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SPRING 2010 |
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p e r s p e c t i v e s
Spring a great time to start running
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Don Lane Photo |
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Dr. Susan King |
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Running away winter fat; party-busting meds; and, nutrition tips.
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By Dr. Susan King |
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Hello again colleagues. At last it is
spring — by the calendar anyway! It is always so nice to see more
daylight in the evenings and more folks out enjoying it. Now is the
time to get out, get more active and get rid of some of the winter
fat. There are lots of docs who are runners — ever think of running?
I took it up a few years ago after being inspired by a patient. I
had tried it before but was never successful until I followed the
guide she told me about called the Beginning Runners Handbook. I
found it easy to read, inspiring and full of useful information.
Running is a great sport: relatively cheap, portable, and
self-paced. I find it a time for free thought and contemplation. I
feel much better, too. After a hard day when I feel worn out and
tired, a run sure perks me up. The Running Room has some great
clinics — only available to the townies, of course. I did one of
their online clinics, which I recommend. Anyway, if you’ve ever been
interested, the spring is a great time to start!
Speaking of online and indirectly of
physician health, there is a new and interesting website with resources
available to physicians:
ePhysicianHealth.com. It has a lot of useful tools and is
worth a visit. Another website that is interesting, educational and
entertaining is
medflicks. There docs can see various videos that colleagues have
uploaded.
Party-busting meds
I saw a Mom the other day whose
young daughter hates taking medication. She told me that recently, when
she got a prescription filled, the pharmacist had a chat with the child.
She told her that there were germs having a party in her lungs and that
the medicine was the party buster and every time she took a dose the
germs were being stomped out and told: “THE PARTY’S OVER!” Every time
the child took the medication the Mom and child stomped their feet and
shouted this. It certainly worked for her.
Nutrition tips
I heard on the radio
recently a doctor speaking of nutrition and how our diets are often
dense in carbohydrates, protein and fat and very much lacking in
vitamins, minerals, fiber and elements. He explains to patients that the
protein and carbohydrates are the bricks of good health, the vitamins,
minerals and elements are like the mortar that holds it all together
and, if it isn’t strong, it doesn’t matter how strong the bricks are,
the wall won’t last. I found this a useful analogy which patients
understand.
So, take care and enjoy the longer days of
spring. Got any hints? If you think of something that works for you,
send it in!
Dr. Susan King is a family physician
at the Newfoundland Drive Medical Clinic in St. John’s. Tips and hints
may be emailed to or faxed to (709) 726-7525.
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