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Happiness and Good Health

Almost everybody I know wants to be happy and healthy. As somebody has said, happiness is man’s greatest aim in life. In 2005, a British study showed that happiness and health may overlap. That means we should continue to strive to be happy if we want to be healthy.

How do you define happiness? Happiness can mean different things to different people. And what exactly makes men and women happy? Is it the materialist extreme searching for happiness in external conditions or is it the spiritual extreme claiming that happiness is the result of a mental state? It seems research supports both the materialist and the mentalist positions, later has the stronger findings.

Although human sciences recognize that happiness is the fundamental goal of life, there is a very limited understanding of what happiness itself consists of. With the tremendous technological advance in the western countries people believed that materialism, longevity, healthy life, acquisition of wealth and ownership of consumer goods would lead to happiness. But wealthy people are not necessarily happy or healthy people.

You may wonder why I thought of this subject at this time of the year. During the Christmas holidays I was in Disneyland, California with my family. This was my sixth visit to the Mickey land and third one with my family. And we have been once to Disneyworld in Orlando as well. Call me nuts if you like but I am a big Mickey and Pluto fan and I am very happy when I am in Disneyland with my family. It is the most carefree happy holiday I can have. Plus it is a healthy one as we walk a lot. Three days in Disneyland, one day at Universal Studios and one day in Los Angeles and Hollywood makes it a worthwhile happy trip.

Disneyland is promoted as the happiest place in the world. For me it is. Last time we were there in 1992 and 1993 when my children were six and four years old. Their memory is pretty foggy of what they did in 1993. So they wanted to go there again and have fun and be happy and healthy. My wife and I were ready to oblige. And that is what we did. That is my kind of happiness. Of course there are many other things which make me happy. I can produce a long list of things which make me happy each day.

Amazing thing about Disneyland is that they take their responsibility of making people happy very seriously. We stayed at one of their hotels and we did not have one complain. The service was excellent. In the park itself, there are hundreds or thousands of helpers to guide you and make your day a happy one. The long lines keep moving and you don’t even realize you have been in the line for an hour. The new system of Fastpass works quite well. I am really impressed the way they manage to keep every body smiling and happy all the time. It is amazing. Can we do the same for our family and friends and strangers we meet each day?

While I was having fun and being happy in Disneyland, I am sure there were people all over the world doing other things that made them happy. And that begs the question: What makes happy people happy? You must have noticed that happy people have a different attitude, they interpret the world in a different way and they are not complainers or whiners. Their glass is always half full not half empty. They are not materialistic in nature.

Why is happiness important? Studies have shown that happier people are generally healthier people – not only mentally, but also physically. Happiest people have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Their hearts keep a mellower pace than those of less happy people, and they don’t flip out as much during a mental stress test.

So, the message is simple: If you want to be healthy then be happy, don’t worry and hug Mickey once day!

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Dare to dream. Happy New Year.

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.”
– Abraham Lincoln

How do you feel now that 2008 is here? Relieved that 2007 is over and 2008 will bring in new hope for better things to come in your life? Why not? We all hope that things will get better. No doubt there is a minority of people who are happy with the status quo. If you are one of them then there is nothing wrong with it as long as you are happy and people around you are happy.

Are you planning to make any changes in your life in the New Year? If yes, then here are some suggestions to consider for a successful outcome.

Making changes in your personal life can be a tough process. No change is possible unless you have a desire to change. And change does not come without perseverance and hard work.

You should be able to visualize the change bringing in significant benefit to you compared to paying the price of where you are. Is this change going to make you a better person? A healthier person? A person you wish to be? If yes, then establish your new goal. Is this goal reasonable and achievable? If yes, then do some research and home work to find out what you need to do to achieve your goal. Can you do it on your own or do you need somebody to guide you and help you?

Take a pen and a paper and write down your thoughts. Talk to your family, friends and colleagues. Somebody must have some experience in what you are trying to achieve. You will get some good practical tips for success. In the end you will have to achieve your goal yourself. You are a unique individual. You have your own power to achieve your goal.

Will you succeed?

To succeed, one has to be motivated. If there are setbacks then you have to continue to strive and learn. We know that failures occur due to lack of effort rather than lack of ability. Studies have shown that most persistent students do not ruminate about their own failure but treat setbacks as problems to be solved. Studies have shown that success is directly related to the effort you put in. If you have a fixed-mindset then you will have difficulty facing and solving a problem. If you have a growth mind-set then you will see a problem as a challenge to be taken care of.

Do you know which mind-set you belong to? If you have a fixed mind-set then you will have to change your attitude if you want to succeed. If you have a growth mind-set then you should see success if you continue to strive.

Dare to dream. The New Year is here. I wish you all a happy New Year and may all your dreams come true.

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!

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It’s Christmas

Christmas is here. That means it is end of the year. It is time to take stock of things. It is time to ask some questions and time to plan for the next year.

There are six questions I will be asking myself in the next few days:

-Am I healthier today than I was one year ago?
-Am I physically more active today than I was one year ago?
-Am I eating healthier today than I was one year ago?
-Am I happier today than I was one year ago?
-Am I better off today than I was one year ago?
-And how can I improve on this next year?

Just asking these questions is not enough. We should convert this into a written exercise so appropriate answers are in black and white. The next step would be to read these questions and answers aloud to your partner, to your family or to your friends.

No two years are the same. Each year there are many things one can look back on and be grateful about. Equally, there are many things we can look back on and complain about. Sometimes the glass is half full and sometimes it is half empty. And sometimes the glass isn’t there.

But the spirit of Christmas is always there. I find that so wonderful. So many people put in so much effort to make the occasion a happy one. There is something for everyone. Especially for people who are disadvantaged and marginalized in our affluent society. Christmas brings cheers for them as well.

We also know that Christmas holidays can be a time for unfortunate occurrences. It is a busy time of the year when many people take family holidays. No matter how much time you have put into planning everything, you cannot guarantee that everything will run smoothly.

Use and abuse of alcohol and food is significant at this time of the year. One study revealed that alcohol-related traffic deaths tend to be higher during the Christmas and New Year holiday periods than during the year as a whole. Christmas should be fun but it can also send your stress levels soaring. Studies have shown that one in five gets stressed during the Christmas holidays. By January, the suicide rates go up. These are just few examples of what can go wrong during the festive season. So take it easy and do not overdo anything.

This is my 23rd Christmas in Medicine Hat and in August I celebrated 10 years of writing this column. I like to thank the editors and readers of the Medicine Hat News for their support and encouragement. Allow me to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Let me end by quoting lyrics from John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Happy Christmas (War Is Over)

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!

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Anaphylactic Shock

Dear Dr. B: What is anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis (say “anna-full-ax-iss”) is a life-threatening allergic reaction. It occurs when a person becomes sensitized to a substance and is again exposed to that substance.

The body responds with release of histamines and other substances into the bloodstream. This results in dilated blood vessels and swollen tissues. Swelling of the tongue and throat may be life-threatening if obstruction of the airway occurs, if blood pressure drops, or if cardiac rhythm becomes abnormal.

Reaction starts soon after you are exposed to something you are severely allergic to. There may be swelling, itching or a rash. You may have trouble breathing, with a tight feeling in the chest or dizziness. You may feel anxious. There may be stomach cramps, nausea or diarrhea. Some people lose consciousness.

There are many causes of anaphylaxis. Here are few examples:
-Foods, such as shellfish, nuts, peanuts, eggs and fruits
-Medicines, such as antibiotics, aspirin, over-the-counter pain relievers, allergy shots and contrast dye for radiologic procedures
-Latex or rubber found in surgical gloves, medical supplies and many products in your home
-Insect stings, especially from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, sawflies and fire ants

A severe allergic reaction requires immediate treatment. If anaphylaxis is suspected then check the airway for tongue swelling or swelling of the soft palate or uvula. Check the blood pressure and the pulse. Low blood pressure and rapid pulse raises the suspicion of anaphylaxis, although neither is necessary for diagnosis.

Certain individuals are at a high risk of fatal anaphylaxis. These are the individuals who have had previous severe reaction to a substance, leading to progressive reaction and asthma. Certain medications may increase the risk because some agents like aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors are well known to intensify reactions.

Once anaphylaxis is diagnosed, epinephrine should be injected immediately by intramuscular route. It should injected into the muscles of your arm are thigh. Epinephrine will quickly raise the blood pressure by constricting the blood vessels, it will increasing the heart rate, reduce swelling around the face and throat and relax smooth muscles in the lungs to make breathing easier. CPR may become necessary. This will allow time to call 911 and transport the patient to the nearest hospital for further stabilization and treatment.

Epinephrine is available as an auto-injector. That means you can inject it yourself or your friend or family member can inject it for you if you are having a severe allergic reaction. There are two kinds of auto-injectors: EpiPen and Twinject. EpiPen has one dose of epinephrine and Twinject has two doses of epinephrine. If symptoms do not subside within 10 minutes of the first injection then second dose of epinephrine is required. This happens in 35 per cent of people with severe allergic reaction.

It is very important to learn how to use the auto-injector. It is of no good use to carry one in your pocket or purse if you do not know how to use it. Also check on the expiry date. These auto-injectors have a short expiry date of a year or so. Replace expired auto-injectors. Wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace. Also carry antihistamine like Benadryl with you which is helpful in case of a mild allergic reaction.

As always, prevention is better than treatment. See a doctor to identify the causative agent of your allergy. It is not always easy to find the causative agent as we come in contact with numerous substances each day. If the causative agent is known then avoid it at all cost. Ask your doctor if you need desensitization shots. Make sure people around you – your family, friends, teachers, co-workers and others are aware of your allergy. Live a normal life but be careful of what you eat and what you touch.

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!