Do all types of doctor visits right way
People aren’t using telemedicine or in-office appointments for important routine checkups often enough. The number of primary care visits declined by more than 21 percent in the second quarter of 2020 compared with previous years. And there was a 50 percent decline in blood pressure checks and a 37 percent decline in cholesterol checks. Cases of undiagnosed cardiovascular disease may be brewing out of sight of docs and patients. And who knows what else is being missed?
So, make an appointment today for a telemedicine, in-office or combo visit. With masks, social distancing and other precautions, in-office appointments are safe. Be prepared for your appointment:
■ Keep a journal. Record symptoms or concerns so you remember to ask important questions.
■ Get instructions on taking and sharing your vitals, such as heart rate and blood oxygen.
■ For telemed: Ask about
For telemed:
monitoring blood pressure at home, sending in daily glucose readings electronically using a smart monitor and/or using similar devices to share info about atrial fibrillation.
■ In person: Get routine blood tests to check lipid, inflammation, blood cell and thyroid levels, kidney and liver function and more. Then you’ll truly be protecting your health.
Exercise: The RX for a healthy pregnancy for Mom and fetus
A new study in the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health and Fitness Journal says when pregnant women get 150 or more minutes of moderate-intensity exercise three or more days a week, they reduce their risk of developing gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and preeclampsia by as much as 40 percent, without increasing the odds of miscarriage, early delivery or having a small baby. Bonus: Exercise also reduces the odds of developing depression during pregnancy by 67 percent.
Being sedentary, in contrast, can put a great deal of extra stress on a pregnant woman’s body and increase the risk of complications, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension and preeclampsia.
However, some pregnant women should be careful about exercise, says the ACSM study. They include those with preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction or pre-existing cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. Those women need to start exercising slowly and monitor the results. And every pregnant woman should get advice from her doc before starting any routine.