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Managing Diabetes: 6 Tips for Type 1 Diabetes

Contrary to popular belief, type 1 diabetes is not only a childhood disease. Although it usually strikes in people under the age of 20, it can occur at any age, in every race, and to people of every shape and size.

Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose, a sugar that is used as a source of fuel for the body. Normally, the hormone insulin helps glucose enter the cells where it is used for energy.  People with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin. As a result, glucose does not get into the body’s cells and stays in the bloodstream. Too much sugar in the blood makes people ill and can result in medical complications. Therefore, people with type 1 diabetes have to monitor their blood glucose levels constantly and appropriately administer insulin every day of their lives.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for type 1 diabetes, but there are many things you can do that will help you manage your condition in order to live a long and healthy life.

Get the Right Support

Every person who has diabetes should have a personal plan and a health care team. You’re in charge of putting that plan into action, but you don’t have to compile it on your own. Speak to your family medicine provider about setting up the right support for you. This should include an endocrinologist, a nutritionist, or a dietitian, and you may even want to include a podiatrist and an ophthalmologist and a diabetes educator to explain to you how to live better with the condition.

Get Regular Checks with Your Health Care Team

Talk with your health care team regularly, and keep them in the loop on your condition. High blood sugar can affect organs and tissues throughout your body. Even if your diabetes is controlled well, health problems can still arise – so it is important to get checked out regularly and watch for warning signs such as sores that don’t heal, swelling, tingling, or numbness in your hands and feet, and blurred or double vision. You should report these concerns early on so they can be treated quickly before getting worse. You can slow or even stop the damage if you act quickly.

It is vitally important to see your endocrinologist at least every 90 days and have your longer-term blood sugar levels checked. A Hemoglobin A1c test tells you and your family medicine provider what your blood sugars are doing over a 90-day period and helps tremendously in managing the disease.

Watch What You Eat and When You Eat

It is a good idea to have a healthy meal plan in place which includes complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber, lots of green, leafy vegetables, and limits to the amount of fat in your diet – especially saturated fats such as bacon, sausage, and full-fat dairy. Saturated fat raises your chance of heart disease, and with diabetes this increases your risk further. Making smart food choices can lower that risk.

Carbohydrates are found in many foods including grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and sugars. They are your body’s main source of energy, but they raise your blood sugar levels faster than any other food – so knowing how many and what type of carbs you can eat can affect how well you manage your diabetes.

It is a good idea to work with your family medicine provider or dietician to establish a personalized eating plan to figure out how many grams of carbs you should be eating throughout the day and try to ensure you are eating a healthy, balanced diet.

Eating little and often rather than the usual three meals a day is more likely to keep your blood sugar levels stable than going long periods without eating.

Get Active

Regular physical activity can help you lose extra weight, keep blood sugar levels healthy, and lower your blood pressure. It can also improve your sleep, mood, and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, which can all negatively affect blood glucose levels.

Just 5 minutes of walking can dramatically reduce your blood glucose levels. Try to find a form of exercise you enjoy, whether this be individually or in a group.

It is important to keep a close eye on your blood sugar levels before, during, and after exercise, because it can raise or lower your levels and can even trigger hypoglycemia.

Take Advantage of Advancements

Diabetes management has come a long way. Be sure to take advantage of the tools and technology that exist to help aid in the daily management of the disease.

Make sure you have a blood glucose monitor and that you do regular checks (at least four per day). Most monitors use a very small drop of blood and display the results very quickly. There is even a monitor available that requires no finger sticks at all.

Consider getting a CGM as well. A CGM is a continuous glucose monitor. The device is a small sensor you wear on the skin that reads and displays blood sugar results every 5 minutes automatically. This allows you to know what your blood sugars are doing 24 hours per day. The results display through your smartphone, and alarms signal an oncoming low or high, allowing you to stay ahead of blood sugar changes.

Instead of injections, consider an insulin pump. An insulin pump can help you manage your diabetes by matching your insulin to your lifestyle, rather than getting an insulin injection and matching your life to how the insulin is working. Insulin pumps deliver short-acting insulin 24 hours a day through a catheter placed under the skin. You then deliver insulin through the pump based on the number of carbohydrates you will eat at mealtime or to correct a high blood sugar. There is even a wireless pump available that allows you to wear it discreetly on multiple places on the body as well as swim and shower with it.

Be Kind to Yourself

Living with diabetes and its daily demands can be stressful, so it’s really important to focus on and feel good about your achievements. Don’t be overly critical of yourself if you fall short of a goal, and give yourself credit when you are successful at managing your blood sugar. Remember to do the best you can do and keep a positive attitude.

At Advanced Medical, PA, we pride ourselves in providing personal and individualized, quality health care. Our experienced medical staff take the time to get to know our patients, and we are here to help you manage diabetes and other chronic conditions. To learn more about us and the services we offer, or to arrange a visit, call us at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about our practice and the primary care services we provide.

Horseback Riding Injury Prevention

If there is one thing Wellington, Florida, is known for, it’s the area’s world-class equestrian community. Folks in these parts love horseback riding, and who can blame them? It’s great exercise for the entire body and invigorating for the spirit.
However, unless you follow the appropriate measures, you can sustain a serious injury while horseback riding. In fact, more than 48,000 Americans are treated for horseback riding injuries each year, according to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Often, these injuries result from riders attempting to break a fall – but instead, they suffer bruises, sprains, strains, and fractures to the wrist, shoulder, or elbow. More severe, sometimes life-threatening, horseback riding injuries include damage to the pelvis, spine, and head.

To help prevent horseback riding injuries, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) offers these suggestions:

  • Always wear a helmet that meets industry safety standards when horseback riding.
  • Also be sure to wear well-fitted, sturdy leather boots with a minimal heel. Do not wear loose-fitting clothing.
  • Before you mount, inspect all riding equipment to be sure it isn’t damaged and that it has been secured properly. The saddle and stirrups should be appropriate for your size and properly adjusted.
  • Using safety stirrups that break away in the event of a fall might be a good idea for children and inexperienced riders.
  • Always supervise young horseback riders.
  • If you are an amateur rider, stick with open, flat terrain or a monitored riding arena.
  • Do not attempt jumps or stunts without supervision, as these require a much higher level of riding skill.
  • If you fall off your horse, roll toward the side when you hit the ground to avoid being trampled.
  • Never ride a horse when you’re tired, on medication, or under the influence of alcohol.
  • Keep in mind that horses are flight animals that will bolt and take off running from sudden noises or movements. So be alert for anything that might suddenly startle your horse, and be ready to respond quickly.
  • When trail riding, do not stray from that path. Also, be sure to heed any warning signs.
  • Never stand or walk behind a horse. It might provoke the horse to kick. Horses are less threatened when approached at their shoulder.
  • You can tell a lot about a horse’s disposition or condition by watching its head, especially its ear movements. A horse will react to a sound by directing one or both ears toward the sound. Likewise, if the horse is sleeping, sedated, or under the weather, the ears will be held to the side. And if the horse’s ears are pinned back, it may feel threatened and/or angry.
  • When providing the horse with a treat, keep your hand open and your fingers flat and extended. Otherwise, the horse might unintentionally bite and break your fingers.

Superior Family Health Care in Wellington, Florida

At Advanced Medical Clinic, PA, we pride ourselves on providing personalized, quality health care for your entire family. To learn more about us and the primary services we offer, or to arrange a visit to our friendly Wellington, Florida clinic, call us at (561) 434-1935, or request an appointment using our online form. We are always happy to serve you.

Reasons Why You Need a Family Medicine Provider

Health care is becoming increasingly fragmented, which can make it hard to know who to turn to when you need medical attention. Americans are increasingly using emergency rooms or urgent care centers as their primary health care source, instead of just for medical emergencies. While this may seem easier or more convenient, the reality is that having a family medicine provider can be the better choice.

Long-Term Medical History

Having a good family medicine provider who has taken care of you anywhere from infancy to adulthood is beneficial and important for many reasons. Since the relationship is developed over time, your primary care provider gets to know you and your medical history inside and out, which means more accurate diagnoses and consistent monitoring of changes in your health over time.

A family medicine provider familiarity with your medical history means that you’re supported in both disease management and disease prevention. Treatment provided over a long period of time means that family medicine provider learns what is considered normal for you. This allows the family medicine provider to be the first to detect emerging conditions through any significant changes that could indicate a serious problem.

Comprehensive Care

A family medicine provider can provide regular checkups and exams, as well as offer advice and information on a wide range of topics. Your family medicine provider can also provide comprehensive care by treating a wide range of health conditions, from back pain and flu to managing chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma.

The family medicine provider’s ability to listen to your needs and give you time and expertise with each treatment ensures that you receive the best care possible.

Continuity of Care With Specialists

Another important benefit of having a family medicine provider is continuity of care if you need to see a specialist. Your family medicine provider has unique knowledge of your health and can consult with the specialist about your conditions and history. By being active in the referral process, the primary care provider can ensure that the specialist has all the right background information on your conditions and the medications you take. Keeping you in good health is the goal, so trusting in your family medicine provider’s expertise can go a long way.

Advanced Family Health Care in Wellington, Florida

Seeing a familiar face as you travel through the stages of life can be very comforting, especially when times get tough. At Advanced Medical Clinic, PA, we pride ourselves on providing individualized, quality health care for your family.

To learn more about us and the services we offer, or to arrange a visit to our Wellington, Florida clinic, call us at (561) 434-1935, or request an appointment using our online form. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about our practice and the primary care services we provide.

Does Allergy Season Arrive Earlier in Florida?

Residents and snowbirds relish living in Florida for the same reason: the warm weather is the draw, especially during the temperate climate of winter months, when most of the country is freezing. Yet living in the Sunshine State has its pitfalls, such as allergies that can affect Floridians throughout the year.

Seasons in Florida

Florida has seasons just like the rest of the country – they just aren’t quite as obvious. Neither is the allergy season. There’s not a specific time when it arrives, it just always is. It’s totally possible to suffer from an allergy during a chilly Florida winter or when the trees don’t turn in the fall.

Allergy Season

Different allergens appear at different times of the year – however, in Florida, the allergy season begins early. Allergy sufferers up north find a bit of relief as a result of hard freezes. When allergy season awakens in the northern states, due to hay fever and tree pollens, Floridians have already been submersed for many months.

Allergy season in Florida is brought in with the New Year: beginning in January and lasting through the year until it subsides in November. That’s a long season.

Florida trees don’t lie dormant during winter months, which explains the length of the allergy season. The allergy season basically sticks around for most of the year, unlike up north when trees pollinate in the early spring. Florida trees can begin pollinating as early as December and rarely later than the end of January. Additionally, Florida has many trees that pollinate 12 months out of the year.

Allergen-Producing Trees

Pollen is perennial in the state of Florida. Pollinating trees are an issue prior to traditional spring, but so are Florida grasses that pollinate. Wind is pollen’s carrier and of course Florida is no stranger to the winds that deliver massive volumes of the substance, hundreds of miles at a time.

Pine pollen is common in Florida due to moist, humid air. Fine yellow dust appears on outside surfaces. Florida is full of pine trees and while allergies to pine are fairly rare, pollen produced by trees causes discomfort in the sensitive. The pollen spreads through the air as it’s released in very large quantities, but it’s also visible on surfaces.

Dealing With Pollen Allergies

It is impossible to avoid pollen altogether, but keeping doors and windows closed on days with a high pollen count will help. You may notice pollen on the surface of your car each morning. Pollen is highest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., but you may feel it before seeing it, as it is highly allergenic.

If you know your triggers, you can help prevent allergy symptoms with medications or by limiting time spent outdoors. If you can’t get control over your body’s immune system, consulting with an allergist will help.

Professional Allergy Help in Wellington

The family medicine provider’s at Advanced Medical Clinic can address your allergy symptoms and determine what your triggers are to help you find relief. Same-day appointments are available. Call us at (561) 434-1935, or you can request an appointment using our online form.

How to Prevent Heart Disease

One in four deaths are attributed to heart disease in the United States. That works out to about 610,000 people who die from the disease each year, making it the leading cause of death for both men and women. That’s the bad news, according to the Centers for Disease Control. However, there is also good news. You can prevent heart disease by knowing what causes it and by making lifestyle adjustments.

Associated Risks

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are major risk factors that affect heart health. Smoking is also one of the greatest risks that people take, moving them closer to a heart event. Unfortunately, for nearly half of the American population, all three of these risks are in play.

A poor diet, obesity, and inactivity add to the risks of heart disease, as does drinking alcohol in excess. If addressed, these lifestyle choices can profoundly turn the tide toward good heart health. If you have a high level of triglycerides, which is a type of fat in the blood and related to cholesterol, it also raises your risk of heart disease.

Practical Steps to Defend Heart Health

Get to an ER If Alarming Symptoms Arise

If any acute symptoms appear that have you concerned, it’s best to proceed to the nearest hospital emergency room instead of waiting for a regular family medicine provider appointment.

Pains in the chest or shortness of breath could indicate a heart attack event.

See Your Family Medicine Provider

Barring any emergencies, the first step toward ensuring a healthy heart is to speak with your health care professional, especially if you’ve experienced discomfort in your chest that could be heart-related.

Schedule a regular appointment with your family medicine provider and be sure to communicate any symptoms. Your family health history will also be taken into account, as heart disease is often hereditary. The family medicine provider may listen to your heart and order blood work for testing. If test results or the exam leads the family medicine provider to have questions regarding your heart health, you may be referred to a cardiologist.

Control Your Blood Pressure

Controlling high blood pressure is critical to heart health. When cholesterol levels are high, it tends to block arteries and increase blood pressure, which raises the chance of a heart attack. Your family medicine provider may prescribe medications to lower cholesterol.

Watch What You Eat

Talk with your family medicine provider or nutritionist about a low-cholesterol diet. Paying attention to what you eat can have a profoundly positive effect on your heart health. A healthy diet that limits saturated fats, salt intake, and compound sugars helps lower high blood pressure, and cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood – which helps you lose weight that strains the heart.

Stop Smoking

If you smoke, stop. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Smoking places you at risk for high blood pressure and a heart attack. Once you quit, your risk goes down. If willpower isn’t enough to get you to quit, speak with your family medicine provider for suggestions on how you can become less dependent on nicotine.

Keep Blood Sugar Managed

As if it didn’t come with enough concerns already, diabetes is a risk factor for heart disease. Diabetes gone unchecked allows high blood sugar levels to cause damage to blood vessels and nerves in your heart. Make an effort to manage your blood sugar properly if you have diabetes. Your family medicine provider will adjust your diet and medications to help protect you.

Internal Medicine Expertise in Wellington

If you have symptoms that could lead to heart disease, don’t ignore them. Start today to make lifestyle changes that will lead to a healthier heart. Our medical team at Advanced Medical Clinic can assess your condition and move you in the right direction.

Same-day appointments are available. Call us at (561) 434-1935, or you can request an appointment using our online form.

Managing Your Weight with Diabetes

For more than 30 million Americans, diabetes or prediabetes is a fact of life. Being overweight is a major factor that can make a person susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes.

In type 2 diabetes, the body either resists the effects of insulin or it doesn’t produce enough insulin for the cells to maintain proper levels of glucose (sugar). Insulin is a hormone that regulates the sugar in your body’s cells, and being overweight puts excess pressure on your body in regulating these levels.

If you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, losing weight can make a significant positive impact on your health and diabetes management. Let’s take a look at how your weight affects – and can be affected by – diabetes.

Weight Gain and Diabetes

Obesity is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, but actually any amount of excess weight makes you more likely to have diabetes. In fact, 90 percent of people diagnosed are overweight. In addition, fat that is concentrated around your waist (belly fat) carries an even greater link.

For those who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, excess weight can make your body become resistant to insulin. Your pancreas therefore makes more insulin in response to this resistance, and the pancreas can eventually lose function from being overworked.

How Weight Loss Can Help

According to the American Diabetes Association, losing just a few pounds can make diabetes more manageable. Plus, obesity is also linked with heart disease, so losing weight truly improves your overall health.

Losing weight therefore reduces the need for insulin medication, decreases feelings of depression, and can reduce or eliminate obstructive sleep apnea.

Why Diabetes Can Make Losing Weight More Difficult

Maintaining your weight after losing it successfully is hard for everyone, but these are some additional hurdles you may face if you have type 2 diabetes:

  • Medication to lower blood sugar can cause weight gain.
  • People who are treated for depression or other psychiatric disorders (which are common with diabetes) may take medicine that causes weight gain.
  • Peripheral nerve damage (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) can affect the body’s ability to maintain weight.
  • Changes in metabolism related to diabetes can make weight loss more difficult.

Strategies for Weight Management

It is important to remember that weight loss is a long-term process, and patience is important. Dramatic changes in eating habits may cause you to lose weight right away, but this is virtually impossible to maintain.

Below are some excellent ways for those dealing with diabetes to manage their weight:

  • Evaluate your lifestyle. Are you eating out of habit and not when you’re hungry? Are you including physical activity in your daily routine?
  • Stick to your plan. Developing a safe weight-loss plan with your primary care provider will help with accountability, and your family medicine provider will make sure the plan will work for your lifestyle.
  • Make good food choices. Set realistic expectations for the foods you eat; complete deprivation of the foods you love can lead to failure. Your family medicine provider  can advise you about good snacks, too.

Family Medicine Provider in Palm Beach County

Working with a trusted primary care provider is one of the best things you can do for diabetes management – and for your overall good health. Advanced Medical Clinic in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach offers continuity of care throughout our patients’ lives.

Our experienced medical staff take the time to get to know our patients at their wellness exams, and we are here to help you manage diabetes and other chronic conditions. We will help you set realistic goals and keep you on track for success.

Call (561) 434-1935 for an appointment at Advanced Medical Clinic today, or fill out our online appointment request form. We offer same-day appointments for your convenience. We look forward to serving you and helping you live an active, healthy lifestyle you enjoy.

Should I Be Concerned If I Have Herpes?

For the more than one in six Americans aged 14 to 49 who have genital herpes, life for the most part is lived without complication or pain. However, the psychological and social implications of the disease can be much more complicated. That said, should those who have or live with someone has herpes be concerned? Learning about what herpes is and when it is contagious can help.

What is Herpes?

There are two viruses that cause herpes, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Most cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-2, while most cases of oral herpes (which can cause cold sores around the mouth) are caused by HSV-1. Herpes most often is diagnosed by appearance alone, when there are one or more sores present. Herpes can also be confirmed with a swab test or blood test.

Recognizing Herpes Symptoms

Most people who have herpes do not have symptoms. For others, the virus lays dormant for years before presenting any recognizable symptoms. Up to 90% of those who have herpes are not aware that they have it until they experience an outbreak, which most often presents with sores and blisters.

HSV-1 is recognized usually by cold sores or canker sores located around the mouth. Cold sores can be painful and certainly an inconvenience; you can expect an outbreak within two to twenty days after exposure. The initial outbreak of HSV-1 most often is the most severe; expect fever, muscle pain, sore throat and headache, swollen glands and being tired.

Regarding HSV-2, an initial outbreak of herpes is usually the most severe and most painful. Along with sores around the genitals or anus, you may experience flu-like symptoms of fever, aches, and/or swollen glands. Many never have any symptoms at all after the first outbreak, or symptoms may occur several times in a year. Outbreaks usually last no more than two weeks total from the first tingling and irritation (called prodrome) to development of sores, concluded by healing.

How Contagious is Genital Herpes?

Oral herpes is very contagious and can be contracted through contact with an infected razor, glass, toothbrush, or by kissing.

Genital herpes is classified as a sexually transmitted disease (STD), and anyone who participates in oral, anal, or vaginal sex is susceptible if exposed. However, it is not as contagious as you may think. Avoiding sex when you have symptoms, either prodrome or an outbreak, can greatly reduce the possibility of transmitting herpes to your partner. Using condoms further reduces the risk by about half. These are the numbers:

  • For a woman with HSV in a monogamous sexual relationship, there is a 4% chance that her partner will become infected in one year of unprotected sex, if they abstain from sex when she has symptoms.
  • If a man is infected, there is an 11% chance of transmitting HSV to his partner in the course of one year of unprotected sex, if they abstain when symptoms are present.

Treatment for Herpes

With HSV-1, the good news is that most cold sores last only a few days and can be treated with a variety of home remedies (vitamin E, aloe vera or echinacea, as examples); or over-the-counter medications such as Abreva, zinc oxide rub or Orajel. A healthy diet will keep your immune system healthy, further preventing any outbreaks or lessening your risk of exposure.

As for HSV-2, it is possible to pass herpes to a sexual partner when there are no symptoms present. Antiviral drugs such as Valtrex® (generic valacyclovir) can shorten the length of an outbreak and decrease the severity of symptoms. Some choose to take these medications at the first sign of an outbreak. If outbreaks happen frequently or if you are sexually active, your family medicine provider may recommend taking antiviral medication every day. This suppresses the virus and further decreases risk of transmission.

Finding Help

Finding out you have herpes can be a very upsetting; you may feel angry, frightened, embarrassed or ashamed. Your family medicine provider can help you realize that herpes is not the end of the world. And while there is no cure for herpes, abstaining from sex when there are symptoms, practicing safe sex, and/or daily use of antiviral medication can greatly reduce the risk of giving it to your partner.

The compassionate providers at Advanced Medical Clinic in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach care for acute and chronic conditions throughout their patients’ lives. Husband and wife team, internal medicine specialist Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and nurse practitioner Shariffa Gunawardene provide continuity of care from minor illness to managing life-threatening conditions and look forward to welcome you into their healthcare family. Call (561) 434-1935 for an appointment at Advanced Medical Clinic today. We offer same day appointments for your convenience.

For the more than one in six Americans aged 14 to 49 who have genital herpes, life for the most part is lived without complication or pain

When To See a Family Medicine Provider for Your Headaches

Headaches aren’t just caused by crying kids, irritating people, or a bad day.

If you have persistent headaches, it can seem like you can’t catch a break. If you’re experiencing headaches 15 days or more a month and you’ve been experiencing them for over three months, you’re suffering from chronic or persistent headaches.

You may become so used to having headaches that you don’t know when it’s time to see your family medicine provider about it. Here are some signs to be aware of to help you determine when it’s time to seek medical help for your headaches.

3 Primary Types of Head Pain

There are three main categories of head pain that you may experience.

The most common type of headache are tension headaches. These can cause mild, moderate, or severe pain in the head, neck, and behind the eyes. The pain can feel like a tight band around the head, or it may be focused at the base of the skull, just atop the neck. These headaches may seem to come out of nowhere and stay for a few days.

One of the most recognizable forms are migraine headaches. It’s commonly felt on one or both sides of the head. It can take the form of painful or unpleasant pulsing or throbbing sensations that are moderately to severely painful. It may be accompanied by nausea, and sensitivity to light.

Cluster headaches typically occur on one side of the head only. These headaches occur in patterns or clusters, and the pain can be excruciating. It may be centered around one eye, and the pain of a cluster headache can wake you from sleep.

When To See a Family Medicine Provider

While it may be inconvenient or you may feel a bit foolish seeing a family medicine provider about your headaches, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Any unusual, significant, or persistent headache pain warrants a visit with your primary care provider. At the very least, seeing your family medicine provider can alleviate any anxiety about whether the headaches indicate a more serious disorder.

These symptoms indicate that you should make an appointment to see your family medicine provider about your headaches: If you experience three or more headaches per week, the headaches keep getting worse and won’t go away, you need to take a pain reliever every day or almost every day to combat the pain or are taking more than two to three doses of over-the-counter pain reliever medications per week to feel better and are noticing the headaches affecting your daily routines or ability to be with your family, work or social life.

If your headaches are accompanied by symptoms such as sudden weakness, dizziness, loss of balance and falling, numbness or tingling, you should seek urgent medical attention.

Difficulty speaking, sudden confusion, seizures, and personality or behavioral changes, blurry vision, double vision, or blind spots all constitute a medical emergency.

If you’re dealing with moderate to severe headaches, whether chronic or occasional, you can get the help you need from the friendly staff at Advanced Medical Clinic. We are ready to help bring you pain relief. Learn more about our primary care services by calling our office at (561) 434-1935. Schedule your appointment over the phone or use our secure online appointment request form.

The Different Types of Headaches

Headaches can be a pain in the rear, as well as in the head. While most people generically call any head pain a headache, there are actually three broad categories under the headache umbrella.

Migraine Headaches

One of the most excruciating types of headaches are migraines. These headaches can cause pain on one or both sides of your head. The sensations are typically a painful and unpleasant pulsing or throbbing, ranging from moderate to severe. In some cases, migraines are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity, and even sensory changes that can make you see shapes or patterns, known as an aura.

The root cause of migraines is not well known. It’s thought to be influenced by changes in the brainstem and how it works with the trigeminal nerve, a pain pathway in your head and face, or with imbalances in brain chemicals such as serotonin, which helps regulate pain.

Tension Headaches

If you experience a head pain that can be mild, moderate, or intense and is accompanied by a sensation of pressure around your entire head, you’re likely experiencing a tension-type headache. The pain may also be focused behind the eyes or at the base of the skull at the back of the head.

The pain and discomfort from these headaches can cause soreness in your scalp, neck, and shoulders. While family medicine providers are not certain why some people get these headaches more than others, some believe that people with a heightened sensitivity to pain are more susceptible to these headaches.

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are among the most severe type of headaches. The pain appears in patterns, or clusters, and can be excruciating. The pain is usually so severe it can wake you up in the middle of the night. Notably, the pain occurs on just one side of the head, usually centered around an eye. It may be accompanied by a red or tearing eye, or runny nose.

These headaches tend to be brief but recur frequently – often going into remission for months or years.

When it comes to headache pain, knowing what’s normal for you can be helpful to determine what might constitute an emergency.

If you are experiencing chronic headaches, it may be time to see a family medicine provider. The friendly staff at Advanced Medical Clinic welcomes your call and is ready to help provide you with great relief. If you have any questions about our primary care services, or are ready to schedule your appointment, be sure to call our office at (561) 434-1935. You can also visit our website and use our secure online appointment request form.

The Different Types of Heart Disease

It’s the leading cause of death in the United States.

More than 62 million Americans have some form of it.

And to top things off, there are many different types of this disease that health care providers must contend with.

What are we talking about? Cardiovascular disease: Some are born with it, but most cases of heart disease develop later in life.

Several of the most common forms of heart disease include:

  • Coronary artery disease – This is a condition in which the heart muscles receive insufficient blood and oxygen due to blockage in the coronary arteries. This can lead to a heart attack or other heart damage with the possibility of sudden death.
  • Silent ischemia – This is a condition in which blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced but there are no symptoms and little if any pain. Usually, discomfort is only experienced during physical exertion.
  • Angina – When your heart doesn’t get enough oxygen and nutrients it can cause a narrowing of the coronary arteries or muscles spasms. This can be triggered by strong emotions, cold temperatures, cigarette smoke, or other factors. It’s not a heart attack and usually doesn’t cause permanent heart damage, but angina is nonetheless discomforting or painful. It occurs primarily in the chest and can radiate down the left arm, across various parts of the upper torso, and even in the neck, throat or jaw, usually when your heart is working harder than normal.
  • Arrythmia – When one’s heartbeat becomes slow, irregular, or skips a beat because the heart’s electrical system is not functioning normally. Its electrical signals aren’t moving in the proper sequence. Instead, the heart is beating slower, faster, or erratically, causing symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
  • Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) – This is a condition in which fatty plaques or arteriosclerosis prevent oxygen-rich blood from flowing from the heart to other areas of the body such as the legs and feet. Symptoms of PAD include brown spots on the skin, coldness, numbness and tingling, pain or cramping when walking short distances, ulcers, swelling, or the slow healing of wounds.
  • Heart defects – These include obstructions called stenosis that partially or completely block the flow of blood. They can occur in the heart valves, arteries, or veins. Examples include aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, and subaortic stenosis.

If left untreated, heart disease can lead to myocardial infarction – the clinical term for a heart attack – in which part of the heart muscle can be damaged or die from a lack of blood flow and oxygen.

Warning signs of a heart attack include:

  • A heavy feeling, pressure, or intense pain in the chest lasting more than a few minutes
  • Pain radiating to the shoulders, neck, or arms
  • Lightheadedness or fainting
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Severe weakness
  • Profuse sweating

If you experience any of these symptoms for more than several minutes, call 911 or have someone transport you to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible.

Of course, there are ways to prevent or manage heart disease by consulting with a family medicine provider.
The friendly staff at Advanced Medical is well-versed in the diagnostics and treatment of heart disease and looks forward to serving you. If you have any questions about our primary care services, please call our office at (561) 434-1935. To schedule an appointment, you can call us or use our secure online appointment request form.