The New Arrival

Someone (for the life of me, I cannot remember who it was…) once said “Parenting is the hardest but most rewarding job there is.”  

My wife and I are expecting our first child in the next couple of weeks.  Even though I am an internal medicine-pediatrics physician by training, I’m sure I will be as challenged by our new arrival as any parent would be.  I hope all of the current and future parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends will benefit from these tips on preparing for a new baby.

• If this is your first child, I would investigate whether your delivering hospital offers a tour of the labor and delivery facilities.  This will offer useful information on what to expect when you come in for the baby’s birth.  Even mundane things like “Where’s the cafeteria?” and “Where do I park?” are helpful to know because those questions will be two less things to figure out when you have other more important things going on!

 

• When the third trimester starts, it would be a good idea to start getting together a suitcase with all of the supplies you will need for the hospital.  It is rare to deliver on your actual due date, so being prepared early is always advisable.   Among things to consider packing are toiletries, clothes for mom (and for the person staying with her in the hospital, if allowed by the hospital), snack items, a camera, any registration paperwork, and at least two outfits and blankets for the baby.  

 

• After having gone through a delivery, moms will often be exhausted and wanting to bond with baby.  I might suggest getting a text or email list together of everyone you want to inform of the baby’s arrival before the due date and enlist someone (dad, grandparents, aunts/uncles, friends) to send out the happy news to your contact list.

• If you’ve received mailers from baby stores, you know that there is no shortage of items one can buy to help care for our little ones.  However, perhaps the most important item is a proper rear-facing car seat because the hospital will not let you go home without one! 

 

•  If your baby is coming home to meet any brothers and/or sisters, they can feel jealous or threatened at times.  It is a good idea to get brothers/sisters involved in some capacity.  If your hospital allows children to visit, having the siblings come in to meet their little brother or sister can help with the eventual transition home.  Additionally, giving a small present from “the baby” to his/her siblings can help them feel like a part of things.  

 

• From a pediatrician’s perspective, it is always helpful to have as much information about the baby’s health and the circumstances surrounding the delivery.   After leaving the hospital, it is usually advisable to get an appointment with your baby’s pediatrician anywhere from two days to two weeks afterwards.  It really helps us to have the discharge paperwork at the time of the first appointment, which the hospital should provide you with when you leave.

 

• It is important to remember that when dealing with your pediatrician, no question should be considered silly or off limits.  We’d rather be asked an easy question and be able to put your mind at ease than have you worrying about your baby.  Keep a notebook and pen near your diaper bag so that, whether home or out, if you think of a question, you can write it down to ask your pediatrician. 

Hopefully this list will give you some good tips to get you from the preparation stages to the point where you can bring your little one home!   Following that transition, remember to enjoy your time with the baby and make sure you take care of yourselves as well.

Best wishes to all the current and expectant parents we have at Nova Medical Group!

-Posted by Jeff Conklin, MD

Tips for Lowering Your Cholesterol

People often ask me, “What are those different types of cholesterol and what do they mean?”

For my first blog post, I thought I’d share some information about cholesterol and how to lower the levels:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is also known as “bad” cholesterol.  The more LDL you have in your blood, the higher your risk of heart disease. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered “good” cholesterol. This type lowers your risk of heart disease.

Triglycerides are another type of fat in your blood.  People with diabetes and those who are at risk of developing diabetes tend to have high triglycerides.

When you make changes in your lifestyle to improve your cholesterol levels, you want to lower LDL, raise HDL, and lower triglycerides.  There are many things you can do to improve your cholesterol, but some things work better than others. These are some of the best changes you can make:

·         Eat less saturated fats. There are two kinds of saturated fat. One occurs naturally in animal products and some plant foods (such as coconut and palm kernel oil).  The other kind is a man-made saturated fat called trans fat. Trans fats are used in margarine and many snack foods.  You should limit the amount of natural saturated fats you eat, but completely avoid trans fats.

·         Eat more unsaturated fats. Most fats in vegetables, grains, and tree nuts are unsaturated. For example, you can use olive oil or canola oil in cooking instead of butter.

·         Eat more nuts. Have a small handful (1 to 2 oz) of almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, or pecans once a day instead of some other snacks.

·         Eat more high-fiber foods. Good sources include vegetables and whole grains, such as oat bran, whole oats, beans, peas, and flax seed.

·         Eat more soy protein. Get more protein from plant sources, such as soy, instead of from meat. Tofu and soy protein shakes are two easy ways to add soy to your diet.

·         Eat more fish. Oily fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines, are best. Fish that are caught in the wild are better for you than fish that are raised on farms. Have one or two 6-oz servings each week.

·         Drink alcohol in moderation. Men should have up to two drinks per day, and women should have one. More than this can be bad for you. A drink is 1.5 oz of 80-proof liquor, 5 oz of wine, or 12 oz of beer or wine cooler.

·         Exercise. Exercise needs to be a part of your routine in order to lower the cholesterol.  Aerobic exercise is one of the few things proven to raise HDL. You need to exercise for at least 120 minutes each week to get the most benefit.

It is always better to make healthy lifestyle choices such as those noted above to stay healthy rather than taking medications.

-Posted by Dr. Smitha Beeravolu

Flu Season is Quickly Approaching...

With the fall comes the start of school, cooler temperatures, the changing of the leaves, and of course – it’s that time of the year when the flu virus rears its ugly head!   As the season quickly approaches, many people question when and if they should get the flu vaccine.   Also, most importantly, how can one prevent getting it all together?

There are several ways to maintain your overall health and boost your immune system, which protects you from many viruses, including the flu.  So, what can you do?

1. Reduce stress.  A steady cascade of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, negatively impacts the body's ability to stay well.  Findings show that reducing levels of stress through relaxation techniques, daily exercise, and coping skills helps your body maintain physical and emotional health.  This is probably the most important lifestyle change you can practice to boost immunity.
2. Get plenty of rest – every night!  Prolonged sleep deprivation wears down immune protection, while getting adequate rest each night helps to boost your defenses.  Try to aim for seven to eight hours sleep for the best immune function. 
3. Be happy!  Take some time each day to “Stop and smell the roses.”  Enjoy life's journey and listen to your favorite tunes.  Some findings indicate that listening to just 30 minutes of music increases IGA levels (your body’s natural immune fighters). 
4. Wash your hands.  Nothing beats the potency of frequent hand washing to keep germs at bay.  By washing hands thoroughly -- and often -- throughout the day, you can stay healthier and help your immune system protect you from the flu and other diseases.

Ok, so you’re probably thinking if I do all the right things, why do I need the flu shot?  Well, even with the best preventive measures you may be exposed and not even know it.  Most of us come in contact with hundreds of people on a daily basis.  According to the CDC, most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.  Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days.  Symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body.  That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.  Some people can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those people may still spread the virus to others.

So who should get the flu shot this year?  Everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine this season. It’s especially important for some people to get vaccinated, including:

1. People who are at high risk of developing serious complications, like pneumonia, if they get sick with the flu.  This includes people who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease. 
2. Pregnant women. 
3. People 65 years and older. 
4. People who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications.  This includes household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.

So, how effective is the flu shot?  The ability of a flu vaccine to protect a person depends on the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine, and the similarity or “match” between the viruses or virus in the vaccine and those in circulation.  With that being said, according to the CDC, getting vaccinated every year provides the best protection against influenza throughout flu season.  For more information, visit the CDC Web site.

So, to have a healthy fall season, take time to care for you and your family and stop by Nova Urgent Care for your flu shot – no appointment is necessary!  Or, of course, you can always schedule an appointment with your primary care provider through the Medical Group.   

For your convenience, Nova Urgent Care will offer 4 walk-in, self-pay flu clinics this year in Suite 203 of the Ashburn office:

• Monday, September 24^th 
• Friday, September 28^th 
• Monday, November 12^th 
• Friday, November 16^th

Vaccines will be $20 per person; cash or credit card only.  The walk-in flu clinics will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., and additional walk-in, self-pay clinic hours are available upon request.  In addition, I recommend checking out The Medical Spa at Nova’s many herbal supplements that can also help to boost your immune system.  A healthier fall is definitely a happier one!

-Posted by Robin Donald, DO

The "ABC's" of Managing Diabetes

We’ve been bombarded with news, telling us that more children and adults are now obese and developing diabetes.  Being diagnosed with diabetes sounds pretty desperate and awful, and it could be… but, the good news is that it doesn’t need to be.

Today, being diagnosed with diabetes is still a problem, but with 21^st century treatment and lifestyle changes, it can be properly managed and nearly erased.  This is great news!

Managing diabetes is sometimes difficult psychologically; one must bend to the disorder and daily habits and lifestyle changes that one may not be used to – such as exercising more and eating healthier – are required.  When lifestyle changes just aren’t enough to control the glucose levels, we now have newer drugs with fewer side effects to help us.

Important improvements in diabetes treatment have shown us that glucose control needs to be better than we thought 40 years ago, and also that optimal blood pressure and cholesterol levels make a major difference in managing the complications of diabetes.

We tend to describe this change in treatment focus as the “ABC’s of Diabetes:”  

• A – Hemoglobin A1c tests should be between 6 - 7%
• B – Blood pressure should be 130 or less
• C – LDL (bad) cholesterol should be under 100

If you have diabetes and keep up with the “ABC’s” several times a year, you can improve your treatment to avoid complications of diabetes such as heart attacks, kidney failure, bad vision, and potential amputations. 

It is possible for you to live a virtually normal life without significant complications through exercise, diet, medication, and close monitoring.  Diabetes may be a frustration, but it certainly does not need to be a tragedy!  

-Posted by James F. McMurry, Jr., MD