Health

Abraham Family Medicine Discusses Two Recent Health Trends

man-getting-check-upThe world of healthcare and medicine moves fast. While some universal truths and practices never change, there are always new trends that warrant monitoring. Keeping up with these new medical trends serves as a way to update our family medicine services and techniques when it is beneficial for our patients, while also being aware of potentially harmful practices that people need to steer clear of. Today, we wanted to discuss a couple of recent trends in nutrition and medicine that we’ve noticed and the impact they can have on our patients.

The Convenience of Continuous Glucose Monitors

Along with the rise of the Fitbit and other wearable health tracking devices, continuous glucose monitors are providing a way for people with diabetes and prediabetes to remain informed about the status of their health at a moment’s notice. Continuous glucose monitoring provides the ability to regularly track glucose levels without needing to prick their finger. In addition to this added convenience and comfort, these rapid updates make it easier than ever for people with diabetes or prediabetes to make instant adjustments to their daily diet as needed to help promote better short and long-term outcomes.

There are already many different types of continuous glucose monitoring devices on the market, and this technology is becoming more advanced all the time. If you are interested in learning more, please don’t hesitate to ask your healthcare provider about continuous glucose monitors during your next appointment.

It’s important to remember that continuous glucose monitoring will not be reimbursed by insurance, unless the patient is diabetic. Typically, it can cost around $80 per month for patients who purchase it over-the-counter. For patients with Medicare coverage, the guidelines are the patient has to be on insulin or have a documented history of low blood sugars.

The Rise in Health Supplements

It has come to our attention that more and more people have begun to take health and nutrition supplements in recent years. Most of these supplements claim to be able to provide certain health benefits including things like increased energy, boosts to immune health, weight loss, or healthier cardiovascular function, among others. However, there is no strong evidence indicating that these supplements are effective or even safe to take.

Because of this, there may be potential risks that shouldn’t be ignored. Unlike medicines, the supplement industry is largely unregulated, meaning that these products may contain fillers, additives, or other unhealthy contaminants, and do not need to pass safety testing for certain supplements before going to market. We would recommend that anyone turning to supplements like this to instead speak with your provider about specific ones, as well as taking a back-to-basics approach to their diet instead. That means prioritizing whole foods, and a balance of natural, healthy ingredients including fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean sources of protein, instead of relying on supplements.

I hope you found this information helpful and informative. Keeping our patients informed about trends like these can be highly beneficial for promoting health and wellness, and is a responsibility that we take very seriously. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our family medicine healthcare providers, please contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

4 Simple Tips for National Nutrition Month

apple-and-flexable-measuring-tapeWhen it comes to taking care of yourself, there is simply no substitute for good nutrition. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is critical for both feeling your best and helping to lower your risk of serious health conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure. So in honor of the upcoming National Nutrition Month this March, our healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine thought now would be a great time to focus on nutrition and what our patients can do to improve their eating. So with this in mind, we wanted to present the following simple tips to help anyone improve their nutritional habits.

Tip #1: Don’t Just Eat Greens, Eat Them First

We all know how important it is to incorporate healthy vegetables into your diet. And one simple way to make sure that greens are not just included in your meal, but providing their full nutritional value, is to make an effort to start your meal with them. Consider it a healthy (and often delicious) opening course. This way, you avoid the risk of being too full or not interested in eating what might be the most important part of your meal.

Tip #2: Try To Eat Slower

Overeating can be a major deterrent to healthy nutrition. And it’s a fact that eating too fast and overeating often go hand-in-hand. Our appetites are controlled by hormones that send signals to our brains when we are feeling hungry or full. However, it can take roughly 20 minutes for our brains to receive this message about being full, making it very easy to eat more than we need to. So naturally, taking your time and eating more slowly can allow the brain more time to perceive that you are full. Additionally, more thorough chewing while eating is also linked to better weight management.

Tip #3: Let Meal Planning Guide You To Healthier Choices

It’s always nice to have a plan. And when it comes to trying to improve your diet, meal planning can be remarkably helpful. Making coherent meal plans for your week can help make sure you are eating right, getting enough of the nutrients that matter most (lean proteins, whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies), and maintain some variety in your diet. Additionally, doing so can help save you money on ingredients that are inevitably wasted while shopping without a plan, or prevent you from spur-of-the-moment meals out that are both expensive and unhealthy.

Tip #4: How You Cook Your Food Matters

Cooking your own meals can be fun, rewarding, and ultimately beneficial to your nutrition. But keep in mind that the manner in which you cook your food can matter a great deal. A piece of chicken that is grilled or roasted in the oven will obviously be much better for you than one that is fried in unhealthy oil. Utilizing an air fryer can also be a great way to enjoy some crispy fried goodness without the guilt.

Here at Abraham Family Medicine, nothing is more important to us than the health and wellbeing of our patients, and nutrition is a huge part of that. Nutrition and healthy eating are just a few of the topics we cover at annual-wellness appointments in our office. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our expert healthcare providers, contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

3 Health Resolutions to Start The New Year Off Right!

apple-and-flexable-measuring-tapeThe start of another new year is here, and all of us at Abraham Family Medicine could not be more excited to welcome 2025. For many people, the new year can provide a terrific opportunity to look inward and think about the ways that we can refine ourselves in some way. This usually takes the form of a New Year’s Resolution. These resolutions are often set as a way to help us improve the state of our health. So in the spirit of the new year, our healthcare providers wanted to provide a few simple healthcare resolutions that anyone could benefit from.

Resolution #1: Start The New Year With An Annual Wellness Check

There is nothing that we recommend more than scheduling an annual check-up in January in order to get the new year started off right. Starting the year with an annual wellness visit can help gain a better understanding of the state of your health, while helping to determine your risk of potentially serious illnesses and health conditions. In our office, these check-ups include a series of diagnostic health screenings and discussions of the potential lifestyle adjustments that could promote long-term health and wellness.

Resolution #2: Find Extra Physical Activity Where & When You Can

Regular exercise and physical activity are incredibly important for people of all ages. And while we know it can be difficult to find the time, energy, and motivation to go to the gym as often as we should, there are still plenty of ways to be physically active outside of the context of a gym workout. Even something as minor as 15 minutes a day of walking, doing housework, sports or other simple activities can help lower your risk of serious health concerns like high blood pressure and heart disease. Any physical activity is better than none at all. And it is important to start somewhere and choose something that makes sense for you and your lifestyle.

Resolution #3: Take Pride in Incremental Progress

While everyone wants to fully achieve their goals, it’s important not to get discouraged in cases where you don’t quite make it all the way. If you wanted to lose 15 pounds, but only lost 10, it’s still an accomplishment, not a setback, and a great step towards your ultimate ambition. Staying the course, celebrating small victories, and not beating yourself up too much (or quitting entirely) will ultimately help you.

An annual check-up appointment with one of our providers can be the perfect way to get your new year started off right. 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.

Prevention Tips for American Stroke Awareness Month

A Statistical Look at Heart Disease During American Heart MonthStroke awareness is incredibly important for adults in the US. And while many people consider strokes something that can only affect people later in life, the truth is that simply is not the case. Strokes occur as a result of a clot that prevents blood from reaching the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain is ruptured. Although strokes remain among the most common causes of death and long-term disability in the US, there is a lot that most people don’t know about them and what can be done to prevent them. So for National Stroke Awareness month this May, our healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine wanted to share a few simple steps to help our readers prevent strokes before they may occur.

Maintain a Healthy Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (or hypertension) is the leading cause of strokes for adults. And since over half of all men and nearly half of all women in the US have high blood pressure according to the American Heart Association, this is obviously not something to take lightly. Thankfully, there is a lot that you can do to manage and keep tabs on your blood pressure. In addition to making the necessary lifestyle adjustments to lower your blood pressure, it’s critical to monitor your blood pressure at home and speak with your healthcare provider about what more you can be doing.

Be Proactive in Stroke Prevention

The earlier you take the risk of developing a stroke seriously, the more effective your prevention efforts will be. Somewhere between 10%-15% of all strokes occur in adults before they turn 50, and the risk of an early stroke is even more prevalent among African American patients.

So with this in mind, practicing healthy lifestyle habits can be an excellent preventive measure against strokes. This includes exercising daily (at least 30 minutes of activity), eating healthy (myplate.gov can help get you started), and keeping tabs on your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels (many smartwatch apps can help with these things). Even modest steps in the right direction can pay major dividends in the long run.

Cut Out Smoking & Drinking

Both smoking and drinking alcohol regularly can increase a person’s risk of experiencing a stroke. They can also contribute to other health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure that are highly associated with strokes. A moderate level of drinking can be ok from time to time, but no amount of smoking or use of other nicotine products is healthy.

Be Aware of the Symptoms

While this might not technically help you prevent a stroke, it’s essential information in the case that one should occur. The five main symptoms of a stroke that everyone should know are:

  • Sudden feelings of numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs (especially on one side of the body)

  • Sudden confusion or difficulty speaking

  • Sudden vision issues and difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes

  • Sudden trouble walking, balance issues, or dizziness

  • Sudden and severe headache

It’s important to discuss stroke prevention with your healthcare provider during annual appointments and see if there is anything more you can be doing to help fend off a stroke before it’s too late. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

Lung Cancer Awareness Month at Abraham Family Medicine

patient-consults-doctorLung cancer is a prevalent and incredibly serious health condition for adults in the US to monitor. While it is commonly associated with smoking, you don’t have to be a smoker to develop lung cancer. Lung cancer risk is higher than many people realize. We say this not to scare our readers, but to reinforce the importance of awareness and living a lung-healthy lifestyle. So in honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month this November, our healthcare providers wanted to present some helpful lung cancer statistics provided by the American Cancer Society.

  • Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer for both men and women in the US (not including skin cancer).
  • This year alone, about 238,340 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the US and roughly 127,070 Americans will die of lung cancer.
  • Making up about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths in the US, lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death for Americans.
  • The average age a person is diagnosed is about 70, meaning geriatric patients are far more at risk.
  • The 5-year survival rate for people with localized lung cancers (cases where the cancer has not spread) is currently 65%.

Lung cancer can’t be “prevented”, but there are certainly things that you can do to reduce your risk of developing the condition. First and foremost, never smoke cigarettes (including e-cigarettes or vaping). If you do smoke, quit immediately or ask for assistance from a medical professional to help you quit. There are medications and other methods that may be able to help. Maintaining a smoke-free environment at home and in the office while avoiding secondhand smoke can be incredibly helpful. Annual screening for lung cancer is highly recommended for anyone with a history of smoking, people between the ages of 55-80, and people who have a family history of lung cancer. We also recommend getting your home tested for radon.

Respiratory health is a critical part of long-term wellness, and we hope that everyone reading this will take this warning to heart. 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.

Men’s Health Month at Abraham Family Medicine This June

male-consults-with-doctorJune is Men’s Health Month in the US, which is why the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine thought it would be a great time to discuss what men can do to promote long-term health and wellness. Doing so requires knowledge of common health concerns that affect men as they age, as well as what can be done to prevent them. In our office, our providers believe that prevention is often the best treatment for any health condition. So with this in mind, we wanted to provide a few facts and tips for guys to live by.

Understand Which Concerns To Keep Tabs On

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), of the 15 leading causes of death in the US, men die at a higher rate than women for all of them (with the exception of Alzheimer’s disease). However, men should be especially cognizant of their potential risks of developing prostate cancer, lung cancer, and heart disease.

Never Miss Regular Screenings or Exams

As we previously mentioned, preventing serious health concerns before they occur should always be the goal. And attending annual wellness exams, as well as other recommended health screenings (depending on your age), is a critically important part of this prevention plan. In addition to gauging health metrics like blood pressure, BMI, and cholesterol, undergoing annual screening appointments like a prostate exam, colonoscopy, and eye exam are also essential. Screenings for chronic health issues like diabetes and heart disease are also extremely important.

Adjust Your Routine As You Age

Getting the recommended amount of weekly exercise (150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity) is critical. And while it’s important to be physically active and exercise regularly, it’s also important to know your limits and adjust your exercise regimen when appropriate. Injuries occur more regularly for men starting in middle age, and it’s important not to put unnecessary strain on back, knees, or other parts of the body that may be susceptible to injury.

Here at Abraham Family Medicine, we perform annual exams for men of all ages to provide our patients with a better understanding and a more complete picture of their overall health status. 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.

Is There Such a Thing As Healthy Alcohol Consumption?

patient-consults-with-doctorApril is Alcohol Awareness Month in the US. For many of us, an occasional drink can be a great accompaniment to a nice meal, a night out, or other social situations. But alcohol use over time can pose certain health concerns if not kept in moderation. With this in mind, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine thought it would be instructive to discuss alcohol and how it should be consumed safely and responsibly. More specifically, we wanted to discuss what constitutes a healthy level of alcohol consumption, or if there is such a thing.

How much alcohol per week is considered unhealthy?

We’ve all heard the term “drinking in moderation”, but what constitutes moderation? According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025,”, moderate drinking allows for two or fewer per day for men and one drink or less per day for women.

Health conditions that alcohol can make worse?

For people with certain health conditions or risk factors, alcohol can exacerbate symptoms or lead to more serious complications in the future. And in these cases, no amount of alcohol consumption can be safely recommended. For example, people who have experienced a hemorrhagic stroke (leaking or rupturing of a blood vessel in the brain), drinking alcohol can increase the risk of additional strokes in the future. People who have liver, pancreatic, or heart disease also should not drink.

If you’re still not sure about healthy alcohol consumption, this is a great topic to bring up with your healthcare provider during an annual appointment. The more knowledge you have about the state of your health, the better and more informed decisions you can make about drinking and what is right for you. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

Thyroid Awareness Month This January at Abraham Family Medicine

doctor-consult-with-male-patientThe thyroid may not be the first thing that many people think of when considering their health and wellness, but it’s a fact that thyroid disease and other conditions associated with the thyroid are incredibly common for adults. According to statistics from the American Thyroid Association, nearly 20 million Americans are currently living with some form of thyroid disease. And because of the nature of these conditions, roughly 60% of thyroid disease cases go undiagnosed. So for Thyroid Awareness Month, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine wanted to provide some basic information about the thyroid, the most common types of thyroid disease, and what people can do to prioritize their thyroid health.

For anyone unaware, the thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower portion of the neck (just below where the Adam’s apple would be located). The thyroid is responsible for producing hormones the body uses to regulate essential functions like the heartbeat, body temperature, blood pressure, and metabolism. This is why many experts consider the thyroid to be the most important endocrine organ.

The most common types of thyroid disease include the following:

Hyperthyroidism – Commonly known as overactive thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid produces excess levels of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. This overproduction can increase the body’s metabolism, leading to weight loss and an irregular heartbeat.

Hypothyroidism – Inversely, hypothyroidism is a condition caused by having an under-active thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is the result of the thyroid not producing enough thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Effects of hypothyroidism can create a hormone imbalance that can disrupt a person’s heart rate, body temperature, and all aspects of the metabolism. Common symptoms include fatigue, sensitivity to temperatures (especially cold), constipation, dry skin, and unexplained weight gain.

Thyroid Cancer – Thyroid cancer can develop when cells grow and multiply rapidly, forming a tumor in the thyroid. Warning signs of thyroid cancer include an unusual lump or swelling in the neck, as well as chronic coughing, hoarseness, and swelling in the area. Although a small percentage of thyroid cancers are very aggressive, the condition is very responsive to treatment in most cases.

The best way to promote long-term thyroid health is to visit your primary care doctor each year for screenings during an annual check-up appointment. Screening for thyroid disease may include testing the blood to measure levels of certain thyroid hormones. Other tests include a biopsy or imaging including a thyroid ultrasound as well as examination of the thyroid itself. For more information on thyroid health 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.

How To End Your Year in Good Health & Wellness

American Heart Month at Abraham Family MedicineIt’s hard to believe that 2022 is coming to a close. We’ve been fortunate to be able to meet so many new patients and get reacquainted with our returning ones this year at Abraham Family Medicine. But before we put the year behind us for good, we thought it would be helpful to provide a few end-of-year health tips for our readers. Following these steps can help close out 2022 and enter the new year feeling your best.

Schedule An Annual Check-Up

Making sure that you have undergone an annual check-up appointment before the year is through is always highly recommended. Doing so can help make sure your general health is in good standing before the new year begins, and help detect potential health issues early on before they become a problem to your well-being. As an added bonus for some patients, booking an annual appointment late in the year can help take advantage of already-exceeded deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses in case any additional testing or appointments are needed.

Get a Flu Shot

We’re right in the midst of an especially bad flu season and it’s not too late to protect yourself and your loved ones by receiving a flu shot this December. While it may not be possible to fully prevent the flu, being immunized against the flu can greatly reduce your chances of catching the flu while also diminishing symptoms in the case that you still get sick.

Take Care During The Holidays

Although we love the holiday season, there is no denying that this can be a challenging time of year when it comes to trying to stay healthy. Between the dropping temperatures and holiday gatherings, and the stress that comes along with the season, it’s no wonder why so many people get sick this time of year. So dress warmly, wash your hands regularly (especially before eating), avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, stay hydrated, and prioritize getting a good night’s sleep to help your immune system.

Before we sign off, we wanted to take a moment to thank all of our incredible patients and their families for helping us have another great year at our practice. It is sincerely an honor to serve you and we look forward to all the goodness that 2023 will have in store. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our providers, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

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