Waist Management
It has been a good week for me. I got my seasonal flu shot and am eagerly awaiting my H1NI flu shot. I have never got a flu shot before but since I got so sick with the flu last December I decided to get one this year. I come into contact with numerous patients who have various illnesses so I try to take every precaution possible. Washing my hands is my best line of defense and I want to do anything I can to stay healthy. Eating healthy, exercising, and trying to get enough sleep each night can only take me so far. I have also tried to use food as my medicine for many years and so far so good.
Most of the patients I see are overweight and/or obese and I have to wonder how much of what ails them stems from their weight and unhealthy lifestyle. When it takes four adults to slide a patient to the CT table I know there is a problem. It's hard not to be extra frustrated and have some prejudice because my back is ultimately paying the price for other people's bad choices. Some patients are so large they cannot fit into the scanner. Also, I have found that when using our usual protocol for a CTA chest the parameters along with the whole study have to be adjusted to accommodate a larger patient. I recently read that the young generation now may be the first to live less time than their parents. Obesity has sadly become an epidemic in our country and it adds many challenges to those of us working in healthcare.