Geriatric Medicine

4 Helpful Tips for Healthy Aging Month!

woman-and-man-exercising-on-fitness-trailAs we age, our ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle only becomes more and more important. The risk of developing chronic disease or medical conditions like heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes increases over time, which is why it’s so critical to be proactive about your health as the years go on. September is Healthy Aging Month, a time to focus on the things we can do to improve the state of our overall health in order to age as gracefully as possible. With this in mind, our healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine were happy to provide a few tips in the spirit of healthy aging.

Prioritize Heart Health

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for adults in the US. But common forms of heart disease like heart attacks and congestive heart failure can be prevented, or at least have their risks minimized by living a heart-healthy lifestyle. This includes regular physical activity (even just taking a daily walk) and eating a healthy diet rich in fiber, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Make The Right Lifestyle Adjustments

It’s amazing how small adjustments to your lifestyle can add up, especially when compounded together. No one should ever smoke, but the need to quit all nicotine only becomes more pressing as the years go on. The same goes for excessive alcohol consumption, as alcohol can contribute to a wide variety of health problems. If you do drink, we recommend sticking to one drink a day or less. Prioritizing healthy sleep habits like developing a sturdy bedtime routine and sticking with it, as well as doing something to relax before bedtime, can also pay major dividends.

Keep Your Mind Active

Like the body, our minds can also benefit from extra care, maintenance, and activity as we age. Many older people may experience memory issues, changes in cognitive abilities, reflexes, and more. But these effects too can be minimized with the right care and mental wellness regimen. Staying socially active is hugely helpful. So too are activities that keep the mind active and working like dancing, tai chi, puzzles, word games, and any activity that requires thinking.

Annual Wellness Appointments Are a Must

Seeing your doctor for an annual check-up appointment is a great way to gauge the status of your overall health and lay the groundwork for many more healthy years ahead. Doing so can help you gain a better understanding of your mental and physical health, get some essential health screenings done, and reconnect with your healthcare provider. These annual appointments are a cornerstone to wellness as we age and should not be taken for granted. This is an important time to be very transparent with your doctor and ensure they know your lifestyle habits and your genetic health history.

There’s no such thing as a bad time to work to improve your health, but we hope this month and these tips can serve as a jumping off point for meaningful, lasting change. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for people of all ages at our Snellville office, located very close to Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

Abraham Medicine: Taking Pride in Providing Geriatric Medicine

doctor-assists-older-patientHere at Abraham Family Medicine, we always strive to provide outstanding medical care to patients of all ages. We take special pride in being able to help older patients and being attentive to the unique needs that advanced age can demand. As we age, it becomes more and more important to be aware of the state of our health and do what we can to be proactive when it comes to health and wellness. With this in mind, we wanted to discuss our geriatric medicine services and the positive impact that they can have on our patients and their health.

Our geriatric medicine services prioritize prevention and ongoing maintenance to ensure the best-possible quality of life for our patients. These services range from formulating customized senior care plans to treatment and management of common health concerns like diabetes, heart disease, dementia and memory issues, arthritis, and much more. Our staff of experienced providers work to regularly monitor any age-related medical conditions and adjust methods as needed over the years.

To see for yourself how critical this level of care can be for aging patients, we wanted to present the following testimonials from our patients:

“Took my 84-year old father to Abraham Family Medicine for a visit. He is a stroke victim and needed a primary care physician as we just moved him to Georgia. Everyone at the office was very nice and patient with us. They were very thorough in answering all of our questions and explaining things to us. Will definitely keep using this practice.”

– Lori M (Google)

“I love Abraham Family and Geriatric Medicine! I have been a patient for over 10 years and have never, ever had anything but caring, kind, and excellent care from every single person. I refer friends to the practice whenever I learn of anyone needing a doctor. If you are looking for excellent care, superior medical professionals, and a feeling that you are truly cared about, this is the best medical practice you will ever find.”

– Janet P (Google)

Being proactive about your health is important at any age, but it only becomes more essential as the years go on. If you or a loved one is in need of specialized care, our experts have the experience and knowledge to be there for you when you need us most. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for people of all ages at our Snellville office, located very close to Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

What To Know About Aging In Place

BAPC-logoAs purveyors of geriatric medicine services, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine are passionate about doing what is best for our advanced age patients. One such consideration for families to keep in mind is the best living arrangement for their loved ones. It’s only natural for people to feel the need to keep their loved ones closer as they age, and for people to not want to leave their homes of many years to depart to a senior living facility. “Aging in place” is a practice where a senior chooses to remain at home instead of moving into an assisted living or nursing facility. To help better understand the pros and cons of aging in place, we wanted to present some information that everyone should be aware of.

When considering aging in place as a solution, three very important factors need to be considered. The individual person, the specifics of the home, and the available loved ones and other potential sources of support. When all these factors indicate that someone might be a good fit for an aging in place arrangement, it can be the easiest and most comfortable situation for everyone involved. However, this is not the case for everyone.

While the desire to remain at home may be there in some cases, aging in place may simply not be feasible or practical for a number of reasons. For instance, larger homes that demand more maintenance and physical exertion to get around in may not be suitable for aging in place. Certain physical limitations like loss of vision or hearing, decreased mobility, and bone fragility must be considered so that they are in a safe environment. Aging in place may be difficult for seniors who do not have loved ones or caretakers who live nearby. In some cases, hiring a professional caretaker can help, but not every family can afford this and some seniors may not be comfortable with an unfamiliar stranger in their home.

For those that think that aging in place may be right for their loved one, we recommend ensuring the following home adjustments for aging in place have been made:

  • Stairlifts (and ramps where applicable) to avoid potentially hazardous trips up and down the stairs
  • Handrails and/or grab bars positioned in hallways and bathrooms to protect against falls
  • Walk-in tubs or showers to avoid unnecessarily stepping over a high bathtub
  • Safety shower mats to prevent potential slipping in the bathroom
  • Ample lighting, including conveniently placed light switches, night lights, and motion detected lighting that comes on when a person enters a room
  • Easily accessible shelving in closets and pantry
  • A wearable security monitor, life Life Alert, to help alert the proper authorities in case of an emergency.

While we understand that these are never easy decisions, gaining a better understanding of the available options for elder care can only help our readers. We know that people just want the best for their loved ones and we feel that aging in place can sometimes be the most comfortable and beneficial option. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, Lilburn and Loganville.

Can Alzheimer’s Disease Be Prevented?

Alzheimer's-Prevention-ribbonIn honor of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month this June, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine wanted to discuss the concept of Alzheimer’s prevention. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia, which can negatively impact a person’s memory, thinking, behavior, and general cognitive function. In the majority of cases, Alzheimer’s likely develops as a result of complex interactions among multiple factors, including a person’s age, genetics, environment, and current mental and physical health. Many patients we speak with in our office ask if there is anything that can be done to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, which is why we wanted to elaborate on this very subject.

Because of the complex nature of the condition and the fact that many common risk factors including age and genetic disposition, are out of the person’s control, Alzheimer’s can often be difficult to prevent. However, certain lifestyle habits and changes can effectively help fight off certain Alzheimer’s risk factors.

Our providers recommend taking the following steps to help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s:

  • Avoid smoking and the use of other nicotine products. Smoking can both harm cognitive function over time and lead to other health conditions that can contribute to Alzheimer’s risk.
  • Get regular daily exercise. Doing so can help lower the risk of many conditions associated with Alzheimer’s including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
  • Keep your brain active as the years go on. Puzzles, word games, ballroom dancing, and other cognitive training exercises can be highly beneficial.
  • Eat a well balanced, healthy diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins like salmon.
  • Make sure to maintain a healthy blood pressure.
  • Maintaining an active social life and avoiding excessive time spent alone can help cognitive function and overall wellness.
  • Have your provider review your medications to ensure none of them are conflicting with others and causing memory issues.

Keeping tabs on your mental and physical wellbeing is incredibly important in the fight against Alzheimer’s. That’s why it’s so important to keep up with your annual wellness visits with a board-certified healthcare provider. For more information on Alzheimer’s or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, Lilburn and Loganville.

Helpful Statistics About Kidney Disease in the US

picture-of-kidneysThis March is National Kidney Month here in the US so we thought now would be a great time to discuss the importance of kidney health. The kidneys are a vital organ and healthy, functioning kidneys are absolutely essential for maintaining overall health and wellness. Unfortunately, kidney disease is very common for adults in the US, especially those with certain risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes, advanced age, or a family history of kidney issues. This is why awareness is so important. In order to help our patients understand the importance of taking a proactive approach to kidney health this March and beyond, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine wanted to provide some informative statistics about kidney disease courtesy of the National Kidney Foundation.

  • 15% of adults in the US (about 37 million people) are affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition where the kidneys become damaged over time and cannot effectively clean the blood as well as healthy kidneys should.
  • Over 2 million people worldwide currently receive treatment with dialysis, though the overwhelming majority of this 2 million live in the US, Japan, Germany, Brazil, and Italy.
  • In the US, treatment of CKD costs nearly $48 billion each year.
  • Nearly 90% of adults with CKD are not aware of their condition.
  • People aged 65 years or older account for 38% of CKD cases in the US, significantly higher than any other age group.
  • CKD is slightly more prevalent in women (15%) than in men (12%).
  • As of 2016, about 125,000 people in the US start treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) annually.
  • More than 726,000 Americans are currently on dialysis or are living with a kidney transplant.
  • About 38% of ESKD cases in the US are caused by diabetes and about 26% are caused by high blood pressure.
  • The rate of new cases of ESKD is the lowest since 1998.

The most important steps we recommend taking for anyone serious about promoting good kidney health is taking good care of your body, making healthy choices, and discussing kidney health with your healthcare provider during annual wellness visits. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for people of all ages at our Snellville office, not far from Grayson, Lilburn, Lawrenceville, and Loganville.

Study Shows Winter Months are Tougher on Arthritis Patients

As the cooler months set in and the number of daylight hours decrease, it is often harder for most of us to find a reason to exercise outdoors. While we may be able to go to a gym and get our exercise fix, older adults, especially those with the chronic medical condition arthritis, often have difficulty getting the necessary exercise to improve their health.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health researchers tracked over 240 participants’ daily activities over a period of three years. Each participant wore an accelerometer while they were awake in all different types of weather. Participants each had a diagnosed case of either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

The study’s finding suggest that older adults with arthritis often do not get the amount of weekly exercise recommended by orthopedic specialists (about 150 minutes a week or 20 minutes a day) when the weather reaches temperatures too low or too high for comfort. The dwindling daylight hours also had a negative effect on arthritis sufferers’ daily activity levels, increasing the amount of time they spent sedentary.

While it’s easy to get outside for a brisk walk in warmer months, it’s important that arthritis sufferers maintain an exercise schedule in the colder winter months as well. Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness, increases flexibility and endurance, and builds muscle around the joints to protect them.

Dr. Ben Abraham specializes in osteopathic and geriatric medicine. Meeting the healing needs of older adults, Abraham Medical’s team of experienced providers work to ensure patients receive the utmost in care to allow patients to enjoy their retirement years and optimize long-term health. Whether you’re looking for indoor exercise ideas for the winter months or nutrition advice for aging, Abraham Medical strives to provide you with the tools you need to live a comfortable and productive life.

For more information on Abraham Medical’s geriatric services, family medicine, or cosmetic services, contact us. You can also stay up to date on the latest news by following us on Twitter.

Study Reveals Increased Importance of Drug Interaction Analysis in Senior Care

Growing older is never a simple journey. While retirement offers many opportunities for excitement and relaxation, some aspects of aging can be unfamiliar and a little intimidating. Senior medical care can be one of those daunting elements. With new drugs on the market every day, it can be difficult to know the effects that each new medicine has on your body and whether those drugs interact negatively with each other.

For instance, a recent study published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society concluded that a certain class of drugs that encourage anticholinergic activity, or restriction of smooth muscle movement, can have negative effects on individuals age 65 or older. Anticholinergic medications include both prescription and over-the-counter medications used for everything from Parkinson’s disease to asthma and COPD.

Patient reactions can include the normal side effects like dry mouth and lethargy. However, the new study indicates that this class of medications can also lead to cognitive decline in older adults. While these findings aren’t currently linked to the onset of dementia, the results of the study suggest clinicians should be careful in prescribing multiple medications with anticholinergic effects to elderly patients.

Fortunately, one of the many services offered by the Abraham Medical team for geriatric patients includes potential drugs’ adverse effects. The analysis includes examination of your senior care plan including the current medications and treatments you are receiving and how to manage your healthcare needs. Dr. Ben Abraham and his staff of caring providers ensure the combination of drugs you may be taking do not interfere with each other or with your overall wellbeing. By viewing your medical history, the doctors at Abraham Medical can identify gaps in your current care plan and make certain they are remedied.

Dr. Ben Abraham’s background in osteopathic medicine allows him to provide premier patient care by fusing the best of both medical and alternative therapies to maximize your results. Osteopathic medicine emphasizes the mind-body connection and recognizes the body’s ability to heal itself. Paired with the best advances in modern medicine, Dr. Abraham’s approach covers all the bases in your healthcare plan.

Other geriatric services offered include arthritis and osteoarthritis treatments and pain management analysis. Dr. Abraham and his staff of providers work though all aspects of your life (i.e. diet, exercise, mental healthcare, and medical therapies) to improve your overall wellbeing.

Contact us for more information about our geriatric or other family medicine services.

Importance of Eating Well with Fat Reduction Treatments

abraham medical cosmeticsAlthough I offer a variety of cosmetic services, I am first and foremost a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and maintain my patients’ overall health as my top priority. However, I also understand that “looking good” is a large part of “feeling good.” While my staff and I stress that a healthy lifestyle should never be forfeited for beauty, we hope to help patients achieve both by educating them on nutrition and healthy living as well as providing cosmetic treatments at Abraham Medical Cosmetics.

Our fat and cellulite reduction treatments are some of our most popular cosmetic services because they are non-invasive. While no substitute for diet and exercise, these fat and cellulite reduction methods help patients who, for whatever reason (i.e.- pregnancy, genetics, hormonal imbalances, etc.), cannot get rid of excess fat and cellulite with diet and exercise alone. Besides giving my patients nutrition tips,

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