LEADING MEDICINE FA LL 2020
Chest Pain: When Is It an Emergency? Diagnosing Concussion in Youth Athletes
BE VIGILANT ABOUT RESPIRATORY ILLNESS YOUR LINK TO HEALTH INNOVATIONS, NEWS AND TIPS IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA AND SOUTHEAST HOUSTON
IN THIS ISSUE - FALL 2020
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6 Common Urology Problems for Men When it comes to health problems, some men may feel stressed and hesitate to visit their doctor about urologic concerns. But men shouldn’t feel embarrassed to get checked out for these common conditions.
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B e Vigilant About Respiratory Illness You’ve heard about the dangers of COVID-19, flu and other respiratory illnesses that affect the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. There are steps you can take today to prevent disease and boost your respiratory health.
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hest Pain: When Is It an Emergency? C Getting treatment as soon as possible following a heart attack can save your life. But how can you tell when chest pain requires an antacid or a trip to the emergency room?
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iagnosing Concussion in Youth Athletes D Young athletes are particularly susceptible to concussion, and they may take longer than adults to recover. Early diagnosis helps ensure that the brain has time to heal properly.
NEWS & EVENTS PROSTATE AWARENESS MONTH September is prostate awareness month, where we empower men to take control of their health. One in every six men will get prostate cancer during his lifetime. There are more than 2.5 million survivors of prostate cancer across the U.S. To learn more about screening for prostate cancer, please call Houston Methodist Urology Associates at Clear Lake at 713.441.6455.
LEAPFROG SAFETY GRADE A - SPRING 2020 Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care ratings organization, awarded Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital the highest patient safety grade based on performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms.
SCHEDULING YOUR APPOINTMENTS ONLINE IS EASY! Save time when you visit houstonmethodist.org/ appointments to schedule your doctor visits, mammogram and other imaging services.
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NEW ORTHOPEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE LOCATION COMING SOON! Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Clear Lake will soon have a new location in Pasadena: 6243 Fairmont Pkwy., Suite 105 Pasadena, TX 77505 To learn more, visit houstonmethodist.org/orthopedics/ clearlake or call 713.363.9090.
6 Common Urology Problems for Men 5 W hen it comes to health problems, some men may feel stressed and even hesitate to visit their doctor about male urologic concerns, Dr. Gabriel especially if it involves Rodriguez reproductive health. “It’s actually quite common for men to develop urologic conditions as they get older,” said Dr. Gabriel Rodriguez, urologist, Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital. “So men shouldn’t feel embarrassed to get checked out.” Learn about some common urologic conditions for men and what to do next.
1 ENLARGED PROSTATE
The prostate sits below the bladder and produces much of the fluid in semen. “Starting at about age 25, the prostate will enter a phase of constant growth,” Rodriguez said. “This growth is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, and is a normal part of getting older.” But as the prostate grows, it may pinch the urethra. This can cause issues, such as increased frequency of urination, difficulty urinating and dribbling at the end of urination. Next steps: See your doctor if you’re experiencing urinary problems. He or she may perform a physical exam, such as a digital rectal exam (DRE), urine test or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.
2 PROSTATE CANCER
“Most cases of prostate cancer grow slowly and are isolated to the prostate,” Rodriguez said. “However, some prostate cancers are more aggressive and may spread quickly to other parts of the body.” Catching this cancer early can be difficult, as it usually has no signs or symptoms in early stages. More advanced prostate cancer can cause urination problems, blood in
semen, pelvic discomfort, bone pain and weight loss. Next steps: You can help reduce your risk of prostate cancer by consuming a diet full of fruits and veggies, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. If you are older than 50, American Cancer Society screening guidelines recommend having a DRE or PSA test. Discuss with your primary care physician.
3ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Trouble getting and keeping an erection are symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED). While ED is more common in older men, it’s not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, persistent ED can sometimes be a sign of other health problems. Potential causes of erectile dysfunction include heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, alcoholism, depression and stress. Next steps: See your doctor if you’re concerned about your erections, especially if you have a health condition that might be linked to ED or have additional symptoms. You can lower your risk for ED by managing any chronic health conditions, exercising regularly and reducing stress.
4 URINARY INCONTINENCE
Loss of bladder control is known as urinary incontinence (UI). “UI could be anything from minor leaking to uncontrollable wetting,” Rodriguez said. “It usually happens because the muscles that control the bladder are either too weak or too active. Other times it’s due to drinks, foods or medications.” More serious cases of UI may be due to an underlying condition, such as urinary stones or obstruction of urinary flow. Next steps: If urinary incontinence is affecting your life, you should seek medical advice, since you may have an underlying condition. You can help decrease your risk for UI by maintaining a healthy weight, practicing pelvic floor exercises and reducing alcohol or caffeine intake.
INFERTILITY
“Generally, infertility is diagnosed when a couple is not able to conceive after a year or longer of unprotected sex,” Rodriguez said. “In about a third of cases, the man is the one who’s infertile.” Common causes of male infertility include a genetic defect, diabetes, blockage in the testicle, chemotherapy and frequent exposure to heat. Next steps: If you’ve been attempting to conceive for at least a year and/or you have a history of testicular or prostate problems, talk to a doctor. While you can’t prevent some types of infertility, other types may be preventable.
6 LOW TESTOSTERONE
It’s natural for testosterone levels to slowly decrease starting in a man’s 30s. But if testosterone drops too low — known as male hypogonadism — it can lead to a low sex drive, low sperm count, bone loss, depression and more. Next steps: “Hypogonadism is usually caused by various medical conditions, and we want to narrow down the exact cause to determine the right treatment from there,” Rodriguez explained. Most cases of hypogonadism cannot be prevented, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle may help regulate testosterone levels.
Find Relief
Urologic problems are sensitive issues, so you need a compassionate and professional team to evaluate your condition and recommend next steps. Learn more at houstonmethodist.org/spg/ urology/bay-area or call 713.441.6455 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gabriel Rodriguez.
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BE VIGILANT ABOUT RESPIRATORY ILLNESS
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ou’ve heard about the dangers of COVID-19, flu and other respiratory illnesses that affect the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. There are steps you can take today to prevent disease and boost your respiratory health in case you do get sick. Taking good care of your lungs can improve your quality of life and protect against respiratory illnesses Dr. Rajavi Shah that can take a toll on your lungs.
RECOGNIZE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS
It’s important to know that anyone can have mild to severe symptoms with either COVID-19 or flu. “It’s true that regardless of age, you may feel severe symptoms. However, it’s more common for older adults and those who have underlying health conditions to be at higher risk for having serious complications from respiratory illness,” said Dr. Rajavi Shah, a primary care physician at Houston Methodist Primary Care Group in Friendswood. Monitor your symptoms if you’re not feeling well: Mild respiratory symptoms include having a low-grade fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, mild cough and mild body aches. What to do: Get tested for COVID-19. Stay home and isolate yourself from others to avoid spreading illness, even if you test negative for COVID-19. Moderate respiratory symptoms include fever over 100.4 F, persistent cough, temporary shortness of breath
and feeling like you need to stay in bed. What to do: Get tested for COVID-19 and contact your doctor about worsening symptoms. Severe respiratory symptoms include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, trouble staying awake and bluish lips or face. What to do: Seek emergency medical care for severe respiratory symptoms. Mild cases of respiratory illness can often be managed with rest, fluids and fever-reducing medicines at home. However, don’t wait to see a doctor if you’re in a high-risk group and experiencing worsening symptoms. Mild or moderate symptoms can quickly become severe for older adults and those who have heart disease, diabetes, cancer or chronic respiratory problems.
MANAGE YOUR HEALTH CONDITIONS
If you have chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it’s important to manage the condition closely with your doctor. Keeping up with your regular checkups is essential in controlling symptoms and protecting your health. Continue taking medications as directed and contact your doctor with any questions or concerns about managing your condition. “To help patients feel more comfortable, we’re doing telehealth visits and video visits. This also helps reduce exposure,” said Shah. Ask your doctor for recommendations before going in for appointments and consider having medications sent directly to your home so you don’t have to make extra trips to the pharmacy.
LUNG CANCER SCREENING A respiratory condition that often goes undetected until it spreads is lung cancer. That’s why staying on track with lung cancer screening is important. If you’re a current or former smoker, ask your doctor about lung cancer screening.
Who Should Get Tested? Testing may be recommended if you meet the following criteria: Age 55-77 years No current signs or symptoms of lung cancer Tobacco smoking history of at least 30 pack-years (calculated
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by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked) Current smoker or former smoker, who has quit within the last 15 years Have not had a chest CT scan in the last year
Make an Appointment
A written order is required for all lung cancer screening procedures. Request an order or schedule an appointment by calling 713.441.LUNG (5864). Visit houstonmethodist.org/lung-screening for more information.
PROTECT YOUR LUNGS EVERY DAY
Shah recommends taking these steps to keep your lungs healthy:
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Get regular exercise. Being physically active can increase lung capacity and improve lung function. Exercising makes your heart and lungs work harder, which increases oxygen and improves circulation around the lungs. Any form of exercise that involves taking deep breaths can help improve your lung capacity.
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Quit smoking and vaping. Smoking irritates the airways and impairs lung function. Vaping releases chemicals that also cause long-term damage to the lungs. Smoking and vaping can lead to lung cancer and COPD, and worsen complications due to COVID-19 or other serious respiratory infections. It’s never too late to quit, and the benefits of quitting kick in right away. Talk to your doctor about getting support to quit smoking.
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Minimize exposure to allergens. Allergens can trigger respiratory problems and other issues. Keep allergies in check and improve indoor air quality with these tips:
Avoid mold spores Control dust mites Keep surfaces in home clean and uncluttered Minimize pet dander Prevent pollen from getting inside by keeping windows and doors closed Ventilate when using products with strong chemical odors
STAY HEALTHY
“We encourage you to follow good respiratory habits and do your part in helping to protect each other,” said Shah. Stay vigilant with these tips to prevent the spread of illness: Stay home from work or school if you feel sick Practice social distancing Get a flu shot Wear a cloth mask in public Wash hands often Wipe down frequently touched surfaces
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CHEST PAIN:
WHEN IS IT AN EMERGENCY?
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etting treatment as soon as possible following a heart attack can save your life. Just one hour can make a difference. But how can you tell when chest pain requires an antacid — or a trip to the emergency room? Dr. Sami M. Aasar, a cardiologist at Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital, identifies several Dr. Sami M. different causes for chest pain below — from Aasar mild to severe. “Keep in mind, it’s always best to err on the side of caution for seeking care whenever you experience troublesome symptoms,” Aasar said.
TEMPORARY TWINGES
Muscle strain. This can happen after you’ve exerted yourself. Let’s say you picked up a heavy box or participated in an intensive exercise class. This kind of chest pain is just like the achiness you feel when you’ve overused muscles in other parts of your body. While often painful, muscle strain rarely is accompanied by other serious symptoms. Indigestion. Often mistaken for a heart attack, indigestion — a painful, burning sensation behind the breastbone — frequently follows a heavy, high-fat meal. You may experience one or more symptoms, such as nausea, belching and bloating. Food poisoning. Eating contaminated food can trigger symptoms, including possible chest pain, nausea, vomiting, sweating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, thirst, confusion, vertigo and muscle weakness. A sure sign of food poisoning: A dining companion who ate the same dish has similar symptoms. Panic attack. People who experience chest pain with no physical cause often score high on tests for anxiety.
SERIOUS CHEST PAINS
Pneumonia. Coughing, chills, headache and breathing difficulties are signs that the sharp pain you feel in your chest may be due to a respiratory illness. Fever, tiredness, a dry cough, pressure in the chest and difficulty breathing are also symptoms of COVID-19. Call your health care provider immediately. Pericarditis. After a viral infection, the sac that surrounds the heart may fill with fluid. As you change position, the heart rubs against the inflamed membrane. This usually causes sharp, piercing pain over the center or left side of the chest. However, some people experience a dull pain. Sitting up and leaning forward often relieves the pain, while lying down aggravates it. Pericarditis often is accompanied by fever, chills, weakness and anxiety.
6 LEADING MEDICINE IN CLEAR LAKE AND SOUTHEAST HOUSTON
Angina. Usually felt as a tight sensation in the midchest, angina pain — a symptom of heart disease — may shoot down the left arm and fingertips. The discomfort, which usually lasts no more than five minutes, may also be felt in other areas, such as the jaw, teeth and between the shoulder blades. Angina pain generally is brought on by exertion, and stopping the activity usually brings immediate relief.
EMERGENCY!
It’s important to know common heart attack symptoms. Watch for: Chest pain or discomfort that may last for more than a few minutes, and can range from slight pressure to a feeling that the chest is being crushed Pain or discomfort that radiates to the back and shoulders, neck, jaw or stomach, and one or both arms Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort Feeling overtaken by a sense of doom, the face turns ashen and the skin becomes clammy Breaking out in cold sweat, nausea or vomiting
KNOW WHEN TO CALL 911
If there’s any reason to suspect a heart attack is occurring, seek emergency care immediately. Call 911. Houston Methodist Emergency Departments and Emergency Care Centers are staffed with board-certified doctors who provide care 24/7. Medications can limit the amount of damage to the heart if used within the first few hours of a heart attack. The sooner a diagnosis is made and treatment starts, the better the chances of a good recovery.
Identifying Risk Factors for Heart Disease
At your next checkup, ask your health care provider to evaluate your risk factors for heart disease. Working together as a team can help you take the right steps to protect your heart. Visit houstonmethodist.org/debakey-clearlake or call 281.523.3240 to learn more about Houston Methodist DeBakey Cardiology Associates at Clear Lake.
DIAGNOSING CONCUSSION
IN YOUTH ATHLETES
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umps, tumbles and falls are a normal part of growing up. But when a blow is severe enough to move the brain within the skull, it can cause Dr. David a concussion — a Wallace temporary loss of normal brain function. Young athletes are particularly susceptible to concussion, and they may take longer than adults to recover. The key to a quick and complete recuperation is prompt medical attention. Early diagnosis helps ensure that the brain has time to heal properly. A second head injury sustained before the brain has fully healed can be severe, sometimes causing swelling of the brain and longterm disability. “What’s more, having one concussion increases the odds of sustaining a second concussion, and repeated head injuries can cause serious problems, including headaches and chronic difficulty concentrating, remembering and even balancing,” said Dr. David Wallace, DO, a primary care sports medicine physician at Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital.
SIGNS OF A CONCUSSION
You don’t need to lose consciousness to have a concussion. Symptoms of a concussion often appear right away, but may also emerge only after a victim returns to normal activities. Signs usually fall into four categories, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Thinking and Remembering Difficulty thinking clearly or concentrating Feeling slowed down Difficulty remembering new information
Physical Headache Fuzzy or blurry vision Nausea or vomiting Dizziness Sensitivity to noise or light Balance problems Feeling tired, having no energy Emotions and Mood Irritability Sadness More emotional Nervousness or anxiety Sleep Sleeping more or less than usual Trouble falling asleep “If a young athlete experiences one or more of these symptoms after a blow to the head, he or she should stay out of play until a trained health care professional can assess his or her condition,” Wallace said.
STEPS TO RECOVERY
Treatment for a concussion is often physical and mental rest until symptoms subside. It may be necessary to keep children home from school or adults home from work, with a gradual return to normal activities. After athletes have no concussion symptoms for one to three consecutive days without taking medication, they often follow a six-step process before returning to play: 1. Light aerobic exercise, such as walking or using a stationary bike with no resistance training for 10-15 minutes 2. Moderate aerobic exercise with resistance training for 20-25 minutes, such as running or using light weights 3. Sport-specific activity and noncontact training drills for 25-30 minutes 4. Full practice including light contact activities 5. Full practice with full contact 6. A return to competition
PREVENTING A CONCUSSION The following steps can help reduce the chances of experiencing a concussion or other brain injury. W ear a helmet when riding a bicycle, skateboard, scooter or motorcycle; playing contact sports such as football, hockey or boxing; batting or running the bases in baseball or softball; riding a horse; or skiing or snowboarding. B uckle up. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seat belt or is secured properly in a child safety seat. K eep your home safe. Install window guards so children can’t fall out, and use safety gates to keep young children away from steps. Remove tripping hazards and add handrails to stairways and in showers for older adults.
Seeking Evaluation and Treatment
A preseason baseline concussion test for young athletes involved in contact sports may help doctors diagnose a concussion. To make an appointment with a primary care sports medicine physician at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Clear Lake, please call 713.363.9090.
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Getting your annual mammogram is still important. Houston Methodist can see you safely. Getting your annual mammogram is one of the most important steps you can take to stay healthy. That’s why our Breast Care Center is taking every necessary precaution during the coronavirus pandemic to keep you and our staff members safe.
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281.333.8899
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During the coronavirus pandemic, we are:
Screening all patients, ensuring only those without COVID-19 symptoms are seen in the office.
Wearing masks and other personal protective equipment while providing patient care.
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Implementing additional sanitation processes to disinfect all equipment and surfaces.
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Redesigning waiting rooms and check-in procedures to ensure social distancing.
Visit houstonmethodist.org/breast-care or call 281.333.8858 to schedule your mammogram today.
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