SavantMD: Health and Wellness » exercise

February is National Heart Health Month ~ Heart & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:56 +0000

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Heart Disease is preventable so make changes today!!

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February is national heart month so I just wanted to remind you that heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the US. Of course, I don’t mean to sound so pessimistic since much of the heart disease that occurs is preventable. Even making small changes in your life like walking more frequently and eating your fruits and vegetables can have a significant impact in improving your health and lowering your risk for heart disease. The idea is to be able to have a long, healthy, and comfortable life and not to become a prisoner of your body.

Helpful Links:

American Heart Month

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Make Sure Your Doctor Uses A Clean Stethoscope ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:33 +0000

A clean stethoscope is essential when seeing a health professional.

• About Dr. Savant

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When I was in medical school we had to meet with the infection control nurse to remind us about how infections are transmitted before we started our hospital rotations. And we learned that the two main ways that infections are passed on are by the hands and the stethoscope. Most doctors are good about washing their hands between patients but will often forget to clean their stethoscopes, too. A quick swipe with an antibacterial wipe or gel will get the job done so don’t feel bad about asking your doctors to wipe down their stethoscopes. I will wipe mine between seeing patients.

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Fast Food & Children ~ Health & Nutrition Tip

SavantMD — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

In San Francisco a Happy Meal for children will no longer have a toy in it.

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So here in San Francisco a Happy Meal for children will no longer have a toy in it and parents will have to pay 10 cents if they want to get it. Can you legislate health? Certainly a difficult question with lots of opinions but I think the most important point about this whole debate is that obesity, especially childhood obesity, is a real problem in the United States. We eat way too much fat, salt, sugar and starches and many of us get this from fast food. I’m always trying to get my patients to cook more of their own food, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and to stay more active. It’s quality over quantity. If you’re going to have a burger it’s better to make your own from better quality meat and have less of it.

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Symptoms and Treatment of Athlete’s Foot ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:43 +0000

How to prevent and treat Athlete’s Foot.

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If you exercise regularly, go to the gym, or just spend a lot of time in your shoes you’ve probably experienced the burning, itching, and cracked skin of athlete’s foot to some degree. When your feet stay in a hot, moist environment it’s a perfect opportunity for fungus to thrive. The fungus will live in your shoes and then get into your skin, typically between your toes. The best way to prevent a fungal infection of your feet is to wear socks made from natural materials like cotton or wool and to not stay in your shoes too long after exercise. It’s also important to wash and dry your feet regularly. If you do end up getting athlete’s foot many of the over the counter antifungal preparations in creams or sprays are effective. You just have to make sure that you keep good foot hygiene and use the medication for at least two weeks, even if the symptoms go away after a few days. The symptoms will disappear before the fungus is completely gone.

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Memory Loss Can Happen During Middle Age ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:12 +0000

Memory Loss Can Happen During Middle Age

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We always think about memory loss happening in elderly people but a recent study published in the British Medical Journal showed signs of memory loss in people as young as 45. So what does this mean for all of us? What we do know is that leading a healthy lifestyle by eating right, staying physically active and staying mentally involved and engaged can help keep a person younger and more mentally sharp for a longer period of time over the course of their lifetime. So eat your vegetables, get off the couch, and read regularly.

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Women, Blood Pressure & Exercise ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:29:11 +0000

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Even though you probably don’t need to have another example of exercise being good for your health a recent study showed that even moderate exercise in obese, sedentary women helped lower their exercise blood pressure, which can decrease the risk for cardiac events like heart attacks. When you exercise your blood pressure rises naturally but in people who don’t get much activity it will rise rapidly and much higher thus causing a greater risk for a heart attack. In the study all the women who increased their level of exercise, even just a little, saw the benefits in their lower blood pressure. So you don’t have to join a gym or run a marathon. Just get up and take a walk around the block regularly. Of course, it’s always best to check with your doctor first before starting an exercise program.

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Diabetes Update ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:00:04 +0000

here’s an alarming statistic.br />
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So here’s an alarming statistic. The Center for Disease Control predicts that by the year 2020 half of all Americans will develop diabetes or pre-diabetes if current trends in obesity continue. Right now 1 in 4 children is diagnosed with diabetes, much of which is type 2 diabetes, the kind that is generally linked to obesity. Diabetes prevention starts early with some very basic healthy habits: eating healthfully and exercising regularly. So do what your mother told you and eat your vegetables and get your kids and yourself off the couch and outside playing.

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Make Exercise Part of Your New Year’s Resolution ~ Wellness & Health Tip

SavantMD — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:46:43 +0000

Make Exercise Part of Your New Year’s Resolution

• About Dr. Savant

Exercise is a great New Year’s resolution
You should always talk to your doctor first.
You should always pick something that easy to do like walking.
30 Minutes of walking three times a week is a good place to start.

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What Is Fatty Liver ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:25 +0000

Are yourliver enzymes are slightly elevated?

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Every once in a while on routine lab tests I will find someone who’s liver enzymes are slightly elevated. When we check a liver ultrasound the only thing different is that there is an accumulation of fat, or what we call a fatty liver. Although fatty liver is typically associated with over consumption of alcohol and heart disease it’s also more commonly seen in obesity. In the past it was thought that a non-alcoholic fatty liver posed a health risk and signified early mortality but a recent review of data by researchers at John’s Hopkins University found that a non-alcoholic fatty liver did not increase a person’s risk for early death. Of course, if you are overweight you should still try to get back to a healthier weight for your height to avoid all the other problems that can come from carrying too much weight.

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6 Tips About A Winter Cough ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:19 +0000

One of the most common symptoms of my patients is a cough.

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With Autumn here and Winter fast approaching one of the most common symptoms I’m seeing in my office is cough. A cough can mean several things from an infection, be it bacterial or viral, allergies, asthma or acid reflux. This time of year, however, a cough is usually caused by an infection. If it lasts longer than 2 weeks and, especially if it’s getting worse, you should get in to see your doctor. It’s important to remember, though, that allergies can still happen in Autumn and Winter so trying an antihistamine like benedryl, Claritin, or Zyrtec might be worth a try if you are not feeling sick.

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