Medical Minutes

Recovering from a cardiac event or moving forward with life following a diagnosis can be a bit overwhelming without a plan. A professionally prescribed and closely monitored cardiac rehabilitation program is one of the most effective ways for patients to move forward and live a healthier life after an event or diagnosis.

Approximately 73 million adults in the US are affected by hypertension, a condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is chronically elevated. Some causes of hypertension may include smoking, obesity, diabetes, inactive lifestyle, stress, aging, vitamin D deficiency, family history, alcohol or certain medications.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. To prevent heart disease and increase awareness of its effects, Portneuf is proudly participating in American Heart Month. All month long we will be talking about your heart! It will be a topic in articles, on our social media channels and across our communities. Among the events in the area, Portneuf welcomes you to participate in:

Do people seem to mumble more frequently? Do you experience ringing in your ears? Do friends and family members say you have your TV turned up to a high volume? Perhaps you are finding it more difficult to understand a conversation when in a crowd? Any of the above may indicate a hearing loss, the third most common physical ailment in the United States.

You’ve hit that age where reading glasses are part of daily life. You too may even see small specks or clouds moving through your field of vision, perhaps you have more difficulty focusing and/or your eyes just feel dry, tired and irritated. These are all symptoms that may accompany menopause. As we age and change, so too do our eyes.

The original Baby New Year was born in ancient Greece. According to Britannica.com, it was reportedly customary to display an infant in a basket for the turn of the calendar. By the 1400s, the baby was depicted by the Germans as a religious figure and as a sign of rebirth. By the late 19th century, the pint-sized image of time’s passage began to appear in newspaper cartoons and year-end editorials.

‘Tis the season of celebration and reflection, of giving and receiving. Yet, for each of us at Portneuf Medical center, the spirit of thanks and giving is not just seasonal. Every day, through the year, our hands provide the gift of healing and our hearts teem with compassion.

From all of the doctors, nurses, technicians, aides, support staff, and administrators at Portneuf Health Partners, we wish you a joyous, peaceful and healthy holiday season. All of the employees who work here every day have dedicated their lives to caring for their friends and neighbors. While this work is our profession, it’s impossible not to be personally moved by the daily miracles and the daily heartaches that happen at Portneuf.

With a Griswoldian vision of the holidays, this is the season many people climb ladders, crawl on rooftops and add a little twinkle to their homes. But, before you lumber up a ladder, it might be wise to take heed of what emergency department doctors know all too well; holiday decorating and ladders can be hazardous.