BOG-Official-2023
BOG-Official-2023

heart disease Atlanta

What to Know During Stress Awareness Month this April

We all experience stress. It’s unavoidable. Whether your stress is related to work, family stuff, or anything else, it’s common to get a little overstressed from time to time. Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires a physical, mental, or emotional response. Since it’s so common, we tend to underestimate the physical health problems associated with stress. That’s why at Abraham Family Medicine, we are happy to participate in Stress Awareness Month this April.

What to Know During Stress Awareness Month this April

Our bodies are designed to experience and react to stress. In truth, stress can at times be positive and help keep us alert in certain situations. However, stress can become harmful when we experience continuous stress without the necessary relief or relaxation to recover. As a result, stress-related tension can build. Too much of this can lead to a condition called distress, otherwise known as a negative stress reaction. Over time, distress can lead to several potentially harmful effects including headaches, stomach issues, high blood pressure, chest pain, as well as emotional distress.

In addition to creating new mental and physical health issues, too much stress can also have a negative effect on existing diseases and ailments that a person has. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory issues, arthritis, or certain skin conditions like psoriasis, stress can exacerbate or worsen your symptoms or condition. In fact, it’s hard to think of a single illness or health condition that will not be aggravated by stress.

We understand that telling you not to get stressed out is not exactly realistic. However, there are a few things you can do to help limit or better manage your daily stress load. Try following these simple steps:

  • Talk about your stress. Simply getting something off your chest instead of letting it bubble under the surface can be helpful and therapeutic.
  • Give your technology a rest. Sometimes setting aside your phone or computer for a little while can help keep us from getting overstimulated and more stressed.
  • Try to take some downtime. Find a relaxing activity like reading, knitting, or meditation that can help recharge your batteries when you need it. Exercise and participating in sports can also help relieve stress.
  • Make sure to get enough sleep. Our brains process daily stresses differently when they are not properly rested. Getting the recommended 7 – 9 hours of nightly sleep on a regular schedule can help start your day on the right foot and handle your stress in a more productive, healthy way.

Stress is a natural part of our daily lives, but hopefully this can help bring attention to how crucial it is to acknowledge the importance of stress management. Handling our stress in a healthy manner is a critical part of maintaining our physical and emotional wellbeing. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our providers offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for patients of all ages at our Snellville office, located very close to Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

A Statistical Look at Heart Disease During American Heart Month

There is no bad time to think about the health of your heart. After all, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US year after year. It’s important for people to not only be aware of the prevalence of this terrible disease, but also to understand the factors that can potentially increase their risk of developing a heart condition. In recognition of American Heart Month this February, the healthcare providers at Abraham Family Medicine are happy to provide some statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about heart disease to help keep our patients in the know.

A Statistical Look at Heart Disease During American Heart Month

General Heart Disease Statistics

  • Approximately 610,000 people in the US die from heart disease each year.
  • Heart disease is responsible for 1 in every 4 deaths that occur annually in the US.
  • Roughly 735,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year.
  • Of these, about 525,000 are a first heart attack.
  • The prevalence and risk of heart disease increases exponentially as a person ages.
  • Heart disease costs the US about $200 billion each year in healthcare services, medications, and lost productivity.

Heart Disease Statistics for Men

  • About 321,000 men die of heart disease every year in the US, making it the leading killer of American men.
  • About 8.5% of all White men, 7.9% of all African American men, and 6.3% of Mexican American men have some form of coronary heart disease.
  • Somewhere between 70% – 89% of all sudden cardiac events occur in men.

Heart Disease Statistics for Women

  • Despite the perception that heart disease is “a man’s disease”, it is also the leading cause of death for women in the US (killing over 289,000 women annually).
  • Roughly 5.8% of all White women, 7.6% of African American women, and 5.6% of Mexican American women have coronary heart disease.
  • Nearly two-thirds (64%) of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease show no previous symptoms.

Heart Disease Risk Factor Statistics

  • Having high cholesterol nearly doubles a person’s risk of developing heart disease.
  • Over 71 million American adults have high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad,” cholesterol.
  • High cholesterol has no symptoms, which partially explains why less than half of adults with high cholesterol receive treatment for it.
  • About 75 million adults in the US, or 1 in every 3, have high blood pressure—another leading risk factor for heart disease.
  • Additionally, a person may be more vulnerable to heart disease if they have diabetes, smoke tobacco, are overweight or obese, or do not get regular physical exercise (2 hours and 30 minutes of weekly moderate-intensity exercise is recommended for adults).

With these statistics in mind, our healthcare providers wanted to remind readers that there are meaningful steps they can take to help limit their potential risk of heart disease. Try to maintain a nutritious, balanced diet and get regular weekly exercise to help maintain a healthy body weight. Speak to your doctor about your cholesterol levels and inquire about cholesterol medication if your levels are higher than normal. Do not smoke and try not to drink alcohol in excess. These simple steps can make a significant impact for anyone trying to help prevent heart disease.

We hope you found this informative and helpful. The goal of American Heart Month is to spread awareness of the importance of heart health and help in the nationwide fight against this awful disease. So be mindful of the risk factors we mentioned, try to live a healthy lifestyle, and see your doctor for regular visits to help ensure that your heart is healthy. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for people of all ages at our Snellville office, not far from Grayson.

Healthy Aging Month at Abraham Family Medicine

Healthy Aging Month at Abraham Family MedicineMaintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, but especially for older people who may have a higher risk of developing chronic disease or medical conditions. As we age and habits form over the years, it can seem difficult to make alterations to the way of life we may be used to. But here at Abraham Family Medicine, we believe that it’s never too late to start making better choices and living your best life. So in honor of Healthy Aging Month this September, our healthcare providers have dropped by to provide a few tips for how patients can take care of themselves to help age gracefully.

Take Care of Your Bones

Our bones naturally become thinner and more brittle as we age, putting us at risk for falls that can easily result in broken bones. Osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones are unable to absorb nutrients like calcium for strength, becomes far more common as well. Women are especially vulnerable to this due to changes that occur in the body after menopause. Vitamin D and muscle-strengthening exercises can help you avoid potential injury by making you less likely to fall.

Take Care of Your Heart

Heart disease is the most common cause of death annually in the US. As we age, our risk of developing heart disease only increases. That’s why it’s so important to maintain a healthy, heart-friendly diet and remain physically active to help reduce the risk. Try taking a daily walk and eating beans and other foods that are high in fiber that can be good for both digestive and heart health. The American Heart Association recommends avoiding junk food, eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and exercising for at least 150 minutes every week.

Take Care of Your Mind

Much like the body, the mind requires extra care and maintenance for older patients. Aging can cause changes in our memories, cognitive abilities, reflexes, and even our senses. Slight forgetfulness, as well as more severe cases of dementia, becomes more and more common. But there are a number of ways to work out your mind in order to help keep it sharp as the years go on. It’s important to stay social later in life. Take a class, learn a new skill that challenges your brain, volunteer your time, see old friends and family; socializing helps. Occupying your mind with puzzles and other games can also be very beneficial. Physical exercise can also help retain cognitive function as we age. Making lists and creating a daily routine can assist with organization.

Take Care of Your Skin

It’s only natural for skin to begin to sag and wrinkle over time. However, years of exposure to the Sun’s UV rays can lead to sun damage, or even skin cancer. It’s more essential than ever to protect yourself with sunscreen, avoid overexposure to the Sun, and make regular appointments with a dermatologist.

While they can certainly be beneficial for patients trying to maintain a clean bill of health, these lifestyle alterations are just a small part of staying healthy as we age. In addition to making these changes, it’s important to regularly check in with the healthcare providers at Abraham Family Medicine for check-ups and diagnostic testing to confirm that you are every bit as healthy as you feel and to help prevent minor ailments from potentially becoming more serious. We work with a number of older patients with a variety of ailments ranging from dementia to melanoma. Our providers can also recommend specialists for conditions that cannot be treated at our office. For more information or to schedule your appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson.

What’s Happening this Spring at Abraham Family Medicine?

Happy spring, everyone. With winter finally behind us, we know everyone is excited get to enjoy the warmer weather, blooming flowers and fun outdoor activities. Spring is a very active season, so it should come as no surprise that there is a lot going on here at Abraham Family Medicine. To help catch everyone up on what we’ve got going on, we’ve decided to use this month’s blog to help catch our readers on all of our springtime happenings.

127 Legacy Foundation Dinner & Auction

Those of you who have been keeping up know that Dr. Abraham keeps his charity work very near and dear to his heart. This coming April, we will be hosting the 3rd annual 127 Legacy Foundation Dinner & Auction. This fundraising event, which is designed to help raise awareness of the 127 Legacy Foundation and all the amazing charity work they do, will be held Saturday, April 22, 2017 between 5:30-8:30pm at the Mount Zion Baptist Church Family Life Center in Snellville.

In addition to dinner and both silent and live auctions, we will also be hosting special guest speakers Rev. Raymond Wahyudi and Doni Wijaya from Indonesia, who will be discussing the impact that the 127 Legacy Foundation can have on communities in need.

The event will be $25 to attend and guests must RSVP in advance. For ticketing information, please visit the official 127LegacyFoundation website today.

Harvard Review of Geriatric Medicine

Our own Dr. Ben Abraham recently attended the 33rd Annual Harvard Review of Geriatric Medicine in Boston and brought back some very intriguing findings from his trip. This conference featured doctors and medical professionals from all over the world discussing medicine and healthcare for seniors and what people can do to promote good health as they age. Here are some of the more interesting bits of info from the conference:

  • A study found that female deaths from cardiovascular disease have increased in recent years while male deaths from cardiovascular diseases have decreased. So what can we do?
    • Taking one aspirin daily can help decrease a person’s chance of dying of heart disease by 20%.
      • Beta blockers, cholesterol medications, and daily vitamin D can also help.
      • Eating 60-80 grams of nuts daily is also highly recommended.
    • Daily exercise, even minimal non-strenuous exercise, can be extremely beneficial for patients of all ages.
    • According to one of the presenters, Dr. Chopra, studies have shown that fasting in the evening for 13 hours between dinner and breakfast the next day can help decrease a woman’s mortality rate from heart disease by 20%.
  • Sugar and alcohol can increase a person’s risk of developing certain cancers, as can an excess of NSAIDs like naproxen and ibuprofen.
  • Coffee has numerous health benefits for older patients.
    • Consuming 3-4 daily cups of coffee can reduce the risk of developing certain cancers as well as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, gout & gallstones.
    • Coffee can also help reduce the risk of cirrhosis of the liver.
  • Roughly 2,500 kinds of herbal vitamins and supplements were found to contribute to kidney and liver damage for seniors. So definitely speak with one of our geriatric care providers if you are considering any of these kinds of supplements.

Dr. Abraham believes in the following 5 keys to living well: coffee (at least 2 daily cups), vitamin D, nuts, exercise, & meditation/quiet time. So he was certainly not surprised by many of these recent findings. Eating well, being active and receiving regular medical care can make all the difference when it comes to taking care of ourselves as we age. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson.

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