you qualify for a medication assistance plan.  While I was in residency, I helped many senior citizens get their medications FREE just by filling out an application form for medication assistance.  Once they were accepted into the program (they had to meet certain income cutoffs) their medications were sent free of charge to my office or directly to their homes. 

For those of you who work for a small (or even large) business that doesn’t offer health insurance, ask your employer if there are any other options for you to get health insurance—especially if a group rate is available.  Sometimes, employers don’t offer health insurance because they think people already have their own health insurance coverage or don’t know if all their employees would be interested in getting health insurance.  So the third step is to get information from your employer about health insurance. 

Step four: For those of you who are offered health insurance by your employer but elect not to pay the premiums for health coverage….rethink your budget.  Can you really afford to get sick or better yet, can you really afford to pay for your medical bills if you do get sick?  Here’s what you may not know.  People who don’t have insurance but need to be hospitalized or seen in the emergency department will pay more for their care than people who have insurance.  Let me explain.  Insurance companies negotiate to pay only a portion of what hospitals, doctors and other medical facilities charge for a procedure or visit.  That means if a hospital charges, let’s say $1,000 for a procedure but the insurance company has already negotiated to pay only $400, the hospital gets paid $400 and you only have to pay a portion of your deductible.  If you’re responsible for 20%, that would be 0.2 times $400 or $80.  Now let’s compare that to what the hospital would charge you directly if you didn’t have insurance–> $1000.00!  $80 versus $1000—you be judge.  Seriously consider getting health insurance if your employer offers it. 

The fifth and final step in getting affordable medical care is to commit to a health lifestyle.  If you focus on living healthy and staying active and fit, you’ll find that you’ll depend less on emergency departments and urgent care visits and can schedule your checkups on your terms. 

Although I’m not a politician or elected official, I am a physician and I see plenty of people everyday struggling to find affordable healthcare options.  Follow my five step process and you’ll be on your way to better healthcare and better health.

 To your wellness,

Dr. Ferguson, The Health and Wellness Queen

No matter who we are or where we are in live, we all have one…maybe two…and maybe even more bad habits that we’d like to stop.  It could be something as seemingly simple as biting your nails or chewing on a pen caps until that habit turns into something more like a nail bed infection or a cold.  Or maybe you have an annoying habit of showing up late to every event or meeting.  Or maybe that habit of yours is even more damaging and dangerous such as smoking or running redlights. 

Whatever your bad habit, big or small, I have found three simple ways to help you kick that habit.  But I caution you.  Only attempt these three steps if you are really ready to change because if you only half-heartedly attempt these steps you’ll wind up frustrated and even more set in your wicked ways.  If you are ready to change, are fed up with friends and family asking you when you’re going to quit and are tired of making excuses about why you do the thing(s) that you do…follow these steps.

1.  Make a Commitment

This step may seem easy but it is the most difficult step and transition to make.  This is the time when you have to make up your mind to stop doing that thing that has become such a part of your personality… your makeup… that you’ll almost feel naked or a little off, like you’re missing something.  That’s because you are.  You are missing that part of you that you’ve decided needs to change for the better.  So once you’ve taken the step to commit…then you’re ready for the second step.

2.  Set a Date!

This means set a date when you’re going to start the change.  If you know that it’s going to be hard for you to just stop what you’ve been subconsciously doing for years, it may take you several days or several weeks to get everything in place to help you accomplish your goal.  Now you might think to yourself that it won’t take you more than a couple of days to get starting on kicking your habit but you have to sit back and think for a minute.  Really take the time and evaluate how that bad habit manifests itself throughout the day.  If it’s smoking that you want to stop….really take a look at your day and list the times when you actually smoke or think about smoking.  Is it after your morning coffee?  Is it before you get to work..on the drive in?  Is it during your morning or afternoon break?  Is it after lunch or dinner?  Is it after a long day at work?  Do you smoke when you’re out with friends?  Really take a look and see all of the places where you’re going to have to change your behavior and what you do.  This review process takes time and should not be completed too prematurely.  But once you’ve set the date then it’s time for the last and final step. 

3.  Gather Support. 

Nothing will keep you focused on your goal like your own personal cheering section.  You’ll need supporters at work, at home and at your favorite hangouts.  These aren’t just people you are there for you when you’re doing good but these are people you will really give it to you when you need it.  They’re going to keep you on task and help you walk the straight and narrow.  They’re going to encourage you but they’re also going to help redirect you when you need it.  If you don’t have someone, a friend, a colleague or even a spouse who will tell you the truth when you need it…then find someone who will.

So when you’re ready to kick that bad habit of yours….make a commitment….set a date….and gather support…because you’re on your way to making a lasting change for the better!

To your wellness,

The Health and Wellness Queen

You may have heard the news reports or even read about the new cancer statistics recently released by the American Cancer Society.  The new report showed that “fewer people died of cancer in 2004 than in 2003, marking the second consecutive year that cancer deaths have declined in the United States.”  The report emphasizes that early detection of cancer and controlling the major risk factors for developing cancer are the key reasons to the decline in cancer deaths. 

Now you may be wondering if you’re at risk for cancer …….

…..and I’m here to tell you that ANYONE can develop cancer!  And that includes YOU!  Heart disease remains the number one killer of men and women alike in the United States BUT cancer IS the second most common cause of death of both men and women.  One in every four people over their lifetime will develop cancer….so this is serious business.

Since you are at risk for developing cancer, you need to know what you can do to lower your risk for dying from cancer.

The first step in lowering your risk of dying from cancer is knowing your family history.  Having a close relative (parent, sibling, aunt or uncle, or grandparent) who has had cancer or even died from cancer substantially increases your risk for developing cancer—-and you need to know this.  Many cancers, such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and cervical cancer have recommended screening tests that can detect cancer in its early stage.  Early detection of cancer before it has spread throughout the body can markedly increase your survival rate since treatment options such as surgery have greater success rates when cancer is moved and it’s still localized. 

In addition to knowing your family history, quit smoking NOW to lower your risk of developing cancer.  Almost 1/3 of all cancer deaths are caused by smoking.  So if you smoke, you’re increasing your risk of heart disease, of stroke and of dying from cancer.  As I counsel my patients who smoke, I always tell them that NOTHING good comes from smoking and that continuing to smoke will surely lead to an early death.  It’s harsh but true.

Another third of all cancer deaths are related to poor nutrition and being overweight or obese.  Eating fatty foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol can increase your risk for developing colorectal cancer and being overweight or obese increases your risk for developing breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer and other types of cancer. 

By exercising and eating a healthier diet, you can lower your risk for developing certain types of cancers and with early detection, you can survive a diagnosis of cancer.

If you want more life-saving information for better health and sustained wellness, then sign up NOW for my “Daily Dose” Newsletter by filling in the information found on the right side of the screen. 

To your wellness,

Dr. Ferguson

The Health and Wellness Queen

Yes, I am! 

About four months ago, my husband and I went for our annual medical check-up and were shocked to find out that at the young age of 31, my husband was diagnosed with high blood pressure and I, Dr. Ferguson, was diagnosed with high cholesterol.  We both have family members who have recently been diagnosed with congestive heart failure or have suffered a heart attack, all before the age of 55 and know the seriousness of heart disease and how devastating it can be….but you don’t have to let it kill you….if you take simple steps to control your risk factors. 

First of all, let me say this.  As a Board Certfied Internal Medicine physician I feel my personal calling is to educate people on their health and help them deal with whatever illness or ailment they may have.  Heart disease kills more people every year than prostate cancer, more people than breast cancer….but so many people don’t even know that they’re at risk.  In response to a very interesting question, let me give you a brief overview of the risk factors I’m referring to and offer you some advice on how to best manage your health.   

Modifiable risk factors for heart disease and stroke include high blood pressure (or hypertension), diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and being overweight and having a sedentary lifestyle.  I call these modifiable risk factors because you can control these factors by exercise, diet and medications.  Several risk factors, like age and family history (or your genetics) you can’t control but they can give you an indication of what you can look forward to if you don’t change the way you live. 

My aunt had a heart attack in her early 50’s but she also had many of the risk factors for heart disease including high blood pressure, diabetes AND she smoked.  After having her heart attack, she finally realized that she couldn’t continue on her current path to an early grave…so she quit smoking (hooray!!) started eating better and even lost some weight.  With an aunt with heart disease, I knew that I had to take my high cholesterol seriously and change the way my family ate. 

Before changing our diet, my husband’s average blood pressure was 150/90.  Hypertension is a blood pressure 140/90 mmHg or greater.  Now if your systolic blood pressure (the top number) is between 120 to 139 mmHg, it’s considered “prehypertension” or if your diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) is between 80 to 89 mmHg.  If either number falls within the prehypertension or hypertension range then YOU DO have prehypertension or hypertension.  Blood pressure machines at the local grocery store or pharmacy can give you a fairly accurate reading of your blood pressure but I do recommend that you go see your health professional for a full evaluation if you have prehypertension or hypertension. 

After starting a no sodium, no caffeine diet and exercising more at home (avoiding the excuse of being too busy to go to the gym), my husband’s blood pressure is now averaging below 120/70 mmHg and this morning his blood pressure was 116/54mmHg!!

Being overweight, living the life of a couch potato, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol (more than 1 drink for women and more than 2 drinks for men) and eating a diet high in salt can all cause your blood pressure to be high.  So try cutting back on the alcohol, put down the salt shaker, and start getting more exercise and you’ll see a drop in your blood pressure. 

For more general information about heart disease and stroke, visit the american heart association website. 

For those of you interested in one-on-one phone consultations where I can provide more specific and personalized recommendations about your controlling your risk factors, feel free to call 1-866-270-9460 to schedule a consultation. 

To your wellness,

Dr. Ferguson

It seems every person I saw today during my rounds in the hospital had some type of heart problem.  From a weakened heart because of uncontrolled high blood pressure to a “stunned” heart after a recent heart attack, one in every four people in the United States will die from a heart related illness each year.  That means that if you’re sitting around a table playing poker with four people, one person will die from a heart attack or heart failure. 

Can you predict who that one person will be?…..Who will have that 1 in 4 odds of dying from heart disease?

Will it be a man who stays in shape by running several miles every day?

Will it be an older man in his 70’s, retired and “living the good life”?

Will it be a 35 year old woman, a smoker on birth control pills?

Will it be a woman who works out every now and then but is still overweight?

Will it be a young mother of two who recently gave birth to a baby boy?

If your answer to any of these questions is “YES” then you’re right!  Every last one of these people and every last one of you all reading this message is at risk for developing heart disease and will likely die from heart disease.

I’m giving it to you straight just like I tell my patients, my family members and my friends.  Heart disease is nothing to play around with.  Without a strong heart, you won’t be able to enjoy the things that we all take for granted….like talking a walk in the park with our children or grandchildren, like going out to dinner or the movies, like taking a vacation or a cruise. 

What I’m going to tell you will add years of life to your heart….

Your heart is like any other muscle in your body…it needs to be conditioned, it needs to be exercised and it needs to function under optimal conditions. 

To be conditioned….means that your heart needs to be consistently stressed—so that over time your heart is able to work more efficiently and effectively, able to pump more blood to your body and provide more oxygen to every cell in your body.  To make your heart function at its best you have to condition your heart regularly, with regular heart pumping exercises.

To be exercised….means just that–> to exercise your heart.  If you think you don’t have time to exercise, don’t have a gym membership, or don’t have any equipment at home, don’t worry because you’ll be able to workout at home in no time with this workout DVD–>http://www.thebodyweightworkout.com

To function under optimal conditions means to control the external stresses on your heart—specifically, controlling your blood pressure, your blood sugar and your cholesterol.  See your doctor if you don’t have a clue what your blood pressure is or if you haven’t had recent blood work done.  Everyone needs to know what their blood pressure is and if you don’t know you’re fooling yourself if you think you’re healthy.  Even the most athletic people…Olympians…. professional athletes can have high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol and not even know it UNLESS they get a full medical check-up. 

So stop fooling yourself…get a full medical check-up with blood work and keep exercising.  And if you want to know what I do to stay in shape check out this exercise DVD.

To your health and wellness,

Dr. Traci Ferguson

The Health and Wellness Queen