PATIENT GUIDE TO STAYING WELL.

Transcription

1 PATIENT GUIDE TO STAYING WELL

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3 Letter from the Medical Director Welcome to Summit Medical Group! We are a multi-specialty group of physicians prepared to provide you with compassionate, quality medical care in nearly every medical and surgical specialty. We believe that preventive medicine is an essential part of maintaining your good health. Preventive medicine involves identifying risk factors and behaviors that can be changed before they cause disease. Therefore, one of the most important things you can do for you and your family is schedule regular physical exams with your primary physician. We have consulted numerous organizations, including the United States Preventive Services Task Force, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and several of our own experts to provide you with up to date preventive health guidelines. You can find these guidelines on the following pages. You will find almost everything you need to know about scheduling important exams for you and your family - for immunizations, physical exams, cancer screenings, and more. These guidelines are generalized and not meant to replace informed decisions you make with your physician at the time of your examination. We have also included a section for you to complete and bring with you when you visit your physician. Please take the time to fill this out and periodically update it when you have changes in your medications, or have a screening test. We believe that if you work together with your physician, you can truly Live Well. Stay Well. Robert W. Brenner, M.D., M.M.M. Medical Director, Summit Medical Group

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5 Preventive Health Guidelines: Women Preventive Health Guidelines: Women Important exams, tests and screenings recommended for women of all ages.

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7 Preventive Health Guidelines: Women Ages Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examination with your physician every two years. Studies have shown that counseling and screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy. Based on recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Summit Medical Group offers: Blood pressure, height and weight checks every two years Cholesterol testing every five years Yearly pelvic exam with pap test as recommended by your SMG gynecologist Breast examination every 1-3 years Tetanus vaccine every ten years Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine once in adulthood Human papilloma virus vaccine for women under 26 Health risk assessment and counseling with your physician Other tests should be done on an individual basis and discussed with your doctor: Electrocardiogram Blood tests to screen for diabetes, thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia Urinalysis HIV testing

8 Preventive Health Guidelines: Women Ages Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examination with your physician every year. Studies have shown that counseling and screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy. Based on recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Summit Medical Group offers: Yearly blood pressure, height and weight checks Cholesterol testing every five years Diabetes screening every 3 years over age 45 Yearly pelvic exam with pap test as recommended by your SMG gynecologist Mammogram every year Breast examination every year Tetanus vaccine every ten years Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine once in adulthood Health risk assessment and counseling with your physician Other tests should be done on an individual basis and discussed with your doctor: Blood tests to screen for thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia Electrocardiogram Urinalysis HIV testing Discussion of medication to prevent breast cancer Discussion of aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease

9 Preventive Health Guidelines: Women Ages Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examination with your physician every year. Studies have shown that counseling and screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy. Based on recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Summit Medical Group offers: Yearly blood pressure, height and weight checks Cholesterol testing every five years Diabetes screening every 3 years Yearly pelvic exam with pap test as recommended by your SMG gynecologist Mammogram every year Breast examination every year Colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer Tetanus vaccine every ten years Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine once in adulthood Yearly influenza vaccine (flu shot) Herpes zoster vaccine once over age 60 Health risk assessment and counseling with your physician Other tests should be done on an individual basis and discussed with your doctor: Blood tests to screen for thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia Electrocardiogram Urinalysis HIV testing Discussion of medication to prevent breast cancer Discussion of aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease

10 Preventive Health Guidelines: Women Over Age 65 Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examination with your physician every year. Studies have shown that counseling and screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy. Based on recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Summit Medical Group offers: Yearly blood pressure, height and weight checks Cholesterol testing every five years Diabetes screening every 3 years Daily aspirin to prevent heart disease and stroke Yearly pelvic exam with pap test as recommended by your SMG gynecologist Mammogram every year Breast examination every year Colon cancer screening Bone densitometry to check for osteoporosis at age 65 Tetanus vaccine every ten years Yearly influenza vaccine (flu shot) Pneumonia vaccine at age 65 Herpes zoster vaccine once over age 60 Health risk assessment and counseling with your physician Other tests should be done on an individual basis and discussed with your doctor: Blood tests to screen for thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia Electrocardiogram Urinalysis HIV testing Discussion of medication to prevent breast cancer

11 Preventive Health Guidelines: Men Preventive Health Guidelines: Men Important exams, tests and screenings recommended for men of all ages.

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13 Preventive Health Guidelines: Men Ages Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examination with your physician every two years. Studies have shown that counseling and screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy. Based on recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Summit Medical Group offers: Blood pressure, height and weight checks every two years Cholesterol testing every five years Tetanus vaccine every ten years Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine once in adulthood Health risk assessment and counseling with your physician Other tests should be done on an individual basis and discussed with your doctor: Electrocardiogram Blood tests to screen for diabetes, thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia Urinalysis HIV testing

14 Preventive Health Guidelines: Men Ages Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examination with your physician every year. Studies have shown that counseling and screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy. Based on recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Summit Medical Group offers: Yearly blood pressure, height and weight checks Cholesterol testing every five years Diabetes screening every 3 years over age 45 Tetanus vaccine every ten years Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine once in adulthood Health risk assessment and counseling with your physician Other tests should be done on an individual basis and discussed with your doctor: Blood tests to screen for thyroid disease, prostate cancer, liver problems, and anemia Electrocardiogram Urinalysis HIV testing Discussion of aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease

15 Preventive Health Guidelines: Men Ages Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examination with your physician every year. Studies have shown that counseling and screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy. Based on recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Summit Medical Group offers: Yearly blood pressure, height and weight checks Cholesterol testing every five years Diabetes screening every 3 years Colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer PSA (prostate specific antigen) test and digital rectal exam to screen for prostate cancer Tetanus vaccine every ten years Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine once in adulthood Yearly influenza vaccine (flu shot) Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine once over age 60 Health risk assessment and counseling with your physician Other tests should be done on an individual basis and discussed with your doctor: Blood tests to screen for thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia Electrocardiogram Urinalysis HIV testing Discussion of aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease

16 Preventive Health Guidelines: Men Over Age 65 Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examination with your physician every year. Studies have shown that counseling and screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy. Based on recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Summit Medical Group offers: Yearly blood pressure, height and weight checks Cholesterol testing every five years Diabetes screening every 3 years Colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer PSA (prostate specific antigen) test and digital rectal exam to screen for prostate cancer Tetanus vaccine every ten years Yearly influenza vaccine (flu shot) Pneumonia vaccine at age 65 Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine once over age 60 Health risk assessment and counseling with your physician Other tests should be done on an individual basis and discussed with your doctor: Blood tests to screen for thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia Electrocardiogram Urinalysis HIV testing Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm Discussion of aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease

17 Resources on the Internet Resources on the Internet Informative websites to help you find the health and wellness information you need.

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19 Resources on the Internet Summit Medical Group: At Summit Medical Group caring about you is as important as caring for you. We believe in giving comfort, as well as care. For over 70 years we have been helping our patients and our community to live well and stay well. General Health Information: Your guide to reliable health information, sponsored by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Information on Internal Medicine: Brought to you by the American College of Physicians the world s largest internal medicine society. Internists are physicians that focus on adult medicine. Exercise Programs: Founded in 1904, Shape Up America! Is a not-for-profit organization committed to raising awareness of obesity as a health issue and to providing responsible information on healthy weight management. By the American Heart Association, Start! is the movement calling on all Americans and their employers to live longer, more heart-healthy lives through walking and other healthy habits.

20 Resources on the Internet American Heart Association: The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is: "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke." American Diabetes Association: The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. The mission of the Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) The NDIC was established in 1978 to increase knowledge and understanding about diabetes among patients, health care professionals, and the general public. Heart Healthy: Brought to you by the American Heart Association, this is an onlineonly cookbook. It includes delectable American Heart Association recipes, cooking advice, and ways for satisfying and nutritious eating. HealthCastle.com is a comprehensive nutrition community run by Registered Dietitians on the Internet. Their mission is to empower people to manage their health through healthy eating. The HealthCastle.com community places a main focus on preventative health - popular topics include diet tips to lower cholesterol, common diet myths, popular convenience food reviews and issues related to women's health.

21 Resources on the Internet Diabetic Diets: Diet for High Blood Pressure: People with hypertension (high blood pressure) or prehypertension may be told by their physicians to adopt the DASH diet. The DASH diet eating plan has been proven to lower blood pressure in studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). The DASH diet involves eating more fruits and vegetables, and low-fat or non-fat dairy. Additional Websites (Write in your own):

22 Additional Websites (Write in your own): Resources on the Internet

23 Description of Screenings A simple glossary to define and help you understand these important screenings and procedures. Description of Screenings

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25 Description of Screenings ABDOMINAL ULTRASOUND FOR ABDOMINAL ANEURYSM The aorta is an artery, meaning it carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart. Abnormal enlargement or bulging of the aorta is referred to as an aortic aneurysm. An aneurysm occurs when a segment of the vessel becomes weakened. The pressure of the blood flowing through the vessel creates a bulge at the weak spot, much as an overinflated inner tube can cause a bulge in a tire. The bulge may grow with time. Aneurysms are dangerous because they can rupture, causing internal bleeding. They are most common in the arteries of the brain and in the abdominal aorta. An abdominal ultrasound may show abnormalities in the shape of your aorta. BLOOD PRESSURE Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats (about times a minute at rest), it pumps blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats. This is called systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure. High blood pressure - also called hypertension - is a major health problem in the world today. Hypertension is sometimes called "the silent killer" because it doesn't have any symptoms, yet it can cause serious damage. It is a primary cause of stroke, heart disease, heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. Hypertension triples a person's chance of developing heart disease, and boosts the chance of strokes seven times and the chance of congestive heart failure six times. BLOOD SUGAR Blood sugar tests measure how well your body processes sugar (glucose). Some blood sugar tests are used to diagnose prediabetes

26 Description of Screenings or diabetes. Others determine how well you're managing your diabetes. A fasting blood sugar test measures the amount of sugar in your blood after you fast for at least eight hours or overnight. Normal fasting blood sugar result is lower than 100 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood (mg/dl). If your fasting blood sugar level is 100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl, you have impaired fasting glucose commonly known as prediabetes. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may repeat the fasting blood sugar test several days to a week later. BONE DENSITY SCAN FOR OSTEOPOROSIS Early detection of low bone mass (osteopenia) or osteoporosis is the most important step for prevention of osteoporotic bone fractures. If osteopenia or osteoporosis has occurred, a person can take action to stop the progression of bone loss. One way to test the strength and solidness of the bones is with bone mineral density (BMD) tests. Bone mineral density tests measure the solidness and mass (bone density) in the spine, hip, and/or wrist, which are the most common sites of fractures due to osteoporosis. Other tests measure bone density in the heel or hand. These tests are performed like x-rays. They are painless, noninvasive, and safe. The risk of radiation is very minimal, much less than even having a chest x-ray film. CHOLESTEROL Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them. To travel in the bloodstream, cholesterol is carried in small packages called lipoproteins (lip-o-proteens). The small packages are made of fat (lipid) on the inside and proteins on the outside. Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body. It is important to have healthy levels of both: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is sometimes called bad cholesterol. High LDL cholesterol leads to a buildup of cholesterol in arteries. The higher the LDL level in your blood, the greater chance you have of getting heart disease. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is sometimes called good cholesterol.

27 Description of Screenings HDL carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. The liver removes the cholesterol from your body. The higher your HDL cholesterol level, the lower your chance of getting heart disease. COLONOSCOPY A colonoscopy allows a doctor to look inside the entire large intestine. The procedure enables the physician to see things such as inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, and ulcers. It is most often used to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum. It is also used to look for causes of unexplained changes in bowel habits and to evaluate symptoms like abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and weight loss. You will be given instructions in advance that will explain what you need to do to prepare for your colonoscopy. Your colon must be completely empty for the colonoscopy to be thorough and safe. The doctor can remove most abnormal growths in your colon, like a polyp, which is a growth in the lining of the bowel. Polyps are removed using tiny tools passed through the scope. Most polyps are not cancerous, but they could turn into cancer. The doctor can also remove tissue samples to test in the lab for diseases of the colon (biopsy). In many cases, a colonoscopy allows for accurate diagnosis and treatment of colon abnormalities without the need for a major operation. HIV TESTING Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV attacks the body s immune system and leads to AIDS. People with AIDS develop many diseases and opportunistic infections (such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, cancer, and skin infections). There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. If you have been exposed to the HIV virus in any number of ways, you can be tested to see if you have the HIV antibodies. Many reasons exist to have an HIV test performed: Take advantage of early treatment and monitoring. The life expectancy of a person infected with HIV has greatly increased over the past 10 years because of new treatments and prevention of opportunistic infections. Early medical attention can slow the growth of HIV. The slower the virus spreads, the longer your body will be able to ward off the illnesses that often accompany AIDS.

28 Description of Screenings MAMMOGRAM A mammogram is a safe test used to look for any problems with a woman's breasts. The test uses a special, low-dose x-ray machine to take pictures of both breasts. The results are recorded on x-ray film or directly onto a computer for a radiologist to examine. Mammograms allow the doctor to have a closer look for breast lumps and changes in breast tissue. They can show small lumps or growths that a doctor or woman may not be able to feel when doing a clinical breast exam. PAP SMEAR The Pap test, also called a Pap smear, checks for changes in the cells of your cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. The Pap test can tell if you have an infection, abnormal cervical cells, or cervical cancer. It can find the earliest signs of cervical cancer - a common cancer in women. If caught early, the chance of curing cervical cancer is very high. Pap tests can also find infections and abnormal cervical cells that can develop into cancer cells. Treatment can prevent most cases of cervical cancer from developing. PROSTATE CANCER The prostate is a glandular organ present only in males. The prostate is normally about 3 cm long (slightly more than 1 inch) and lies at the neck of the bladder and in front of the rectum. Almost all prostate cancers arise from the secretory glandular cells in the prostate. Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) is an enzyme produced by both normal and abnormal prostate tissues. It may be elevated in benign conditions, such as prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) and benign prostatic hypertrophy, as well as in cancer of the prostate. PSA values may be more helpful over time in following recurrence of cancer and the response to therapy than in diagnosing a previously unknown cancer. SOURCES:

29 Summit Medical Group Contact Sheet A helpful way to keep important contact information at your fingertips. Summit Medical Group Contact Sheet

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31 Summit Medical Group Contacts Important Contact Info

32 Summit Medical Group Contacts

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34 1 Diamond Hill Road Berkeley Heights, New Jersey (908) Springfield Avenue (Behavioral Health only) Berkeley Heights, New Jersey (908) Woodland Road Short Hills, New Jersey (973) Medical Arts Center 33 Overlook Road Summit, New Jersey (908) Mountain Boulevard Warren, New Jersey (908) Springfield Avenue Westfield, New Jersey (908)