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PURPOSE DRIVEN MEDICINE FOR PURPOSE DRIVEN LIVES
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JULY 2018 Health Newsletter
Greetings to our patients and readers of Chapala Med’s Health Newsletter. Thank you for taking the time to read this month’s Chapala Med newsletter. When I sit down and gather information and write a few paragraphs, I have in mind the health interests of the community that I serve and the patients whom I provide care for. This being the age of the internet and social media, I try to use them wisely and responsibly to gather this information.
I hope you all had a happy and festive CANADA DAY and 4th of July celebrations, respectively. Since openning my practice in Chapala in 2012 one thing has remained consistent especially during this time of year, a rise in the incidence of GASTROINTESTINAL INFECTiONS.
June welcomed the rainy season in the state of Jalisco. It was a very welcome change after the HOT weather we had in May. Although the rain does bring relief of the hot weather, it also brings along with it an increased number of Gastrointestinal infections. I, along with many doctors in the Lakeside area and the Guadalajara Metropolitan area have seen a rise in GI-related infections >200% than other months. The most common culprits are Salmonella, E. Histolytica (Amoebas) as well as other parasitic infections and can be quite serious if not treated in an appropriate and timely manner, especially in patients over the age of 65. Please remember that most of these infections are self-limiting in 48 hours but it is important to keep yourself hydrated by drinking 2 liters of water and electrolytes daily.
Although this time next year, the
Ribera Medical Center Hospital is set to open it’s doors (construction can been seen now) across from EL DORADO condominiums on EL LIBRAMIENTO, Chapala Med has earned it’s affiliation with
HOSPITAL COUNTRY 2000 in Guadalajara. The medical staff and administration have been a great support for our medical team in the past few years and we are working with them to have a medical interpreter/ concierge to help guide English-speaking patients during their stay at the hospital. I think that this is an exceptional service that they have agreed to provide in the next few weeks. In the future, the RMC hospital will also count with the full support of this major hospital in cases that require resources that the RMC hospital may not have to handle extremely complex cases. The future of medical care in Lakeside looks brighter and brighter each day!
In closing I’d like to remind our readers of our (Chapala Med & Ribera Medical Center’s)
MISSION STATEMENT so that you are all aware of what we are striving to accomplish everyday and hold us to this mission. Thank you for continued support.
Santiago R. Hernandez M.D.
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World Hepatitis Day
, observed on July 28
every year, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis
– a group of infectious diseases known as Hepatitis
A, B, C, D, and E – and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
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Hepatitis
Many of us have heard of hepatitis but what exactly is it? Hepatitis is when the liver is inflamed. Sometimes caused by a virus, whereas others are caused by autoimmune reasons where it’s three times more common in women than in men. Other kinds of hepatitis can be caused by medications or alcohol. When hepatitis is caused
by a virus is classified as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Each letter represents a different causing virus.
Hepatitis A is always an acute, short-term disease, most commonly transmitted by consuming food or water contaminated by feces from a person infected with hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infectious body fluids, such as blood, vaginal secretions, or semen, containing the hepatitis B virus. Injection drug use, having sex with an infected partner, or sharing razors with an infected person increase your risk of getting hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C is transmitted through direct contact with infected body fluids, typically through injection drug use and sexual contact and is among the most common bloodborne viral infections in the United States.
Also called delta hepatitis, Hepatitis D s a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis D virus that is contracted through direct contact with infected blood. Hepatitis D is a rare form of hepatitis that only occurs in conjunction with hepatitis B infection. The hepatitis D virus can’t multiply without the presence of hepatitis B.
Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease caused by the hepatitis E virus. Hepatitis E is mainly found in areas with poor sanitation and typically results from ingesting fecal matter that contaminates the water supply. This disease is uncommon in the United States. However, cases of hepatitis E have been reported in the Middle East, Asia, Central America, and Africa.
What can you do to not get hepatitis? First of all, you can protect yourself by immunizations and taking some simple precautions.
Excessive alcohol consumption can cause liver damage and inflammation and can cause alcoholic hepatitis. What happens is the alcohol directly injures the liver cells. Over time, it can cause permanent damage and lead to liver failure and cirrhosis, where the liver becomes thickened and scarred. No bueno.
Other toxic causes of hepatitis include overuse or overdose of medications and exposure to poisons.
How would you know if you have hepatitis? The signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis appear quickly. They include: fatigue, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, pale stool, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, yellow skin and eyes.
To diagnose hepatitis, first your doctor will take your history to determine any risk factors you may have for infectious or noninfectious hepatitis. Then, during a complete
physical examination, evaluate you to see if there’s pain or tenderness. Your doctor may also feel to see if your liver is enlarged. If your skin or eyes are yellow, your doctor will note this during the exam.
Liver function tests use blood samples to determine how efficiently your liver works. Abnormal results of these tests may be the first indication that there is a problem, especially if you don’t show any signs on a physical exam of liver disease. High liver enzyme levels may indicate that your liver is stressed, damaged, or not functioning properly.
Other tests can check for the viruses that cause hepatitis. They can also be used to check for antibodies that are common in conditions like autoimmune hepatitis.
Diagnostic imaging like and ultrasound uses ultrasound waves to create an image of the organs within your abdomen, non invasively. This test allows your doctor to take a close at your liver and nearby organs. It can reveal: fluid in your abdomen, liver damage or enlargement, liver tumors and any abnormalities of your gallbladder.
Some tips to prevent hepatitis A include practicing your own good hygiene, i
f you’re traveling to a developing country, you should avoid the
local water,
ice,
raw or undercooked shellfish and oysters, and
raw fruit and vegetables
Hepatitis B, C, and D contracted through contaminated blood can be prevented by: not sharing drug needles, not sharing razors, not using someone else’s toothbrush, not touching spilled blood. Hepatitis B and C can also be contracted through sexual intercourse and intimate sexual contact. Practicing safe sex by using condoms and dental dams can help decrease the risk of infection.
The use of vaccines is an important key to preventing hepatitis. Ask your doctor if you need a vaccination to
prevent the development of hepatitis A and B.
– Dr.
Cherry Adjchavanich
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CHAPALA MED’S NEW ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD SYSTEM
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DrChrono
EMR
Chapala Med was the first private practice in Guadalajara and the Chapala Lakeside to use an EHR. Chapala Med has upgraded to an interactive EMR. Our patients will have access to their medical records via the ONPATIENT website and APP for iOS devices. Below are links to a informational videos on what to expect in your office visits and how you can best use the ONPATIENT application/website.
This is the software of the future and works with iOS devices is that if you have an APPLE WATCH, you can upload your heart rate and physical activity information to your medical chart with little effort!
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Weight Loss Linked to Reversal of Atrial Fibrillation Progression
HealthDay News – For obese patients offered weight and risk factor management (RFM), weight loss is associated with reversal of the type and progression of
atrial fibrillation
(AF), according to a study published online in
– June 14 in
Europace
.
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