|
|
| Line dancing has taken the country by storm! Where ever you want to go, I can almost guarantee that you will be able to find a line dance class, whether it is country/western or soul line dancing. From Stanford University to England and as far away as Japan, they are line dancing! Join the band wagon and get one of the greatest workouts around and have fun while you are shaping up! DVT - - A Line Dancer’s Nightmare
by: Lorraine E. McClary
As human beings, we should be concerned with the health of our bodies. As line dancers, we should be concerned with the condition of our limbs, particularly our legs. I recently experienced a health concern that temporarily removed me from the dance circle, and I wanted to share it, in case someone feels the same way.
In December, 2007, I experienced some pain in the back of my left calf. Because the pain was familiar, I went to my doctor to have it checked. I was diagnosed with DVT - Deep Vein Thrombosis…..also known as a blood clot. I had had one before. Once diagnosed, I had to go on a treatment of Lovenox injections and Coumadin, 2 medications that thin your blood.
In most cases, the clot will develop in the calf. So, if you experience pain in your calf (mine felt like I had pulled a muscle), or if it’s hot when you touch it, or if it’s red or swollen, please go to get it checked. Your physician should advise you to have a Venous Doppler done, which is an ultrasound of the leg. If DVT is not detected in time, a piece of the clot could break off and travel through your blood stream, and block the artery to your lungs. This is known as a Pulmonary Embolism. My friends, these things should be taken seriously, because if not detected and treated, they can be fatal.
There are many factors that can cause Deep Vein Thrombosis. These factors include:
• In some cases, people over the age of 40 can develop DVT
• Obesity
• Immobility after surgery or long travel
• Prior history of DVT
• Family History of blood clots
• Inherited condition that will make your blood clot easier to develop
• Some blood diseases
• Cancer/chemotherapy or other cancer treatments
• Circulation problems/heart failure
• Recent surgery/injury, especially to hips or knees
• Women - birth control pills/HRT/pregnancy/recently given birth
While I am still on the treatment for the current clot that was detected, I have to gradually work my way back into dancing, because of the trauma to my leg. For the first month, I had to refrain from anything that was not in my normal daily routine.
If you detect any pain or discomfort in your lower calf, I would suggest getting it checked by your physician as soon as possible. I wanted to share this with my Line Dancing family to advise, inform and educate.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Are you addicted to line dancing? Not sure. Need to find out? If you can answer YES to any of the following questions, then yes, you are addicted to soul line dancing:
• Have you ever line danced or learned a new line dance in a parking lot?
• Have you ever met a friend for breakfast and learned a new line dance?
• Have you ever ran into a friend or line dance family member on your way to work, and explained and demonstrated a dance step while standing on the corner?
• Have you talked to a friend on the phone and choreographed a dance over the phone?
• When you instantly hear a song, do you say: What can we do to that?
• When you meet new people and they ask you what do you do to relieve stress, you instantly reply “Line dance”?
• Do you constantly search the internet for line dancing websites and information?
• When you are on the dance floor, and see somebody who doesn’t know the steps, do you start calling out the dance steps for that person?
• Do you carry one or more cases of water in the trunk of your car, because you never know when you are going to line dance and need something drink?
• Do you look for a line dance class when you are on vacation?
• Do you carry “line dance” music with you wherever you go, just in case?
Do you show signs of withdrawal if you haven’t dance for more than one (1) day? Here are the signs of withdrawal: singing JAZZY LADY; showing your 2 year old grandchild how to do the BOOTY CALL; threaten your line dance teacher if she cancels class for the holidays; start line dancing on the corner while waiting for SEPTA. If you have exhibited any of the following symptoms, then you have line dance withdrawal. Seek help immediately!! Find your nearest class and get your jig on! Now this does not just apply to line dancing, if you do partner dancing, and feel the same way, then you too are addicted, and the only thing that can assist you with this addition is to find a dance class. Remember, soul line dancing invigorates all souls! | |
|