February 2016 In This Issue Heart Health Time For a Check-Up! Interpersonal Relationship Awareness EBHC Committee Message ShipShape Program Nutrition Classes Tobacco Cessation-Class Schedule Health Promotion Calendar Health Promotion Services Meet the Staff
Heart Health and
Interpersonal Relationship Awareness
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Heart Health
By: Capt. Bryant Weber, Chief, Preventive Medicine, Joint base San Antonio– Lackland , Tx., USAF And Dr. Steven Heaston, Program Specialist for Clinical Prevention, Navy Marine Corps Public Health Center Article Located at: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/healthpromotion/Pages/ReproMaterial-Heart-Health.aspx Think heart disease is something that won’t begin to affect you until later in life? Think again. Recent research has found that heart disease is much more common in young service members than previously thought. While this is cause for concern, there is also good news: In most cases heart disease is preventable or can be delayed until much later in your life. So, even if you’re a young service member, you can do something about heart disease now. February is Heart Health Month, so take this time to evaluate your level of risk and what you can do to increase your heart health.
A common form of heart disease is Atherosclerosis (ath-ur-ohskluh-ROW-sis), which is a buildup of fatty plaques in your arteries. As plaques build up, it restricts blood flow which can eventually lead to chest pains, shortness of breath, blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. Although it typically does not become apparent until later in life, researchers recently found evidence of atherosclerosis in service members in their early 20s and 30s, and even in children. Heart disease usually develops slowly, and someone with a problem may not have 2 any symptoms for decades, which in some cases is not until the day they have a heart attack. In other words, the development of heart disease is stealthy. As a result, heart disease is often not addressed until it is too late.
First, it seems really hard to believe. You’re young, you’re strong, you can run a mile (or many more), you can even pass your physical, and yet you can still have the early stages of atherosclerosis right now. Heart disease remains the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. While heart disease is often viewed as something to worry about when you get older, approximately half of American adults who have heart disease are under the age of 60.3 Second, structural damage to the heart and blood vessels has often already occurred before any type of heart disease is diagnosed and treated. Since damage to the heart can begin as early as childhood, by the time heart disease is diagnosed, surgery and long-term medications may be the only way to prevent further damage, medical complications, and cardiovascular events (heart attacks and strokes). Third, heart disease is a family affair, affecting those closest to you. But because heart disease is so stealthy it can be difficult for us to get motivated to do something about it. After all, heart disease is probably the last thing on your mind when you’re ordering a pizza, smoking that cigarette, sitting down to watch a few hours of sports, or trying to get your child to eat. But we now know that what we do and eat as kids and young adults has a big impact on our heart health. We can’t just start being healthy when we reach our 40s and 50s and expect to prevent heart attacks and stroke. And we should also be teaching our children heart healthy habits now, which will make it easier for them to maintain a healthy heart throughout their lives.
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The good news is that we know that there are many causes for unhealthy hearts. While some are not under our direct control (infections, age, gender, genetic predisposition), heart disease is often the result of multiple lifestyle factors that are within our control. Behavioral risk factors for heart disease include: Smoking Poor diet Lack of exercise Obesity Excessive alcohol use High levels of stress Visit the CDC’s Heart Disease Risk Factors page to learn more about the behavioral, hereditary, and medical conditions that might increase your risk for heart disease. You can also use the NIH’s heart attack risk assessment tool to calculate your likelihood of having a heart attack3within the next 10 years.
Heart Health Continued
Regardless of your level of risk today, heart health can be improved at any age through a nutritious diet that is low in added sugar, salt, and empty calories, getting moderate to vigorous physical activity most days of the week, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing your stress.
Quit smoking – The military has a number of free resources to help you quit and stay tobacco free. Even if you have had trouble quitting before, don’t give up. If you aren’t a smoker, don’t start. And don’t get caught up in the e-cigarettes craze. There just isn’t enough evidence to say whether they are a safer alternative to cigarettes – and furthermore, they can be a gateway to an addiction to real cigarettes. Increase your physical activity – After high blood pressure, physical inactivity is the second highest cause of atherosclerosis. But the great news is that even if your weight stays the same, you decrease your risk of heart disease simply by exercising. The general recommendation is to be physically active for at least 150 minutes each week. Get to a healthy weight – Being in a healthy weight category is another important way to reduce your risk of heart disease, but it must be done safely. January was the Healthy Weight month, so be sure to visit NMCPHC for tips and tools for how to reach a healthy weight safely. Eat a healthy diet – There are lots of diet tips out there, so make sure you choose a heart healthy diet that is well-balanced, includes of lots of fruits and vegetables, and is low in empty calories like added sugar. And don’t forget, you don’t have to deprive yourself to be healthy. Moderation is key. Start teaching kids heart healthy habits – We know children are not immune to heart damage. Instilling heart healthy habits in your children early on will make it easier for them to maintain a healthy heart throughout their lives. Consult a health care provider – If you think you or your children might be at risk for future heart disease, talk with your health care provider. Work with your provider to set goals for yourself.
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Time for a Check-Up
By: Hospitalman Damarias Wilcox USNH Yokosuka Family Practice
Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, And You: The risk of high blood pressure increases with age, beginning to climb when men reach the age of 45, although it can occur in younger men. African-Americans tend to develop it younger and have more severe hypertension. Obesity or a family history of high blood pressure also increases risk. High blood pressure is especially dangerous because people can have it for years without knowing. In fact, one in three Americans with this condition are unaware. Normal blood pressure is considered to be anything below 120/80. Prehypertension is defined as a systolic reading between 120 and 139 and a diastolic reading between 80 and 89. Hypertension is defined as blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. High cholesterol, also called hypercholesteremia, tends to run in families, so generally genetics play a factor. But a variety of lifestyle choices, including diet, activity, and body weight also affect cholesterol levels. The first treatment of choice for high cholesterol is adopting a healthier lifestyle. In many people who have cholesterol in the borderline high category, healthier habits can bring the numbers down to normal. If lifestyle changes are not enough, a variety of cholesterol-lowering medications are available.
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Interpersonal Relationship Awareness
By: Christopher Wallace, LCSW-C LT, MSC, USN Division Officer, Family Assistance Support Team (FAST)
Interpersonal Relationship Awareness: Interpersonal relationships can be broadly defined as interaction that occurs between two or more people. Interpersonal relationships can range from strong to mild in intensity and will vary in the type of relationship. For example, the interpersonal relationship that exists between friends will be different from the interpersonal relationship that exists between siblings. Our interpersonal relationships have a direct link to our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Our early childhood familial relationships will influence our identity and moral developments while our Friendships, Professional, and Romantic relationships will influence our current level of functioning. Problems in interpersonal relationships can lead to a myriad of functioning issues to include problems with our primary support group, occupational, educational, social, and environmental problems. Therefore, it is important for us to develop and maintain interpersonal competence. Interpersonal competence involves learning to communicate effectively, develop empathetic listening and responding skills, learning how to managing conflicts, learning to provide and receive support, and developing self-awareness. It's important to always remember that maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships can greatly improve our sense of belonging and quality of life.
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Nutrition Class Schedule
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When: January 16, 2016 (Friday) Testicular Cancer Prostate and Testicular Cancer Location of Classes: BY: LCDR Elizabeth Gloor, NP-C Testicular cancer, though rare, is the most common cancer in men aged 15-34 USNH, Yokosuka Command Auditorium years. Caucasian men are four times more likely than African American men to have USNH Yokosuka Family Practice
testicular cancer. It can usually be cured, even in late stages of the disease. There is no standard or routine screening test for testicular cancer. Most often, testicular cancer is first found my men themselves, either by chance or during self-exam. If a lump is found in the testicle by the patient or during a routine physical exam, tests may be done to check for cancer. To learn more, visit http://www.cancer.org/cancer/testicularcancer/
Basic Nutrition Class Time: 09:00 – 10:00am Diabetes Nutrition Class Time: 10:30 – 11:30am
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in American men, and in most men, it grows very slowly. Age, race, diet, family history – even a sedentary lifestyle – may all play a part in contributing to your prostate cancer risks. To learn more, visit http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/ Most prostate cancers are first found during screening with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and/or a digital rectal exam (DRE). In 2013, the American Urological Association (AUA) published a new guideline on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening: Routine PSA screening is not recommended in men under 40 years. Routine PSA screening is not recommended in men between the ages of 40-54. *For men younger than 55 years at higher risk (i.e. positive family history or African American race), decisions regarding prostate cancer screening should be individualized. For men ages 55-69 years, the decision to undergo PSA screening involves weighing the benefits of preventing prostate cancer against the known potential harms associated with screening and treatment. The greatest benefit of screening appears to be in men ages 55-69 years. A routine screening interval of two years or more may be preferred over annual screening in those men who have participated in8 shared decision-making and decided on screening. Routine PSA screening is not recommended in men age 70+ years or any man with less than a 10-15 year life expectancy.
DCS Link:
https://conference.apps.mil/webconf/3a3f3c381cf86884cc472fb1e3190545
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For your convenience patients can access DCS link from home or work center. For seat reservation and/or instructions on how to access DCS link please contact 243-7128. Thank you.
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Meet The Staff
From left to right: HN Shaquille Hill (Health Tech.), LT Daniel Crouch ( Director Of Health Promotion), HM3 Prince Delyons (Health Tech.), HM1 Danny Brown (LPO), HN Mario Camacho ( Health Tech.), Mrs. Mary Cobb (Secretary)