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April brings many things to the Phoenix area, including warmer temperatures, new plant blooms and the eager anticipation for the glorious summer months. It also brings early summer camp registrations and a child's need for a sports physical. With work and school schedules spanning a doctor's typical working hours, you probably ask yourself "How can I squeeze in a doctor's visit?" One Phoenix Family Medical Clinic location is open one hour longer during weekdays, and all three are open for select hours on Saturdays.
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If you have ever wondered why you have constant pain in your back or extremities, it could be a chronic disorder of the musculoskeletal system. In the working-age population and older age groups, about 10 percent of the U.S. population has musculoskeletal disorders which are the leading causes of disabilities. Trigger points, often accompanying chronic musculoskeletal disorders, are discrete, focal, hyperirritable spots that produce pain and decrease your range of motion that is located in a taut band of skeletal muscles. An effective method that shows the best results to relieve patients of this kind of pain is trigger point injections (TPI).
The physical finding of a trigger point can be palpitation of a hypersensitive bundle of muscle fibers that are harder than normal. These trigger points can be classified as being active or latent. Characteristics of an active trigger point are:
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In the United States, nearly 30 million people suffer migraines today. Most commonly, people ages 25 to 55 are affected but migraines can also be seen in children and teens as well. Although both men and women are affected by this type of severe headache, women are three times more likely than men to have it; about one in five women to one in 15 men.
Migraines are repeated attacks of severe headaches that are accompanied by a variety of symptoms. Usually causing throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of the head, migraines can also cause:
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How does a patient know if he/she has insomnia?
Insomnia is defined as a condition that must have the following 3 problems:
- Difficulty initiation or maintaining sleep.
- Poor sleep occurs despite appropriate circumstances for sleep.
- Poor sleep results in daytime deficits (i.e. fatigue, irritability, poor concentration).
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Looking to start or change your birth control? Finding the right contraceptive for your body can be difficult, especially with all of the different choices out there. Phoenix Family Medical Clinic can help. Offering various walk-in clinics around Arizona, we are here to assist and answer your questions on the common birth control options available today. It is vital to learn about all of the possibilities before a decision is made. Here we will provide a breakdown on the different purposes of birth control, as well as the diverse contraceptive methods that individuals can choose from.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also referred to as winter depression, is a phenomenon that occurs during the start of fall or winter and ends in spring and early summer. SAD is a mood disorder that occurs when there is less natural sunlight due to the shorter days. Researchers have gone through various studies on this topic and yet, much still remains unclear about the shifts in mood. Some researchers claim that the depressive state could be triggered by something specific, holiday stress or even reminiscing of an absent loved one.
Experts claim that SAD is due to hormonal changes that our brains go through during certain times of the year. One theory of this disorder is the decreased production of serotonin in the brain due to the seasons’ reduced sunlight. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that triggers soothing and calming effects. Symptoms of depression can come from the lack of serotonin, along with fatigue, cravings for carbohydrates and gaining weight.
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1. What is hypertension or high blood pressure?
Hypertension (hyper = high / tension = state of being stretched tight) is a condition in which certain blood vessels (usually arteries) are under too much pressure or strain. Arteries carry blood from the heart to other organs in the body. Hypertension is also referred to as “systemic arterial resistance”. Having a blood pressure greater than 120/80 increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, kidney failure, and other cardiovascular risk factors.
2. What are the reasons for developing high blood pressure?
There are many causes of hypertension, but the most common cause is diseased arteries from atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is caused by elevated cholesterol levels, unhealthy diet, and a sedentary lifestyle. Certain populations are also at risk for developing high blood pressure; risk factors include male gender, African American, age over 50.
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Exercise has become a daily routine for many of us, but with colder, more pleasant weather in the Valley of the Sun, it becomes easier for us to come down with a cold or become infected with the Flu. Many people do not want to miss out on their routine in fear that it will be hard to start back up, but is it good for your body and overall health to continue to exercise even when you are ill?
That depends on what your symptoms are.
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1. What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a substance found in the blood. It plays a vital role in cellular structure and production. Everyone has cholesterol and everyone needs cholesterol; The problem is that some people just have too much. People with high cholesterol are at an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. A blood test called a lipid panel can be ordered by your healthcare provider to determine what your cholesterol level is.
2. What is Good cholesterol?
Good cholesterol is called HDL (high density lipoprotein). HDL helps get rid of the bad cholesterol that causes cardiovascular disease, which is known as LDL (low density lipoprotein). For a healthy person without cardiovascular disease, your HDL should be greater than 60.
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A sigh of relief can be heard throughout Arizona as residents in the valley welcome Fall with open arms with temperatures lower than the triple digits. While Fall is arguably the best time of year in Arizona, unfortunately, it is also the start of flu season. Luckily, there are several precautions you can take to help keep yourself healthy while enjoying the cooler seasons.
Many doctors agree that getting a flu shot is the most important, and strongest, line of defense you can get to reduce your chances of obtaining the virus and spreading it to your family and coworkers. Flu shots are also covered by most people’s insurance and a co-pay may not even be required.
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We live in a society that is constantly on the go. The average work week for white collared jobs is between 35 to 40 hours. While this seems like plenty of time, workaholics are averaging at least 50 hours a week. A study has shown that working more than 50 hours a week can actually reduce your physical and mental well-being, measured by a depression score. With more than 8 in 10 Americans stressing about their job and workload, it is safe to say that work can take quite a toll on our bodies, both physically and mentally. “Workaholism” is also linked with increased risk of heart attack, diabetes, weight gain, poor sleep, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety and some cases, unhappy marriages and can contribute to higher divorce rates.
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In 2014, the Affordable Care Act is about to take place across the United States. A great change is taking place with America's healthcare and this leaves many people scared or confused with what is about to happen. There will be four main ways that an individual will receive healthcare when this act goes into effect.
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Monsoon season in Arizona brings with it relatively cooler temperatures, overcast afternoons and balmy breezes, and many families use this time to partake in outdoor activities, such as hiking, playing sports and enjoying the swimming pool. But even though the weather is not as mercilessly hot as usual, it is still very important to take steps to prevent dehydration. At Phoenix Family Medical Clinic, we believe there is no reason for anyone to suffer from dehydration so long as proper precautions are taken. Please take the time to review these key tips to staying hydrated and combating the signs of dehydration this season.
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Phoenix is one of the hottest places in the nation during the summer, which means that we have to be very careful when it comes to spending time outdoors. Applying sunscreen is a big part of staying protected from the sun, and it is very important when hiking, playing at the park, or swimming in the pool. It is vital to know how your sunscreen is protecting you from UV rays that can damage your skin and overall health; which is why we at Phoenix Family Medical Clinic have some facts about sunscreen for you in this month's blog to make sure your family is protected as the weather heats up!
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Medical visits are a necessary part of our lives, but when sickness or injury hits sometimes the bills that come along with medical care can be too much to handle. At Phoenix Medical Clinic we understand how difficult it can be to pay for medical care when you need it. Because of this, we've created a list of some ways to help you keep your medical bills manageable both now and In the future.
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Neurologists, who may know headaches better than anyone, report a much higher-than-average rate of migraines, a new survey from Norway finds. The national survey found that of 245 neurologists, 35 percent said they'd ever had migraine headaches. And 26 percent had had one in the past year - double what's reported among Norwegians as a whole.
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Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may be able to avoid developing dementia by drinking several cups of coffee a day, the results of a new study suggest. The study showed that patients with MCI who have a plasma caffeine level of 1200 ng/mL avoided progression to dementia over the following 2 to 4 years.
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Unless you're at high risk for cardiovascular disease, you probably shouldn't take a low-dose aspirin every day, a new study suggests. Researchers report that daily low-dose aspirin use may significantly increase the chance of major gastrointestinal or cerebral bleeding. Any benefit of low-dose aspirin in preventing heart disease could be offset by that risk, the study authors said.
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The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers that a counterfeit version of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug Adderall is being sold over the Internet.
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The common cold is one of the most bothersome infections across all age groups, and seasonal and personal risk factors increase the risk for the development of the common cold. Cohen and colleagues examined the role of psychological stress in the pathology of the common cold. Their results, which were published in the August 29, 1991, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated that higher levels of stress promoted higher rates of infection and common cold symptoms after inoculation with different cold viruses. In fact, stress accounted for nearly a 2-fold increase in the risk for clinical symptoms of the common cold.
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