Dr. Barbara Edwards | Princeton, NJ | Dr. Barbara R. Edwards

April 9, 2020April 8, 2020

Different Ways to Volunteer Abroad

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton internist, standing with other volunteers on the Malawi mission trip

If you are looking for a new experience and love to travel, then volunteering abroad may be right for you! Volunteering abroad allows you to make connections not only with the people you are traveling with, but also with the locals of the country you are visiting. The experience and knowledge you obtain from volunteering abroad is priceless and will follow you throughout your lifetime. If you are interested in volunteering abroad, listed below are some summer volunteer programs you might be interested in. Although you may be unable to take a trip this summer, use this time of social distancing to plan your trip for next summer!

Thailand

In Surin, Bangkok you can give support to communities that are underprivileged by volunteering with children and elephants during a three-week program. You will also have opportunity to cook authentic food and learn about Thailand culture. On the weekends, you can explore local shops and restaurants as well as scattered ancient temples.

Bali

This two-week marine conservation program is hosted in Tianyar, which is a small fishing village in the northern area of Bali. This program allows volunteers to be a part of the effort to restore Tianyar’s coral reef that is currently in poor condition due to the many years of unsustainable fishing practices. You will be able to work with the Indonesian Nature Foundation to build artificial reef structures to house fish and provide a surface for coral to regrow on. Your efforts will help protect and restore the amazing, fragile ecosystems and the livelihood of the villagers of the surrounding area.

Morocco

Rabat, Morocco has one of the lowest literacy rates worldwide. This one-weekvolunteer teaching program will allow you tohelp the children of Morocco increase their knowledge of the English language. On the weekends, you can spend time exploring the city and indulging in this new culture.

Volunteering can be tremendously rewarding and can allow you to experience new cultures outside of the United States. These programs are also great for anyone who may only want to volunteer for a short period of time.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton internist, practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.

March 17, 2020February 28, 2020

The Negative Effects of Binge Drinking

saint patrick's day beer and pretzels responsible drinking habits

At certain times of the year, such as St. Patrick’s Day, many people may find themselves drinking in excess, but what some may not realize is the toll binge drinking has on your body. If you are planning on drinking socially or celebrating this month, be sure to stay safe by monitoring your alcohol intake. From the moment you take your first celebratory sip, alcohol can have an impact on your body and your overall health. While celebrating with your loved ones or attending social events where alcohol is involved, be weary of the negative effects that alcohol can have on your body:

Blacking Out

Alcohol can have a serious effect on how your brain stores memories. Drinking in excess puts you at risk of waking up with little recollection of what took place when you were drinking.

Changes in Behavior

Alcohol can change your behavior and render you unable to make clear and safe decisions. Make sure to not drink in excess in order to limit the changes in behavior that you experience and to keep yourself safe.

Heart Damage

Drinking alcohol excessively and on a regular basis can put you at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Liver Damage

Liver damage is quite common among individuals who binge drink. Damaging the liver can prevent the organ from effectively eliminating harmful toxins from your body.

Lung Infections

Those who drink frequently and in excess can have a difficult time fending off certain bacteria and illnesses, making binge drinkers more prone to diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.

It is important to always keep your health and safety a number one priority. Make sure you fully understand the negative effects associated with binge drinking and to know your limit with alcohol consumption. If you are concerned about how drinking may be affecting your health, reach out to your primary care physician and schedule an appointment.

Dr. Barbara R Edwards practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.

March 3, 2020February 28, 2020

How to Cope with the Effects of Daylight Savings Time

alarm clock set for waking up during daylight savings time

When we spring our clocks ahead one hour this month, we will be pushing sunrise and sunset to be an hour later. Even though we will be able to enjoy the extended hour of sunlight in the evening, losing an hour of sleep and potentially commuting to work in the dark can cause other personal health effects. Throwing off the body’s natural cycle can cause difficulty falling asleep at night and increased fatigue during the day. Below are some ways that you can cope with “losing” that extra hour of sleep:

Expose Yourself to Light

Light subdues the brain’s natural production of melatonin, which is the hormone your body produces to fall asleep. Due to this effect that light has on your ability to fall asleep, it is recommended that you expose yourself to sources of light during the day to keep your body awake and alert. By the same token, you should also avoid being exposed to light during the evening hours so that your body can prepare to fall asleep at your regular bedtime.

Keep Regular Sleep Patterns

It is recommended to try to keep your regular bedtime and time that you wake up to bring your body back into its regular sleep pattern. Getting your body in a routine can help you avoid feeling lethargic during the day.

Avoid Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant and can keep you up far past your bedtime. It is suggested that you avoid caffeine products, especially during the evening hours, so you can fall asleep at a designated time.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.

February 19, 2020January 24, 2020

6 Heart Healthy Breakfasts

woman eating oatmeal for breakfast while she reads a book and sips tea

Many say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but did you also know it may help keep your heart in good health? Harvard Health explains how eating a breakfast full of whole grains can reduce your risk for having a heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes and heart failure. With that in mind, here are six heart-healthy breakfast options for you to try at home!

High-fiber, Whole-grain Cereal with Sliced Fruit
Prepare the cereal then add sliced banana, strawberries, or any fruit of your choice.
Oatmeal Topped with Fruit and Nuts
Prepare oatmeal and add your choice of fruit and nuts. You can use blueberries with walnuts, strawberries with almonds, or anything combination you can think of!
Banana and Date Smoothie
In a blender, add a ripe banana, dried dates, and your choice of milk. For added taste, put in a spoon of peanut butter.
Sweet Potato with Greek Yogurt, Apples, and Maple Syrup
Cook the sweet potato in the oven or if you are in a rush, pop it in the microwave until tender. Cut up the sweet potato and add Greek yogurt, apples and maple syrup to the top.
Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Quinoa Bowl
Prepare quinoa and top it with bacon pieces, your choice of lettuce, and cherry tomatoes. You can add an avocado for healthy fats and added flavor.
Whole Wheat Banana and Oatmeal Pancakes
Prepare the whole wheat pancakes either by using a mix, or if you have time, try making them from scratch! Combine the pancake batter with sliced banana and a ½ cup of old-fashioned oats mixed in.

February 12, 2020January 29, 2020

Dr. Barbara R Edwards July 2019 Malawi Volunteer Experience – Final Thoughts

This past July I went with Villages in Partnership (VIP) for another medical mission trip to the Zomba region of Malawi, Africa. Once again, what a fabulous experience! During our trip we set up 3 pop-up clinics in remote villages with no electricity or running water. A group of 26 American physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and nursing students worked side by side with around 50 Malawian physicians, medics, nurses and community workers. We treated over 5000 patients in 3 days and saw patients of all ages from newborns to the very elderly. People arrived before daylight to wait for us and we worked until after sunset using the light of our headlamps to see.

We treated a variety of illnesses including upper respiratory infections, back and joint pains, malaria, gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections, and rashes such as eczema, ringworm and scabies. At each site there were 3 to 4 American providers and 3 to 4 Malawian providers working side by side in pairs. This was extremely helpful to the Americans as the Malawian providers could help us to recognize conditions that we don’t often see in the States. Moreover, we had to learn how those conditions are treated in Malawi, often using antibiotics and other medications that we don’t use in the USA.

Except for the medications for malaria which were supplied by the Malawian government, we prescribed medications that we brought with us or purchased in Malawi. All care and medications were given free of charge and dispensed from a pharmacy that we created at each site. We also dispensed non-medical items such as shoes, soap and wash clothes which can be just as important when treating a medical problem.

On-site testing was an important part of the clinics and was limited to blood counts, blood glucose, VDRL, malaria and HIV testing. The HIV testing was run by the Malawian government which has used a “test and treat” protocol since 2016 which has successfully increased the percentage of patients in Malawi maintained on suppressive HIV therapy. (1,2) Of the 164 patients tested only 4 or 2.4% tested positive. Each of the four patients was then assigned to a community worker and brought within 48 hours into a government run clinic to be started on HIV medication.

In addition to medical care, we provided dental care. Two years ago, a dentist with VIP raised the money to buy and bring over portable dental equipment. At our pop-up clinic in Kalupe an American and a Malawian dentist worked together to treat 283 patients and were delighted that they could clean teeth and do fillings in addition to pulling teeth. We also brought a large supply of amalgam so that the Malawian dentist could continue to fill teeth even after we returned home.

During this trip we offered a new program to dispense glasses to patients through a partnership with Global Vision 2020. (3,4) A retired American businessman was trained in the use of a hand-held device which measures eye prescriptions and then uses a set of precut lenses which are inserted into simple empty frames. These glasses were sold for $1 per pair and were the only thing we charged for during the trip. Prior to this program, the only glasses that were available were used glasses which were at best a gross approximation of a person’s actual prescription. The new glasses were extremely popular amongst the villagers and were considered so stylish that some people bought glasses with plain lenses as a fashion statement! After we left, a local Malawian who worked with us took this over and will run it as a small business.

One of the best things about VIP is that the organization continues to work in the area all year round. They have started several weekly clinics to provide year-round care staffed by medical personal whose training and salaries are paid for by VIP. In addition, VIP is partnering with the Malawian government and the village of Khanda to build a permanent clinic in this most remote area. This clinic will operate daily year-round to provide care to this needy area of Malawi. VIP’s recent 10^th anniversary Gala helped to raise needed funds to build this clinic. We are all so excited to know that work can begin on this project! If you are interested in learning more about VIP, please check out their website at villagesinpartnership.org.

To learn more about the Dr. Edwards, Princeton internist, and her volunteer trips in Malawi, visit her Facebook page.

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