Medical Minutes

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” said Benjamin Franklin. Tax time is approaching. Most of us discuss our taxes with family, friends, and financial advisors, such that several people are aware of our tax status. And if you are not aware, the IRS will be happy to inform you of your tax status.

According to Karen Giblin, founder of Red Hot Mamas, “There are over 4,000 American women a day entering menopause. It is no surprise that women are clamoring for the necessary information they need to confront the physiological and emotional changes that may occur at menopause.”

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 well-being.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Being overweight often leads to an array of health problems that impact both an individual’s quality of life, as well as their life expectancy. In fact, it is estimated that at any given time, two-thirds of American adults are on a diet to either lose weight or prevent weight gain. However, statistically, only five percent of these dieters will be successful in keeping the weight off.

Whether you need a disease diagnosed, a condition treated, or a traumatic injury repaired, surgical solutions can keep you out of work and life for weeks. Minimally invasive options, using a small tube called a catheter, can provide the same benefits with better recovery time and fewer complications.

Once the turkey has been carved and the pumpkin pie consumed, many Americans continue with the holiday diet and the typical dietary indiscretions throughout the season. In fact, holiday meals are often a minefield of acid triggering foods. Added to the stressors of the season, reflux symptoms can worsen. One of my mentors from residency training often called the time from Thanksgiving to New Year’s "Reflux Season."

‘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.

The majority of children who play high school sports do so without the occurrence of serious injury. While zero sports related injuries are the prime goal for parents and concerned members of the community, we know that zero is not achievable, but lowering the rate of injury is definitely doable. In a world filled with spirited and talented athletes and competitive sporting events, sprains, strains and overuse injuries occur and often require limited medical attention. Fortunately, there are a few strategies that can help keep young athletes as well as exercising adults free from injury.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive procedure, has been used by the Portneuf Cardiovascular team for two years with tremendous success. This revolutionary surgical procedure allows physicians to fix a severely narrowed aortic valve (aortic stenosis) without opening up the patient's chest! It offers new hope for patients who are sick and those who have been previously determined to be inoperable or not amenable to surgical treatment.

Movember, commonly referred to as No-Shave-November, is when men and women across the globe join together to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues – specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives. This month, as beards and moustaches become more prominent, Movember aims to change the ‘face’ of men’s health by putting a hairy twist on some serious issues.