Health Meditations

Shout Hallelujah! instead of Happy Halloween

Halloween celebrates the demonic and the satanic.  Halloween exalts the ghoulish, the gruesome, the grisly, the ghastly and the ungodly.  It finds merriment in the macabre, the morbid and the menacing.  There is nothing happy about Halloween.

Instead of saying Happy Halloween, shout Hallelujah!  Hallelujah means Praise ye the Lord!  It's an expression of joy, praise, or gratitude to God Almighty.  And God is worthy to be praised because:

God is strength, salvation, a stronghold and a refuge.

2 Samuel 22:3
The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation,
My stronghold and my refuge;
My Savior, You save me from violence.

God is light.

Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?

God is exceeding joy.

Psalm 43:4
Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And upon the lyre I shall praise Thee,
O God, my God.

God is the everlasting Creator.

Isaiah 40:28
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

God is a rock, a fortress, a deliverer, and a shield.

Psalm 18:2-3
2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Shout Hallelujah!  And…

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Getting Back in Touch

Getting back in touch is an important part of walking through the valley between one mountain and the next.  On your way to the next mountain,

Consider those people with whom you've lost touch:

Acquaintances you wish had become friends.
Friends you've been meaning to call.
Family you haven’t seen in way too long.

Consider those things with which you've lost touch:

Long intimate conversations with God.
Your daily exercise routine.
Taking time to appreciate overlooked miracles.

Optimize your valley sojourn.  Get back in touch.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

October: "Talk About Prescriptions" Month

It's important for you to take prescription medication as your doctor has prescribed it.  It's equally important for you to understand why you are taking medication and what medication you are taking.  So talk to your doctor about your prescriptions.  If you have prescription medication from more than one physician, it's important for all of your doctors to know about all of your medications.

October is Talk About Prescriptions Month.  It's a good time to:

Take full responsibility for being fully informed about the medications you take.  Know the purpose, the risks and the benefits of all the remedies you use, whether prescription or over-the-counter.  The benefits should always outweigh the risks.  If they don’t, speak with your physician about other options.

Take full responsibility for fully informing all of your doctors about all of the prescription and over-the-counter medications you take.  This includes any potions, lotions or concoctions you purchase at the health food store.  (Just because something is labeled "all natural" doesn't mean it's harmless.)

Take full responsibility for following your doctor's instructions.  When used properly, medication has the power to help you.  If misused, it has the power to harm you. 

If you receive a new prescription, before you fill it, ask questions!  If you don't know what to ask, here are some suggestions:

• Why do I need this medication?
• What are the benefits of taking this medication?
• What are the risks of taking this medication?
• What are the risks of not taking this medication?
• What is the medication called?  Is it generic or brand name?
• If there is a generic version, will the generic version be as effective as the brand name?
• How will this medication affect my medical condition?
• How long will it take for me to experience a change in my condition?
• What side effects does this medication have and how long will they take to occur?
• Will the side effects last the entire time that I take this medication?
• What should I do if I experience side effects?
• How much medication will I need to take and how often?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• How long will I have to take this medication?
• Should I take this medication before or after meals?
• If I must take this medication on an empty stomach, how long should I wait before I eat?
• Are there any prescription or over-the-counter medications I should avoid while taking this medication?
• How will this medication interact with medications or "natural" remedies I already use?
• Are there any foods or beverages I should avoid while taking this medication?
• Should I store this medication at room temperature or in the refrigerator?
• What lifestyle changes can I make to reduce or eliminate the need to take this medication?
• Will my insurance company pay for this medication?
• If I have to pay out of pocket, how much will this medication cost? 
• When will I see you again to see if this medication is working?

Talk to your doctor!  Talk to your pharmacist!  Talk about your prescriptions!

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

The Vantage Point of a Mountain Top

When you stand on a mountain top,

You stand higher than your surroundings.
The sky is clearer.
The light is brighter.
Your view is wider and you can see farther than you could before.
You appreciate that God has bigger and better things in store for you.
Your imagination soars above and beyond where it did before.
You know that you are above and not beneath.
You know that God can raise or raze anything and anyone.

2 Samuel 22:33-34
33 God is my strength and power,
And He makes my way perfect.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Placeholder?

A placeholder is someone who or something that takes the place of another.  It is derived from the old French "lieu tenant", which literally mean placeholder or substitute.  Lieu means place.  Tenant is the present participle of the French verb tenir, which means to hold.  The word implies the notion of a substitute for higher authority or one who acts as a deputy or proxy. 

In mathematics and in logic, a placeholder is a symbol in an expression that may be replaced by the name of any element of the set.  In the decimal form of a number, a placeholder is a digit that is not significant.  My question is:

Do you consider yourself a placeholder?

If you think of yourself as a placeholder, stop it immediately if not sooner!  You cannot hold someone's place and you cannot take someone's place.  You are not an interchangeable element of a set.  You are not insignificant.  You bring a unique set of tools, talents and treasures to any situation that no one can provide except you.  Everything you do and say is filtered through your unique life experience.  Even if you have an identical twin, their life experience does not and cannot exactly match yours.  You are not a placeholder.  You are the exquisite, distinctive, matchless, irreplaceable, exceptional handiwork of the Most High God.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

October: National Physical Therapy Month

Physical therapy is a discipline that involves evaluating, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal problems with the ultimate goal of restoring maximal functional independence.  Physical therapists seek to relieve pain, improve the body's movement and function, maintain cardiopulmonary function, restore, maintain and promote optimal physical function, and limit disabilities resulting from injury or disease.  If you have suffered a debilitating injury or illness, your treatment regimen may have included physical therapy.  October is National Physical Therapy Month.  If you know a physical therapist, thank them for the contribution they make to restoring and maintaining good health.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Faith to Faith, Glory to Glory, Mountain Top to Mountain Top

It takes a lot of planning, effort and faith to reach a mountain top.  Both literal and figurative mountains are difficult to climb.  Once you've reached a mountain top, you just can't jump to the next peak.  After you enjoy the view, you must climb down from the first mountain, go through a valley, and then climb up the next mountain.  A valley can be a scary place if you think you're alone.  But you are not alone.

Psalm 23:4
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Your trip through a valley is your sojourn from faith to faith and glory to glory.  There is a lot of stuff in every valley that gives you the opportunity to build your faith and glorify God.  The challenge is to recognize the opportunity for revelation and transformation whenever and wherever it arises.

Romans 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

2 Corinthians 3:16-18
16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Perhaps you did climb down your mountain.  Maybe you were knocked off your mountain top.  If you've just been knocked off a mountain top into what appears to be an ill-defined valley, you are smack in the middle of a revelation, transformation opportunity.  So hold fast to your faith and glorify God's holy name.  Learn well the lessons being revealed to you.  Walk confidently through this stage in your transformation, because God is with you every step of the way.  He will give you favor and wisdom as you travel to and ascend the next mountain.

Acts 7:9-10
9 "And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

Genesis 50:20
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Psalm 75:7
But God is the Judge:
He puts down one,
And exalts another.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

The Ultimate "Can Do!" Case Study

One person is the ultimate "Can do!" case study.  He exemplifies and epitomizes every characteristic previously described.

He had an impeccable work ethic, despite knowing that His work required the ultimate sacrifice.
He was completely committed to carrying out the will of God.
He had the courage to face death.
He was determined not to let anyone or anything interfere with His mission.
He was devoted to God.
He was disciplined enough to withstand temptation.
He always did the right thing.
He fasted and prayed consistently.
He was loyal to God.
He was obedient to God.
He was willing to sacrifice Himself to save the world.
He was focused on God.
He served God.
He submitted to God's will.
He stormed the gates of hell and defeated death, a task that appeared to be insurmountable.

Jesus was the ultimate "Can do!" case study.

Always remember what He did for you.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

October: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also called Crib Death, is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than one year old. Some people call SIDS "crib death" because many babies who die of SIDS are found in their cribs.

SIDS is the leading cause of death in children between one month and one year old. Most SIDS deaths occur when babies are between two months and four months old. Although health care professionals don't know what causes SIDS, they do know ways to reduce the risk. Here are ten tips for creating a safe sleep environment for your baby:

1. Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night. The back sleep position is the safest, and every sleep time counts.

2. Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety-approved crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet. Never place your baby to sleep on pillows, quilts, sheepskins, or other soft surfaces.
3. Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area. Don’t use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, or pillow-like crib bumpers in your baby’s sleep area, and keep all objects away from your baby’s face.
4. Do not allow smoking around your baby. Don’t smoke before or after the birth of your baby, and don’t let others smoke around your baby.
5. Keep your baby’s sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep. Your baby should not sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children, but he or she can sleep in the same room as you. If you bring your baby into bed with you to breastfeed, put him or her back in a separate sleep area, such as a bassinet, crib, cradle, or a bedside co-sleeper (infant bed that attaches to an adult bed) when finished.
6. Think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep, but don’t force the baby to take it. (If you are breastfeeding your baby, wait until your child is one month old or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier.)
7. Do not let your baby overheat during sleep. Dress your baby in light sleep clothing, and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.
8. Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.
9. Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you have questions about using monitors for other conditions talk to your pediatrician.
10. Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby’s head: provide “Tummy Time” when your baby is awake and someone is watching; change the direction that your baby lies in the crib from one week to the next; and avoid too much time in car seats, carriers, and bouncers.

The content of this posting is based on information from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health.

If you have questions or concerns about SIDS, speak with your pediatrician.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Blindsided and Sideswiped

To be blindsided is to be hit or attacked when you least expected from a point where you are vulnerable and unawares.  To be sideswiped is to be hit with a sweeping stroke or a glancing blow along the side or at an oblique angle.

A couple of days ago, I was crossing the street.  The light was in my favor and all the motor vehicles had stopped.  But I did not see a bicycle coming toward me.  As I stepped off the curb, the bicycle blindsided me and sideswiped me.  But the situation was such that the bike just brushed against me without doing harm to me or my clothes.  The rider was knocked off balance but he wasn't harmed.  I never lost my balance or my footing.

When you are blindsided or sideswiped by unexpected events, there is the potential for harm.  But you don't have to lose your mental, emotional or spiritual balance or footing.  Pray, praise, worship.  Look for the lesson and let that be your blessing.  Use that lesson as a setup for success.

Genesis 50:20
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Share the health.

Deborah White, MD, MBA