Tag Archives: arundel mills

Colon Cancer Screening

US Preventive Service Task force recommends screening for persons aged 45-75 with stool based tests or direct visualization tests. Stool based tests include guaiac occult blood testing, fecal immunochemical testing and stool DNA testing (Cologuard). Direct visualization tests are colonoscopy, CT colonography and flexible sigmoidoscopy.

  • High-sensitivity gFOBT or FIT every year (home stool kit)
  • sDNA-FIT every 1 to 3 years (Cologuard home stool kit)
  • CT colonography every 5 years (non-invasive colonoscopy [no camera])
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years (abbreviated colonoscopy[camera])
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years + FIT every year (camera and home stool kit)
  • Colonoscopy screening every 10 years (camera and bowel prep)

https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/colorectal-cancer-screening#bootstrap-panel–6

For people with a family history of colon cancer (parent or sibling) recommendation is colonoscopy starting at 40 or 10 years before the family member was diagnosed. Recommended interval is every 5 years.

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/screening-for-colorectal-cancer-in-patients-with-a-family-history-of-colorectal-cancer-or-advanced-polyp

As with most conditions, early detection and intervention is critical to prevent severe complications.

By Michael Volker, CRNP

Importance of Screening Eye Exams in People With Diabetes

Diabetes is now the leading cause of new onset blindness in adults in the US. Diabetic retinopathy is the condition where damage is caused to the retina (back part of the eye) by high blood sugar over extended periods of time. A recent study, conducted by the CDC, found almost one-third of adults over age 40 years with diabetes were affected by retinopathy. The early stages of diabetic retinopathy typical occur without symptoms, and can only be detected with a dilated eye exam by an eye doctor or with retinal photography. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to permanent blindness. However, there is hope. Early identification of this problem can allow effective treatment before it causes vision loss, and working with your primary care provider to help keep blood sugar and blood pressure under good control can lower your risk of complications like retinopathy as well as decrease progression from early stages to more advanced vision-threatening stages of this disease. A screening eye exam to check for retinopathy is recommended annually in adults with diabetes, and we are making every effort to help enable our patients to access screening by offering the option of retinal photographs in our office. Retinal photography only takes a few minutes, and the images are reviewed by board-certified ophthalmologists. If you have diabetes, regular follow-up visits with your primary care provider are an important way to help you stay up to date with screenings and prevent diabetes-related conditions from getting in the way of living your best life.

By Matthew Adler, MD

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease is when our kidneys don’t work well for longer than 3 months.

Our kidneys perform vital functions for our health:

  • balance the water and minerals in our blood
  • remove the waste products from our blood created from digestion, muscle activity and drugs and toxins
  • help control blood pressure
  • help make red blood cells
  • convert vitamin D from the sun and supplements to the active form the body can use

The most common conditions that can damage the kidneys are:

  • Diabetes
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Drugs/Toxins like the long term use of anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen or Aleve or acid
    reflux medicines like omeprazole or pantoprazole, lead poisoning, and illicit drugs

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease develop slowly over time. There may be no symptoms
until the damaged is advanced.

Symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Anemia
  • Weakness
  • Edema
  • Poor appetite
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weak bones

Diagnosing kidney disease involves blood and urine testing and imaging of the kidneys.

There is no cure for kidney disease but most can be managed by:

  • Maintaining a normal blood pressure of less than 120/80
  • Controlling your blood sugar if you have diabetes or pre diabetes
  • Avoiding long term use of Non Steroidal Anti inflammatory Drugs (Advil / Aleve) and acid reducing medications (Omeprazole / Pantoprazole)
  • Drinking plenty of water daily
  • Maintaining a healthy weight

By Lisa Meade, PA-C

What the New CDC COVID-19 Guidelines Mean to You

By: FALANA CARTER, M.D.

With growing numbers of people getting COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC has released new guidelines to keep us safe as we leave our homes and return to public life. The guidelines include recommendations for both those who are vaccinated and those who aren’t.

If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume some of the activities you did prior to the pandemic

You are considered fully vaccinated 1) two weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or 2) two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Jansen vaccine.

  • You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying six feet apart, except where required by local governments or businesses. Maryland’s mask order — which required face coverings indoors at schools, day care centers, medical settings and on mass transit — ended July 1. However, a federal order requiring masks on planes, subways, buses and other mass transit remains in effect, and local governments can set their own rules. Also, as we informed patients in a recent email, MPCP is following CDC and OSHA guidelines that healthcare staff should continue to wear masks and personal protective equipment, and people visiting our offices should continue to wear masks.
  • If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested or self-quarantine after travel.
  • The COVID-19 situation varies greatly around the world, so check international conditions if you plan to travel abroad.
  • If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
  • If you have a health condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, talk to your MPCP provider about your activities.

If you are not fully vaccinated, continue to take all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19

About 25% of Marylanders have not gotten any of the vaccine (as of July 15), which means the virus still has plenty of opportunity to spread. If you aren’t fully vaccinated:

  • Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
  • Stay six feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
  • Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
  • Get vaccinated as soon as possible.

With the arrival of new types of the coronavirus, and the possibility that infections will again spike in the fall, it is more important than ever to get vaccinated. Call your MPCP office today to schedule your vaccination.

Falana Carter, M.D.Dr. Carter is an MPCP partner and received her medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine. She is certified by the American Board of Family Physicians and provides patient care in the Arundel Mills office.