Tag Archives: general-and-family-care

5 Ways to Improve Your Health Now

The secret to good health is really no secret. In most cases, health is the result of lifestyle choices we make, the things we do or don’t do. In other words, good health is in your hands.

Many serious diseases are largely preventable, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and several forms of cancer. A recent study found that adults who followed four tenets of good health ─ they controlled their weight, exercised, ate a healthy diet and didn’t smoke ─ were 80% less likely to develop chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

Whether you’re in pretty good shape or already have health concerns, you can make lifestyle changes to prevent disease and even reverse its effects. Here are five things you can do to take charge of your health.

  1. Get More Exercise
    Exercise is key for preventing illness and maintaining good health. And you don’t have to join the gym. Something as simple as taking a brisk walk 30 minutes a day can dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and several cancers. Also, the feel-good hormones (endorphins) your body produces during exercise are a great way to de-stress and give your mood a boost. The Mayo Clinic recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week.
  2. Lose Weight 
    Studies show that losing just a few pounds if you’re overweight will improve your health. Key to weight loss is a healthy diet that includes abundant fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limits refined sugars and unsaturated fats. You should also replace sugary beverages with water; they have a ton of calories.
  3. Get Your Shots and Screenings
    Keeping up to date on vaccinations – including your annual flu shot ─ can prevent many dangerous illnesses. Routine health screenings are also a lifesaver. Knowing and managing your cholesterol and blood pressure is crucial to reducing your risk of heart disease, and cancer screening tests can catch some cancers early when they are highly treatable.
  4. Don’t Smoke
    You’d think we wouldn’t have to say it anymore, but lung cancer caused by smoking remains the leading cause of cancer death and is also a big factor in heart disease. But thanks to a variety of new nicotine replacement therapies and medications, quitting is easier than ever.
  5. Enjoy Family and Friends
    Good social connections not only give you pleasure, they also influence your long-term health. Studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends and their community are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer. So feel better by hanging out with the people you like most.

Your doctor can provide valuable advice and support as you make important lifestyle changes. But remember, the choice to be healthier starts with you.

Dr. John A. Billon sees patients in MPCP’s Arnold office. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical School and completed his residency program in Family Practice at Stamford St. Peters University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson. He is certified by the American Board of Family Practice.

Health Effects of Live Music Go Beyond ‘Feeling Good’

A Q&A by Daniel J. Konick, M.D.

Q: Listening to music can make you feel good. What else is there to know?

A: For the first time, a study has demonstrated that live music can produce beneficial physical effects in listeners ─ it reduces the level of the hormone that causes stress.

Q: How was this discovered?

A: Investigators from the Centre for Performance Science in London used volunteers attending concerts featuring the music of composer Eric Whitacre. Over the course of two concerts, the researchers took saliva samples from the participants before the performance and then during intermission. Laboratory testing found significant reductions in the hormone cortisol.

Cortisol is called the “stress hormone.” When the body is under duress, cortisol spikes. It prepares the fight-or-flight reaction by raising sugar levels in the blood. These activities are designed to keep you safe and ready for action. However, if cortisol levels remain high for long periods, the resulting stress can be physically dangerous.

Q: Why is this research important?

A: Ongoing high levels of stress can lead to serious health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes ─ not to mention making you feel bad. The research found that live music reduces cortisol levels, so it follows that live music can reduce stress and contribute to relaxation and a feeling of well-being.

Q: What can we take away from this study?

A: Go to a concert. Enjoy the music and the health benefits of relaxation. Just one thing: if you’re going to hear loud music, make sure you wear ear protection. Your ears are important too.

 

 

Daniel Konick, M.D.Dr. Daniel J. Konick is an MPCP partner and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He sees patients in the Queenstown office. He is also part of a musical family: he plays piano and clarinet, his wife plays violin, his older son teaches music and voice and plays piano and violin, and his younger son is studying for his Masters in Music Composition and plays multiple percussion instruments, including the marimba and hammered dulcimer.

A New Leash On Life: Pets Are Good For Your Health

Sure, it’s nice to be greeted by a furry face when you come home from work, but besides love are there any health benefits to pet ownership?

Yes, indeed. Research suggests that living with pets can make you healthier, from lowering your risk of heart disease to increasing your overall fitness. Here are four ways pets are good for your health ─ though you can probably think of others.

1. Good for your heart

Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health indicate that pets can improve your cardiovascular health. Pet owners exhibit decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels — all of which can reduce the risk for having a heart attack. And dog owners who have already experienced a heart attack tend to recover better and live longer than those without pets.

Another study looked at people with high blood pressure. Those with pets were found to have lower heart rates and blood pressure than those without pets. Pet owners also seemed to have milder responses and quicker recovery from stress when they were with their pets.

These cardiovascular benefits are thought to be connected with pets’ tendency to help reduce their owners’ overall stress levels. In other words, it’s hard to be uptight when you’re stroking a purring kitty or scratching the ears of a tail-thumping hound.

2. Good for your mood

Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets, and Alzheimer’s patients experience less anxiety. Researchers think that playing with a pet elevates levels of serotonin and dopamine — nerve transmitters that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties. These are the same chemicals found in tobacco and some drugs that people abuse. To improve your mood, just say yes to pets.

3. Good for allergies

Some people believe that if your family has a pet, your children are more likely to develop allergies, and for that reason they refuse to welcome pets into their homes. However, a number of studies suggest that kids growing up with furry animals will have less risk of developing allergies and asthma. These kids are also less likely to have eczema, a common allergy skin condition that causes red patches and itching. The thinking is that exposure to pets at an early age may actually strengthen the immune system, making children less likely to develop allergies.

4. Good for fitness

Finally, several studies have shown that dog owners tend to get more exercise than other people. Dog owners who regularly walk their dogs are more physically active and less likely to be obese than those who don’t own or walk a dog. Those who regularly walk their dogs also walk faster and for longer times than others who don’t walk regularly. Older dog walkers also had greater mobility inside their homes than others in the study.

Walking is great exercise, but if you want a more vigorous workout, try doing these activities with Fido – and try to keep up:

  • Jogging or running
  • Hiking
  • Playing fetch with a Frisbee or ball
  • Agility training (Obstacle course-based dog sport)

 

Rachel Sweeney, CRNPRachel Sweeney is a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner in MPCP’s Arnold office. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Villanova University and her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Marymount University. She is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Family Practice.

Family Medicine Practitioners: Care for the Whole Family – Even Babies

A Q&A with Lyn N. Dea, D.O.

Q. I know family medicine specialists see children and adults, but babies too?

A. Yes! Many of our MPCP family providers are trained and experienced in pediatric care. Family medicine as a specialty is devoted to the comprehensive health care of individuals of all ages, and particularly in the context of family and community.

Q: Are there advantages to bringing my infant to MPCP?

A. Since MPCP focuses on primary care and family medicine, chances are we already know your family and your medical history, so there’s no learning curve when a new baby arrives. Your child can easily be integrated into your family’s program of care – plus you don’t have to find a separate healthcare provider just for your child.

Q. Does MPCP see many babies?

A. Yes, many families entrust their infants’ care to us. But that’s only part of the story. Our doctors care for many three-generation families ─ child, parents and grandparents – and even some four-generation families. We provide care for everyone under one roof. Only family physicians can do that!

Lyn Dea, D.O. Dr. Dea is a Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC partner and is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She received her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1998 and completed her residency program in Family Practice at Franklin Square Hospital Center in 2001. Dr. Dea treats patients of all ages, from newborns to adults.