The most difficult job to master in life is probably parenting. Heads of Fortune 500 companies have nothing on parents and guardians trying to figure out things like how to instill values and confidence while also keeping their children safe and healthy. Since children don’t come with a manual, parents simply learn as they go, picking up advice from their parents and culling information from books and the Internet.
One of the most challenging and important skills to learn is knowing when to make an appointment to see a doctor. After all, most children seem to cycle through being sick pretty quickly, making it hard to pinpoint what constitutes too sick to let the episode of illness run its course on its own.
The highly skilled board-certified physicians and medical team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic provide our insights on how to navigate the when to see the doctor dilemma.
First of all, understand that you know your baby or child better than anyone else. If something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts and make a sick visit appointment. At Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic our compassionate team knows that when your child is sick, getting them properly diagnosed and beginning treatment is essential, so our practice offers same-day and next-day appointments as well as walk-ins whenever we can.
There are several signs and symptoms that typically indicate that your child’s sickness is something more than the run-of-the-mill bug going around school. One key indicator is a fever. If your baby or child has been running a fever that just doesn’t go away after a day or two, call Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic.
How high a fever is and the age of your baby or child are also key factors. For instance, a fever of above 104°F for children of all ages as a cause of concern. If your baby is younger than 12 weeks or three months and has a temperature of 100.4°F, call your doctor right away.
Remember that although fevers — particularly when they won’t go down — can be scary, they may also indicate that your baby’s or child’s immune system is actively working. That’s actually a good thing.
Tracking the combination of your child’s symptoms will also be important in your decision on whether your child’s illness warrants a doctor’s appointment. If your child has a fever and a rash that won’t go away, then give Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic a call. Most rashes typically go away as quickly as they came, however, if the rash is painful and your child is lethargic, it’s best to get it checked out.
If your child complains of symptoms like headaches, abdominal or neck pain, nausea, or has a sore throat, make an appointment to have your Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic doctor do a full workup to see what’s going on. A stiff neck, a rash, or a fever could be the signs of something more serious like meningitis, but you won’t know until your doctor does a comprehensive examination and runs diagnostic tests to find out.
Most of the time the culprits are the common cold or something minor, but being cautious gives you certainty. Your doctor is your partner in your child’s health. Our caring medical and professional staff understands that when your child is sick you just want them to feel better.
If your child is sick or something with their health just isn’t adding up, make an appointment right away with the highly skilled board-certified physicians and medical team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi. Request an appointment online or call today.
Have you been battling a winter cold for several days? If you’re wishing you didn’t have to hop in the car when you’re feeling sick, our staff at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic has a technology that might work for you. We offer telemedicine to our patients living in and around New Albany, Mississippi, so you don’t have to travel when you don’t feel well.
This service, launching on January 10, 2019, can be thought of as a 21st-century housecall. Our provider performs a thorough assessment and then creates a treatment plan that will have you feeling better in no time. Here are a few things you need to know before logging on for your telehealth visit.
During a telemedicine visit, you can see your provider by using a phone or tablet and your internet connection. While this technology might seem new, it’s quite common. The American Telemedicine Association reports that there are nearly 3,500 telemedicine service sites in the United States and that over half of all hospitals in the country use some form of telemedicine.
Telemedicine is often called mobile health or “mhealth.” During the video visit, our provider performs a thorough assessment of your symptoms and then creates a treatment plan, just as they would if you were in the office.
Our providers assess, diagnose, and treat many non-emergent conditions through the use of telemedicine. Symptoms of a cold or virus are no exception, so would be appropriate for a telemedicine visit. Here are a few symptoms you might experience with a cold or infection:
There are advantages to visiting with one of our providers without leaving home. Here are a few benefits that top the list.
You don’t have to leave the comfort of your bed or commute to our office. Just log on at the assigned time and speak directly to your provider. Staying home also ensures that you won’t expose others to your germs or expose yourself to other illnesses.
Because telemedicine has become widespread, most insurance companies cover the cost of the visit. Check with your insurance provider before scheduling your appointment to ensure coverage. Telemedicine also eliminates other expenses such as travel and loss of wages while waiting in our office.
There are several telemedicine sites available. However, when you schedule an appointment with the Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic, you see your regular care team. They have access to your medical records to quickly review your health history, medications, allergies, and other essential information to ensure you get the best possible care.
Your visit will be similar to an appointment in our office. Our provider asks you a series of questions that target your symptoms. They’ll create a treatment plan that might include rest and medicine. If your symptoms need a closer look, we might recommend that you make an appointment in our office for a different level of care.
Before the visit is complete, your provider reviews the treatment plan with you to ensure you understand it and can ask any questions you may have. If your illness requires a prescription, our provider sends the prescription request to your pharmacy of choice.
If you’re sick after the New Year, check our site for the launch of telemedicine visits and visit your doctor in the comfort of your own home. You can book your telemedicine appointment, by clicking on the “schedule appointment” button and then get ready for your convenient mhealth visit.
This is one of only a few acronyms that strike fear in the heart of any parent, whether seasoned ones or first-timers. Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a very common illness that peaks during late Fall and Winter. Virtually every child has contracted the virus by 2 years old. Children and adults can be re-infected throughout their life time. Subsequent infections are typically less bothersome and are often blamed on a simple “cold” due to their inconsequential nature.
SYMPTOMS & RISK
Most infants infected with RSV develop upper respiratory tract symptoms like runny nose and sneezing, while only 20%-30% develop lower respiratory tract symptoms like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. This can sometimes progress to wheezing, retractions (visibility of the ribs when breathing), rapid breathing, nasal flaring and grunting. Those at particular risk of complications are the very young, those less than 60 days old. Factors that increase the risk of severe disease include prematurity (especially those less than 29 weeks’ gestation), chronic lung disease of prematurity, congenital heart disease, and certain immunodeficiency states. Additional risk factors include low birth weight, having siblings, maternal smoking during pregnancy, exposure to second hand smoke, eczema, not breastfeeding, and household crowding. Hospitalizations typically occur in those less than twelve months old, mainly those less than six months old. The hospitalization rate of those who contract RSV is less than 3%.
TESTS
Often the best test is knowing the RSV activity in the community. Spread among daycare centers can occur rapidly and there is little chance of escape for those who have not had the virus previously. It is spread on clothes and in the air (sneezing and coughing) for distances less than 6 feet. It can persist on surfaces for several hours and on hands for 30 minutes. Touching your eyes or nose after having the virus on your hands, is a common way to contract the virus.
A nasal swab is the most frequent test to confirm the infection. A result can be known in as little as ten minutes with an accuracy of 80-90%.
TREATMENT
No available treatment shortens the duration of RSV or quickens the resolution of symptoms. The care is supportive. This means making sure the child stays well hydrated by consuming small amounts of milk often. Having RSV is not a reason to avoid milk. There is no good data to suggest it “thickens” secretions, as some have often worried. Suctioning the nose to facilitate to ease breathing while eating helpful. Breathing treatments, steroids, and antibiotics do not have a routine role in treating RSV, nor do cough and cold preparations including Benadryl.
PREVENTION
General guidelines that apply to preventing other viral diseases also applies with RSV. Hand washing, limiting exposure to persons known to have the disease and wiping down surfaces frequently can be helpful. Once exposed RSV, illness typically develops within two to eight days, usually four to six. There is an immunoglobulin injection that is offered to a very select group of high-risk individuals given monthly from October until April, which can decrease the risk of contracting the virus.
WHEN TO SEEK HELP
Signs that a child may be part of the small group that will need hospitalization or further medical attention including those who exhibit symptoms of dehydration including decreased wet diapers, dry lips and mouth, decreased tearing, and rapid breathing with rates above 60 times a minute. Breathing difficulties, including retractions, as well as lethargy. In addition, we value the maternal instinct that “something just isn’t right!”
It is very likely that all of us have had RSV at some point in our life. This doesn’t reduce the anxiety we all feel when an infant contracts the virus. Sleepless nights will lie ahead, but implementing common sense measures mentioned may help weather the storm.AUTHOR
Dr. Shane ScottDr. Shane Scott is board certified in Internal Medicine & Pediatrics and practices at The Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany.
Asthma is a common condition that causes swollen or inflamed airways in your lungs. These changes can increase your sensitivity to things in your environment and cause your airways to narrow, making it difficult to breathe. Such episodes are known as asthma attacks and can vary in duration and severity.
Common triggers of asthma attacks include:
Allergens like animal dander, dust mites, or pollen
Irritants in the air, like strong perfumes or smoke
Certain illnesses — especially the flu and upper respiratory infections
If you have asthma, it’s also common for your symptoms to grow worse during winter months when the air is colder and drier. But you don’t have to dread the return of winter every year. The team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi, understands the complexity of managing asthma in both children and adults and can help you better control your symptoms even when the winter winds blow.
Beat the heat
Don’t forget to replace your furnace filters each season before you crank up the heat. By ignoring this simple step, you run the risk of blowing dust and debris throughout your entire house, which can trigger an asthma attack. Running your furnace also dries out the air, so set your thermostat at a consistent temperature and run a humidifier to maintain optimal humidity levels in your home.
Plan your exercise
As tempting as it may be to exercise outdoors on a cool winter day, extreme temperatures can irritate your airways and cause asthma flare-ups. When the mercury drops, play it safe by exercising indoors or wait for the warmest time of day to be outdoors, like midafternoon.
People with asthma usually have greater lung function and faster recovery times when they warm up before exercise or activity. So, during winter months, consider doing your first 20 minutes of exercise indoors before heading out into the cold.
Protect your health
Cold and dry air aren’t the only things that irritate swollen and inflamed airways. Even the mildest upper respiratory infections can trigger an asthma attack. While you can get a cold or the flu at any time of year, cases increase significantly during winter.
Everyone over 6 months of age should get an annual flu shot as protection against the virus. It’s also essential to wash your hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers to reduce your chances of being exposed or spreading germs that cause colds and flu.
Use your medication wisely
Year-round, you need to have an effective management plan for controlling your asthma and dealing with asthma attacks. During winter, when you have increased risk of asthma attacks, be sure to properly follow your treatment plan and continue getting regular checkups.
Based on your symptoms, your doctor might recommend modifying your prescriptions and medication schedule or suggest a preventive dose of medication before you head outdoors in the cold.
For more information on managing asthma during the cold, dry months of winter, call Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic, or request an appointment online today.
If you live a healthy lifestyle, you’re more likely to have a healthy heart. Heart health correlates closely to your overall health. In the spirit of February being named American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness of how to aim for heart health, here are 10 ways to do just that.
If you’re a smoker, you’re 2-4 times more likely to get coronary artery disease than people who don’t smoke. If you do get coronary artery disease, your risk of death from the disease is 70% higher than that of nonsmokers.
Blood pressure that’s consistently high over a period of time can lead to stroke or heart attack. Age increases your risk of high blood pressure, but other factors play a major role also. If you’re overweight, obese, eat a lot of salty, processed foods, and are physically inactive, you’re at a greater risk.
You’ll get your blood pressure checked at each wellness appointment at our Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic. If your blood pressure is high and isn’t controlled by making lifestyle changes you and your doctor set out, you may be put on medication.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance within your body. When you produce too much of it, it turns into a material called plaque, which narrows the vessels carrying blood to your heart. This process, often called “hardening of the arteries,” can lead to a heart attack.
We give adults a baseline cholesterol test to determine cholesterol levels. A good total score is 200 or lower. If your test is normal, you’ll get retested every 4-6 years. If it’s higher than 240 over a number of months, your doctor is going to likely recommend medication to lower it.
You’ll be retested annually unless you have other risk factors for heart disease, in which case you may get checked more frequently.
Getting enough sleep — especially quality sleep — is one key to heart health. There’s a reason why experts say getting seven hours of sleep is important.
Studies indicate that those who sleep for seven hours have less calcium in their arteries than those who sleep five hours or less. If calcium develops, it indicates damage caused by narrowing of the arteries leading to the heart, a condition called atherosclerosis.
If you have diabetes, you’re more at risk for heart disease, and your chances of having a heart attack or stroke are greater than those of people in the overall population. High blood sugar over a period of time harms blood vessels leading to your heart.
Managing your diabetes means monitoring and controlling your blood sugar levels, your blood pressure, and your cholesterol, and living a healthy lifestyle.
Being physically inactive is a risk factor for heart disease. Walking is a simple activity that doesn’t cost money, and it’s great for your health. Incorporate a daily walk around your neighborhood into your schedule or add breaks into your workday to get some exercise. Thirty to sixty minutes a day lowers blood pressure and blood sugar.
Obesity and being overweight are risk factors for heart disease. Changing your eating habits and getting regular exercise helps to control weight.
Instead of opening that plastic package of processed chips, how about taking a couple of apples with you to work as a snack? Eating a lot of saturated fats leads to obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure — all risk factors for heart disease.
Too much alcohol raises your blood pressure and can harm your heart muscle, leading to a condition called cardiomyopathy. Binge drinking can cause arrhythmias and death. Drinking any alcohol can be dangerous if you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure.
If you suffer from depression, get help; depression is a risk factor for heart disease. People without a support system are also at increased risk.
Stress may contribute to high blood pressure, and it can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and overeating that are risk factors for heart disease. Find ways to relieve your stress — try meditation, mindfulness exercises, physical exercise, or engage in hobbies you enjoy.
For expert health care for you and your family, call or book an appointment online with us at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi.
Thanks to immunizations, Americans are largely protected against some very serious, and highly contagious, diseases before the age of 2. While many of these vaccines are designed to provide a lifetime of protection, there are some ongoing or additional immunizations adults should be aware of and stay on top of.
At Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic, our team of medical professionals partners with the New Albany, Mississippi, a community for good health. Whether it’s minor emergencies or preventive care, we have the medical tools and expertise you need to lead a healthy, happy life. And while you may think your immunization days were over after your first round as a child, we can still protect you against serious illness as an adult.
Here are five vaccines every adult should have, or consider, depending upon their circumstances.
Every year, the influenza virus makes its rounds, sending millions of people around the country to their couches and beds with fever, body aches, and respiratory problems. To avoid these two weeks of misery, and the potential complications that can stem from a bad flu, a simple flu vaccine each year will serve you well.
The reason you need an annual flu vaccine is that new influenza strains are constantly evolving; each year, we try and stay one step ahead with a vaccine designed to stave off the latest strain. While not perfect, the flu vaccine boasts up to a 60% protection rate — great odds when you consider the alternative.
If you had chickenpox as a child (which includes 98% of the population), that virus that causes it stays in your system, even though you successfully battled it off on the first go-around. As an adult, this virus can rear its ugly head again and cause shingles, especially as you get older. In fact, half of the population who had chickenpox will have a bout with shingles by the time they’re 85.
To protect you against a painful outbreak of shingles, we recommend a shingles vaccine for healthy adults over age 50. Called the recombinant zoster vaccine, this vaccination offers a 90% protection rate, and we administer it in two doses spread out over a few months. This new vaccine replaces the older live vaccine that some may have already received. Regardless of whether or not you had the old live vaccine or have had shingles previously, it is still recommended that you receive the newer recombinant vaccine.
We give the DTaP vaccine, which covers diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough), to infants as a matter of course. But not all vaccines are designed to last a lifetime, so, as an adult, you should receive a Tdap booster vaccination against these very serious illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that whooping cough is on the rise again and tetanus is a dangerous disease in which 10-20% of cases are fatal.
We recommend that you get a full Tdap booster as an adult to shore up your protection, and a Td (tetanus and diphtheria) vaccine every 10 years after that.
This infection is what leads to pneumonia, which can be very serious the older you are. To give you an idea of the gravity of this disease, approximately 1 million Americans get pneumonia each year, which leads to 400,000 hospitalizations — and 5-7% of this population die from the infection.
To protect yourself against this pulmonary illness, we recommend that our patients 65 and older get the pneumococcal vaccine. We also recommend this vaccination for patients who have pre-existing health conditions, such as HIV, diabetes, emphysema or kidney disease.
There are two pneumonia vaccines. One has been available for many years Pneumonia-23 and a newer one called PCV 13. Everyone needs both starting at 65 years old. Those with chronic conditions only need Pneumonia 23 if they are less than 65.
This final category is for our patients who travel abroad. While the United States has done a fantastic job at protecting its population, this may not be the case in other countries, where some very dangerous diseases are alive and well.
To help you and your family travel safely, we offer full travel medicine services. This includes prescribing medications and providing vaccinations you need, depending upon the area you’re traveling to.
If you have any questions about how you can best protect yourself through vaccines, please give us a call or use the online booking tool to request an appointment.
A preventable, yet very common and potentially dangerous condition, hypertension affects nearly 75 million Americans, or 1 in 3 adults. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only about half of these people have their high blood pressure under control. And if you don’t control your hypertension, it could cost you your life.
As your local partner in health and wellness, our physicians at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi, offer effective treatment options for hypertension. If you’re not sure you have high blood pressure, or you know you do and you need help controlling it, our compassionate team of health care providers creates a customized treatment plan that leads you down a healthier path.
Hypertension, aka high blood pressure, is the result of prolonged pressure or force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels and arteries. Also known as the “silent killer” because of its lack of symptoms and warning signs, unchecked hypertension can become life-threatening and result in a heart attack or stroke.
You may be at risk of this dangerous condition if any of the following factors apply:
If you have diabetes or prediabetes or take certain medications, you‘re also at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure. Additionally, not having enough potassium in your diet can help you retain sodium in your blood, which increases your risk.
Fortunately, hypertension is preventable and treatable. Even if you’re not considered high risk, it’s important to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis, such as during a yearly physical.
The first step to regulating your blood pressure is finding out how high it is. At Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic, we measure your blood pressure and discuss your health history and lifestyle with you to determine the best treatment options.
Our physicians may recommend several treatments, including making dramatic lifestyle changes whenever necessary. We’ll also address any underlying health conditions that may be contributing to your elevated blood pressure.
It may be a challenge at first, but we’re here to support you every step of the way. Managing your high blood pressure can save your life in the long run, so it’s definitely worth the effort you need to make now.
Depending on your individual condition, we may recommend several of the following treatment options:
First and foremost, you may need to embark on a journey toward becoming healthier overall. Lifestyle modifications may include eating a heart-healthy diet that consists of more fruits and vegetables and less salt and fat. If you smoke, you need to quit. If you’re mostly sedentary, we work with you to help you become more active.
Losing weight and limiting alcohol intake may also be beneficial. And if your life is filled with stress, you need to find ways to reduce it through activities like meditation or exercise. Better yet, if possible, make changes to remove the biggest sources of stress from your life altogether.
When lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough, you may also need to take medications. Some blood pressure medications help your body eliminate sodium and others help relax blood vessels so your heart doesn’t have to work so hard.
Treating hypertension isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. We can work with you to create an effective plan based on your unique set of health and lifestyle circumstances. When it comes to helping you lower your blood pressure, our experienced team at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic provides the medical and emotional support you need to achieve your goals.
It’s our mission to help you live a healthier life, and find the balance for your overall health and wellness -- mind, body, and spirit. If you suspect you have high blood pressure, don’t wait to seek treatment. Call today to schedule an exam or book online now.
A child’s body is constantly changing, from the time they’re born until they become young adults. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that your child gets routine preventive exams (well-child exams) as they grow.
These well-child exams will allow a pediatrician to detect any important health problems and monitor your child’s developmental progress. The American Academy of Pediatrics — an organization of over 67,000 pediatricians committed to the well-being of infants, children, and young adults — recommends the following schedule for well-child exams:
Starting at 3 years old, a child’s visits should be annual through age 21.
Well-child exams are also the ideal opportunity to ensure your child is up to date on immunizations.
Children are born with some protection against diseases and will get additional antibodies from their mother’s breast milk. Unfortunately, this protection is temporary. To help protect your child from common or life-threatening diseases, doctors recommend that your child gets vaccinations for the following:
While this looks like a long list, these aren’t administered all at once. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a vaccination schedule for the above over six years.
Many of the diseases listed above can be life-threatening or cause long-term complications for your child. Vaccinating your child can protect them in places where they would normally be at risk, such as:
Immunizations are the best way to protect your child from long-term health complications that result from contagious disease.
Side effects from vaccination are mild and may include minor bruising or swelling at the injection site. There is no evidence that suggests vaccinations cause autism. In addition, vaccinations are constantly monitored to ensure safety and effectiveness.
You can get complete pediatric services at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi. Operated by a talented team of board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, your child will receive personalized care as they grow.
To learn more about well-child exams or child immunizations, book an appointment online or call the office today.
For years, doctors have told their patients to keep their “bad cholesterol” low and their “good cholesterol” high. But what are the differences between good and bad cholesterol, and why is each important? In this blog, the friendly health specialists at Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, Mississippi, explain the differences.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body produces naturally. Your body needs it to produce hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen, and it allows you to make vitamin D from sunlight.
Cholesterol moves through your blood on proteins called lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol throughout your body:
It’s important to note that LDL cholesterol isn’t inherently bad. LDL cholesterol plays a vital role in your health by transporting fat to your cells to give them energy.
However, a variety of factors can cause LDL molecules to oxidize, which can make them stick to the walls of your arteries. When enough of these oxidized LDL molecules accumulate in your arteries, your arteries will narrow. Narrowing arteries can lead to heart disease and stroke.
Some risk factors that may increase the oxidation of LDL molecules include:
The best way to keep your LDL cholesterol low is to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle and to eat foods high in antioxidants.
HDL cholesterol absorbs other cholesterol types and takes them back to your liver, where they’re broken down and removed from your body.
You can improve your HDL levels with:
Unfortunately, you can’t figure out your cholesterol by looking in the mirror or having your blood pressure checked at a grocery store. A doctor will need to order a cholesterol test. However, looking at your cholesterol levels won’t tell the whole story about your health.
At Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic, you can speak with an experienced doctor who can walk you through the results of your test. If your bad cholesterol is high or if your good cholesterol is low, your doctor can help you make the lifestyle changes needed to achieve better health. And if that isn’t enough, your doctor can also prescribe medication.
To learn more about maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol, book an appointment online or over the phone with Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic today.
