Chronic Disease Management
Diabetes
Diabetes is caused by an excess of glucose in circulation caused by several factors. Our bodies need glucose as an energy source but too much can cause harm to many different essential organs. Type 1 diabetics are born with an autoimmune disease which attacks your insulin secreting cells of your pancreas. If you do not have insulin your cells cannot take up glucose and so it gets stuck in circulation causing damage. Type 2 diabetes is usually caused by inactivity and poor diet. There is not enough insulin to help the excess amount of sugar to enter your cells and so it builds up in circulation. We help diabetics manage their disease by helping them monitor their blood glucose levels and help patients check for secondary issues caused by diabetes. This could include cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, poor wound healing, bacterial and fungal infections of the skin, hearing impairment, Alzheimer’s, and depression. Our healthcare team will perform a physical and run a variety of tests to make sure your blood glucose is under control, and you are not suffering from secondary life-threatening disease. This may include several tests or a referral to a specialist if we sit fit.
Obesity
Our healthcare providers know obesity is a serious problem and they are dedicated to helping patients live healthier lives, mentally and physically. At your appointment one of our providers will measure your BMI (body mass index) a BMI over 30 is obese and puts you at an increased risk of many diseases such as cardiovascular issues, diabetes, hypertension, liver problems, hypothyroidism, and depression. Our providers want to help obese patients get healthier through diet and exercise. A dietary plan which includes cutting calories, eliminating processed foods, using meal replacements, and limiting carbohydrates may be suggested. However, certain diets are good for certain people and so we will work with you to come up with a dietary plan that works for you! Exercise is also essential at staying healthy and losing weight. We will help you start slow and safe but also get your body moving. Our healthcare team can also provide obese patients with resources for support groups and counseling for mental health.
Arthritis
Arthritis can be caused by injury, autoimmune disease, infections, abnormal metabolism, or genetic predisposition. Therapeutics are used to control pain, reduce joint damage, and improve the patient’s quality of life. Treatment includes physical therapy, medications, and patient pain management education and support. Our practitioners will begin your exam by checking your joints for swelling, redness, warmth, and your ability to move your joints. These may be signs and symptoms of arthritis. If our providers believe you have arthritis, they may order imaging such as x-rays, CTs, MRIs, or an ultrasound which will be performed at a nearby imaging center. Our providers will speak to you about OTC medications that help reduce pain and swelling caused by arthritis this could include NSAIDs, creams, steroids, or stronger medications like biologics. Physical therapy may be refereed and some patients with arthritis may even need surgery. Our healthcare professionals will excess the severity of your arthritis and work with you to develop a plan for proper therapeutics.
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is the measurement of the force of blood against your vessels after it is pumped from your heart. When a person has hypertension there is too much force pushing against the vessels throughout the body. It can cause a variety of other issues if left untreated. The measurement contains two numbers, the top number is called systolic pressure and it represents the pressure on the vessel walls when your heart contracts (beats). The bottom number is called diastolic pressure, it is the measurement of pressure on your vessels when your heart is relaxing or between beats. If left untreated hypertension can cause stroke, heart attack, kidney disease or kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease, complications during pregnancy, vascular dementia (cognitive decline due to poor blood flow to the brain), and eye damage. Our experienced and compassionate practitioners will monitor your blood pressure by taking your vitals at each visit. You will also be given resources that help you make healthy lifestyle choices that aid in the lowering of blood pressure. Control of diabetes through routine blood glucose concentration tests is also a step toward preventing and treating hypertension. People who are older than 55, are diabetic, overweight, do not get enough exercise, eat high sodium diets, use tobacco products, or drink excessively are all at a higher risk for hypertension. Medication may also be prescribed as the first line of defense for lowering blood pressure.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism also called an underactive thyroid, is when the thyroid gland does not release enough thyroid hormone into the blood. This causes metabolism to slow down and can cause weight gain, fatigue, intolerance to cold temperatures, depression, numbness and tingling in hands, dry skin, decrease sex drive, and brain fog. Hypothyroidism can occur due to two different means of action: primary or secondary. Primary is when the thyroid is affected directly usually through an autoimmune disease. Secondary is an issue with the pituitary gland in the brain which usually send TSH to stimulate the thyroid to release hormone but is failing to do so. One way to test your thyroid gland is just by feeling it and checking for enlargement. If you are suffering from symptoms that resemble hypothyroidism and your glad is not enlarged, blood tests will be performed to verify primary or secondary versions of the illness. The only treatment is hormone replacement therapy.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder which makes it hard for someone to fall asleep and/or hard to stay asleep. Not getting enough sleep can affect a person’s quality of life. It diminishes mood, makes it hard to concentrate, and can affect relationships and work. Causes of insomnia are usually due to stress and trauma but can also be caused by travel or work schedule, poor sleeping habits (stimulating activity before bed, uncomfortable sleep environment, naps during the day), and eating too much too late. Mental health disorder such as anxiety and PTSD can also cause insomnia. As well as medications, various medical conditions, over usage of caffeine/nicotine/alcohol, and sleep-related issues such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. Our compassion practitioners will help discover what is causing your insomnia. Discussing life events with you, prescriptions that may keep you awake, and habits during the day will give our providers a clearer understanding of your sleeping troubles. We can provide resources for you that will help you create a positive and relaxing bedtime routine. Relaxing music, warm baths, and reading are good ways to relax your brain. If nothing helps, prescription medication for sleep may be prescribed or a referral to a specialist for cognitive behavioral therapy.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is a very serious sleep disorder that causes someone to repeatedly stop breathing while they sleep. There are various forms of sleep apnea; obstructive which occurs when the throat muscles relax, central sleep apnea which happens when the brain does not send the correct signals to the muscles that control breathing, and complex which occurs when patients are suffering with both obstructive and central sleep apnea. Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea are loud snoring, times of not breathing during sleep that are reported by someone sleeping next to you, gasping for air during sleep, waking up with a dry mouth, insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, and brain fog. There are risk factors that make sleep apnea more likely such as being overweight, having a large neck circumference, narrowed airways, being male and older, family history, using alcohol or sedatives, smoking, nasal congestion, and various medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Our experienced providers will discuss your symptoms and risk factors with you to determine if you are suffering from sleep apnea. In mild cases, we may just recommend lifestyle changes and help you achieve a goal weight, quit smoking, and increase physical activity. We will also determine if your apnea is being caused by nasal issues and allergies, which can be easily treated. If your symptoms are moderate to severe there is a special machine patients sleep with that help keep their airways open it is called a CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure). Our trusted professionals will discuss the CPAP option with you and provide resources about how to use and clean your CPAP devise. In extreme cases of apnea, surgery may be the only option. Severity of your apnea will be assessed during your visit.
Did you know...
that some schools insist on mandatory physical exams before the start of a new school year? This is especially true of students who participate in certain activities, such as sports or marching band. You may be required to provide proof of your child’s physical and submit a doctor’s statement of your child’s eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.
