Ladies Only

The arrival of warmer weather is not just a time for moms to plan fun activities to keep children busy outdoors, it is also a good time to pamper ourselves.  The warmer seasons are perfect times to follow up on heath care matters that you may have been neglecting.  Postponing doctors’ visits, these can have a long-term impact on your health. You and your physician may miss early signs of cancer and other illnesses.   Make a list of heath care related task (dental, OB-GYN, Family Doctor, Podiatrist, etc) that you have postponed during the winter months and check them off as each is completed.  If stress is one of your concerns, call your favorite masseuse to schedule a needed massage.

It is well known that annual trips to the OB-GYN for well-woman examinations are no picnics in the park given the cold tables, stirrups, and paper gowns that open in the back.  However, skipping your OB-GYN appointment could mean missing early signs of cervical or uterine cancers. If possible, discuss with your physician when you will need a mammogram and how to perform breast self-examinations to check for any lumps.  If you think you may have found a lump in your breasts, you need to seek medical care as soon as possible.

If you have postponed seeing your family phycian for so long that you may not recognize him if he introduced himself, then you need to make an appointment for a routine check-up.  Seeing your family physician may save you from debilitating effects of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.  For example, a woman suffering from headaches while reading may buy a pair of reading glasses and take some Ibuprofen to relieve the headache.  The ibuprofen may relieve that headache; however, she should see her family physician to find out if other diagnosis such as hypertension and elevated triglycerides are not contributing to her headaches. Both diagnoses can lead to strokes or heart attacks. 

This is a good time to work on your diet and exercise routines.  Start by adding more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet and reduce the amount of caffeinated and sugary drinks from your daily intake.  Avoid fries and other high fat processed foods.  If you hibernated during the winter months, see your doctor before starting a workout plan.  You may have to start slowly by walking a mile a day at the local park.

Talk with your health care provider about your health, diet, and exercise before you start your plan.  You and your physician will be able to create a diet and exercise plan tailored to your needs. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult a health care provider for advice regarding any specific medical condition.

Changing Your Bad Dieting Habits

For the working adult, it only takes a single trip to the family practice doctor to find out you have a problem with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, diabetes, or another manageable health condition. You know it is time to eat better.

It is important to eat better. You need to follow the exact diet specifications that your doctor recommends for making meals healthier. You also need to keep up with the prescription for regular exercise.  Just as important, follow the specifications for prescribed medications and maintaining follow up appointments.

What are some general things that people can do to make a diet better? Let us say you have just been diagnosed with high blood pressure. General advice is to eat less sodium in your diet. Salt is everywhere! You must limit intake of canned foods and most frozen foods because they contain lots of sodium for prolonging their shelf life. Stop eating French fries and popcorn when you go out. Stop adding salt to food during cooking or eating or both.

Plan weekly menus to avoid foods with added salt. A good example is your trip to the deli. You can buy fresh versions of many meats and cheeses with low sodium content. These will be products without salts or other preservatives.  These foods, such as, fresh vegetables, are generally meant to be consumed in a few days.

Although your doctor requires you to change your diet, think of these diet changes in a positive way. These changes are better for you, and you probably should have done them a long time ago!

Diabetics have you checked your hemoglobin A1c lately?

A1c, HEMOGLOBIN A1c

The A1c test is used primarily to monitor the glucose control of diabetics over time. The goal of those with diabetes is to keep their blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. This helps to minimize the complications caused by chronically elevated glucose levels, such as progressive damage to body organs like the kidneys, eyes, cardiovascular system, and nerves. The A1c test gives a picture of the average amount of glucose in the blood over the last few months. It can help a patient and his doctor know if the measures they are taking to control the patient's diabetes are successful or need to be adjusted.

Depending on the type of diabetes that you have, how well your diabetes is controlled, and your doctor, your A1c may be measured 2 to 4 times each year. The American DiabetesAssociation (ADA) recommends testing your A1c 4 times each year if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and use insulin; or 2 times each year if you have type 2 diabetes and do not use insulin. When someone is first diagnosed with diabetes or if control is not good, A1c may be ordered more frequently.

How it works

The A1c blood test checks the average amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood over the last 2 to 3 months. It does this by measuring the concentration of glycosylated hemoglobin. As glucose circulates in the blood, some of it binds to hemoglobin A. This is the main form of hemoglobin in adults. Hemoglobin is a red protein that carries oxygen in the red blood cells (RBC's). Once the glucose is bound to the hemoglobin A, it remains there for the life of the red blood cell (about 120 days). This combination of glucose and hemoglobin A is called A1c (or hemoglobin A1c or glycohemoglobin). Increased glucose in the blood, increases the hemoglobin A1c. A1c levels do not change quickly but will shift as older RBC's die and younger ones take their place.

NORMAL HEMOGLOBIN A1C VALUES

Non diabetic adults: 2.2%-4.8%

Non diabetic child: 1.8%-4.0%

Good diabetic control: 2.5%-5.9%

Fair diabetic control: 6%-8%

Poor diabetic control: greater than 8%

**"Normal" ranges for lab values and other tests may vary among different laboratories and/or hospitals.

Your caregiver will go over the test results with you and discuss the importance and meaning of your results, as well as treatment options and the need for additional tests if necessary.

This post is for informational purposes only.  If you feel that you may have diabetes or need your hemoglobin A1C check, contact your credentialed health care provider.