General Info About Alzheimer’s Disease
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Alzheimer's Disease...
Your mind is such an important part of your being. Many Americans often start losing their memory and all too common suffer from Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. At first, someone with Alzheimer's disease may notice mild confusion and difficulty remembering. Eventually, people with the disease may even forget important people in their lives and undergo dramatic personality changes.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia — a group of brain disorders that cause the loss of intellectual and social skills. In Alzheimer's disease, the brain cells degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in memory and mental function.
Current Alzheimer's disease medications and management strategies may temporarily improve symptoms. This can sometimes help people with Alzheimer's disease maximize function and maintain independence for a little while longer. But because there's no cure for Alzheimer's disease, it's important to seek supportive services and tap into your support network as early as possible.
Starting to feel a difference in your memory and have additional questions about Alzheimer's disease? Make sure to talk to your doctor.
Hand Washing for Kids
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Kids don't always listen when parents tell them to wash their hands before eating, after using the bathroom, or when they come inside from playing - especially in the ball pits that we’ve all heard so much about. But it's a message worth repeating — hand washing is by far the best way to keep kids from getting sick and prevent the spread of germs.
Germs spread in many ways, including through touching dirty hands.
They can spread by:
- touching dirty hands
- changing dirty diapers
- through contaminated water and food
- through droplets in the air released during a cough or sneeze
- on contaminated surfaces
- through contact with a sick person's body fluids
- Wash your hands in warm water. Make sure the water isn't too hot for little hands.
- Use soap and lather up for about 20 seconds (antibacterial soap isn't necessary — any soap will do).
- Make sure you get in between the fingers and under the nails where germs like to hang out. And don't forget the wrists!
- Rinse and dry well with a clean towel.
What is Gastroparesis?
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Have you ever heard of Gastroparesis?
I’m sure your guess consists of something related to the gut, but it is actually a condition that affects the normal spontaneous movement of the muscles (motility) in your stomach.
Generally, strong muscular contractions propel food through your digestive tract. But, if you have gastroparesis, your stomach's motility is slowed down or doesn't work at all, preventing your stomach from emptying properly.
Gastroparesis is sometimes treated with medications, such as opioid pain relievers, some antidepressants, and high blood pressure and allergy medications, and can lead to slow gastric emptying or cause similar symptoms. For people who already have gastroparesis, these medications may make their condition worse.
Gastroparesis can interfere with normal digestion, cause nausea and vomiting, and cause problems with blood sugar levels and nutrition. The cause of gastroparesis is usually unknown. Sometimes it's a complication of diabetes, and some people develop gastroparesis after surgery. Although there's no cure for gastroparesis, changes to your diet, along with medication, can offer some relief.
If you feel that you may have Gastroparesis or a similar condition, call us today and make an appointment to see your doctor.
National Breastfeeding Month
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Did you know, August is National Breastfeeding month? Breastfeeding is very beneficial to you and your baby, but is also a completely personal decision and has both pros and cons depending on your situation.
Here are a few benefits and quirky facts about breast feeding:
1. Breastfeeding can actually reduce baby’s risk of disease later in life, including:
- Asthma
- Crohn’s disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Type I and II diabetes
- Leukemia
- Obesity
- Ulcerative colitis
- And more
- Respiratory infections
- Ear infections
- Bacterial meningitis
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections
- Diarrhea
- Common colds and flus
It’s back to school and sports physical time!
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With summer racing by, as a parent here is what you need to know about your kids back to school and sports physical, as we head back to the school year.
Before school starts, many young athletes will start preseason practices for fall sports. Prior to the start of preseason, all young athletes should have a pre-participation physical examination or sports physical to ensure they are healthy and ready to return to sports.
Sports physicals ensure that your child is healthy enough to participate in the sport that he or she loves. The Colorado High School Activities Association requires that all athletes have medical clearance to participate in sports prior to the start of each new school year.
The sports physical exam is similar to a normal well-child check-up with your doctor. This is what you can expect at your child’s visit:
- Height, weight and blood pressure measurement
- A detailed overview of past medical and family history. It is very important, especially if someone other than your regular doctor is performing the sports exam, to accurately and completely fill out the pre-participation history form
- An exam looking at the head, eyes, ears, neck and throat, heart and lungs, abdominal region and an assessment of strength and flexibility. Any specific known problem areas or sites of previous injury will also be closely examined.