Posted on Monday, December 21, 2015

What to Discuss With Your Family During this Holiday

How is the holiday season going for you? Will you be visiting with family in the coming weeks? Many families are spread out geographically making holidays the perfect time to visit each other. While you’re all in one place, why not take a few minutes to discuss health planning?

Of course this is a time to celebrate and be happy and discussing health and medical concerns may not be your top priority, but once the holidays are over and everyone goes back home, it may be more difficult to coordinate health planning discussions. Especially in families who don’t get to see each other very often, holiday visits offer a great opportunity to get everyone in one place and talk about health decisions.

For example, do you know where your parents keep their wills? Do you know their wishes for after they are gone? Does your family know your wishes? Do your siblings know how to help you if you find yourself in the hospital unexpectedly?

These may not be things we want to think about, but being prepared in advance of emergencies, illnesses or death is important. It helps to limit surprises, avoid unnecessary expenses, and also helps to avoid family conflicts when there are specific instructions to carry out, as opposed to decisions still to be made.

Take a half hour to have these conversations with your family while you are all together so everyone will understand what to do and where to find any necessary documents. At the very least, set a date and time for after the holidays when you can all connect again for health planning discussions.

Then go right back the egg nog and Grandma’s cookies.

Posted on Monday, December 14, 2015

3 Tips on Pediatric Care Over the Holidays

Each new year, parents tell me stories of urgent holiday care for their kids. Examples have included how their toddler toppled over the Christmas tree (right into the piano), how their preteen slipped on an icy sidewalk outside the mall, or how their niece was singing “Let It Go” as Elsa and tumbled off their daughter’s bunk bed.

As a parent, I understand that many of the woes of childhood begin as “I have an idea” or a curious exploration of the world. While we don’t want to dampen that exuberance, it falls to us moms and dads to pick up the pieces when our children need urgent healthcare. But, finding pediatric care over the holiday season can lead to stress, lofty emergency room (ER) bills and last-minute changes in family plans.

First, it’s very important to understand what calls for a trip to the ER and what can be handled, usually at a lower cost, by a pediatric urgent care center. Here are a few instances where pediatricians will usually tell you to go right to the ER: broken bones requiring realignment, loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness, dehydration, gasping for air or hyperventilation, cuts that may call for sedation, fever in infants and seizures.

Next, I also want to offer up a few money- and headache-saving prevention tips:

1. Book your pediatrician now

A year-end checkup for respiratory ailments (especially if your child is asthmatic), earaches and scratchy throats is the best way to stay out of the ER for routine illnesses. Your pediatrician’s office can also answer your questions on their after hours care policies.

2. Refill prescriptions ahead of time

Whether flying, driving or entertaining in your home, reaching the bottom of a pill bottle can be frustrating when pharmacies are closed. Stock up to carry you through January, and ensure you have non-expired items like rescue inhalers and EpiPens® on hand.

3. Get your flu shots

Prevention is a worthy investment. Be sure you are current on your flu shots. We are well into the winter season, and no one wants to get or spread flu bugs. Many chain pharmacies are still running specials or offering store discounts.

Finally, I truly wish you a stress-free, ouch-free holiday season. May it be filled with more oohs and aahs than uh-ohs and whoas!

Posted on Monday, December 7, 2015

5 Tips to Stress Less This Holiday

As the holiday classic goes, “‘Tis the season to be jolly.” My daughters and I love to Deck the Halls . . . and the stairs, the windows, the trees. Good cheer is easily found.

Amidst all of this merriment, many of us still struggle to maintain health, keep perspective and fend off stress. So, as you pull a chair up to the holiday table, go store to store in search of this year’s stocking surprises or simply face the next family gathering, keep these tips in mind:

1. Focus on what you can control
Certainly preparing meals, wrapping gifts, wrangling kids and spending time with different personalities, even (especially) family, can result in stress. The key is to keep from anticipating angst and truly acknowledge that you are in control of your emotions. Mind your words, set healthy boundaries and resist the urge to meddle.

2. Early to bed and later to rise
Work deadlines, accepting every invite, online shopping until the wee hours and lots of caffeinated recharges can lead to depletion well before the first bow is tied. Make your rest a priority. If that means passing on a binge TV marathon, choose zzzs. Sleep improves immunity, lowers stress and enhances your ability to be present with friends.

3. Admit you cannot do it all
Tracking down every present your kids want, answering every call from friends, taking every family obligation to heart and tackling every last-minute need is unnecessary stress. Give yourself a pass to actually linger with your hot cocoa, walk through holiday lights and put some Christmas songs on repeat as you drive the long way home.

4. Strike a balance between party hard and hardly party
This is a friendly reminder to have a designated driver, hydrate throughout the night and watch how much you drink (it saves friendships, Facebook shame and next day recovery time). Pacing yourself can prevent legal woes, avoid stress and keep your pocketbook healthy. If you usually let alcohol break the ice, Google “conversation starters” instead.

5. Excel at showing gratitude
A gracious heart holds little room for arguments, criticism and stress. Besides, having a sincere compliment, grateful comment or appreciative smile on hand is always a great way to gift your host or hostess. Think kindness, count your blessings, take an extra second before speaking and set your sights on the joy of life.

So, as you countdown with your advent calendar, light your next candle or set appointment reminders on your phone, remember that less stress this holiday is the gift that keeps giving you peace of mind.