Troy Family Practice, PLLC
Troy, Michigan (248) 813-0124

But here’s something uplifting: You may be able to attack all these heart risks by focusing on one — your cholesterol levels.

Women perk up more than men
A recent study looked at how lowering cholesterol affected the moods of a group of women and men. For one year, the group ate a low-fat diet — a proven way to cut cholesterol.

Participants who reduced their total and LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol levels also reported feeling less anxious — with women showing the biggest improvement. At the end of the study, those who reduced their cholesterol also said they felt less depressed and hostile.

Researchers aren’t exactly sure why lowering cholesterol improved the participants’ moods. One theory is that people tend to feel better about themselves after they successfully achieve a goal.

Follow this cholesterol-healthy diet
Do you want to try and improve your cholesterol — and your mood — at the same time? Try out the diet tactics used by the participants. They adhered to the following recommendations by the American Heart Association:

• Total fat intake: 30 percent or less of all calories
• Saturated fat intake: less than 10 percent of all calories
• Polyunsaturated fat intake: no more than 10 percent of all calories
• Monounsaturated fat intake: no more than 15 percent of all calories
• Total cholesterol intake: less than 300 milligrams

Last reviewed: June 2010

 from BCBS LIving Health-e

The American Heart Association recommends limiting intake of added sugars — any sweetener that does not occur naturally in food — to no more than 5 percent of overall calories (about 100 calories daily for women and 150 calories for men). But it’s estimated that Americans take in on average more than 15 percent of their daily calories from added sugars. And a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that this high intake may be affecting more than our waistlines.  

Less added sugar equals better cholesterol levels
The study examined the food intake and cholesterol levels of more than 6,000 men and women older than 18. Researchers found that men and women whose added sugar intake was between 10 and 17.5 percent of total calories were 50 percent more likely to have lower levels of the “good” cholesterol, HDL, than those who limited sugars to recommended levels. Rates for high triglyceride levels were significant as well.

The results were true after controlling for factors that may influence cholesterol, such as body mass index, physical activity and alcohol intake. In addition, the more added sugar that was consumed, the worse the cholesterol numbers. Unhealthy cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

Take steps to reduce sugar
Scaling back on added sugars in your diet may be easier than you think. Some experts estimate that as much as half of Americans’ intake of added sugar comes from soft drinks. One regular soft drink accounts for 130 calories (or 8 teaspoons) of added sugar.

Added sugars can come in many forms, including high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, brown sugar, honey and more. These can be found in many foods and drinks. To learn how to identify these sugars in your diet and reduce your intake, visit heart.org*. Search for the term “added sugars.”

From BCBS of MI

Last reviewed: July 2010

•  4 cups canned bean (garbanzo, kidney & cannellini beans work well)
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 4 cups packed spinach 

Drain and rinse beans in cold water. 

In a medium bowl, combine beans, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic; toss to coat well. Let stand for 30 minutes.

Add remaining ingredients and toss well.  Serve

Serve immediately.

Whether a fever is serious or not depends on your child’s age and how high the temperature is.   In general, call the doctor if:

* Your baby is younger than age 3 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher
* Your baby is between ages 3 months and 6 months and gets a temperature of 101 degrees or higher, even if the child  doesn’t seem sick
* Your child is age 6 months or older and gets a temperature of 103 degrees or higher, even if the youngster appears to feel OK
* Your child has a seizure
* Your child has an earache or sore throat in addition to a fever

Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, or ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin, help reduce fevers.   Do not give ibuprofen to children younger than age 6 months, though.   And ask your doctor before giving any medicine to children younger than age 3 months.   Do not give a child aspirin unless your doctor advises it.   Aspirin has been linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.

These other strategies can also make your little patient more comfortable:

*Sponge your child with lukewarm water to reduce fever, but do not use rubbing alcohol or cold water for baths. Cold baths can cause shivering, which raises body temperature.
* Keep your child’s room cool.
* Dress your child in light clothing.
* Encourage your child to take in extra fluids by drinking water and eating popsicles, gelatin and soup.

It’s important to realize that fever is the body’s response to fighting off an infection.

One of the biggest worries parents have about high fevers is the risk for brain damage.   Knowing the facts may help you breathe a little easier.   It turns out that fevers do not usually cause brain damage unless they are higher than 107.6 degrees, according to the National Institutes of Health.

(from BCBS Newsletter- Feb 2010 )

Apples, oranges, bananas, oh …boring? Health experts say we’re not eating enough fruit and veggies, but sometimes choices can seem limited. Check out these exciting fruits to spice up your diet.

Fruits are nutrient powerhouses and important for your body. For a 2,000 calorie diet, eating 2 cups every day is recommended. Try these out-of-the-ordinary fruits if you are looking for a little variety.

* Tomatillos are small, round, green or yellow fruits wrapped in a light-brown husk. They contain vitamin C. Like their cousin the tomato, tomatillos can be used in salads, salsas or sauces. Just remove the husk, wash and slice.
* Asian pears are round, yellow, fiber-rich fruits that are crisp and juicy like apples. Their flavor is slightly sweet and tart. They are ripe straight from the store. You can eat them as is or add them to slaws and sandwiches.
* Cherimoyas are green fruits that resemble pinecones and are loaded with vitamin C. They have a pulp that tastes like a combination of pineapple, papaya and mango. To eat, cut one in half, remove the seeds and scoop out the inside with a spoon.

In June of 2009 Troy Family Practice, PLLC became one of 11 practices affiliated with Beaumont Hospitals to be designated a “Patient Centered Medical Home” by BCBS of MI.   Many patients have asked what is this, what does it mean for me and what do I need to do.  I am hoping  that the following information taken from an article in MD News published in November 2009 will help answer these questions.

Patient Center Medical Home is a concept that started in the 1960’s as a model for primary care practices.  It was originally intended for patients with chronic health conditions, especially diabetes.  In the past 4-5 years, the concept has been adopted and expanded by the professional societies for pediatrics, family practice and general internal  medicines.

The PCMH is an approach that provides comprehensive care for patients through their primary care physician.  The PCP coordinates the patient’s health status, manages chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma, tracks all medications, can provide expanded office hours, and generally supervises the patients medical care.  One of the goals of the PCMH is to keep patients healthy and reduce the risk of complications through proactive and preventative health care management.   Another goal of PCMH is to provide cost-effective health care.     It is believed that if every American used a primary care physician as their usual source of care, health care cost would decline by an estimated $67 billion per year nationwide.

In the PCMH model,  patients with chronic conditions who are not seen on regularly can be contacted on a scheduled basis to schedule their appointments.  Providers utilize electronic prescribing and have better communication with specialty offices that their patients see.   Part of the model also includes a patient-provider agreement in which the physician works with the patient to establish the  patient’s own goal for improving his or hers health by helping the patient set self-management goals.

By no means does PCMH apply to only those patients with chronic conditions.  By patients taking a more proactive  role in their health and healthcare decisions, the patient feels that they have a health care working for them.

We at Troy Family Practice, PLLC are pleased that we were designated a PCMH office in June and feel that many of the goals set forth by  PCMH are what our providers approach to patient care and that of the staff  have been for the past 8 years.   It is truely a team approach which our  patietns will benefit from.

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 1/2 cup (4 ounces) baby portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1 medium zucchini
• 2 cloves  garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon black  pepper
• 2  (6 inch) whole wheat pita breads
• 1/4 cup pizza sauce
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped basil

Preheat broiler.  heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add bell pepper; stir-fry 1 minute.  Add mushrooms, zucchini and garlic; stir-fry 4 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.  Stir in black pepper; remove from heat.

To separate pitas into 2 rounds, use a small knife to cut around edges of the pita.  Place pita rounds on a baking sheet and broil 4-5 inches from the heat source for 1 minute or until lightly toasted.  Remove from broiler.  Turn pitas over; top with pizza sauce, vegetables and cheese.  Return to the broiler; broil 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Top each round with basil.

Makes 4 servings 

Dietary exchange: 1 fat, 1 starch, 2 vegetables

Calories 175, total fat 5g,  saturated fat 2g, protein 9g, carbs 25g, cholesterol 9mg, dietary fiber 5g, sodium 381mg.

Do you have a child bound for college this fall?

The Centers for Diease Control (CDC), strongly recommends that students who will be living in a dormatory type setting receive the Meningitis Vaccine prior to heading off to school this fall. The physicians at Troy family Practice agree with this assessment. We also feel that this is an opportune time for your son or daughter to come in for a general health check up and a re-evaluation of their immunization records.

In addition to the Meningitis vaccine many colleges and universities also recommend the following: Hepatitis B Vaccine, Heptitis A Vaccine and Tetanus Booster.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the office during regular business hours.

We are pleased to roll out our new, improved website. Please take a look around and see what you think. It is still a work in progress, so if you see some areas that are incomplete, or think that some other information needs to be made available, chances are it is already in the works and will be in place the next time you visit.

Please feel free to leave a comment below.  We look forward to your feedback.