What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

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According to the National Kidney Foundation, 37 million adults in the United States are living with CKD – and approximately 90% do not even know they have it. When kidneys become damaged and are unable to do their jobs optimally over a period of time, it is called chronic kidney disease (CKD).

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How to Reduce Your Risk of a Heart Attack

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Andree Jones, DO, primary care sports medicine physician, shares risk factors for a heart attack and how to reduce your risk of heart disease.

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Reducing Your Risk of Cervical Cancer

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The early stages of cervical cancer don’t have any symptoms, and that’s why it’s so important to get your well-woman exam annually. If you are aged 21-30, pap smears are recommended every three years

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Top Five Risk Factors of Death in Men

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Did you know that in 1920, women outlived men by one year, and today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that women survive men by five or more years.

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Four Types of Food that Increase Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

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By Misty Cox, FNP-C, WHNP, family nurse practitioner

food-higher-risk-diabetes

Contents:

November is National Diabetes Month, and the timing is perfect as the holiday season means a lot of food and celebrations. The holidays are busy and many of us get out of healthy routines such as exercise, eating a balanced diet, and more.

Type 2 diabetes, unfortunately, does not take the holiday season off, so here’s four types of foods to avoid or moderate your intake of this holiday season and throughout the year. These four food types increase your risk of type 2 diabetes:

Heavily processed carbohydrates

Foods made with white flour, white sugar, and white rice are low in bran, fiber, vitamins, and minerals; examples include breads, muffins, cakes, crackers, and pasta. According to a 2007 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), a diet high in heavily processed carbohydrates increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 21 percent compared to those who ate a whole foods-rich diet.

Drinks sweetened with sugar

Sodas, sweet tea, fruit drinks, and lemonade can lead to weight gain and increase your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Having just two sugar-sweetened drinks per day can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by as much as 26 percent, according to a 2010 study by the American Diabetes Association. Water is the best substitute and has many health benefits for your body.

Saturated and trans fats

Saturated fats are found in dairy products such as butter, whole milk, cream, and cheese as well as fatty meats. Trans fats are tied to fried foods (fast food restaurants, “bar” food) and packaged baked goods. Some healthy alternatives include:

  • Snacking on nuts, not sweets
  • Eating lean meats and/or poultry, and removing the skin
  • Avoiding salad dressings such as blue cheese, ranch and thousand island and using olive oil and balsamic vinegar instead
  • Cooking and baking with olive or canola oils

Red meats and processed meats

Processed meats such as hot dogs, bacon, and deli meats have higher levels of sodium and nitrites, which put you at not only higher risk of type 2 diabetes but heart disease. A study shared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a three ounce serving of red meat daily increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 19 percent, and a serving of less than three ounces of processed meats increased the risk by more than 50 percent. Protein is essential to your health so switch to wild caught fish, like salmon, or organic poultry like chicken or eggs combined with vegetables to optimize your meal plan.

Prediabetes is alarmingly prevalent. Did you know one of three Americans is prediabetic? Your best defense is getting information on your risk factors and how to optimize your lifestyle to decrease your risks. We primary care providers (PCP) are here to help. If you have not had your annual wellness exam, schedule it, and talk with your PCP about your health goals.

Resources

More from Misty Cox, FNP-C

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What Immunizations Does Your Family Need?

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UV Safety for You and Your Dog

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What You Need to Know about Cervical Cancer

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Stroke Awareness and Prevention

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By Richard Fowler, MD, internal medicine physician

stroke awareness

Contents:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 800,000 people in the United States annually have a stroke, and the majority of these are first-time occurrences.  Additional striking statistics from the CDC include:

  • Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke.
  • Every four minutes a person dies of a stroke.
  • One in every six deaths from cardiovascular disease is due to a stroke.
  • One in every four people who experience a stroke have had a stroke in the past.
  • Stroke is the leading cause of disability.
  • Stroke reduces mobility in >50 percent of stroke survivors ages 65 and older.

Did you know May is National Stroke Month?

Strokes can occur at any age; in fact, according to the CDC, 34% of people hospitalized in one year due to stroke were under the age of 65.  So, it’s important for all of us to be aware of how to prevent strokes.

Causes of Stroke

Leading causes of stroke include:

  • Advancing age
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Obesity
  • Prior stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA)
  • Smoking

According to the American Heart Association, one in three Americans has one of these conditions or habits.

Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

Early action is important to surviving a stroke and decreasing the long-term impacts. According to the CDC, patients who arrive at the emergency room within three hours of their first symptoms often have less disability three months after a stroke than those who received delayed care.

Unfortunately, many people do not recognize all the signs and symptoms of a stroke.  In fact, the CDC reports that in one survey, only 38 percent of respondents were aware of all major symptoms and knew to call 9-1-1 when someone was having a stroke.

While most people recognize sudden numbness on one side as a sign of a stroke, below are other signs and symptoms of a stroke.  Note that all these signs or symptoms occur suddenly.

  • Confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
  • Dizziness, lack of coordination, loss of balance or trouble walking
  • Severe headache with no known cause
  • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes

F.A.S.T. to Save Lives

If you recognize signs or symptoms of a stroke in someone, follow these steps:

f.a.s.t diagram