Health Thread

[Paul Sutton]

Best advice I have heard for ages Goldenboy. I thought Vicks was only good for making your eyes water and knob tingle. I am going to give it a damn good go on my ingrown toenail. I guess I won't have to change my socks as often cause the Vicks will keep them smelling nice and fresh.

 

[fredintoon]

Best advice I have heard for ages Goldenboy. I thought Vicks was only good for making your eyes water and knob tingle. I am going to give it a damn good go on my ingrown toenail. I guess I won't have to change my socks as often cause the Vicks will keep them smelling nice and fresh.

Hi Paul,
best to double-check before blindly applying home remedies.
Case in point:- My younger daughter believes in "natural" remedies and was asked:-
"What will freshen my breath to make my boyfriend happy?"
"Drinking Red Clover Tea is good for that."
Some months later
"We have to move the wedding forward so the baby won't show"
Further research on Red Clover Tea
"A herbal remedy mainly used to improve women's fertility, it also freshens the breath"

 

[Paul Sutton]

Thanks Fred. I just read that Red Clover Tea is good for STDs. They didn't say if it was for getting them or curing them? I'm best not to try it.

 

[Goldenboy]

Hi Paul,
best to double-check before blindly applying home remedies.
Case in point:- My younger daughter believes in "natural" remedies and was asked:-
"What will freshen my breath to make my boyfriend happy?"
"Drinking Red Clover Tea is good for that."e
Some months later
"We have to move the wedding forward so the baby won't show"
Further research on Red Clover Tea
"A herbal remedy mainly used to improve women's fertility, it also freshens the breath"

That's funny, Fred! As for myself, I don't generally believe in home remedies, and this is not one of them. The Mayo Clinic is a non profit, academic medical center based in Rochester, Minn, focused on integrative clinical practice, education and research. It employs more than 4,500 physicians and scientists and 58,000 administrative health staff. I've seen an article in the Albany Times Mirror stating people living in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains have a life expectancy 10 to 15 years less than surrounding populations of the area due to several factors, including lack of quality, accessible health care and use of home remedies. One good home remedy, though is having chicken soup when you are sick. This is benign. It's just hot water, salt some easily digestible veggies and some protein. The steam and salt act like a breathing treatment to clear the air passages of mucus, and the warmth takes away your chills.

 

[Goldenboy]

Best advice I have heard for ages Goldenboy. I thought Vicks was only good for making your eyes water and knob tingle. I am going to give it a damn good go on my ingrown toenail. I guess I won't have to change my socks as often cause the Vicks will keep them smelling nice and fresh.

Now that you mention it, my socks really do smell better, but if you don't change them enough, you might get athlete's foot, which can be the same fungus as toenail fungus.

 

[Goldenboy]

This is dedicated to robinc, we shared a common thread...

I was fortunate to share a moment in robinc's life, Friday, before he passed. His son relayed to Pete it was from a heart attack. On July 15,2007 I, also suffered a heart attack' while pedaling hard, downhill on my bicycle. There are some scary terms for this; "a sudden onset major catastrophic event". In my case, it involved the "left anterior descending coronary artery", "LAD", nicknamed "The Widow Maker", as this is the most common vessel associated with a sudden spike in blood pressure. This is a "silent killer". This is the one they speak of when someone dies from shoveling snow. A collection of plaque (blood platelets) form a bulge in an artery, which can burst, sending a clot to the narrowest part of the LAD. This vessel sits on the front of the heart. If not treated quickly, it is fatal, as the LAD supplies oxygenated blood to the heart muscle, itself, and due to it's close proximity to the heart, it maintains a normally high pressure. In my case, I was in denial and took a wait and see approach; I had experienced a sudden sensation in my breast bone as if someone flicked a finger against it, and a sudden, mild indigestion and dull pain radiating down my left arm. I was hoping it would subside, and was only a gas pain. After all, 3 months ago I had a stress test, and passed with flying colors and was in good shape. We didn't have a cell phone, and we were alone, so I biked another 5 miles to a park. By that time, I had shortness of breath,, a cold sweat in 85 degree heat, and felt as though someone was pressing the points of two fingers, hard against my breastbone to brace themselves as they pressed a hot clothes iron, hard against my back. My wife had someone call 911 and within 12 minutes an ambulance arrived as I lye on a picnic table, unable to bear the pain, unable to reposition myself to ease the pain, Within one hour, an noncoated beryllium stent was placed in the LAD through the femoral artery. The blockage was 98 percent. This was my first morning back, home from vacation in Cape Cod. We biked 200 miles while there. We were staying 60 miles from Hyannis, the nearest hospital, and the ambulance would have to get me first. Luck has a lot to do with me telling you this...
There are two diagnostic tests which I would like to tell you about which can save your life:
1) CT Calcium Scoring Test- this cat scan test will designate a numerical value to the calcium deposits in coronary arteries surrounding your heart. This number tells the cardiologist what percentage of your arteries are blocked. The American Medical Assn. sets guidelines as per what remedy is needed according to the numbers. Not everyone needs a by-pass, or a bunch of stents. Your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol medicine, or nothing at all.
2) Duplex Ultrasound To Rule Out An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm- Lucille Ball died from an AAA. In the U.S., every Medicare recipient is entitled to a once in a lifetime screening for this. An aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of a pressurized artery, which may burst in an, otherwise, healthy person's abdominal aorta, the largest vessel in the body. It is uncommon, but if found, can be fixed with an umbrella catheter inserted by small incision through the femoral, or brachial artery.
At your next check-up, please speak with your doctor and ask him to write you a couple of scripts for these tests. It may give you peace of mind and a few more miles to ride. I will continue to relay items in this thread, so please take a look. Thank you!

I just saw this article in the AARP Bulletin on coronary artery calcium screening. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independant panel of national experts in primary care, authorized by Congress, that doctors consider the preeminent independent source for screening recommendations, under the Affordable Care Act requires most private and public insurers to offer screening tests for free if the USPSTF awards the test with one of its highest grades. Here is the current recommendation and up to date medical advice on CT Calcium Scoring:
[Coronary Artery Calcium Screening Grade "I" (Indeterminate)
The Facts: Most people with high scores do not die prematurely from a heart attack or stroke, and one fifth of those who are assured by a "perfect" zero score actually have significant coronary artery blockages. "Coronary artery calcium is a very imperfect measure of cardiac risk," says cardiologist Rita Redberg of the University of California, San Francisco. "There are people with zero calcium with high risk and vice versa."
Bottom Line: Redberg does not recommend it, but consult with your doctor.]
(This was only a one paragraph article, which doesn't go into details.), Then says, "Consult with your doctor." The reason the test is not completely reliable of itself is that there are "soft plaques" which are not visible to the CT. And I read that the calcium visible may be only one third of the actual blockage due to this problem. But, that is not to say the test is useless. Other factors must be considered, such as family history, stress test results, serum cholestrol and others. Like any other test, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Not one test should stand alone. Correlating tests are done for accurate diagnosis, and your doctor will know if this is warranted.

 

[Goldenboy]

I will now mention another "unmentionable" even worse than toenail fungus; Hemorrhoids.
It's no fun climbing on a bike seat when you have a hemorrhoid flare-up. " Flare-up" is a good description. Your ass is on fire. Before you allow it to consume you, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms. I had surgery for mine, and the recovery is even worse. For me, just standing was too painful for two weeks as the throbbing pain was too intense and lying down was the only way to stop it. There are things you can do to minimize this problem and treat it yourself.
1) Make sure you are eating enough fruit and veggies and are drinking enough water to prevent constipation.
2) Lose the stack of magazines on the toilet tank. Do your business and get out of there as quickly as possible. The longer you sit, the more apt this problem will arise.
3) Buy a bottle of witch hazel, an "astringent" which causes contraction of body tissue, typically of the skin. Its inexpensive. It looks like alcohol and does contain some, but does not burn. (Hint: keep this separate from the alcohol in the medicine cabinet, or you will find out why...)
4) Buy a tube of hemorrhoidal ointment which will hopefully begin to shrink the hemorhoid. Just like the Vix, A store brand is cheaper than Preparation H and works just as well.
5) Buy a box of nitrile gloves. I get mine from Harbor Freight, a box of 100 for six bucks and use them for working on the bike, too.
6) Buy a jar of petroleum jelly, once again the store brand is fine.
OK, now you have your first aid kit. As soon as you notice a flare-up, begin by pouring witch hazel on a wad of toilet paper and tucking it between your butt cheeks, and leave it there for a minute, or two. This is very soothing and begins to shrink the inflamed tissue. Next, put on a glove and apply the hemorrhoidal ointment to the tip of the middle finger and gently push the swollen hemorrhoid back in.(The applicator that comes with the ointment can hurt and may perforate the swollen tissue, and then it has to be cleaned) You may have to repeat this., then tuck another wad of toilet paper between your cheeks with witch hazel for another minute. If the hemorrhoid pops out again, say when you cough, put on another glove and this time use petroleum jelly. The hemorrhoid ointment can only be used a few times day, or that may also become an irritant. A minor episode is easily handled by just using petroleum jelly .And, when you remove the glove, turn it completely inside out and dispose of it, clean everything and wash your hands, well. (If no one puts a "like" on this one, I will understand...)

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Never knew about those, now I do.
Thanx for that. It gets a "like"...

 

[Goldenboy]

Never knew about those, now I do.
Thanx for that. It gets a "like"...

I'm beginning to think you are immortal.
I was a little concerned about what you people would think of me and this subject matter, but if you work in the hospital, you matter of factly talk of much worse subjects over lunch and with the girls.

 

[Paul Sutton]

Ah yes, over lunch with the girls. A very interesting situation not to be taken too lightly. I just had a stent put in my kidney and it did not get there via my ear. Pissed blood for 2 days. Now the girls might find that story a little amusing.

 

[Goldenboy]

I will now mention another "unmentionable" even worse than toenail fungus; Hemorrhoids.
It's no fun climbing on a bike seat when you have a hemorrhoid flare-up. " Flare-up" is a good description. Your ass is on fire. Before you allow it to consume you, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms. I had surgery for mine, and the recovery is even worse. For me, just standing was too painful for two weeks as the throbbing pain was too intense and lying down was the only way to stop it. There are things you can do to minimize this problem and treat it yourself.
1) Make sure you are eating enough fruit and veggies and are drinking enough water to prevent constipation.
2) Lose the stack of magazines on the toilet tank. Do your business and get out of there as quickly as possible. The longer you sit, the more apt this problem will arise.
3) Buy a bottle of witch hazel, an "astringent" which causes contraction of body tissue, typically of the skin. Its inexpensive. It looks like alcohol and does contain some, but does not burn. (Hint: keep this separate from the alcohol in the medicine cabinet, or you will find out why...)
4) Buy a tube of hemorrhoidal ointment which will hopefully begin to shrink the hemorhoid. Just like the Vix, A store brand is cheaper than Preparation H and works just as well.
5) Buy a box of nitrile gloves. I get mine from Harbor Freight, a box of 100 for six bucks and use them for working on the bike, too.
6) Buy a jar of petroleum jelly, once again the store brand is fine.
OK, now you have your first aid kit. As soon as you notice a flare-up, begin by pouring witch hazel on a wad of toilet paper and tucking it between your butt cheeks, and leave it there for a minute, or two. This is very soothing and begins to shrink the inflamed tissue. Next, put on a glove and apply the hemorrhoidal ointment to the tip of the middle finger and gently push the swollen hemorrhoid back in.(The applicator that comes with the ointment can hurt and may perforate the swollen tissue, and then it has to be cleaned) You may have to repeat this., then tuck another wad of toilet paper between your cheeks with witch hazel for another minute. If the hemorrhoid pops out again, say when you cough, put on another glove and this time use petroleum jelly. The hemorrhoid ointment can only be used a few times day, or that may also become an irritant. A minor episode is easily handled by just using petroleum jelly .And, when you remove the glove, turn it completely inside out and dispose of it, clean everything and wash your hands, well. (If no one puts a "like" on this one, I will understand...)

Ever notice that long time older riders are short and squat? I've noticed this in couples who ride on the same bike together, "old hogs". Their physiques are similar. This may be the reason:
There are 33 bones in the human spine in a natural "S" shape, which act like a coiled spring, or shock absorber. Spinal discs separate and cushion the spinal bones from rubbing together and form the joints. The top 24 bones are movable, and the sacrum and coccyx are fused. The neck, (cervical), upper back, (thoracic) and lower back (lumbar) are largely made of cuboid shaped bone with the largest part being the "body", made of cancellous (spongy) bone covered by a thin coating of cortical(compact dense, hard) bone.
As we age, the discs between the vertibrae lose their ability to retain water and become brittle and flatter, which is the reason everyone gets shorter with age.
Compound this with the constant battering when hitting bumps on a motorcycle for years and years and the spongy bone in the spine suffers thousands upon thousands of micro compression fractures. The "S" shape of the spine will distribute the shock to most of the vertibrae, so they may be all affected. There was a couple riding in a big rig who survived a 200 ft fall from the Mianus River Bridge on the New England Thruway in Connecticut, when the bridge crumbled beneath them. They each lost six inches in height. To maintain the stability of the spinal column, it is important to do exercise to maintain the strength of the supporting muscles. This can include reaching for your toes, twisting exercises and I particularly like "Roman Crosses", a modified sit-up that only requires you to lye on your back, cross your arms, touching opposite shoulders and come off the floor only an inch or two. If you have back problems, talk to your doctor, first. If not start really slow and feel or realize how your back responds, If you hear a crunch, then stop immediately. Don't overdo it. I started with 30 crosses and my abs hurt the next day. I slowly worked up to 400, but began to realize that was too much, so I may do one or two hundred depending how I feel on a given day and may do these as part of a routine including light weights once or twice a week in summer, or more so during winter, when outside weather is not the best for exercise. You will be amazed at how much better your back feels when you strengthen your back and abdominal muscles.
Young women would come in to the hospital with back pain because of this very problem, so it is not age specific...

 

[Goldenboy]

Ah yes, over lunch with the girls. A very interesting situation not to be taken too lightly. I just had a stent put in my kidney and it did not get there via my ear. Pissed blood for 2 days. Now the girls might find that story a little amusing.

Renal hypertension. If you don't get a stent, you could go into kidney failure. Yes, Paul, I remember when I woke the morning after the hemorrhoidectomy and still hadn't peed. A big, fat, ugly nurse came in and saw my urinal bottle empty and said, "Uh oh, looks like you need to be catheterized" and ran out saying she would be right back. That scared me enough to pee, but the first bowel movement was one to remember. Are you familiar with those big stainless grab rails in the hospital bathrooms? That hurt so bad, I nearly crushed the rail squeezing it. Then I got home with percosett for pain, and felt well enough to visit a friend, that night. The percosett made me a little nauseous and dazed and he told me I could lye down for a while on his roommate's bed and almost wound up getting engaged to her!

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

... To maintain the stability of the spinal column, it is important to do exercise to maintain the strength of the supporting muscles...

I'd like to add posture. During and after all my procedures, I had balance problems, impaired sensory in my feet. Started bending over to see the ground, unsure of my footing. A natural response, beginning of the "stooped" walk. The nurses pulled me aside and warned to avoid this "stooped" walking, as it would progress into a worse and permanent "stooped" posture.


Instead, be assured of your footing and walk erect, shoulders back, head upright. Just like the 'ol military marching days...

 

[Goldenboy]

I'd like to add posture. During and after all my procedures, I had balance problems, impaired sensory in my feet. Started bending over to see the ground, unsure of my footing. A natural response, beginning of the "stooped" walk. The nurses pulled me aside and warned to avoid this "stooped" walking, as it would progress into a worse and permanent "stooped" posture.
View attachment 129828

Instead, be assured of your footing and walk erect, shoulders back, head upright. Just like the 'ol military marching days...
View attachment 129829

Yes, 2M, that is "acute kyphosis" where the individual thoracic spines narrow in the front and is a problem with stooping, and also, decalcification due to osteoporosis and poor diet and little support from muscles which are supposed to support the spine. Doing exercise, naturally will improve one's posture, and keep your bones calcified.

 

[gggGary]

No question, I practice "posture improvement" Shoulders back, head up. Watched too many relatives slowly curl in on themselves. With "walk like a duck" season upon us in the great white nort it gets harder, LOL.

 

[Goldenboy]

No question, I practice "posture improvement" Shoulders back, head up. Watched too many relatives slowly curl in on themselves. With "walk like a duck" season upon us in the great white nort it gets harder, LOL.

Strength training with light weights also helps you to recover from a slip on the ice and less chance of a fracture when you do fall. I have an old Schwinn XR-7 exercise bike in my porch I use in bad weather and may do 1/2 hr with moderate resistance, and 12 lb dumb bells and 35 lbs on the big bar. That's all I need for muscle tone and strength. I'm not looking to become a big chested moose.

 

[gggGary]

It's a losing war of attrition but it don't stop me.

This morning's cardio.
Yesterday's exercise was ten snow tires, rims exchanged. (van only gets rears)
While I have nothing against "exercise" I prefer to combine it with useful work accomplished when possible. Brushed out about a half mile of trail with hand sickles and loppers this last week, now ready for cross country season.
Heat with wood, each log warms me at least four times, LOL
My main work benches and power tools have stands to match my 6'3"
Yard tools have or are changed to longer handles.
I mainly work from the MC lift table.
All to reduce stooping.

 

[Goldenboy]

Strength training with light weights also helps you to recover from a slip on the ice and less chance of a fracture when you do fall. I have an old Schwinn XR-7 exercise bike in my porch I use in bad weather and may do 1/2 hr with moderate resistance, and 12 lb dumb bells and 35 lbs on the bar. bell. That's all I need for muscle tone and strength. I experimented with the best weight for me to use, gradually working up, then lessening the amount until I was comfortable with what I used and not straining, or getting pains, later. I'm not looking to become a big chested moose.

I guess this is a good time to tell you my exercise routine. This will give you more strength to control the bike, better posture, self confidence, and maybe a little attention from the ladies. I got advice from two coworkers, Jerry, and Mayra both body builders. When they walked into a room, everyone noticed, even though they were in their mid 50's.
First, If it hurts, stop right away. If you hear your shoulder crunch, don't do that exercise and talk to your doctor. If you have heart issues ask your doctor first and he may want you to do a stress test first, or put you on a portable telemetry monitor and do exercise under supervision, which is how they started me after my heart attack. Start off slowly to see what you can do without overdoing anything. If you don't have weights, plastic jugs filled with water can be used.
Most people think, "Really, I'm not sure I want to commit to a routine." Well, if you "keep your eyes on the prize", feeling younger and making riding and everything else more enjoyable, then you will look forward to this endeavor and make it part of your lifestyle.

It's a losing war of attrition but it don't stop me.
View attachment 129894
This morning's cardio.
Yesterday's exercise was ten snow tires, rims exchanged. (van only gets rears)
While I have nothing against "exercise" I prefer to combine it with useful work accomplished when possible. Brushed out about a half mile of trail with hand sickles and loppers this last week, now ready for cross country season.
Heat with wood, each log warms me at least four times, LOL
My main work benches and power tools have stands to match my 6'3"
Yard tools have or are changed to longer handles.
I mainly work from the MC lift table.
All to reduce stooping.

Yeah, Gary, that's great! You are very active. I do my own landscaping and planting and gardening, too. And I enjoy X-country skiing, also. That makes you a stronger person. My weight training focuses on specific muscle groups and when I'm busy with arduous physical chores, I have to step back from exercise, because I realize you can do more damage than good. My wife enjoys alpine skiing and goes to the Canadian Rockies in early March and I help her get ready by doing exercises with her to strengthen her legs and upper body.

 

[Goldenboy]

I guess this is a good time to tell you my exercise routine. This will give you more strength to control the bike, better posture, self confidence, and maybe a little attention from the ladies. I got advice from two coworkers, Jerry, and Mayra both body builders. When they walked into a room, everyone noticed, even though they were in their mid 50's.
First, If it hurts, stop right away. If you hear your shoulder crunch, don't do that exercise and talk to your doctor. If you have heart issues ask your doctor first and he may want you to do a stress test first, or put you on a portable telemetry monitor and do exercise under supervision, which is how they started me after my heart attack. Start off slowly to see what you can do without overdoing anything. If you don't have weights, plastic jugs filled with water can be used.
Most people think, "Really, I'm not sure I want to commit to a routine." Well, if you "keep your eyes on the prize", feeling younger and making riding and everything else more enjoyable, then you will look forward to this endeavor and make it part of your lifestyle.

Yeah, Gary, that's great! You are very active. I do my own landscaping and planting and gardening, too. And I enjoy X-country skiing, also. That makes you a stronger person. My weight training focuses on specific muscle groups and when I'm busy with arduous physical chores, I have to step back from exercise, because I realize you can do more damage than good. My wife enjoys alpine skiing and goes to the Canadian Rockies in early March and I help her get ready by doing exercises with her to strengthen her legs and upper body.

I bought two new rims, when I bought my last van, 13 yrs ago, when I thought it was necessary to put snows on the back. I just sold the van last week and gave away the new set of rims. I was told the lateral cleats on my all season radials were adequate. (I go X-country in the Adirondacks) And, if you mix and match your "extra load" van tires with 4 WD tires to sub for snows, you may have handling issues. What's your opinion?

 

[Goldenboy]

I guess this is a good time to tell you my exercise routine. This will give you more strength to control the bike, better posture, self confidence, and maybe a little attention from the ladies. I got advice from two coworkers, Jerry, and Mayra both body builders. When they walked into a room, everyone noticed, even though they were in their mid 50's.
First, If it hurts, stop right away. If you hear your shoulder crunch, don't do that exercise and talk to your doctor. If you have heart issues ask your doctor first and he may want you to do a stress test first, or put you on a portable telemetry monitor and do exercise under supervision, which is how they started me after my heart attack. Start off slowly to see what you can do without overdoing anything. If you don't have weights, plastic jugs filled with water can be used.
Most people think, "Really, I'm not sure I want to commit to a routine." Well, if you "keep your eyes on the prize", feeling younger and making riding and everything else more enjoyable, then you will look forward to this endeavor and make it part of your lifestyle.

Yeah, Gary, that's great! You are very active. I do my own landscaping and planting and gardening, too. And I enjoy X-country skiing, also. That makes you a stronger person. My weight training focuses on specific muscle groups and when I'm busy with arduous physical chores, I have to step back from exercise, because I realize you can do more damage than good. My wife enjoys alpine skiing and goes to the Canadian Rockies in early March and I help her get ready by doing exercises with her to strengthen her legs and upper body.

I'm going to have to post the exercise routine at another time. My computer hick-upped and i lost half of what I wrote...