Tag: Checkup

  • Schedule that checkup | News, Sports, Jobs

    Schedule that checkup | News, Sports, Jobs

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    Dr. Adam Swisher retains up a flier about stroke and vascular screenings at UnityPoint Wellness – Loved ones Medication Second Avenue North. Swisher reported young adult males need to agenda annual physicals regardless of how they are emotion. The physicals can assist avert a range of wellbeing troubles as guys age.

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    Schedule that checkup | News, Sports, Jobs

    As boys grow to be adult males, annually visits to the medical doctor as well frequently get place on the back-burner, according to Dr. Swisher.

    Swisher claimed these annually visits are essential to protecting a wholesome lifestyle and assisting to reduce significant ailment.

    “That’s a concentrate we want to change,” stated Swisher, who procedures at UnityPoint Clinic Family members Drugs — Second Avenue North. “A good deal of occasions people do not come in for checkups. Which is a person of the greatest matters they can do. Just after high university it seems they quit coming in for appointments. Everyone must arrive in yearly for an appointment, just for screenings.”

    Certain problems can be genetic, which is why Swisher claimed it’s vital maintain spouse and children history current.

    “Even if an individual is 20 yrs of age,” Swisher claimed. “Coming in every year to get these checkups is vital. A lot of instances people think they truly feel effectively so they do not come in for appointments. The thought is to retain you very well. Coming in for annually checkups is a single of individuals strategies.”

    Swisher, a 2000 Belmond Substantial University graduate, obtained his clinical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Health care Center. He finished his residency at Mercy Health-related Middle North Iowa in Mason Town.

    In 2011, he started off his own follow alongside his wife, Kari Ocenasek, in Gowrie.

    In 2018, he became health-related director for UnityPoint Hospice in Fort Dodge.

    Because February, he has been practicing at Spouse and children Drugs.

    In accordance to Swisher, coronary heart illness is the major trigger of demise for adult men. About 25{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of male fatalities in the U.S. are similar to coronary heart ailment, according to the Centers for Illness Control and Avoidance.

    When it arrives to coronary heart problems, Swisher stated in many cases alterations in food plan or way of living can make improvements to all those circumstances.

    “The number one killer for men is cardiovascular disease,” Swisher reported. “Cholesterol is significant for screening. We will do a lipid profile — what their terrible cholesterol is and good cholesterol. We can explain to folks what their hazards would be in the following 10 yrs. Things can be modified with diet regime and exercise by yourself. Understanding their history and household record will permit us to make selected suggestions to reduce the chance. Cholesterol can be familial.”

    Aside from coronary heart ailment, most cancers is the 2nd primary induce of death in adult men.

    “With adult males, a good deal of periods we listen to our number one particular most cancers is prostate cancer,” Swisher claimed. “Screening for that is crucial. We utilize lab draws and a prostate evaluation. A good deal of situations these commence at 50 except people have chance variables to begin those before, unless they have a spouse and children record.”

    The proposed age for colonoscopies has transformed in recent instances.

    “Colonoscopies utilized to be recommended at age 50,” Swisher said. “Recently that has been modified. Now it’s age 45.”

    Not which include skin most cancers, prostate and colon are the two most widespread forms of cancer impacting guys, in accordance to Swisher.

    Obtaining standard checkups is critical to prevention, specially for most cancers.

    “Most cancers are treatable if caught in those people early levels,” Swisher said.

    In terms of avoiding disease, not using tobacco is a little something absolutely everyone can do to boost their wellness.

    “Smoking is nevertheless very widespread,” Swisher claimed. “Smoking will increase threat for cancer, lung cancer. For sufferers with a heritage of cigarette smoking, it is still a quite substantial quantity of clients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary ailment).”

    According to the CDC, gentlemen are far more possible to be existing cigarette smokers than women of all ages (About 15{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of grownup gentlemen smoke as opposed to 13{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of adult ladies).

    “It’s a single of the main triggers of price to our overall health treatment process,” Swisher stated. “Identifying it and building certain it’s taken care of correctly are ways to boost wellness as effectively as price.”

    A further wellbeing issue that has Swisher’s focus is psychological overall health.

    “Something else that definitely flies underneath the radar occasionally but has a large prevalence is stress and anxiety and depressions,” Swisher explained. “People don’t want to discuss about their inner thoughts or confess to issues. What folks don’t understand is that at 1 time in their lifestyle they possibly have had concerns with despair or stress and anxiety or both equally. Those can have an affect on you on a every day foundation, they can influence your perform, your home life and can have significant penalties if untreated. For guys, in some cases that’s our rough exterior but it can have an impact on every single part of our life.”

    Swisher stated managing stress and anxiety and depression isn’t constantly about medicine.

    “Patients can go on prescription drugs that enable but doing points like exercising impacts it practically as considerably as medication,” Swisher claimed. “Physical health and psychological wellness. We have to handle the individual as a total. Their psychological health and their slumber and who they are is significant.”

    Swisher said a person’s psychological health doesn’t just have an affect on that person.

    “For all those screenings we check with issues about depression or anxiety,” Swisher said. “Something for guys to imagine about is not only is getting a physical great for them, it is very good for their household members simply because if we come across factors with their health and fitness that could effect their relatives.”

    Diabetic issues is one more common health and fitness situation.

    “A whole lot of instances people are not mindful of the symptoms,” Swisher stated. “We can modify way of life if items are caught before. Clients can alter how they live, how they purpose, they can lessen risk.”

    Just one last recommendation Swisher offered has to do with immunizations.

    “Getting the immunizations, they imagine I will not get unwell or the final time I acquired unwell was with a flu shot,” Swisher mentioned. “Getting immunizations aids you and other people close to you keep healthy as properly.”

    Swisher has liked practicing in Fort Dodge.

    “Here I get to know my individuals and quite often their loved ones customers or prolonged family,” Swisher stated. “It’s that perception of local community. That knowing. With what I do, I watch it as I’m a portion of somebody’s everyday living. It is far more than just prescribing remedies, it’s remaining section of their treatment, component of their daily life or staying a useful resource for them. I like earning things far better for persons and the group alone. That was one particular of the driving things that led me down my career route.”

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  • Checkup Finds Biden ‘Vigorous’; Harris Briefly in Power | Health News

    Checkup Finds Biden ‘Vigorous’; Harris Briefly in Power | Health News

    By ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press

    BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — President Joe Biden remains “healthy” and “vigorous” and fit for duty, but is showing some signs of aging, his doctor said Friday after the oldest president in American history underwent his first routine physical in office and — in a history-making moment — briefly transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris while he underwent a colonoscopy.

    Harris, the first woman, first Black person and first person of South Asian descent to be vice president, was — for one hour and 25 minutes — acting president while Biden was under anesthesia.

    Over more than five hours Friday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the president underwent a battery of blood, physical, gastrointestinal, dental, vision and neurological examinations. Dr. Kevin O’Connor, who has been Biden’s primary care physician since 2009, wrote in a six-page memo released by the White House that Biden, who turns 79 on Saturday, “remains a healthy, vigorous, 78-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.”

    O’Connor, however, revealed that he investigated Biden for increased instances of “throat clearing” during public remarks and a stiffening of his gait. O’Connor reported that Biden’s coughing was the result of gastrointestinal reflux and that the stiffened gait was the result of a new diagnosis of “mild peripheral neuropathy,” spinal arthritis and compensation for a broken foot sustained a year ago.

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    Interest in Biden’s health has been high ever since he declared his candidacy for the White House in 2019 and remains intense as speculation about a 2024 reelection bid swirls. The visit to the medical center in the Washington suburbs was for his first routine physical exam as president — and his first since December 2019.

    As part of the screening, Biden underwent an “extremely detailed neurological exam” that ruled out stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but caught the neuropathy, which is nerve damage in the hands and feet. O’Connor said the most common cause of the condition is diabetes, but Biden is not diabetic. Biden, he said, would soon try custom orthotics to improve his gait.

    During the course of Biden’s colonoscopy a “benign-appearing polyp” of about 3 millimeters was identified and removed and would be studied over the coming week. O’Connor said Biden has never had colon cancer.

    Biden’s reported body mass index classified him as slightly overweight, but his cholesterol was under control. Biden, O’Connor said, is prescribed the anticoagulant Eliquis, the statin Crestor and the seasonal allergy spray Dymista, and regularly takes the over-the-counter allergy pill Allegra and the antacid Pepcid.

    O’Connor reported that Biden does not use tobacco products or drink alcohol and that he exercises at least five days per week.

    Press secretary Jen Psaki said he resumed his duties after speaking with Harris and White House chief of staff Ron Klain at approximately 11:35 a.m.

    As Biden left the medical center in the afternoon, he said he was feeling “Great!”

    “Great physical and a great House of Representatives vote,” he said, referring to the House passage of his roughly $2 trillion social and environmental agenda.

    After arriving back at the White House, he said “Nothing’s changed” with his health, joking, “We’re in great shape, and I’m looking forward to celebrating my 58th birthday.”

    While serving as acting president Harris was working from her office in the West Wing, Psaki said. She later traveled to Ohio once Biden awoke from the procedure.

    Biden was keenly aware of the history he was making when he selected Harris to be his running mate, Psaki said, adding that she made “history every day” in the job.

    “Today was certainly another chapter in that history I think that will be noted for women, young girls across the country,” she added.

    During Biden’s last physical exam, doctors found the former vice president to be “healthy, vigorous” and “fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency,” according to a doctor’s report at the time.

    In that report, O’Connor said that since 2003, Biden has had episodes of atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat that’s potentially serious but treatable. At the time, O’Connor cited a list of tests that showed Biden’s heart was functioning normally and his only needed care was a blood thinner to prevent the most worrisome risk, blood clots or stroke.

    Biden had a brush with death in 1988, requiring surgery to repair two brain aneurysms, weak bulges in arteries, one of them leaking. Biden has never had a recurrence, his doctor said, citing a test in 2014 that examined his arteries.

    Dr. Jeffrey Linder, chief of general internal medicine and geriatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, read the White House report and said it contained nothing that’s particularly worrisome.

    “All in all, according to this report it seems like he’s in pretty good shape, with very common age-related illness,’’ including atrial fibrillation and stiff gait, Linder said.

    While the cause of Biden’s mild neuropathy is unknown, Linder said it is not an unusual problem and not a cause for concern unless it’s bothersome for the president. He added that there is no reason to think the small polyp that was removed was cancerous, given Biden’s previous medical history.

    “I would encourage him to continue to get exercise and eat right and take his medications,’’ Linder said.

    Pursuant to the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, Biden signed letters to Sen. Patrick Leahy, who’s president pro tempore of the Senate, and to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at 10:10 a.m., saying he would be unable to discharge his duties while under anesthesia, making Harris the acting president. Biden sent them each another letter upon the conclusion of the procedure to resume his duties at 11:35 a.m.

    “As was the case when President George W. Bush had the same procedure in 2002 and 2007, and following the process set out in the Constitution, President Biden will transfer power to the Vice President for the brief period of time when he is under anesthesia,” Psaki said before Biden’s colonoscopy.

    On Friday afternoon, Biden took part in the annual pardoning of the national Thanksgiving turkey.

    When Biden took office he brought O’Connor back to the White House to continue serving as his doctor, and O’Connor led a team of experts in conducting Biden’s physical exam Friday.

    Once the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020, Biden’s team took intense steps to keep the then-candidate and now-president healthy as the virus raged and took a disproportionate toll among older populations. Biden received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020 and his second dose just two weeks before taking office. He received a booster dose, which regulators say provides more enduring protection, in late September.

    Former President Donald Trump, 75, was sharply criticized for releasing only cursory details on his health while running and serving in the White House, including concealing the seriousness of his COVID-19 illness a month before the 2020 presidential election.

    AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner contributed to this report.

    Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.