Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 41)

7 9 NUMBNESS AND WEAKNESS IN HAND OR ARM WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN: You might pass it off as carpal tunnel syndrome. But it could be a transient ischemic attack, “a red light warning signal of a stroke,” Shulman says. Other warning signs include numbness on one side of your face, slurred speech and vertigo. WHAT TO DO: “Go to the emergency room,” Birge says. “We can now use a drug called tissue plasminogen activator to dissolve clots and restore blood ﬂow to the brain.” But the drug must be given within three hours of the onset of symptoms to allow a chance for full recovery. And that doesn’t mean you can wait two hours and 45 minutes to get to the hospital. Given drive time and prep time, every minute counts. The best solution is to call 911 so the emergency response team can begin treating you in the ambulance and coordinate with the hospital for your arrival. BACK PAIN 8 WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN: Everyday back sprains from heaving heavy boxes or picking up squirming toddlers don’t pose a big worry. But be on the lookout for back pain that’s constant and doesn’t change with movement, which can be a symptom of kidney disease, blood-borne infection or an aortic aneurysm, Birge says. WHAT TO DO: To help your doctor make the diagnosis, be sure to describe other symptoms you might be experiencing, such as paleness, a rapid pulse, chills, fever or ﬂu-like signs. LOWER LEG PAIN WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN: If you suffer pain in the back of your calf after a long car trip, an airplane ride or a period of bed rest, it might be a symptom of a blood clot. It’s possible that a piece of the clot could break free and end up in your lungs, which can be fatal. If the pain occurs with walking and then is alleviated by rest, it could be peripheral vascular disease, a marker for heart disease. WHAT CAN BE DONE: Your doctor may order a venous ultrasound to detect a blood clot. Birge says blood clots can be treated with the prescription drugs heparin or warfarin. Peripheral vascular disease usually can be remedied with lifestyle changes— eating a heart-healthy diet and exercising at least 30 minutes a day three or more days per week. More severe cases may require medication, angioplasty, stent placement or bypass surgery. CALL 9 More Signs Although many symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter medication or a trip to your primary care physician, some are more urgent. Symptoms that might require an emergency room visit are: 1. Chest pain or shortness of breath 6. Uncontrolled bleeding after 2. Difficulty speaking 10 minutes of direct pressure 3. Loss of consciousness or seizures 7. Poisoning or suspected overdose 4. Head injury 8. Severe allergic reactions 5. Fractures with bone showing 9. Severe burns Gwinnett Medical Center has emergency rooms in Lawrenceville and Duluth. GMC–Lawrenceville’s ER, which is home to a designated Level II trauma center, is at 1000 Medical Center Blvd., just off Highway 316. GMC–Duluth’s ER is at 3620 Howell Ferry Road, between Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road. Need a Physician? Find One Today! If you are feeling sick but don’t know where to go, you can call Gwinnett Medical Center’s physician referral line to find a physician in your area. Call 678312-5000. SPRI NG 2013 41

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Where Lasting Weight Loss Begins
Open Heart Surgery Journey
You’re the Star
Heart-to-Heart
Lighten Up!
Have No Fear
Work It!
Diane Keaton
What Are the Chances?
9 Symptoms Never to Ignore
When Allergies Attack
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Aiding Babies
Back on Top
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center