takingcare 2008 march

8/12/2019 TakingCare 2008 March

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How to ndDoctor Right

3 Contest: Lean Team Challenge 7 Tests that could save your life

March 2008 C e le b r a t i n g 30 Y e a

r s o f H e l p i n g P e o p l e S t a y H e a l t h y


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did you know?Sleep helps your brain process

and store recent memories.Neuroscience

depressionand earlyretirementDepression is associatedwith early retirementamong late-middle-agedworkers. During an eight-year study, researcherstraced 2,853 workersbetween ages 53 and 58.Of the men and womenwho retired, nearly 20percent reported symptomsassociated with depression.

As many as 9 percentof all U.S. workers havedepressiona treatablecon dition. Yet, many dontknow theyre depressed,nor do they have theirde pression diagnosed andtreated by a professional.Health Services Research

quick takes

Questions are answered by Phyllis D. Cross, M.D., M.P.H., in conjunctionwith the Taking Care medical advisory board and medical contributors.

This publication provides general information and isnt a substitute for professional health care. Be sure to discuss with your doctor any health strategies or medical treatments.

Im pregnant. Could my cat cause health problems?

CA S HA eat rodents, birds and other small animals canbecome in ected with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, whichcan be passed to humans who are exposed to the cats eces.

Millions o people carry the Toxoplasma parasite withoutany negative health consequences. However, toxoplasmosis cancause serious problems. Moms-to-be, or example, can spreadthe in ection to their unborn babies. In rare cases, babies withtoxoplasmosis are born with serious eye or brain damage.

Te parasite also can come rom sources other than cats.You can become in ected by eating contaminated raw orpartially cooked meat. Te bug also can be present in drinkingwater or soil. But, cats commonly play a major role in spreadingthe in ection. Fortunately, blood tests can detect the parasite.And, medications can be used to treat the in ection.

With precautions, pregnant women and cats can live sa elyin the same household. o help lower your risk o in ection:

l Have someone else clean the cats litter box. I you must cleanthe box, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands aferward.

l Change the litter box daily.l Dont eed your cat raw meat.l Keep your cat indoors.l Avoid personal contact with stray cats or kittens.l Dont eat raw or poorly cooked meat

at home or in restaurants. Also,wash hands and utensils aferhandling raw meat.

Ask your doctor orother tips to reduce yourrisk. Te Centers or DiseaseControl and Preventionalso encourages pregnantwomen to discuss their risk otoxoplasmosisand possible testingor itwith their doctors.

3 steps to take if laryngitis steals your voiceViral laryngitis, a contagious infection, can temporarily

steal your voice. To help prevent laryngitis, try to stayaway from anyone who has it, and remember towash your hands frequently to help avoid the spread

of germs.If you do lose your voice:1. Take a break from talking for a while. Talking maylead to further irritation.2. Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeinated beverages.3. Gargle with salt water. This may soothe a sore throat.American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

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contest

YOU KNOW that buying generic laundry detergent orother products can mean savings at the supermarket. But,is it wise to buy generic drugs at the pharmacy? Granted,generics cost less. But, are they as effective and sa e asbrand-name medications?

Yes, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),which regulates these products. Generic drugs must be thesame quality, strength and purity as brand-name drugs. And,they must contain the same active ingredients as brand-namedrugs, so both provide the same benets and come with thesame risks.

But, or all their similarities, there are subtle differences. Forexample, according to trademark laws, a generic drug cant look

exactly like the brand-name drug. Certain inactive ingredients,such as colors or avors, also may be different.

Still, i theyre largely the same, why are generics cheaper?It comes down to investment costs. Lots o money goes intothe research, development, marketing and promotion o newdrugs. Patent protection helps drug makers recoup these costsby giving them exclusive rights to sell the product or a setnumber o years. But, when the patent expires, FDA-approvedcompanies can make generic versions.

oday, nearly hal o all prescriptions are lled with genericdrugs, according to the FDA. I youre taking a prescriptiondrug, your doctor will help you decide whether a generic isappropriate or you.

ON YOUR mark, get set, go! Its time once again or Taking Care s Leaneam Challengea great way to get in shape, have some un and put youin the running to win abulous prizes. First, team up with three otherpeople. Ten, or the next 10 weeks, keep track o your exercise and weightloss. For complete in ormation, rules and contest entry orms, go towww.takingcarenews.com/ltc.

Havent exercised or a while, or not sure how much weight loss isappropriate or your health? Be sure to talk with your doctor to nd out

whats right or you.

2008 Lean Team

Challenge

GENERIC DRUGS

Are they safe and effective?

Each winning teammember receives a gift

certicate to Amazon.com.

Grand Prizegift certicateSecond Placegift certicateThird Placegift certicate

$100$50$25

TAKING CARE | MARCH 2008 3
http://www.takingcarenews.com/ltchttp://www.takingcarenews.com/ltc


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OF HE countless decisions youll make about your health,choosing a doctor is denitely one o the most important.Finding the right one or you can take some time and effort.But, the reward will be reliable health care and a doctor whocan help you stay healthy or years to come.

Make a listAs you begin to create a short list o possibilities, consider yourpersonal pre erences and any special health needs you have.Would you like your doctor to be male or emale, younger orolder? What office locations are convenient or you? Do you

need a specialist to manage any specic health conditionsyou have? Also:l Find out i your health plan has a list o pre erred providers

rated by the quality o care they give.l Ask amily, riends and co-workers or re errals. For this

approach to be effective, make sure to ask people whoseopinions you value. Be sure the person has visited the doctorunder consideration several times. Ask why the doctor isbeing recommended.

l Call a hospital, medical center or medical school andask or recommendations.

How to nd Doctor Right

To nd professional information about specic doctors, trythe online tool from the American Medical Association.

Visit www.ama-assn.org and click on DoctorFinder.

4 MARCH 2008 | TAKING CARE
http://www.ama-assn.org/http://www.ama-assn.org/


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7 ways to build a strongdoctor-patient relationshipOnce youve found the right doctor, do your part to nurture the relationship. Thesetips can help you partner with your doctor:1. Speak up. If you dont understand something, ask your doctor to explain it untilits clear.2. Prioritize your questions. Before each visit, write down your questions or concerns.List the most important ones at the top. If you need more time to discuss concerns,say so.3. Be honest. This is the best policy if you want to protect your health. Mention

anything that might be important about your health history or symptomseven if itsdifcult or you feel embarrassed. Your doctor needs to be aware of any special risks youface in order to recommend necessary screening tests and give good advice.4. Keep your doctor up-to-date. Be sure your doctor knows about other doctors youare seeing, other treatments youre having and all of the medicines you take, includingover-the-counter drugs and supplements.5. Take notes. Write down instructions, or ask if its OK to use a tape recorder. Feel freeto ask for written instructions as well as brochures to take home.6. Pay attention to symptoms. Do your best to explain any symptoms youre having.7. Follow up. Call the ofce if you have questions after an appointment or if yourehaving trouble with medicines or symptoms.Sources: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; American Academy of Family Physicians

Make initial contactWhen you have two or three candidates in mind, call theiroffices and nd out i theyre taking new patients. Also, ask tospeak with someone who can help answer questions like:l How long has the doctor been in practice, and what are his or

her medical credentials?l What are the office hours? What i I need to see a doctor

right away?l Where would I be re erred afer hours?l Do I need to pay up ront, or can I be billed or anything not

covered by my insurance?l How long does it typically take to get an appointment, and

how long is a usual office wait?l Are reminders sent out about screening tests?l Can I get routine medical advice over the phone?l Which hospital is the doctor affiliated with? Or, do other

doctors called hospitalists typically provide hospitalinpatient care?

l Who covers or the doctor when he or she is out o town?

Be sure to ask anything o importance to you. I the staffis help ul and youre satised with the responses, its time tomake an appointment.

Meet the doctorConsider this a get-acquainted session. As you talk, do you ndyoursel liking and trusting this doctor? Does he or she:l Give you a chance to ask questions?l Answer your questions in a way you understand?l Make you eel com ortable?l Ask about your treatment pre erences?l Address any health conditions you have?l Spend enough time with you?l Suggest ways to reduce your risk o illness, such as by

exercising more or losing weight?Tese qualities are help ul, but it may take some time to

establish a working relationship. However, the reward o havinga health partnership with a doctor you trust will be well worththe effort.



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on your mind

QUI WHILE youre ahead. Tatsgreat advice or anyone who gambles.But, what i you cant quit?

Tats the case or an estimated6 to 8 million people in the UnitedStates who have become increasinglyaddicted to gambling, including thosewho gamble online or place bets onsporting events. Now, its disrupting oreven destroying their lives, accordingto the National Council on ProblemGambling (NCPG).

Fortunately, problem gambling canbe prevented and treated.

Beyond moneyProblem gambling may cost you morethan money, says Keith Whyte, executivedirector o the NCPG. Even i you payoff your debts, you can lose the trusto your amily and riends, he says.A gambling problem can hurt yourreputation and per ormance at work. Itcan affect nearly every part o your li e.

People with the disorder may:l Lie and argue about the extent o

their gamblingl Continually borrow money or

constantly rely on help to get out o debtl Steal or embezzle money to und

their habitProblem gamblers may neglect their

amilies and jobs because they spend so

PROBLEM GAMBLING

Betting your life away

is gambling a problem for you?You may have a problem with gambling if youve:l Often gambled longer than you plannedl Lost sleep due to thoughts of gamblingl Frequently gambled until your last dollar was gonel Let bills go unpaid because of gamblingl Gambled to escape from personal problemsl Lied to your friends or family members about gamblingl Made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gamblingl Felt irritable when trying to stop, cut down or control your gamblingl Broken the law or considered breaking the law in order to nance

your gamblingl Borrowed money because of gamblingl Felt depressed about gambling losses

If you can identify with any of these statements, consider calling theNational Problem Gambling HelpLine Network at 1-800-522-4700 forcondential assistance.Source: National Council on Problem Gambling

much time gambling or thinking aboutgambling. And, research shows they alsoare more likely to abuse their spousesand children and to become depressedand suicidal.

Prevention and treatmentLike a drug or alcohol addiction, problemgambling is a medical disorder. Being

affected doesnt mean youre weakonlythat you need help.

I youre worried you could developa gambling problem, its a good ideato stay away rom casinos, lotteries,office betting pools, online betting sites,and other situations and places wheregambling occurs.

And, i gambling is already a concern,see your doctor. Support groups andindividual counseling can help you quitand stay away rom gambling.

Te sooner you address it, the betteroff youll be, Whyte says.

Support groups and individual counseling can help you quit and stay away from gambling.

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youre in charge

I S HARD to mention good news and cancer in the samebreath. But, there are a ew things you could say aboutcolorectal cancer that are hope ul. For example, i you ndit early enough, your chances or success ul treatment areexcellent. Even better, removing precancerous intestinalgrowths can stop colorectal cancer be ore it starts.

Colorectal cancer ofen begins as small growths calledpolyps. But, polyps and early colorectal cancer may not causesymptoms, according to Durado Brooks, M.D., director oprostate and colorectal cancer or the American Cancer Society.

Tats why screening tests are so important. Ask your doctorwhich tests he or she recommends. Options may include one ormore o the ollowing:l

Yearly fecal occult (hidden) blood test. At home, you placeseveral small samples o stool on cards and send them to alab. I this screening nds blood in your stool, you will needurther tests.

l Fecal immunochemical test. Tis is similar to the ecal occultblood test but may be more accurate.

l Flexible sigmoidoscopy every ve years. Using a slender,lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope, a doctor examines thelower third o your large intestine. Te test takes about

10 minutes and can be done in the doctors offi ce. I a polypis ound, in some cases, it can be removed right away.

l Colonoscopy every 10 years. Tis is the gold standardwhen it comes to colorectal cancer screening. Colonoscopyis similar to a sigmoidoscopy but uses a longer tube, calleda colonoscope, to view the entire large intestine. You will besedated or this test, which takes about 20 minutes. Polyps canbe removed at the same time.

l Virtual colonoscopy. Tis test checks the entire colon withx-rays. It shows promise but still is being studied and isntcommonly used yet.

l Barium enema every ve years. A chalky liquid, calledbarium, is temporarily placed in the colon. Ten, x-rays are

taken. Te barium helps improve the detail o the images.Some orm o colorectal cancer screening should begin at age50 or people with an average risk o the disease. I you have ahigher risk, your doctor may recommend that you start havingscreening tests at an earlier age and at more requent intervals.

Screening is the most important tool orpreventing colorectal cancer. And, nding[cancer] early gives you a tremendousadvantage, Dr. Brooks says.

Polyps: An early warning signPolyps are grapelike growths of tissue on the inside walls of theintestines. Most arent cancerous, but doctors remove them fortestingjust to be on the safe side.

Polyps are very common, and they usually dont causesymptoms. However, you should tell your doctor if you have:l Blood in your stool or on toilet paper after a bowel movement

even if you think its only hemorrhoidsl Constipation or diarrhea for more than four or ve days

Routine screening for colorectal cancer often nds polyps.Most can be painlessly removed during a colonoscopy, but largergrowths may require surgery. If polyps are found, your doctormay advise having a colonoscopy every three to ve years tocheck for new growths.

Even precancerous polyps or ones that cause symptoms canalmost always be treated successfully.

COLORECTAL CANCER

Age 50 or older? Its test time

For more infoAmerican Cancer Society. Visit www.cancer.org .American Gastroenterological Association. Visit www.gastro.org .



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