- Doctor Blog (16)
Heart Disease In Women: Know the signs – Cardiology, Brandi Witt, MD
Understanding Heart Palpitations – Cardiology, Brandi Witt, MD
Recovering from ACL Surgery – Brian Lease, Physical Therapist
Sports Medicine for Every Body – Family Practice, James G. Lopez, MD
Dealing With Chronic Pain – Pain Management, Munish Loomba, MD
How to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor Visit – David DeGear, MD, Vice President, Medical Affairs
Making a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Change – Cardiology, R. J. Dahiya, MD
What’s Behind Your Headache – Neurology, Rita M. Richardson, MD
Staying Mobile as You Age – Brian Lease, Physical Therapist
How to Ask Your Doctor Embarrassing Questions – Urology, Thomas J. Stormont, MD
Getting Kids to Eat Healthy – Charlene Muesing, PA, Westfields Hospital HealthStation
When to Wait It Out, When to Seek Medical Care – Emergency Department, Marty Richards, MD
When Rest Isn’t Restful – Sleep Study, Melissa King-Biggs, MD
- How to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor Visit – David DeGear, MD, Vice President, Medical Affairs - Doc Talk on How to Ask Your Doctor Embarrassing Questions – Urology, Thomas J. Stormont, MD
- Westfields Hospital on How to Ask Your Doctor Embarrassing Questions – Urology, Thomas J. Stormont, MD
- Theresa on How to Ask Your Doctor Embarrassing Questions – Urology, Thomas J. Stormont, MD
- Westfields Hospital on Getting Kids to Eat Healthy – Charlene Muesing, PA, Westfields Hospital HealthStation
- Theresa on Getting Kids to Eat Healthy – Charlene Muesing, PA, Westfields Hospital HealthStation
When most people think of heart disease, they think of symptoms like chest pain or pressure, especially during exercise. These symptoms are typical for men. But, for many women, the symptoms are very different. More than half of women with documented heart disease have never had any chest pain.
One in two women will have heart disease at some point in their lives. So it’s important for every woman to know the symptoms. In women, the first clue to coronary artery disease may be shortness of breath, back pain, arm pain, or jaw pain. Unusual weakness or fatigue can also be a sign.
Although the symptoms may be different for men and women, the causes of heart disease are the same for everyone. The biggest risk factor is aging. We can’t make people younger. I tell people all the time: you’re going to be older tomorrow and I can’t stop that. Family history is another risk factor we can’t change.
Everybody, men and women alike, needs to be vigilant about their risk factors and make sure they control them. Know what your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers are. Maintaining a healthy weight is very helpful for preventing diabetes, which is a big risk for heart disease. If you have diabetes, make sure you’re working with your doctor to keep it under control.
I recommend diet and exercise to almost everyone. Most people have some room for improvement in their lifestyle. The diet advice I give to most people is this: If it comes off of a tree or out of the ground, it’s good for you. If it comes out of a box or a can, it’s not good for you. I try to get patients to choose foods that are overall better nutritional value. Those are primarily fruits, vegetables and lean sources of protein.
Exercise is also important for heart health. I recommend some form of aerobic exercise, like walking or biking, for a minimum of 30 minutes per day, most days of the week.
In general, if you compare men and women with the same risk factors, heart disease will usually show up ten years later in women, on average. But, since the symptoms in women can be hard to recognize, don’t wait — start taking care of yourself today.
What, exactly, are heart palpitations?
As a cardiologist I see many people who have experienced palpitations. Some patients report a sensation that the heart is racing or beating too fast. Others say the heart is beating irregularly, pounding or skipping beats. And others describe an unusual awareness of their heartbeat.
Getting better after ACL surgery takes time and patience. Fortunately, our Physical Rehabilitation staff can help you get back to the sports you love. Physical Therapist Brian Lease, our Rehabilitative Services Manager, describes the healing process so you know what to expect.
If you hear or feel a “pop” in your knee as you are jumping or pivoting, you may have sustained an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This is a serious injury so you’ll want to see a doctor right away.
An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) typically is a season-ending injury for most athletes. This important knee stabilizer helps us jump, cut and pivot. Unsurprisingly, basketball, soccer, football, gymnastics and skiing are high-risk sports for ACL injury.
As we age, many health problems are due to a decline in regular physical activity. That’s why exercise is recommended for adults of all ages, even for the very old. The American Heart Association and the College of Sports Medicine encourage an active lifestyle and moderate-intensity aerobic activity. As I tell my patients, walking the dog is not enough.
When pain is constant, every single day, leading a normal life can be extremely difficult. Estimates say that more than 50 million Americans have their daily lives affected by chronic pain. Chronic pain can come from dealing with conditions such as cancer, nerve damage, headaches, neck pain, tunnel syndrome, sciatica, shingles, phantom limb pain, physical injury or arthritis. A disease that is just beginning to make its way into the common vocabulary is fibromyalgia, when a person has long-term pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues.
We as doctors have a reputation for being very busy. It’s true – we are. But we’re never too busy to listen, and help patients lead healthier lives.
One item I’d like to note is that you should never be afraid to ask your doctor a question – even if it seems difficult to talk about. Read more about talking with a doctor about embarrassing medical issues here.
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s data shows that between 2000-2006, St. Croix County had an annual death rate of 195-382 per 100,000 residents age 35 or older due to heart disease.
All it feels like is someone is hammering against the inside of your skull. The pain may feel the same, but there are many different reasons why we get them.
General headaches are some of the most common. These dull-feeling headaches can be brought on by things such as stress, lack of sleep, environmental factors such as smoke and pollution, hormonal changes, certain medications, too much or too little caffeine, and more. These types of headaches can be easily treated with over-the-counter medication, and are temporary. Other types of common headaches include sinus, tension and migraines. Persistent headaches should be brought to a doctor’s attention for treatment.
