In stroke care, knowing the symptoms to look for is a huge advantage in treating the stroke itself and the subsequent recovery. The National Stroke Association has a useful acronym (F.A.S.T.) that will help you remember what to look for. If you answer “Yes” to any of these criteria, seek immediate medical attention.

• Face – Is one side of the face drooping?
• Arms – Does one arm droop downward after both are raised?
• Speech – Are words being slurred when speaking?
• Time – As the saying goes, “In stroke care, time is brain.” If any of the symptoms are met, time is of the essence. Get to the hospital as quickly as possible. Call 9-1-1. Act FAST.

Sherman Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for certification as a Primary Stroke Center. We are always prepared to assist in stroke identification, treatment, and recovery.

WJBC:

Marva Boyd, chief of staff for IDOT, says being unbelted in the back is a danger not only to that passenger, but to others in the car. “There have been incidents where passengers have been projected from vehicles, have been bounced around, and unfortunately sometimes when that happens, they can create other injuries or fatalities,” she said.

This legislation has flown under the radar, so please spread the word, particularly when traveling on the roads. Buckling up saves lives.

Fines for violating the backseat seat belt law start at $25.

Below is information obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Epidemiology Department at Sherman Health about Norovirus. Absorb these tips to help prevent Norovirus in your home.

• Noroviruses spread easily, causing more than 20 million gastroenteritis cases each year in the U.S. There’s no vaccine to prevent norovirus infection and no drug to treat it.
• Norovirus illness is not related to the flu (influenza), which is a respiratory illness caused by influenza virus.
• Symptoms of norovirus infection usually include diarrhea, throwing up, nausea, and stomach cramping.  Other, less common symptoms may include low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and general sense of fatigue.
• Norovirus illness is usually not serious. Most people get better in 1 to 2 days. But, norovirus illness can be serious in young children, the elderly, and people with other health conditions; it can lead to severe dehydration, hospitalization and even death.
• You may get dehydrated if you are not able to drink enough liquids to replace the fluids lost from throwing up or having diarrhea many times a day. The best way to prevent dehydration is to drink plenty of liquids. If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, contact your doctor.
• In general, it is a best NOT to go out and spread the virus –  going to doctor or to the emergency department for this extremely uncomfortable but self-limiting illness is generally not necessary.  However, if the illness leads to significant dehydration or complicates an underlying medical condition, it is very appropriate to seek medical attention.

Wash your hands often and follow these 5 simple tips to stay virus-free:

• Practice proper hand hygiene. Wash your hands carefully with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating or preparing food. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Take care in the kitchen. Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating them.
• Do not prepare food while infected. People with norovirus illness should not prepare food for others while they have symptoms and for 3 days after they recover from their illness.
• Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces.After throwing up or having diarrhea, immediately clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces by using a bleach-based household cleaner as directed on the product label. If no such cleaning product is available, you can use a solution made with 5 tablespoons to 1.5 cups of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.
• Wash laundry thoroughly. Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or stool. Handle soiled items carefully—without agitating them—to avoid spreading virus. If available, wear rubber or disposable gloves while handling soiled clothing or linens and wash your hands after handling. The items should be washed with detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dried.

If you’re feeling a serious stomach bug, remember Sherman has Immediate Care Centers close to home.

Here are some highlights from the article with Dr. Kosinski’s expert perspective.

“Dr. Lawrence R. Kosinski, a committee chairman of the American Gastroenterological Association and a private practitioner in the Chicago area, said that if you really wanted to, you could stretch your stomach’s capacity (normally about a quart and a half) by consistently overeating. But that would take a lot of food and time.

“You really can’t do it over a couple of days,” Dr. Kosinski said.

The good news, Dr. Kosinski said, is that most healthy people can actually manage a big meal, though how the human body handles such an onslaught is both impressive and slightly alarming.

An average Thanksgiving feast can come in at anywhere from 3,500 to 4,500 calories, about twice the average day’s intake. And to deal with that surge, the body responds by sending about 20 percent of the blood in your body to your stomach area. “It’s a huge assault on the GI tract,” Dr. Kosinski said. “So people get tired.”

At Sherman we like to focus on eating healthy, so here are 3 underrated and healthy Thanksgiving side dishes. However, if you really want to expand your appetite you can read the NY Times article in it’s entirety here. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Currently, McHenry County has 43 confirmed cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in the communities of Cary, Crystal Lake, Algonquin-Lake in the Hills, and McHenry. The number of pertussis cases are increasing throughout the state of Illinois.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a new recommendation on the Tdap vaccination for pregnant women.

“Pregnant women who have not been previously vaccinated with Tdap should get one dose of Tdap preferably during the third trimester or late second trimester – or immediately postpartum before leaving the hospital or birthing center with a newborn. By getting Tdap during pregnancy, maternal pertussis antibodies transfer to the newborn, likely providing protection against pertussis in early life, before the baby starts getting DTaP vaccines. Tdap will also protect the mother at time of delivery, making her less likely to transmit pertussis to her infant. Those around the infant – parents, siblings, grandparents (including those 65 years and older), other family members, and nannies – are encouraged to get the appropriate vaccine (either DTaP or Tdap depending on age) at least two weeks before coming into close contact with the infant.”

Have more questions? Click the following links to get additional information from the McHenry County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.