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Luke Perry’s Stroke and An Increased Risk for Middle-Aged Adults

Luke Perry’s Stroke and An Increased Risk for Middle-Aged Adults

luke perry stroke

In early March middle-aged women across the U.S. mourned the loss of their teenaged heartthrob Luke Perry, who played Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills 90210 which aired from 1990-2000. Perry, 50, suffered a stroke a week prior to his death.

Think 50 is too young for a stroke? Think again.

Strokes in individuals 25-44 and 45 to 64 years old increased between 2000 and 2010 according to a report from the Journal of the American Heart Association. While the majority of strokes still happen in senior adults over the age of 65, those numbers decreased while the number of younger stroke patients rose.

Why are strokes increasing in younger patients?

Strokes fall into two categories: the most common Ischemic strokes and the more lethal Hemorrhagic strokes. Ischemic strokes happen when a clot blocks brain blood flow. Hemorrhagic come about when an artery in the brain leaks or bursts.

Risk factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and consumption of processed foods take much of the blame for the increase in strokes in middle-aged adults.

Other reports give credit for the rise in hospitalizations for strokes to a generation more educated about the signs of a stroke. When middle-aged adults recognize a stroke is happening they are more likely to get to a hospital earlier which increases the chances for a positive outcome.

What are the signs of a stroke?

Since knowing the signs of a stroke are linked to faster response and improved results, let’s talk about what you may notice. The National Stroke Association makes it easy to remember: FAST

Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?

Arms: Ask the person to hold out their arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?

Time: Act quickly. Call 9-1-1 if the person shows any of these symptoms.

Symptoms associated with strokes include numbness on one side of the body, confusion or trouble speaking, vision trouble, balance or lack of coordination and sudden, severe headache.

How do I reduce my risk of stroke?

Twenty-five percent of people over the age of 25 will experience a stroke within their lifetime. Lifestyle changes are the number one way to decrease your risk of stroke. These changes do not include fad diets, but rather healthy eating habits you can sustain over your lifetime. In addition to eating more whole grains, lean meats and vegetables of many colors, adding consistent exercise to your routine helps combat the risks of stroke.

Keep regular wellness check-ups with your doctor where your blood pressure is monitored and your cholesterol is checked. And know your numbers: blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol and blood sugar.

We learned a lot from Luke Perry and the 90210 cast twenty years ago. Don’t miss this most recent lesson. You’re not too young for a stroke. If you’ve not scheduled your wellness exam for 2019 do it now. It might just save your life.

Skipping Your Cervical Cancer Screening? Don’t.

two women friends, cervical cancer screening pap tests

New recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force give women the options in their cervical cancer screenings:

The average woman aged 30-65 can be screened by:

  • A Pap test every three years
  • A HPV every five years
  • Or Both tests (collected together) every five years

Previously doctor’s recommended a Pap test every year in these age groups. With the reduced amount of testing, you’d expect more, not fewer, women to be screening. Unfortunately, less than 65% of women are up to date on their screenings.

Why Schedule Your Cervical Cancer Screening?

Short answer? Cervical cancer exhibits no symptoms in its early stages when treatment is most effective. The best way to detect cervical cancer early is through microscopic testing of your cervix lining. In addition to testing for cervical cancer during your visit, your provider will test for STIs, an important yearly testing for women who are sexually active with more than one partner or who practice unsafe sex.

Why Aren’t Women Being Screened?

Researchers have multiple theories. One is that without the need for a yearly Pap test women believe they do not need to see their gynecologist but every three to five years. It’s easier to forget to schedule a cervical cancer screening three years from now than it is to keep a yearly appointment. Also confusion over the guidelines and which test they need may keep some women from being tested at all.

Testing dips after age 26 when many women roll off their parents’ health insurance so they may not be able to pay for the testing. And finally, rumors of how uncomfortable a Pap test is can discourage some women from scheduling theirs.

Don’t Be Chicken, Schedule Your Appointment

We’re making it easier to stay healthy. For $15 you can receive your Pap test in our office.

Not sure when you had your last cervical cancer screening? No problem. Let’s start now. We’ll add your screening dates to your patient record in our office or start a new one if you’ve never been here before. When you forget the last time you had a screening, call us, we’ll be glad to check.

Worried about how uncomfortable screening may be? A Pap or HPV test is one of the least invasive tests you’ll schedule. Having a strep or flu test is much more uncomfortable in our opinion. Plus, our providers and nursing staff have excellent bedside manners. Your screening will be over before you know it.

No insurance or high deductible? No problem. Like we said, $15 covers your screening. If you only need one every three years that’s like 41 cents a month. Your health is worth it.

Ready to schedule your Pap test? Call us now at 662-282-4226.

Gut Bacteria and Your Health

gut bacteria

Most of the time when our medical provider talks about bacteria and our body it’s not a good thing. When it comes to the naturally occurring bacteria in your stomach, it looks like more can be better.

Somewhere between 300 and 500 different kinds of bacteria live in our intestines, and that’s a good thing. These bacteria work with other tiny organisms to make up the microbiota in our intestines. Researchers call the gut our “second brain”.  The microbiota in our gut affects everything from our metabolism to our mood to our immune system.

Gut Bacteria Linked to Chronic Illness

Research into this gut bacteria shows differences between the types of bacteria in healthy people versus those with certain illnesses. While it makes sense what’s happening in our gut would affect chronic diseases such as colon cancer or Crohn’s disease, gut bacteria may also increase your chances for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, autism, and rheumatoid arthritis.

How to Encourage Good Bacteria Growth

What goes into our bodies affects how our bodies work. Encourage good gut bacteria by eating a nutritious diet high in fiber-rich foods. Processed foods and diets filled with red meats can kill certain gut bacteria. Having a variety of gut bacteria appears in research to be as important as having a lot of good gut bacteria.

Exercise can also increase the variety of gut bacteria so aim for 30 minutes of exercise at least five times a week. We’ve discussed the importance of exercise in controlling blood pressure, reducing heart disease and managing type 2 diabetes. All those illnesses may have some link to gut bacteria which can be affected by exercise.

Finally, only take antibiotics when your provider determines it’s necessary. Antibiotics will not help your cold or flu. Those viruses must run their course. Antibiotics not only kill the bad bacteria but the good gut bacteria your body needs.

Research is on-going to determine how certain gut bacteria affect disease and what we can do to increase it in our intestines. If you’d like to learn more about gut bacteria and the research surrounding it, we found this article by WebMD to be especially helpful.

Does my child need a sports physical in Mississippi?

youth sports physical mississippi, girl playing tennis

Springs sports swung into action weeks ago while summer and fall sports prepare for tryouts, sign-ups, and early practices. In Mississippi, March and April present beautiful months (when it doesn’t rain every day) where you can find a sports competition or practice of just about any sport you like. If your child plans to participate in a new season of sports or a new sport altogether, read on to learn about how a sports physical isn’t just necessary but could save their life.

What’s the difference between a sports physical and an annual wellness exam?

A sports physical focuses on the aspects of your child most likely to be affected by active play. These aspects include your child’s joints, breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. Annual wellness exams cover a broader spectrum of your child’s wellbeing. This exam often includes blood and urine tests, questions about your child’s academic performance, nutrition, sleep habits and behavior.

Each type of exam focuses on a specific aspect of your child’s wellbeing and both are necessary. The Mississippi High School Athletic Association has a Mississippi Athletic Participation Form your school will hand out for your child’s provider to complete. This exam should catch major health issues that might affect your child’s participation. However, it will not catch other problems only discovered through an annual exam.

Annual exams, on the other hand, may not discuss injury prevention for your child’s sports or how to prevent dehydration or overuse. For your child’s healthiest future, ensure your child receives both exams.

Who should complete my child’s sports physical?

Many schools hold physical days on campus. However, others may drive student-athletes off campus to low or no cost physical days. During these events, physicians or nurse practitioners see hundreds of athletes. Your child will receive a quality sports physical at a low cost in a convenient way, making these events very popular. If your child is unable to participate in these events, your regular medical providers can provide the same service at a reasonable fee.

A benefit to having your child’s regular provider perform the sports physical is a continuity of care. That means one provider who knows your child’s medical history can provide care specifically for your child in a less rushed atmosphere. Continuity of care is especially important if your child has an illness that can affect their athletic performance. Some of those illnesses include asthma, allergies to stinging insects, diabetes or other illnesses.

When should my child have a sports physical?

Most schools require a physical every calendar year. As your child grows they will experience different challenges and health risks. A physical each year screens for those changes. We suggest your child complete their physical at least six weeks prior to starting a new activity. If your provider notices a problem and refers your child to a specialist you have time to see the specialist and determine treatment (if needed) before the start of tryouts, practice or games.

School physicals usually begin as students enter the seventh grade. Children participating in sports earlier than this age should also undergo a sports physical to ensure they are performing at their optimum best.

What does a sports physical involve?

During a sports physical, your provider evaluates your child’s:

  • Medical history
  • Family history
  • Height and weight assessment
  • Vision exam
  • Musculoskeletal exam
  • Cardiac screening (pulse rate and blood pressure)

What if they find a problem?

Most sports physicals result in an approved form after a 20-30 minute visit with your provider. If your child’s physical returns an issue, your provider will likely refer your child to a specialist. It could be something as simple as a referral to an optometrist for glasses or a recheck of blood pressure in a week or two.

Providers rarely bar children completely from playing a specific sport. The majority of issues found in a sports physical can be treated in a way that allows your child to continue participation.

What should we bring for the exam?

Be prepared to complete information on your family history of illnesses and your child’s medical history. This includes hospitalizations, injuries, and surgeries. Remember to bring a list of all your child’s regular medications. If your child wears glasses make sure they have those for the exam.

In short, if your child intends to participate in a sport this summer or fall, now’s the time to schedule a sports physical. Our providers are prepared to complete this exam for your child and to provide follow up care if needed.

 

Potty Talk: Show Us Your Poop

toilet paper, colon cancer testing

We’re discussing what nobody else wants to talk about. Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer or rectal cancer, is the second most common type of cancer among adults and the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. (Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer.)

In good news, the five-year survival rate for patients whose cancer is found in the early stages is 90%! Unfortunately, in about 40% of cases, the cancer is discovered in later stages where surgery is often the best treatment and treatment is harder.

So how do we detect colon cancer earlier? It starts with your yearly physical and includes tests like a colonoscopy if you’re over the age of 50 or have a high risk of contracting colon cancer.

Don’t stop reading because you aren’t ready for a colonoscopy!

Other tests can provide insight from the outside. Not only do people not want a colonoscopy, many can’t afford the test. That’s why we offer stool-based screenings in our office.

These screenings aren’t the best option for everyone, but for many of our patient’s it’s the place to start.

Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)

This test detects blood in your feces (stool). Your stool sample can be collected in our office or you can bring your sample from home. Not all polyps (extra tissue growing in your colon) bleed and not all blood that may be found in your stool is from a polyp or a cancerous polyp. Some blood found in your stool could be from hemorrhoids or other illnesses. If blood is detected your provider will likely order a colonoscopy. This test is recommended every year, but it’s minimally invasive.

Buaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)

Like the FIT, the gFOBT tests for unseen blood in your stools but it works in a different way. Patients take this test home and follow the instructions on the kit to test multiple stool samples and return to their medical clinic where it is sent off to a lab.

Unlike FIT, gFOBT may react to certain medications like Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), vitamin C and red meat eaten the last three days before the test.

This test should be done every year and if blood is found in the stool a colonoscopy will be ordered to determine the source.

Stool DNA test

Unlike FIT and gFOBT, stool DNA tests look for abnormal sections of DNA from cancer or polyps in your stool. The process for this test is different than that of the other test but the stool sample may also be collected in the comfort of your own home. If you choose the DNA test, it’s suggested you repeat the test every three years.

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy jokes at fiftieth birthday parties abound. It makes for a good punch line but not a fun day. This one test is the single best way to detect polyps and other abnormalities in the colon. Polyps that are detected can be biopsied and diagnosed during the colonoscopy. Most polyps take years (think 10-15) to grow into cancer. While the test is invasive, you’re only requested to have one every 10 years after age 50 (unless problems are found, then you may be asked to repeat the test more often).

Bottom line, don’t avoid colon cancer testing because you don’t want or can’t afford a colonoscopy. Our clinic or your regular medical provider’s clinic can handle stool tests as a first step screening for colon cancer. Make an appointment with one of our providers to discuss your options.

 

Opioid’s Effect on Heart Health

three wooden hearts, opioids and heart health

We’ve written a lot of warning about the risk of overdose due to opioid use. In 2017 72,000 people died from a drug overdose and 30,000 of those cases were due to opioid use. Opioids work by binding to opioid receptors in the nervous system reducing the perception of pain. Opioids can depress other systems of the body like the lungs where breathing may become so inhibited and slow it eventually stops leading to an overdose death. What we haven’t heard a lot about is opioid’s effect on the heart.

If there’s good news in the opioid crisis it’s that most opioids have little initial effect on the heart muscle’s operation. Why then are patients who use opioids at an increased risk to die from heart disease?

A study in 2016 showed opioid patients experience a 65% increased chance of death due to new heart complications. Other studies link an increase in heart disease among opioid users who also use other drugs, especially benzodiazepines, such Valium, either legally or illegally.

Other heart diseases related to use of opioids include:

  • Bradycardia
  • Vasodilation
  • Ventricular tachycardia
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Infectious endocarditis

What all these long, complicated words have in common is they can lead to problems from lightheadedness to sudden death.

Withdrawals and Heart Conditions

Quitting opioids after prolonged use includes heart-related risks of its own. Withdrawal includes a faster than normal heart rate and elevated blood pressure. Other withdrawal side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, low blood pressure and sudden passing out. For all these reasons and many more, we strongly suggest opioid users seek out professional help when detoxing from opioid use. Not only can a medical staff support you as you continue in your rehab, but they can provide physical help to ensure you move safely away from opioid use.

We’re working to remove the stigma of seeking help for an opioid addiction because we know professional care during opioid detox and recovery is the safest way for a user to get and stay clean. Opioids affect every aspect of your body. Save your heart (and other body systems) by contacting our behavioral health clinic for information on opioid recovery.

Children’s Dental Health: 11 Tips for Keeping Your Child’s Mouth Healthy

sleeping baby, children's dental health

Nothing’s cuter than a baby’s gummy smile with his first tooth shining through. Children’s dental health starts here. By the time that baby reaches four years old he’ll have a mouthful of teeth useful for chomping down on his favorite foods and smiling for mom’s camera. But did you know that tooth decay is the most common chronic illness in children age 6-12? And that 50% of children will have had a cavity by the time they are five years old?

Yes, children lose those tiny baby teeth over time, but tooth decay and early loss of teeth can lead to eating problems, speech delays, and crooked adult teeth. The great news for our kids is that most tooth decay can be prevented. While the best dental hygiene habits start early, it’s never too late to adopt new routines to protect your child’s remaining baby teeth and growing permanent teeth.

Need some help? Start with these ten tips for children’s dental health.

  • Start early by wiping your infant’s gums with a clean damp washcloth at least once a day.
  • Model great oral hygiene habits by brushing your own teeth twice a day and visiting your dentist twice a year.
  • Do not allow your child to sleep with bottle or sippy cup of milk or juice. Sweet liquids sitting on your baby’s teeth and gums all night
  • As soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, use a child’s toothbrush with a smear of toothpaste the size of a grain of salt to brush her teeth twice a day.
  • Schedule your child’s first dental visit within 6 months after their first tooth erupts or no later than their first birthday.
  • Find a dentist your children (and you) enjoy seeing.
  • At the age of three-years-old, you can start using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and start teaching your child to spit the toothpaste out, not swallow it.
  • Find a flavor of toothpaste your child likes to encourage him to brush twice a day.
  • Choose a toothbrush featuring your child’s favorite character to encourage brushing each day.
  • Continue brushing your child’s teeth until they are able to brush them on their own (usually around 6-8 years old).
  • Reduce the amount of sugar in your child’s diet and instead focus on crunchy fruits and vegetables as well as cheese, lean meats, and nuts.

People shy away from dental visits because of fear of pain or fear of the bill. Regular dental visits reduce the need for dental repairs and dental pain. Mantachie Rural Health Care’s dental clinic works off the same sliding scale we use in our clinic, which means you can receive the dental care you need at a price you can afford. Call us today (662) 282-4226 or 662-282-4335 to make your appointment.

Diabetes and Heart Disease: A Deadly Duo

three women talking, diabetes and heart disease

Type 2 diabetes rarely arrives by itself. Instead, it travels with a host of additional medical conditions ranging from dry, itchy skin to an increased chance of heart disease. In fact, patients with Type 2 diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from a heart attack or stroke than people without Type 2 diabetes. In addition to monitoring A1C levels, your provider should monitor your risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Heart disease increases in people with Type 2 diabetes because high glucose levels can damage arteries causing them to become stiff and hard. When fatty materials build up on the inside of these arteries it can block the flow of blood to the heart or brain causing a heart attack or stroke.

Not the news you wanted to hear, we know. We’re not excited about it either. However, people with Type 2 diabetes can take a few steps to decrease both their blood glucose levels and their risk of heart disease all at the same time.

Get Moving

Whether you’re trying to improve your blood glucose levels, blood pressure, weight or energy levels, one recommendation remains a constant. Thirty minutes of aerobic exercise five times a week. Break that down into ten-minute increments three times a day if needed, but get moving. Your future self will thank you.

Lose Weight if You’re Carrying Extra Pounds

Not only does obesity decrease your body’s ability to manage insulin and increase your chances of diabetes, it puts extra pressure on your heart and lungs to do their jobs properly. And truth be told, it probably makes you feel bad which can prevent you from getting the exercise you need. It’s a vicious cycle that’s not easy to break. Work with a nutritionist, your medical provider, and an exercise coach if necessary to create a routine that helps you lose the weight and keep it off.

Stop Smoking

You know you need to. Cigarettes not only increase your chances for lung cancer but they decrease blood flow to your legs and feet which prevents healing. Smoking also increases your already high chances of heart disease. If you’ve tried quitting smoking unsuccessfully in the past, it might be time to ask your medical provider for help.

Talk to Your Provider about Aspirin Therapy

Aspirin therapy isn’t for everyone but for some patients a low-dose of aspirin every day reduces the risk of heart disease. The therapy comes with its own risks so talk to your provider about whether or not it might be option for you.

Improve Your Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

Your diet, exercise, and weight affect more than just your blood glucose, but sometimes you need some extra help to bring your cholesterol and blood pressure under control. Ask your provider about monitoring these levels and whether medication would help you better control your cholesterol and blood pressure.

Eat Well

We all love eating good foods. Good foods can be healthy. With help from a nutritionist or website like diabetes.org, you can find great tasting recipes that meet the nutritional guidelines your body needs.

Diabetes may affect all aspects of your life, but it doesn’t have to cut your life short. Find renewed energy and health by focusing on just one of these strategies this month. If you do not have a provider to help you manage your diabetes and heart health, contact us. We’re happy to see you!

What are congenital heart defects?

congenital heart defects

We celebrate February as heart month from paper hearts on Valentine’s Day to discussions on heart disease. In the midst of all those heart-to-hearts, we find congenital heart defects. Before we talk details, let’s break down the term. Congenital means at birth. Heart defects (or you may also hear ‘heart disease’) is an abnormality of how the heart forms. Congenital heart defects (CHD) occur when the heart or blood vessels near the heart do not form as they should before birth.

CHD is the most common birth defect with 1 in every 1,000 live births experiencing a heart defect.

How serious are congenital heart defects?

If your infant’s been diagnosed with a CHD, what you really want to know is how serious is it. CHD covers a span of eighteen different defects, with each defect having varying degrees of severity. A CHD could be as mild as a small ventricular septum defect that closes on its own and never affects your child’s growth or development to a more serious heart defect such as the rare single ventricle defect which can be fatal. Internet research offers plenty of detailed information, but your best information comes from conversations with your child’s cardiologist.

Good news for all parents and children with CHD is that most heart defects can be treated and/or repaired. Prognosis for children with CHD is better than it has ever been.

How is a CHD diagnosed?

Most heart defects are diagnosed with a few days of birth, although some defects may not be found until childhood or even adulthood. Keeping your child’s wellness checkups is one-way providers find and diagnose heart defects in older children.

How do I prevent CHD?

We don’t know the cause of every heart defect which means a mother cannot prevent every CHD. The Mayo Clinic suggests mothers ensure they are vaccinated against rubella before becoming pregnant, manage chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, discuss the effect of medications for chronic medical conditions on pregnancy with your physician, avoid harmful substances and take a multivitamin with folic acid.

What’s considered a CHD?

The list of CHD’s encompass 18 different defects. Click here for the most comprehensive list of heart defects along with information about each one from heart.org. It’s the most detailed list we’ve found.

 

Opioid Addiction Recovery: More Than A New Year’s Resolution

opioid recovery support

On January 1 the new year lies in front us as a fresh, crisp calendar with no blemish of our imperfect lives. For many it inspires grand ideas of losing weight, saving money or being a better person. After a holiday, some people with addictions will prescribe the same resolutions to their opioid addiction recovery as others do to overeating. However well-intentioned, New Year’s resolutions often get shoved to the side as normal life resumes. For addicts, however, this perceived failure can cause more anxiety, depression and drug usage.

If you’d like to end next year clean and sober, don’t let failed resolutions block your way. Start with these ideas to improve your chances of success.

Seek Professional Help

Resolving to stop taking opioids or drinking alcohol alone usually lasts until the withdrawal symptoms become overwhelming. Trying to manage your withdrawal symptoms alone can also be dangerous. Contact our behavioral health clinic or a drug treatment center near you to receive professional help through your withdrawals.

In addition to drug treatment, treating underlying mental illnesses can improve an addict’s chances at recovery success. Talk to a counselor or psychologist about treatment for behavioral health issues which may trigger your likelihood to relapse.

Find Support From Family and Friends

Family and friends have watched your decline into drug or alcohol abuse and use. Let them support you as you work your way back to health. Talk to those who will provide positive support for your opioid addiction recovery journey. Don’t try to manage your addiction alone. Your family may also want to seek therapy as they work through their own feelings about your addiction’s effect on them.

Create One New Healthy Habit Each Month

Your health has likely declined as addiction claimed more prominence in your life. A healthy habit could be as simple as eating three meals a day or sleeping a full eight hours every night. Don’t attempt to start a full healthy eating regiment or large scale exercise program while you’re undergoing recovery. In the beginning of your opioid addiction recovery, you may find yourself just surviving life without drugs or alcohol. Gradually bringing your body back into health, however, helps fill the time you once spent doing drugs and begins the journey toward total health.

Read or Listen to an Inspiring Book

If reading doesn’t excite you, fill your thoughts with positive messages through podcasts, YouTube videos or audiobooks. Find authors or speakers who encourage addicts through the recovery process and read or listen to their work.

Prepare for Relapse

Statistics show 85% of people in recovery will relapse in the first year. Realize you will probably relapse and be prepared to start over. Talk to your family, friends, and counselors about the signs of relapse and what steps you’ll need to take when it happens. Remember relapse isn’t a failure but is part of the process, although one of the most dangerous parts of the process because your body isn’t accustomed to the number of drugs you once took.

If you’re ready to treat your addiction this year, whether it’s January or June, our counselors are ready to help you find the resources you need for a healthier you. You don’t have to do it alone. Call our behavioral health clinic at 662-282-4359 for an appointment.

 


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