Phillips Health Care Newsletter

FEBRUARY IS HEART HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

Phillips Clinic is a team of professionals dedicated to providing the very best in medical treatment to ensure patient well-being. 

Our staff’s commitment to continuing professional education is evident as the Clinic strives to stay on the cutting edge of new traditional and non-traditional medical techniques and new       practices in the health care field. 

Our professional staff is proud to offer the    following comprehensive heart health testing   services at one convenient location:

EKG

An EKG is a test that records the electrical activity of your heart through small electrode patches that are 

attached to the skin of your chest, arms, and legs.

EKGs are quick, safe, and painless. With this test, your doctor will be able to:

Check your heart rhythm

See if you have poor blood flow to your heart muscle (this is called ischemia)

Diagnose a heart attack

Check on things that are abnormal, such as thickened heart muscle

ECHOCARDIOGRAM

An echocardiogram (echo=sound + card=heart + gram=drawing) is an ultrasound test that can evaluate the structures of the heart, as well as the direction of blood flow within it. 

Technicians specially trained in echocardiography produce the images and videos, often using a special probe or transducer that is placed in various places on the chest wall, to view the heart from different directions. 

Cardiologists, or heart specialists, are trained to evaluate these images to assess heart function and provide a report of the results. The echocardiogram is one of the many tests that can be done to evaluate heart anatomy and function.

PERIPHERAL 

VASCULAR TESTING

These are non-invasive tests that check the blood flow in your arteries and veins. Vascular studies use high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to measure the amount of blood flow in your blood vessels. Treadmill tests are also done at Phillips Clinic Family Practice 

DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH diet is a lifelongapproach to healthy eating that's designed to help treat or prevent high blood pressure (hypertension). 

The DASH diet plan was developed to lower blood pressure without medication in research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

The DASH diet encourages you to reduce the sodium in your diet and eat a variety of

foods rich in nutrients that help lower blood pressure, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.

The DASH Diet

Because the DASH diet is a healthy way of eating, it offers health benefits besides just lowering blood pressure. The DASH diet is also in line with dietary recommendations to prevent osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Wellness Exams:

The importance of a yearly physical exam cannot be overlooked regardless of a patient’s age, health, or history. A comprehensive wellness exam benefits anyone who has concerns about his or her health status. In particular, regular exams are considered the best way to prevent life-threatening illness and identify potential health issues before they become serious. To help people achieve and maintain their well-being, we review each patient’s family and medical history, listen to how the patient perceives their own health, identify potential concerns, and help implement a plan for the patient to ensure their well-being for years to come.  

Allergy Testing:

An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to an inappropriate stimulus, such as dust, grass, pet dander and more. Symptoms and severity of allergies can vary from person to person. We help you determine whether your symptoms are related to allergies by listening to your complaints and concerns. We can take it a step further with skin or blood allergy testing. This can narrow down what you are allergic to, as well as, determine severity and help you decide on a more effective treatment plan. We are strong believers in sublingual immunotherapy for our more severe allergy patients to help treat the allergies not just the symptoms of allergies. Come in to the office or visit AllerVision.com for further information on this form of treatment. We also provide allergy shots on an as needed basis for our more intermittent allergy sufferers. 

Gynecological Exams:

Gynecology is health care specifically for the female body, focusing on the sexual and reproductive organs. Proper gynecological care helps prevent many undesired cancers, diseases, and other illnesses by allowing for early detection. At Phillips Clinic, we understand the importance of early detection and truly believe such detection is essential for preventive measures and treatment. Regardless of your age, marital status, sexuality or level of sexual activity, gynecological care is important. Our compassionate healthcare professionals encourage you to listen to your body when it signals that something may be wrong. We understand it is important to choose a provider you will be comfortable speaking with confidentially and asking questions of a personal nature that might be of concern to you. 

Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy:

One example of our Clinic’s commitment to new-wave medical techniques and research is bio-identical hormone therapy. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), also known as bio-identical hormone therapy or natural hormone therapy refers to the use of hormones that are molecularly identical to endogenous hormones or hormones our body produces. We offer customized compounded prescriptions ensuring you receive a treatment plan that fits your needs perfectly.  

Weight Loss Programs

?Phillips Clinic offers a comprehensive and individualized weight loss program so that you can be well and stay well. Our staff will work with you to help you understand the importance of maintaining a healthier lifestyle and will stay with you as you work to achieve your goals. Our program understands that each individuals’ body type is different and as such, people need to exercise and eat differently. We strive to help you achieve your goals.

Individual Compound Prescriptions:

Another example of our constant commitment to cutting-edge treatment is our individual compound prescriptions. Prescription compounding combines an ageless art with the latest medical knowledge and state-of-the-art technology, allowing trained pharmacists to work with a physician in an effort to prepare customized medications to meet each patient’s specific needs.  

IV Nutritional Therapy:

Our clinic offers a variety of nutritional intravenous (IV) treatments that have been found effective against asthma attacks, migraines, fatigue, fibromyalgia, acute muscle spasms, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders. The IV form allows you to receive higher concentrations of nutrients compared to an oral or injection form. Our healthcare providers will help determine if you are a good candidate for these treatments.

Smoking Cessation

Our Stop Smoking counseling help smokers recognize and cope with some of the problems that can come up during the quitting process. the counseling also provides support and encouragement in staying smoke-free. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is depression that happens only at a certain time of year. With SAD, people tend to become depressed in fall or winter, when days are shorter and it gets dark earlier. 

As with other kinds of depression, SAD can lead to:

Mood changes. 

Negative thinking.

Lack of enjoyment..

Low energy. 

Changes in sleep.

Changes in eating.

Trouble focusing. 

Suicidal thoughts.

These symptoms tend to happen only during the time of year when there are fewer hours of daylight. The exact cause of SAD isn't clear, but it may be that some people react differently to fewer hours of daylight.

Daylight affects two chemicals in the brain: serotonin and melatonin. When it’s sunny, the brain makes more serotonin. High levels boost feelings of happiness and well-being. Low levels lead to depression. When it's dark, the brain also makes more melatonin. High levels cause you to feel sleepy and have less energy.

Talk with your provider if you think you have SAD. If you are diagnosed with SAD, your Phillips provider doctor may recommend one or more of these treatments:

More Light Exposure

Light Therapy (Phototherapy)

Talk Therapy

Medication

If you are diagnosed with SAD, start by talking about it. Ask you provider about treatments and supportive therapies

Get plenty of exercise, especially outdoors.

Spend time with others in ways that don't require much energy, like watching a movie.

Be patient because it may take time for symptoms to improve.

Go to bed and get up at the same time each day to get the most daytime light.

If you are diagnosed SAD, remember it’s seasonal. So even though it could happen each year, there are things that help if it does. 

MANAGING DIABETES

There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be treated and controlled. The goals of managing diabetes are to:

Keep your blood glucose levels as near to normal as possible by balancing food intake with     medication and activity.

Maintain your blood cholesterol and triglyceride (lipid) levels as near the normal ranges as      possible.

Control your blood pressure. Your blood pressure should not go over 140/90.

Decrease or possibly prevent the development of diabetes-related health problems.

YOU & YOUR PHILLIPS CLINIC PROVIDER CAN HELP MANAGE YOU DIABETES BY:

Planning what you eat and following a balanced meal plan.

Exercising regularly.

Taking medication(s) your provider prescribes and closely following the guidelines on how and when to take it.

Monitoring your blood glucose and blood pressure levels at home.

Keeping your appointments with your healthcare providers and having   laboratory tests.        completed as ordered by your doctor.

What you do at home every day    affects your blood glucose more than what your doctor can do every few months during your check-up.

If you’re diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you can monitor your blood sugar level several ways to evaluate how well your treatment plan is working:

HbA1C-A1C or glycosylated hemoglobin test

Your Phillips healthcare provider can regularly perform a test called HbA1c (A1C, or glycosylated hemoglobin test).

An A1C test provides a picture of your average blood sugar control for the past two to three months. Blood sugar is measured by the amount of  glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) in your blood.

Home monitoring

Easy-to-use home monitors allow patients to test their blood sugar on their own. A variety of these devices are on the market.

If you’re managing diabetes with the help of a home monitor, be sure to consult with your doctor to learn what do when your results are too high or low for you.

Tests to Measure Heart Health

People with diabetes are at increased risk for a range of health complications, including cardiovascular disease.

Non-Invasive Tests Available at Phillips Clinic Family Wellness

Electrocardiogram ("EKG" or "ECG"): 

This test measures the electrical    activity of the heart. The heart beats because an electrical impulse (or "wave") travels through it. This wave causes the muscle to squeeze and pump blood from the heart into the arteries. .

Echocardiogram ("echo"): This safe and painless ultrasound test uses sound waves to examine the heart's structure and motion. During this test, a technician moves a device over the chest. The device emits a silent sound wave that bounces off the heart, creating images of its chambers and valves. The echo can tell the doctor how thick the heart muscle is and how well the heart pumps. 

Exercise stress test ("treadmill test" or "exercise test"): This type of test helps determine how well your heart handles work. As your body works harder during the test, it requires more oxygen, so your heart must pump more blood. The test can show if the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply the heart. It also helps doctors know the kind and level of physical activity appropriate for each patient

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.

Symptoms of breast cancer are—

New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).

Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.

Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.

Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.

Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.

Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.

Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.

Pain in any area of the breast.

Keep in mind that these symptoms can happen with other conditions that are not cancer.

If you have any signs or symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away.

Risk Factors That Can’t Be Changed.

Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to a combination of factors. The main factors that influence your risk include being a woman and getting older. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older.

Other factors include family history of breast or ovarian cancer, early menstrual periods or late menopause, genetic mutations, dense breast tissue, having taken DES during pregnancy. 

Risk Factors That Can Be Changed:

Being physically inactive, being overweight or obese, taking hormones, having a first pregnancy after 30, not breast feeing, never having a full term 

pregnancy and drinking an excess amount of alcohol are all risk factors 

that can be changed.

If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, you may have a high risk of getting breast cancer. You may also have a high risk for ovarian cancer. Talk to your Philips Clinic provider about ways to reduce your risk,

Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk,