Prevention

How To Take A Bite Out Of Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a chronic eye disease most often associated with aging. The macula is the tissue just inside the back of your eyeball — and if you have macular degeneration, it begins to slowly deteriorate thereby affecting your central vision.

While this disease doesn’t result in a complete loss of vision, your lifestyle may go through drastic changes. Such changes might include inability to drive a car because you have a blind spot in your vision which prevents you from seeing “the whole picture.”

Although aging is the main cause of macular degeneration, people who smoke, drink too much alcohol, are obese or have a family history of the disease are at higher risk for developing macular degeneration. Other risk factors include gender (women appear to be at greater risk than men) and high blood pressure. [Read more…] about How To Take A Bite Out Of Macular Degeneration

Cholesterol – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

By Johanna Leave a Comment

Cholesterol, mainly high cholesterol, has been a debated topic for years (and for good reason).

The CDC, the Centers for Disease Control, reveals some interesting facts about cholesterol.

Those who have high cholesterol are 2 times more at risk for heart disease, which, is the leading cause of death in the United States.
71 million American adults, which equates to 33.5% of the population, have a high LDL (bad cholesterol) count.
Only 1 out of every 3 adults with high cholesterol manages to get it under control.
Less than 50% of those with high LDL counts seek treatment or incorporate the necessary lifestyle changes required to lower their levels.

So what is cholesterol, LDL, HDL and why does it matter to you? [Read more…] about Cholesterol – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Incontinence: The Taboo Subject

By BarbaraC. Phillips, NP Leave a Comment

Nothing slashes a woman’s confidence and self esteem more than this. It’s time to take it out of the closet, discuss it, and find out what you can do.

Urinary incontinence or loss of bladder control. It’s not at all uncommon and no one really wants to talk about it.

Seeing the television commercials is a big step, yet talking about it remains something that might be whispered about behind closed doors. [Read more…] about Incontinence: The Taboo Subject

Heart Disease is Optional

By Barbara Phillips, NP Leave a Comment

Heart disease kills an estimated 630,000 Americans each year. It’s the leading cause of death for both men and women.

In the United States, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to a heart attack.

You can greatly reduce your risk for CAD through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication.

But the good news is…in most cases, heart disease is optional!

Women and Heart Disease

By Barbara Phillips, NP Leave a Comment

One of the questions I still hear in my practice is, “Why do I need to be concerned with my heart? Women don’t get heart disease like men”. So, let’s talk about that for a moment.

The truth is heart disease is the #1 cause of death in women over the age of 50. About one in four women dies of heart disease. And the older we get, the more likely we will suffer from heart disease. While both men and women can suffer from heart attacks, we as women are more likely to die from them.

The good news is, most heart disease (and Type II Diabetes) is preventable and that’s what I try to focus on with my patients. This is good news as more and more people are interested in how to prevent disease so they can live long healthy lives (not to mention, reduce their health care expenditures!). [Read more…] about Women and Heart Disease

Mammogram time!

By Barbara Phillips, NP Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again when we see pink ribbons everywhere. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is something I talk to women about all year…not just in October. I’d like to share a few tips that I discuss with women in my practice.

[Read more…] about Mammogram time!