Dr. Josyann Abisaab

The pain of a broken bone usually sends the victim straight to the emergency room, whether or not there is certainty that a bone is actually broken. A careful examination including an x-ray, by an emergency room doctor such as Dr. Josyann Abisaab can usually determine with a great deal of certainty whether a bone was indeed broken.

A bone will break if there is more pressure placed on the bone than what the bone can handle. The bone can either split or break, and in either case this break, no matter how large, is called a fracture. If the broken edge of the bone breaks through the skin, then the fracture is called either an open fracture or a compound fracture.

A stress fracture is caused by repetitive or prolonged forces acting against the bone, resulting in a hairline fracture within the bone.

It is easy to mistake a dislocated bone from a broken bone, but since both situations require immediate attention as emergencies, and the immediate treatment for both is the same, there is no reason do differentiate them before you get to the emergency room.

Some causes of a broken bone:

Broken Bone in Forearm

• Falling
• Accident
• Direct blow to the bone
• Repetitive actions like running can cause a stress fracture to develop in the foot, ankle, tibia and even the hip

Symptoms of a broken bone:

• Conspicuous looking out-of-place or misshapen limb or joint
• Swelling, bleeding, bruising
• Significant and intense painful sensations
• Numbness, tingling
• Skin is broken and bone is sticking out
• Limb cannot be moved, or its mobility is limited

The Knee

When all the parts of the body are working together well, it is easy to forget how each and every muscle, bone, and organ are essential for a painless, well-functioning body.

A good example of this is when someone has a knee injury. In just a moment the person goes from painless walking, bending, climbing stairs, crouching and stretching, to a person who experiences pain with every bend of the leg at the knee.

The knee is the largest joint in the body. Joints are the places where two bones come together. The knees provide the body with stability, flexibility and allow your legs to straighten up, bend and swivel. The knee is made up of bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. A damaged knee can be damaged in any one, or several of these parts.

It is important to seek the care of a physician, and if the injury is severe, and emergency room physician such as Dr. Josyann Abisaab would be able to diagnose and advise the patient about what treatment is required, and if a specialist is needed such as an orthopedist or a physical therapist.

The body’s immune system is a marvelous apparatus which protects us from an incredible number of substances in the environment that could harm us. When the immune system breaks down, or is in a weakened state, the body is subject to great harm from common and usually relatively harmless illnesses. The common cold or the flu can be lethal to someone with a non-functional immune system.

Allergic reactions however, are the immune system ‘over functioning.’ Substances which are harmless to most people, like pollen, animal hairs, or bee stings, cause the immune system to react in such a way which can create a physiological response which can be anything from discomfort like a runny nose to a life threatening situation like anaphylaxis.

As an emergency room physician Dr. Josyann Abisaab believes people should be aware of the signs of anaphylaxis so that if they should ever be confronted with such a reaction, either in a child or adult, they will know how to respond.

Shock is one of the signs of anaphylaxis. Shock is when there is a sudden and large fall in the body’s blood pressure creating a situation where the organs do not receive the blood supply they need to function properly. Considering the serious danger this can put someone in, the best response is to immediately call an ambulance so the person having the reaction can get the care he needs as soon as possible.

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. This illness is composed mainly of three separate chronic illnesses; chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma and emphysema. The main cause of COPD in the United States today is smoking, which accounts for about 90% of the cases. And although not every smoker will get COPD, it is estimated that about 15% of smokers will. It is not completely understood yet if passive smoking (inhaling cigarette smoke from a nearby smoker) can contribute to the development of COPD; it is known that children living with people that smoke are more likely to develop respiratory infections and the symptoms of asthma.

Emergency room physicians such as Dr. Josyann Abisaab urge smokers to try and reduce the amount they smoke, or even better, quit smoking altogether. Evidence shows that if a patient with COPD stops smoking, their decline in respiratory function slows down to the same level as a non-smoker, showing that it is “never too late to quit.”

Emergency room doctor Josyann Abisaab MD, frequently sees parents bring their children to the emergency room for what seems like a serious illness, but in reality it is just a cold or flu and the visit was unnecessary.

Here is a video to help parents decide whether their child is ill enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room, or if you can treat your child’s illness and symptoms at home, knowing that they will pass and your child will get better with help from you and your family doctor.

The question of when to go to the emergency room hopefully does not come up too often, but when it does its good to know how to proceed.

Symptoms of heart attack and stroke certainly require immediate attention in the emergency room. Those symptoms include chest pain and/or shoulder pain which goes down the arm. Heartburn can also be a symptom. Other cardiac symptoms of hearth attack are shortness of breath, quick pulse, and palpitations.

Dr. Josyann Abisaab is an emergency room physician who frequently cares for patients in the emergency room experiencing heart attacks . Early intervention under such circumstances can often save a person’s life.

Second degree burns are more serious than first degree burns, but still do not always require emergency room visits. The classification of second degree burn applies when the skin has been burned through to the second layer of skin. This layer is known as the dermis, and when it is damaged blisters rise up and the skin becomes intensely reddened, with an accompanying splotchy appearance. Sever pain as well as swelling is also present.

As long as this second degree burn only takes up an area of the skin no larger than 3 inches in diameter, this can be treated as a minor burn like a first degree burn. If the burn is on the hands, feet, groin, buttocks or on a major joint or is larger than 3 inches in diameter, emergency medical care is advised.

To treat a minor burn, first cool the burn by running cool (not cold) water over the burned area for 10-15 minutes or until the pain is alleviated. Immersion is also an option, and so is the use of cool compresses. Cooling the burn reduces the swelling by taking the extreme heat away from the skin. Do not use ice.

Bandage the burn with a clean gauze loosely applied so there is no pressure which can cause pain. The gauze prevents air from getting on the burn, reduces the pain, and protects the damaged, blistered skin.

Take a pain killer to relieve the discomfort, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and other over-the-counter medications. Take care when giving pain-killers to children. Call a doctor for advice.

Do not use ice to cool the burn. Further damage to the skin might ensue. Do not apply ointments or butter to the burn. This can cause an infection in the wounded area.

Do not break blisters. Broken blisters can get infected more easily.