"Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia"

With Father’s Day quickly approaching, the airwaves are becoming infected with ideal gift ideas for fathers. I can quickly recall at least ten gifts I have given my dad for Father’s Day over the years. There is no doubt in my mind my dad has every gift I have given him, but I am not so quick to recall how many of the gifts he still uses. So, with Father’s Day and men’s health awareness occurring in the same month it is an excellent time to recommend a great gift that just might make a difference in both you and your dad-a Chia-Pet®!
As fate would have it, my father recently brought home a magazine not for its content but because of a picture of “the best ever ice cream sandwich” pictured on its cover. As I started flipping through the articles of healthy eating, the one that caught my attention was “Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia”. The more I read the more I wanted to research the article’s claims that chia seeds could sustain an Aztec warrior for an entire day. The next day I went to my local health food store and purchased a quarter pound of the tiny seeds, and to my dismay I loved’ em.
The more I researched the more I read, and the more I ate the more I had to share this knowledge and experience with you. Chia seeds are tasty and really do pack a punch. Three and half ounces of chia seeds have the same amount of omega-3s as a 28-ounce filet of salmon and as much iron as five cups of raw spinach. But, that’s not all. Chia seeds also pack a punch of fiber with one ounce delivering 11 grams of quality dietary fiber - about half the daily recommended allowance. Sprinkle seeds on salads, soups and cereals. If the seeds are not appealing to you, they can be sprouted for salads, burgers, and use in other healthy combinations.
According to my research, the mighty chia seed is loaded with omega 3 fatty acids, copper, zinc, calcium, phosphorous and potassium - not to mention they are loaded with protein and antioxidants. These seeds may be tiny, but they pack a mighty punch that can reduce inflammation and may help reduce risk factors for heart disease, arthritis and some cancers.
The Chia-Pet® may have been a fad, but the nutritional value and benefits to good health are well documented for the chia seed. The Chia-Pet® now comes in an Obama and Scooby Doo Chia. For the next generation of Chia-Pets, my suggestion would be Popeye and the Incredible Hulk. Can you imagine if Popeye had downed a can of chia seeds instead of spinach? WOW!!
So, this Father’s Day give the gift of healthy eating that just might give you a stronger healthier “Papa-Chia”.
Ch-Ch-Ch-See Ya!

Howard Baker, RN BSN
For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com

From the Nite to the Rockies

Last night I drove the back roads a little less traveled on my way home, and boy I am I glad I did. I saw one of the most magnificent sites-a field ablaze with lightning bugs. Not since childhood can I remember a time when I have seen such a healthy population of these mesmerizing creatures.
As I drove along reminiscing about all the fun I had chasing and catching lighting bugs as a child, the reality of my adulthood started disrupting the serenity of my memories as they played out in my mind. One was a recent memory of just a few weeks ago when I cared for a young man who appeared to have contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever from several tick bites he suffered when he walked his dogs. As these memories collided, I thought this was a good time to discuss the abundance of other insects that are not as harmless or surreal as the lightning bug.
A mild winter and the recent abundance of rainfall have made a perfect environment for insects to multiply, and not all of them go around with lights blinking as they frolic in the fields. Mosquitoes and ticks present serious health hazards, so let’s discuss ways to protect yourself, what to do when bitten, and symptoms you need to take seriously.
Between the mosquito and the tick, hands down it’s the mosquito I despise the most. The mosquitoes fly around, take aim, and bam-bite you. Nothing can ruin a nice backyard outing or a pleasant evening chat like a mosquito. The probability of contracting the West Nile virus is very low, but it is worth taking precautions as well as lowering the personal nuisance effect of these pests. The tick is like a stealth bomber since you usually do not realize you have been bitten until after the fact. Proper handling and removal of ticks can greatly reduce your chances of contracting Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Of course, prevention is always the best policy. Luckily, the recommended repellents effective at repelling both mosquitoes and ticks are the same. Apply insect repellent with 20% DEET or greater on skin and clothing. Wear light-colored clothing which makes it easier to spot insects before they bite, and avoid yellow colors as they attract insects. When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, and top it off with a hat to reduce skin exposure.
Perform tick checks before going indoors. Wash clothes with hot water, and dry them using high heat for at least an hour. Check your body and your family’s bodies after being outdoors- even in your own yard. Be sure to check all the obvious places but also include armpits, behind ears, and the groin area. Removing ticks early may reduce the risk of infection of some tick-borne disease.
How to safely remove a tick:
• Use fine-tipped tweezers and protect bare hands with a tissue or gloves to avoid contact with tick fluids. Grab the tick close to the skin.
• Do not twist of jerk the tick, as this may cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.
• Gently pull straight up until all parts of the tick are removed.
• After removing the tick, wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Clean the tick bite with an antiseptic such as iodine scrub, rubbing alcohol, or soap and water.
Contact your healthcare provider if you develop fever, headache, fatigue, or rash.
Enjoy the outdoors this summer while you build memories to last a lifetime. Play it safe with repellents, protective barriers, and know your environment. A little preparation before you head out on your evening adventures will make for a more enjoyable time by all.
Howard Baker, RN BSN
For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com

"Leaves of Three, Let it Be"

Even Batman feared his nemesis Poison Ivy-so trust me when I say, “Leaves of three, let it be.” No truer words have been spoken if you are one of the millions who are sensitive to poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) poison oak, and poison sumac. Just because you have escaped the wrath or rash of poison ivy in the past is no guarantee your luck will last in the weeks and years to come.
Recently a reader asked me what I knew about poison ivy and how to get rid of it. She had been suffering with an increasingly irritating flair-up for about three weeks and seemed to be at her wit’s end on what to do. If you are suffering from the wrath of poison ivy, what I said next will make your skin crawl. Prevention! Treat poison ivy as if you are handling fire-very carefully. Learn to identify poison ivy in all seasons, dress appropriately when working with it, and know what to do when you have come in contact with it.
To complicate matters, poison ivy can grow as a vine or bush-like. Typically the leaves grow with three leaflets to one stem. The leaves’ shape, texture and color can vary greatly from plant to plant, region to region and season to season. This time of year Eastern poison ivy is typically a hairy, ropelike vine with three shiny green leaves budding from one small stem. In the fall, the leaves will turn orange to red in color. Remember, “Leaves of three, Let it be!”
Whether you are hiking in the mountains or working in your lawn or garden, the first step is to prevent your exposure to poison ivy. Burning poison ivy can also vaporize the oil causing severe reactions. When hiking, stay on cleared trails. Keep pets from running through wooded areas where they may come in contact with poison ivy. The oil of poison ivy, urushiol (u-ROO she-ol); can transfer from your pet’s fur to your skin. If you know you may come in contact with poison ivy, your best protection is to apply a barrier skin cream such as Ivy Block® or any cream containing bentoquatum which can aid in protection. Wear long sleeves, long pants, boots, and gloves (disposable gloves are best) and remember to wash exposed clothing separately in hot water with detergent. Remember to clean up tools that have come into contact with poison ivy, clean them thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or lots of soap and water, because urushiol can remain active on the surface for up to five years (CDC).
If your skin comes in contact with poison ivy, it is important to wash the areas thoroughly as soon as possible. Don’t wait! Use a non-moisturizing soap such as a dishwashing liquid, degreasing soap such as Gojo® or rubbing alcohol to prevent the spread of the oil, and remember to scrub under finger nails with a brush.
Signs and symptoms of exposure may include red rash, bumps, patches, streaking, or weeping blisters (blister fluids are not contagious), swelling and itching. After a rash has broken out, the following may help soothe the itch and reduce the swelling: Corticosteroid cream, hydrocortisone (best if used within the first few days), Calamine lotion, and creams containing menthol, such as Sarna. Try cool-water tub soaks with colloidal oatmeal such as Aveeno®, or cool, wet compresses for 20 to 30 minutes throughout the day. Over-the-counter oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine like Benadryl® may be helpful in decreasing the itch and help you get a better night’s sleep. Believe it or not a nice cool shower or bath might just be your ticket to a good night’s sleep. Please remember, before taking any medication- especially before administering to children-consult your pharmacist or healthcare provider. When a severe poison ivy reaction develops, contact your healthcare provider or emergency department before your symptoms worsen.
Poison ivy isn’t all bad. It helps feed wildlife, and it aids in erosion prevention-but so does kudzu. If you are looking for something to do this summer you could always check out The Poison Oak Festival at St. Charles Saloon in Columbia, California. As for me,I am steering clear!
Howard Baker, RN BSN

For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com

Even Good Dogs Can Bite

I consider myself lucky to have grown up with a menagerie of pets ranging from gerbils to horses. I have many memories and scars of those happy pet challenges of bites and kicks in fleeting moments when my life became one with nature. Anything with a mind of its own and mouth full of teeth has the potential to inflict a little pain and suffering. As a young boy I found a neighbor’s cat with a death grip on a mouse. In a moment as fast as a blink I jumped to the aid of the helpless mouse and saved it from a certain death in the jaws of the cat. What I didn’t anticipate was the mouse biting me. I am not sure what happened next. All I can remember are screams of confusion as my mother sprung into action. With my eyes big as saucers, sounds of a broom cut through the air and whipped about my head. Within seconds my mother had beaten the little mouse to death and scooped its limp body into a brown paper bag with one hand while she yanked me away with the other as if I were a rag doll. What I learned from this cat and mouse story was this: Never interfere with nature, and never, never under estimate the powers of a mother where her babies are concerned.
The benefits of pet ownership are well documented, and I believe our health interrelates with the animal kingdom on many levels. As we begin the summer season and start spending more time outdoors, we increase our opportunities to come in contact with nature. Since most dog bites occur during the summer, and since May 18-24th is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, it’s a perfect time to review ways to protect ourselves and our children from injury and possible death.
Thirty nine percent of households in America own at least one dog, and an estimated 75 million dogs living among us. Obviously, the mere numbers increase the likelihood we will interact with dogs. Many of us would never reach down to pet a snake slithering across the lawn but wouldn’t hesitate to reach out and pet a cute, cuddly dog loping down the sidewalk. Yet snakebites fatalities average less than four deaths per year in the United States compared to the 23 fatal dog attacks in 2008. The number of dog bite injuries is much higher in children than in adults. When I worked as an Emergency Room nurse, I witnessed tragedy a quick snip from the family dog can bring to a child.
The Humane Society suggests several ways to avoid being bitten by a dog. 1) Never approach an unfamiliar dog-especially one tied or confined behind a fence or in a car. 2) Do not pet a dog-including your own-without letting him see and sniff you first. 3) Never turn your back to a dog and run away. A dog’s natural instinct will be to chase and catch you. 4) Don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy, or caring for puppies. 5) Be cautions around strange dogs, and always assume that a dog who doesn’t know you may see you as an intruder or as a threat.
If you are approached by a dog you are concerned might attack you, follow these steps:
* Resist the impulse to run away or scream
* Stand very still “like a tree”
* Avoid making direct eye contact with the dog
* If you are knocked down or fall act “like a log” by putting your face down and placing your hands behind your neck

Owner negligent is cited as one of the leading causes of dog bites. Take personal responsibility for your pets by getting them spayed or neutered, and keep your dogs immunizations up to date. If considering adding a dog to your family, take time to research dog breeds and talk with a veterinarian about which breeds are right for you. Use a little common sense, and NEVER leave an infant or small child alone with a dog. Take time to talk with your family about dog safety and ways to protect themselves so that dogs will truly be their best friend.
Howard Baker, RN BSN

For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com