Dr. Internet, M.D.

The internet can be your worst enemy... and your best friend.

Last week, a good friend of mine was experiencing severe stomach pains and, like any technology-savvy person, went straight to WebMD.com. After filling out a quiz about her symptoms, her online doctor told her there were 28 possible conditions that were causing her discomfort and she should seek medical attention immediately.

Since she wasn't completely dependent on her online doctor, who was not only lacking personality but also a medical degree (not such minor details). She decided to call an After Hours service to speak to someone directly who was trained. The nurse she spoke with told her to take meds and attempt to go back to sleep and see a doctor in the morning if she was still in pain.

However, due to the continuation of the pain, she headed straight to the emergency room, and it's a good thing she did.

After a number of tests, the doctors determined that her appendix was on the verge of rupturing. This was one of the possibilities that her online doctor had listed. Good diagnosis, WebMD.

A few hours later, she was in operating room and had her appendix removed laparoscopically. The next day in recovery, she was speaking with her surgeon and shared her story of how it was the Web site (and the non-changing pain) that encouraged her to head to the hospital. Though her doctor did not encourage people to rely solely on the internet, he said that legitimate Web sites, such as WebMD, can really serve useful and have helped patients hone in on symptoms.

Football + Food = Failure

I honestly think the only vegetables I consumed this weekend were the lettuce and tomato on my hamburger. Well, unless the potatoes in the accompanying fries count. Oh yeah, they don't.

The Florida/Georgia game in Jacksonville, Fla. is known as the biggest cocktail party of the year, but unfortunately those cocktails aren't served with a nutrient-filled sidekick. Instead, they are partnered with calorie-packed, fried foods. All the restaurants have game day menus that are brimming with fast-cooking foods that accommodate the largest number of people but are lacking most essential food groups. Even the so-called "healthy options" were scattered with fried chicken and lots of creamy dressing.

In an article in Forbes, stadiums battled it out for which served the healthiest food. As well as suggesting options to cut calories when heading out to the ball game.

Things I learned from the game:
1. Eat before the game. No matter what, it is virtually impossible to find a healthy snack at a football stadium. It's an oxymoron if I've ever heard one.
2. Make your own tailgate, don't join another. By bringing your own munchies, you will know exactly what you are consuming.
3. When in doubt, drink water. It rids some of your hunger and chances are, you're probably pretty dehydrated.