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How to Manage Your Migraines

There are headaches. And then there are migraines. Migraines can cause moderate to severe pain that can be affected by your diet, stress, medications, sleep patterns or environmental factors like certain odors, altitude changes and weather. Because there is no cure for migraines, the best way to manage them is by familiarizing yourself with your unique set of triggers. This way you may be able to not only manage your migraines, but also reduce or even pre-empt them from occurring. Here are some ways how.

Eat well and don’t skip meals

Eating sporadically, skipping meals, or eating foods that are loaded with MSG, fats and sodium, can trigger migraines. Your best bet is to stick to whole and natural foods that are unprocessed, lower your sodium intake, stay hydrated and don’t skip meals. Avoid pickled or marinated foods, as they are loaded with salt and additives; likewise, avoid alcohol.

Try Coffee

Many people report that a cup of coffee can offset migraine symptoms. If a cup of coffee helps, drink it early in the day so you don’t lose sleep at night.

Scent-free Zones

While it’s hard to avoid every triggering scent – especially if you work in an open office or ride public transportation – there are ways to reduce their triggers, especially in your home. Opting for scent-free cleaning supplies and detergents, bath and beauty products, and candles is a good start. Ask friends and guests to respect your scent-free home by not wearing perfume on visits; also speak to your human resource office at work to see if they have a scent-free office policy.

Medications

Certain medications you may be prescribed can trigger migraines. If you feel this is the case, be sure to speak with your family medicine provider to see if there are other medications or strategies you can use to reduce or eliminate this trigger.

Hormone Changes and Medication

The hormonal changes associated with menstruation and menopause and the medications used to treat them may trigger migraines. The same goes with the hormonal changes that come with pregnancy. Again, speak to your family medicine provider for alternate medications or strategies to minizine the frequency of migraines.

Stress

Stress is a huge trigger; that said it’s not always easy to eliminate all stressors in your life. However, you may consider increasing your exercise levels and focus on wellness to reduce stress levels.

Maintain Adequate Sleep Levels

Not getting enough sleep or constantly changing your sleep schedule can result in migraines. Try to find enough time to get restful sleep at regular hours to reduce your risk of getting migraines.

Sensitivity to Light

Bright lights, glares and fluorescent lighting all can have their effects. That’s why light sensitivity is one of the many reasons those with migraines develop “auras” – seeing flashes or flickering light in the form of stars, spots or halos. If possible, opt for natural lighting. Use computer screen filters to reduce glare. And consider getting an eye check-up, as your migraines may be the result of an eye issue or need of a new glasses or contact prescription.

Changes in Weather, Seasons or Pressure

Many people experience migraines as the barometric pressure drops, or during change of seasons. Understanding how your body adjusts to these changes – and when they occur in your area – can help you prepare for the possibility of migraines.

Know Your Triggers

Before your migraines take full hold, look for any signs such as mood changes, frequent bathroom breaks, random food cravings, and increased sleepiness. If you notice any of these symptoms, find a comfortable space that works for you – it should have dim natural lighting, is quiet and is comforting.

Primary Care in Wellington & Royal Palm Beach

No one should have to deal with migraines. If you are looking for expert medical care that can help you manage your symptoms, then it’s time to reach out to Advance Medical Clinic. With expertise in primary family and internal medicine, our expert providers are caring and compassionate, offering personalized care to you and your loved ones.  If you are experiencing a migraine or its symptoms, or are looking to work with a primary care provider for any reason, seek out an expert. If you live in or around Wellington or Royal Palm Beach, call Advanced Medical Clinic today at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment. We look forward to meeting you!

How to Manage Your Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can affect your quality of life and impact your ability to enjoy everyday activities. It can even damage your self-esteem because you never feel like your best self anymore.

With chronic pain, it can have an isolating effect because the symptoms are not seen by others. However, pain sufferers want a solution – and the good news is that there are ways to effectively manage your chronic pain.

Let’s talk about some of the ways in which chronic pain can be stifled:

Medication

Pain medication includes those you can purchase over the counter (off the shelf) and those prescribed by family medicine providers. Examples of over-the-counter pain relievers are acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These medications are effective at relieving mild to moderate pain on a short-term basis.

For severe chronic pain, family medicine providers may prescribe pain medication that can only be obtained with a prescription. However, long-term use of these medicines can lead to unwanted side effects, and there is a potential of becoming addicted to prescription pain medications.

Implanted Pain Pumps

Chronic pain that does not respond well to conservative medication may respond to surgical implantation of a pain-relief pump. A pain pump is implanted underneath the skin, where it delivers a controlled dose of pain medication.

With this method, the pain medication is slowly released into the body on a continuous basis. This has been reported to provide immense relief in many chronic pain sufferers.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

A spinal cord stimulator is a device that is implanted underneath your skin in the middle of your back. It alters and interrupts pain signals before they have a chance to reach your brain. The device is the size of a pacemaker, and it delivers electrical pulses to the spinal cord.

Trigger-Point Injections

A local anesthetic is injected into pain trigger points, which are usually within a muscle. Depending on what the family medicine provider decides, the anesthetic may be combined with a steroid.

Not all chronic pain sufferers have trigger points. However, those with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome, for example, usually do have trigger points – so this treatment can be very effective for those whose chronic pain is caused by those conditions.

Acupuncture

Taken from traditional Chinese methods of medical treatment, acupuncture involves the manipulation of different points of the body. Thin needles are used to prompt the body to release endorphins, which can block the pain signals traveling to the brain.

Alternative Therapies

There are also other therapies that can help to reduce your dependence on pain medicine, such as yoga, meditation, and physical therapy.

Pain Treatment in Palm Beach County

While there are many methods for managing your chronic pain, a trusted family family medicine provider or nurse practitioner can provide you with the quality care that you need. Our health professionals can administer a combination of treatment methods if necessary to effectively relieve your pain symptoms.

Dr. Ishan Gunawardene of the Advanced Medical Clinic is a board-certified internist offering advanced and highly individualized treatment methods for chronic pain. His offices are conveniently located in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach.

If you have any questions about Dr. Gunawardene’s internal medicine services, please call our friendly team at (561) 434-1935, fill out our easy-to-use appointment request form online, or simply walk into our clinic to receive immediate medical attention. We look forward to seeing you here.

What Causes Headaches?

Not only are headaches a nuisance, they can also bring your busy day to a screeching stop. While most headaches are not a sign of serious illness, there are some that can be due to life-threatening conditions. For this reason, it’s best to consult your family medicine provider if you have a headache that is excruciating, persistent, and out of the ordinary.

Determining the cause of your headache helps family medicine provider’s recommend the appropriate treatment plan to relieve your symptoms. Here are the most common types of headaches and what causes them.

Tension Headaches

A very common type of headache people experience is a tension headache. It is characterized by a constant dull pain on one or both sides of the head that lasts at least 30 minutes. Other symptoms may include sensitivity to light and sounds, tenderness in the face and neck, and pressure behind the eyes. This type of headache responds well to NSAIDs and does not usually restrict you from doing other activities.

Tension headaches are usually caused by triggers like hunger, dehydration, inactivity, lack of sleep, eye strain, stress, anxiety, and depression.

Cluster Headaches

A cluster headache is characterized by a piercing and burning sensation in or around the eyes and a non-throbbing pain typically on just one side of the head. It is usually accompanied by watery eyes, swollen eyelids and debilitating pain. Cluster headaches can repeatedly come back for a few months at a time. The exact cause of cluster headaches is not known, but tests have shown activity in the hypothalamus during a cluster headache attack.

<h3 “>Hormonal Headaches

This type of headache is related to changes in hormone levels that are linked to a woman’s menstrual cycle. Menstrual migraines do not respond well to NSAIDs once the headache starts, which is why treatment usually involves preemptive pain relief. Hormonal headaches may occur during ovulation, which is usually due to the fluctuation of estrogen levels. The symptoms are similar to that of a migraine and the pain can be severe.

Migraines

A migraine is categorized as a primary headache. It is characterized by throbbing pain usually occurring on one side of the head. A person experiencing migraine is highly sensitive to bright lights, sounds, and smells, which is why nausea and vomiting usually accompany migraines. Some migraine sufferers experience an aura before the migraine manifests. The aura can last for an hour in some cases.

Family medicine providers do not fully know the cause of migraines, but there is evidence that genetics play a role. People with relatives who suffer from migraines have a higher risk of getting migraines, as well.

Headache Treatment in Palm Beach, Florida

At Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida, we provide a variety of treatment methods to effectively relieve the symptoms of headaches.

With a combination of compassionate care, medication, and lifestyle changes, we can help make your headaches less severe or prevent episodes altogether.

We want you to achieve a better quality of life, and we do this by offering a high standard of primary and urgent care. If headaches are preventing you from living your life, call (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment now.

Causes of Bronchitis

If you have bronchitis, it means the lining of your bronchial tubes is inflamed. Two of the most common symptoms of bronchitis are a thickening of mucus and difficulty carrying air in and out of the lungs.

The treatment you need for bronchitis largely depends on what caused it. For example, bronchitis may be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Oftentimes, the infection of the chest is secondary, following a respiratory tract infection.

Symptoms of Bronchitis

Bronchitis is either acute or chronic. It is chronic bronchitis if the symptoms persist and do not go away after two weeks. Acute bronchitis should go away with or without treatment. The symptoms of acute and chronic bronchitis are similar. They include:

  • Constant coughing
  • Producing mucus that’s white, yellow, or green in color
  • Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath)
  • Body aches and fatigue
  • Feeling cold and feverish
  • Discomfort or pain in the chest area

A typical bout of chronic bronchitis is three months. Chronic bronchitis can lead to serious complications, which is why it’s important to see a family medicine provider if your acute bronchitis has turned chronic.

Causes of Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is usually the result of an infection from a cold, flu, virus or bacteria. In the case of a virus, your family medicine provider  may prescribe antiviral medication. In the case of bacteria, your family medicine provider or may prescribe antibiotics.

Bronchitis Risk Factors

There are some risk factors that increase your likelihood of developing bronchitis. Here are some examples.

  • Living with a smoker or being a smoker puts you at higher risk of developing acute or chronic bronchitis.
  • Occupational hazards such as working in a factory that produces toxic fumes or working with formaldehyde or toxic cleaning agents can lead to bronchitis.
  • Another risk factor is having a weak immune system because of certain medications or illnesses, which can make you more prone to developing respiratory and chest infections. People with compromised immune systems such as those with AIDS or HIV are also vulnerable to developing bronchitis.
  • Finally, gastric reflux sufferers are also prone to developing bronchitis due to stomach acid irritating the throat.

Preventing Bronchitis

Prevention usually involves reducing your exposure to irritants, quitting smoking, and keeping a healthy lifestyle. Getting vaccinated also protects you from certain virus strains, such as influenza, which reduces the risk of bronchitis developing as a result of it. If your occupation is a risk factor, wear a mask while doing your job. Also, wear a mask if your immune system is compromised or weak. Finally, eat a healthy diet and exercise to strengthen your immune system.

Bronchitis Treatment in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

If you are experiencing symptoms of bronchitis, our compassionate family medicine specialists at Advanced Medical will ensure you get the proper treatment for your condition. Our family medicine providers and staff take the time to listen to our patients because we know that every person’s illness is different and deserves our full attention. To make an appointment, call (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment online now.

Safety Equipment for Equestrians

Horse riding is a fun activity that is not only healthy but also very enjoyable for animal lovers. Whether you are a professional equestrian or simply like riding in leisure time, horse riding is a fulfilling sport for everyone. Like with any sport or athletic activity, safety equipment is a pivotal aspect of keeping yourself safe from injury. Let’s take a look at safety equipment that equestrians should use every time they ride to keep themselves safe.

Reflective Clothing

One of the basic safety needs of an equestrian is reflective clothing. This type of protective gear helps the riders be more visible in situations with low light. Reflective clothing may also include straps which can be placed around the horse to make it more visible. Reflective clothing helps people see the rider and horse clearly so there is less chance of collisions or accidents.

Helmet

A good helmet serves as an airbag for your head and brain. Statistics show that in 2017, approximately 15,000 head injuries in the United States were caused by falling off or handling horses. This makes a helmet critical to head safety so in the situation a rider falls, there is minimal damage to the head.

Riding Vest

The riding vest protects the torso from bruising, prevents injury to the internal organs, and helps reduce injury to soft tissue in accidents. Some equestrians don’t like wearing riding vests because they tend to be bulky which leads to sweating. However, the safety benefits of a riding vest outweigh the inconvenience it may provide. Whether you are an occasional rider, speed game competitor, jumping rider, or long-distance rider, you should always wear a riding vest.

<h2″>Boots

There are a variety of boots available for equestrians. Two examples are tall boots and riding boots. Tall boots protect the riders’ legs from chafing while they ride. They also prevent riders’ legs from getting scraped by shrubs and branches on the trail. Riding boots are characterized by small heels. The purpose of these low heels is to assist the riders’ feet in the stirrup. They also protect the toes from getting trampled. The type of boot you should use when you ride a horse depends on the type of horse-riding activities you do and the safety needs specific to that activity.

Gloves

Gloves are crucial when riding horses because they provide extra strength and grip to the hands. The gloves protect against blisters from pulling and navigating the horse.

While it is impossible to guarantee you won’t get hurt while riding a horse, having the correct safety gear on can significantly lower your chances of injury. In the case you need assistance from injuries sustained while riding a horse, playing another sport, or from events that occur in routine life, you should have a trustworthy and experienced family medicine provider to lean on for support. The experts at Advanced Medical Clinic are happy to help you with any and all medical problems you may have. Call (561) 434-1935 to make an appointment or set an appointment online.

Back Issues for Equestrians

Low back pain is common among horseback riders. These are mostly the aches and pains of strained muscles from excessive riding or improper posture while on the horse.

Controlling and riding a large animal like a horse requires the same strength and effort as is required for many other sports. In a nutshell, horseback riding requires body control similar to that used by athletes when skiing, or as can be seen in the martial arts, and even dancing.

To avoid back problems, you need to learn how to balance your body correctly while riding your horse.

Here is the list of the riding habits that can lead to back pain:

1. Slouched Shoulders. Slouched shoulders = lousy posture, which in turn hurts your spine with every step your horse takes. A horse’s gait is not that far off from humans, but when your shoulders are rounded it makes it difficult to control the horse and maintain your balance. This can easily lead to back pain and sore muscles that can last for days.

2. Leaning Forward During Turns. A good rider knows how to keep their posture centered even as they take turns and swerve their horses in different directions. Take tight turns and keep your weight focused, allowing it to fall inward as you make your turn. This will avoid a possible muscle strain in the process

3. Hollow Back. Another bad habit horseback riders have is sitting up too straight or too stiffly, then overcompensating by hollowing out the lower back. This affects the space you take on top of the horse, which can influence your balance and how well you can control the horse. The position puts undue strain on your lower back and can cause you to fall off your horse if not corrected.

4. Pinching Your Knees Together. For new riders, this is especially common. The amateur equestrian might resort to pinching the knees together in an effort to stay on the horse. However, this action affects how you are positioned atop the saddle and makes it more difficult to balance, apply leg aids, and to properly post the trot (when you rise out of the saddle, which can smooth the ride when your horse is trotting).

Preventing Low Back Pain

Experts suggest using proper posture while horseback riding to help eliminate low back pain associated with the activity. You should also wear the appropriate equipment and protective gear while you ride. This can help constrain and protect your back muscles, as well as protect against other injuries. In addition, riding in moderation can help lessen the likelihood of lower back pain related to your horseback riding.

Well-Equipped Family Medicine Provider in Wellington

If you have lower back pain from prolonged horseback riding, visit Advanced Medical Clinic to get it treated. Request an appointment now or call us at (561) 434-1935 for more details and to schedule a checkup with one of our licensed family medicine providers today.

Treating COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an incurable but treatable condition that affects over 16 million Americans who have been diagnosed with the disease. Many others suffer from it unknowingly.

The acronym COPD is an umbrella term that covers any disease affecting airway obstructions, especially emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Let’s take a look at the causes, symptoms, and ultimate treatments of the various disorders included in COPD.

Causes and Symptoms of COPD

The primary cause for COPD in developed nations like the United States is cigarette smoking. In underdeveloped nations, it tends to occur when people are overexposed to burning fuel for cooking or to heating elements in poorly ventilated homes and buildings.

The main types of COPD in the U.S. are chronic bronchitis and emphysema:

Chronic Bronchitis

This condition occurs when there is inflammation of the bronchial tubes, causing the bronchial tubes to narrow and produce excessive mucus. The narrowing and extra mucus together block airflow to and from the lungs, and sufferers develop a chronic cough while trying to breathe.

Emphysema

This is a condition whereby the smallest air passageways in the lungs are destroyed, causing shortness of breath. Emphysema is a result of exposure to damaging substances from smoking, irritating gases, or other particulate matter that gets trapped in the lungs and causes damage. Smaller airways can collapse when exhaling, further impairing breathing.

Treatment for COPD

Any of the COPD health conditions are manageable. They do require certain changes in lifestyle. The best way to manage your COPD symptoms is to stop smoking and to avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible.

Medical treatments for COPD include a bronchodilator, which comes in an inhaler. This medication can help relax the muscles of the airway, relieving coughing and making it easier to breathe.

Inhalant forms of steroids can also help with the symptoms of COPD, although they do have certain unpleasant side effects. You and your family medicine provider can discuss whether the benefits outweigh the effects of COPD.

Oxygen therapy can also help considerably. There are modern ways of carrying around a portable oxygen tank that make it less obvious than before. Portable oxygen has indeed proven to extend the lifespan and improve the quality of life of a person with COPD.

Diagnosis of COPD

To get a diagnosis, your family medicine provider will first review your family history. Up to 30% of people with COPD were never smokers, so the family medicine provider will be checking for a genetic predisposition to lung issues. The family medicine provider will also discuss any potential exposure to lung irritants like cigarettes, or exposure to harmful fumes in the workplace.

They will also perform a series of diagnostic tests, such as the following:

  • Spirometry is a machine with a tube that measures how much air you can inhale and how quickly (and how much) air you can exhale.
  • A chest X-ray can show the presence of emphysema and rule out other potential problems.
  • A CT scan can detect emphysema and determine whether surgery could be beneficial, while it also screens for lung cancer.
  • An arterial-blood gas analysis will test how well the lungs bring oxygen to the blood and filter out carbon dioxide.

Family Medicine Provider in Palm Beach County

COPD is a serious illness that requires management and medical supervision in order to continue enjoying life. If you are in the Wellington or Royal Palm Beach area, contact our team to schedule an appointment at Advanced Medical Clinic.

Call us today at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment online now, and let us help you get back to better breathing!

Diabetes

There are more than 100 million Americans who have diabetes or pre-diabetes – encompassing almost a third of the country’s entire population. About 84 million have pre-diabetes, and 30 million do have the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that affects the body’s ability to process glucose (sugar). Glucose provides the energy necessary for the cells in our muscles and tissues to work properly, but diabetes leads to high sugar levels which can cause serious health problems.

In 2015, diabetes was among the top 10 causes of death in this country, ranking at #7. That is why it is so important to catch the disease early, at the pre-diabetic stage, before it turns into type 2 diabetes.

Types of Diabetes

There are several different types of diabetes. Let’s take a look at the most common forms of this condition:

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs only in pregnant women. If a woman develops this condition, it usually first appears in the middle of pregnancy. This condition normally disappears after the baby has been born.

If gestational diabetes is ignored, it can cause the baby to be too large. This can create problems during delivery, and the baby can develop nerve damage because there tends to be too much pressure on the baby’s shoulder during the birthing process.

A woman with gestational diabetes also has a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later. Therefore, it is important for the woman to continue following a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise.

Pre-Diabetes

If a person has pre-diabetes, it is necessary for them to modify their diet in order to avoid developing type 2 diabetes. Regular exercise that the person enjoys and a healthy diet comprising foods the person likes are essential to maintaining a healthy body going forward.

If you have pre-diabetes and you continue to follow an unhealthy lifestyle, eating high-fat foods and being notably overweight, you are likely to develop type 2 diabetes within five years. That is the dangerous stage of diabetes, so it should be carefully avoided.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a serious form of this disease, and its exact cause remains unknown. It is believed to be either an inherited disorder or caused by a virus.

This type of diabetes causes a person’s pancreas to release very small amounts of insulin or no insulin at all. Without insulin, sugar levels will continually build up in the bloodstream, causing severe side effects.

Insulin is a hormone that enables glucose to enter our cells for energy. We get glucose from the foods we eat after the food is processed by the digestive system.

This form of the disease was previously called juvenile diabetes. It usually appears during childhood or adolescence, and it requires daily insulin injections to stay alive because the pancreas is not providing the proper insulin support.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, and it can develop at any age in a person’s life – but it usually affects people over the age of 40. With type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin properly, even though it still produces it.

This form develops over many years, and symptoms may not be obvious. With proper nutrition, daily exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight, the development of type 2 diabetes can be delayed and even prevented.

Complications from Diabetes

Having diabetes dramatically raises the risk of many cardiovascular problems, such as a heart attack or a stroke. The presence of excessive sugar in the bloodstream can lead to nerve damage, especially in the legs – which, if left untreated, can cause a loss of all sensation in the affected limbs.

Complications often affect the feet and legs of diabetic patients. This can lead to the need for amputation of the foot, leg, or both in order to keep the diabetic person alive.

Kidney damage can also be caused by diabetes. Severe kidney damage can lead to kidney failure, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the retina, potentially leading to issues in the eye. This can cause glaucoma, cataracts, and even blindness.

Family Medicine Provider in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach

Our skilled and experienced medical team at Advanced Medical Clinic is here to assist you in all of your health care needs. We practice family and internal medicine – and if you have any risk factors for diabetes, we can provide a full evaluation and treatment if necessary.

Call us at (561) 434-1935 today, or request an appointment online right now. Let us help put your mind at ease about diabetes.

Equestrian Injuries

It is estimated that more than 30 million Americans ride horses annually – and that more than 2,300 riders under the age of 25 are hospitalized each year due to equestrian injuries.

It might surprise you to learn that horseback riding has a higher injury rate than riding on a motorcycle. After all, horses are large, powerful, and unpredictable animals. They can gallop as fast as 55 mph, and if they fall – or a rider falls off the horse – the impact could be devastating.

Injures from Horseback Riding

The most common injuries sustained from horseback riding occur in the upper extremities – involving the wrist, elbow, and shoulder – which tend to happen when pinned, caught, or flung by a horse. However, the knee, ankle, and foot are also vulnerable during various equestrian activities.

And it’s not just riding – accidents often take place in the stable while handling, feeding, or grooming a horse. There is also the risk of being kicked, bitten, pushed over, or crushed by a horse under certain circumstances, such as when a horse is in conflict with another horse or is fleeing from another horse.

Common injuries while riding or tending horses include:

  • Strains and sprains
  • Bruises
  • Fractures
  • Dislocations
  • Herniated discs
  • Concussions

Traumatic injury to the head is a much less common but nevertheless life-threatening horseback riding injury. Horses have been known to suddenly stop when running, and the momentum throws the rider off of the horse – which can cause severe injury to the rider, particularly if the person lands on their head.

How Can I Avoid Injuries While Riding My Horse?

While it’s understandable that accidents will happen while engaging in certain horseback riding activities, such as jumping and cross-country, other injuries are very avoidable if you take the proper precautions and follow some basic horseback riding safety rules:

Wear a Helmet

Wear an approved, safety-standard hard-shell helmet at all times when mounting and riding a horse. The helmet should always be fastened securely, and you should buy a new one if you ever experience a significant impact. While many trail-riding clubs dispense with this rule, be aware that not wearing a helmet exposes you to a potentially severe injury.

Wear Riding Boots

Be sure you properly match the width of your riding boots to the width of your stirrups in order to avoid getting caught and dragged by a horse. The width of your boot should be only 2 centimeters smaller than the stirrup width – nice and tight, but not too tight.

You may also want to install release catches on your saddle to prevent dragging in case your foot is ever caught. Be sure your feet are correctly positioned in the stirrups.

Wear Proper Clothing

Wear nonskid gloves when riding, and avoid wearing loose-fitting or baggy clothing. You don’t want your clothes to get caught on a branch or other object when riding.

Inspect All Equipment

Maintain and inspect all riding equipment thoroughly before you ride your horse. Consider wearing body-protecting gear to prevent fractures and soft-tissue injuries.

This gear may not protect your spine or chest from a serious blow, but it can spare you from a rib, knee, or elbow injury. Like the helmet, if this gear is ever damaged, get a replacement.

Family Medicine Providers in Wellington

At Advanced Medical Clinic, we treat many horseback riding injuries – as well as other health conditions – in the equestrian community of Wellington, Florida. We pride ourselves on providing personalized, quality health care for you and your entire family.

To learn more about us and about the primary medical care services we offer, or to arrange a visit to our friendly South Florida clinic, call us at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment using our online form. We are always happy to serve you.

The Pains of Aging

It’s an inevitable part of the human experience – the older we get, the more likely we will begin to feel the aches and pains of aging.

Often, the culprit is short-term acute pain that is suddenly triggered because your body isn’t as nimble as it used to be. Your muscle fibers have become weaker due to a loss of density, your equilibrium is not as steady, your joints are stiffer, and the cartilage in those joints has worn down.

Older adults can also begin to experience chronic pain following an illness, an injury, or the onset of a health issue. Certain parts of your body – such as your hands, wrists, hips, knees, neck, and lower back – get overused throughout your life, which is why conditions such as osteoarthritis and other forms of joint pain are so common among those of us who are age 60 or older.

Other age-related sources of pain include degenerative disc disease (affecting the discs in the spine), frozen shoulder, bone spurs, and rheumatoid arthritis. Headaches and migraines are also a common source of pain among mature adults, although those can start much earlier in life.

How Can I Prevent Age-Related Pains?

Just because it’s a normal part of the aging process doesn’t mean you have to tolerate acute or chronic pain. There are many natural ways you can help reduce and/or prevent pain at any age. Some simple measures include:

  • Exercising every day – even if it’s just walking or stretching.
  • Eating well, particularly eliminating processed and sugary foods from your diet.
  • Adding grapes and berries that are rich in resveratrol and antioxidants to your diet.

Eating anti-inflammatory foods, such as fish. You can also take a fish oil supplement and/or add turmeric to your meals. (Note that fish oil supplements can negatively affect your eyesight, so discuss it with your family medicine provider first.)

  • Losing a few pounds if you have to, and maintain your normal body weight.
  • Using hot and cold therapy, as well as topical medications.
  • Taking Epsom salt baths to soothe your muscles and aching limbs.
  • Trying some holistic pain-relieving methods such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, acupuncture, and acupressure.

Of course, some age-related pain is too complex or severe to respond to do-it-yourself therapy and home remedies. When that is the case, you may require prescribed medication and/or professional medical treatment.

Family Medicine in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach

At Advanced Medical Clinic in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, we pride ourselves on providing personalized, quality health care for your entire family. That includes diagnosing and treating painful, age-related conditions such as headaches, migraines, arthritis, and other joint conditions, as well as many more chronic and acute illnesses.

Board-certified internist Dr. Ishan Gunawardene offers advanced and customized treatment options for adults of all ages, including geriatric medicine. To learn more about us and the primary services we offer, or to arrange a visit to our friendly clinic, call us today at (561) 434-1935, or request an appointment using our online form. We are always happy to serve you.