Louisville Sports & Injury Center - June 2019

Summer’s long days and warmer temperatures encourage people to spend more time outdoors enjoying the natural world. With fewer threatening chances of wind, rain, or snow, options like going for a swim in the lake, fishing down by the river, hiking a well-traversed trail, or playing beach volleyball at the park become much more plausible and enjoyable. Unfortunately, these summer activities share a substantial correlation with urgent care and ER visits. With that in mind, here are three of the most common summertime injuries and what you can do to prevent them from happening to you or a loved one. 1. Heat-Related Illnesses According to the CDC, fewer than 1,000 Americans die each year due to heat-related illness; however, during the summer months, doctors across the country report a dramatic spike in the number of patients who come in experiencing symptoms of too much sun exposure. This can include dehydration, headaches, confusion, nausea, and dizziness. While heat stroke is common, you can combat it by drinking plenty of water (and adding electrolytes if you’re being active in the sun); wearing light, breathable fabric; and making sure you have access to shade during the hottest hours of the day. 2. Skin Irritations and Sunburns Regardless of how much sunscreen you lather on, the sun still manages to seep through and burn your skin. While burns are painful, they are typically a condition you can wait out at home, but some cases are severe enough to warrant a hospital visit. According to the The American Medical Association Journal of Dermatology, nearly $11.2 million was spent on sunburn-related visits in 2013. While sunburns are typically minor, chronic risk of sun exposure can lead to skin cancer. Make sure you’re practicing good sun protection habits by reapplying sunscreen every 2–3 hours with an SPF of at least 30. 3. Sports Injuries Sprained wrists, twisted ankles, and broken bones become a lot more prevalent with the increase in outdoor activities like Frisbee, volleyball, and hiking that summer brings. While these injuries are sudden and difficult to prevent, there are some small precautions you can take. Make sure your shoelaces are tied tightly, stretch before any major activity, and wear a brace if you’ve already suffered a previous injury. To learn more ways to prevent summertime injuries like these or to get treatment advice and guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office today! The 3 Most Common Summertime Injuries Stay Safe out There!

Everyone knows the feeling of impending dread that arises when a hiccup first escapes your throat. While hiccups usually go away on their own within a few minutes, they can interfere with eating and talking in a frustrating way. As a result, many people have come up with creative tricks to get rid of them. With common solutions like having a friend scare you or eating a heaping spoonful of sugar, how can you tell which of these remedies actually works? Hiccups occur when your diaphragm — a thin muscle in your chest that assists with breathing — spasms involuntarily, causing you to suddenly inhale. When this happens, your vocal cords snap shut, resulting in the hiccup’s distinctive guttural sound. While many household remedies are supported by centuries of anecdotal evidence, only a handful of studies have evaluated their effectiveness. Here are three natural methods backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Breathing While there are countless remedies that involve holding your breath, only one is encouraged by the CDC. Place a paper bag over your nose and mouth and breathe in and out deeply and slowly. This increases the carbon dioxide levels in your blood, which is thought to calm nerves and relax the diaphragm. Pressure Points Applying pressure to certain points on your body may relax your diaphragm or stimulate your vagus and phrenic nerves. The CDC recommends gently pulling your tongue forward once or twice to stimulate the nerves and muscles in your throat. If that doesn’t help, you can try plugging both your nostrils and ears while simultaneously drinking a glass of water. Eating and Drinking Some remedies include ingesting strange products through even stranger means, but only a few food- or drink-based remedies are actually touted by experts. While your favorite uncle might argue that a tablespoon of mustard, honey, or peanut butter does the trick, the CDC suggests that you gargle with iced water, suck on a thin slice of lemon, or drink an entire glass of warm water very slowly without breathing. Similar to the pressure point remedies, these methods are thought to relax your diaphragmatic nerves. While everyone seems to have a tried-and-true method they swear by, the next time you’re plagued with the hiccups, perhaps you should consider one of the CDC’s official solutions. FAST FACTS ABOUT HICCUPS What Causes Them and Which Remedies Actually Work?

2 | www.usinjurydr.com

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