OCR Text |
Show Senior & The Summit County Bee Page A6 "Health History Notebook" And Some Planning Can Improve Health Care at Physicians Visits, Experts Say A Iiiiics die medical reemd is nut uiailaMc and has in a Hotel hm A will facilitate the sisil immensely," Wei I ink'll n esplains. When ynu'rc making an wiih ymir clinic nrdnclnr Ini a specific pinMcni nr issue, Wellington and her pliysician colleagues reciHimu'iid Ilk following strategies: N1akin ilk' appointment: lie as as ynu can wilh Ilk person specific helping ynu schedule the appoint-iik'i- il alxiil what ymir pmlilcm is. A lypical IS niinule apNiiniiik'nl isu'i enough lime Tim a comprehensive physical esam. which should be scheduled separately well in Al rmiliiie appninimenls, Ik clear why ynu want in see Ihc very dtk'lnr. II ilk' problem really is vague and mmspccdic "feeling mme lin'd sikldenly." Inr example tell (he person dial's ilk purpose of die s isit. u language inierpreier. If ynu have die persiHi making Ihe appointment ask for ink.'. And always lell ilk' recepliniiisi. cooulinulor or iiiiim' In mail any lab nsulls in nines ul Ilk lime of die yiHi didn'l In appnnitnienl ymir home atldress so you can pul lliem in your notebook. lie ini lime. If ymi have in wail to see the doctor. remember he nr she might have laced an emergency. Showing up laic yourself can llimw die dik lnr's schedule off for die day making not only you but other vmii pin Mi lan vimI now that limit its an huxiei ami appointment link's an: sin hut al Ihe n.iiitHi's elm sass a Slanlmil I'mveiMiv mu si. Medical (enter ii'st-jiJ- i I irsi aikl Inrt'iimsi. wc an' llial palii'iiis keep a 'ik'alili History Notelxink' m file I'nlJer dial contains all iiiliHinaliiHi n'lmaiii in llk'ir IumIiIi. 'I his in Ilaunin;.' It u Ixmine cvmtiIijI h.i n. dudes a lisl nf iiimiil met heal inn, what iltisc ami how n is taken; an allele ii's lii any IinhI nr iik'dkiik's; tevenl uy and lali i limits as well as any physician mill's." says Maiparet Wellnieinn. who lii'lps di'U'Inp palu'til guidelines Inr the Slanlniii I nneisiiv Department ul Mi'diciiic Alsn keep amps ul ymii insurana' laid ami ynnr inednal i tvt ml nunilx'i hi die file m notebook as ucll. "I'aliiiils can pel llii' iiinsi mil nl llii'ii. medical apkiiiiiiikiils and nil lln-kt'civc In bepnisc tin' can coming knowledgeable managers nl llk'ir own lii'jlili," Wellington says. Vi 'it dnn'l lias i' In I'ninpliMi'ly unlit i.laml evetv thing in M, Iain'iil I i!i-- ' ynu can lean' die technical inlt ti in jlitin In ynin ili Him nr iiuisi' Inn ynu slimild have ilk maieiial as .nl.ible Inr diein In ItNik al." slk' e. ik-c- d lei-eii- says. "Having all y out medical reemds in nue place is impnilniil in this age nl managed cure, increased specialization and huger clihic settings. I. sen il ynu an seeing sninemie w lin knows Muir medical case, snme- - paiienls wail longer. Wiile down all die questions you may have about the issue that brings you lo the appointment. Put a Mar by ihc lop three questions. Give this lo ihe doctor al ihc beginning of Ihe appointment. lie specific. Tell your doctor how you feel and how things have changed since Ihe last visit. Ok" or fine" are not usually helpful answers. Tell the doctor about changes in your lifestyle, level of stress, treatment hy other doctors and treatments or selfpre-scrihc- d treatment such as herbal remedies. Take notes, ask a friend or relative who comes wiih you to take notes or ask the doctor if ils okay for you to tape record the discussion so you can review the information and instructions later. Save social conversation for the end of the appointment if there is ex-lie- d. Many longterm insomnia sufferers have developed habits that need to be unlearned through a pin cess called cognitive behavioral therapy." explains Rachel Manlvr. ltd), assistant pntlessnr of psychia-tisciences and and ol the insomnia program at Sl.inlniil Medical. Center's Sleep Disoiileis Clinic. In I ail. ur inlcmalinnnl study published in ihe Match 7. 11)1)), issue of Ihe Join nal of ihe American Medical Assikiation. reported that receiving briel group sleep therapy (cognitive Ivhavioral therapy) is mine eflective long term in battling laii'lile insomnia ihjn taking sleep ing pills National surveys have shown that neatly half ol all Ami'iicaus have difliculiy sleeping. ami millions of people, particularly older adults, sullei Innn I'liietemi or choniic insomnia. "Insomnia is olti-.- i a naii'i il symptom ol stress. Inn liequeutly Ihc solulimis we chose to deal with insmnnia allow the problem in persist even at lei the stress has been removed." says M.iiiIxt. For example, anxiety jIhxiI not sleeping fik'ls ilic problem end dying hatder" makes sleep nunc ddfi-cn- ll to achieve, say v Manhcr. a clinical psychologist. And in some cases, insomnia may be a sign of a xenons medical problem nr an sleep di snider, she odds. 1iN example, sleep apnea, whieh iiiiei fetes with noinid bread. ing during rest, in restless legs syndrome. which causes a conimual lw Hilling that mlenupls sleep, ofien .appear as insomnia. i "Vke really do i..iu is sommj in a coniexl if "hi't going xhi in patients' lives." M.inbrr sjys. Manhcr rcmtnmcnds thjl paticnis rwhi. can't xli.-- should wmk with a v 1 4 p psychologist specializing n sleep .disorders medicine, f A Ijsl of cenierx American the aciri'dited by .Ai.uloim of Sleep Medicine can be accessed on dir Web at www.aasm-'nct.oig'.cr.te- nl Cognitive bchavirval therapy, site say v. wi!i help patients charge their huhiis. their sleep schedules and llk'ir attitudes about (heir problems. one's biological Understanding clixk can help op(imie sleepwake schedules to make the best use of wakeful hours. Manhcr says. Paiienls can learn through education and therapy how to deal with daily . stress and how to avoid stressful activities just before bedtime, she adds. We leach patients in cognitive therapy that it is in their best interest to reduce anxiety about sleeplessness and lo feel it's OK to get out of bed wlien sleepless and use Ihe lime for a relaxing, fuu activity, such as reading, watching a pleasant television program nr solving a jigsaw puzzle" she says. Medications may he useful and some are approved by the Food and Drug Administialion for shortterm . use (alxHit two week:.) Hcyond that, sleeping pills often are not helpful because pcnpic build up a tolerance as well as a physical or psycholiigical dependence, which make the drugs ineffective even after doses are increased." Manhcr says. Some patients may need slccpinducing sedatives fiN longer than a few weeks but this should be presc ribed only under strict medical monitoring and treatment, which normally should include cognitive therapy." A physician can help patients who do require medication to find a drug and a dosage schedule that minimize the potential for tolerance and dependency. Sunk shortacting hypnotic medications and sedating antidepressants are showing prom ire fiN their ability to provide relief with ininini.il side effects, Manhcr says. Patients who lake drugs under minimal in no supers ision often feel they can't wean themselves from Ihc medications, bee jure they are likely !m have trouble sleeping right after they slop taking medication, says Manhcr Rut aficr a night in two. Ihe sleeplessness that comes from withdrawal usually disappears and patients often find (hat their sleep on and off the drug becomes more similar." she adds Other strategies recommended by Manhcr and other sleep experts a short nap during the day. carefully timed to be in accord with one biological clock. People n Osteoporosis is Not Just a Womans Problem like women can suffer porosis. Men broken nr injured bones as a result IjOw hormone levels, including of osteoporosis and can benefit from estrogen, coaid be a possible cause learning about this common malady, of osteoporosis in some men." he says a Stanford University endocrisays. Anemia, fatigue and a decreased nologist. "We think of osteoporosis as a dissex drive are possible indicators of ease of older women, but in fact, the low hormone levels, says Marcus. A more direct sign of osteoporosis is National Osteoporosis Foundation I in 8 men over sufwill 50 chronic back pain associated wiih age says fer a fracture because of osteoporo.muscle spasms. This can occur when back muscles sis, the depiction of bone substance Robert are Marcus. straining to make up for the during aging," says IVID, a Stanford professor of medistooped posture that can result from cine. a spine fracture caused by a weak"Men need to take steps to prevent ened bone. If testing confirms osteoporosis, a osteoporosis or secure a diagnosis and then seek treatment for this conprescription bonestrengthening drug dition." says Marcus, who studies may be in order. Doctors don't preand treats men and women with scribe estrogen replacement therapy osteoporosis al the Veterans Affairs for men because of the unacceptable Palo Alto Health Care System and side effects and because its not directs the osteoporosis clinic at proven that estrogen will help Stanford University Medical Center. reverse the effects of osteoporosis. Marcus says men, especially those Marcus recommends that men over age SO, should he alert to the like women start an osteoporosis direct and indirect signs of ostco- - prevention program early. Starting ti i plenty of calcium. Marcus recommends about 1,000 to 1.500 milligrams of calcium a day the equivalent to roughly four or. Five glasses of milk. Calcium supplements are an option for men who don't want to drink milk or eat other dairy products. Women are four times more liketo ly syffer from osteoporosis than men, because their bones are less dense to begin with. "It's understandable that so much more attention has been paid to osteoporosis among women, which may be all the more reason for men to pay attention to this possibility before it sneaks up on them," Marcus says. Tracy Hampton qir FAMILY ORIENTED PRIMARY HEALTHCARE Cynthix Campbell FNP-- C Family Nune Practitioner followup test or see a refeiral specialist, ask the doctor or a member of the staff how you should make arrangements to do this. It's one thing to say, make a physical therapy appointment.' It's more helpful to know whom lo call and when," says Wellington. And perhaps most important, Wellington says, "Always leave the preferappointment wiih a list ably in writing of what steps you need lo take fill prescription, get nuire exercise, make a followup or referral appointment,' whatever." should also plan meals to allow several hours to digest food before bed. A host of relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, structured meditation and muscle relaxation are helpful to relieve insomnia, the psychologist says. Light therapy, which involves, exposure to illumination from a specially designed light box, can be useful in resetting someone's biological clock," says Matjber. But she cautions that this method is recommended only when the internal body rhythm is misaligned with a person's desired sleep schedule, ' "People need to work with professional to determine the proper schedule for their Own rhythm," Manhcr says. Melatonin, a natural hOrrtlone that has been reputed in popular literature lo induce sleep, is probably useless for this purpose when, taken as a supplement, except when used lo adjust biological clocks, Manber conceive says. Women who plan are advised to avoid melatdniit be- cause of preliminary daht that sugwith gest the hormone may interfere ' in humans. conception "People can help themselves reduce anxiety about insufficient sleep by remembering that no single sleepless night is going to be that horrible." says Manber. For some people, she says, anxiety about staying awake makes the problem worse. in their teenage years, men should get plenty of exercise and take in NWtfCTRia still lime. If the doctor asks you to take a Drugs Alone Wpnt Cure Insomnia, Psychologists Say ('Iiioiiic insomnia sulTeicrs often nml In "unlearn" llk'ir condition and cannot depend on prescriitiiNt iik'dicaiuins alone lo relieve their sleeplessness, suvs a Sianloid April 7, 2000 ASPEN HEALTH CENTER TOO BITNER ROAD PARK CITY, UTAH 84098 soriafric Trite 64Q-63- Ona MSa East of Junclfan Fin Siaooa Hw Ohb Moa, Tto, WW aad Fit Plea can fa aa appoiaMaal 6 Daytime 1 KfenbaR ti lo Spa oa Na to Eni;ertcy1783441 (435)647-055- 5 Neck Pain? Call the Expert. Dr. Chad A. Lunastrom Canyon Chiropractic Clinic Jack Johnson, Office Lodge iltRoUO 'i 1777 Sun Peak DrM Suite 140, Park City, Utah vz--r Xlgx ItawIptR Explr0$J 435-649-1- 542 y Call For An Appolntynent Today) Coalville Health Center 82 North 50 East Coalville. UT Kamas Health Center 158 West 200 South Kamas, UT WAIN ALLEN, M.D. U n i CCava : JEANETTE VERNON, RN PA-- C i r r'-- i cnrftTTr riTrr'r rtm r4i f jiiLfim! utfiii) iiu jtLiii MELINDA MS PA-- C ROALSTAD, Complete Family Medical and Emergency Care Coalville Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 sm 5:00 pm Saturday 8:30 am -- 12:00 noon Kamas Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday CLOSED Coalville 24 hour number: Kamas 24 hour number 85 Beautiful Smiles, Subscribe Hjo The (Bee ! Made Easy. Eacov be kevd B Mri W retool. Tdtar Si obj to to hat rf toys Ikick tar k par mwi Mfoha, mown mi wmin. f mum alamMiM sa to is hriy yor Or nal OaupMr.ctfl I KO M K totnw a wwa jcataKj,. -- WcmeVi College Coalition Dr. Steven R. Brown, D.D.S.. M.S.D. Specializing in Orthodontics for Children & Adults Free Initial Consultations Early Interceptive Treatment Interest Free Financing Insurance Accepted & Processed - 435-654-45- 86 fPOOR |