Diseases Information

Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to properly use and store glucose (a form of sugar). Glucose backs up in the bloodstream causing one's blood glucose (sometimes referred to as blood sugar) to rise too high.

More About Diabetes

Asthma
Asthma is a condition that affects the lung tissues. The lungs become inflamed and it becomes difficult to breath. Asthma can occur in both children and adults and can be caused by many different exposures. These exposures can include environmental allergens, such as smog, cigarette smoke, or dog or cat dander, as well as, exercise, or stress.

Symptoms of asthma include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, or tightness in the chest. If you have these symptoms, you must go to your medical professional or seek care at your local emergency room. It is there that you can receive care to help you breath better.

There are tests that can be done to assist your medical professional in diagnosing asthma. Once asthma is diagnosed there are many different medications to help prevent future asthma attacks. Your primary medical care provider can adjust your medications to allow you to feel well, to minimize the frequency of your asthma attacks, and to allow for you to participate in activities that you enjoy on a daily basis.

If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, make an appointment at Walker Family Medicine so that we may discuss your symptoms. We may also be able to provide you with the proper diagnosis along with immediate and preventative medical treatment for your asthma.

Hypertension
Another term for hypertension is high blood pressure. High blood pressure is defined as a diastolic pressure greater than 140 and a diastolic pressure greater than 90. Many times patients do not have symptoms of hypertension. It is important however to treat high blood pressure so as to prevent long term side effects to the heart (i.e. enlarged heart or heart failure) or to the brain (i.e. stroke).

Since high blood pressure tends to be without symptoms, it is important to seek annual exams by your health care professional. It is at these exams that your blood pressure will be screened. Hypertension can also be inherited and thus vigilant monitoring is needed in those with a family history of high blood pressure.

There are many medications that can be used to assist with the treatment of hypertension. Your medical health care provider will need to make the right choice of medication for you and your related health conditions and concerns. You can assist your medical care provider with maintaining a proper blood pressure. Daily exercise, healthy diet, no tobacco, and minimal (less than one drink per day) alcohol use will all assist with lowering your blood pressure. Contact Walker Family Medicine to screen for and to treat your hypertension.

Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone that results in bone loss and leads to the increase risk of bone fracture. This disease commonly occurs in older females but can also occur in men or in younger females with certain health conditions. Females that have a family history of osteoporosis, are fair skinned, are small stature, use tobacco products, or drink alcohol excessively (more than one drink per day) have an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis can be easily diagnosed by a painless x-ray called a bone density scan. It is important to screen for osteoporosis because treatment is available. With proper treatment, bone fracture can hopefully be avoided or its frequency lessened. Your medical professional can provide this screening tool for you and should be advised for all women age 65 or older.

Treatment of osteoporosis is available with a group of medications called bisphosphonates. Your medical health provider will be able to make the right medication choice for you. You can assist your primary care provider with preventing osteoporosis, along with treating your bones, by not using tobacco products, minimizing your alcohol consumption, consuming 1500mg of Calcium with vitamin D per day (take one 500mg tablet with each meal), and performing weight bearing exercise. Consult your medical care professional at Walker Family Medicine to discuss your risks for and the appropriate treatment of osteoporosis. Your health care provider at WFM will also be able to discuss when screening may be indicated for you.

Hypercholesterolemia
Hypercholesterolemia is the medical term for high cholesterol in the blood. Elevated cholesterol can cause heart disease. Hypercholesterolemia has a strong hereditary component but is also influenced by poor lifestyle choices. Poor lifestyle choices include a diet high in carbohydrates, sugars, and fats, as well as, inactivity or excessive consumption of alcohol or sugared beverages.

Hypercholesterolemia can be screened for you by your medical provider. Men greater than 35 years of age and women greater than 45 years of age should have their cholesterol screened. Cholesterol screening is done with a simple blood test which requires you to be fasting. Fasting means nothing to eat or drink, after midnight, except for water.

Diet and exercise are the appropriate first measures to treat high cholesterol. Medication is also available for those patients requiring more aggressive management of their cholesterol. There are many medications available to treat hypercholesterolemia. The most common medications are in a group called statins.

Only a medical professional can choose the right medication for you. Different medications treat different forms of high cholesterol. Certain medications have indications with the other medical conditions that you may have. Your primary care provider may also need to screen for other conditions that may be causative or contributing to your elevated cholesterol.

Contact Walker Family Medicine to schedule an appointment to discuss screening for and the management of your hypercholesterolemia.