|
.jpg) Our hospitals are currently observing National Women's Health Week. Are you and the women in your life well informed about the illnesses that commonly affect their health? Many women's health concerns can be improved or prevented with the right lifestyle changes. Here are the top health issues that women face today.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one killer among today's women. Unfortunately, women are underdiagnosed for this disease, often not receiving answers or treatment until their condition has worsened dramatically. This can result in disabilities or unexpected fatalities. Unlike most male patients, women may not feel chest pain while they suffer from heart disease. Instead they may notice confusing symptoms such as pain in the shoulder or jaw, difficulty breathing, or nausea. To keep your heart healthy, be sure to stay active, manage stress, and eat a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
Cancer
Cancer is the second most common cause of death among women. Lung cancer results in the most fatalities, but breast cancer is the most often diagnosed. When caught early, most patients make a full recovery from breast cancer. To increase your chances of an early diagnosis, self-examine your breasts once a month and stay up-to-date on mammograms per your doctor's recommendations. Women should also schedule regular appointments to screen for cervical cancer and colorectal cancer.
Osteoporosis
Women, who generally possess a smaller frame than men, are more likely to struggle with osteoporosis in their old age. This disease weakens the bones, making breaks and fractures inevitable in some cases. Young women can prevent a future of osteoporosis by staying active and getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D.
Behavioral Health Issues
Women's health extends beyond just their bodies and organs. Depression or anxiety can be just as crippling to a woman's quality of life as a physical illness. Women are prone to battling these internal struggles during times of hormonal change, such as during or after pregnancy, or before menopause. In most cases, behavioral health issues are easily treatable, if the woman seeks out help.
Ladies, are you doing everything in your power to protect your health? If you've picked up a bad habit or have fallen behind on important health screenings, now is the time to get back on track. Contact our free Consult-a-Nurse® service at 1-866-442-2362 with your healthcare questions or to request a physician referral.
Related Posts:
Ovarian Cancer Awareness
An Overlooked Problem: Eating Disorders
.jpg) Living with osteoporosis can be a painful, expensive, and inconvenient experience. Unfortunately, it is a common diagnosis that often accompanies old age. This disease causes extremely thin and fragile bones that can break or fracture easily after a fall, and many osteoporosis patients report breaks after a minor bump or even a particularly strong cough or sneeze. This occurs as the renewal of bone tissue slows while old bone tissue continues to die at a disproportionate rate.
Risk Factors
Statistics show that Caucasian and Asian women are most at risk for osteoporosis, especially as they age; however, osteoporosis can affect anyone who does not keep bone healthy habits, especially in their youth. The more bone strength you build as an adolescent, the less chance you will have of eventually suffering from osteoporosis in your old age.
Other risk factors can include:
-
A small frame
-
A family history of osteoporosis
-
Existing thyroid problems
-
Hormonal imbalances
-
A history of eating disorders
-
Steroid use
-
A sedentary lifestyle
-
Cigarettes or excessive drinking habits
Prevention
The most effective prevention begins during the adolescent years while bone strength is initially being built, but it is never too late to start caring about your bone health.
Nutrition is one of the most important factors to consider when trying to build strong bones. Calcium and vitamin D are the two main nutrients that can help ward off future battles with osteoporosis. While calcium can be found in dairy products and dark leafy greens, the body also naturally creates vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. It does not take a lot of time outdoors to get your daily allotment of vitamin D. Aim for 10 to 15 minutes.
Exercise is crucial for maintaining the existing strength in your bones. If you rarely move from your desk or couch, your bones will grow frail and weak from disuse. Get moving and participate in activities that place moderate amounts of stress on them, such as weight training or aerobics.
May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, and the hospitals of HCA East Florida want you to protect yourself from this condition. For more information about osteoporosis, contact our free Consult-a-Nurse® service at 1-866-442-2362. We are always standing by to answer your questions or provide a physician referral.
Related Posts:
Not Just Milk: Surprising Sources of Calcium
Spring Sports: Recovering from Sprains and Strains
.jpg) Arthritis can make even the simplest movements painful, and those who suffer with chronically achy joints often find exercising less than appealing. Certain exercises can even further damage your joints, but the right exercise can reduce your pain and keep your muscles strong. Also, exercise and an active lifestyle are important for everyone's health.
If you have arthritis, try one of these mild joint-friendly exercises. Remember, consult your doctor before starting any new exercise program. And no matter what activity you choose, stretching before and after is important for all arthritis patients.
Walking
Nothing can beat the simplicity and ease of a long walk. Pull on some comfortable shoes, choose an upbeat playlist on your MP3 player, and go for 2-mile (or longer!) walk. Your joints won't endure any extra pressure, and you'll enjoy the benefits of an easy cardio workout.
Yoga
Try a yoga class to get your body moving and improve your health. Since classes can vary in intensity and difficulty, be sure to start off with a gentle or restorative class. Many of the poses can even help relieve symptoms of arthritis, as long as you pay attention to your body and don't push yourself too far.
Water Exercise
Going for a swim is a great cardio exercise, and it is very easy on your joints. If you get bored with the monotony of swimming laps, look into other water exercises. Many gyms offer water aerobics classes that give you all the benefits of a traditional aerobics class without stressing your joints. If you can't make a class, try a "water walking." Wade into the ocean or a pool until the water reaches above your waist, and try walking through the water. The water creates more resistance and effort than you'd get with a normal walk.
May is Arthritis Awareness Month. Do you let your arthritis hold you back from exercise or other daily activities? Call our Consult-a-Nurse® service at 1-866-442-2362 with questions about how to overcome your pain and maintain a healthy life. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Related Posts:
Spring Sports: Recovering from Sprains and Strains
Top 10 Ways to Be More Active in 2012
.jpg) Weight loss surgery is a big life change that requires a commitment to good health practices, both before and after the procedure. The decision to undergo weight loss surgery cannot be made quickly. Patients will typically have several discussions with their doctor before determining that surgery is their best plan of action. Preparations for weight loss surgery can be intense, but preparations for the procedure can help you and your doctor feel comfortable with your ability to uphold the lifestyle required of a post-op bariatric patient.
Get Educated
Many weight loss surgery programs offer free information seminars. There, you can meet with the doctors and other staff, learn about the procedures, and ask questions.
Commit to Diet and Exercise
Most doctors will not perform weight loss surgery on a patient who has not made a long-term and genuine effort to lose weight through diet and exercise. Some doctors will request several weeks or months of healthy eating and consistent exercise before they seriously consider agreeing to a surgery. You may also need to quit smoking during this time.
Be Evaluated
Take time to talk to your current doctors, as well as the surgeon who will be performing your procedure. This will help you assess your current health and determine any potential risk factors.
Have a Support System in Place
Remember that weight loss surgery will require lifelong changes. You will never be able to safely go back to old habits. Without a support system, this lifestyle can be overwhelming. Many doctors will hesitate to operate on a patient who does not have supportive and encouraging family members or friends. Talk with the people in your life about your surgery. Find someone who can come with you to doctor's visits and hold you accountable after the operation is complete.
Are you considering weight loss surgery? There are several HCA hospitals in East Florida that can walk you through this process and meet your needs. Contact the hospital closest to you for more information. Our medical centers with bariatric departments include:
If you're ready to learn more, take the first step today. Visit our websites and call with any questions you have!
Related Posts:
Is Bariatric Surgery Right for You?
Top 10 Ways to Be More Active in 2012
Posted in Weight Loss
|
Tagged Bariatric Surgery, diet, exercise, fitness, Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, HCA East Florida, nutrition, obesity, weight loss, weight loss surgery
|
.jpg) While we don’t know exactly what causes and cures cancer, research shows that there are some things you can do to help prevent getting the disease. One of those is eating a healthy diet. Here’s how what you eat can help prevent cancer.
-
Research has shown that eating a nutritionally inadequate diet can increase your risk for cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately one in every three cancer deaths in the United States is linked to poor diet, physical inactivity and being overweight. Eating a diet that causes you to gain excess weight can result in your body manufacturing and circulating hormones that spark the growth of cancer. Therefore, it’s important to practice portion control and eat healthy.
-
Eating a healthy diet can help reduce your risk of cancer. Eat at least 2 1/2 cups of a variety of fruits and vegetables each day. Eat whole grains foods instead of refined grain products. Limit your consumption of red meat and processed meat. A low-fat diet can help cut your risk of cancer. A fatty diet can foster the growth of cancer cells and the production of bile that can lead to apocholic acid, which is a known cancer causer.
-
Also consider eating foods that research has shown help reduce inflammation, rid the body of toxins and more. As part of a balanced diet, these foods may have the power to help prevent cancer. They include Japanese green tea, pomegranate juice, ginger, turmeric, garlic, oranges, blueberries, bok choy, fresh wild salmon and even dark chocolate.
-
Follow American Cancer Society guidelines to stock your kitchen and make healthy meals.
The hospitals of HCA East Florida want to help you stay healthy! To learn more about how you can eat to help prevent cancer, or to schedule a cancer screening test, call HCA East Florida’s free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-866-442-2362.
Related Posts:
Have You Scheduled a Mammogram?
Ovarian Cancer Awareness
.jpg) If you or a loved one is facing open-heart surgery, knowledge can be comforting. The more you know about the procedure, the more prepared you can be.
-
Open-heart surgery is defined as a surgery during which the chest is opened by cutting through the breastbone for surgery on the heart.
-
Heart surgery lingo can be a little confusing at first. Know that open-heart surgery is also sometimes referred to as bypass surgery, CABG or cabbage or coronary artery bypass graft.
-
During traditional open-heart surgery, the patient is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. The machine masters the heart’s ability to beat and allows for the blood to be pumped away from the heart so that a surgeon can operate on the heart while it is still and free of blood flowing through it. This type of surgery is called on-pump heart surgery.
-
Coronary artery bypass grafting is off-pump heart surgery, also called beating heart heart surgery. Coronary artery bypass grafting is the most common type of heart surgery. It involves restoring proper blood flow to a person’s heart by taking a healthy blood vessel from the patient’s leg, arm, chest or abdomen and positioning it so that blood flows through it instead of the existing damaged blood vessel in the heart.
-
In the United States, more than half a million heart surgeries are performed each year. Heart surgery can help a person live both a longer and a healthier life.
At HCA East Florida hospitals, teams of cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons bring their extensive skills and expertise to perform a wide range of open-heart procedures for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery bypass surgery, on- and off-pump valve replacement and repair, aortic dissection repair and a growing number of minimally invasive surgical procedures. To learn more, visit one of our medical centers online: JFK Medical Center, Kendall Regional Medical Center, Aventura Hospital, Westside Regional Medical Center or Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute. For a physician referral, simply call 1-866-442-2362.
Related Posts:
10 Habits for a Healthy Heart
Ejection Fraction: What It Is and What It Says about Your Heart Health
.jpg) April is Occupational Therapy Month, and a great opportunity to learn the answers to some common questions about occupational therapy.
Q: What does an occupational therapist do?
A: An occupational therapist is a trained professional who helps people, young and old, perform necessary tasks in home or work environments, through the aid of therapeutic activities. Occupational therapy follows a holistic approach, which focuses on the patient as a person, as opposed to simply treating a condition.
Q: Who can benefit from occupational therapy?
A: A variety of people can benefit from occupational therapy for a variety of reasons. For instance, an occupational therapist may help:
• a child with ADHD or autism function to his or her fullest ability in a school setting
• an injured worker regain abilities and transition back to work safely
• a victim of stroke work to regain the mobility necessary to perform everyday tasks
• someone who suffers from chronic pain learn how to perform daily activities in ways designed to limit pain and promote healing
• an older adult adapt home life to new age-related limitations
• a person with mental health concerns learn skills to aid in stress management and independent living
Q: How does occupational therapy work?
A: Typically, occupational therapy begins with an evaluation, followed by an assessment of the patient’s skills and environment. After which, a personalized treatment plan is created and implemented, including prescribed modifications designed to help a patient achieve his or her goals. Follow-up is done to monitor the progress of meeting set goals.
Occupational therapy can be an extremely valuable resource for recovering from illness or injury and for everyday healthy living. To learn more about occupational therapy offered through HCA East Florida hospitals, visit us online or call our Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-866-442-2362.
Related Posts:
HCA Ortho and Spine Institutes: Repairing, Rebuilding, Rehabilitating
Dedicated to Your Bones
Need a doctor or have a health-related question, and wondering whom to call? Simply dial 1-866-442-2362 to take advantage of the HCA East Florida Consult-A-Nurse® service.
-
 Consult-A-Nurse® is free. There is no charge or obligation associated with this service.
-
Nurses are available by phone 24 hours a day.
-
The service makes finding a physician who is accepting new patients easy, by providing not only basic information such as office hours and location, but also information about medical specialty, skills and experience.
-
While Consult-A-Nurse® nurses don’t diagnose conditions, they are able to provide information about a wide variety of health-related topics including pediatric health, heart health, living with diabetes, men’s and women’s wellness care, sleep disorders, weight loss procedures, orthopedics and spine heath.
-
The staff can provide information about, and register you for, upcoming classes and events.
-
Our Consult-A-Nurse® service is a valuable resource that can prove helpful 24 hours a day! Call when you have a minor ailment or when you find yourself with a question after your pediatrician’s office has closed. You can also get information about general healthy living or learn more by registering for a wellness seminar.
Our Consult-A-Nurse® service is just one of many ways we at HCA East Florida make your health our priority.
Related Posts:
Know Your Family Medical History
Health to You: A Resource for Adults
.jpg) Preventing cancer starts with healthy living, and there are smart choices you can make every day.
Eat healthy. Enjoy a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other good-for-you foods. Also consider including foods that research has shown help reduce inflammation, rid the body of toxins, aid in killing cancer cells and more. As part of a balanced diet, these foods may have the power to help prevent and fight cancer. They include Japanese green tea, pomegranate juice, ginger, turmeric, garlic, oranges, blueberries, bok choy, fresh wild salmon and even dark chocolate.
Exercise. Being active and physically fit can help you maintain a healthy weight and may help prevent cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends at least two and a half hours of moderate intensity aerobic activity every week, as well as muscle-strengthening exercise at least two days a week.
Practice sun safety. Skin cancer is the most common cancer, and is responsible for approximately half of all cancer deaths in the United States. To help prevent skin cancer, avoid extended exposure to intense sun. Use sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 15 or greater, even on cloudy days, and reapply at least every two hours.
Don’t smoke. Smoking is a leading cause of cancer and cancer death. If you currently smoke, find a way to quit. Also avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
Schedule screening tests. Screenings, including skin cancer screening, mammogram, colonoscopy and Pap test, can help save lives. Talk with your doctor about your health, including symptoms and family history, and follow the American Cancer Society’s screening guidelines.
To learn more about healthy living and what you can do to help prevent cancer, or to schedule a cancer screening test, call HCA East Florida’s free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-866-442-2362.
Related Posts:
Before the Beach
Breast Cancer Support Groups and How They Can Help
Spring, a time of renewal, is often a time of renewed commitment to exercise. But what do you do if running, hiking, biking, playing tennis or participating in another spring sport leaves you hurting?
A stretch or tear, partial or complete, in a ligament is referred to as a sprain. A strain on the other hand, is defined as an injury to a tendon or muscle. Whether a sprain or strain, it’s important to let your injury heal properly before resuming activity.
 A sprain or strain should be evaluated by a healthcare profession in order to diagnose the severity of the injury. Treatment for sprains and strains starts with reducing swelling and alleviating pain. A common recipe for doing so is referred to as RICE therapy.
R stands for rest. You may be instructed to refrain from putting weight on the injured area for 48 hours.
I stands for ice. Put an ice pack on the injured area for 20 minutes, approximately half a dozen times a day.
C stands for compression. Wrapping the injured area with an elastic bandage may help reduce swelling.
E stands for elevation. Keeping the injured area elevated above the heart can help reduce swelling.
After RICE therapy, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to strengthen and rehabilitate the part of your body that suffered the injury.
When you’re well enough to get back in the game, practice preventative medicine. Try to avoid the causes of sprains and strains, which can include falling, twisting or colliding with someone or something. Be sure to wear the proper protective gear. Protective pads and braces are designed to help prevent injury. In addition, do an equipment check. Are your hiking boots in good shape or are they worn and in need of replacement? Are your bike tires inflated properly and is the seat positioned correctly for your height? Is your tennis racket the correct size and weight for you, and is it strung tight enough?
Want to learn more about treating a sprain or strain? The hospitals of HCA East Florida can help. For more information or to schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional, call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-866-442-2362.
Related Posts:
Can You Spot the Signs of Concussion?
Don’t Get Sidelined by Sports Injuries This Summer!
|
|
Call 1-866-442-2362 to speak with our physician referral service
Follow us on these social networks:
