Health at risk for Lyme disease unless given the recommended antibiotic immediately. Lyme disease is oftenmisdiagnosed, in part because of false negative test results and vagueness of the symptoms. Also, there may be no knowledge of the infected bite and the diagnosis and treatment are often ineffective. Although there is a new vaccination recommended for shingles which is more than 90% effective in seniors, many persons will choose to go unprotected…sometimes because of the cost. In the event that they develop an often discomforting or painful rash on one side of their head, face, upper or lower body, they should immediately seek medical attention. If confirmed as shingles, the practitioner will order an antiviral medication which, if taken right away, will in most cases significantly reduce the severity of the illness. For the western snowbirds, there is the risk of Valley Fever, a fungal infection which should be diagnosed as early as possible. Those who travel to the western states of the U.S., especially California and Arizona, are at risk for this disease which is most commonly acquired from dusty environments such as sandy desert areas and areas of construction where dust is common in the air. Although most persons contracting the infection may have mild or no symptoms, many will develop pulmonary symptoms similar to a flu-like illness. Those who have chronic debilitating conditions will be at greater risk for advanced serious lung, skin, brain or bone complications. Early diagnosis and treatment are important and best done while still in those areas, as physicians there are much more familiar with the condition including its diagnosis and treatment. If such symptoms persist after your return home, seek medical advice as soon as possible, being sure to tell your practitioner that you have been in an area where Valley Fever is prevalent. For persons either at home or away, another common condition associated with a delay in early diagnosis is heart disease. A common story is the onset of unexplained chest pain in a person with a known or unknown heart condition who delays in seeking urgent medical attention. Often, it is chalked up to be “probable indigestion,” “muscle pain” or possible “angina” and no immediate medical assessment is sought. All too often, this has disastrous results. A fellow physician from my hospital – while vacationing in Florida – developed chest pain one evening and, in spite of urging by his wife to call 911, he took some antacids and said that he would seek attention if it persisted. By morning, he was still having pain and had his wife drive him to the nearby hospital, where he succumbed to a heart attack while being transported to the cardiac catheter lab. Even though he had no history of coronary heart disease, he was a senior and was still a smoker and should have known the risk. The delay was a major factor in his death being so sudden. Symptoms can vary, especially in women. Those who have known coronary artery disease, a smoking history, diabetes, a family history or who are overweight are at greater risk. Spouses who disagree with waiting or delaying urgent attention should go ahead and call 911. Seniors are also at risk for the development of urgent eye conditions such as acute glaucoma, retinal detachment and macular degeneration. Most seniors in Canada, without previous detection of a medical problem, are seen routinely by an optometrist and referred to an ophthalmologist when such conditions are detected. Early diagnosis of eye disease can ensure that the patient is receiving the proper treatment, thereby improving the outcome. With a red or painful eye or a new experience with flashes in an eye, a person unaware of one of these conditions might easily attribute the symptoms to something harmless, thus delaying urgent attention for a serious condition. In Canada and certain locations when travelling, urgent attention to the onset of new symptoms is often met with delays and wait times. For most chronic and known conditions, we accept these elective wait times. Sometimes, the delays are our fault and spouses should be assertive in taking action if they believe that their partner has made the wrong decision. If the system is the fault and a wait time is unacceptable, we must be assertive and demand better care. Often in Canada, this means going to the emergency department where immediate investigation and treatment will occur. All that we have learned about health promotion and disease prevention prevails but, if new signs or symptoms of a medical problem develop, be sure and get a diagnosis without delay. If there are barricades, knock themdown. Take action on your health! 36 | www.snowbirds.org
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