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Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac

By: Lisa Meade, PA-C

Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac are toxic plants native to most parts of the United States. The rash is due to the oil urushiol that is in the roots, stems and leaves. Most people are allergic to this oil. After your skin comes in contact with the oil, the reaction can take up to 72 hours to develop. You do not need to touch the plant directly in order to have a reaction. Clothing, shoes, lawn equipment and pets all can transfer the oil to your skin.

The skin reaction, also called Contact Dermatitis, causes redness, swelling, blisters and itching. If you inhale the smoke from the burning of these plants you can develop respiratory symptoms. Scratching the skin can lead to a secondary bacterial infection. The rash can last several weeks even with treatment.

You can reduce your chances of developing a reaction if you rinse your skin with water thoroughly and wash your clothing immediately after known contact. Once the rash has started, taking an antihistamine and using hydrocortisone cream or Calamine lotion can help reduce the symptoms and speed healing. If you have a widespread rash, pus oozing from the blisters or any respiratory symptoms you should seek medical attention.

Lisa Meade, PAC
Lisa Meade, PA-C joined Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC in 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education from Towson University. She received her Physician Assistant certification from Essex Community College in 1987. Ms. Meade has over 25 years of experience as a certified Physician Assistant in primary care medicine.

Prediabetes

by: Lisa Meade, PA-C

Prediabetes is when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough for the diagnosis of diabetes. It is also referred to as hyperglycemia, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. It is estimated that 25%, or 1 in 4, adults has prediabetes. Most people will go on to develop diabetes within 10 years.

Recognizing this condition early is very important to delay and maybe prevent the diagnosis of diabetes in the future. Diabetes affects the entire body leading to increased risk for cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes, blindness, kidney failure, and loss of limb due to neurological and vascular compromise.

Lifestyle changes can make a big impact on improving your blood sugar levels. Losing just 7% of your body weight can reduce your risk for diabetes by over 50%. That is only 15 lbs if you weigh 200 lbs. Regular daily exercise and diet modifications can help you achieve this goal. You should decrease the sugar and simple carbohydrates in your diet like white flour products (bread and pasta), white potatoes, and white rice. These can be replaced with whole grain bread and pasta, brown rice, and sweet potatoes. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables and choosing lean meats are healthy diet choices.

If you are not sure if your blood sugar has been checked within the past year or if you already know you are prediabetic and need help with the diet, call to schedule an appointment with your primary provider.

WPMeade_LLisa Meade, PA-C holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education from Towson University. She received her Physician Assistant certification from Essex Community College in 1987. Ms. Meade has over 25 years of experience as a certified Physician Assistant in primary care medicine. Ms. Meade sees patients in the Arundel Mills office.

Teen Stress: Tips for Parents

By: Lisa Meade, PA-C

A recent study by the American Psychological Association (APA) confirms what I see weekly in my practice: Teens feel a great deal of stress and anxiety, but often don’t have the proper coping strategies to deal with these feelings.

The APA report “Stress in America” included data on American youth (teens ages 13-17) for the first time this year. The report found that teens feel higher levels of stress than they think is healthy, but don’t necessarily try to adopt healthy coping strategies, or don’t know what those strategies are.
When I talk to my teen patients, they say trying to juggle school, their social life, and home life can be overwhelming. Expectations and pressure about college are particularly tough for older teens. Plus, we can all remember how important friends and “fitting-in” are at this age– which makes all of the social media and online chatter an extra stressor.

Parents can be a huge help in teaching teens healthy coping strategies and how to keep things in perspective. Here are some suggestions:

1. Know the signs of stress overload in your child. Common results of teen stress can be: Increased physical illness (headaches, stomachaches, chronic fatigue, muscle pain); “shutting down” or withdraw from people and activities; increased anger or irritability; difficulty sleeping or eating; increased tearfulness or feelings of worry; difficulty concentrating.

2. Be willing to listen and model stress coping skills. It’s important for teens to know that stress is part of life and sometimes admitting you are “stressed out” helps. Try to help your child identify what’s really giving them anxiety and then come up with some coping strategies together.

3. Encourage healthy lifestyle habits and reinforce those at home. Here are the things I tell my teen patients to try:

– Get enough sleep! Teens still need 8-10 hours of sleep a night, especially during the school week. Prioritize homework, social or sports activities, phone/TV time. You may not be able to do it all.

– Focus on your strengths. Think about the things you are really good at- or that make you happy- and find ways to spend time doing those things. It will build your confidence and you will find people with like interests.

– Get some exercise. Physical activity is a proven stress reducer. If you’re not on a sports team, find any activity that you enjoy and try to do it at least 30 minutes a day.

– Eat right! Skipping meals or drinking energy drinks will make you feel more stressed in the long run. Try to eat three healthy meals a day and don’t rely on caffeine to keep you going.

– Don’t try to be perfect! Remember that we all make mistakes and a bad choice now and then. Try to keep things in perspective and not focus on the negative. The ability to learn from mistakes and move on is a sign of maturity.

– Talk to someone. It’s much easier to manage stress with a helping hand. Talk to a parent, teacher, doctor, or other trusted adult. They may be able to help you find a way to manage a problem, such as practicing a response to a social situation, getting a tutor in a class, or dealing with a difficult transition such as moving or divorce.

If you feel that your stress is making you depressed, or you find yourself using drugs or alcohol to cope, please tell someone. It might be time to talk to a psychologist or trained professional.

Helping your teen learn healthy ways to cope with stress now will prepare them for a healthier adulthood. Part of the great challenge- and reward- of parenting!

Lisa Meade, PAC
Lisa Meade, PA-C joined Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC in 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education from Towson University. She received her Physician Assistant certification from Essex Community College in 1987. Ms. Meade has over 25 years of experience as a certified Physician Assistant in primary care medicine.

Vitamin D Deficiency is a Common Problem

Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are very common findings in primary care practice today. Low vitamin D levels are found year-round but are more prevalent in the winter months. The main source of our vitamin D is the sun, but with concerns about skin cancer and premature aging of the skin many of us avoid sun exposure and wear sunscreen.  While that is appropriate for those concerns, we are failing to get the adequate amount of vitamin D necessary for optimal health.

Vitamin D occurs naturally in limited foods like fish, eggs, mushrooms and beef liver.  Some foods are fortified with vitamin D, like milk, cereals, and cheese, but are still inadequate in providing sufficient amounts.

Here in Maryland from approximately November through March, even the sun cannot supply enough vitamin D. Additionally, depending on your skin color, you may have more difficulty absorbing vitamin D from the sun since higher melanin in the skin decreases natural absorption. Many of us will need to take a vitamin D supplement to maintain adequate levels.

Vitamin D along with calcium is important for bone health. Without enough vitamin D we are at increased risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Some people with decreased levels of vitamin D suffer with bone and muscle pain and fatigue. Low vitamin D has also been implicated in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and many other chronic health conditions, and the research is ongoing.

To determine your vitamin D status, you will need to have your blood level checked.  Your healthcare provider can then determine if a supplemental dosage is needed and how frequently this should be monitored.

 

WPMeade_LLisa Meade, Physician Assistant, practices in MPCP’s  Arundel Mills office. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education from Towson University, and received her Physician Assistant certification from Essex Community College. Ms. Meade has over 25 years of experience as a certified Physician Assistant in primary care medicine.