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| Vaccines To Prevent Cervical Cancer | | | There are over 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV). It is estimated that approximately 20 million Americans are infected with HPV at any given time and both women and men can transmit the infection. |
Caring For Your Voice
Do you take your voice for granted? Is the quality of your voice important to you? Has your voice ever sounded raspy or hoarse, or felt like it was going to give out on you"? These voice symptoms may indicate that you are misusing or overusing your voice. Repeated overuse or misuse of your voice is often called " vocal abuse". If vocal abuse occurs often or consistently, it may leave your voice with less agility, range and pure sound.
Physical Activity Fundamental To Preventing Disease
Regular physical activity, fitness, and exercise are critically important for the health and well being of people of all ages. Research has demonstrated that virtually all individuals can benefit from regular physical activity, whether they participate in vigorous exercise or some type of moderate health-enhancing physical activity. Even among frail and very old adults, mobility and functioning can be improved through physical activity. Therefore, physical fitness should be a priority for Americans of all ages.
Stroke Prevention
Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, and diabetes. A wellness plan for stroke prevention includes regular aerobic exercise with a goal of achieving an ideal body weight; a low fat, low carbohydrate, low salt, high fiber diet, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables; only moderate alcohol and caffeine intake; avoidance of smoking; stress management; appropriate therapy to lower cholesterol; and proper use of nutritional supplements. These phytonutrients and herbs can promote heart health and therefore may help to prevent stroke: Coenzyme Q10, a vital nutrient that supports many critical biochemical mechanisms in the heart and blood vessels and provides for cellular energy production; folic acid which is important in homocysteine metabolism; magnesium, a mineral critical to the heart and blood vesselsÍ ability to relax and contract; L-caritine and taurine, amino acids which are very important to heart function; and grape seed extract, a potent antioxidant that promotes healthy blood vessels and capillaries.
Stopping a Stroke Before it Happens
Some call it a stroke. Some call it a brain attack. Call it what you will. About 700,000 women and men in the United States will have one this year.
Dr. Gonzalo Araoz-Fraser gives some tips on
Experts include four components in fitness- aerobic capacity, muscle strength, flexibility and weight control. Here are four self-assessment tests to help you measure your current fitness level. Use them to establish benchmarks to compare with future tests.
To see or not see a doctorÉ
Whether you ultimately choose home treatment or decide to get professional help, the process is the same. Use this simple three-step process to determine whether or not you need to see a professional:
Dr. Gonzalo Araoz-Fraser Gives Health tips to our community
Dr. Fraser recommends to see your physician for ongoing cough if you have known risk of lung disease, such as previous lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or are a past or current smoker.
To Flu or Not to Flu
Flu season is upon us once again, and once again we are faced with the question of “Should I get a flu shot”? One answer of course is “Yes”. Many people believe that if they receive a flu shot the will come down with the flu or a like illness. That is not the case. If you get ill after receiving your flu shot it is likely that you would have gotten ill regardless of the flu vaccine. There are exceptions to every rule though and it would be advised to avoid getting a flu shot if you are allergic to eggs, if you are immunocompromised, have a high fever, or have had a bad reaction (rash, fever) to previous flu vaccination. It is highly recommended to get a flu shot if you are over age 50, work with elderly, have chronic illness such as diabetes, lung disease, or if you live with others who have these illnesses. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine. These are available at many locations on the Kenai Peninsula. Flu Mist is an option for those who are less than enthused about getting a needle immunization. It is a nasal formulation which is sprayed into each nostril, and is recommended for those aged 5 to 49. You may contact your health care provider to see if this is available.
Prevention of Falls in the Elderly
With winter approaching, the incidence of injuries related to falls increases dramatically, especially here in Alaska where snow, ice, and gravel all contribute to slippery walking surfaces. Among the elderly, even mild falls can be dangerous. The fifth leading cause of death in older adults is unintentional injuries—and falls cause two thirds of these deaths. Falls are a factor in 40% of nursing home admissions. The elderly are often unaware of their risks of falling and do not discuss risk factors with their physicians. New guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Panel on Falls Prevention aim to assist with reducing the risk of falls in the elderly through assessment of an older patient’s risk of falling, and in the management of older patient’s who have fallen previously or who are at risk of falling.
Exercise, Obesity and Diet
In today’s society it is almost necessary for both parents to work in the household. That has taken its toll on the way home lives have evolved over time. There are very few households where there is a full time stay at home parent. So the age of Fast food has become a way of life to most of us. It is so much easier to run through the drive through on the way home than it is to go home and make a three-course meal for five after an eight-hour day! As a result our society has developed an extreme obesity problem.
Healthy Changes advice from Healthy Changes!
Did you know that 99.5 million American adults have high cholesterol numbers? Unless your cholesterol is dangerously high, it’s best to try to reduce it by altering your lifestyle. To control your cholesterol, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly and follow all your healthcare professional’s recommendations. What about blood pressure? Well, if you’re an adult and your blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or above, you have hypertension and are at risk for heart disease, stroke and other medical problems. See a doctor and learn how to manage your blood pressure and how often to have it checked. High blood pressure has no symptoms, so if you haven’t had it checked in a while, make an appointment now. One in four Americans has high blood pressure, and nearly one-third of them don’t know they have it. Medical science doesn’t understand why most cases of high blood pressure occur, so it’s hard to say how to prevent it. However, we do know of several factors that may contribute to high blood pressure and put you at increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
Benefits of Regular Exercise
Most people know that regular exercise has a lot of benefits. In the long term, regular exercise can help prevent heart attacks, stroke, and diabetes Ð some of the biggest health problems in the country. But regular exercise has other short term benefits too. Regular exercise can make it easier for you to carry your grocery bags, play with your children or grandchildren, and make you look better and feel better about yourself. While most of us know that exercise is a good thing, the idea of starting an exercise program can be intimidating. It’s often hard to know where to start and hard to imagine fitting it into a busy schedule.
Trampoline Safety Alert!
Central Peninsula General Hospital and the U.S. consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) want you and your family to be safe when using trampolines. The CPSC estimates that in 2001 there were 91,870 hospital emergency room-treated injuries associated with trampolines. About 93 percent of the victims were under 15 years of age, and 11 percent were under 5 years of age. Sine 1990, CPSC has received reports of 6 deaths of children under age 15 involving trampolines. Injuries and deaths were caused by:
Tips For Summer Survival
Now that summer is here summer fun is foremost on everyone’s mind and we would like to take this time to remind you not to forget some summer safety tips. Mosquitoes, white sox and “noseeums” are among our biggest challenge to avoid. Using DEET containing products of 95%-100% will reduce your risk of insect bites and making sure to cover exposed areas with the DEET product prior to going outdoors will enhance your enjoyment of outdoor activities. Young children often swell up from a bug bite reaction. Parents can give Benedryl elixir and a cold pack to stop the itch and swelling.
Useful Tidbits to Lengthen or Improve Your Life, and Save You Money
At the MediCenter, we love to see and help our patients. Dr. Carlson has put together a list of information that can help you gain or maintain a healthy lifestyle.
If You Are Feeling Well It May Be Time To See A Doctor
That may sound ridiculous! However, Dr. Fraser and Dr. Bailon from Soldotna Medical Clinic would encourage you to do just that. Why see a health care provider when you are feeling good? Wellness is only a temporary condition. Sustained health is a goal that we all desire and should not be left up to chance. Preventive medicine is a proven means of sustaining health as well as reducing medical costs. In less than a half hour of your time you may gain peace of mind or avoid unnecessary complications due to undetected high blood pressure, high cholesterol, problems of an enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, breast and cervical cancer, Diabetes, impotency, low libido, and many other potentially serious illnesses.
Ask Your Doctor About Checkups, Tests, and Shots You Need
All of the checkups, tests, and shots covered here have been proven effective in preventing disease, according to scientific evidence.
Cruise Ship Travel: Health Recommendations
Travel by cruise ship often congregates large groups of people from different parts of the U.S. and the world. In such settings, diseases can spread from person-to-person contact (e.g. measles , rubella , certain respiratory illnesses such as, influenza and certain gastrointestinal illnesses such as, Norwalk-like virus).
Food and Water Precautions and Travelers' Diarrhea Prevention
Contaminated food and drink are the major sources of stomach or intestinal illness while traveling. Intestinal problems due to poor sanitation are found in far greater numbers outside the United States and other industrialized nations.
Lutein and its Role in Eye Disease Prevention
Claims made about an association between lutein and eye health are speculative and should be viewed with caution. The possible benefits of lutein for the eye remain uncertain.
Shots for Safety
Shots - or immunizations - are not just for children! Adults also need to be vaccinated from time to time to protect themselves against serious infectious diseases. In fact, some shots are more important for adults than for children. Every year, thousands of older people die needlessly. The Federal Government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly encourage older adults to be immunized against flu, pneumococcal disease, tetanus and diphtheria, and chickenpox, as well as measles, mumps, and rubella.
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