Ask Dr. Vieder • LAKES URGENT CARE When your health concerns can't wait. The air in my house gets pretty dry in the winter. Is this a health concern? There may be a lot of humidity in the outside air right now, but since we keep our windows closed and our forced-air furnaces running non-stop, the air inside gets quite dry. If too dry, the health ramifications include dry bloody noses, dry sore throats and increased breathing difficulty for those who use home oxygen therapy or have underlying chronic lung problems like emphysema or asthma. To check the humidity in your home, purchase a hygrometer (they range in price from $10 to about $30) and set it on a counter. Keeping humidity levels at around 40% is beneficial to your health and also any wood (furniture, flooring, art) in your home. To increase the humidity level, purchase a portable unit or your HVAC contractor can attach a humidifier to your furnace that will automatically add moisture to the air. In either case, you must keep the unit clean. Dirty filters and ultrasonic plates (on desktop style units) can spread mold spores and bacteria into the air, creating the potential for fungal or bacterial lung and sinus infections. During the Olympics, NBC commentator Bob Costas had a problem with his eyes. What is pink eye? The medical term for Pink Eye is Conjunctivitis. There are many causes of conjunctivitis (viral, bacterial, chemical and allergic) but by far the most common in adults is viral, usually caused by adenovirus (which causes the common cold). Always consider a case of pink eye (either bacterial or viral) to be highly contagious via direct contact only. Typical transmission occurs when those who are infected touch their eye, then handle common items or shake hands. Frequent hand washing is the key to avoiding transmission. Treatment is dependent upon the type of conjunctivitis as diagnosed by your primary care physician or certified urgent care physician. Treatment may include frequent cool compresses to the eye, gentle eye washing to aid in removal of the initiating irritant or antibiotic eye drops prescribed by a physician. The typical course of infection with treatment is 4 — 7 days and rarely ever causes any long term problems with vision. Avoid wearing contact lenses if infected, and make sure to dispose of the last pair of lenses worn just prior to onset of an infection. For more info, visit the Ask Dr. Vieder page at LakesUrgentCare.com Dr. Sanford Vieder, DO, FACOEP, Medical Director at Lakes Urgent Care, West Bloomfield eta rfri bTi g A Full Service Custom Publishing House Cranbrook Custom Banners We embrace and support residents of all religions "You Remember Me, Don't You?" Dementia Communication Skills for Everyone Thursday, March 13, 2014 Dinner and Presentation 6:00pm Communicating with a loved one affected by dementia or memory loss can be difficult and frustrating. Please join us to learn some simple, effective techniques that will help you communicate. Please RSVP to Shawn Brooklier sbrooklier@stannesmead.org Or 248-557-1221 ST. ANNE'S MEAD Assisted Living. Nursing Care. 16106 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48076 248.557.1221 www.stannesmead.org How can we help you? Wall and Window Graphics Video Production Marketing Services Creative Services Editorial Services Pre-press Production Social Media Magazines Newspapers Corporate Identities Annual Reports Ad Campaigns Mail and postage Project Management Business Consulting Data Management Telemarketing Corporate Identity / Branding Contact Kevin Browett or Debbie Schultz 29200 Northwestern Hwy. • Suite 110 • Southfield, MI 48034 248.354.6060 February 27 • 2014 51