Weight loss is a shared goal among many people. While people often want to lose weight for cosmetic reasons, shedding some pounds can improve the overall health of your body, too. By maintaining a healthy weight, you’ll look better, feel better, and prevent health complications down the road.
Losing even a modest amount of weight may improve your: (more…)
Maintaining a strong immune system is crucial for your body to fend off sickness and disease. While you can’t always control when you get sick, there are several lifestyle factors that can impact the strength of your immune system.
By making small lifestyle adjustments, you can boost your immune system and improve your health overall. Here, you’ll find our best tips for strengthening your immune system. (more…)
While there has been an increasing amount of awareness and diagnosis of mental health conditions, many people are still learning about mental illnesses. Bipolar disorder and depression are two of the most prevalent mental illnesses, with millions of people struggling with these conditions in the United States today.
While bipolar disorder and depression are distinct conditions, some of the similarities between the two illnesses can cause confusion. Here, we’ll discuss these conditions and how they differ. (more…)
After a car accident, it’s crucial to visit a medical professional for an evaluation. This is true even if you don’t yet feel any symptoms of an injury, given that your body’s fight-or-flight response and adrenaline in a crash can shield you from feeling pain in the hours, and even days after a crash. Two of the key reasons why you shouldn’t wait to see a doctor after a car accident include:
Worsening Injuries
If left untreated, many common car accident injuries will worsen over time. Whiplash, for example, may not be immediately apparent after a car accident, but can gradually become more severe when it’s left untreated. Neck pain, neck stiffness, dizziness, ringing in the ear, numbness in the arm or hand, blurred vision, fatigue, insomnia, and focus or memory problems can all result from whiplash. (more…)
Mood disorders are a more prevalent health concern than many people may realize. Approximately 26% of American adults in any given year suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. With a significant portion of the U.S. being affected by mood disorders and other mental health concerns, it’s important to know the signs that you’re coping with one.
Understanding Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are a type of mental health condition that mainly impacts a person’s emotions. With a mood disorder, individuals may experience extended periods of extreme emotions, whether that be sadness, happiness, or a combination of the two. Someone with a mood disorder may experience fluctuating levels of depression, apathy, anxiety, and irritability. Depression and bipolar disorder are among the most common mood disorders. (more…)
Hypothyroidism is a condition that can trigger a range of irregularities with the body’s metabolism. So, it’s no surprise that diet is an essential component of managing hypothyroidism. Let’s learn more about this common disorder and the best dietary approach for those who are affected by it.
What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland, located at the bottom of the neck, doesn’t produce a sufficient amount of thyroid hormones. The hormones that the thyroid produces impact virtually the entire body, including the skin, brain, heart, and muscles. Hypothyroidism may also be called underactive thyroid disease. (more…)
Your thyroid is a gland that releases hormones into your body that regulates your metabolism. Thyroid problems occur when the thyroid either secretes too much or not enough hormones. When this happens, it’s called thyroid disease. Thyroid disease comes in two main varieties, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, with several sub-variants. While anyone can get thyroid disease, you have a higher risk if any of the following apply to you:
According to the CDC, 45% of Americans have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. That’s over 108 million people! Hypertension simply means that your blood is pushing too hard against your artery walls which can cause damage after some time. Blood pressure is measured in two figures: Systolic (the top number) and Diastolic (the bottom number). A systolic reading over 130 mm Hg or a diastolic reading over 80 mm Hg indicates hypertension.
Genetics plays a part in hypertension, but luckily there is still a lot you can do to reduce your risk and possibly save your life. Here are our top seven tips to prevent high blood pressure and be the healthiest you possible:
You should be eating a healthy diet anyway, but proper nutrition is even more important for those with high blood pressure. Decreasing your sodium (salt) and saturated fat intake while upping your protein, fiber, and potassium intake is a good rule of thumb. Also, be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables! If you’re having a hard time knowing what to eat with high blood pressure, try the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan for some guidance. (more…)
Health screenings are performed routinely to check for specific diseases and conditions. Screenings help make early intervention possible for these diseases and conditions, leading to more successful medical treatment. With that in mind, many patients aren’t sure of how often to get health screenings done. The answer is different for everyone depending on factors like age, family medical history, and other risk factors for certain conditions.
Here, we’ll discuss what to consider as you decide when to have health screenings. If you’re unsure, make sure to consult a doctor, such as a member of the team at Family Medical Centers.
First off, let’s talk about routine physicals. For most people, a routine physical exam should be completed once annually. This is especially true for patients over the age of 50 or who have preexisting medical conditions.
(more…)
Summer is the time to enjoy the great outdoors, socialize with your loved ones, and take a well-deserved vacation from the daily grind. While you’re enjoying the summer season, however, it’s important to be aware of the health risks associated with summer activities. These include:
During the summer, many outdoor sports are in season. Plus, with vacation time from school and work, many people have the time to enjoy the summer sports that they love. While outdoor sports are a great way to exercise, they also pose the risk of injury.
(more…)