Walk with a Doc Newsletter
In This Issue
Song of the Year
Shoveling
Letter to the Editor
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WWAD 2013
Song of the Year
Next week we uncover how our Board of Directors came to this important decision.
 
Issue: #214January 3rd, 2014


Good morning! Trusting your holiday season was like most of my patients, relaxing and fulfilling. 
We figure Mother Nature must NOT have received what she wanted for the holidays and she was NOT able to return it. 
She's pi**ed off. 
As this massive Nor'easter moves in and 100 million of us are about to experience January firsthand, we review our WWAD Official Snow Shoveling Recommendations. 

If you are one of our family members at WWAD - Miami, Las Vegas, or any Walk site beginning with San or Santa something - please use this opportunity to put on more lotion and have the pool staff get you another boat drink. 
WWAD's Official Snow Shoveling Thoughts
We don't want to see any snow shovelers in the ER this winter.  Every year it seems like there are more and more - and they don't come in with stubbed toes, if you get our drift.
Thoughts:

1. If you have been relatively sedentary, don't do it  - don't shovel. There are plenty of kids around that want the cash.  You will enable them to buy Call of Duty: Ghost and protect the Pentagon from zombies.  Therefore, safely consider your money an investment in the future of the United States.  Plus you will be the "cool" neighbor.  Look, no one has ever come into the ER flat on the back, shirt ripped open and purple-faced with a 280 lb ex-Marine EMT doing compressions on their chest because they paid the neighbor kid.  

2. Want to do it yourself? Buy a snowblower
Talk about making the neighbors happy? Much less stress on the ticker.  In and out of that cold weather in a hurry.   
3.  "Doc, I'm dying to get out and shovel.  I LIVE for it."  Ok, I get it - I like it too.  If you need to do this and you have not been taking part in strenous exercise - get a stress test.  Oh, I get it - this is the catch. This is how you get paid, right doc?   We don't care where you get your stress test - as long as you get one if it's necessary.

4. Keep your face (and everything else) well covered.  Let the scarf warm the air coming into your lungs. Where else is it going to go?  Hats are crucial.  Studies from Brazil have shown up to 107% of our body heat is lost through our head.  Careful - some of the air stays trapped up in there, right Kristin?  Kidding - she's brilliant.  We are so fortunate to have such a gift in the form of our Interim Executive Director.

5. Repect the wind and snow - they steal your body heat.  Wind is very concerning because it removes the layer of heated air surrounding your body. 

6. No alcohol before going outside or while outside.  Feels warm I know - it isn't. It causes vasodilatation of skin's vessels making us feel warm. But then the warmth goes bye-bye and we are left outside freezing our rear end off. 

7. If all this fails, you are outside lifting wet snow, and chest pain or an anginal eviquivalent (shoulder, arm, jaw, etc.) hits - STOP, DROP, and ROLL.  Wait a minute. I'm sorry it's not stop, drop, and roll.  It's 9-1-1.  That's right - get inside, chew 4 baby aspirin and call 9-1-1.  We will meet you in the ER.  

Walk with a Doc wants you to enjoy the great outdoors this winter, but please be careful.  Also, if you feel there is someone you love who may benefit from these reminders - please forward to them.
 

 

Letter to the Editor
She is NOT happy  
The letter below is from a physician responding to our WWAD Holiday Newsletter (identifying marks removed). 
A sincere thank you to her for sending this as it brings up a three important points. While this particular doc has not lead a walk, there are hundreds to thousands of volunteer physicians around the country who have. They're heroes to me.
First, these postings, by all means, do not represent their medical opinion, rather my own. 
Second, we read and incorporate all feedback to our newsletters.
Finally, my personal belief is that part of the joy of exercising 150 minutes each week, is that it's okay to have an occasional treat (e.g. cookie (or two) at the company holiday party). That said, I fully understand, and respect divergent opinions and isn't that what makes America great. 

'I appreciate your attempt to bring a festive, warm "family" message to the Walk with a Doc team. And, I must comment that you totally missed the mark by bringing Chocolate Chip Cookies into it. We in Lifestyle Medicine are working round the clock to change lifestyle choices that are literally killing Americans, and the idea of cookies as reward, celebration, etc. are a big part of that lethal bullet. We must change our CULTURE to help people live longer and healthier, which means back to oranges in the stocking, NOT more cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please think about this for next Christmas.--********, MD, MPH, FACOEM'

 

#19exclamationpoints 

 Next Week's Newsletter

Christmas came early for physicians. Not only were cholesterol guidelines released 4-5 weeks ago, but Blood Pressure (JNC 8) guidelines as well. Next week we will discuss the brand new, surprising, recommendations and go behind the scenes as to how our Board of Directors arrived at their choice for WWAD 2013 Song of the Year.
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, Stay Warm!
 
David
614.714.0407
@justwalkevents
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