July 21, 2021

Urbanization has caused many people to adopt poor dietary lifestyles. Furthermore, physical inactivity and excess drug consumption, especially alcohol, have led to abdominal obesity. Although diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting today’s generation, not many acknowledge its seriousness. Samantha Murray is a physician assistant in Gaithersburg, MD, at Doctor’s First, and is extensively informed and experienced in preventative medicine. She provides patients with the necessary education for how they can improve their lives to prevent the complications that come from having diabetes.

What is diabetes?

One of the key factors influencing your health is the vascular system, blood, and its components. For you to perform regular activities, you need to eat. The nutrients from food make up blood sugar, also known as glucose, and insulin is the main hormone for controlling glucose levels in the blood. However, diabetic patients have a problem synthesizing insulin, causing blood glucose levels to rise, a problem that can be catastrophic to almost all body systems. However, the effects depend on which diabetes type a patient has.

Types of diabetes

Type 1 diabetic patients have problems in their immune systems. Their bodies detect insulin-producing cells as foreign substances and attack them in the pancreas, causing blood sugar to accumulate. Most type 1 patients receive a diagnosis as children. Patients are required to take regular doses of synthetic insulin.

Type 2 diabetics are those whose bodies are resistant to the effects of insulin. Most times, these patients are older. To control this type of diabetes, a doctor usually recommends an insulin prescription. However, those with an early diagnosis can get better if they choose to make healthy lifestyle changes, like choosing to exercise.

Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women. However, management of the disease involves exercise and maintenance of a healthy and balanced diet. Furthermore, this type of diabetes usually resolves post-partum. Women with gestational diabetes are at risk of having pregnancy complications or can develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Prevention of diabetes

Medical practitioners like Samantha Murray encourage patients to recognize the burden that comes with high blood sugar. The best interventions are those that favor prevention. For example:

• Education: People will address the need for improvement only when they understand the seriousness of the disease. Health professionals should implement programs to help make people aware of the risk factors and complications of diabetes in order to help them understand why preventative measures are necessary.

Most preventative strategies include:

1. Self-assessment to gauge a person’s risk for diabetes: After understanding your health status, you will appreciate the measures you can take to improve or sustain your well-being.
2. Healthy lifestyle choices: Stay active by ensuring you exercise regularly to improve cardiovascular function, promoting the breaking down of glucose into energy. Also, avoid excess consumption of unhealthy substances like foods with many calories like fast foods or sodas. Furthermore, drink plenty of water and get enough sleep: both simple activities that significantly impact your health.

High blood sugar puts you at risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke which can cause death. Book an appointment at Doctor’s First to get early detection and management of diabetes.

Covid-19 is a disease that is caused by a highly contagious strain of coronavirus that was discovered recently. It is a condition that causes a wide variety of symptoms that can be life-threatening and pose certain risks to certain groups of people. Otsego lab tests offer covid-19 testing options like molecular, antigen, antibody, and PCR testing. Therefore, if you begin experiencing covid symptoms or have been in contact with an infected person, you can seek medical help before the symptoms worsen.

What covid-19 lab tests are provided?

Covid-19 lab tests are performed in an independent laboratory specially designed to provide you with accurate and timely results. The lab should also have a clinical laboratory improvement amendments certificate of waiver from the Minnesota department of health, which is a certificate to allow them to use the advanced testing tools available, therefore enabling the specialists to provide you with quick, accurate, and on-site covid-19 test results.

How to get a covid-19 test?

Below are some of the instructions to follow:

• Start by booking an appointment online
• Ensure you get to the facility at your scheduled appointment time
• Wait in the line that leads you to the swabbing tent
• Remain in the line as you continue to pull forward until you are swabbed
• After obtaining the swab, wait for your results after a few minutes
• Manage your short-term plans depending on the results obtained

What happens during lab tests for covid-19?

Various instructions are provided for your covid-19 lab tests, whereby you are required to arrive at the testing site at the scheduled time. You are also required to remain and follow the signs posted regarding swabbing. A shallow, nasal swab is inserted into your nose and swirled around during covid-19 lab tests. The specimen is collected from both nostrils.

After collecting the specimen, the staff provides information and instructs you on how you are going to get your results. Antibody and antigen results are available within a few minutes. However, PCR test results are usually available within twenty-four to forty-eight hours because the specimen is sent to an off-site lab for processing.

What is group testing?                                               

Group testing is testing performed in the laboratory with the aim of protecting the community. It is because, in most cases, large gatherings and events can lead to a covid-19 outbreak. Therefore, group testing prevents your gathering from turning into a covid-19 spreading event. The care team uses advanced tools and technology to test for COVID to enable you to get your results quickly.

Who can get group testing?

The care provider offers you event group testing and on-site employee testing. The lab can accommodate events, or for group gatherings, can create a personalized plan for all group testing needs. It can also provide on-site testing for child care providers, daycare, and all types of gatherings, including personal affairs, conferences, and large meetings. The facility can also provide some benefits to a family that is planning on going on a trip or taking a vacation. It is because, at your destination, you will be required to provide proof of a negative covid-19 certificate on arrival or before taking your flight.

Therefore, if you or someone close to you is experiencing some covid-19 symptoms or has been in contact with a covid-19 infected person, visit GatherWell today for testing.

Degenerative disc disease causes some painful symptoms even though it is a normal part of the aging process. However, you do not have to bear its symptoms because there are minimally invasive treatment options available to alleviate pain, leaving you feeling more comfortable. That is why degenerative disc in Shrewsbury is treated and managed by a team of specialists who are experienced in providing quality care.

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease is part of the aging process where the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity, flexibility, and shock-absorbing characteristics. The annulus fibrosis, which are the outer fibers surrounding the discs, become brittle hence easily torn. At the same time, the nucleus pulposus, which is a soft gel-like center, begins drying out and shrinking. Therefore a combination of the damage to your intervertebral disc through the development of bone spurs and gradual thickening of ligaments that support the spinal cord can cause degenerative arthritis of your lumbar spine.

It is a process that happens to everyone to a certain degree, but not everyone who has degenerative changes in their lumbar spine experiences pain. Most people with normal backs have MRIs that show disc herniation, narrowed spinal canals, and degenerative changes. It is also essential to note that every patient is different and that not everyone will develop symptoms because of a degenerative disease.

What are some of the symptoms of degenerative disc disease?

When degenerative disc disease becomes symptomatic or painful, it can cause various symptoms because of the compression of the nerve roots. The degenerative disc can cause symptoms depending on where it is located. Therefore it can cause radiating leg pain, radiating arm pain, back pain, and neck pain. The above symptoms are due to the fact that worn-out discs are the source of pain because their function is altered, and as they shrink, the space available for the nerve roots also shrinks. As the discs between the intervertebral bodies begin to wear out, the whole of your lumbar spine becomes less flexible. It may, therefore, result in back stiffness and pain, especially towards the end of the day.

How is degenerative disc disease diagnosed?

The diagnosis begins with a complete physical examination where the doctor examines your back for range of motion, flexibility, and presence of certain signs that suggest nerve roots have been affected by degenerative disc disease. It also involves testing the strength of your muscles and reflexes to ensure that they are working normally. Similarly, a series of x-rays may also be done for patients experiencing back pain. When degenerative disc disease is present, the x-ray shows a narrow space between the vertebral bodies indicating the disc has become collapsed or thin.  At times bone spurs can also form around the vertebral bodies and at the edge of the facet joints of your spine. Under an x-ray, these bone spurs can be seen and are referred to as osteophytes.

In other cases, an MRI or CT scan can be done to help evaluate the degenerative disc changes within your lumbar spine completely. A CT scan is performed to evaluate the bone anatomy in your spine, while an MRI is used to determine where disc herniation has occurred.

In summary, if you are also interested in learning more about the treatment options available for degenerative disc disease like medication, exercise, rest, and physical therapy, visit or call the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine today.

Plastic surgery treatments have become popular over the years, improving their effectiveness and safety. Usually, more women go for the treatments, but men have also adopted the procedures. People go for plastic surgery for various reasons, including enhancing beauty, correcting a defect, or treating a medical condition. But the main idea behind plastic surgery is to enhance natural beauty and improve appearance, especially on the face. Having a professional surgeon to carry out the procedures is critical. Soheila Rostami, MD at Sanctuary Medical Center, is among the best oculofacial plastic surgeon in McLean and Dulles, Virginia. Dr. Rostami offers top-notch care and produces excellent outcomes in various plastic surgery procedures. If you wish to improve your appearance, consult Dr. Rostami today by calling or booking online for your appointment.

Oculofacial plastic surgery

Oculofacial plastic surgery involves the aesthetic and reconstructive treatments of the face, eyebrow, nose, eyelids, facial bones, and tear duct. A board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon performs the procedures to rejuvenate your face and improve your appearance.

What conditions do oculofacial plastic surgeons treat?

Oculofacial plastic surgery enhances the repair and treatment of:

• Droopy eyelids
• Excessive tearing
• Eyelid bags
• Droopy brows
• Facial and orbital bone fractures
• Thyroid eye disease
• Orbital tumors

What are the different types of oculofacial plastic surgery procedures?

Eyelid surgery

 It is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin from your eyelids and improve the appearance of your eye bags. Eyelid surgery enhances the appearance of your eyes and betters your vision.

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty involves the repair of droopy eyelids to improve vision and enhance your eyelid appearance. The surgical procedure results in reduced eye bags minimized sagging and enhanced younger-looking eyes. Blepharoplasty treats heavy eyelids, dark undereye circles, headaches resulting from heavy eyelids, impaired vision, and wrinkled eyelids.

Brow lift

A brow lift helps repair droopy eyebrows and reduces forehead wrinkles and frown lines. Also known as a forehead lift, your surgeon lifts the forehead to minimize the brow and forehead heaviness. Dr. Rostami at Sanctuary Medical Center uses non-invasive techniques to create customized treatment plans.

Facelift

You deserve to feel and look beautiful, and not even aging should stop you. Facelift allows you to eliminate wrinkles and saggy skin for a rejuvenated and natural youthful-looking appearance. This technique reverses the signs of aging, including deep wrinkles, folds, fine lines, and sagging skin. Facelift produces permanent results, tightening your skin, adding your volume, and improving your facial appearance.

Facial rejuvenation

Dr. Rostami at Sanctuary Cosmetic Center also offers non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments to give your skin a smooth and refreshed look. She offers Botox to erase wrinkles and dermal fillers to add on your face volume and contour your jawline and cheekbones.

Benefits of oculofacial plastic surgery

• Improved self-confidence
• Enhanced vision
• Improved natural appearance
• Improved physical and mental health

Bottom line

The most common oculofacial plastic surgery is eyelid surgery. It helps remove excess saggy skin around your eyelids, improving your eyelid appearance and reducing eye bags underneath your eyes. Dr. Rostami, a board-certified ophthalmologist and oculofacial plastic surgeon, offers quality and detailed procedures to revitalize your face and enhance a natural, younger-looking appearance. Call your preferred office location for a consultation.

Heavy bleeding affects most women during and after childbearing years. If left unchecked, heavy bleeding affects your ability to exercise, sleep, and walk comfortably. Dr. Christopher K. Quinsey offers advanced diagnosis and treatment for heavy bleeding at Christopher K. Quinsey MD P.A. If you need Lake Mary heavy bleeding treatment, visit Dr. Quinsey for personalized management of heavy bleeding through hormonal management or surgical interventions.

Who Has Heavy Bleeding?

Normal menstruation lasts for two to seven days and produces a maximum of eight tablespoons/ eighty millimeters of blood. You can manage normal menstruation using sanitary products like tampons or pads every two hours or more.

In case of heavy bleeding resulting from uterine bleeding, you have to change sanitary products within an hour.

On average, the menstrual cycle takes twenty-eight days. In some cases, a cycle that takes twenty-one to forty days is within the normal range. Bleeding beyond the regular cycle indicates the availability of abnormal growth or underlying condition that needs immediate attention.

Visit Dr. Quincy if experiencing symptoms like:

•       Large blood clots
•       Bleeding while pregnant
•       Bleeding beyond the normal cycle
•       Unexplained bleeding between periods
•       Bleeding accompanied by fatigue or dizziness
•       Bleeding between periods
•       Bleeding after menopause

If you have concerns about heavy bleeding, consider the number of sanitary products you need to complete a whole day without leaks and embarrassment.

Causes of Heavy Bleeding

Heavy bleeding may result from:

• Cancer. Ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancer is likely to affect parts of the female reproductive system. If unchecked, you may report heavy bleeding.
• IUD problems. The IUD is a T-shaped birth control inserted by a specialist into the uterus. If the insert shifts out of place, you may experience heavy bleeding.
• Miscarriage. The sudden loss of a pregnancy before twenty weeks of pregnancy causes physical and psychological pain. In case of heavy bleeding during pregnancy, Dr. Quinsey determines whether your pregnancy is still intact.
• Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that appear in the uterus in childbearing years. Seek medical attention to avert unpleasant symptoms like heavy bleeding.

Treatment Options for Heavy Bleeding

At Christopher K. Quinsey, MD, Dr. Quinsey handles heavy bleeding through hormonal and surgical treatment options. Dr. Quinsey considers your symptoms, family and medical history, and conclusive test results to determine the specifics of your condition.

Dr. Quinsey may recommend hormonal treatments like birth control pills to minimize menstrual cramping and reduce blood loss. For heavy bleeding orchestrated by hormonal imbalances, you may benefit from progesterone tablets.

You may qualify for minimally invasive surgical procedures in case of ectopic pregnancy, uterine fibroids, or cancer. Dr. Quinsey specializes in minimally invasive surgery that reduces heavy bleeding and offers long-term relief from uncomfortable menses.

Other Services Offered at Christopher K. Quinsey MD, P.A.

You may also visit Dr. Quinsey for a fully personalized approach to;

ü  Birth control

ü  Pregnancy

ü  Menopause

ü  Gynecology

ü  In-office ultrasound

ü  In-office procedures

ü  Infertility

The Final Word

Detrimental effects accompany heavy bleeding on your holistic well-being and financial budget. If you have heavy bleeding in Lake Mary, Florida, your nearest solution is available at Christopher K. Quinsey MD, P.A.