Blog

Knowing your risk for breast cancer can make all the difference.

The importance of a yearly mammogram.

Annual mammograms are the main tool doctors use to screen for breast cancer and diagnose, evaluate and follow up with those who’ve had breast cancer. Using non-invasive X-rays to examine the breast tissue, mammograms not only detect cancer, but also other breast tissue abnormalities—some of which may increase the chances of developing breast cancer in the future. While the recommended age for women to begin screening is 40, women who are at high risk may need to begin sooner.

Did you know that more than half of the women in the world will have at least one UTI in their lifetime? Urinary Tract Infections, commonly referred to as UTIs are mostly identified in the female population. A UTI is also known as a bladder infection and can be extremely painful if left untreated. Jourdan Schmitz, an OB/GYN physician with St. Clair Medical Group says, “UTIs are caused by bacteria or, rarely, yeast getting into your urinary tract. Once the bacteria are there, they can multiply and cause inflammation (swelling) and pain. A small amount of bacteria doesn’t normally cause an infection because the urine itself doesn’t give the bacteria an opportunity to travel up into the urinary tract. When you urinate, the flow simply flushes away bacteria that might harm you.”

Keeping knees, shoulders and hips healthy involves athletes, parents, coaches and physicians. And it starts early.

Youth sports specialization has led to special problems.

There’s been a shift in youth sports. Whereas in the past kids tended to play different sports in different seasons, exercising different muscle groups and parts of their bodies, the trend today is for kids in competitive leagues to dedicate all of their athletic activity to one sport—soccer, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, basketball—year-round, practicing several times a week, using the same muscles.

It’s about that time of year to begin scheduling your child’s sports physical for the upcoming season! A physical is a routine test or evaluation completed by a primary care physician (PCP) to check your child’s overall health. A sports physical evaluation is also known as a pre-participation physical examination (PPE). These yearly exams give parents the opportunity to discuss medical history, daily activity barriers, or request medical advice for ways to keep their children healthy. As a result, sports physicals also help determine whether or not a child (or young adult) is physically prepared and able to participate in a sport safely.

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), also referred to as a Nursing Aide, provides health care and support to patients in a medical setting. CNA’s core responsibilities include offering basic physical assistance to patients, feeding patients according to certain dietary needs and recording vital signs.