Health Flows from Many Sources

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Diabetes, Heart Disease, And Stroke Could Happen to You

Did you know that if you have diabetes you have a greater chance of dying from heart disease or stroke and it doesn’t make any difference if you are a woman or a man? One reason is high blood levels of sugar make the walls of your blood vessels thicker and cause them to lose their elasticity, which in turn makes it harder for blood to pass through. 

Type 1 diabetes is known as juvenile-onset diabetes and usually affects children and young adults and is genetically-linked. The following are some conditions that are typically found in people with type 2 diabetes, which is known as adult-onset diabetes, heart disease and stroke. 

Depression: Depression doubles the risk of a person getting diabetes and after being diagnosed with diabetes a person will go through major lifestyle changes which will cause them to be more depressed. Diet changes and taking medicines are among the things that cause them to be more depressed. 

Obesity: Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and strongly associated with insulin resistance. Losing weight has been shown to improve heart health along with diabetes. 

Inactivity: Lack of exercise is another major risk factor. Along with losing weight, exercise has helped to reduce blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Hypertension: High blood pressure has long been recognized as a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. If you have both high blood and diabetes your risk for heart disease doubles. 

A symptom of diabetes is the skin of a diabetic person becomes very dry and flaky due to excessive loss of water, leading to dehydration which could result in a coma. Also, it takes a long time for sores or cuts to heal. Diabetes is usually accompanied by sudden weight loss. There are many things that could be or may not be a symptom of diabetes. If you think you might have diabetes, go to your doctor right away to find out and it never hurts to have your heart checked out at the same time. 

Help for Tinnitus Sufferers

There are a few ways to help with the constant sounds that you are plagued with. Most people only notice these annoying ringing sounds or whooshing sounds when everything is quiet, like at night when you are trying to go to sleep. There are a few ways to combat the ringing to get a peaceful night’s sleep. 

If you notice while you are in the shower or listening to other music your Tinnitus is better. You will find that soft sounds such as from the shower or ocean waves can relieve some of the sounds associated with Tinnitus. You can find some wonderful CD’s with which you can use earphones and listen during episodes of tinnitus. You can even just listen to them without earphones at night while you are going to sleep. These CD’s will help relieve Tinnitus and you will love the peaceful nights rest. 

Other remedies you can try including cutting out alcohol, smoking or caffeine. These items have proven to make tinnitus worse. Salt should also be cut down in your diet as it causes a buildup of fluid in your ears. 

Try to keep the noise level in your daily routine to a minimum or wear ear plugs if you cannot avoid the noise. 

Cut down on taking aspirin. Aspirin may worsen the effects of Tinnitus in some people. 

Stress was found to increase tinnitus. So of course, try to avoid stressful situations and learn to handle the stress that is in your life. Distraction is another great way of receiving some relief. Focus on something other than the noise in your ears. 

Relaxation tapes like the CD’s mentioned about are a great distraction and will also relieve stress. So, you can use them to help yourself relax as well as combat tinnitus. 

Women’s and Family Centers

The Women’s & Family Centers often feature family-centered care and offer all-inclusive labor/delivery/recovery/post-partum (LDRP) suites. Centers should include the following features. 

  • LDRP suites 
  • Delivery room for cesarean births 
  • Nursery  
  • Post-partum/gynecology beds 
  • Advanced fetal monitoring 
  • Secured unit for you and your baby’s safety 

The birthing partner will usually have the option of rooming-in with mother and baby. As well, you and your partner should be treated to a celebration meal as well as a new baby care package. 

These centers often have strict visitors with generally two visitors and the father per patient able to visit the new mother and baby at any one time. In some instances, visitation hours can be modified at the family’s request. These centers can also offer a wide variety of maternity education classes for expectant parents and their families. 

Because women and family centers are such intimate places, you can generally ask to tour the floor before deciding to become a patient. 

Mammography 

One in eight women have a chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. Mammography may detect a lump before it can be felt.  Screening mammograms may be self-referred. 

Other breast care services should include self-examination instructions, screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasound procedures, breast surgery and breast reconstruction. 

Bone Densitometry 

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Some of the risk factors associated with osteoporosis include older age, gender (women have a greater risk), race (Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to develop), small bone structure, thin women, early or normal menopause and family history. QCT Bone Densitometry is a diagnostic exam designed to determine the extent of bone mineralization or osteoporosis. Ask your physician if bone densitometry may be of help to your health. 

Gynecological Care 

Women and family centers should provide loving care from skilled physicians and nurses. A special section may be exclusively devoted to those who are not pregnant. Here you can receive advanced diagnostic, surgical and specialized services for your gynecological needs throughout your lifetime. 

Emergency Rooms

Most emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Patients can count on personalized emergency care around the clock. Departments should be staffed by physicians trained and experienced in emergency medicine. 

Specialists are often on call, and additional skilled personnel include on-site registered nurses and ancillary staff who together provide decades of experience in emergency services and/or intensive care. 

The best time to prepare for a healthcare emergency is before it happens. Knowing where the nearest Emergency Department is located and what to expect may be helpful to you and your loved ones. 

Upon arriving, all patients are usually asked to indicate their arrival by signing in at the Emergency Department. Patients are initially evaluated by a nurse to determine the severity of the patient’s condition and priority is given to those people whose future health are immediately at risk. 

Tests may be necessary to determine a patient’s condition and if specialty treatment is needed, one of our specialists on staff will be called. 

Be prepared to provide important information about medical history, prescription medicine, allergies and a summary of past illnesses, injuries and surgeries. 

Family members are often allowed to visit patients whenever possible. Due to special circumstances, family members may be asked to remain in the waiting area and there may be a limit on the number of visitors. Staff will generally make every effort to keep family members and friends informed of their patient’s condition and treatment. 

Heart Centers

Heart and cardiology centers should provide a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options. This could, and likely should, include the following. 

Non-invasive cardiology 

  • SPECT imaging  
  • 2D-M-mode and color flow doppler echocardiography  
  • Transesophageal echocardiography  
  • Thallium stress testing  
  • Gated cardiac stress testing  
  • Holter monitoring  
  • Electrocardiography  
  • Signal average electrocardiography  
  • Carotid ultrasound testing  
  • Pharmacological stress testing  
  • Arterial evaluation of upper/lower extremities utilizing doppler, segmental pressures and PPG 

Invasive cardiology 

  • Cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography  
  • Intra-aortic balloon insertion and counter- pulsation  
  • Carotid angiography to include intracranial circulation  
  • Thoracic aortography  
  • Renal aortography  
  • Peripheral arteriography including run-off studies of the legs  
  • Overdrive implantation 
  • Venography of extremities  
  • Pacemaker insertions 

Peripheral vascular intervention 

  • Balloon angioplasty (only available at Seven Rivers within Citrus County)  
  • Intravascular stent placement (only available at Seven Rivers within Citrus County)  
  • Carotid endarterectomy  
  • Carotid patch angioplasty  
  • Aortic bifemoral bypass  
  • Femoral/femoral bypass  
  • Femoral/popliteal bypass (RSVG)  
  • Femorotibial bypass 
  • Saphenectomy (only available at Seven Rivers within Citrus County)  
  • Greenfield venous cavity filter placement 

Inpatient Services

Put simply, inpatient care is when a patient stays at the hospital while under treatment. This is the opposite of outpatient care, wherein the patient is allowed to leave the hospital after treatment. Inpatient services can include anything from psychiatric centers and eating disorder programs to certain oncology programs and coma treatment.  

Generally, patients are admitted on routine telemetry orders based on pre-established telemetry/discharge criteria. 

These units provide for cardiac and ventilated patients as well as for patients needing lidocaine, pronestyl, heparin, aminophylline, just to name a few.  Most inpatient service centers are also used primarily for surgical, orthopedic and oncology patients. Patients are often admitted on routine admission orders. 

Psychiatric Facilities

Psychiatric facilities are often inpatient general facilities that provide psychiatric treatment for patients 18 years of age and older. Many provides a comprehensive treatment program and therapeutic milieu, which could include everything from group sessions to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). 

Inpatient referrals are generally accepted from a number of sources: physicians, clinicians, other hospitals, ACLFs/SNFs, human service agencies, clergy, family, friends, industry, judicial systems, etc. Also, treatment services are generally covered by most commercial insurance plans, Medicare and Medicaid. 

These facilities specialize in the treatment of a range of psychiatric ailments. They accept patients both voluntarily and involuntarily. The Welfare and Institutions Code allows a person to be involuntarily detained at a psychiatric facility for up to 72 hours. 

Choosing a psychiatric facility is especially tough, as they are generally known for certain types of specialized care. When on the hunt for the perfect treatment center, be sure to ask the following questions. 

  • What is the goal of the treatment facility? 
  • What psychiatric services do you need?  
  • How long do you want to stay at the facility? 
  • Do you prefer an inpatient or outpatient experience?  
  • Do you want a residential treatment community? 
  • How important is the treatment center’s peer community? 

Answering these questions will help you figure out what type of program and facility is right for you or your loved one. 

Intensive Care and Coronary Units

Intensive Care and Coronary Care units should be equipped with up-to-date electronic and video monitoring systems linked to the nursing station. This ensures that emergencies don’t become, well, disasters. 

These units will provide special care to those critically or seriously ill patients having reversible life threatening, medical or surgical conditions which require constant, skilled observation while maintaining continuous high standards of patient care. 

Because these units are often extremely important and stressful, they often have specialized visiting hours. Check with your local hospital to see if this is the case, as well as to see if there are special exemptions for family members.  

Imaging Services

Imaging services should offer a range of diagnostic testing and imaging capabilities. 

CT Scanning 

  • General CT scanning procedures 
  • CT guided biopsy procedures 

Diagnostic X-Ray 

  • General x-ray procedures  
  • Linear tomography 
  • Dedicated mammography 
  • Interventional radiography 

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 

  • General procedures 

Ultrasound 

  • General abdominal ultrasound procedures 
  • General OB/GYN ultrasound procedures 
  • Endovaginal procedures 
  • Thyroid, breast and testicular scan procedures Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics 
  • General nuclear medicine scanning procedures 
  • Thyroid scanning and uptake 
  • SPECT scanning 

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Ambulatory surgery centers are often for same-day surgery and other outpatient procedures. Outpatient surgery/procedures are typically provided as a practical, cost effective alternative to hospitalization. 

Common One Day Surgery Procedures/Surgeries 

Dermatology 

  • Biopsy of skin lesions 
  • Surgical removal of melanoma (skin cancer) 
  • Dermabrasion 

ENT/Facial Plastics 

  • Surgery to relieve chronic sinus infections and nasal congestion 
  • Cosmetic or corrective surgery to the nose 
  • Cosmetic or reconstructive surgery of the ear 
  • Ear tubes to relieve chronic infections in children and some adults 
  • Removal of tonsils and adenoids 
  • Removal of polyps, nodules or small tumors from the vocal cords 
  • Cosmetic or reconstructive surgery of the face 
  • Bronchoscopy 

Gastroenterology 

  • Gastroscopy or inspection of the inner surface of the stomach 
  • Colonoscopy or inspection of the inner surface of the colon 
  • Endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum 
  • Sigmoidoscopy 

General Surgery 

  • Biopsy of breast lumps 
  • Laparoscopic surgery for diagnostic purposes 
  • Some hernia repair 
  • Removal of hemorrhoid tissue 
  • Removal of the gallbladder 

Gynecology 

  • Removal of ovarian cysts 
  • Hysterectomy 
  • Cervical biopsies 

Ophthalmology 

  • Replace the cloudy lens of the eye when cataracts form 
  • Ease the pressure in the eye caused by glaucoma 
  • Replace the clear window in the eye – the cornea 
  • Tighten eyelids and remove “bags” under the eyes 

Orthopedics 

  • Arthroscopic surgery of the knee 
  • Reconstruction of the main stabilizing ligament of the knee 
  • Carpal tunnel surgeries 
  • Hand surgeries 
  • Rotator cuff repair 

Plastic Surgery 

  • Liposuction to remove fat deposits 
  • Skin grafts 

Podiatry 

  • Surgery to correct bunions 
  • Surgical removal of bone spurs 
  • Correction of “hammer toes” 

Urology 

  • Some bladder surgeries 
  • Removal of kidney stones and biopsies of the urinary tract 
  • Cystoscopy 
  • Prostate biopsies 

Orthopedic Programs and Joint Care

Orthopedic programs should have a specially trained interdisciplinary team of physicians, surgeons, nurses and therapists to provide a continuum of orthopedic care from diagnosis through rehabilitation.  Patients can benefit from advanced diagnostic tools, specially equipped operating rooms, presurgical informative classes and comprehensive physical therapy and rehabilitation services. 

Orthopedic surgeons often specialize in the following areas: 

  • Joints, including hips and knees 
  • Hand and Upper Extremity 
  • Sports Medicine 
  • General Orthopedics 

Presurgical Informative Classes 

Are you suffering from knee pain, hip pain or morning stiffness?  Some hospitals offers monthly seminars that focus on diagnosis and treatment for knee and hip pain.  Learn about the anatomy of the knee and hip, causes of joint pain, medications, physical therapy, arthroscopic surgery and total joint replacement.  Ask your local hospital if this is a service they offer. 

Total Joint Replacement 

Total joint replacement is one of the greatest orthopedic surgical advances of the century. Today, orthopedic surgeons are able to replace an arthritic or damaged joint with an artificial joint called a prosthesis. 

Joint replacement is often necessary to relieve pain and disability caused by severe arthritis. Two forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis, which is a wearing away of the cartilage in a joint, and rheumatoid arthritis, where the synovium produces chemical substances that attack the joint surface and destroy the cartilage, are both conditions that may warrant joint replacement. 

The goal of an orthopedic center is to restore function and reduce pain. Each patient should receive benefit from skilled physicians and nurses as well as physical therapists and assistants. The center should also assist with physician appointments, follow-up surgical care and rehabilitation. 

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