Get what's important from your doctor visit

Part of my article in EzineArticles.

The most important thing you should get out of your appointment with the doctor is an adequate explanation to the problem which prompted your visit.

Write down your questions in the order that you feel is the most important. Write down, or ask your doctor to write down, the answers to your questions, including instructions for the use of prescription and over the counter medications, medical devices, and lifestyle changes. If there isn't enough time to have all of your questions answered, then you will have had the most important ones addressed, and could save the rest for the next visit.

Do you have COPD?

If you develop shortness of breath faster than you should, you cough frequently, and are also a smoker, you may indeed have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary (Lung) Disease, or COPD. The term COPD refers mainly to chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema. More than 80% of COPD is caused by cigarette smoking, with the remainder caused by genetic factors (alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency), industrial exposure (e.g., coal mining) and questionably air pollution.

COPD is a progressive disease, responsible for an enormous strain on the national healthcare budget, on the work place, and on one's personal well being. More than 12 million Americans are now known to have COPD, and many more have the "hidden" disease. COPD is the fifth leading cause of mortality in the US, and its economic burden is even higher.

The sooner COPD is diagnosed and treated, the better it is. Lives can be saved, jobs can be spared, and extra medical expenses avoided.

So, if you have shortness of breath, smoker or not, make sure COPD is not a factor. Don't delay, see your doctor, you won't regret it!

Think twice before indulging…

Are you planning to exercise away the extra calories of your next meal? Think again.

A typical McDonald double cheeseburger has approximately 440 calories. Add large French fries at 500 calories and you're at more than 900 calories (we won't count the soda because I know you chose the zero calorie one…).

If you weigh about 155 lbs (what used to be the typical adult male weight in the US), and you like to walk, you'll burn 76 calories for each mile.

So the meal you just had would cost you an 11.8 mile walk. No problem, it's still less than a half-marathon distance.

Incidentally, if you were to stop by the Cheese Factory for a cheese cake portion, that will only cost you an additional 9 miles.

Of course, you could do the un-American thing, and have a good portion of no-skin chicken and salad (you can even have a little oil and balsamic vinegar dressing) plus fruit, at less than 400 calories for the meal. Still hungry? Have an apple plus another fruit later.

Do the right thing, your body will thank you for it.

Control your calorie intake

What you see here is just a small sample of what's now available at our Health Extenders practice as part of our newly designed weight loss program. For more information, you may contact us by email. If you live in our area (Fairfield County, CT) and want to have a comprehensive evaluation of your weight loss needs, contact us by phone at (203) 853-1919.

This will help you lose weight and remain thinner

Many of you have been aware of our weight loss programs at our practice for years. At home, Sandy and I find it helpful to control our breakfast calorie intake by using HMR shakes. We prefer the HMR 70 vanilla mix. Try it if you wish. This is how we use it:

1 packet of HMR 70 vanilla mix
1 glass filled ½ with crushed ice & ½ with water
1 tsp Hershey’s powdered cocoa (sugar-free)
Place HMR packet in bottom of blender.
Then add ice, water and cocoa and blend.

Optional additions:
½ banana or,
½ cup berries
extracts (calorie free)

Add to partially-blended shake and blend again for an additional minute.

Enjoy!

Calories:
HMR 70 110 calories
Banana/berries 50 calories (approx)
Hersheys cocoa 5 calories

Total 165 calories (approx)

You may use 1 ½ to 2 packets of HMR, but remember to count your calories. You may experiment with other fruits and extracts to create a special shake for yourself.

Share your experience with us. Selected recipes will be published with full credits (and 6 free packets of the mix with your next order of HMR shakes).