Breathe Carefully; The impact of wildfire smoke exposure and strategies for maintaining health.   I’m writing today from Portland, Oregon, my home and the home of our clinic of course, A Woman’s Time.  As you all know, our forests and several towns and areas are burning dramatically.  The worst in our history.  Governor Brown had stated several days ago that 900,000 acres had burned in 3 days vs the previous maximum of 300,000 acres a year.  Those of us who are not suffering the trauma of lost homes, people, animals or land, are weathering the daunting smoke.  The air quality is rated at 446, the worst in the nation and rated hazardous to one’s health.  The highest rating of severity.  We are on day 3 of that rating as of Sunday, September 13, 2020.  You can check your air quality at https://www.airnow.gov.   Many of our patients are struggling with their mood and their physical health during this time.  The anxiety can easily increase let alone panic and fear if you are in a level 3 red zone and evacuate now.  Then there is the depression of loss or fear of loss.  For all us though, this smoky air is the air we breathe when outside, and eventually inside, if you do not have a proper air filter.   Here is some good background information to get you thinking, from the CDC: Wildfire smoke can harm you in multiple ways. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. This fact sheet tells you how you can protect your health and be safe if you are exposed to wildfire smoke.   What is Wildfire Smoke and Can it Make Me Sick? Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation, building materials, and other materials. Wildfire smoke can make anyone sick. Even someone who is healthy can get sick if there is enough smoke in the air. Breathing in smoke can have immediate health effects, including: Coughing Trouble breathing normally Stinging eyes A scratchy throat Runny nose Irritated sinuses Wheezing and shortness of breath Chest pain Headaches An asthma attack Tiredness Fast heartbeat Older adults, pregnant women, children, and people with preexisting respiratory and heart conditions may be more likely to get sick if they breathe in wildfire smoke. Wildfire Smoke Can Affect High Risk Groups Eight Tips for Protecting Yourself from Breathing Wildfire Smoke If possible, limit your exposure to smoke. Here are eight tips to help you protect your health: Pay attention to local air quality reports and the US Air Quality IndexExternal. When a wildfire occurs in your area, watch for news or health warnings about...

      The previous posts outlined lifestyle modifications for improving sleep, as well as various nutraceutical and botanical treatments for attaining better sleep. However, what if it’s been several weeks and none of these treatments seem to be helping? This is where the investigation begins. You doctor will perform a more detailed evaluation- often including lab testing and referrals- to help discern the cause of this hard-to-treat insomnia.   Laboratory Testing Lab workup may start by analyzing your thyroid function, ruling out hyperthyroidism as a cause and/or blood sugar testing to determine if highs or lows are involved. Another test, unique to alternative medicine, provides a salivary 4-part cortisol measurement. This will help to identify if the insomnia occurs because of abnormal cortisol secretion. Another valuable test measures neurotransmitter levels (including serotonin, histamine, GABA and others) to identify and treat deficiencies or excesses.   Physical Exam It is likely your doctor has already performed a full physical exam; however, they may choose to repeat it and pay special attention to heart function, neurological function, as well as oral and throat anatomy.   Other conditions that are important to rule out include restless leg syndrome and musculoskeletal pain or spasm.   Referrals If needed, your doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist to rule out sleep apnea. Physical therapy or orthopedic referrals can be useful to help treat chronic pain. Lastly, your doctor may choose to refer to a mental health practitioner for further evaluation; it is important to identify if sleep difficulties originate from mental or emotional causes.   Contact your doctor today if you suffer from sleep difficulties that do not respond to treatment. It is an important issue to address as poor sleep has negative health effects, both short and long term.     To a good night’s rest!     Image courtesy of...