Medical Minutes

Suddenly you are way too hot. Often in less than a minute, perimenopausal women may feel as if they were transported to the Sahara desert in the middle of summer. Some women turn red in the face or chest; some perspire a little, while others may be drenched with sweat. Women may experience anywhere from one or two hot flashes a day to one an hour. The sudden sensation may come and go quickly or linger for a while before gradually fading. Each woman’s menopausal experience, including hot flashes, varies widely.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The good news is, since the early 1960s, the number of deaths from heart disease has dropped by half; the bad news is heart disease continues to be the number one killer in the United States among women and men. The month of February is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and prevention.

“You have breast cancer,” is a scary phrase to hear from your doctor. As you deal with a multitude of emotions, you find yourself in a world that feels scary and confusing as you start to schedule appointments and make decisions. If you have just been diagnosed with breast cancer, or are close to someone who has, you probably have a lot of questions.

As you set your goals for the upcoming year, it is important to understand a few key numbers. These numbers can have a significant impact on your overall health and wellbeing. Body Mass Index (BMI):

Is an ingrown toenail, flat footedness, a diabetes related foot issue or other issue with your feet causing pain or embarrassment? If so, remember foot pain can range in severity from ingrown toenails to foot ulcers and many foot and ankle problems tend to worsen overtime. The quicker an individual responds to a foot problem, the more likely they are to have a broader range of treatment options and healing times are usually shorter in duration.

Is an ingrown toenail, flat footedness, a diabetes related foot issue or other issue with your feet causing pain or embarrassment? If so, remember foot pain can range in severity from ingrown toenails to foot ulcers and many foot and ankle problems tend to worsen overtime. The quicker an individual responds to a foot problem, the more likely they are to have a broader range of treatment options and healing times are usually shorter in duration.

During menopause, women often experience significant changes and among those changes is an increase in weight especially in the abdominal region. Women, on average, gain about five pounds during the menopause transition. While exercise and diet are extremely important throughout a woman’s life, regular exercise and proper nutrition are particularly vital at midlife and beyond.

From all of us at Portneuf Medical Center, we wish you a happy and healthy New Year. As we come to the end of 2014, I would like to share with you a few of our successes and to report that PMC, your comprehensive regional referral hospital, continues to be a place of healing, caring and connection. Our staff and physicians are committed to caring for area families not only with the latest healthcare technology and procedures, but also with the highest level of compassion and individual attention.

Every significant change in hormone levels has an effect on the gums and on the other nearby tissues that support the teeth. However, the hormonal changes of menopause affect the gum health of women more permanently than the hormonal changes of puberty, menstruation or pregnancy.Research reveals that more than 25 percent of post-menopausal women are at risk of losing teeth and they may be at an increased risk for tooth decay and gum disease. Because of this increased risk of dental problems, it is essential that women become informed on how to keep their smile healthy and bright.

As you shop the toy aisles this season, it is important to keep safety in mind. Toy-related injuries are more common than you might think. The latest research by Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital reveals “that every 3 minutes in the US, a child is treated in an emergency department for an injury received playing with a toy - and these numbers are on the rise.”