Cruise Ship Stomach Bugs: How to Stay Safe & Sound on Your Next Cruise

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Dr. Yael Varnado

Despite the recent, highly publicized incidents cruise ships are still a favorite type of vacation for Americans from coast to coast. Nevertheless these hotels at sea where people play, eat and sleep in close quarters can also be a breeding ground for illness and infectious diseases. If this spring or summer your plans include sailing the seas let’s make sure you can do it safe and sound. You may be wondering:

How can I avoid a situation like this past January’s illness outbreak that infected hundreds of people on a Royal Caribbean Cruise line?
Do I have to give up my plans for travel at sea all together?
Just what is this highly infectious norovirus that is likely to blame for this outbreak and is responsible for 21 million other cases of cruise ship sickness in the US every year?
What are some signs that I may have contracted the norovirus?
How can I protect myself from the norovirus and other dangerous outbreaks in general?

Let’s get those questions answered! I’m here to give useful tips and advice pertaining to cruise ship travel health and wellness as well as shed light on the norovirus, signs you may have it, and offer preventative tips that are more than useful, and they could prevent a potentially serious health issue.

How does a cruise-lover avoid a situation like this past January’s illness outbreak that infected hundreds of people on a Royal Caribbean Cruise line?

Before booking a cruise do your research. The CDC actually publishes report cards for cruises which means if you do your homework beforehand you can get some inside scoop on the health history of the vessel you’re choosing. Get access to those reports here: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/inspectionquerytool/inspectionwith100score.aspx

Also check out the cruise line’s medical team before you book as well and be sure it’s one with a complete staff and high standards!

Speaking of pre-boarding health prep, let’s talk insurance! Before boarding be sure you’ve got your insurance information on hand, and consider getting traveler’s insurance which can help bail you out of a medical crisis and help cover expenses you may run into. Just be sure you go over the policy details before purchasing!

Do I have to give up my plans for travels at sea all together?

Outbreaks like what we’ve seen on cruise lines lately are not abnormal when you consider you’re cramming thousands of people together in a tight space where it’s possible for germs and viruses to travel quickly. That said DON’T put your life or activities on hold because of the dangers in any kind of travel opportunity.

Instead of swearing off cruises all together I encourage you to do research, get educated and be prepared. Know precautions to take (which we’ll discuss shortly), and be prepared by doing research before boarding.

Just what is this highly infectious norovirus that is likely to blame for this outbreak and is responsible for 21 million other cases of cruise ship illness in the US every year?

The norovirus is highly contagious and spreads from affected individuals via vomit or feces. When you’re in close quarters like a cruise ship it can spread extremely quickly.

Get this: each sick person can give off AKA shed billions of disease causing particles yet it takes only 18 of them to get you sick! You do the math – a cruise ship can be a breeding ground for a fast spreading epidemic! On top of that, the virus can take up to 12-48 hours to incubate before one sees signs of the virus, meaning you or someone you know may have it without seeming sick at first! It can also remain present in your body even after you begin to feel better and live in your stool for up to 2 weeks. So again, knowing that it can often be “invisible” yet present is important!

What are some signs that I may have contracted the norovirus on a cruise or elsewhere else?

The symptoms of this virus often resemble the symptoms of food poisoning in its early stages, so it can be overlooked when you first contract it or can be misdiagnosed. Key signs are diarrhea and vomiting and of course feeling just terrible.

If you do begin experiencing symptoms get in touch with a medical professional right away and begin hydrating right away! Also be sure you stay inside and away from others and public spaces where you could spread it.

How can I protect myself from the norovirus and other dangerous outbreaks in general?

Being educated and knowing the signs and symptoms are the first step!

HAND WASHING IS KEY! Be sure you wash your hands after taking a trip to a bathroom or touching things others may have come into contact because although you’re healthy others may have left their germs behind! Hand sanitizer IS your friend.

Be cautious about who and where your food is prepared.

Dispose of any infected or soiled items with gloves and take other safety precautions.

If you do get sick on a cruise don’t feel bad about contacting your own doctor and don’t rely solely on the cruise ship’s medical team! Your doctor knows YOU best.
Watch what you eat and drink – Drink bottled sealed water. Also be mindful of your alcohol intake as the way people prepare your drinks or old dirty glasses can be a source of infection, and if you are too buzzed you may not be able to realize your judgment regarding a clean glass is impaired.

You don’t have to end your passion for cruises forever but you do need to proceed with caution in this situation, just like you would on any vacation you may take.

Bon Voyage!

Dr. V

February is Heart Health Awareness Month

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Dr. Yael Varnado

Heart Disease doesn’t affect just old men and women! Every year more than 9,000 US women under 45 years of age suffer a heart attack.

February is Heart Health Awareness month and the American Heart Association has done a great job getting the word out to people that heart disease isn’t just a disease that affects men, but also women. BUT, most people still think heart disease is an issue for AARP members or senior citizens, which is NOT true! Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women. And although heart attacks are less common in women under the age of 50 when they do occur women are 2x more likely to die in the hospital than men.

American women are 4-6 times more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer and heart disease kills more women than ALL cancer combined.

For many years research in the medical community focused on men and cardiovascular health. Therefore, it is no surprise that more than 50% of women do not know that heart disease is the #1 cause of death of women, let alone know what healthy values are for their own blood pressure and cholesterol. The American Heart Association reports 90% of women already have one or more risk factors for heart disease which include:

high blood pressure high cholesterol smoking family history low level of physical activity

You may not have heart disease now, but prevention and good living can help ward off heart disease later. Most women are too busy taking care of everyone else in their lives to take a moment for themselves. It’s necessary to stop running, be still, and tune into what’s going on with your own body!

Learn the warning signs of a heart attack, because when symptoms start every minute counts. I’d rather wait and know what’s wrong than rush to the hospital. BAD idea!!! About half of deaths from a heart attack occur within 1 hour of the onset of symptoms and before the person even reaches the hospital. When symptoms start DON’T WAIT CALL 911! How quickly should I act? If you have symptoms, call 911 immediately. Don’t wait more than 5 minutes. If you wait too long some treatments may not be available to you to restore blood flow to the heart.

Warning Signs & Symptoms Women Commonly Experience:

When having a heart attack women don’t always experience the same chest clenching pain or “elephant standing on my chest” feeling like men. Many heart attacks start slowly, with mild chest discomfort or pain. Read below for other common warning signs of a heart attack women experience:

Chest discomfort: often in the center of your chest or left side that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and then comes back
Chest pressure, squeezing, fullness, sharp or gnawing pain, or even heartburn
Tiredness or odd “blah” feeling
Discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Nausea
Light-headedness

Check out the American Heart Association’s website for the Go Red for Women Campaign. Even though you’re busy you’re not too busy to take care of your heart!

Dr. V

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Dr. Yael Varnado

Did you know cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States? Since the development of the Pap smear by Dr. Papanicolaou (a fellow Cornellian) the number of diagnosed cases and deaths from cervical cancer has exponentially decreased. However, it has not disappeared. January is cervical cancer awareness month; so let’s get smart about cervical cancer.

1) You may not even know you have cervical cancer: Because it may not cause signs and symptoms. Advanced cervical cancer may cause bleeding or discharge from the vagina that you don’t normally experience such as after sex.

2) Cervical cancer is caused by an STD. Most cervical cancers are caused by HPV. It’s the same virus that causes genital warts. HOLD ON! Before you get worried, there are many types of HPV, more than 80 and not all of them cause cervical cancer. That’s why it’s important to have regular Pap smears because the test looks for abnormal cells in the cervix that may be cancerous or pre-cancerous. And even if your Pap test comes back abnormal – DON’T FREAK OUT – there are many reasons why the results might be abnormal. It doesn’t mean you have cancer.

3) Smoking can increase you risk of cervical cancer. Other risk factors for cervical cancer include illnesses that compromise your immune system such as HIV, using birth control bills for more than 5 years, multiple sex partners, as well as giving birth to more than three children.

4) Two screening tests can help prevent you from getting cervical cancer: The Pap test – which looks for atypical cells in the cervix and the HPV test – which looks for the virus that causes these cell changes. The most important thing you can do to help prevent cervical cancer is to have regular screening tests.

5) If you get the HPV vaccine you still need to be examined by your doctor and have regular Pap tests. Start getting Pap tests when you become sexually active or by the age of 18yrs. The CDC recommends women aged 21-65 get regular Pap tests even if you think you are too old or not having sex anymore.

No woman should die from cervical cancer, because it’s preventable and treatable. Talk to your doctor about getting regular screenings for cervical cancer with a Pap test. And if you can’t afford one you can get one for free by visiting: http://www.nccc-online.org/index.php/paptest

Wishing you great health,

Dr. V

A Year in Review …. Reflecting on 2013, A Letter from Me to You

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Dr. Yael Varnado

I’m sure like many of you, the end of the year is not only a time of celebration, it’s a time of reflection for me, when I get the chance to look back at the past year’s “highlight reel”, lessons learned and amazing experiences. For myself, and the “Ask Dr. V” community as a whole 2013 was quite a whirlwind of wonderful new beginnings, new adventures and transformative new relationships with likeminded individuals. I am so grateful that I have been able to take my passion for educating and informing people about their health, wellness and preventative healthcare across so many public platforms as the Ask Dr. V brand continues to grow. When I became a physician I made the commitment to help people live their best and healthiest life, and when I launched the Ask Dr. V platform and community I did it so that I could expand on this very commitment and my ability to help and be an advocate for more than just my patients, but for readers, viewers and listeners around the world!

This year has been full of so many highlights as I was given the support and chance to carry out that mission. From CNN to CBS, Women’s Health Magazine to Essence, Cosmopolitan to Capitol File and Queen Latifah to The Huffington Post and Perez Hilton, I’ve been welcomed by the press to share my knowledge with you. My website has become an online homes for relatable, relevant and trust-worthy content that you can access 24/7 to improve the quality of your body, mind and life. Thanks to social media I’ve been able to connect with people from coast-to-coast via wellness campaigns including Live Right at Night and The Proof Project.

My passion for your wellbeing hasn’t been the only love I’ve been able to share this year. There have also been lighter moments where I’ve shared my love of personal expression through fashion and style. I was humbled to be called a Style Icon by Refinery29 and share top accessory picks with Capitol File Magazine. I’ve also enjoyed sharing my favorite things across all categories, from food to wellness and fashion via my Dr. V Recommends series.

If you thought this year was exciting just wait until I you see what I have in store for you for 2014. Starting this January I’m going to be unveiling fresh, new ways we can work together and improve your quality of life inside and out. I can’t reveal it all right now but rest assured, I’m bottling up and packaging my knowledge, tips and advice in innovative means that you’ll be able to watch, read, order into your home and send to your friends!

You’ll want to make sure you’re always up-to-date and in-the-know as we release these exciting features, projects and products, so be sure to watch out for my bi-monthly newsletters, follow me on Twitter and Facebook and communicate with me via any mode you choose so that I can better serve you and your health!

Wishing you all a safe, happy and healthy holiday!

Smooches,

Dr. V

#DrVRecommends: December Must-Haves

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Dr. Yael Varnado

The Viva Glam 1-6 is back! That’s right ladies, MAC lipstick – Limited editions! To know me is to know I’m a MAC girl. My personal fave was Glam VI – the Fergie edition!

Green Pad Living Shea Butter – ‘Tis the season to be jolly – and to get dry skin. Never fear, shea butter will do the trick and if you’re going to use it why not use products created by a family owned business specializing in handmade, all-natural and organic and Eco-Friendly products for the body and the home.

Raw Meal Protein Powder – Finally a protein powder that gives you more fiber, protein and flavor options! On top of that it’s organic and suitable for vegans and vegetarians (who need to monitor their protein intake even more at times).

Tide to Go Stain Remover Pen – Ladies and gents this is just as essential as your credit cards and your lipstick and should always be within reach. Say farewell to coffee, wine, lipstick stains and more, this must-have is a miracle worker!

Spanx – Show Girls Back Smoothing Underwire Bra – We all love Spanx for their booty and thing smoothing capabilities, but have you discovered their bras? Get rid of back fat and smooth your top half out within seconds. Keep a smooth line from top to bottom, literally!

Philips Sonicare Toothbrush – Just as modern medical care helps take self-care and wellness to a new level, innovations like the Sonicare Toothbrush help take your dental care to a new level. It is simply a must in my book and removes plaque and build up that your own manual brushing cannot take care of. A healthy mouth is directly linked to a healthy body, so snag yours today, it’s worth the investment! After all, cavities and dental work will always be more expensive!

Scuffette II Ugg – When padding around the home all winter long I love keep my feet toasty but I do not want to keep my outdoor shoes on – who wants to wear heels or bring outside germs into their living room or bedroom. What keeps them cozy and cuddled up all day and night? These slippers from Uggs that are both soft and durable!

Smartphone Gloves – Like many of you, I am a bit addicted to my iPhone, but during the cold winter months my poor fingers freeze when typing messages and emails while out and about. That is until I discovered these gloves from J. Crew that are fashion and tech friendly!

L’Occitane – Hands of Provence Limited Edition Lotions – You KNOW I love my lotions and here’s another that smells as good as it works!

Trader Joe’s Turkey Jerky – Need a yummy snack that helps you get your salty fix. Try this jerky from “TJ’s”. It has no preservatives or chemicals, the only naughtiness included is salt, which I’ll give you the green light to have from time to time!