LEADING MEDICINE WINTER 2024
Find Relief From Winter Joint Pain
CARING FOR YOU:
Why Your PCP Is Pivotal to Your Health YOUR LINK TO HEALTH INNOVATIONS, NEWS AND TIPS IN EAST HOUSTON/BAYTOWN
How Loud Is Too Loud for Headphones?
DON’T FREEZE UP: TIPS TO EASE WINTER JOINT PAIN Winter has a way of slowing things down. But don’t let Jack Frost tempt you into slowing your pace during blustery months. “With cold weather often comes less activity,” explained Dr. Neel Patel, an orthopedic surgeon with Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital. “Less activity can lead to increased joint pain and Dr. Neel Patel stiffness, especially as the body ages.” That pain and stiffness can snowball — no pun intended — into a larger problem when winter weather makes it difficult to stay active. Here are helpful tips to stop your joints from freezing up during cold snaps.
KEEP MOVING
It might be tempting to trade walking shoes for a warm blanket when it’s time to exercise in the colder weather, but remember, a great way to keep your joints healthy is to keep them flexing. “Being less active during the colder temperatures may lead to more joint pain,” Patel explained. “Most of us don’t want to move around much when we are sore, but the best way to relieve the stiffening pain is to keep active.” Patel offers a few options for staying active during the colder months.
INDOOR EXERCISE IDEAS
When cold weather makes it difficult to enjoy the outdoors, consider ways to keep moving inside. Here are some indoor ideas if you don’t already have a personalized exercise plan in place: ■ Pedal a stationary bike. ■ Take the stairs.
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■ Try yoga, Tai Chi or other stretching movements. ■ Walk on a treadmill, indoor track or even around the mall. “You should talk to your primary care provider (PCP) before starting a new exercise routine, so you can build a wintertime program that’s best for your overall joint and muscle health,” Patel said.
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
If your wintertime program doesn’t seem to ease your joint pain and stiffness, it’s probably time to speak with a joint specialist. Your PCP can help get to the root of your joint pain and guide you to the best next steps, including an orthopedic or sports medicine specialist. “If you’re constantly battling joint pain or have an acute injury to your shoulders or knees no matter the season, it could be time to seek treatment,” Patel noted. “We can help you get back to a pain-free life through the combination of physical therapy, pain-relieving injections or surgery, if needed.”
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Find a Joint Specialist. Find Relief. Ready to learn about treatment options for your joint pain or injury? Our experts are here to help. To schedule an appointment, visit houstonmethodist.org/jointpain or call 281.427.7400.
3 Common Causes of
LIVER DISEASE
Your liver is always multitasking. It’s cleaning harmful substances out of your system and produces bile for digestion while it processes, creates and stores key nutrients. With all these essential functions, it’s important to keep your liver healthy. “The best thing you can do to support a healthy liver is try to prevent it from getting Dr. Rashid Khan sick,” explained Dr. Rashid Khan, a specialist in gastroenterology and transplant hepatology at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital. “When you understand some common causes of liver disease, you’ll be better equipped to avoid it.”
1 EXCESS WEIGHT
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease happens when the liver includes more than 5% fat. But your liver is resilient and healthy lifestyle changes can prevent or reverse this condition. “Even losing as little as 5 to 10% of body weight can help,” Khan said. “Focus on healthy weight loss and maintenance to truly make a difference in your liver function, instead of drug store products that claim to cleanse the liver but don’t actually work.”
2 EXCESS ALCOHOL
Heavy alcohol use can also cause fatty deposits in your liver. If there is no permanent damage, you can reverse alcohol-related fatty liver damage; however, long-term alcohol abuse can lead to advanced diseases such as cirrhosis, a scarring that can cause liver failure. Signs of advanced liver disease include: ■ Abdominal swelling ■ Easy and severe bruising ■ Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) ■ Swelling in the legs and ankles “The liver suffers in silence,” noted Khan. “Often, symptoms don’t appear until the disease has progressed to a serious stage. It’s important to reflect on your alcohol consumption and seek support to quit drinking if necessary.”
3 VIRAL HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C spreads through contact with blood and can cause advanced liver disease in some people if left untreated. While there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, there is medication that can cure it. A simple screening can get you on the path to treatment if you’re at risk.
CATCH A PROBLEM EARLY
Your primary care physician may run blood tests to check your liver function during your annual physical. This is a good way to keep tabs on liver enzymes and proteins. Talk to your doctor about your liver levels and if you should get screened.
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Let’s Talk Concerned about your liver health? We can help. To schedule an appointment with a digestive health specialist, visit houstonmethodist.org/ gastroenterology or call 281.422.7970.
LEADING THE WAY IN LIVER CARE A landmark clinical trial is underway at Houston Methodist Baytown for qualifying patients with fatty liver or scar tissue buildup. The 72-week trial measures liver function before and after a regimen of medication or placebo. “We’re hoping to see some conditions improve,” Khan explained. “This is an exciting study and a step forward in liver research and care.”
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ESTABLISH CARE WITH AN ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDER Did you know your primary care office has multiple experts on the team? You may decide to choose an advanced practice provider (APP) as your PCP. An APP is a licensed nurse practitioner or physician assistant who is trained to provide the same type of care as a PCP, and who can also be your partner in optimizing your health. Just like a PCP, an APP can help you with: ■ Chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease ■ Physicals ■ Prescriptions ■ Referrals to specialists ■ X-rays and tests In addition, an APP’s appointment schedule may have more openings so that you can get in sooner. To schedule an appointment with a provider near you, visit houstonmethodist.org/pcg/east.
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CARING FOR YOU: Why Primary Care Matters You’re unique. Your health care should be, too. That’s why choosing a primary care provider (PCP) matters when it comes to building your best overall health. “A PCP is your main doctor for care,” explained Dr. Adolat Mirzaeva, a family medicine doctor at Houston Methodist Baytown Primary Care Group. “We build a relationship with you and know your Dr. Adolat Mirzaeva health history to give you personalized and continuous care.” Your PCP can help you manage: ■ Allergies and asthma ■ Diabetes ■ High blood pressure ■ High cholesterol ■ Men’s and women’s health ■ Physicals and health screenings ■ Thyroid concerns Below are a few of the many reasons why it’s important to visit a PCP.
PREVENT AND TREAT ILLNESS
PCPs focus on disease prevention — they aim to help you stay healthy. Getting an annual physical helps you stay on top of routine screenings, immunizations and general well-being year after year. When illness happens, your PCP can help with that, too. “If you come down with an illness, such as the flu, a rash or pink eye, I know your health history,” Mirzaeva explained, “so I can help diagnose the issue, prescribe a medication and see you for follow-up care as needed.”
TACKLE HEALTH GOALS
With an established PCP relationship, you have a long-term partner to help you work through obstacles in your quest for better health. Whether you want to quit smoking, lose weight or break the family cycle of diabetes or heart disease, your PCP can help you achieve your goal. “Little changes can lead you onto a healthier path. Sometimes it’s as simple as adding a morning walk to your daily routine,”
Mirzaeva said. “We like to start with lifestyle changes.” If you need a little more help beyond lifestyle changes, your doctor may recommend tests or screenings to create a long-term health plan.
CONNECT YOU WITH SPECIALISTS
Navigating the health care system alone can be overwhelming, especially when you are managing a chronic condition. Your PCP can make it easier by briefing specialists such as cardiologists, neurologists or endocrinologists on your health challenges. “Knowing your health history helps me have better communication with specialists who may be involved in your care,” Mirzaeva noted. “That supports an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan that’s right for you.” Your specialist will help you manage your condition, but when you need to see the doctor for a screening or illness, your PCP is the best option. Together, they are your health care team.
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ALL YOUR HEALTH NEEDS
When you find a PCP who understands your medical history and beliefs, you’ll form a provider-patient relationship that leads to more individualized and better care. This trusting partnership is built upon supporting your personal health goals. “We make sure you’re comprehensively cared for — not just from a medical standpoint, but from a mental, physical and emotional view as well,” Mirzaeva said.
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Find a Primary Care Provider Who Is Right for You Houston Methodist Primary Care Group has more than 45 practices across the Greater Houston area. To find a provider near you, visit houstonmethodist.org/pcg/east or call 713.441.7965.
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DOES LOUD HEADPHONE MUSIC HURT YOUR HEARING? “But it’s my favorite song!” says your teen as she cranks her music up another notch. Pretty hard to complain when you’ve been known to blast tunes during your own workout. But should you be concerned about the volume of your music? Can listening to loud music actually cause hearing loss? Yes, and yes. According to Dr. Sara Chen Xie, an Dr. Sara Chen Xie otolaryngologist at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital, the thousands of cells with millions of tiny hair-like structures in our inner ear facilitate our hearing. Loud sound can damage these cells and structures. “Our ears are incredibly complex and sensitive,” Xie said. “If damage accumulates over time and causes hearing loss, you can’t ever get it back. There is no surgery or medical procedure that can repair it. In much the same way, it’s very difficult to recover from the trauma of a very loud noise like a firecracker.”
DID YOU KNOW?
About 50% of all teens and young adults play their music too loudly. Sounds are everywhere, and the volume of a sound is described in decibels (dB). Sounds less than around 70 dB are safe and won’t typically affect your hearing. As sounds get louder and the longer you listen, damage to your hearing becomes more and more likely. Hearing loss can lead to continuous ringing or buzzing in your ears, also called tinnitus. To offset the risk of hearing loss, Xie recommends learning when your music is considered too loud and how to listen safely.
HOW LOUD IS TOO LOUD? HOW LONG IS TOO LONG?
Rule of thumb: The louder the sound, the quicker it can cause damage. To get an idea of how loud is too loud, consider some everyday sounds. For instance, the softest sound you can hear measures 0 dB. The hum of a refrigerator is about 40 dB with no significant impact on your hearing. The noise of city traffic while you are inside your car would measure about 82 dB and would probably only annoy you. But now consider the loud music of a radio or a rock concert. You could experience hearing loss in less than five minutes with decibel levels around 107. Standing near sirens for any length of time or prolonged exposure to firecrackers could cause pain and ear injury at between 120 and 145 dB. Even your personal listening device can reach damaging decibel levels beyond those of a rock concert.
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PROTECT YOUR HEARING
The National Center for Environmental Health recommends ways to protect your hearing and still enjoy your music: ■ L imit your music device or headphones to 60% of the max volume. ■ Take listening breaks every hour. ■ L isten in a quiet place or use noise-canceling headphones. ■ Avoid being near loudspeakers. ■ If attending a loud concert or event, wear hearing protection. If you can clearly hear your music while holding your earbuds or headphones an arm’s length away, your music is too loud. “Many people have no idea that the maximum volume of a personal listening device is well above the safe level of 70 dB,” Xie explained. “When you are listening to music with earbuds or headphones, that sound is going directly into your ear.”
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Specialists Who Listen Whether you have ringing in your ears or have hearing questions, we are here to listen. Schedule a visit with one of our board-certified ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital at houstonmethodist.org/ ear-nose-throat or call 281.427.2747.
Tests to Get to the HEART OF THE MATTER Dr. Aiza Ahmad
If you experience shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations or fatigue, your doctor might order heart tests. “We commonly start with routine tests if you’re experiencing symptoms that point to your heart,” said Dr. Aiza Ahmad, a cardiologist at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital. “They can show us what’s going on and lead us to the best next steps.”
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (EKG)
An EKG records information about your heart’s electrical system and rhythm. An abnormal rhythm, called arrhythmia, is a sign that your heart isn’t working as it should. EKGs can help: ■ Diagnose arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation (AFib) ■ Offer insights into whether you have had or are having a heart attack ■ Show evidence of ischemia, which is a lack of blood flow
ECHOCARDIOGRAM (ECHO)
There are two types of echo tests that create an image of your heart using sound waves: ■ Transthoracic – completed from the surface of your chest (noninvasive) ■ Transesophageal – completed from inside your throat (invasive) “Sometimes, what we learn from a noninvasive heart test can prompt the need for a more invasive option,” Ahmad noted. “For example, if we can see a leaking mitral valve on your transthoracic
echo, we’ll use a transesophageal test to see the problem more clearly so we can pinpoint treatment such as a mitral valve repair.”
CARDIAC STRESS TEST
Simply put, this test gets your heart pumping. A stress test uses exercise or chemical stimulation to increase your heart rate, while an EKG measures how your heart reacts. Results could indicate a blocked artery and help diagnose coronary artery disease, heart valve disease or an arrhythmia.
CARDIAC CT SCAN
A special CT scan – a CT angiogram – creates a 3D image of your heart as IV-injected contrast dye weaves its way through arteries, making it easier for your doctor to spot suspected blockages or rule out the concern.
CORONARY ANGIOGRAM
A coronary angiogram delivers contrast dye through a catheter inserted into an artery at the wrist or groin. It is invasive but key for finding and fixing blockages such as plaque buildup in arteries. If there’s an obstruction, the doctor may perform a coronary angioplasty procedure right then and there to open the artery.
TEST RESULTS HELP SURGEONS HELP YOU
Heart tests are often used to determine if surgery is necessary. “From a surgical perspective, we need as much data as possible as we prepare for an operation,” Ahmad said. “Results can help us understand your heart’s strength so we can approach your care the best way.”
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Experts in Heart Care Cardiologists and surgeons at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital are leading the way in comprehensive care. To learn more, visit houstonmethodist.org/heart-vascular or call 832.556.6625 to schedule an appointment.
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