I often feel rushed at my doctor’s office. I trust that he’s a qualified doctor, and I don’t want to change doctors. Is there a way I can get more out of the visits and not leave feeling confused?
In a word: yes. Medical information is complex, just like engineering, accounting or carpentry, but the difference is, we participate in the solution. Choices we make every day with nutrition, medications and exercise affect our health. Clear communication is vital for a good doctor-patient relationship. I suggest writing down your questions or concerns before your visit and bring a notebook with you. Take notes about the instructions and repeat them back to the doctor to make sure you understood correctly. Ask questions about medications such as when you should see an improvement, what you can do to prevent the condition, and so on. Patients who don’t understand their doctor’s orders are at greater risk for infections, medication errors and repeated hospitalizations.
Todd Peavy, MD, family medicine physician, Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic
I have an ulcer and I’ve heard that aspirin and even Advil can cause problems for people with ulcers. Is that true?
Many commonplace drugs, such as aspirin, Advil and Aleve can cause serious problems by irritating the stomach lining and aggravating ulcers. Studies show that people who take these drugs are about three times more likely to have gastrointestinal bleeding. If you’ve been diagnosed with an ulcer, talk with your doctor about what over-the-counter medications are safe to take.
James McNally, MD, family medicine physician, medical staff of Jennings American Legion Hospital
My 8-year-old daughter has a bed-wetting problem and never wants to go to sleepovers or have anyone over because she is embarrassed. Is there anything I can do to get rid of this problem?
There are a number of behavioral modification tricks such as limiting fluids past 6pm and setting up a bathroom break alarm. If these tricks do not work, check with your physician. Some doctors may prescribe nasal spray, which can help block urine production during the night.
Kenneth Verheeck, MD, urologist, Urology Center of Southwest Louisiana
My mother is in her early 70s, small framed and just seems frail. How much bone strength, on average, do women lose each year?
In the first five to ten years after menopause, 25 to 35 percent of bone density can be lost. It varies from woman to woman, as each individual’s risks determine the likelihood for osteoporosis. It sounds like your mother’s risk for osteoporosis is high, given the small frame and frailness that you reported. Her doctor can best determine her bone strength and may order a bone density scan to know for sure. It’s recommended for women 65 years of age and older. I’d suggest talking with him or her about having the scan and see what can be done to boost her bone health.
Scott Bergstedt, MD, ob/gyn specialist with OBG-1
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
What's Up Doc?
What's the difference between a migraine and a tension headache?
A migraine is a severe, throbbing headache that is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, dizziness or chills. The pain is usually located at the side of the forehead. A tension headache is a dull headache, with a feeling of pressure over the head, neck and scalp. It is usually not as severe as a migraine. Other symptoms rarely accompany a tension headache.
Jason Ramm, MD, family medicine physician, Cypress Medical Clinic
I have dense breasts and a friend told me this means mammography would be useless for me. Is this true?
Dense breasts can make traditional mammograms more difficult to interpret, but this doesn't mean this life-saving screening is useless for detecting cancer or other breast abnormalities in women with dense breasts. Dense breasts contain more glands and ligaments, and less fat. Mammogram technology does not "see through" this dense tissue as well as less dense tissue. As a result, dense breast tissue appears as a solid white area on a mammogram film. Tumors also are dense and appear as solid white areas on the film. This can make it difficult to detect a tumor because it looks a lot like the dense tissue around it. Young women are more likely to have dense breasts than older women. After menopause, breast tissue tends to lose density and contain more fat. If you have dense breasts and your doctor detects a breast lump, he or she may recommend further evaluation of the lump — even if a mammogram is interpreted as normal. Additional tests may include ultrasound, MRI, or a biopsy of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope.
Barbara Tomek, MD, Radiologist with Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic
I had moderate to light bleeding during my entire first three months of pregnancy. Should I be concerned about this affecting my baby’s health and am I more at risk for a premature delivery?
Bleeding during the first trimester is a common experience and most pregnancies that don't miscarry run a normal course. Unfortunately, anyone who has had some bleeding in the first trimester is at slightly increased risk for complications, meaning premature birth, poor fetal growth, and other problems. However, there isn't any associated increase in birth defects or chromosome problems. Overall, anyone who had first trimester bleeding has an excellent chance of having a normal pregnancy, birth, and baby.
G. Vincent Bailey, MD, ob/gyn specialist, Jennings American Legion Hospital
My 8-year-old son gets nosebleeds fairly often, even when he hasn't bumped or hit his nose. What causes this and should I be worried?
Nosebleeds are especially common in children between the ages of four and ten. If not the result of an injury, they are usually caused by colds, allergies or overuse of nasal spray. In most cases, bloody noses are no cause for panic. They can usually be stopped fairly easily. Have the child clear their nose by blowing out all mucus and blood. The head should be held slightly forward, not backward, so that any additional blood loss will be noticed and not swallowed. Firmly pinch the anterior two-thirds of the nose (the entire soft part of the nose; pressure on the bridge of nose or upper lip does not help) for 10 minutes (by the clock), then release. If the nose is still bleeding, repeat these steps once more. Rarely does bleeding continue, but if it does, consult your pediatrician.
Albert Richert, Sr., MD, pediatrician with the Pediatric Center of Southwest Louisiana
A migraine is a severe, throbbing headache that is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, dizziness or chills. The pain is usually located at the side of the forehead. A tension headache is a dull headache, with a feeling of pressure over the head, neck and scalp. It is usually not as severe as a migraine. Other symptoms rarely accompany a tension headache.
Jason Ramm, MD, family medicine physician, Cypress Medical Clinic
I have dense breasts and a friend told me this means mammography would be useless for me. Is this true?
Dense breasts can make traditional mammograms more difficult to interpret, but this doesn't mean this life-saving screening is useless for detecting cancer or other breast abnormalities in women with dense breasts. Dense breasts contain more glands and ligaments, and less fat. Mammogram technology does not "see through" this dense tissue as well as less dense tissue. As a result, dense breast tissue appears as a solid white area on a mammogram film. Tumors also are dense and appear as solid white areas on the film. This can make it difficult to detect a tumor because it looks a lot like the dense tissue around it. Young women are more likely to have dense breasts than older women. After menopause, breast tissue tends to lose density and contain more fat. If you have dense breasts and your doctor detects a breast lump, he or she may recommend further evaluation of the lump — even if a mammogram is interpreted as normal. Additional tests may include ultrasound, MRI, or a biopsy of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope.
Barbara Tomek, MD, Radiologist with Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic
I had moderate to light bleeding during my entire first three months of pregnancy. Should I be concerned about this affecting my baby’s health and am I more at risk for a premature delivery?
Bleeding during the first trimester is a common experience and most pregnancies that don't miscarry run a normal course. Unfortunately, anyone who has had some bleeding in the first trimester is at slightly increased risk for complications, meaning premature birth, poor fetal growth, and other problems. However, there isn't any associated increase in birth defects or chromosome problems. Overall, anyone who had first trimester bleeding has an excellent chance of having a normal pregnancy, birth, and baby.
G. Vincent Bailey, MD, ob/gyn specialist, Jennings American Legion Hospital
My 8-year-old son gets nosebleeds fairly often, even when he hasn't bumped or hit his nose. What causes this and should I be worried?
Nosebleeds are especially common in children between the ages of four and ten. If not the result of an injury, they are usually caused by colds, allergies or overuse of nasal spray. In most cases, bloody noses are no cause for panic. They can usually be stopped fairly easily. Have the child clear their nose by blowing out all mucus and blood. The head should be held slightly forward, not backward, so that any additional blood loss will be noticed and not swallowed. Firmly pinch the anterior two-thirds of the nose (the entire soft part of the nose; pressure on the bridge of nose or upper lip does not help) for 10 minutes (by the clock), then release. If the nose is still bleeding, repeat these steps once more. Rarely does bleeding continue, but if it does, consult your pediatrician.
Albert Richert, Sr., MD, pediatrician with the Pediatric Center of Southwest Louisiana
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
