Phone: 719-546-3600 | 4020 Jerry Murphy Road Pueblo, CO 81001
Viewing posts from: July 2015

Tips to Protect You From Sun Damage

Posted by UFMC Pueblo in Company News | 0 comments

UFMC-BlogImage

It's summer! Being outside is an essential part to enjoying your summer. But, so is not getting a sun burn. Between the beach, the park, outdoor sporting events, hiking, concerts, and more, keeping your skin protected is extremely important.

The sun's rays contain two types of ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet A (UVA) causes tanning, aging skin, and wrinkles. Ultraviolet B (UVB) causes sunburn. Both can cause skin cancer. You can burn on sunny days, cloudy days, and cold days. The white sand on the beach and the white snow of winter both reflect the sun's rays. You can burn whether you're skiing on water or snow.

Signs of sunburn are redness and pain. You may also have swelling and blistering. A bad sunburn can lead to heatstroke and dehydration.

Wearing sunscreen doesn't always keep you from burning. No sunscreen can completely protect you from UV rays. A sunscreen labeled "waterproof" or "water resistant" will not protect you all day. When you swim or sweat, reapply your sunscreen.

To prevent a sunburn follow the following prevention tips:

  • Use only water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen. It should protect against both UVA and UVB rays and have an SPF of at least 15. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating.
  • Wear protective clothing when possible. Always include a hat and sunglasses.
  • Limit sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when UV rays are strongest. If your shadow is shorter than you are, get out of the sun.
  • Keep children in the shade and in protective clothing.Follow the same sunscreen rules for them that you would for yourself. Don't use sunscreen on children younger than 6 months old. They should be kept out of the sun. If a child under age 1 gets sunburn, call your pediatrician right away. Also seek emergency care if a child of any age has a sunburn with fever, blistering, severe pain, or lethargy.
  • Be aware that water, snow, and sand all reflect UV raysand increase your chances for sunburn.

If you do get sunburnt, use a cool wet compress, soothing lotions, and cool baths may help relieve minor sunburn pain. Drink plenty of fluids. For serious burns, call your physician right away. Medication may prevent infection and help with the swelling and pain.

read more

Women’s Health: How Effective is Oral Contraception?

Posted by UFMC Pueblo in Company News | 0 comments

We are commonly asked about the effectiveness of Birth Control. And specifically, does oral contraception work? Here are a few answers to your questions. Studies have found that, used as recommended, oral contraception is 91 percent to 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. However, that still means there is a very small risk of pregnancy. In most instances, however, women who become pregnant while taking oral contraceptives either miss one or more doses; take a dose at a time different from their normal time (i.e., in the evening instead of the morning); take medications (such as antibiotics) that interfere with the effectiveness of birth control in your body; or have unprotected intercourse too soon after starting their oral contraceptive. If you begin taking birth control pills within six days of the first day of your period, it's effective immediately. If you start at any other time, however, you need to take it for a full month before it's effective, and you must use another form of birth control until you've completed one full cycle of pills. While no method of contraception other than sterilization is 100 percent effective against pregnancy, the more precautions you take, the less likely you are to get pregnant. Plus, if you are not in a long-term, monogamous relationship, your partner should be using a condom to protect you both against sexually transmitted diseases. Talk to your physician for more information about contraception options and questions.

read more

Do you know our story?

Posted by UFMC Pueblo in Company News | 0 comments

UFMC-BlogImage   With a real need for expanded medical services in the Southern Colorado area, we were formed in 1987 by a great group of Saint Mary Corwin residents looking to use their knowledge and help people where help was needed most. Patient care isn't just treating patents with this practice, we view patient care as a partnership and want our patients to participate in their own medical needs and continue their prospering health with proactive preventative medicine. We believe in a holistic view that restores the immune system and creating a healthy and balanced life plan to keep illness and disease at bay. Since we were founded, our practice has continued to grow. We are an independent medical facility with local ownership. We have a great new group of providers and outstanding selection of services that are thriving in our community. As an active member of the Pueblo business community, but proudly serves all residents of Southern Colorado including Pueblo, Pueblo West, the Arkansas Valley, Colorado City and Rye. With our outstanding reputation among local families, as well as area medical professionals, is a testament to the loyalty of our practitioners, their dedication to medical development and their compassionate family care. We continually strive to give the best possible care to our patients and help them live a healthy life.

read more

Can AC really affect your health?

Posted by UFMC Pueblo in Company News | 0 comments

It's hot! In Colorado, many try to beat that summer heat with air conditioning units or swamp coolers. Wether it's at the office or in your home, many often wonder how we would survive without air conditioning (AC). Many people turn on the AC as soon as the temperature rises above 70 degrees, or whenever the heat starts making you uncomfortable. But did you know that turning on the AC can be harmful to your health? Poorly-maintained or older AC units have been shown to spread disease and cause health conditions such as respiratory conditions. With it being everywhere during hot summer months it is important to maintain your unit and protect indoor air quality (as well as yourself). Additional Reasons AC Unit can Cause Poor Air Quality:

  • Most residential units recirculate indoor air to save energy
  • When basic maintenance such as changing the filters is not performed, airflow is restricted throughout the space
  • Dirty air filters will not stop allergens, pesticides and other outside irritants from entering your home
  • Window units that are not properly sealed let in outside air, undermining the work of the unit
Fortunately, it's easier than you think to minimize the risks. Protect Yourself By:
  • Make sure to check the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning or changing your unit's air filters
  • Open the windows as much as you can. Allow fresh air to circulate in your home and flush out pollutants
  • Have an HVAC technician perform annual maintenance checks
  • Buy a new AC unit every 10 years
  • Turn the temperature up, or turn the unit off altogether, at night or when the house is empty
  • Try using the fan-only mode on your AC unit
Make sure your air ducts are cleaned and your filters are new.  Cleaning your home's air ducts each year will reduce health problems. It's important to take a look at your ducts every year to ensure there is no mold. Cleaning them will also help remove mold that is not visible to the human eye and allow you to rid your ducts of dust buildup. Talk to your doctor about more information on how your AC can affect your health.

read more

Learn to Eat Healthy!

Posted by UFMC Pueblo in Company News | 0 comments

Tempting cravings come when you least expect them. Keeping the food cravings down and eating healthy food will keep you on track with your health and weight loss goals. By eating more nutritious foods, you are on the right path to a healthier and more balanced life for both you and your family. Below are a few tips to keep you on the right track:  
Increase your fruit and vegetable intake.  On average, only 20% of high school students in our country are eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. You might be like many families who don’t have easy access to stores that carry the produce your family needs. And even if you do have access to fresh produce, it’s another challenge to get your family to eat enough fruits and vegetables to feel as full as they would from eating a meal from a fast food restaurant. It takes planning and trial and error to increase the fresh fruits and veggies your family eats, but you will see many benefits over time.
Eat Non-Processed, Real Food. As you may know, childhood obesity rates have been increasing steadily over the past 30 years. During these same 30 years, our country has seen a rise in the amount of calories our kids are consuming in the form of fast food, food from convenience stores, and the many other snacks our children eat outside the home. It’s more commonly called junk food. And we have the opportunity to lower the amount of junk food our families are eating by increasing the amount of healthful, homemade meals and healthy snacks they consume. Get Rid of the Liquid Calories. In this country, we are drinking more sugar-filled beverages than ever before. And this trend has hit hardest with our kids. Sugar-sweetened beverages are now the largest source of added sugar in the diets of our nation’s youth. But the good news is that most of these sugar-filled beverages are consumed at home, so we as parents, as caregivers, as big brothers and sisters, can have a direct impact on decreasing the amount of empty calories our families are consuming from these sweet drinks. For more eating healthy tips, talk to your physician about how you can stay on track and not give in to your cravings.

read more