Wednesday 27 July 2016

The Different Seasons That Lead To Seasonal Allergies

When we think of allergies, spring is what most readily comes to mind. Many of the allergic triggers that cause most problems are in the summer. The recipe for summer allergy misery: Add heat, humidity, and air pollution into the mix, and here you are in the misery.

The biggest summer allergy trigger is pollen released into the air by grasses, and weeds in different seasons. These pollen cells may get into the nose and eyes of susceptible people. Seasonal allergies are less common during the winter. You may experience hay fever in more than one season depending on where you live.
The attack of pollens leads to the release of chemicals into the blood. These chemicals activate the runny nose, and other symptoms. Symptoms of seasonal allergies range from soft to severe. The most common include:
•    Sneezing
•    Runny nose
•    Watery eyes
•    Itchy sinuses, throat
•    Ear congestion
If are living in MT Sinai and these undesirable signs accompany you or anyone in your family, you can consult board certified physicians involved in family practice.

The different seasons that causes the start of hay fever:

Spring
The most common cause of springtime seasonal allergies is trees. In northern America birch is a common offender. Other allergenic trees include cedar, alder, horse chestnut and poplar.

Summer   
The historic hay-cutting season in summer months affects many people at the same time. The real culprits of summertime seasonal allergies are grasses and weeds. As per asthma and allergy foundation of America, grasses cause the maximum trouble in summer season.

Fall
There are more than 40 species of ragweed in worldwide which are outspread in autumn. Ragweed is commonly found in temperate regions of North and South America. They’re persistent plants that are difficult to control. It is a common allergen and its effect is quite severe. Other plants that drop their pollen in this season include nettles, sorrels, fat hens, and plantains.

Winter
By winter, most outdoor allergies do not persist. Thus, cold weather brings relief for people with hay fever. If you’re prone to seasonal allergies, you may also react to indoor allergens.

If you see sever symptoms during any of these season, it recommended to get the right tests, diagnosis and treatment. The allergist may prescribe allergy shots. This can put you on the fast track to relief and will prevent diseases progression.

Monday 18 July 2016

Preventive Healthcare – The Shield Of Your Health

Good health is an aspect that is many times overlooked by people in their day to day life even though a healthy life is what everyone desires. This is why preventive healthcare services have grew to a big level in New York as people want to avoid infections and diseases. These services are designed to protect patients from medical conditions. It is a shield that protects your health.
However, many may wonder why they need it? Well, here are the top reasons why you need these services –
  • To focus on overall health – Physicians providing preventive healthcare services focus on patients’ overall health. Their objective is to make sure that an individual has good health taken as a whole. They do not focus on a specific organ or disease contrary to other physicians.
  • Identify a disease – These medical facilities ensure that your doctor is able to identify and diagnose a disease before it gets out of hand. Physicians can find out the potential risks of sickness in a patient and make sure that necessary precautions are taken.
Therefore, preventive healthcare services make sure that you stay healthy and away from any disease. So, all you need to do is find a preventive healthcare center in Mt Sinai or your nearby region in New York. Make sure to find a recognized and reliable healthcare facility in order to get the best medical care that you paid for.

If you are wondering what you will get from these services, then here is the answer for you –

Cholesterol screening – In today’s busy and hectic life where people do not have to keep a check on their cholesterol, it becomes vital that they get it professionally tested whenever they can. In preventive healthcare services, patients can get the opportunity to get their cholesterol level checked by physicians through screening.

If you are heart patients or suffering from a medical condition in which cholesterol levels play an essential role, then these services become even more important for you. You will need to keep your cholesterol on an appropriate level, so that you can enjoy a long and healthy life.

Depression screening – It is for adults as the stress of day to day life can lead many people to depression. It is advised to get screened for it before it gets out of hand and cause serious harm. To avoid further health complications, it is advised to get proper diagnosis and treatment accordingly.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening – Factors like smoking, genetics and high blood pressure may result in your aorta to become very large or balloon out. It can be a life threatening situation that should be handled as soon as possible.

If you have the factors like smoking or high blood pressure and you are suffering from symptoms like nausea & dizziness, then it is usually advised by physicians to opt for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening. It will be better to get it diagnosed and treated on time then suffer severe outcomes.

Anemia screening – Anemia is not a medical condition that should be taken lightly. It needs appropriate treatment and attention, which is why regular screening is vital. If you are suffering from it or suspect it, then it is advised to contact physician in order to get diagnosed.

Obesity screening – Obesity is something that many Americans suffer from. And, it is followed by many other diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and more. Physicians recommend adults and even children to be screened for obesity. It will help you prevent any health complications in future.

Cancer screenings – Cancer claims many lives over the years. It is better to get diagnosed for it properly and in time, before it gets to further stages (if diagnosed with). As the preventive healthcare services has the objective of protecting patients from diseases, cancer screenings are added in it to perform proper diagnosis and make sure an individual is healthy as well as away from cancer.

HIV & STD screening – It is recommended by many doctors that patients (adults) opt for HIV screening to avoid any problems in future. This is why this screening is included in the preventive healthcare services.

Diet counseling – Diet plays an important role in keeping one healthy. And in a city like New York, it is vital that you pay attention to your diet, and if you can get professional help for it, it would be better. Opt for physicians who can provide diet counseling, so that you can stay healthy.

Vaccination
– It is required to keep infections and diseases at bay. In preventive healthcare services, you can get vaccination for several diseases such as hepatitis A & B, tetanus, influenza and measles. Vaccination protects you from these medical conditions effectively keeping you healthy.

Osteoporosis screening – This medical condition can increase your susceptibility to fracture. To avoid pain and complications, it is advised to get proper diagnosis, so that you can get treatment on time. Factors like age, sex, lack of exercise, smoking and medical history affect an individual’s risk levels for this condition. So if you believe that you are at the risk of developing osteoporosis, contact a physician immediately.

All the above mentioned preventive healthcare services make sure that you are far away from any disease and living your life in good health. These are the reasons why more and more New Yorkers are opting for these services.

Monday 11 July 2016

Primary Care Physicians – Important Part Of The Health Care System

Primary care physicians have brought the tradition back. They do not focus on specializing in a specific area of medicine, instead helps patients in overall health by focusing on preventive care. Some of the insurance plans like health maintenance organizations recommend patients to choose a primary care physician.

As with any relationship, good primary care relies on open, honest two-way communication. A primary care physician is the first medical practitioner contacted by a patient because of ease of communication, accessible location and increasing issues of cost and managed care requirements.
In some places like Mt Sinai, best primary care physician register their patients and they can then easily contact the doctor for referral. The PCP also helps patients to collaborate with referral specialists, coordinate the care offered by rehabilitation clinics and provide long-term supervision of persistent conditions.

Continuous care is particularly important for patients with medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension that requires prolonged treatment and monitoring.

How can you find a Primary Care Physician?

While looking for a doctor, it is not enough to just pick a name out of phone book and visit. Here are some ideas to get you started when choosing a PCP.

•    Your health insurance plan: A renowned health insurance planners have complete list of doctors in its network who are accepting new patients. Choosing a PCP is often the first step in seeking treatment under insurance plans. PCPs will handle any referrals to specialists you need.

•    Doctors who are in network:  If you select an “in-network” doctor, it will save you from paying full out of pocket charges because the doctor you select may be won’t accept your insurance plan.

•    Ask for Referrals: It’s a fact that people feel more comfortable when visiting a physician who is suggested by someone they know like friend or family member. Ask around and see what doctor your friends and family visit.
 
•    Hospitals: Some hospitals may offer a referral service thus providing you with names of staff doctors who may meet your search like specialty, gender, experience, and location.

There are a variety of primary care physicians who are specialized in different areas of your health. It’s important to find the right type of physician for the health needs of you and your family.

•    Pediatrician
The pediatrician physician specializes in managing the physical and mental health of children between the ages of 14 to 18. They primarily focus their practices on caring and guiding them by immunizations until they reach the end of adolescence.

•    Family medicine physician
Physicians who specialize in comprehensive health care for people of all ages, they are trained to treat the entire family, from newborns to grandparents. They maintain an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focusing on integrated care.

•    Internal medicine physician
Internal medical physicians deal with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases and are vital in helping patients manage chronic conditions. They also care for patients who are hospitalized and ambulatory patients and also play a major role in teaching and research.

•    Obstetrician or Gynecologist
Many women who are in the stage of bearing child also consults obstetrician or gynecologist for routine screenings and care and receive maximum care from physicians who specializes in fertility, childbirth and female health issues.

Now you know the type of physician you want to consult, but you need to ensure that the physician you choose have the right qualities. Some of the qualities are:

Ability to listen
You will be able to get the desired results only when the doctor is willing to listen to your health concerns when you visit them. You need a practitioner who will listen and address all of your concerns about yours and your child’s health. Make sure before you schedule an initial consultation. You want someone who will listen to you during this first visit.

Allowing multiple patients per visit
Prefer choosing a physician who can meet more than one family member at the same time. It would be best is they are willing to see your kids at the same time. Some doctors don't allow this, so make sure yours does.

Personality
Look for a doctor with a personality that will make you feel comfortable. You should be able to comfortably discuss health issues with them, including the personal ones. Your doctor can't provide the best level of care to you or your family members if you're not comfortable enough to be totally honest.

The most important thing to look for in a physician is someone who listens to you, makes you comfortable and is interested in your well being. When you need immediate medical attention it is important to consult someone who knows you and your medical history.