News and Information

TIME TO GET YOUR FLU SHOT

FLU SEASON IS HERE AND THE SHOTS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR OFFICE FOR ADULTS AND KIDS.

The best time to get a flu shot is before you feel flu symptoms. The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. In addition, good health habits may also help protect you against the flu. The resources below will help you learn about steps you can take toprotect yourself and others from flu and other respiratory illnesses;

• Avoid close contact.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

• Stay home when you are sick.

If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

• Cover your mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

• Clean your hands.

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

• Practice other good health habits.

Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

posted by Ogo on September 16, 2011 

 HEART DISEASE AND WAYS TO PREVENT IT

Heart disease is the umbrella term used to describe a number of medical conditions affecting the heart and the blood vessels supplying the heart.

While many people seem to believe heart disease is an illusive ailment, it has become increasingly common. Statistics from 2007 have revealed that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States.

Each type of heart disease has different symptoms, although many of these symptoms may be similar.

Some commonly experienced heart-related symptoms which may suggest signs of underlying heart disease include:

• Angina: Describes chest pain and discomfort often present in serious heart problems. Angina can be experienced as heaviness, pressure, aching, burning, fullness, squeezing or a painful feeling in your chest. It is often mistaken for indigestion or heartburn.
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations, or noticeable changes in speed of heart rate
• Dizziness or fainting
• Weakness or fatigue
• Edema - Swelling of your ankles, feet or abdomen )
• Nausea or vomiting
• Cough or wheezing
• Cyanosis -  bluish tint to the skin, fingernails and lips

Major risk factors in developing heart disease include:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Lack of physical activity
• Obesity

Minor risk factors::

• Stress
• Birth control pills
• Sex hormones
• Alcohol
• Sweating

 TIPS FOR PREVENTING HEART DISEASE

1. Check your blood pressure regularly. Prolonged high blood pressure can dramatically increase your chances of developing heart disease.
2. Don’t smoke. If you do, consider quitting smoking naturally.
3. Aim for a healthy weight. Obesity is dangerous for the heart, so try and maintain a stable, healthy weight. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and a little help from a reputable weight-loss program can help you achieve your ideal goal weight.
4. Learn to manage stress. Stress puts unnecessary strain on the heart and the immune system, making it essential to take care of your emotional well-being. If stress is a problem, consider making necessary life changes or adopting stress-reducing techniques such as yoga, Pilates, or meditation.     
5. Regularly check cholesterol levels.High cholesterol is one of the leading causes of heart disease and heart attacks. Cholesterol clogs the arteries and restricts blood flow to and from the heart. Aim for a Total Cholesterol level of < 200 mg/dl, HDL Cholesterol of ≥ 40 mg/dl for men and ≥ 50 mg/dl for women, LDL cholesterol of ≤ 160 mg/dl, ≤ 130 mg/dl and ≤ 100 mg/dl for those at low, intermediate and high risk for heart disease respectively.
6. Manage diabetes. If you are diabetic, be sure to manage your condition efficiently. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
7. Choose good nutrition. Eat a heart-friendly diet low in fats, salt, calories, and red meat, and high in vegetables, fruits and fiber. Eating healthy does not have to be boring. Learn to use the numerous available resources that offer tips to preparing quick, tasty, and heart-healthy meals.
8. Stay physically active. Try to find time in the day to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise. An exercise routine is one of the best ways to keep your heart and mind in top form. It is advisable that you consult with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
9. Limit alcohol. It is recommended that alcohol consumption be limited to one drink a day, preferably with a meal. Studies have shown that red wine is an excellent source of antioxidants and may aid in preventing bad cholesterol (LDL) from forming. It is also believed that red wine may prevent blood clots and aid in reducing blood vessel damage that is sometimes caused by fat deposits.
10. Daily intake of Vitamins. Taking moderately high doses of B vitamins such as B6, B12 and folic acid can lower blood levels of homocysteine, a substance which researchers now believe is as harmful—if not more so—than cholesterol. Vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10 are particularly potent antioxidants, both of which have been shown in medical studies to be beneficial to the heart.
    
    

HbA_1c  - Standard for Diabetes Diagnosis

posted by Ogo on June 23, 2010

What is HbA_1c?

Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying pigment that gives blood its red color and is also the predominant protein in red blood cells. About 90% of hemoglobin is hemoglobin A(the "A" stands for adult type). Approximately 8% of hemoglobin A is made up of minor components that are chemically slightly different; hemoglobin A_1c, A_1b, A_1a1, and A_1a2. Hemoglobin A_1c(HbA_1c) also known as glycosylated or glycosylated hemoglobin or glycohemoglobin is a minor component of hemoglobin to which glucose is bound.

In healthy people the HbA_1clevel is less than 6% of total hemoglobin. Studies have demonstrated that the complications of diabetes can be delayed or prevented if the HbA_1clevel can be kept below 7%. It is recommended that treatment of diabetes be directed at keeping an individual's HbA_1c level as close to normal as possible (<6%) without episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels).

KNOWING WHAT DIETARY FAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU posted by Ogo on March 5, 2010.

Most foods contain several different kinds of fats — including saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and trans fats — and some kinds are better for your health than others are.

For over thirty years, fat in our diet has been considered the culprit in obesity, heart disease, and high cholesterol. Sifting through all the conflicting information on fats can leave you with even more questions. When choosing fats, your best options are unsaturated fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and , omega 3 fatty acids. These fats, if used in place of others, can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in your blood.

HEALTHY FATS

Below are the best food sources of these healthy fats:

HARMFUL FATS

Saturated and trans fats (trans-fatty acids) are less healthy kinds of fats. They can increase your risk of heart disease by increasing your total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol isn't technically a fat, but it's found in food derived from animal sources. Intake of dietary cholesterol increases blood cholesterol levels, but not as much as saturated and trans fats do, and not to the same degree in all people.

Below are common food sources of harmful fats: