When Blood Clots Become Dangerous.

The blood in your body is perpetually pumping—flowing from organ to organ and giving you life. When blood clots to stop internal or external bleeding, that’s good. However, sometime a dangerous blood clot can develop that stops its flow to vital organs. Blood clots can be a serious threat to your health and your life.

What Is a Blood Clot?

Almost all of us have had a blood clot: a scab. When you get cut, blood coagulates at the surface of your skin and forms a protective clot over your wound. This coagulation of blood stops your bleeding, which is good! The same thing happens inside of your body if a blood vessel starts bleeding.

A blood clot develops in four stages:

1.    When a blood vessel is damaged, your body triggers platelets (small cells in your blood responsible for clotting) to start sticking to your blood vessel walls and each other around the damaged area. When enough stick to the area and one another, they change shape to form a sort of plug to stop bleeding. While sticking to one another, platelets are releasing chemicals that attract even more platelets and prepare for the next step.

2.    Next, clotting factors, which are made up of proteins in your blood, signal each other and launch into a rapid chain reaction. The end results of the chain reaction are long strands of fibrin in your blood that make a fibrous net. This net, much like a fishing net, catches and traps even more platelets and cells around the wounded portion of your blood vessel.

3.    Once the net has captured enough cells and platelets, a signal is sent that tells the body that enough has been sent and the clot is big enough and durable enough as it is. This is an important chemical reaction as it prevents the clot from becoming too big or spreading further.

4.    Similar to dissolving stitches, the fibrin strands are broken down and eventually dissolve as your wound heals. The collection of platelets and cells that just helped heal your damaged blood vessel are released back into your bloodstream for use.

This entire process is triggered when your flowing blood comes into contact with a specific substance in your skin or blood vessel walls that is present when the skin or vessel is broken and bleeding. 

What Types of Blood Clots Are Bad?

We just went over what types of clots are normal and safe. They’re your body’s natural way to stop bleeding and keep you healthy. However, there are times blood clots occur and they’re actually dangerous for you.

Sometimes a blood clot can form in the blood vessels of the legs.  These usually occur from having recent surgery, sitting for prolonged time in a car or airplane, or from medications such as birth control or estrogen supplements.  This is also more likely if you smoke.  These blood clots can spontaneously form in the legs, causing swelling and pain.  Most concerning, these clots can break off and travel to your lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism which is life-threatening. 

Bad cholesterol is full of the substance that is released when your blood vessel or skin is bleeding. When waxy cholesterol plaques build up in your arteries, they could potentially break off and lodge in your artery. Once the plaques break and the substance is released, the clotting process begins.

This cholesterol plaque can cause clotting and completely clog blood vessels, causing heart attacks or strokes. These detrimental medical emergencies happen when the cholesterol plaque in your heart or brain bursts without notice.

Aside from serious plaque breaking open and kick-starting blood clots, they can also develop from improper blood flow. When your blood doesn’t flow smoothly as it should, it could pool in your vessels. When this happens, platelets are more likely to stick together and create clotted barriers within your vessels—preventing smooth blood flow.

How Can I Prevent Blood Clots?

There are over-the-counter medicines and prescribed blood thinners that either stop platelets from signaling one another to collect or make it hard for your blood to clot. Some of these drugs include:

●        Aspirin

●        Plavix (clopidogrel)

●        Xarelto (rivaroxaban)

●        Pradaxa (dabigatran)

While these drugs help prevent blood clots if you’re at risk, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a drug that dissolves pre-existing clots. This drug works well as it dissolves fibrin—the platelet-snagging net. Blood clotting problems can be caused by genetics or even your diet and exercise regimen in the case of built-up cholesterol.

Trips, Slips and Helpful Tips

With our ice covered sidewalks and streets, it’s no wonder falls are a big problem this time of year. But, even when the snow and ice melt, the risk is still constant. Each year an estimated 37.3 million falls are severe enough to require medical attention. In fact, globally, falls are a major public health concern. About 424,000 fatal falls occur each year, making it the second leading cause of unintentional injury death, after road traffic injuries.*

Most Common Fall Injuries

Head injuries

Fractures, sprains, torn tendons and ligaments.

Neck, back and spine injuries

Broken hips or broken pelvis

Preventing Falls

Start with your shoes

High heels, poorly fitting shoes or those with slick soles are almost certain to increase your risk for a fall especially on the many icy patches here in Minnesota during the winter months. Make sure you wear properly fitting sturdy shoes with nonskid soles.

Have you fallen before?

Take a second look at areas where you have fallen before to make sure you’ve done everything you can to prevent it from happening again whether that means putting salt down on the sidewalk or, if inside, would a railing or carpet help?

What medications are you taking?

Make a list of your prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements. Your doctor can review your medications for side effects and interactions that may increase your risk of falling.

What health conditions do you have?

Certain eye and ear disorders may increase your risk of falls. Be prepared to discuss your health conditions. Your doctor may evaluate your muscle strength, balance and walking style (gait) as well.

Look around your house and lighten it up

It’s important to make sure your house is well lit. As well, check that your home isn’t filled with the following hazards known to cause falls:

ü  Bubbling carpet or loose floorboards

ü  Electrical cords and phone cords near traffic areas

ü  Clothing, dishes, food and other necessities in hard-to-reach places

ü  Spilled liquids, grease or food

ü  Bathtubs or showers without nonslip mats or stickers

Exercise 

Physical activity can go a long way toward fall prevention. With your doctor's OK, consider activities such as walking, swimming or tai chi — a gentle exercise that involves slow and graceful dance-like movements. These exercises reduce the risk of falls by improving strength, balance, coordination and flexibility.

Five Facts You Need to Know About Heart Health

Did you know that 1 in 31 American women dies of breast cancer, while 1 in 3 women dies of heart disease? February is Heart Health month, let’s take this time to discuss heart health. Here are 5 facts that you need to know about heart disease:

1.    Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately  one woman every minute.

2.    Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart  disease.

3.    Only 1 in 5 American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health  threat.

4.    Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease.

5.    In 2013, Minnesotans experienced almost 45,000 acute heart disease  hospitalizations.

The facts don't lie, heart health is a huge deal. Do you know the major signs of heart attacks in women? Check out these telltale signs of heart attacks in women:

1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
4. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
5. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

It's never too late to start taking care of your heart! For these and other facts about heart health, check out the American Heart Association!

The Biggest Loser- The Urgency Room Edition

Our Vadnais Heights crew is participating in the Biggest Loser! Unfortunately we will not be on the actual show (NBC, call us!), but the competition is still cutthroat. Contestants are competing to win a whopping $120 and the glory of calling themselves the Biggest Loser. The winner of the competition will be determined by who loses the largest percentage of body weight.

The 90 challenge started on January 8^th and will end on April 8^th. The eight contestants all have different approaches to winning and keeping the weight off for good. One contestant is doing several rounds of the 21 Day Fix in hopes to melt the weight right off. Several contestants have taken the old fashioned approach of eating better and running. Another contestant has joined Weight Watchers to help lose the pounds. In the end it doesn’t matter what weight loss regiment has been followed, it only matters who has lost the largest percentage of body weight.

As the competition heats up and the New Year wears on, who will be able to stick to their diet and who will cave to the cookies in the break room? Only the scale will tell…

Winter Break Fever

We all remember counting down the days of school until winter break as a child. With a week or more off of school and the added excitement of the holidays there is a chance that the change in a child’s routine could compromise their health. If your child comes down with a fever during their winter vacation there are a few things that you can remember when you are caring for them.

The higher the temperature does not mean the more serious the illness in most cases. Some illnesses do not cause a fever at all.  It is important to take the age of the child into consideration when understanding the severity of a fever.  Call your pediatrician or seek medical attention for children 3 months of age and younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4 and above.  As infants and children get a little older you can take their behavior and activity level into account when understanding the severity of their fever. 

While they can be scary, fevers are normal reactions for children and the body’s internal mechanism for fighting infection. Children, especially younger kids, are likely to get fevers as their bodies are still learning to control and adapt themselves. Some fevers are even caused from overheating while playing and exercising.

There are a number of ways to reduce a mild fever in children at home.  Children 6 months and older can use a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, always consult your pediatrician with specific dosing questions or instruction. Baths are also a great way to lower a child’s body temperature but can be counterintuitive.  You may think a cold bath will be just the thing to calm them down but that is the opposite of how you should respond. Surprisingly, a simple warm bath will help to bring their temperature down and is often one of the best remedies for relieving a fever.  Remember to offer plenty water and liquids to avoid dehydration and always encourage as much rest as possible.

Winter break is one of the most blissful times of the year for a child. If they come down with a fever keep these things in the back of your mind. For more detailed information from one of our doctors watch the following video about fevers in children.

Top Dangers Threatening To Take the Happy out of your Holidays

Nothing makes you more of a Grinch during the holidays than a trip to the Emergency Room when you should be home enjoying good food, family and friends. Unfortunately, accidents are very common during the holiday season, for a variety of reasons. Here are the top concerns you should steer clear of if you don’t want to have a Ba Humbug attitude about the holidays this year.

Falls

About 5,800 individuals are treated annually in hospital emergency rooms for injuries sustained from falls involving holiday decorations.  This can include putting lights up on the house or reaching to far on the ladder to get the star on the top of your tree.

In addition, 4,000 people a year are treated in emergency rooms for injuries associated with extension cords.  Half of these injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions, or sprains as a result of people tripping over the cords.

Carbon Monoxide poisonings

Carbon Monoxide claims an average of 430 lives in the United States per year. These are preventable deaths. Make sure you install at least one smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home and near bedrooms.

Fires

About 30% of all home fires and 38% of home fire deaths occur during the months of December, January, and February.  The United States Fire Administration (USFA) says these fires happen for a variety of reasons cooking, heating, and open flames, all which increase during the holidays. Watch all fires and do not cook or handle an open flame if you have been drinking in excess.

Decorations

With all their shine and glitter holiday decorations are especially tempting to infants, who can quickly choke on items like tinsel, small ornaments, tiny pine cones and pieces from nativity scenes. Be sure to keep all such hazards well out of the reach of children; this includes popular holiday food items like nuts and hard candies, too.

Mistletoe
Poinsettias are often regarded as the most poisonous holiday plant, but contrary to popular belief these plants are actually not toxic to people. Mistletoe, on the other hand, is poisonous. Eating any part of the mistletoe plant, but particularly the berries and leaves, can lead to gastrointestinal upset, while some varieties contain toxins that can lead to blurred vision, blood pressure changes and even death. 

  

Toxic Candles, Sprays and Lights

Do you ever stop to consider what is in the smoke that burns from your candles? They can release hundreds of chemicals, including cancer-causing benzene, into your home's air every time you burn them. This is particularly true of scented candles, as the fragrance oils often contain phthalates, which have been linked to numerous hormonal disruptions, breast cancer, early or delayed puberty and more. Spray on snow is also hazardous as it contains acetone and methylene chloride (a probable carcinogen).

According to a U.S. Environmental group’s study four out of five holiday lights tested contain lead, 28 percent of which contained lead at such high levels they would be illegal to sell in Europe. 

Give yourself a gift this holiday season. Beware of the hazards that threaten to rob you of the joy and relaxation you deserve. An ounce of prevention is worth a lot more than what Santa might bring you.

10 Things You Didn't Know About the UR

There is more than what meets the eye when you come to The Urgency Room. We thought we would create a post for the things you might not know about the UR!

1. Our radiology technicians come from St. Paul Radiology. The wonderful people at the UR take your x-rays and ultrasounds are actually employees of St. Paul Radiology. We who were so impressed with their skills that we wanted to collaborate!

2. Every UR has a candy drawer. The UR and it's employees contribute to the candy drawer to keep it well stocked. When that occasional chocolate craving hits, we are ready!

3. The average patient visit is 90 minutes or less. No matter how serious this injury or illness the UR averages a 90 minute or less from door to discharge. We think that is pretty impressive!
                                            

4. Our staff shares meals on holidays. Even when our employees are working to take care of patients on the holidays, they still get to enjoy a holiday meal with their UR family.

5. We have access to local clinics medical records. With your permission, we can access your electronic medical records from your primary care provider. In addition, your records can then be electronically sent from the UR to your regular doctor for review or follow up care.

6. We have COWs at the UR. Well maybe not actual cows, but we have Computers On Wheels. We have scribes at the UR who go room to room with a doctor and document the visit. The scribes use COWs to make the documentation process more efficient for the patient and provider.
                                                              

7. Woodbury is the only one of our three locations that was created from an existing building and was once a video rental store. After gutting out the building we were able to turn the old video store into a state of the art medical facility. We bet the original builders would have never imagined it was going to become a free standing emergency room!

8. Between the three URs, we go through almost 450 bottles of water per month. The URs have a drink fridge at each location for our ill patients. Though we stock juice, sports drinks and lemon lime soda, water is the number one beverage we go through.

9. The UR has its own YouTube Channel!  You can find our board-certified emergency physicians on YouTube providing educational information on some of the most common things we see at the UR.  Some of our videos have almost 100,000 views!

10. The physicians, PAs and NPs that staff our Urgency Rooms also work in the ERs of 5 of our main Twin Cities hospitals.  You could see your doctor at the UR or working in the ER of Mercy, Unity, Southdale, Ridges and Methodist hospitals.  Needless to say you are in very capable hands during your visit to the UR. We only hire the best and the brightest!