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How Much Calcium Do You Need?

When we think of the contributions that the mineral calcium makes to our bodies, the first thing that comes to mind is strong bone, and this is true. However, calcium has multiple jobs. Yes, it builds bones, but our blood wouldn’t clot without calcium. Our heart would cease to beat and muscles would only expand and not contract.

Calcium is extremely important to good health and yet we are constantly losing the mineral from the body, just through the daily grind of living our lives. Calcium is lost through body waste: sweat, urine, and feces. We lose calcium through our largest organ, the skin that covers our bodies and through nail beds and hair. It is constantly being released.

While we are constantly losing calcium, the body doesn’t produce the mineral on its own. Calcium is delivered to our bodies through the foods we eat. If we don’t receive the right amount of calcium through calcium-rich foods, then the body will rob it from calcium-rich bones. Over time this becomes dangerous and compromises the bone’s strength and makes them easier to fracture.

Required Daily Amount 

The following is recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board and found in the Dietary Reference Intakes.  Recommended daily Intake requirements of calcium are calculated by age and gender. There is also a recommended daily allowance for pregnant and lactating women.

Male

  • 0-6 months of age

200 mg of calcium per day

  • 7-12 months of age

260 mg

  • 1-3 years

700 mg

  • 4-8 years

1000 mg

  • 9-13 years

1300 mg

  • 14-18 years

1300 mg 

  • 19-50 years

1000 mg

  • 51-70 years

1000 mg

  • 71+ years

1200 mg

Female

  • 0-6 months

200 mg

  • 7-12 months

260 mg

  • 1-3 years

700 mg

  • 4-8 years

1000mg

  • 9-13 years

1300 mg

  • 14-18 years

1300 mg

  • 19-50 years

1000 mg

  • 51-70 years

1200 mg

  • 71+ years

1200 mg

Pregnant

  • 14-18 years

1300 mg

  • 19-50 years

1000 mg

Lactating

  • 14-18 years

1300 mg

  • 19-50 years

1000 mg

The recommended daily allowance of calcium is necessary for proper bone health. It is also for keeping the correct amount of calcium in healthy people.

Calcium Rich Food Sources

Dairy is rich in calcium and will help to achieve the recommended daily allowance: cheese, milk, and yogurt. Additionally, there are non-dairy food sources that include calcium such as leafy green vegetables like Chinese cabbage, kale, broccoli, and spinach.

Other options include foods that don’t naturally have calcium in them but are fortified with the mineral. Read food labels to learn how much calcium is included in the foods you eat and drink. Keeping track of intake will assist you in knowing just how much you lack, and to know if taking a calcium supplement will be necessary to reach the recommended daily allowance.

Supplements

If you find it difficult to attain the recommended daily allowance of calcium for your gender and age category, then you may wish to take a calcium supplement. The mineral is taken in two forms, citrate or carbonate. Carbonate is the most common form and is readily available. A variety of over the counter medications includes carbonate, which neutralizes stomach acid. Some carbonate medications, depending on strength, will provide between 200 – 400 mg of calcium.

The National Institutes of Health’s’ Office of Dietary Supplements reports, “43 percent of the U.S. population (including almost 70 percent of older women) uses dietary supplements containing calcium, increasing calcium intakes by about 330 mg per day among supplement users.”

How to Know You’re Receiving the Right Amount of Calcium

It is imperative to know for sure that you’re receiving the correct amount of calcium. Your health provider can measure the calcium with a simple blood test.

There are two tests available. A total calcium blood test or an ionized calcium blood test will measure the amount of calcium present. If the correct amount of calcium isn’t found in your bloodstream, the family medicine provider will make a recommendation that may include an adjustment in your diet or a prescription for a calcium supplement.

Staying Hydrated in the South Florida Summer

The high summer temperatures of South Florida bring hazards. Being aware and taking appropriate precautions will prevent serious health issues, and help you enjoy the summer in a carefree manner.

Hydration isn’t just important during physical activity. When the temperatures rise, getting enough to drink is important whether you’re playing sports, traveling or just sitting in the sun. Being exposed to the sun or humidity even if you aren’t exercising, can cause your body to need more fluids.

Dehydration

Dehydration can be a serious condition that can lead to problems ranging from swollen feet and headaches to life-threatening illnesses such as heat stroke.

The human body is composed of more than 50% water, which plays an integral role in many bodily functions necessary to sustain life. Adequate water is vital for digestion and organ function.

One of the most serious hazards of summer is dehydration, where the body can lose water at an alarming and dangerous rate. Dehydration causes heat exhaustion and other serious heat-related illnesses. In addition, dehydration can wreak havoc on your electrolytes, causing dangerously low levels of sodium and potassium in your body.

The first thing to ensure during summer is pre-hydrating our bodies, drinking and rehydrating adequately before, during and after any activity.

Water is Critical for Your Heart Health

A well-hydrated body keeps the heart pumping blood through the blood vessels to the muscles more easily. And it helps the muscles work efficiently and ensures the heart doesn’t have to work so hard.

People who have a heart condition, are older than 50 or overweight may also have to take extra precautions when dealing with the summer heat.

Symptoms of Dehydration

If you have become thirsty your body has already lost 1-2% of its fluids, about 1-2 liters of body water.

Here are some signs of dehydration: 

  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Flushed skin
  • Chills
  • Heat intolerance
  • Light-headedness
  • Dark colored urine
  • Dry cough
  • Headaches
  • Muscle cramping
  • Tingling in extremities
  • Inability to sweat

Emergency medical attention should be given to those suffering from the more severe symptoms.

How Much Water Do We Lose? 

Weighing yourself before and after an activity (without clothes), and subtracting the difference gives a good estimate of fluid loss. More than 1% loss in body weight indicates dehydration while over 5% indicates severe dehydration.

Well-Hydrated                        -1 to +1%

Minimal Dehydration           -1 to -3%

Significant Dehydration       -3 to -5%

Serious Dehydration             >5%

How Much Water Do You Need?

The amount of water a person needs depends on climatic conditions, clothing, activity, and duration.

Those who perspire heavily need more fluids. Medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease require more water. Cystic fibrosis sufferers have high concentrations of sodium in their sweat, and need to avoid dehydration. Some medications act as diuretics, causing more fluid loss.

Thirst alone is not an accurate symptom, the color of your urine is. Pale and clear signals adequate hydration. The darker it is, the higher the level of dehydration.

Inability to sweat while engaged in vigorous physical activity can be a red flag, pointing to dehydration, to the point of imminent heat exhaustion.

A good guide to hydration is:

16-32 ounces before vigorous activity.

16-20 ounces every 10-15 minutes during activity.

20 ounces for every pound of body weight lost during activity.

Healthy Hydration

Alcohol and carbonated beverages should be consumed in moderation, as the body does not tolerate them well especially in the heat and sun. It is best to hydrate with alternating water with the occasional sports drink, to replace chemicals such as sodium and potassium, as well as fluids.

Fruit juices, sodas or sugary drinks can be hard on the stomach if you’re dehydrated. Avoid drinks containing caffeine, which acts as a diuretic and causes more fluid loss.

Water is best to stay hydrated, as it is sugar and calorie-free. Sources of water also include highly water-rich fruits and vegetables like watermelons, cucumbers, and strawberries.

Preventing Dehydration this Summer

Dehydration can become a serious problem. Staying hydrated and drinking enough water is vital for digestion and organ functions. The following steps should help:

Exercising: hot, humid conditions can dehydrate a person in 30 to 60 minutes.  Outdoor activities should be done during the cooler parts of day, before 10 am or after 4 pm. Sunscreen with minimum SPF 15 should be used. Stay out of the sun and wear a hat and sunglasses.

Hydration: thirst indicates dehydration. Hydrate yourself before, during and after any activity.

Salt: salty snacks help rehydration during lengthy or intensive workouts. If you lose 2 to 5 percent body weight, take a salt replacement. With moderate exercise, under one hour, normal salt intake with food is sufficient.

Water: over-drinking water during a workout can cause symptoms ranging from nausea to coma. The International Marathon Medical Directors Association recommends that athletes drink 31 ounces of water an hour, rehydrating every 20 minutes.

Acclimating: newcomers not used to the sweltering Florida sun, should limit their sun exposure and activity and get their bodies adjusted slowly over the course of two weeks. Get used to sweating, then cooling down, and practice hydration.

If you think you might be dehydrated, or to learn more about staying safe this summer, call Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.

What is Internal Medicine?

There is often confusion in understanding the difference between internal medicine, family medicine and primary care. On the face of it, they seem to be one and the same. People are not all one-size-fits-all, and neither are their needs. Nor are providers. People have unique needs and should choose a family medicine provider that best fits those needs.

Primary care is a role and not a specialty. Providers trained in different specialties can offer primary care services: pediatrics, women’s health, or geriatrics, for example.

Internists or internal medicine providers too are qualified primary care providers. But they only focus on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of adults, 18 years or older across the spectrum of health and illness. Some focus their practice on hospital medicine, medical education and/or research. Family medicine providers, on the other hand, treat adults and children.

The goal of the internal medicine family medicine provider is health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment of both acute and chronic illness.

Patient-centric Care

The central person in internal medicine is the adult patient as a whole individual. They work to establish and maintain a trusting relationship to create the best plan for your health. This includes age-appropriate health maintenance through routine monitoring, immunizations, and screenings.

They provide counseling, patient education, and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. They promote healthy lifestyle choices. The internist is the focal point of a patient’s health care needs. They offer continuity of care that extends from their office to specialists, to hospitalizations, and anywhere the patient requires medical attention.

Internists are skilled diagnosticians, adept at figuring out complex symptoms to identify both common and rare illnesses. They are often known as the “family medicine provider’s provider” or “medical detectives.”

General Internal Medicine

Many internists begin practicing upon completing basic internal medicine training.  They practice “general internal medicine” and are referred to as “general internists.” They handle the broad and comprehensive spectrum of illnesses that affect adults. They provide primary care to patients over the duration of their adult lives.

General internists practice in different locations. Some, known as “hospitalists,” may focus on caring for patients in the hospital setting. Others combine both outpatient and inpatient care. General internists may practice in settings such as rehabilitation centers and long-term care facilities as well.

Internal Medicine Subspecialties

Internists may take additional training to “subspecialize” in a more focused area of internal medicine. This training, known as a “fellowship” usually requires several additional years beyond the basic three-year internal medicine residency.

Providers with additional training in a particular area of internal medicine are frequently referred to by their area of subspecialty –cardiologists, pulmonologists etc. They have all undergone the same basic internal medicine training and are also considered as “internists.”

The subspecialty training in a particular medical area is comprehensive and qualifies them to manage complex medical issues and perform advanced procedures.

Conditions Treated by Internal Medicine Providers

Internal medicine practitioners focus on the whole body. They treat both internal and external conditions. They diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions. A family medicine provider of internal medicine may be employed by a hospital or work out of his own clinic or office.

Subspecialties of internal medicine include: 

Arthritis and joint conditions

Hepatitis

Allergy and immunology

Cardiology (heart diseases)

Endocrinology (hormone disorders)

Hematology (blood disorders)

Infectious diseases

Gastroenterology (diseases of the digestive system)

Nephrology (kidney diseases)

Oncology (cancer)

Pulmonology (lung disorders)

Rheumatology (arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders)

Hypertension

Diabetes

ENT – ear, nose and throat

Neurological conditions

Sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction (ED)

Weight loss and management

This exhaustive area of medicine basically includes any illness that affects adults.

The role of the internist is to manage your overall health, promote a healthy lifestyle and recommend steps to prevent illness, and treat illnesses. Your internist is your “go-to” when you have health concerns because he knows you best. He can provide most of your medical needs.

At Advanced Medical, PA, we pride ourselves in providing quality healthcare in both internal medicine and primary care. To learn more about us and the services we offer, or to schedule a visit, call us at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment.

Am I At Risk for ED?

When it comes to personal physical problems, a tough subject for many to talk about is ED. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is considered the inability to get and maintain an erection during sexual activity. Occasional erection problems are usually not a concern, as most men may experience an event of impotence at some point in their lives. Being informed about what might cause or increase the probability for ED can be an important part of prevention and wellness.

Human sexual arousal is a natural process that involves many parts of your body. If erectile dysfunction becomes an ongoing (chronic) issue, it can impact many aspects of a man’s life. ED can also be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated. Often, problems with the heart and blood vessels, the nervous system, hormones, and certain diseases can result in ED.

Risk factors

There are several factors that can put you at risk of developing erectile dysfunction. Some of these include:

Medical conditions

  • Cardiovascular disease. High blood pressure (hypertension) and clogged arteries (atherosclerosis) are well-known risk factors for erectile dysfunction. Studies suggest that between 30% to 50% of men with high blood pressure may develop ED.
  • Diabetes. Up to 50% of men with diabetes may be at risk of developing erectile dysfunction. Additionally, diabetic men tend to develop erection problems 10 to 15 years earlier than the average ED patient.
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS). MS attacks the protective cover of the nerves, causing deterioration and damage to the nervous system. Erectile dysfunction may develop as a consequence.
  • Prostate diseases. Inflammation, enlargement, and cancer of the prostate can all cause varying degrees of erectile dysfunction.
  • Certain types of surgery and injuries. Sometimes, surgeries or injuries related to the pelvic area or spinal cord may also lead to ED.
  • Cancer treatment. Some forms of cancer treatment, such as radiation therapy, may produce side effects that impair your ability to have and keep an erection.

Other conditions

  • Being overweight. Especially if you are obese (when your bodyweight is 20% or more than it should be).
  • Medications. Medications to treat high blood pressure and some prescription painkilers may produce side effects that lead to ED. In addition, antidepressants and antihistamines (allergy medicines) can adversely impact erectile function.

Substance abuse

  • Alcohol abuse disorder. Health issues caused by alcoholism, such as liver disease and mental health problems, can put you at risk of developing ED.
  • Drug abuse. The abuse of substances such as ecstasy, amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin may put you at risk of developing erectile dysfunction. The misuse of prescription medications such as opioid painkillers and antidepressants can also be risk factors to developing erection problems.
  • Tobacco use. Nicotine is the main drug associated with tobacco products, and it restricts blood flow to veins and arteries, and over time, can cause chronic health conditions leading to erectile dysfunction. Several studies have shown that smokers are 1.5 times more likely to suffer from ED, compared to non-smokers. 

Psychological causes

In both a voluntary and involuntary way, the brain controls the physical events that help produce an erection, beginning with feelings of sexual excitement. Several mental health issues can impact sexual feelings and cause or worsen erection issues. These include:

  • Depression and anxiety
  • Stress
  • Sleep disorders
  • Problems in relationships, employment, or parenting

The good news is that with the right diagnosis and treatment, you can get back to having a healthy sex life in no time. To learn more about erectile dysfunction, the risk factors for ED, and how to treat it, call Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.

How Your Family Medicine Provider Can Help You Manage Your Pain

Chronic pain can wear you down and further degrade your physical and mental health. Your family medicine provider can work with you to reduce your pain and improve your ability to carry on with your everyday activities.

Approaches to pain management have evolved over the last decade. Medical professionals increasingly put you at the center of all aspects of pain management, and that is a good thing. A common misconception is that pain medications such as opioids are the go to for pain management, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. There are many ways your provider can help you manage your pain.

Encourage Communication

Your family medicine provider can help you best by getting you actively involved in your treatment. By communicating openly with you, your provider will involve you with decision-making and problem solving. Living better with chronic pain is the goal (after all attempts to correct the painful condition, of course), and this requires excellent communication between you and your family medicine provider, and your medical team. Communicative and caring family medicine providers can empower you as a person, not just as a patient.

Listen and explain

Your provider will ask you about how you experience your pain, and specifically, to describe your pain in everyday language. Because there are no specialized tests to assess where and how you feel pain, you are the primary source of information. Don’t hold back. You are your best advocate. Everybody has a different pain threshold, so it’s important to get a unique understanding of each patient.

In turn, your family medicine provider can help you understand that even if your chronic pain has no specific cure, there are ways to manage it. Your family medicine provider can provide you with resources such as easy to read information, referrals for physical therapists, and other therapeutic experts.

Provide options

You family medicine provider will talk with you about these and other options for your pain management plan:

  • Medications including analgesics such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can be of help with mild to moderate pain.
  • Stronger pain medications, including opioids, provide important relief for patients who have strong or severe pain. You family medicine provider will work with you to ensure that you receive the appropriate and safe type of medication.
  • Pain management procedures such as electrical stimulation, acupuncture, nerve blocks, or surgery may be appropriate if pain is not controlled by medications.
  • Non-invasive treatments such as biofeedback, behavior modification, and psychotherapy are all important tools.
  • Alternative or complementary medicine (CAM) include treatments such as acupuncture, massage, Tai Chi, mindful meditation, and relaxation techniques, all of which have been shown to be helpful.

Advise and support

Your family medicine provider can suggest healthy lifestyle changes that will help you better manage your pain and improve your quality of life. Some suggestions your provider may make include:

Exercise: Chronic pain caused by certain conditions such as arthritis shouldn’t stop you from engaging in physical activity. Natural painkillers or endorphins released by your body after exercise help reduce perception of pain, and exercise has been shown to boost mood. Of course, first discuss any exercise plans with your provider to make sure they are safe and appropriate for you.

Diet: Eating regular meals rich in antioxidants and nutrients will help your body best deal with pain and stress. Eating fresh vegetables, fruits, and lean protein ensures you have the best fuel to repair and restore your health.

Reach out to us with any questions you have about how to manage your pain. call Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.

Joint Pain? When is It Time to See A Family Medicine Provider?

Have you ever had a cramp in your hand from persistently trying to open a jar, but no matter how hard you tried, it just would not budge? leaving you with nothing but frustration and a hurt hand. Whether your hands are overworked or time has simply taken its toll, joint pain is nothing we should suffer through.

Your joints are the connections between your bones that allow you to bend and move many parts of the body. Having strong bones goes hand in hand with having healthy joints. Your joints are just one part of your musculoskeletal system that enable us to have mobility, giving us balance and stability. Therefore, keeping them healthy is essential, but this is often one of those things that can be easier said than done.

Joint pain — it can be described as a nagging pain that won’t go away no matter what you try to do. Pain in your joints is often a persistent feeling that won’t go away, a throbbing disruption, both physically and mentally. Some people will try to ignore pain and hope it will go away, but in the case of degenerative joint disease, this pain overpowers and hinders an individual’s quality of life.

Degenerative joint disease is a condition that is so common, yet so misunderstood. Approximately 25 million people in the United States suffer from some sort of joint disease, the most common being arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis). For over one third of adults 60 years of age and older, sometimes their joints become so worn down that even the slightest movements, like reaching for something such as a glass on a shelf, can be exceedingly difficult. In other words, this type of pain isn’t easy to ignore even if we tried.

Joint pain is incredibly common, but that doesn’t mean it should become the new normal. While joint pain may have been caused by overuse, from playing a sport, or wear and tear from aging, joint problems are not something to just write off as you get older.

Don’t wait until pain is unbearable to seek medical attention. If your painful joints are also swollen, red, warm to the touch, or very tender to touch, you should make an appointment with your provider. Seeing your family medicine provider soon after the onset of joint pain can prevent further joint damage from being done. There are many types of diseases that cause joint pain, and though they’re rarely cause for an emergency, speedy diagnosis may be important to future quality of life.

Therefore, if your joints are swollen, red, or very tender when they are touched, these are even more of a reason that a trip to the family medicine provider is necessary. Seeing your provider after the first bout with joint pain can reduce pain and inflammation, and most importantly, prevent further joint damage from occurring. There are many types of diseases that cause joint pain, and though they’re rarely cause for an emergency, speedy diagnosis may be important to future quality of life.

If you can’t move a joint or it appears to have some sort of deformity, you should also plan on seeing your healthcare provider immediately. You should also seek your family medicine providers help if you continue to experience intense or persistent pain, or the joint begins to suddenly swell up like a balloon.

If you experience joint pain at any time, go see the family medicine provider to get help as early as possible. The earlier an accurate diagnosis is made, the better the outcome will be. Since stiffness, pain, and immobility are exceedingly common symptoms of joint disease, these complications plus others, can be avoided easily if a family medicine provider performs an examination, and prescribes the right form of treatment. This in return, also will provide you with a higher quality of life in the long run.

To learn more about join pain, and what type of treatment can help remedy it, call Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.

Treating Chronic Bronchitis

Do this for a moment: place your hand over your chest, take a deep breath, and then let it out. Your respiratory system can often seem both intricate and delicate, very susceptible to change and problems. From the common cold, to conditions such as asthma or bronchitis, there are many things that can compromise the delicate balance of the respiratory system.

Many conditions that irritate the lungs will lead to coughing fits, especially if the lungs are inflamed and there is increased mucus production. Depending on the person, a cough generally is considered acute, and lasts for less than three weeks. However, sometimes if a cough is persistent and last more than eight weeks, this is called a chronic cough, commonly seen with a respiratory infection.

Most coughs are meant to clear up or significantly improve within a two-week period, but if you have a barking cough that hasn’t improved after a few weeks, then, talk to your primary care family medicine provider, as something may be wrong. A common condition people get in their lower respiratory tract is chronic bronchitis.

What is Chronic Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is an infection in the lungs. Bronchitis can be acute (short-lived) and last for a couple weeks, or more commonly chronic bronchitis, where the infection lasts three months or longer, sometimes even years. Simply put, bronchitis is a condition in which the air passages of the lungs become inflamed and irritated due to an infection or irritation. This inflammation commonly affects the trachea, known as the windpipe, and the large and small bronchi. Bronchi are tubes, or tree-like air passages in the lungs.

Bronchitis also causes the thin mucus linings that protects the lungs to become inflamed. This inflammation causes the airway linings to start leaking mucus into the lungs, causing build up.  Therefore, coughing is the body’s natural reflex to clear the lungs, to help us be able to breathe normally. If coughing does not clear the lungs properly, chronic bronchitis can lead to a common condition known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where breathing is compromised due the airflow of the lungs being obstructed.

Symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis

Some of the symptoms associated with chronic bronchitis may include:

  • Chest discomfort
  • Coughing mucus
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Nasal congestion
  • Sore throat

Yes, bronchitis can be contagious, especially if it is chronic and caused by a viral illness or bacterial infection. Therefore, it is important to take necessary precautions to not get others sick.

Treatments for Chronic Bronchitis

In most cases, bronchitis goes away on its own after a couple of weeks, with the most severe symptoms lessening after the first few days. If the bronchitis is caused by bacteria then a family medicine provider can prescribe antibiotics. Often times people with bronchitis have or develop asthma. If you have asthma or allergies and contract bronchitis as a result, the family medicine provider will most likely prescribe an inhaler, which opens up the abnormal narrowing of the airways, helps shortness of breath, allowing us to breathe properly.

To learn more about chronic bronchitis and how to treat it, call Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.

Guarding Against the Flu in Florida

Body aches and pains, vomiting, sore throat/coughing, extreme fatigue and exhaustion, fever, and stuffy nose — these are the symptoms of influenza, or as most people like to call it, the dreaded flu. It’s something we all try to avoid around flu season, so pointers for guarding against the flu are always handy.

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can even lead to death in the worst-case scenario. People tend to underestimate the value of washing their hands or covering their mouth and nose when they sneeze and cough. During flu season, people cough and sneeze into their hands and touch things, not realizing that they are spreading their sickness or germs into the air that we breathe. Viruses are spread when bacteria and other microbes enter your body and begin to multiply. Our antibodies produced by our immune system are supposed to attach to these bacteria and attack it. Although, if the immune system is too weak from illness, the virus continues to spread throughout the body.

Influenza is becoming widespread in the United States, especially within states located in the northern region of the country. While often more prevalent in the North, however, health officials have recently reported a rise in flu activity in Florida. Especially in South Florida, hospitals have seen an increase, or spike in patients visiting the emergency room (ER) for experiencing influenza or flu like symptoms.

This flu epidemic is leading to a sharp rise in hospitalizations for people who are confirmed to be diagnosed with the actual flu. To be exact, there are 23 hospitalizations per 100,000 people with influenza.

According to Dr. Daniel Jernigan, the director of the influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 2017-2018 flu season started early and probably is still starting to spread out. He said, “We have a lot more flu to go.” The influenza type A, or H3N2 strain of the virus is the most common form being diagnosed and treated this flu season.

As numbers continue to be on the rise, it may still be too early to tell how severe the flu has really impacted people in states like Florida, but family medicine providers in hospitals and family medicine provider’s offices are seeing the effects firsthand.

Being one of the worst flu seasons the state has ever seen, according to Florida’s weekly flu report, there were approximately 73 outbreaks of influenza and flu-like illness this season, more outbreaks than in previous seasons.

CDC officials say that there have been deaths from the flu, with 20 cases being children, with two of those major cases being in the state of Florida. One of the children in Florida who died happened to not have received a flu shot, and had other health problems as well. Those with the flu and other underlying health complications such as pneumonia are reported to kill more than 2,000 people a year on average in Florida. These scary statistics and prevalence of this virus, indicate all the more reason to get yourself and children vaccinated, and learn ways to keep yourself healthy during flu season.

Not washing your hands and touching all different surfaces whether it be in public or at home spreads germs. Washing your hands is by far the best weapon people have to prevent not only the flu but any infectious disease. The flu is no joke. So, therefore, if you feel like you may be sick with a cold, or feel something coming on, it is important to take action for you and your family to seek medical attention right away, to not be a statistic.

Family medicine providers and health care officials cannot stress enough the importance of the flu shot and especially washing your hands as important steps to help fight and prevent the flu. Health officials recommend the flu vaccine as the most effective way to prevent influenza. To actually help prevent spread of the flu, health officials also recommend that sick people stay home until they are fever free, and not taking medication for at least 24 hours.

Advanced Medical in Florida is focused on preventing the flu and returning you to optimal health. We offer flu shots and other preventive methods to ensure your protection.

To learn more about the flu and ways to guard yourself and prevent it, call Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.

Soothing Migraine Pain

Different types of headache pain, a tension headache being the most common, typically range from mild to severe. Headache pain usually occurs on both sides of your head, specifically in the areas of your temples, or radiating towards the back of the head or neck. Traditional headaches are classified as unpleasant, sometimes persistent or pulsating pains in your head that can cause pressure and aching. We all have experienced headaches in our lifetime, but, it’s important to understand that a headache is not the same thing as a migraine.

Although a migraine and a headache can occur simultaneously, a migraine is more than just an ordinary headache. Having a migraine is classified as a neurological disease, meaning it affects the chemistry of our brain and how we are able to function.

When someone experiences a migraine headache, everyone is different, and therefore symptoms and severity of pain may vary. Symptoms can be similar to intense or severe headaches, that often occur with other co-existing symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, eye pain, sensitivity to light or sound, seeing floating spots, temporary loss of vision, etc.

Migraines will usually only cause pulsating and throbbing pain on one side of an individual’s head, but it is possible that it can radiate, and both sides can be affected. This pain ranges from moderate to severe, depending on the person, but this pain is typically intense, persistent, and throbbing. This makes having migraines extremely difficult to live a normal life, and carry out daily tasks.

There are two main types of migraines, chronic or episodic, that occur with aura or without aura. An “aura” refers to the symptoms or sensations a person experiences before they get a migraine attack. The sensations typically occur anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes before one occurs. Episodic migraines often turn into chronic migraines, which affect about two to three million people, meaning migraines that last 15 or more days per month for more than three months.

Family medicine providers prefer to use the singular form of the condition — migraine, instead of the plural form migraines — because it is a disease that comes on as an attack, often persistent and frequently over time.

According to evidence-based research conducted by the World Health Organization, migraines are found to be one of the ten most disabling diseases throughout the world. Experiencing a migraine can profoundly impact an individual’s ability to carry out everyday activities like going to work, playing sports, and going to school. As a complex neurological condition, migraine headaches are often confused with traditional headaches, or misunderstood completely.

Therefore, if you are one of the 37 million Americans who may suffer from migraines and are looking for desperate answers on how to sooth your migraine pain, and all the other side effects and baggage that come with it, you have come to the right place.

Holistic approaches focus on the patient as a “whole,” meaning mind, body, and spirit. Today, most treatment methods created for migraines just aim at managing an individual’s symptoms, instead of addressing and getting to the bottom of what is actually causing the migraines to occur in the first place.

These causes or risk factors can be due to depression and anxiety, pain and other underlying disorders such as obesity, asthma, stress, head and neck injuries, certain medications, and hormone imbalances.

Today, medical providers are making it their goal to find the root or main cause of a patient’s migraines. Prevention is often the best treatment for someone experiencing frequent migraine headaches. Examples of preventive methods include:

  • Diet changes: eliminating foods known to cause headaches, like alcohol and caffeine.
  • Taking medication: anti-nausea medicine, and pain relievers such as acetaminophen and an anti-inflammatory such as aspirin can all ease the symptoms of migraine headaches.
  • Reducing stress and anxiety is crucial and can be done by exercising regularly and utilizing coping methods.

To learn more about migraines and how to soothe the pain you may be experiencing, call Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.

Does My Weight Increase the Risk for Heart Disease?

As modern and advanced as we think the United States is, it may still come as a surprise to some that obesity is a very real and present epidemic. In fact, 35 percent of adults and 17 percent of children and adolescents are considered overweight to the point of being obese. And this number continues to grow! Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement of how much body fat someone has, determined by looking at their weight and height. If your BMI is over 35, then you are considered obese. This epidemic is severe, and it is important for people to know that being obese poses a detrimental threat to their overall health. Many people who are obese also exhibit risk factors such as high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, and conditions such as diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), stroke, and the number one cause of death – cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death around the world. Some of the most common forms are coronary heart disease (coronary artery disease), arrhythmia (abnormal heart beat), and congenital heart disease. So, does increased body weight contribute to an increased risk for heart disease?

Research has shown that being obese has been directly linked to heart failure and increased mortality rate, as a result of its correlation with the various types of heart diseases. Due to a decrease in blood flow to the heart muscle, the heart cannot pump blood as efficiently and effectively as it should.

So, to answer the question – yes, your weight does increase the risk for heart failure due to cardiovascular diseases. There are several ways obesity and cardiovascular disease are related, depending on the particular disease and the severity of how overweight or obese someone is. Coronary artery disease (CAD), where the arteries of the heart and its blood flow become blocked due to plaque build-up, is the leading cause of myocardial infarction, resulting in chest pain (angina), and possible death if left untreated.

After accounting for the risk factors generally associated with heart disease and obesity, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, a study done in the Journal of the American Heart Association investigated the role of severe obesity and the development of heart conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure. While obesity has been a known risk factor for developing heart disease, results showed that severe obesity is in fact, its own independent risk factor for heart failure.

A team at John Hopkins University conducted a study with participants who were morbidly obese, and were found to be twice as likely to develop heart failure, comparable to the people with a healthy body mass index, and not considered obese. Obesity is an independent risk factor for heart failure. Someone with a BMI over 35 and diagnosed as obese is at risk for getting some form of heart disease. This study proved that these people who were morbidly obese were more likely than those of normal weight to have a stroke or coronary heart disease. Yes, obesity alone leaves a person at a significantly higher risk for heart failure, whether or not they have hypertension or diabetes. Even if patients have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, they are still at risk for heart failure if they are obese or overweight.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says almost six million people in the United States live with heart failure, so family medicine providers have noticed that there needs to be an improvement in educating patients, and people in general of the risk factors, and ways to keep their heart healthy, in order to better help prevent heart failure, and decrease the number of deaths. This includes eating a heart healthy diet, and making an effort to have regular exercise or activity.

Well, research studies are one thing, and real life is another. If you are overweight, you generally know that there is a healthier you that you can attain to be. You should also know that it’s important to speak with your healthcare professional about whether you might be more at risk for heart disease. To learn more about how your weight can be an indicator that you are at risk for heart disease, call Advanced Medical at (561) 434-1935, or you can request an appointment online.