Medical Minutes

There may have been many changes in your life, but if you are a woman over the age of 40, one of the biggest changes is on the horizon – menopause. The hormonal changes that occur with menopause can affect your mood, sleep, bone mass and even increase your risk for heart and circulatory disease. As we age, our skin loses it protective pigment, becomes thinner, and the walls of the blood vessels become more fragile. It is more common for women to experience bruising and broken veins.

Seasonal allergies typically start in the spring when the trees come into bloom. Thereafter, the season progresses through the summer months with the various grasses and surges again in the fall when weeds and sagebrush pollinate. In contrast, allergies to animal dander, molds and dust can persist year-round and become more severe during the closed-in winter months. Airborne pollens from trees or plants, spores or dust – collectively referred to allergens - enter the body through the upper respiratory tract, particularly the nose, thereby triggering an allergic reaction.

In order to participate in high school team athletics, students are required to have a physical in their Freshman year and again in their Junior year. Please note, if you had a physical done during your sophomore year, students are still required to have one in their Junior year in order to be eligible for sports.

According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, at least 30 million Americans have a thyroid disorder and half – 15 million – are silent sufferers who are presently undiagnosed. The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, is the master gland of metabolism. This small gland affects every aspect of your health and undiagnosed thyroid problems can increase the risk for heart disease, depression, anxiety, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, infertility, cause weight issues and a host of other health problems.

Many people who experience hand pain and numbness come into the office concerned that they may have carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). While hand pain is certainly one symptom of the notorious CTS, it is important to note that all hand pain is not necessarily carpal tunnel syndrome. Classic symptoms of CTS include numbness, tingling and a burning type of pain extending into the fingers supplied by the median nerve. Affected fingers commonly involve the thumb; index, middle and half of the ring finger.

Close to 27 million adults suffer from osteoarthritis. Both men and women, under the age of 55, seem to suffer symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) equally. However, after age 55, typically following menopause, this disease is more commonly diagnosed in women. In fact, women tend to suffer more severe symptoms than their similarly aged male counterparts. At the present time, there is no cure for OA, but I am happy to report that there are many treatment options, daily routines and healthy lifestyle habits that can slow the progression.

It is estimated that over 35 million Americans suffer from some form of bladder problem. The severity ranges from an occasional leaking of urine when you sneeze, cough or laugh to a sudden and strong urge that does not provide adequate time to get to a restroom. Sufferers are often embarrassed and may feel as if they are held hostage by their own bladders. Subsequently, thousands of people cope with this disorder by restricting or altering their daily routine or activities.

Every year over 392,000 people die from tobacco-caused disease, making it the leading cause of preventable death in the US. Another 50,000 people die from exposure to secondhand smoke. Among current smokers, chronic lung disease accounts for 73 percent of smoking-related conditions. In fact, the list of disease caused by smoking include COPD, coronary heart disease, stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysms, pneumonia and bladder, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, oral, throat, cervical, kidney, stomach and pancreatic cancers. Smoking is also a major factor in a host of other conditions and disorders.