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Stress reveals itself frequently in life, whether it comes from regular deadlines, financial difficulties, or relationship problems. Your body responds by speeding up your heartbeat and tightening your blood vessels. Over time, these small blows can pile up and harm your health, especially your heart. Chronic stress increases your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and restless nights. Even other bodily components, such as your intestines and lungs, are susceptible. While you can’t always control how much stress you experience in your life, you can try to change how you react to it. Just like the automatic “fight or flight” response that kicks in when you’re scared, your muscles tense, your heart rate increases, and your brain becomes more alert. Your body also has a built-in, healthy relaxation response. When that’s triggered, the opposite happens: your breathing and heart rate slow down, and your blood pressure decreases. Fortunately, you can learn to trigger that response with practice. Choose an instructor or class to assist you in getting started, or try these strategies on your own. If you struggle to get the hang of it at first, try not to become frustrated. Try a different strategy if one doesn’t work for you. You can learn a variety of techniques. But achieving a state of calm doesn’t necessarily involve remaining still. A professional counselor, participating in a stress management program, attending an art class, or going for a brisk walk with friends are some healthy methods to handle stress. For some people, being in nature may be quite calming. De-stressing techniques like these can help strengthen your heart when combined with other healthy behaviors. Consume more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while consuming less salt, sugar, and saturated fats, for instance. Increase your physical activity by dancing or attending meetings while walking. Find workouts you genuinely enjoy doing and do them frequently. Spend enough time sleeping soundly; also create a solid network of social support. Then reconsider some of the tried-and-true methods you may be employing to cope with stress, such as excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, smoking, or overeating. They may even make your stress and health worse.

Coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease is a common type of heart disease where the arteries in the heart struggle to deliver adequate oxygenated blood to the heart. The arteries struggle to deliver enough oxygenated blood because the arteries are clogged. The arteries get clogged when plaque (A mixture of cholesterol, calcium, fat and other substances) builds up in the heart. The plaque in the arteries can lead to blood clots, which obstruct blood flow and could eventually lead to a heart attack. Plaque can also cause chest pain or angina. The plaque buildup in the arteries causes the arteries to become narrow and harden overs the years which reduces the amount of oxygenated blood that reaches the heart. According to the centers for disease control and prevention, 18.2 million American adults suffer from coronary heart disease, making it the most common type of heart disease. Every year, about 366,000 people die from Coronary heart disease in the United States, whereas nearly 650,000 people in United States die from heart diseases in general. Coronary Micro vascular disease is a variation of coronary heart disease that affects the tiny arteries in the heart, this happens when the heart’s tiny vessels do not function properly. Coronary Micro vascular disease is more common in women. Coronary heart disease affects the coronary arteries on the surface on the heart. There are several factors that can increase the risk of having a heart disease: Coronary heart disease can be hard to diagnose because you might not experience any symptoms until you have a heart attack or a complication. Before having a heart attack you may experience symptoms like dizziness, Chest pain which could feel like burning, tightness, pressure in the chest, the pain may start from behind the breastbone, but can occur in the arms, throat back or shoulders. Other symptoms include neck pain, shortness of breath usually after a physical activity etc. When experiencing a heart attack, women are less likely to experience chest pain and would experience symptoms like extreme tiredness, stomach pain, pressure in the chest, nausea etc. If you experience chest pain and you don’t know if it is a heart attack or angina, call 9-1-1 immediately. Prevention of Coronary heart disease starts with having a healthy lifestyle. By eating healthy, getting enough quality sleep, becoming physically active, stopping smoking and avoiding large exposure to second hand smoking, you can prevent the risk of having coronary disease and its complications. In terms of diagnosis, your doctor can diagnose for coronary heart disease based on several factors such as your risk factors, your medical and family history. Your Doctor would check your risk factors to see analyze the risk of developing a coronary heart disease, Check for high blood pressure in your blood pressure readings, Calculate your BMI(body mass index) to see if your wealth is unhealthy and run blood tests to see if you have high blood cholesterol, diabetes or high blood triglycerides. Furthermore your health provider can use a risk calculator to analyze your risk of having a heart attack or dying from a heart related disease throughout your life. Treatment for coronary heart disease depends on how serious your symptoms are and any other health conditions you have. If you are experiencing a heart attack for example, you may need emergency treatment. If your doctor or healthcare provider diagnoses you with coronary heart disease based on the tests carried out and your symptoms, your doctor would recommend adapting heart-healthy lifestyle procedures into your routine and prescribe medicine to prevent heart complications and the possibility of a heart attack. These lifestyle changes as stated in the prevention section could include eating healthy, becoming physically active, quitting smoking, getting enough quality sleep, managing stress properly are all ways one can live healthy.

A heart attack, sometimes referred to as a myocardial infarction, occurs when the blood flow that normally carries oxygen to a portion of your heart muscle is abruptly interrupted. You’re not getting enough oxygen to your heart. The heart muscle will start to deteriorate if blood flow is not soon restored. Heart attacks are a common occurrence and according to centers for disease control and prevention, more than 800,000 people in the United States suffer from a heart attack each year. It is important to note that a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are not the same, as a cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating. When this occurs, blood stops flowing to vital organs in the body. Certain arrhythmias that stop the heart from pumping blood can result in cardiac arrests. The risk of having a heart attack depends on certain factors like your age, your lifestyle habits and other medical conditions. Many people who have had suffered from a heart attack go on to live their lives fully. Call 9-1-1 as soon as you suspect a heart attack is occurring, whether it’s for you or someone else as quick action can save your life or the life of others. The more time the heart spends without enough oxygen, the more harm the heart muscle sustains. It is important to know the difference between chest pain from stable angina and chest pain from a heart attack, if you are unable to identify the difference call 9-1-1 immediately. Not all heart attacks start off with the sharp, severe chest pain that occurs when the heart’s blood supply is cut off. Heart attacks can happen silently and can occur with little or no symptoms shown; this is known as the silent heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack may vary from person to person and can vary between genders. Symptoms of a heart attack include: Upon arriving at the hospital after calling 911 an EKG (electrocardiogram) is the most common initial test for a heart attack and may be given upon minutes of your arrival. Your doctor may decide to perform a physical examination, inquire about your medical history, and request other testing based on the results of the EKG. Heart muscle cells die during a heart attack and release proteins into your blood. The concentration of these proteins in your blood can be determined by blood testing. A chest X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scans are imaging procedures that help your doctor determine if your heart is functioning normally. A stress test may also be necessary to assist your doctor identify the extent of the damage to your heart or whether coronary artery disease is to blame for the attack. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of a heart attack. This occurs when the coronary arteries are unable to provide your heart muscle with adequate oxygen-rich blood. The majority of the time, coronary artery disease develops when plaque, a waxy material, accumulates inside your arteries and narrows them. Inside your artery, a plaque layer may eventually break open. Blood clots start to develop on the plaque’s surface as a result of this. Your heart may not receive enough blood if the clot grows large enough. Untreated blockages cause a portion of your heart muscle to start dying. There are certain risk factors that make it more likely to develop a coronary artery disease and having a heart attack. Having lifestyle habits like smoking, eating unhealthy, barely engaging in physical activity can increase your chances of developing a coronary artery disease. Medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity can also increase your risk factor. Furthermore the risk of heart disease increases for men after the age of 45 and increases after the age of 55 for women. Family history of early heart disease is also a risk factor, if your mother, sister, or any of your parents’ fathers or brothers had coronary artery disease before the age of 55 or before the age of 65, you are at a greater risk of having a heart disease. Eating heart-healthy food, regular exercise, stopping smoking, stress management, and keeping a healthy weight are all examples of healthy lifestyle modifications that can help avoid heart disease. These adjustments can reduce your risk of a heart attack even if you currently have coronary artery disease. Speak with one of the providers at First Lithonia Medical Center about whether taking aspirin can help you prevent blood clots that can cause a heart attack. Having a heart attack increases your chances of having another one. Your doctor could suggest medications or advise you on actions you can take, such as making lifestyle changes that are good for your heart. For people recovering from heart issues, there is a program called cardiac rehabilitation that is overseen by a doctor. To reduce your chance of developing further heart and blood vessel disorders, cardiac rehabilitation entails making heart-healthy lifestyle modifications. These programs include fitness training, heart-healthy living education, and stress – management counseling to assist you in making lifestyle changes.

By: Kayla Lunceford As you know breast cancer month is coming up. We are in charge of keeping our bodies healthy and strong and maintaining a great lifestyle. Going to the doctors, getting mammograms, eating healthy for men and women. Staying on top of our health helps catch anything out of the ordinary and help put a stop to it before it spreads throughout the body. Although breast cancer screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help find breast cancer early when it is easier to treat. We want to keep you all cancer free and healthy the best way we can but we can’t do it without you! We would like to keep you here celebrating the wonderful days ahead with family and friends. Let’s say yes to consistency and proving that we have power over our bodies. Here are ways to promote breast cancer awareness. Let’s say yes to consistency and proving that we have power over our bodies. Here are ways to promote breast cancer awareness.Spread the news: mammograms save lives.Raise awareness about risk factors.Share survivor stories.Become an ambassador.Take part in national, regional and local fundraising events.Raise awareness of helpful resources, care services and support groups.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have been known to mankind for most of recorded human history. Before the advent of modern medicine, people’s lack of awareness and understanding of STDs contributed to the widespread transmission of the infections while few or no treatments were available to treat the conditions. 1. Even virgins can contract an STDIf you’re in any type of romantic relationship or have had sexual contact with someone else, you could have an STD. Many of the most common STDs can spread simply through skin-to-skin contact. HPV, syphilis, and both kinds of herpes can spread with just skin-to-skin contact. Sores are the main concern with syphilis, but cancer-causing HPV varieties and the HPV varieties that cause genital warts are easily spread through skin contact. The HSV-1 strain of herpes, which causes cold sores, can be spread through normal family contact, which is why 3.7 billion people under age 50 have it. 2. Be ready for more serious health issues down the roadHPV has a well-known connection to cervical cancer, but it can also cause cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. Every year, about 20,000 women and 12,000 men are affected by cancers caused by HPV. If you know you have HPV, you can be on the lookout for signs of these cancers and catch them early. If you don’t have the disease yet, you may still be eligible to get the vaccine. 3. Be ready for a relationship discussionWhen starting a relationship with a new partner, it’s important to discuss sexual history. Your partner deserves to know if you have a serious STD or if they may contract a more common STD from you. Talk to Dr. Elkhalili about getting tested for these leading common STDs:ChlamydiaGonorrheaHIVHerpesHPVSyphilisTrichomoniasis Even if you currently don’t have an STDs you should still practice safe sex. 4. Build trust in monogamous relationshipsSTDs have a reputation for being asymptomatic, lying dormant for years, or having such mild symptoms that the infected person never feels that they need to get tested or treated. In fact, three-quarters of all women and half of all men with chlamydia have no STD symptoms. Imagine the anxiety you might experience if your partner starts to show symptoms years into your relationship. It’s easy to see how accusations of cheating could come up. Instead, get tested at the start of a relationship. 5. Stay in charge of your sexual healthSTD testing empowers you to take total control of your sex life. Routine testing and safe sex practices put you in the driver’s seat no matter what your romantic or sexual situation is. You’ll be able to make informed choices about your sexual health. We recommend STD testing for anyone who’s sexually active. Dr. Elkhalili and our team at Apex Medical Professionals are ready to help. Call or request an appointment at our Fair Lawn office today or take advantage of our telemedicine services. Please contact the office at 201-797-2003 for more information.

Many couples get together in hopes of starting a family, however there is also the question of “ When is the right time to have a baby?” There is no correct answer on the right time to have a baby, fortunately there are many ways to access birth control or contraception. Birth control allows individuals to control the size of their family, the spacing between children, or can help prevent pregnancy when you don’t want to have a baby. How do you choose the right birth control where there are so many options? Our providers at First Lithonia Medical Center are experts in this field and will guide you towards what works best for you. There isn’t 1 method of birth control that’s right for everyone. Each birth control has pros and cons. Here are some questions you should consider when choosing a birth control method: A few birth control methods that our providers at First Lithonia Medical Center are able prescribe include: The Pill, mini-pill, the patch, vaginal ring, and the Depo shot. These treatments are fairly easy to start, with the first step being scheduling an appointment with one of our providers to discuss which option works for you. Using birth control methods promote responsible sexual health all across the board. Below is a list of birth control methods you can receive at First Lithonia Medical Center:**information provided from FDA.gov Methods Number of Pregnancies Expected Use Some Risks or Side Effects Shot/Injection 6 Need a shot every 3 months. Loss of bone densityIrregular bleeding/ Bleeding between periodsHeadachesWeight gainNervousnessDizzinessAbdominal discomfort Oral Contraceptives “The Pill” (Combined Pill) 9 Must swallow a pill every day. Spotting/ bleeding between periodsNauseaBreast tendernessHeadache Oral Contraceptives “The Pill” (Extended/ Continuous Use Combined Pill) 9 Must swallow a pill every day. Spotting/ bleeding between periodsNauseaBreast tendernessHeadache Oral Contraceptives “The Mini Pill” (Progestin Only) 9 Must swallow a pill at the same time every day. Spotting/ bleeding between periodsNauseaBreast tendernessHeadache Patch 9 Put on a new patch each week for 3 weeks (21 total days).Don’t put on a patch during the fourth week. Spotting or bleeding between menstrual periodsNauseaStomach painBreast tendernessHeadacheSkin irritation Vaginal Contraceptive Ring 9 Put the ring into the vagina yourself. Keep the ring in your vagina for 3 weeks and then take it out for one week. Vaginal discharge, discomfort in the vagina, and mild irritation..HeadacheMood changesNauseaBreast tenderness

Health insurance is a great thing to have because it protects you from unexpected, high medical costs. For example, a broken leg can cost up to $7,500. You pay less for covered in-network health care plus you’re entitled to a free preventative visit each year. Having full coverage health insurance is associated with lower death rates and better health outcomes. Choosing to not have health insurance puts your physical, mental, and financial health at risk. You will have improved access to care, positive health outcomes, and reduced financial stress. Having access to care will give you greater access to prescription drug therapy, as well as an early diagnosis and treatment which could be beneficial to your health. Together you will have a greater peace of mind knowing you are covered if medical treatment is needed. Do you need more information about how to obtain medical insurance?Visit HealthCare.Gov for more information about open enrollment dates.