If there’s one thing the last several months have taught us, it’s that our health is something we should never take for granted. Whatever we have to do to get healthier or prevent conditions like diabetes, heart disease, a weakened immune system, or obesity is well worth it.
As we enter the fall season, which typically ushers in the seasonal flu, our skilled providers at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic, located in New Albany, Mississippi, share their thoughts on the five ways you can boost your immune system. What’s particularly beneficial about this topic is that it doubles as a primer on how to live a long, healthy life. Now that’s something definitely worth exploring.
We all know that even the most disciplined and healthy folks come down with a cold or get sick from time to time. But the more you can do to boost your immune system, the more it will fight off germs and harmful substances like bacteria and viruses.
The human immune system is a complex assortment of organs and cells that work in tandem to prevent harmful elements like germs from entering your body as well as help you heal when you get sick. It includes things like white blood cells, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and even your skin and mucous membranes.
When your immune system is working optimally, it can easily detect if a foreign substance is trying to do you harm. Its job is to attack and destroy any foreign cells or pathogens. But to do that, it has to be operating in optimal performance.
Here are five ways to help improve your immune system:
You’ve probably heard the saying: “You are what you eat.” And though hyperbole, it does ring somewhat true. What you put into your body greatly impacts your immune system.
Think balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Not only will a healthy diet boost your immune system, but it may also fend off chronic health conditions like hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
A healthy diet is best when teamed with a good exercise regimen. Find an activity that you like and stick with it. You don’t have to start running marathons or take up kickboxing, unless, of course, you want to. Simply taking a half hour to walk most days will work wonders for your immune system. A great added side benefit is that exercising regularly helps you maintain a healthy weight and boost your mood while it enhances your immune system.
We all experience stress, whether it’s work-related or simply trying to juggle all our responsibilities simultaneously. Find an activity to unwind and release your stress. Things like meditation, yoga, or hobbies allow your mind to rest and can make all the difference. Plus, it can reduce your blood pressure and anxiety levels.
Managing and reducing stress can also help you sleep better, which, in turn, helps boost your immune system. Getting six to seven hours of sleep each night encourages your body to regenerate and refresh after a long day.
But getting a good night’s sleep isn’t always easy. Turning off the replay of the day’s events and the endless list of things in your head that need to be completed tomorrow can keep you awake. Try reading a chapter or two of a good book before bedtime or listening to soothing music. Try to turn off your devices a few hours before getting into bed.
You may have to experiment a little to find what works best for you, but finding a bedtime routine is essential for your immune system.
Good hygiene and washing your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds is such an easy and effective way to protect yourself from germs. Your skin is the body’s largest organ and is a common entryway for foreign invaders like viruses.
Stay vigilant when washing your hands. Whether you sing “Happy Birthday” or recite the alphabet to time out your handwashing, doing so will boost your immune system.
Not feeling well? Book an appointment with our experienced providers here at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic. Request an appointment online, or call the office today.
Each year an estimated 61,000 children are adopted in the United States. The journey to adoption can be a long one for both the children waiting to be adopted — many waiting on average four years — as well as the adult anxious to fulfill their dreams of parenthood. The journey may be lengthy, but when it finally comes together, it’s so worth it.
The typical adoption process includes many steps that not only examine the type of adoption desired, such as open or closed adoption, as well as completing application paperwork and doing home visits. One of the important steps in this process is the adoption physical of the parent or parents to be.
In this blog, the skilled providers at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic, located in New Albany, Mississippi, share their experience with providing this crucial component of the adoption process.
You are probably familiar with a physical. You may even get an annual physical every year as part of your wellness routine with your doctor. An adoption physical is no different except that we complete a written record for you to return to the adoption agency.
Every agency may have slightly different protocols, but most will require a physical for everyone in your household. The purpose is to closely examine the health of everyone who would be involved in nurturing the adopted child.
During the physical, we’ll record your height, weight, and blood pressure. We’ll also check your throat, eyes, and ears and listen to your heart and lungs. If you aren’t a current patient, we’ll also do a complete medical history and may order lab tests like blood work to check your glucose and cholesterol levels as well as a tuberculosis test.
When you arrive for your physical, bring a list of any medications and vitamins you take as well as a list of any specialists you currently see and any reports or records from those specialists. All this data will be compiled to provide a clear picture of your health.
The overarching purpose of the physical is to rule out any critical health conditions that could hinder your ability to provide a stable, safe, and nurturing home to a child through adulthood.
It’s important to note that if you have serious health issues such as cancer or a chronic condition like diabetes it doesn’t automatically prevent you from adopting. After all, even biological parents go through health struggles during their lifetime. If you have a serious medical issue, you just may need additional documentation from our team about your condition.
The results of your adoption physical are recorded as a health statement. Once we complete your adoption physical, our providers finalize the required paperwork for you to submit to your adoption agency. This will become a part of the mandatory home study portion of the adoption approval process.
The home study is an assessment of not only the environment or home, but of all the people in that home, including their health, finances, relationships, and everything there is to know about all the people that will be involved in raising the adopted child.
Keep in mind that not all health issues may be perceived as negative when it comes to approving an adoption. Some adoption agencies specialize in placements with couples who have infertility issues, so documentation and health records become that much more important.
If you are navigating the adoption process and need an adoption physical, book an appointment with our experienced providers here at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic. Request an appointment online, or call the office today.
Few experiences are more relaxing or liberating than walking barefoot on a beach. With the warm sand under your feet and the sounds of the waves lapping the shoreline, it’s no wonder that the ocean is one of the top nature sounds featured on meditation and relaxation apps.
This seemingly idyllic scene can quickly turn dangerous for the 34.2 million people in the United States who are living with diabetes. In this blog, the skilled providers at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic, located in New Albany, Mississippi, share six tips for protecting your feet this summer so you can enjoy a healthy summer season.
Diabetic foot care is an important part of daily care when you have diabetes, and unfortunately, this chronic condition never takes a vacation. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have lots of fun in the sun. Being mindful of some key health precautions will keep you in tip-top shape while enjoying your summer.
Remember that picturesque scene about walking barefoot on the beach? Sorry, but that’s really not a good idea. Avoiding walking barefoot altogether is tip #1. Due to your compromised circulation and sense of feeling, even a few minutes walking barefoot could put you at a higher risk of a puncture or cut. Even a quick jog to the mailbox on the hot driveway could cause blisters on the soles of your feet. Keep your feet covered and protected. They’ll thank you later.
Now that walking barefoot is off the table, let’s take a look at what footwear will best protect your feet. More than anything else, it’s about protection and proper fit.
Select footwear that’s the correct size. If you haven’t had your foot measured for a while, now is a good time. Make sure the shoe fits well so you can avoid blisters or excessive rubbing. Comfortable closed-toed shoes that protect the soles of your feet and are made of breathable material are ideal. Wearing sandals every so often is all right, but just make sure you carefully check your feet when you take them off.
This one is a tough one particularly because of the heat, but if you are prone to foot swelling wear compression socks and prop your feet up as often as possible. Remember that you want to avoid further circulation issues. Compression socks help reduce swelling by promoting an upward flow of blood.
This one is fairly easy since it should already be part of your daily regimen. Do a thorough examination of your feet looking for cracks, cuts, blisters, or any type of broken skin that could turn into an infection. Don’t forget to check the soles of your feet as well as your ankles.
Apply moisturizing lotion to your feet daily to avoid dry, cracked skin, which can turn into sores or infections. Forget about soaking your feet as you don’t want to risk the overall strength or integrity of your skin. Do you recognize a familiar theme here? Be mindful of anything that could ultimately make you more prone to developing an infection or sore.
Keeping your glucose levels in check is the best way for you to stay healthy all year long. Follow our team’s advice regarding monitoring your blood sugar, taking your medication, eating a healthy diet, and getting exercise.
During the summer you may be tempted to splurge, but sticking to all the things that help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level will enable you to enjoy many more summer vacations in the future.
To learn more about summer diabetic foot care or managing your diabetes, book a consultation with our experienced providers here at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic. Request an appointment online or call today.
Nothing regenerates you like taking some time off just to relax. No meetings. No deadlines to meet. No homework. No errands. Just you and your family and perhaps a babbling brook, a pristine beach, or an awesome theme park.
Whether vacation to you means relaxing at a place close to home or an adventure across the country, getting sick while you’re on vacation is definitely not on your travel itinerary.
It happens though. Perhaps you’ve gotten sunburn or a bout of diarrhea. It’s no fun watching everyone else enjoy themselves while you’re stuck back at the hotel hoping to feel better before your vacation ends.
Unfortunately, if you’re traveling abroad to undeveloped countries the potential health risks can be much higher than a minor sunburn or traveler’s diarrhea. In some countries, you are looking at malaria, smallpox, dengue fever, yellow fever, hepatitis, and meningitis.
The good news is with a little advanced planning and being mindful of certain safety protocols you can help prevent or minimize the risk of you or your family getting sick on vacation. In this blog, the skilled providers at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic give you the 411 on travel medicine and how to plan for a healthy family vacation this summer.
Each year more than 30 million Americans vacation abroad. If you are among the estimated eight million adventure-seeking vacationers to developing countries, your exposure to infectious diseases that we don’t commonly have in the United States may be much higher. For instance, about seven million Americans typically travel to countries where conditions are ripe for malaria.
Travel medicine plays a pivotal role in your pre-travel plans. This service is basically a blend of preventive medicine services with a specialized focus on the environmental and public health conditions you’ll face while on vacation.
Our travel medicine specialists take a deep dive into your destination in terms of vaccinations and also can send you on your way with medications like antimalarial drugs — all given in the context of your medical history and overall health.
Once our team informs you of what conditions you’re likely to run into based on where you’re going, we’ll give you information so you can pack an informed safety-to-go kit. Some items you might want to pack include:
Don’t forget items like anti-malarial drugs, bug spray, and mosquito netting if you’re going to malaria-prone areas. If you’ve gotten vaccinations and immunizations for your trip you may want to tuck a written record in your to-go kit. For things like yellow fever vaccinations, some countries require an official certificate stating that you have received the vaccine. Our team can help you with that as well.
All the everyday health practices like drinking lots of water are just as relevant or perhaps even more important when you’re on vacation. Keep in mind that water quality differences may vary greatly from country to country. Your best bet is to drink bottled water without ice and travel with a refillable water bottle with a filter to purify your water when bottled water isn’t available.
As we all know from the current COVID-19 pandemic, practicing good hygiene protocols can keep infection at bay. When traveling wash your hands with soap frequently. First, run your hands under clean water, then add soap. Gently scrub for at least 20 seconds washing between your fingers and under your nails. If clean water isn’t available, hand sanitizer or antibacterial wipes are an adequate substitute in a pinch. Don’t forget to avoid contact with people who are coughing or appear to be sick and avoid touching communal surfaces like handrails, doorknobs, and light switches.
If you’re planning a family vacation this summer, book an appointment with our experienced providers here at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic for a pre-travel consultation four to six weeks prior to your departure. Request an appointment online or call today. Safe travels!
In the United States, millions of people come down with the flu annually. Not only does it make you feel lousy, but also the illness seems to linger.
The symptoms may start with a cough or a scratchy throat. Then comes the full-blown sore throat and headache. With each additional symptom, you think about whether you should wait it out or if you should see a doctor.
In this blog, our highly experienced providers here at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic share their insights on the flu so you’ll know when to schedule a sick visit.
Let’s start with a common debate – cold versus flu. So what’s the difference? Although both a cold and the flu are respiratory illnesses, different viruses cause them. Typically the symptoms are similar, but colds are generally milder than the flu and don’t usually result in serious complications like bacterial infections or pneumonia.
Think of the flu as a cold on steroids. Often, the flu causes a high fever, whereas a cold usually results in a low-grade fever or none at all.
When it comes to the flu, short for influenza, we typically think of flu season as if it has particular dates on the calendar like baseball or fishing season. Although it’s more common in the fall and winter, flu viruses can be transmitted all year long.
The flu is a respiratory viral infection that affects your nose, lungs, and throat. Since flu symptoms are similar to the common cold, be vigilant in noting what’s going on in your body. Flu symptoms may include:
Some people also get a fever and additional symptoms like body aches, fatigue, and nausea.
If you or your child has had any of these symptoms, it’s time to make an appointment for a sick visit. Keep in mind that the most serious distinction between the flu and a cold is that the flu can develop into serious complications like pneumonia, resulting in hospitalizations and even death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control during the 2018–2019 influenza season, 35.5 million people contracted the flu which not only resulted in more than 16.5 million doctor visits but also 490,600 hospitalizations and 34,200 deaths.
Getting to the root cause of your illness is the primary reason for a sick visit. No one likes to be sick, but ignoring it by not scheduling a visit with our team will only make you sick longer. During your sick visit, our providers will perform a thorough examination, ask you about your symptoms, take a medical history, and may run a few tests.
Using this information, our team develops a diagnosis and treatment plan. If you have the flu, our providers may prescribe antiviral medications to shorten the illness and also prevent risks of further issues like pneumonia.
Keep in mind that scheduling a prompt visit is particularly important for children who suddenly get symptoms. People with compromised immune systems or chronic conditions like diabetes, chronic lung disease, or liver or kidney issues should also seek prompt treatment.
If you’re not feeling well, contact our board-certified physicians and the medical team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi. Request a sick visit appointment online or call today.
It’s difficult to feel sick and not know what’s wrong. Getting answers quickly so that you can get on the road to recovery is all you really want. That sounds simple enough, but in reality, your doctor sometimes needs to rule out possible conditions to learn more about what’s going on inside your body. That usually means doing diagnostic tests like X-rays.
In 1895 when German mechanical engineer and physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen accidentally invented X-ray technology while tinkering with a cathode-ray tube in his laboratory at Wuerzburg University, he had no way of knowing that his discovery would profoundly change medicine and the process of diagnosing disease for centuries to come.
But is there a risk involved with X-ray technology? In this blog, our highly experienced providers here at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic share their thoughts on the safety of X-rays.
Did you know that in the United States, and everywhere else in the world for that matter, people get a certain amount of radiation exposure from nature, including from the air, soil, and water? Each year Americans get exposed to an estimated total of 0.62 rem (620 millirems).
Half of the total radiation exposure we receive comes from natural sources and is called background radiation. The other half comes from manmade sources from industrial, commercial, and medical sources. The measurements are minute though.
X-rays use EM waves or electromagnetic waves, a type of radiation, to create the image inside your body. Our team orders X-ray for a variety of reasons such as to check for a fracture, to see if you have pneumonia or in the case of mammograms to see if you have breast cancer.
Each of these types of X-rays emits a different level of radiation, which can sound scary. However, the dosage of what you receive from a diagnostic X-ray is very low. You would have to get hundreds of X-rays a year to accumulate enough radiation to create potential harm.
For the convenience of our patients, we provide in-house X-rays so you don’t have to travel to another facility and then wait to get results. The waiting game is never easy, but it’s particularly difficult when you aren’t feeling well. Getting answers is important, but you may be still wondering whether getting an X-ray is worth it when you factor in risk.
Weighing the risks versus the rewards is something we often do in medicine. At Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic, helping you get better and maintaining your health is at the heart of everything we do. The Hippocratic Oath “first do no harm” is a principle we live by.
Communicating clearly to you about what we think may be going on and what we’re going to do to get a proper diagnosis is a primary responsibility. We understand wanting to be cautious when it comes to radiation exposure, but rest assured when we recommend an X-ray it’s because we think the benefits outweigh the risks.
We don’t take your trust in us for granted. We know our patients play a critical part in the equation when it comes to their health. We also believe that the highest quality of medical care is always delivered when the patient is an active participant in the process.
Asking questions about X-rays and other diagnostic tools as well as other aspects of your health is not only important but expected and required. If you don’t understand something or want to discuss your concerns, don’t be afraid to ask questions and start the conversation.
If you aren’t feeling well, contact our board-certified physicians and the medical team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi. Request an appointment online or call today.
Cholesterol is part of your body’s natural chemistry. However, more times than not when people talk about watching their cholesterol, they are talking about making good lifestyle choices to reduce bad cholesterol. This means saying no to processed foods or that decadent dessert.
What you may not know is that cholesterol is an important part of the human body chemistry, and it has many useful functions like facilitating cell development. But like many things in life, cholesterol has its pluses and minuses, which we commonly refer to as “good cholesterol” and “bad cholesterol.”
In this blog, our highly experienced providers here at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic share with you a quick primer on cholesterol and how you can increase your good cholesterol for optimal health.
Cholesterol is a waxy material found in all your cells. If your doctor has ever ordered a lipid panel blood test to accompany an annual physical, you probably remember reviewing the results and discussing the levels for your good cholesterol or HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and your bad cholesterol or LDL (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol).
What makes bad cholesterol bad is that over time it can build up and narrow your blood vessels, leading to life-threatening conditions like hypertension, stroke, or heart attack. Adversely, good cholesterol works to sweep away excess bad cholesterol. Cholesterol is measured by milligrams per deciliter, so think under 100 for bad cholesterol and 50 or higher for good cholesterol.
If you are among the millions of Americans struggling with high cholesterol, knowing how to gain control over your levels and specifically how to boost your good cholesterol levels can literally save your life.
One of the best ways to increase your good cholesterol is to commit to making better food choices. But eating a healthy, well-balanced diet doesn’t have to be boring. By making some modest changes like cooking with oils with less saturated or trans fats like olive or canola oil is a good start. The American Heart Association has designated some products as “heart-healthy” so you can look for that when you’re shopping. Many restaurant food menus also designate some more healthy choices for you. Simple changes like broiling instead of frying can also make a difference.
Find simple ways to improve your eating habits. For instance, instead of eating a bowl of ice cream for dessert, make a yogurt parfait with low-fat greek yogurt using whole-grain cereal, heart-healthy nuts, and sliced fruit as toppings. If you enjoy snacking, ditch the bowl of salty chips and snack on nuts rich in Omega-3 fatty acids like walnuts and almonds. Studies have shown that walnuts in particular not only boost your good cholesterol but also reduce your bad cholesterol. Also, try to avoid processed foods and sugary drinks; you may just discover that a slice of lemon in water is as refreshing as a carbonated soda.
Proteins like poultry and lean meats as well as vegetables are important components of a well-balanced diet. If you like fish, focus on tuna, salmon, trout, herring, and mackerel. These fish options are full of Omega-3 fatty acids. While they won’t boost your good cholesterol, they can lower your bad cholesterol.
Although there are medications like statins that can reduce high LDLs and increase HDLs, making some lifestyle choices may lower cholesterol levels naturally. If you are sedentary, get up and stay active. The best part of this lifestyle change is that you don’t have to start training for a marathon. Regular exercise like walking can help. If you want to take it up a notch, doing 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of higher intensity exercise during the week will be time well spent.
If you’re overweight or obese, you’re much more likely to have a lot more bad cholesterol and less good cholesterol. Work with our providers to lose some weight and maintain a healthy weight. Weight management will not only improve your cholesterol levels but enhance your overall health. Your cholesterol levels, your waistline, and your heart will receive dividends when you watch your weight. It’s a win-win-win!
Sometimes lifestyle changes are not enough to control cholesterol levels especially for those patients with a family history of high cholesterol. In these cases, we may recommend a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.
To learn more about your cholesterol and how to enhance your health, contact our board-certified physicians and the medical team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi, for a cholesterol assessment and treatment options. Request an appointment online or call today.
Commercial drivers have an important responsibility to safely transport people or products across the United States. When you think about travel and transportation safety, many people think about issues related to vehicle maintenance first, but perhaps the most important part of the equation is the “maintenance” and health of the vehicle’s driver.
In the United States, nearly 10 percent of the workers are employed in transportation and transportation-related industries. A vast majority of those workers drive for a living. Specifically, 3.6 million people are commercial drivers, some of who criss-cross the country, logging more than 100,000 miles each year.
The federal government requires that these commercial drivers pass a Department of Transportation or DOT physical to screen for health issues that may prohibit them from safely operating a commercial vehicle. Several members of our medical team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic are certified DOT medical examiners listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) National Registry.
In this blog, our highly experienced providers share with you what to expect during a typical DOT physical.
Unlike some other medical tests or examinations, you don’t have to worry about any complicated or messy preps going into a DOT physical. You will, however, need to bring a few documents with you for background information and to help create a more complete picture of your health. Items include a copy of your medical history as well as a list of prescription medications you take.
Don’t forget that if you wear corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses or use hearing aids, you should bring them along for the physical. If you have issues with your heart or other health complications like sleep apnea, epilepsy or diabetes, we recommend bringing in a letter from your specialist documenting your condition as it relates to driving a commercial vehicle. If you are not sure whether your particular health condition warrants a letter, ask our staff when you book your appointment.
The DOT physical is similar to an annual physical, but it’s more comprehensive. The goal of this comprehensive assessment is to look for any abnormalities or conditions that would limit or impair the patient’s ability to safely drive a truck or bus.
Physical endurance and physical activities like climbing ladders, steps and simply getting in and out of your cab as well as inspecting cargo are all part of the typical day as a commercial driver. You need to be in top shape for these physical and mental demands and more.
During a DOT physical the provider performs blood pressure and heart rate screenings as well as checks your reflexes and does a thorough examination of your lungs, and chest, spine, and vascular and neurological functions.
Because seeing and hearing clearly is a crucial part of safely operating any vehicle, a DOT physical includes a complete eye examination and hearing test. The vision test will cover visual acuity, peripheral vision, as well as the ability to detect different colors.
The hearing test examines how well you detect sounds and tones from different distances. Keep in mind that color blindness issues and wearing a hearing aid will not necessarily keep you from passing the DOT physical.
Lastly, a laboratory test, usually a urinalysis will be conducted as part of the DOT physical to test for drug or alcohol use, and in some cases, glucose levels for screening for diabetes.
If you’re embarking on a career as a commercial driver or you’re an existing driver and it’s time for your next DOT physical, contact the board-certified physicians and medical team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi. Request an appointment online or call today.
Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, an estimated 647,000 people die of heart disease each year. The statistics are even more astounding when you include the broader category of these life-threatening conditions known as cardiovascular diseases, which claim the life of one American every 37 seconds.
The first thing to note about heart disease is that the term is often used interchangeably with cardiovascular disease. Think of cardiovascular disease as the umbrella for the larger category of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.
It’s no wonder that “heart healthy” has become a term that’s hard to escape whether you are perusing the menu at your favorite restaurant, shopping at the grocery store, or searching for an exercise program you can stick with.
The highly skilled board-certified physicians and medical team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic can help you navigate the vast volume of information on heart disease. Here are six types of heart disease and what causes them, so that you can make better lifestyle and health care choices.
Technically heart disease defines specific issues and defects related to the heart while cardiovascular disease covers issues related to the circulatory system, which includes heart disease. There are many types of heart disease. Some of them include:
CAD is the most common form of heart disease. A hardening or narrowing of the arteries that lead to the heart characterizes this condition.
Unfortunately, for many people, a heart attack may be the first symptom of heart disease. A heart attack happens when the arteries leading to the heart become blocked, disrupting blood flow.
This condition occurs when stiffness in the heart prevents the organ from pumping blood adequately through the body.
Valve disease happens when any of the four valves in the heart don’t open or close properly and interrupt blood flow. If the defect in the valve happens at birth, it’s called congenital heart disease.
This condition can lead to heart failure. It occurs when the heart muscle becomes larger and stiffens, preventing it from pumping blood away from the heart. Sometimes blood can pool in the lungs.
This condition causes a fluctuation in the heartbeat that happens while at rest. If untreated, arrhythmia can be life-threatening.
Yes. There are several lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of heart disease.
Although each type of heart disease differs, the common element is the disruption of healthy blood flow to the heart or from the heart to the rest of the body. Age and family history play an important role in the development of heart disease, but so does lifestyle and vigilance in preventive health care measures like regular checkups and screenings. High cholesterol, hypertension or high blood pressure and diabetes are major risk factors for developing heart disease. Know your numbers, and if you’re recording levels in the high range, work with our team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic to get them under control.
The key to maintaining a healthy weight and body chemistry, including cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose levels, is often found in what you eat and how often you exercise. Eating a healthy balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and limiting foods laden with fat and salt will go a long way in keeping your heart healthy. Sedentary lifestyles are literally deadly. Regular exercise can be added to even the busiest schedules. Park the car further from your final destination and take the stairs. Your doctor can help you find an exercise plan that you can live with. Your heart will thank you.
Smoking cessation is perhaps the biggest impact you can make to your heart health. According to the Centers for Disease Control, smoking is one of the greatest risk factors in developing heart disease. If you are a smoker, work with our team to find a smoking cessation program that’s best for you. The effort you put into quitting smoking will have an incredible effect not only on the health of your heart, but it also has an effect on your overall health. It’s a definite win-win.
If you have concerns about your heart health or want to learn more, make an appointment with the experienced board-certified physicians and medical team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi. Request an appointment online or call today.
