Parents of student athletes should bring their children into their family practice Houston doctor for a heart screening in order to avoid traumatic health incidences set off by undiagnosed cardiac conditions.

A new study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2011 found that surprisingly few student athletes are receiving any type of heart screening during their high school sports physical exams. While the risk of sudden cardiac arrest while playing sports is minimal – most of these types of deaths could be prevented through simple screenings.

“Although sudden death in a young person is extremely uncommon, every effort should be made to prevent this type of tragic death,” said Dr. Hugh Calkins, professor of cardiology and medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine told ABC news. “It is especially important for physicians to be aware of the importance of a family history of sudden death and also the importance of a history of a syncopal episode.”

Dr. Robert Myerburg, director of Cardiology at the University of Miami School of Medicine told ABC news that in most cases unless there is a specific form for doctors to fill out, cardiac screening gets missed by family doctors and parents.

According to national guidelines the screening for cardiac issues in young athletes should consist of a physical exam, listening to the heart, a blood pressure check and a medial history questionnaire. EKG’s are currently not recommended for routine screening, however this may change in the future.

If you have a child who is participating in athletic activities and have not yet received a comprehensive heart screening please contact your primary care doctor Houston at  our family practice Houston office for an appointment today by calling 855-IMC-DOCS.

During the holiday season it can be extra challenging to achieve your weight loss goals. Our IMC family doctor Houston clinic offers three tips on what to do in order to avoid weight gain and even drop a few extra pounds.

 
1. Eat fewer carbohydrates

Many holiday goodies, such frosted sugar cookies, ginger bread house, pies, biscuits, stuffing, mashed potatoes, are loaded with carbohydrates. Since these foods are plentiful and abundant during the holidays, it’s important to moderate your intake because if your body does not have an excess of carbohydrates to burn energy, your body instead burns fat. Just by avoiding heavy consumption of high carbohydrate foods “is enough to lead to significant weight loss,” says IMC family practice Victoria TX.

2.  Know if You Are Allergic

Many people have food allegories and don’t know it. As a result they eat foods that their bodies cannot properly process and digest. According to the IMC Houston Family Doctor Weight Management Program eating foods that you are allergic to can result in weight gain along with fatigue, nasal congestion, swelling, gastrointestinal discomfort, acne, problems with concentration and memory, and mood swings. Food allergies to yeast, dairy products, wheat and eggs, are most common. Allergy testing can be done in order to determine if there are foods that need to be removed from your diet.

3. Tune into Your Emotions

The holiday season is meant to be a very joyous time of year, but it can be difficult and stressful as well. Some people eat as a way to deal with emotional distress, stress, or depression so it’s important to pay attention to how you are feeling in order to see if you are eating for other reasons and when you are not even hungry.

While it is natural for testosterone levels in men to decrease with age, very low levels can cause a number of unfavorable symptoms in men. A healthy level of this hormone is crucial to male health, and in the case that men cannot maintain normal production, doctors may recommend low testosterone treatment.

 
Much of what characterizes a man, such as development and maturation of reproductive organs, sexual drive and function, muscle and body hair, is regulated by testosterone.

 
Low levels of this hormone can result in decreased libido, loss of muscle and bone strength, sexual dysfunction, decreased exercise tolerance, poor recovery from injury, depression, loss of motivation, decreased body hair, and weight gain.

 
Medical professionals have not reached a consensus about what a “normal” level of testosterone is for a man, so it is important that doctors consider each patient’s individual case based on their symptoms and health conditions.

 
Women, on the other hand, suffer from similar discomforts during menopause. While it is a natural process and happens to all women, menopause treatment is sought to help ease the symptoms, especially among women with very low estrogen and progesterone levels, the hormones primarily responsible for female reproductive function.

 
Symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, mood swings, and vaginal dryness, loss of libido, joint pain, bloating, headaches, fatigue, and depression.

 
Hysterectomy, adrenal fatigue, thyroid disorders, hypopituitarism, and certain medications are all factors that infer with women’s estrogen and progesterone levels.

 
Hormone replacement therapy should be considered carefully with your doctor as maintaining normal hormone levels can be delicate balance. By seeking an expert’s assessment of their current condition, patients can best determine if menopause treatment and low testosterone treatment are right for them.

As the days get shorter and colder, as children start coming home from school with the sniffles, and as office co-workers begin taking their sick days, we know that flu season has arrived.

 
The flu virus is something we have to deal with each year. Without a doubt the virus spreads around the world affecting the northern hemisphere between October and May, the coldest months of the year.

 
Our family doctor Houston recommends annual flu vaccinations as one of the best ways to prepare for flu season. Flu and flu-related complications can become serious and sometimes lead to hospital stays or, in rare cases, death.

 
The flu is one of the most common respiratory illnesses in the United States. The symptoms include chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue, and general discomfort. The flu is easily and often confused with the common cold; however, the flu is more severe and is caused by a different type virus that can severely weaken the immune system. It can even lead to pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia.

 
According to the American Journal of Epidemiology on average the flu caused 41,400 deaths in the United States between the 1979 and 2001. Although the elderly, children, and those with weakened immune systems are at most risk, even health children and adults get very sick from the flu. In fact many healthy people spread it to other members of the family, friends, and co-workers.

 
Health experts at our family practice Corpus Christi TX office encourage everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine. It is easy to get from your doctor and it is the best way to protect yourself and those around you during this time of year.

Come into our office to enter to win a FREE one-month weight loss bundle! This includes 5 AMP injections and 5 Lipo injections along with a free 30-day supply of appetite suppressants and office visits.  A $170 value for free!

The winner will be drawn on October 31st for Halloween!

Maintaining your weight loss over a decade IS possible, says a new study. People who loose a significant amount of weight in the beginning can stay slim if they stick with certain lifestyle adaptations.

Researchers analyzed dieters tracked in the National Weight Control Registry, which is comprised of over 10,000 people who have lost on average nearly 70-lbs initially and maintained an average of 51-lbs weight loss over 10 years. They found that those who were successful in keeping the weight off lost the bulk of their weight in the beginning and stuck to a few basic habits throughout the next ten years. These habits included:

1. Using a weight-loss program to track calorie and fat intake

2. Consume a log-calorie and low-fat diet (average 1,800 kcal a day or less)

3. Eat breakfast daily

4. Eat out less than 3 times per week and consume fast food less than 1 time per week

5. Walk approximately an hour per day (or participate in an equivalent activity)

6.  Spend less than 10 hours per day watching TV

7. Weigh-in at least 1 time per week

At Internet Medical Clinics our physician-approved weight loss programs focus on helping our patients not only reach their weight loss goals, but maintain their weight loss over a lifetime. At our Weight Loss Center Houston we believe that maintaining an ideal weight throughout the lifespan is an essential part of your health and well being.

For this week only all patients who come into the clinic are entered into a drawing to win a FREE MONTH weight loss! So, come into our Weight Loss Clinic Houston today to talk with your healthcare provider about which weight loss program may be right for you.

This week IMC is offering you a chance to win a FREE MONTH OF WEIGHT LOSS! Come into an IMC clinic this week to enter into the drawing.

“I came to IMC around the first of July. After having my second child, I struggled with my weight and needed change in my life.

I’ve tried 2 other weight loss programs in the area. One worked for a while, but I lost the weight so quickly and it wasn’t exactly what I needed…so when I stopped, I gained it all back. Part of it had to do with my own self discipline, but the other part was that no one really taught me what I should be doing – other than taking medicine.

The doctors at IMC have been great. They sat down with me and asked me questions about my eating habits, life style, etc. Then they explained what happened to my body and what I needed to do to get where I wanted to be. It wasn’t – watch this video and see you in 2 weeks.

I have lost over 30 pounds and feel great. I am so glad I came to IMC for a fresh start. The staff is wonderful! They always have a smile on their face and very encouraging. I highly recommend IMC!”

- Katie

Learn more about IMC’s personalized weight loss program Houston.

Older men with higher levels of testosterone may be less likely to suffer from heart disease and stroke than those with lower levels, says a new study. This new finding is another example of how the treatment of low testosterone with natural hormone therapy can have a great impact on improving overall health.

Traditionally, the term low testosterone, or “low T” is most often associated with decreased levels of sexual function and desire in men. However, the reality is that testosterone is actually responsible for many essential functions within the body and low levels can lead to serious health risks.

According to the study published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, men in their 70s and 80s with the highest levels of testosterone showed a 30% decrease in the amount of heart attacks and strokes than men with the lowest levels of testosterone.

“Elderly men with high testosterone levels are relatively protected against cardiovascular events,” said Dr. Asa Tivensten, the senior researcher on the study to Reuters Health. “Therefore lower testosterone is a marker for increased cardiovascular risk.”

Most men over the age of 40 have decrease levels of testosterone as a natural part of the aging process. However, very few men actually seek  natural hormone therapy from their primary care doctor Houston for the treatment of low testosterone. This is believe to be due either to a lack of awareness about the symptoms of “low T” or patient simply brushing them off as an expected part of aging.

Signs of low testosterone include:

- Decreased energy and motivation

- Loss of muscle mass or strength

- Depression

- Loss of sexual function or desire

- Hair loss

- Weight gain

If you believe that you may have low testosterone it is important to talk to your IMC healthcare provider. For more information about our natural hormone therapy Houston give us a call at 1-855-IMC-DOCS

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