- Details
- Category: Blog
Every year almost 1,000,000 people suffer a stroke, or "brain attack". This is caused by loss of blood and oxygen to the brain, and there are number of risk factors. These include high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat), HIGH CHOLESTEROL, diabetes, circulation issues, and carotid artery disease.
What is cholesterol, how do we control it?
Cholesterol is a lipid, which is a soft waxy fat that is in the bloodstream and is found throughout the body. We need cholesterol to form cell membranes, some of our hormones, and vitamin D. We take in cholesterol from foods such as egg yolks, liver, and foods fried in animal fats or tropical oils. If cholesterol levels rise, the fatty, waxy substance can clog arteries by forming a plaque. It can block the smallest blood vessels in the brain, leading to a loss of blood flow and oxygen, thereby causing a stroke. It can also cause occlusion in the carotid arteries, those arteries leading from the heart up to the brain, which can lead to a significant stroke. The plaques can also cause blockage of arteries in the heart, leading to heart disease and high blood pressure.
Are there different types of cholesterol?
Since cholesterol does not get to cells and structures on its own, it has to be delivered to and transferred from cells; it does this by using particles called lipoproteins. There are two types, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL cholesterol, also known as "lousy" cholesterol, haartery-cloggingng properties. It brings the cholesterol into the bloodstream and helps to cause plaque buildup. The HDL cholesterol, called "happy" cholesterol, carries the cholesterol from the tissues to the liver, where it can be filtered. High levels of HDL can be protective from stroke and heart attack.
- Details
- Category: Blog
Have you been told by friends and family that you just don't focus? That you can't seem to pay attention? Has this been an ongoing issue, but now you feel it is time to address it? Well, no matter what you may have read or heard, Attention Deficit Disorder is a very real condition. There is no simple blood test, and the diagnosis is a clinical one; that means the diagnosis is made by the physician based on the history and background, and also by ruling out other diagnoses that may act like Attention Disorder. Your doctor may order a brain scan (MRI), EEG, lab tests, and even paper and pencil testing (neuropsychological testing). Often this is a genetically transmitted disorder. There is usually a parent or grandparent or siblings with the same traits.
- Details
- Category: Blog
How to Promote Spine Health and Avoid Injury!
Each year millions of children and young adults walk to and from school carrying backpacks that may be causing spine problems. Studies have shown that backpacks can weigh anywhere from 10 or 20 pounds or even 30 pounds or more depending on the age of the student and what is included in the backpack. Often times the backpack will include items such as notebooks, textbooks, laptops, lunches, or even small musical instruments. It is rare that a child or their parents will actually weigh these backpacks. And while formal studies of backpack safety are few, a number of recent studies have shown that individuals that carry more than 10% of their body weight can have spinal disk problems, spine disorders, scoliosis, neck pain, headaches, pinched nerves, and even small fractures of the spine. One small study using a stand up magnetic resonance imaging scanner showed distortion of disk height, abnormal curvature and early signs of scoliosis with caring backpacks ranging from 10% to 22% of the child's body weight. And the Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported that backpack-related injuries are up 33% since 1996.
Warning Signs that the backpack is too heavy:
- The student struggles to put the backpack on.
- When wearing the backpack, the student is forced to lean forward or show incorrect posture.
- Any pain in the neck, mid back, or low back or headaches while wearing the backpack.
- Any tingling or numbness in the arms, legs, or fingers while wearing the backpack.
- Red marks or indentations from the straps.
Patient Portal
